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Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
'Specific' method to ease IBS when travelling according to nutritionist
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can severely impact day-to-day life and travel can exacerbate symptoms For the millions of people living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), travel can feel less like an adventure and more like a gamble when it comes to taking your IBS abroad. IBS affects around 10% of the global population, with symptoms such as bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and constipation. While not dangerous, IBS can severely impact day-to-day life and travel can worsen symptoms. According to research by PrecisionBiotics, 65% of those with IBS say they think about their condition all the time, while 50% of people avoid travel due to their IBS symptoms. Public Health Nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire, advisor to PrecisionBiotics, explained: "Crossing time zones, stress, dehydration, a change in diet and a disruption to routine and sleep can all impact your gut and your gut microbiome, the trillions of bacteria which reside in your gut." Why does travel make IBS worse? Dr Derbyshire explained: "First, stress plays a major role. Whether it's airport delays, language barriers, or simply being out of routine, stress and anxiety are well-known IBS triggers. Disrupted routines, including irregular meals, sleep and toilet access can also upset the gut's natural rhythm. "Add in unfamiliar foods, long flights, dehydration, or the fear of not finding a nearby toilet and it's easy to see why symptoms can spiral. The good news? With the right preparation, travel can be manageable and even enjoyable." Five ways to help keep IBS in check on the move Prepare and plan Dr Derbyshire advised: "Do your homework. Research local food options, nearby pharmacies and toilets at your destination. Apps like Flush or SitOrSquat can help locate restrooms. If flying, request an aisle seat for easier bathroom access." Maintain your routine She suggested: "Try to maintain regular mealtimes and sleep patterns, even when changing time zones. Pack safe snacks that you are familiar with to avoid relying on unfamiliar menus." Assemble a gut-friendly travel kit Dr Derbyshire recommended: "Include medications or supplements you normally use – from anti-diarrhoeals and laxatives to probiotics or peppermint oil capsules. Carry extra clothes, wipes and hand sanitiser. "Take a proven targeted probiotic formulation to help with your IBS, but it's important to look to specific strains and here I would recommend Bifidobacterium longum strain 35624 – which is in PrecisionBiotics Alflorex Original. This is a rigorously studied probiotics species – recognised by the World Gastroenterology Organisation as the most effective probiotic for the relief of IBS. "A clinical trial at the University of Manchester showed that a daily dose of 10 colony-forming units (CFU) of Bifidobacterium longum 35624 relieved many symptoms of IBS, including bloating, abdominal pain, gas and improved bowel function. As it doesn't need refrigeration, PrecisionBiotics Alflorex Original is also convenient for travel." Consume and hydrate intelligently "Avoid greasy, spicy, or gas-producing foods before and during travel. Limit alcohol and caffeine and stay well hydrated - especially on flights. Choose bottled water in countries with uncertain tap water safety." Take charge of stress management "Practice calming techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or light stretching. For those with persistent travel anxiety, gut-directed hypnotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may offer long-term benefits. "IBS can make travel feel daunting, but it doesn't have to derail your plans. With thoughtful planning and self-care, you can stay in control - and focus on the journey, not your gut."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From Ranbir Kapoor to Sara Ali Khan: Bollywood stars who studied at top global universities
In a world where legacies can often decide careers, a few Bollywood names chose to first earn their stripes in lecture halls rather than limelight. Their international degrees are not mere trivia but markers of how global education shaped their perspectives long before the spotlight found them. From Sara Ali Khan walking the halls of Columbia University to Parineeti Chopra diving into economics at Manchester, these actors combined privilege with preparation. Here's a closer look at five actors whose academic choices prove that a film career doesn't always begin on set. Sometimes, it starts with a student ID. Sara Ali Khan Columbia University, New York Before rising to prominence in Bollywood, Sara Ali Khan was buried in political theory essays at Columbia University. She graduated in 2016 with a degree in History and Political Science. Her decision to attend one of the Ivy League's most competitive institutions was not just driven by academics but also by her desire to step away from the public gaze during her formative years. Sara completed the four-year course in just three, a feat that involved back-to-back semesters and sleepless nights. Her discipline, paired with her love for literature and current affairs, often comes through in interviews. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Successful Way of Intraday Trading is "Market Profile" TradeWise Learn More Undo In 2025, as she toggles between commercial cinema and performance-driven roles, her educational background remains a quiet influence, reflected in her choice of scripts and the clarity with which she articulates her journey. Parineeti Chopra University of Manchester, United Kingdom Parineeti Chopra, before movie sets, was knee-deep in economics coursework. She holds a triple honours degree in Business, Finance and Economics from the University of Manchester, one of the UK's top research universities and a member of the elite Russell Group. What began as a roadmap towards investment banking took a sharp turn when she moved back to India and interned in marketing at Yash Raj Films. One foot in finance, the other in film, she soon switched roles, literally, and debuted on screen. Her background in finance, however, was never wasted. She often credits her education for helping her understand branding, contracts and the business of cinema. Soha Ali Khan University of Oxford & London School of Economics There are pedigrees, and then there is Soha Ali Khan, who can casually mention both Oxford and the London School of Economics on her CV. She studied Modern History at Balliol College, University of Oxford, and then went on to earn a Master's in International Relations from LSE. While her filmography may be modest in size, her education has had a longer shelf life. Soha has spoken openly about how her academic exposure shaped the way she views politics, performance and public life. Her book, The Perils of Being Moderately Famous , is equal parts humour and insight, the kind of perspective that could only come from someone who understands the world through both headlines and historiography. She remains a respected voice in social discourse and literature, standing out in Bollywood's often apolitical landscape. Ranbir Kapoor School of Visual Arts & Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, New York Ranbir Kapoor's preparation for stardom involved more than just lineage. He studied filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts in New York and then trained in method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, which counts Robert De Niro and Al Pacino among its alumni. Ranbir's academic detour was intentional. He wanted to learn the mechanics of cinema including direction, cinematography and scriptwriting before stepping in front of the lens. This foundation is visible in his performances, especially in nuanced roles like Rocket Singh or Tamasha , where technique subtly complements instinct. Ranbir continues to be a reminder that serious craft often begins with serious study. Imran Khan New York Film Academy, Los Angeles Imran Khan's rise in Bollywood may have slowed, but his academic choices still make him stand out. After spending his early years shuttling between India and the US, he enrolled at the New York Film Academy's Los Angeles campus, where he specialised in filmmaking. His debut, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na , made him a youth icon, but few knew that he had already studied screenwriting, editing and camera work in a structured setting. While Imran took a break from acting, in 2025 he has hinted at a return, this time behind the camera. His education in LA, paired with his cross-cultural upbringing, continues to influence his quiet but deliberate choices in storytelling. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
2 billion-year-old moon rock found in Africa reveals secret lunar history
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A meteorite that fell from the moon and was found in Africa is a rare volcanic rock dating from a time period in lunar history that scientists know little about. The 311-gram space rock was discovered in 2023 and is known as the Northwest Africa 16286 meteorite — and based on the decay of the lead isotopes that it contains, its formation has been dated to about 2.35 billion years ago. "Its age and composition show that volcanic activity continued on the moon throughout this timespan, and our analysis suggests an ongoing heat-generation process within the moon, potentially from radiogenic elements decaying and producing heat over a long period," said lead researcher Joshua Snape of the University of Manchester in a statement. The meteorite is an important piece in the jigsaw that is the moon's history, filling-in an almost billion-year-long gap in our knowledge. The meteorite is much younger than samples brought back to Earth by NASA's Apollo missions, the Soviet Union's Luna missions and China's Chang'e 6 mission, all of which range between 3.1 billion and 4.3 billion years old, but older than the 1.9-billion-year-old rocks returned by Chang'e 5. Crucially, meteorite 16286 has a volcanic origin, with geochemical analysis showing that it formed when a lava flow from deep within the moon vented onto the surface and solidified. It contains relatively large crystals of a mineral called olivine, moderate levels of titanium and high levels of potassium. Its lead isotopes also point to a volcanic source deep underground that has an unusually high uranium-to-lead ratio (the lead being a decay product of uranium). This abundance of uranium, and the heat it produced as it underwent radioactive decay, is a potential clue as to what was keeping volcanism going a billion years after the moon's main bouts of volcanism had ceased. There are only 31 volcanic lunar rocks that have been found on Earth in the form of meteorites, and meteorite 16286 is by far the youngest. "Moon rocks are rare, so it's interesting when we get something that stands out and looks different to everything else," said Snape. The meteorite is more evidence that volcanism continued throughout this period on the moon; Chang'e 5 has found such evidence in its samples from the moon's farside of volcanism in the past 123 million years. Together, these discoveries are transforming what we thought we thought we knew about the moon's volcanism and how the moon has remained geologically active, at least in bursts, almost to the present day. RELATED STORIES — Why is the moon's far side so weird? China's lunar sample-return mission may have figured it out — Volcanoes shaped the moon from the inside out, scientists find: 'Our team was genuinely puzzled' — NASA robot digs up simulated moon rocks | Space photo of the day for June 13, 2025 The next step is to pinpoint the meteorite's origin on the moon: likely a crater blasted into the surface by an impact that ejected the meteorite long ago. Once identified, it will be a prime location for a future sample-return mission to learn more about lunar volcanism during this little-known period, from which so few samples exist. Snape presented the findings at the world's premier geochemistry meeting, the Goldschmidt Conference in Prague held between July 6 and July 11. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists unlock secret behind rare disease where flu can cause paralysis
The family of a man who was paralysed at the age of two after catching the flu have expressed their 'hope' as scientists have discovered that a faulty gene may be responsible for the rare condition. It is hoped that the finding could potentially one day lead to a treatment for the illness. When Timothy Bingham was two, he had a mild flu-like illness which left him unable to walk. Three years later following another infection, he was paralysed and has been in a wheelchair ever since. Kate Bingham, mother of Timothy, who is now 28, said: 'About 25 years ago Tim got a flu like infection and a temperature. 'What seemed like a minor illness had devastating consequences. 'The attack, and subsequent attacks – did terrible damage. First to his legs, then his arms, his face and his chest. 'And now he needs 24-hour care. His diaphragm barely works at all so he can't cough. 'It's hard for him to chew and he can't drink unassisted. He can't move in bed so needs turning throughout the night. The things we all take for granted he can't do.' The rare condition was spotted again in 2011 when an unnamed eight-month-old girl was left unable to breathe on her own without the support of a ventilator after a mild chest infection. Scientists suspected that there could be a genetic reason behind the condition after the girl's two brothers had experienced similar severe problems following mild infections. Now scientists at the University of Manchester have found a genetic mechanism behind the severe reactions to mild infections seen among these children – a change to a gene called RCC1. Researchers found that 24 children from 12 families from the UK, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Germany, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, and Slovakia have been found to have changes in the same gene. Writing in the journal Lancet Neurology, the research team describe how the condition 'mimics' Guillain-Barre syndrome – a rare condition in which a person's immune system attacks the nerves – and 'overlaps mechanistically' with motor neurone disease. The research team, led by Professor Bill Newman from the University of Manchester, said that their study reveals that 'variants in RCC1 as a novel cause of neurological disease.' 'Until this study, little was known about why some people experience severe nerve damage after they have had a mild infection like flu or a stomach upset,' Professor Newman said. 'This work provides families with an explanation and is the first step in us developing an effective treatment. As children are well before they develop nerve damage following an infection, this gives us an opportunity to treat at risk children before problems occur. 'The similarity with Guillain-Barre syndrome and with conditions like motor neuron disease may help us understand these more common conditions and why some people are at greater risk and what treatments may be effective.' Mrs Bingham from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, said: 'As Tim's mum the discovery of a gene which is linked to what happened to Tim means everything to me. 'For so long we have lived with uncertainty of not knowing the full picture. 'This breakthrough brings us great hope as it will do to all those people who have waited years for answers. This is something that helps us look to the future.' She added: 'I'm proud of how strong Tim has been. 'He now has a girlfriend he met online who is wonderful. 'He proves there is life beyond disability.' The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, LifeArc and the Wellcome Trust. Sam Barrell, chief executive of LifeArc, said, 'For many people living with rare conditions, the wait for a diagnosis can be agonisingly long – around a third wait more than five years. 'In Timothy's case, that uncertainty stretched for over twenty years. 'This discovery provides a potential target for treatment and the first step towards delivering a brighter future for people that could be living with this same devastating condition.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Man, 28, caught flu aged two - now he needs 24-hour care
Timothy Bingham was paralysed at the age of two after contracting a flu-like illness and has been in a wheelchair since, but his family has now expressed their "hope" The relatives of a man who became paralysed at two years old following a bout of flu have voiced their "hope" after researchers identified that a defective gene could be behind this uncommon condition. The discovery raises the possibility of eventually developing a treatment for the illness. Timothy Bingham was just two when he contracted what appeared to be a minor flu-like bug that robbed him of his ability to walk. Three years on, another infection struck, leaving him paralysed and wheelchair-bound ever since. His mother, Kate Bingham, whose son is now 28, explained: "About 25 years ago Tim got a flu-like infection and a temperature. What seemed like a minor illness had devastating consequences. "The attack, and subsequent attacks – did terrible damage. First to his legs, then his arms, his face and his chest. And now he needs 24-hour care. His diaphragm barely works at all, so he can't cough. "It's hard for him to chew and he can't drink unassisted. He can't move in bed, so needs turning throughout the night. The things we all take for granted he can't do." Scientists encountered the rare condition once more in 2011 when an unnamed eight-month-old girl was left dependent on a ventilator to breathe following what started as a mild chest infection. Researchers began to suspect a genetic component might be at play after discovering the girl's two brothers had suffered similar devastating effects from seemingly minor infections. Scientists at the University of Manchester have discovered a genetic mechanism that triggers severe reactions to mild infections in certain children, linked to a modification in the RCC1 gene. The research identified 24 children from 12 families across the UK, Turkey, Czech Republic, Germany, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Slovakia, all exhibiting changes in this same gene. Published in Lancet Neurology, the researchers describe how the condition "mimics" Guillain-Barre syndrome - a rare disorder where the immune system attacks the nerves - and shares mechanisms with motor neurone disease. The study, led by Professor Bill Newman from the University of Manchester, reveals that "variants in RCC1 as a novel cause of neurological disease". Professor Newman said: "Until this study, little was known about why some people experience severe nerve damage after they have had a mild infection like flu or a stomach upset. "This work provides families with an explanation and is the first step in us developing an effective treatment. As children are well before they develop nerve damage following an infection, this gives us an opportunity to treat at risk children before problems occur. "The similarity with Guillain-Barre syndrome and with conditions like motor neuron disease may help us understand these more common conditions and why some people are at greater risk and what treatments may be effective." Mrs Bingham from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, expressed her relief at the discovery: "As Tim's mum the discovery of a gene which is linked to what happened to Tim means everything to me. For so long we have lived with uncertainty of not knowing the full picture. "This breakthrough brings us great hope as it will do to all those people who have waited years for answers. This is something that helps us look to the future." She added: "I'm proud of how strong Tim has been. He now has a girlfriend he met online who is wonderful. He proves there is life beyond disability." The research leading to this discovery received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, LifeArc, and the Wellcome Trust. Sam Barrell, chief executive of LifeArc, said: "For many people living with rare conditions, the wait for a diagnosis can be agonisingly long – around a third wait more than five years. In Timothy's case, that uncertainty stretched for over 20 years. "This discovery provides a potential target for treatment and the first step towards delivering a brighter future for people that could be living with this same devastating condition."
