Top 5 Romantic Spas for Valentine’s Day Wellness Escapes

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, discover the best spa and wellness experiences to show your ‘special someone’ just how much you care. If you’re looking for a gift that will go straight to the heart, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists unveil the best romantic and radiance-giving getaways to help you rediscover romance and time just for you. From a tranquil healing spa in sun soaked Cyprus, to an unforgettable pampering experience amongst exciting wildlife in South Africa, fill your love bubble with blissful harmony at one of these perfect-for-two holistic spas.

Cyprus: Ayii Anargyri Healing

Combine idyllic settings with indulgent treatments on Ayii Anargyri’s blissful healing spa programme. Love will truly be in the air as you unwind together in the tranquil and inviting environment this spa brings. Re-balance with mineral rich spa treatments, nourished with natural spring water that is also channelled to their three treatment pools. Once you’ve achieved an emotional equilibrium, head to one of their gourmet restaurants for a romantic meal, compiled of refreshing Mediterranean cuisine and an extensive wine collection.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Ayii Anargyri from £1,250pp. Price includes full board, with a spa programme, return flights and transfers.

Italy: Borgo Egnazia Pamper

Turn Valentine’s Day into a romantic weekend getaway to the holistic heart of Puglia, Italy on Borgo Egnazia’s indulgent pamper spa programme. Spoil your partner with romantic luxury at this candle-lit spa, with a trio of three innovative spa treatments that will leave you both fully revitalised. Experience the soothing effects of the sea with a rejuvenating salt water massage, to relax and purify the mind, body and soul. The expert hands of Borgo Egnazia’s therapists will have you wishing for a weekend wellness getaway every Valentines Day.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 2 nights at Borgo Egnazia from £1,170pp. Price includes breakfast, with a spa programme, return flights and transfers.

Portugal: Pine Cliffs Awakening of Senses

Dripping with decadence, Pine Cliffs offers a couple’s spa experience that exceeds all expectations. Refresh yourselves with fragrant Ayurvedic treatments and cleansing juices to have you glowing on the inside and out. With spa treatments that envelope you in aromas such as orange blossom and jasmine, this programme is sure to have your head in the clouds for a Valentines experience bursting with romance. This programme leaves no time for boredom; endlessly exciting your senses with activities such as paddle boarding, personal training, yoga and even tea tasting.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 6 nights at Pine Cliffs from £1,920pp. Price includes full board, with a spa programme, return flights and transfers.

South Africa: Karkloof Safari Spa

The couple that travel together, stay together – right? Well this year, up your Valentines game with a long-haul spa break to Karkloof Safari Spa in South Africa. A one-of-a-kind romantic oasis awaits you, with an added adventurous element of astonishing wildlife surrounding the resort. Relax together at the award-winning spa and indulge in a wide range of exotic spa treatments from uplifting grapefruit facials to black pepper scrubs. After a fruitful cleanse, discover the jewels of the African jungle with a fascinating Safari game drive, for memories that will last a lifetime.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Karkloof Safari Spa from £4,650pp. Price is all-inclusive, with a spa programme, return flights and transfers.

Sri Lanka: Santani Re-balancing Bliss

For the ultimate in luxury romance, treat yourselves to an unforgettable wellness spa experience along the verdant hills of Sri Lanka. Indulge with soul-lifting treatments for a transformative re-boot and build internal strength with a range of activities to boost fitness levels and enhance physical endurance. Reconnect with each other and reach a new level of consciousness for a truly bespoke wellness experience. Recalibrate from head-to-toe with group yoga, guided hikes and a calming dip in the salt-water pools for the ultimate Valentines experience.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Santani from £2,540pp. Price includes accommodation, full-board, with a spa programme, return flights and transfers.

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891

Harnessing the power of machine learning for brain health

SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care

People are nowadays increasingly health conscious. Most of us want to look and feel our best on a consistent basis. As such, you may feel, if you are into video games, that you should swap Call of Duty and Super Mario for the gym, Yoga and Kale smoothies. You may feel that gaming is not healthy, and cannot be part of a healthy person’s regimen. However, this may not be the case.

A lot of research has actually shown that gaming can actually be good for you. Gaming can improved the efficiency of the brain areas responsible for spatial awareness, memory, planning and other cognitive skills. As well as this, it can reduce the feelings of pain in those who have chronic pain, and can lessen feelings of trauma in those who have been involved in traumatic events.

Granted, gaming will not improve your physique, and you cannot regularly replace a gym session with a gaming marathon if you want to stay trim. However, it can be part of your regime, and can actually help you keep your brain healthy, while you take care of your body.

So, gaming can help you wind down after a long week, and may even help to reduce the pain after a particularly tough gym session. If you want to learn more about the benefits of gaming, peruse the infographic below produced by those at Computer Planet.

Mediterranean Diet May Help Protect Older Adults from Becoming Frail

An analysis of published studies indicates that following the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of frailty in older individuals. The findings, which are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggest that a diet emphasizing primarily plant-based foods—such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts—may help keep people healthy and independent as they age.

Frailty is common among older people and its prevalence is increasing as the population ages. Frail older adults may often feel low in energy and have weight loss and weak muscle strength. They are more likely to suffer from numerous health concerns, including falls, fractures, hospitalization, nursing home placement, disability, dementia, and premature death. Frailty is also associated with a lower quality of life.

Nutrition is thought to play a crucial role in developing frailty, a team led by Kate Walters, PhD and Gotaro Kojima, MD, of University College London, in the UK, looked to see if following a healthy diet might decrease one’s risk of frailty.

The researchers analyzed evidence from all published studies examining associations between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and development of frailty in older individuals. Their analysis included 5789 people in four studies in France, Spain, Italy, and China.

“We found the evidence was very consistent that older people who follow a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of becoming frail,” said Dr. Walters. “People who followed a Mediterranean diet the most were overall less than half as likely to become frail over a nearly four-year period compared with those who followed it the least.”

The investigators noted that the Mediterranean diet may help older individuals maintain muscle strength, activity, weight, and energy levels, according to their findings. “Our study supports the growing body of evidence on the potential health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, in our case for potentially helping older people to stay well as they age,” said Dr. Kojima.

Although older people who followed a Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of becoming frail, it’s unclear whether other characteristics of the people who followed this diet may have helped to protect them. “While the studies we included adjusted for many of the major factors that could be associated—for example, their age, gender, social class, smoking, alcohol, how much they exercised, and how many health conditions they had—there may be other factors that were not measured and we could not account for,” said Dr. Walters. “We now need large studies that look at whether increasing how much you follow a Mediterranean diet will reduce your risk of becoming frail.”

Additional information

The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Members of the media may sign up for embargoed news or to request a copy of any study please contact:

Dawn Peters (US) +1 781-388-8408
sciencenewsroom@wiley.com
Follow us on Twitter @WileyNews

Full Citation: “Adherence of Mediterranean diet reduces incident frailty risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Gotaro Kojima, Christina Avgerinou, Steve Iliffe, and Kate Walters. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; Published Online: January 11, 2018 (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.15251).

URL Upon Publication: http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/jgs.15251

Author Contact: Dr. Kate Walters, Department of Primary Care and Population Health, UCL, at k.walters@ucl.ac.uk. Rowan Walker, in UCL’s media office, at rowan.walker@ucl.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 3108 8515.

About the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS)

Included in more than 9,000 library collections around the world, JAGS is the go-to journal for clinical aging research. We provide a diverse, interprofessional community of healthcare professionals with the latest insights on geriatrics education, clinical practice, and public policy—all supporting the high-quality, person-centered care essential to our well-being as we age.

Our rigorous peer-review process ensures that we bring healthcare professionals, older adults, and caregivers research with the potential to impact public policy and geriatrics care today—and tomorrow. Since the publication of our first edition in 1953, JAGS has remained one of the oldest and most impactful journals dedicated exclusively to gerontology and geriatrics. For more information, please visit http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jgs.

About Wiley
Wiley, a global research and learning company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 210 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at www.wiley.com.

Texas A&M research shows biological clocks could improve brain cancer treatment

(COLLEGE STATION, Texas) — Biological clocks throughout the body play a major role in human health and performance, from sleep and energy use to how food is metabolized and even stroke severity. Now, Texas A&M University researchers found that circadian rhythms could hold the key to novel therapies for glioblastoma, the most prevalent type of brain cancer in adults—and one with a grim prognosis.

Scientists in the Texas A&M Center for Biological Clocks Research (CBCR) determined that the timed production of a particular protein, associated with tumor proliferation and growth, is disrupted in glioblastoma cells, and they believe that this may lead to a more effective technique to treat the cancerous cells without damaging the healthy surrounding tissue. These findings, which were supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, published today in the international journal BMC Cancer.

Texas A&M biologist Deborah Bell-Pedersen, PhD, a co-corresponding author on the study, found in her previous research that the biological clock in the model fungal system Neurospora crassa controls daily rhythms in the activity of a signaling molecule, called p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). This signaling protein plays a role in glioblastoma’s highly invasive and aggressive properties.

In the new research, David J. Earnest, PhD, a mammalian biological clocks expert at the Texas A&M College of Medicine and co-corresponding author on the study, collaborated with Bell-Pedersen to show that the clock controls daily rhythms in p38 MAPK activity in a variety of mammalian cells as well, including normal glial cells, the supporting “helper” cells surrounding neurons.

Furthermore, their work found that such regulation is absent in glioblastoma cells. “We tested to see if inhibition of this cancer-promoting protein in glioblastoma cells would alter their invasive properties,” said Bell-Pedersen, an internationally recognized leader in the fields of

circadian and fungal biology. “Indeed, we found that inhibition of p38 MAPK at specific times of the day—times when the activity is low in normal glial cells under control of the circadian clock—significantly reduced glioblastoma cell invasiveness to the level of noninvasive glioma cells.”

These findings indicate that glioblastoma might be a good candidate for chronochemotherapy, meaning treating cancer at specific times of day to get the most impact.

“Chronotherapeutic strategies have had a significant positive impact on the treatment of many types of cancer by optimizing the specific timing of drug administration to improve the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy,” Bell-Pedersen said. “However, circadian biology has not been applied to the development of chronotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of glioblastoma, and clinical outcomes for this common primary brain tumor have shown limited improvement over the past 30 years.”

Glioblastomas gained some attention this summer when Senator John McCain was diagnosed with the condition. “A big reason for poor prognosis for patients with this aggressive type of tumor is that the glioblastoma cells rapidly and unabatedly invade and disrupt the surrounding brain cells,” said Gerard Toussaint, MD, a clinician and assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine who specializes in glioblastoma. Current treatments—including chemotherapy, surgical resection, immunotherapy and radiation—are largely ineffective in prolonging life expectancy beyond 18 months.

“We found that an inhibitor of p38 MAPK activity would make the cells behave less invasively, and if you can control the invasive properties, you can improve prognosis,” Earnest said. In addition, the team’s data indicate such treatment may be more effective and less toxic if administered at the appropriate time of the day.

This reduced toxicity is important, because a drug to inhibit the cancer-promoting activity of this protein was tested but found to be too harmful, with too many side effects. “If treatment with the drug can be timed to when the normal glial cells naturally have low activity of p38 MAPK, the addition of the drug might not be as toxic for these cells, and yet would still be very effective on the cancerous cells,” Earnest said.

Although promising, the current studies were done using cell cultures. The team’s next step is to test p38 inhibitor chronochemotherapy in an animal model for glioblastoma. If successful, they would then move on to clinical trials.

“We work on a model system, and the reason to do that is that we can make progress quickly, and we always hope that what we’re working on will lead to something useful, and I think this is a prime example of how putting effort into basic research can pay off,” Bell-Pedersen said. “We’re very hopeful and encouraged by our data that we’ll find a treatment.”

The research was initiated by Charles S. Goldsmith, first author on the study and a previous graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Genetics Program who completed his dissertation research in Bell-Pedersen’s CBCR-affiliated laboratory.

Perfecting Peace: 4 Tips to a Better Meditation Session

If you’ve been looking to improve your mental health, you’ve likely read about meditation. This is a practice that’s so simple, it seems difficult. Meditation involves concentrating on the breath and observing thoughts as they arise. It allows us to gain better control over our emotions and actions. These four tips to a better meditation session will be of great help to you.

Eliminate Distractions

In our world of constant notifications and instant responses, it’s hard to imagine being completely isolated. When meditating, you need to be focused on yourself and your breath. Set a timer (no longer than ten minutes to start), close your eyes, and just watch your breath. You will become distracted by other things. There might be sounds outside of your room. A surefire distraction will be your thoughts. They’ll come to you in waves, often about things that frustrate and anger you. Let them be. There’s no shame to be felt in emotions. What’s important is monitoring them so that they don’t gain control of you.

Use Accessories

If you want to get the most out of your meditation session, you might introduce some trinkets. There are things you can use, such as an aromatherapy necklace, which will help you relax all the more. You want your meditation experience to be as comfortable as possible. While you shouldn’t fall asleep, you can still use these tools to help you. Look for stores that specialize in new age products. They’ll help you determine what can help you the most on your journey towards enlightenment. Something as simple as a mat could go a long way towards making your experience more gratifying. Just remember to not feel like you need to fill a void. You can meditate well with nothing as long as you are devoted to the present moment.

Read

The concept of mindfulness is so complex. While you don’t need to become a scholar in order to meditate, you want to learn as much as possible. There are all kinds of texts you can find to learn more about this ancient practice. You can find these at your local bookstore or public library. You can also find out a great deal online. Check out forums that deal with meditation. Here, you can learn from experienced practitioners about what helped them on their journeys. Feel free to share your experiences with them. They’ll be welcoming to you, as everyone starts out as a beginner. With more practice, you might find yourself eventually giving advice to new meditators.

Be Consistent

Imagine if you went to the gym a couple times then never went again. You wouldn’t get anywhere, right? Similarly, you need to meditate on a regular basis. Some people get the idea that meditation is only beneficial when they’re particularly stressed out. Adhering to this will only get you into trouble, as you’ll be too agitated to focus properly. Even if you feel on top of the world, you can benefit from meditation. You want to be as in tune with your mind as possible. Over time, meditation can become as natural to you as brushing your teeth. Consider it your way of refreshing your mind. The more you meditate, the clearer your mind will become. And the clearer your mind becomes, the more enjoyment you’ll be able to wrest from life.

Meditation is such a rewarding process, because it allows you to get to know yourself. By adhering to a regular practice, you can open your mind to such wonderful and enlightening sensations. Take this tips to heart and realize how much potential is waiting to be unleashed

• Measures running performance and safety level, while providing real-time voice coaching to guide runners through training
• iOS or Android AI analyst app tracks and analyzes runs to improve performance over time
• Measures speed, distance, cadence, step length, step width, vertical oscillation, head tilt angle, stance/flight time, shock, maximum leg force, balance, and  consistency.  .
• Boasts SOUL’s signature sound with Bluetooth version 4.0 system
• Sweat proof function gives added protection from sweat and water
• Ergonomic interchangeable ear locks give the perfect seal
• Boasts up to 8 hours of playback time with one charge
• Includes different ear tip sizes for the perfect fit
• Retails for $149.99

• Equipped with bio-sensors to monitor heart rate, elevation, cadence, speed, time and location
• Measures speed, distance, cadence, step length, step width, vertical oscillation, head tilt angle, stance/flight time, shock, maximum leg force, balance, and  consistency.
• Smart Touch Pads allows runners to adjust volume, playlists and make calls with one touch
• Measures running performance and safety level, while providing real-time voice coaching to guide runners through training
• iOS or Android AI analyst app tracks and analyzes runs to improve performance over time
• Boasts SOUL’s signature sound with Bluetooth version 5.0 system
• Sweat proof function gives added protection from sweat and water
• Ear hook design for a secure fit
• Includes different ear tip sizes for the perfect fit
• Retails for $249.99

12 Wellness Holidays to Make You Healthier in 2018

The New Year has just begun which brings more focus on health, fitness and well-being as you look ahead to a year of possibilities. Welcome the new year and make one of your resolutions to make time for a health or fitness holiday. Whatever your goals in 2018, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists will find a break to meet your wellness needs; be it detox, meditation, yoga, sports or sleep, you can be as sociable or as solitary as you wish. With the support and assistance of experts available in some of the world’s most beautiful locations, choose a wellness holiday to make you healthier this year.

The Sports Performance Break – Palacio Estoril Sports & Performance, Portugal

Hitting an athletic plateau is demotivating, but unbelievably common. On the sunny coast of Cascais, luxury 5-star resort, Palacio Estoril, offers sports enthusiasts an opportunity to overcome physical and mental barricades, enhancing performance and refining skill. Utilising treatments such as physiotherapy and Chinese medicine, guests benefit from improved posture and well-being. In addition to an array of fitness classes, the programme focusses on nutritional performance enhancement, providing all the tools necessary to achieve athletic goals.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 5 nights at Palacio Estoril from £1,495pp and £2,100 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, programme, return flights and transfers.

The Luxury Beach Spa Break – Amanpuri Awareness Immersion, Thailand

Amidst palm-fringed, white sand beaches, and architecture inspired by ancient Ayutthayan culture, Amanpuri exudes timeless luxury. The awareness immersion programme, guided by a former Buddhist monk, is a meditative experience encouraging the renewal of internal focus, synchronising the mind, body and soul. Indulgent spa treatments such as cranial sacral therapy compliment the programme, along with unrivalled nutritional support. With spiritual guidance, a 5-star spa, and a private beach on your doorstep, Amanpuri is perfect for those looking for a luxury, yet authentic, beach and spa getaway.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Amanpuri from £6,210pp or £7,815 for single occupancy. Price includes full board with a choice of wellness programmes, return flights and transfers.

The Yoga Trip – The Retreat Costa Rica Yoga, Costa Rica

The Retreat is a Costa Rican haven set amid Quartz mountains and lush vegetation. Master the asana’s and find inner peace with daily private and group yoga practices. For beginners and advanced yogi’s alike, a week of seclusion and serenity will be beneficial both physically and mentally, improving flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as emotional clarity and stress. This healthy yoga escape also includes a hike, wellness workshops, a healing massage and a trip to a local farmers market.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The Retreat Costa Rica from £2,960pp or £4,100 for single occupancy. Price includes full board with a yoga programme, return flights and transfers.

The Mediterranean Healthy Escape – Ayii Anargyri Healing, Cyprus

A boutique hotel amid a valley of mature trees in the village of Miliou, Cyprus, Ayii Anargyri promotes an idyllic location for a healthy healing escape. Restore well-being as you harness the time-tested, natural healing powers of the areas mineral-rich waters. Find profound calmness and tranquillity through hydrotherapy treatments such as underwater massage, and treat ailments in the phlebology, kinesiotherapy, and rheumatology pools. The healing waters are also utilised in spa therapies such as the indulgent mud therapy cocoons and massages.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Ayii Anargyri from £1,860pp or £1,580 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a choice of healing programme, return flights and transfers.

The Family Sports Holiday – Forte Village, Sardinia

A Sardinian paradise for sports loving families, Forte Village will leave guests spoilt for choice. In addition to a plethora of activities such as cycling, football academy, basketball, tennis and boxing academy, fitness lovers can get involved in various activities from Zumba to yoga. Located next to the beach, water babies can also enjoy a range of water sports including paddle boarding, windsurfing, and diving. The kids club can also keep the young ones (and teenagers) occupied whilst you indulge in some ‘me time’ at the spa.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Forte Village Resort from £1,090pp. Price includes half board, return flights and transfers.

The Detox and Pilates Break – Amatara Detox, Thailand

With stunning views out over Cape Panwa, Phuket, Amatara is an idyllic destination for a relaxing detox and Pilates retreat. Following a juice cleanse and healthy eating regime, achieve optimal well-being with treatments such as colonic hydrotherapy, coffee cleansing, manual lymphatic drainage, and detoxifying ayurvedic massages. Gain strength and flexibility with mat Pilates and private reformer Pilates in stunning surroundings. This healthy holiday will give you the chance to experience your most energised and most radiant self.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights with Amatara Detox from £2,845pp or £3,485 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a detox programme, return flights and transfers.

The Trip of a Lifetime – Ultimate Around the World 1 Year Wellness Trip

The Ultimate Around the World Wellness Trip is an unbeatable opportunity, both in terms of experience and luxury. Enjoy yoga on private island ‘parrot cay’ one week, then scuba diving in The Great Barrier Reef the next. Other highlights include ayurvedic therapy in India, hiking in Utah and a guided tour of Istanbul’s architecture. With over 20 stops on this year-long voyage you will become both vastly cultured and a master of your own health and fitness.

Pricing starts from £156,000pp with Business class flights for 12 months around the world wellness trip. Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com)

The Tennis Holiday – Pine Cliffs Annabel Croft Tennis Academy, Portugal

Whether your dreaming of Wimbledon, or simply getting the ball over the net, the Tennis Academy at Pine Cliffs in Portugal is guaranteed to improve your game leaps and bounds. With five group tennis lessons throughout the week, all of which utilise the professionally developed ‘movement and repetition method’ expect to see advances in skill, stamina, and style. Guests also receive an invigorating sports massage, the perfect way to unwind after a morning on the court.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Pine Cliffs from £1,325pp or £1,055 for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a tennis training programme, return flights and transfers.

The Safari and Yoga Break – Karkloof Safari & Yoga, South Africa

Combining passions for yoga and nature, this wellness holiday takes you to one of the most exceptional and unspoilt areas of South Africa. During the Safari & Yoga programme at Karkloof Safari Spa, guests experience two game drives, observing wildlife such as giraffes, rhinoceros, and a plethora of bird species. With daily yoga classes, mountain biking, fishing, and guided hikes, finding your connection with nature and developing inner peace has never come more naturally.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Karkloof Safari Spa from £4,650pp or £4,770 for single occupancy. Price is all-inclusive, with a programme, return flights and transfers.

The Sleep Retreat – Lefay Sleep Well, Italy

Regain control over your sleeping pattern on an invigorating sleep wellness retreat overlooking beautiful Lake Garda. Find relaxation and pure bliss with a selection of indulgent, pampering, and holistic spa treatments. Improve your sleeping patterns as you are guided by the energy flow of Chinese medicine combined with locally grown healthy cuisine as you are taken through a journey to better health and peaceful state of mind, ensuring you get a good night's rest.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Lefay Resort & Spa from £2,155pp or £2,640 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, with a sleep programme, return flights and transfers.

The Winter Sun Fitness Holiday – BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness, St Lucia

If you’re looking for winter sun, it’s a struggle to comprehend a destination more perfect than St Lucia with an activity for every type of active traveller. From 7am beach workouts to 8am yoga along with daily spa treatments, enjoy a personalised Fusion Fitness programme designed for you. Achieve optimal well-being with a choice of private activities from tennis lessons, bike rides and sports weight training to ocean sports, Tai Chi, Pilates and meditation.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at BodyHoliday from £2,790pp or £2,810 for single occupancy. Price is all-inclusive, with a Fusion Fitness programme, return flights and transfers.

The Short-haul Health Booster – Six Senses Kaplankaya De-stress & Reconnect, Turkey

Give your health a well-deserved boost this year as you enjoy a selection of indulgent spa treatments including massages and body wraps at Six Senses, Kaplankaya. Disengage from the stresses of daily life as you find your calm with sunrise yoga or a morning coastal walk, then work out your tensions in an invigorating personal training session. Whether it’s a quick break or an extended getaway, this Turkish stay is guaranteed to help you take a step back, finding clarity in the process.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Six Senses Kaplankaya from £1,380pp or £2,300 for single occupancy. Price includes full board, with a wellness programme, return flights and transfers.

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891

About Health and Fitness Travel

Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.

Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™ BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com

Cancer targeted with reusable ‘stinging nettle’ treatment

• Cancer cells killed more effectively and selectively with a new approach, using a substance found in stinging nettles & ants – new University of Warwick research
• New treatment JPC11 can be recycled and reused within cancer cells to attack them repeatedly – a unique approach in the fight against cancer
• Could lessen side-effects of chemotherapy and overcome increasing resistance of cancer cells to existing drugs
• Research published in Nature Chemistry

Cancer cells can be destroyed more effectively and selectively with a unique new reusable treatment, activated with a substance found in stinging nettles and ants - thanks to new research by the University of Warwick.

Led by Professor Peter J. Sadler from Warwick’s Department of Chemistry, researchers have developed a new line of attack against cancer: an organic-osmium compound, which is triggered using a non-toxic dose of sodium formate, a natural product found in many organisms, including nettles and ants.

Named JPC11, it targets a metabolic process which cancer cells rely on to survive and multiply. It does this by converting a key substance used by cancer cells to provide the energy they need for rapid division (pyruvate) into an unnatural lactate - leading to the cells’ destruction.

Uniquely, this chemo-catalyst treatment can be recycled and reused within a cancer cell to attack it repeatedly.

This unprecedented functional ability to recycle and reuse the compound within cancer cells could lead to future anticancer drugs being administered in smaller, more effective, and potentially less toxic doses - decreasing the side-effects of chemotherapy.

The researchers have been focusing on the potential to use this compound on ovarian and prostate cancers.

Ovarian cancers are becoming increasingly resistant to existing chemotherapy drugs (such as the platinum drug, cisplatin). Since this new research functions in a totally new and unique way, it may overcome this acquired resistance and widen the spectrum of anticancer activity.

Importantly, the development opens up a possibility for a more selective cancer treatment as JPC11 was observed to specifically target the biochemistry of cancer cells, leaving healthy cells largely untouched – another improvement compared to existing platinum-based drugs, which can also attack non-cancerous cells.

Dr James Coverdale, a Research Fellow from Warwick’s Department of Chemistry, commented:

“This is a significant step in the fight against cancer. Manipulating and applying well-established chemistry in a biological context provides a highly selective strategy for killing cancer cells.

“We have discovered that chemo-catalyst JPC11 has a unique mechanism of action – and we hope that this will lead to more effective, selective and safer treatments in the future.”

Professor Peter Sadler, a medicinal chemist at the University of Warwick commented:

“Platinum compounds are the most widely used drugs for cancer chemotherapy, but we urgently need to respond to the challenges of circumventing resistance and side-effects. Our lab is focussed on the discovery of truly novel anticancer drugs which can kill cells in totally new ways. Chemo-catalysts, especially those with immunogenic properties, might provide a breakthrough.

“It will take time to progress from the lab to the clinic, but we are fortunate to have a talented enthusiastic, international team working with colleagues in Warwick Cancer Research Centre across the borderlines of chemistry, cell and systems biology and cancer medicine who are determined to succeed.”

Professor Martin Wills, catalyst specialist at the University of Warwick, commented:

“Although asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation processes are well developed in the materials industry, this research provides the first ever example of it being achieved inside cells using a synthetic catalyst.”

Handedness (molecular asymmetry) is critical to the function of bio-molecules in the body. Proteins, enzymes and our DNA, for example - are handed. Only the correct hand works, in the same way that a right hand does not fit a left-hand glove.

In this case, the osmium compound JPC11, with sodium formate, can selectively produce a molecule of a specific ‘handedness’ – thus manipulating how cancer cells grow.

Dr Coverdale explained:

“The ‘handedness’ of molecules is critical in the body. Our hands are near-identical, but are mirror images of each other. The same can be true of molecules, and in some cases, having the wrong handed molecule can have profound biological consequences.

“We believe that manipulation of the ‘handedness’ of molecules in cells could provide a new strategy for fighting diseases.”

Notes:

The research, ‘Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation by synthetic catalysts in cancer cells’, is published in Nature Chemistry. DOI: 10.1038/NCHEM.2918

It is authored by Dr James P C Coverdale, Dr Isolda Romero-Canelon, Dr Carlos Sanchez-Cano, Dr Abraha Habtemariam, Professor Martin Wills and Professor Peter J Sadler.

It was funded by the European Research Council, Science City (Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund), The University of Warwick, Bruker Daltonics, the Engineering and Physical Research Council and Cancer Research UK.

Image 1: Dr James Coverdale (L) and Dr Isolda Romero-Canelón (R) working in the laboratory - credit University of Warwick. CLICK FOR HIGH RES.

Image 2: Representation of the organic-osmium compound, which is triggered using a non-toxic dose of sodium formate, a natural product found in many organisms, including nettles and ants - credit Dr James Coverdale/University of Warwick. CLICK FOR HIGH RES.