Common Ground: Those living in cities suffer worse from car pollution:

 

 

 

Common Ground Scott Strazzante's new book, Common Ground, follows the stories of two families living on the same plot of land, many years apart. Scott Strazzante's new book, Common Ground, follows the stories of two families living their lives on the same plot of land, many years apart. "I first met Harlow and Jean Cagwin in May, 1994," writes Strazzante via email. "I was sent to their 118-acre farm, 35 miles southwest of Chicago, to photograph them as part of a larger story on people who raised animals in Homer Township for my employer, the Daily Southtown." Over the next few years, Strazzante continued to visit the farm on his own time, documenting the Cagwins battling aging, a changing economy and the onslaught of suburban sprawl. In 2002, the Cagwins left their land behind to make way for the Willow Walk subdivision. The project seemed to be at a natural end. Throughout his years with Harlow and Jean, Strazzante won handful of photo awards with the work, including a National Newspaper Photographer of the Year portfolio in 2000. "In 2007, after showing the project to a College of DuPage photo class, a woman, Amanda Grabenhofer, raised her hand and told me that she lived in the subdivision that was built of the Cagwin farmland," recalls Strazzante. "Amanda, a young married mother of four, invited me to her home to photograph a cul de sac wide Easter Egg Hunt and the project was reborn on Cinnamon Court, just feet from where the Cagwin farmhouse once stood." "On my second visit to the subdivision, I photographed Amanda and her husband Ed’s oldest child, Ben, as he wrestled with his cousin, C.J., in the front yard. The boys had a jump rope and they were using it to try to tie each other up. As I edited my take from the day, later that night, that image reminded me of a photo I took back in 2001 of Harlow Cagwin struggling to lasso a day-old-calf that had escaped from the barn. I decided to make a diptych out of the two images and “Common Ground” was born." After digging out his old binder of negatives from the farm, Strazzante poured over the images looking for matches for his new frames. A little less than a year after meeting the Grabenhofers, he had a 4 page spread in National Geographic. Then a collaboration with MediaStorm created a new life for the work in video form. In 2013, Strazzante launched a Kickstarter campaign to create a book. "I think this is the end, but I realize by now, that my thoughts on that matter hold absolutely no weight at all," Strazzante admits. "I am thrilled to have 'Common Ground' as a book. Books have a permanence to them that almost no other medium does. I am, also, excited for the immortality that it gives the Cagwin and Grabenhofer families, who opened their lives to my camera and made this all possible. Harlow Cagwin died in Jean’s arms in August, 2012, six days short of his 90th birthday. I am sad he never got to see the book, but I have dedicated it to him- 'the hardest working man I have ever known.'" Scott Strazzante is a staff photographer at the San Francisco Chronicle and previously, the Chicago Tribune. Posted by Patrick Traylor Follow @denverphotos Like (0) Retweet () Email An aerial view of the Cagwin farmstead near Lockport, IL in 2000. (left) An aerial view of the Willow Walk subdivision built on the same spot as the Cagwin farm from 2007. (right) Photos by Scott Strazzante.2 of 13 -How many memories are framed in a childhood bedroom window? Just before the Cagwins left their farm, Harlow's sister Sandy (left) made a final visit to the room that had been hers growing up. Abby and Caity Grabenhofer gaze out over their neighborhood from the room they share (right). Photos by Scott Strazzante.3 of 13 -Bucket up once meant feed for eager Cagwin cattle. Now bucket down means a goofy helmet for a Cinnamon Court driveway Grand Prix. Photos by Scott Strazzante.4 of 13 -A quick cap grab, a laugh: a fleeting husband-and-wife comedy routine amid the hard work of raising livestock. On the Cagwin farm, feeding cattle also meant growing and baling the hay required to supplement scant cold-season forage. Photo by Scott Strazzante.5 of 13 -Whether a simple meal for a farm couple, or a tableful of food for a suburban family, bowed heads and folded hands acknowledge that eating together is a gift of grace. Photos by Scott Strazzante.6 of 13 -Harlow and Jean (left) married late and had no children; Ed and Amanda Grabenhofer (right) married young, and the first of their four kids arrived soon after. Despite the gulf between them, moments of loving touch reveal the common bonds that tie such devoted couples together. Photos by Scott Strazzante.7 of 13 -The struggles of a frantic calf momentarily toppled Harlow, who was only trying to lead the newborn animal back to its mother. In an image rich with echoes - this is the pair of photographs that first inspired the Common Ground project - young Ben Grabenhofer and his cousin, C.J., share a similar tumble in the Willow Walk grass. Photos by Scott Strazzante.8 of 13 -Farmyard icons: silhouetted against fresh snowfall, or outlined by a childish hand. Photos by Scott Strazzante.9 of 13 -A spring shower on Cinnamon Court brings a chance to flash bring boots and a fanciful umbrella. May 5, 2008. Photo by Scott Strazzante.10 of 13 -Harlow's family settled on the Lockport farm before he was five years old. "I did everything here," he recalled. "I threshed, I filled the film. I plowed with horses until 1950. That's the way I grew up." For most suburban children, a barn is not a familiar place to work; it's just a red cartoon, a word that rhymes with "yarn." Photos by Scott Strazzante.11 of 13 -After the last of the cattle left the Cagwin farm, Harlow fell into a slump. Without creatures to care for, the aches and pains accumulated in years of hard physical work seemed able to knock him down as they had never before. (left) After mounting a brotherly invasion of his sister's room, Aiden Grabenhofer flops back on a bed in glee. Photos by Scott Strazzante.12 of 13 -From the air, field boundaries and farm machines of a 118-acre cattle operation shrink to the size of chalk lines and children's toys on a suburban driveway. Photos by Scott Strazzante.13 of 13 -"I just liked being out in the open spaces," Jean says. "I liked the atmosphere of a farm." Photo by Scott Strazzante.   The rolling Montana landscape creates a tranquil backdrop to this series of images exploring rural life in Paradise Valley, a small rural community just north of Yellowstone National Park. It portray the 'salt of the earth' people who live there alongside the ranch animals and  spectacular Big Sky scenery. +30 A rancher takes a drag on a cigarette with the rolling Montana landscape behind him +30 The sun streams across a corral as a wrangler leads his horse towards a barn +30 A rusting Montana license plate, that shows the outline of the state, is nailed to a wall The Chicago-based photographer used just one camera and three lenses for the shoot, and worked from dawn to dusk for a week to get the shots he wanted. 'I was reminded of what a great thing it is to do something you are passionate about. The ranchers I photographed are all so passionate about the life they live. It’s very nice to be around passionate people,' he told Wonderful Machine. Lindsey added: 'It was a true pleasure meeting all these amazing people that let me into their lives for a few minutes to a few hours.' The photographer has had a fascination with the rural life since childhood, and said he feels grounded by that upbringing. He said: 'As a photographer and director, I use this experience to tell honest, inviting stories. I create the backdrop for the story and then I provide the simple direction that lets that story unfold, capturing real moments and emotions that pull viewers into the shot.' +30 Rows of stirrups hang against the wooden side of a Montana barn +30 Horses gallop towards Jason Lindsey's camera as the photographer captures the wild beauty of Montana +30 The piercing blue eyes of a cowboy stand out in this portrait taken by Lindsey +30 Lindsey was captivated by the people living in Montana's Paradise Valley +30 Lindsey says his affection for 'salt of the earth' people comes from growing up in a small farm town +30 A Montana rancher, pitchfork in hand, takes a break from his work +30 Two wranglers gallop across a ridge under Montana's famed big sky +30 A working dog looks poised and alert as it watches the world pass by on the farm +30 Lindsey's portraits capture rural life in Paradise Valley +30 A rancher drinks from a shot glass as he takes a rest from a long day on the farm +30 A resident of Paradise Valley smiles broadly as Lindsey takes his photograph +30 A cowboy saddles up his horse in the low light of the Montana sky +30 The sun warms the back of a row of horses as they stand in a corral +30 The warm glow of lights shine in a cabin as snow settles on a tree-covered mountain +30 An animal skull and horse shoes hang on the outside of a farm building in Paradise Valley +30 The tools of a cowboy's trade hang from horse-shoe shaped hooks on a rustic wall +30 Lindsey's photos capture the beauty and soft light of Montana's rural regions +30 License plates from Montana, Colorado and Arizona adorn a wall +30 A horse grazes in a meadow as a blizzard whips around it +30 A rancher with a snow-white mustache smiles while leaning against a wall +30 A holly wreath hangs on the door of a barn sat next to a winding mountain road +30 Two women sit on their horses as the long grass of Montana's plains waves in the breeze +30 Lindsey has produced a series of compelling portraits of those living in Montana's valleys +30 +30 A horse gazes peacefully into the distance from its Montana meadow   Ranch hands hold their horses on a rain-soaked driveway +30 Antlers fixed to the outside of a building are dusted with snow as a flurry falls on Paradise Valley A father from Poland has used his passion for photography to capture striking and heart-warming photos of his family.  Sebastian Luczywo's photos embody his rural life; the photos depict innocent scenes of children playing with their charming family pets. He is not a professional photographer, but Sebastian clearly has an ability to capture powerful still life images. +13 Family album: An amateur photographer and father captures his family in their rural life. This snap called 'The good and bad' shows Sebastian Luczywo's sons Jack and Christopher enjoying a wintery afternoon Speaking about his hobby, he said: 'Photography is my passion, though I do not make money taking pictures at the moment, I do not know if I will in the future. I have been a business advisor for 15 years but I am looking for a new direction in life, I have always hoped to be a photographer.' Sebastian mainly photographs his family, including his two sons, 8-year-old Jacek and 11-year-old Krzysztof, Kaya his 15-year-old daughter and his wife Agnieszka. +13 Child's best friend: The father from Poland has used his passion for photography to capture striking and heart-warming photos of his family and their furry friends +13 Enjoying a dip: Sebastian Luczywo's photos embody his rural life and one of his favourite subjects is his wife Agnieszka, pictured enjoying a cigarette in a makeshift bath tub in the garden +13 Inspirations: Speaking about his work, he said: 'I love my wife and children. I love seeing how they change, and I like to photograph the most important events in our lives' +13 Talent: He is not a professional photographer, but Sebastian clearly has an ability to capture powerful still life images +13 True love: Speaking about his hobby, he said: 'Photography is my passion, though I do not make money taking pictures at the moment and I do not know if I will in the future' +13 Hobby: He has been a business advisor for 15 years but is looking for a new direction in life, he says He said: 'I love my wife and children. I love seeing how they change, and I like to photograph the most important events in our lives. I am happy when we do things together because it brings us closer.  'I find the beauty of my wife very inspiring, but my kids also give me a lot of inspiration. Kaja, Christopher and Jacek are so carefree, cheerful and they have a lot of great ideas - there is no better inspiration than spending time with them,' explains Sebastian. He lives with his family in Jelenia Gora, which is located in a valley and surrounded by picturesque mountains.  The budding photographer explains he chose to include his pet dogs in his touching photos, as he feels they are very much a part of his family.  Childhood innocence: Sebastian says he is happy when he, his wife and children do things together because it brings them closer +13 Unusual: His clever and mood-filled photos depict his children and pets in the countryside, often with a touch of the surreal +13 Magical: The resulting images are anything but your standard family portraits and have a real magical element to them   Man's best friend: The budding photographer explains he chose to include his pet dogs in his touching photos, as he feels they are very much a part of his family

The bright lights of the city often lure people in with promises of a better way of life. Today, around 3.9 billion people around the world live in towns and cities, with the global urban population growing by about one million people each week. But while urban dwellers may have better access to doctors and hospitals, there are growing concerns that city-living is severely damaging to health. Rat race: The Paris-based International Council for Science has launched a programme that aims to understand how a city environment can be changed to improve the health of its residents Now, scientists at the International Council for Science have launched a global programme to find out exactly how factors such as pollution, overcrowding and crime are affecting overall wellbeing. The 'Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme' hopes to understand what makes a 'healthy urban environment', according to a report by Mark Kinver in the BBC. 'We are facing global epidemics of non-communicable diseases - heart disease, diabetes and so on - and mental health problems,' Professor Anthony Capon, director of the UN University's International Institute for Global Health, told the BBC. Packed: The programme claims that city-dwellers have higher rates of mental illness due to stress and social isolation. Those living in cities also suffer worse from impacts from car pollution 'We are also seeing the health impact of climate change, such as heat-stress in cities and changes in the distribution of infectious vector-borne diseases.' CITIES ARE BAD FOR THE HEALTH OF NEW MOTHERS Women who live in urban areas are more likely to develop postnatal depression than those who live in the countryside, recent research has claimed. Women who live in large cities are three per cent more likely to develop the condition five to 14 months after giving birth. The researchers believe this could be because city living is more stressful and is associated with less supportive communities. Dr Simone Vigod, at Women's College Hospital, in Toronto, said: 'Living in an urban area is a marker of more stress, less support and a potentially higher risk of postpartum depression for women. 'Our study suggests we need to better target our supports and services towards women based on their geographic location to improve their outcomes and reduce their risk of postpartum depression.' For instance, the programme claims that city-dwellers have higher rates of mental illness due to stress and social isolation. It is also looking at how infectious diseases thrive when people are crowded together, or how they emerge when cities expand into surrounding areas. 'The demographic advantage of youth in such countries would be lost unless combined with healthy living' said Indira Nath, Chair of the Scientific Committee at the International Council for Science. 'Policy makers face the challenge of viewing healthy cities as 'systems' consisting of multiple subsystems along with the overarching super system of climate change.'  But Professor Capon said that the programme could offer some hope, by combining expertise between scientists and urban planners on how to better develop cities. The programme will look at everything from the design of public spaces and transport to improvements in housing and free city services. Professor Capon says the key is understanding that cities are really about people. 'We are attracted to cities for economic, educational and social opportunities,' he said 'When we live in cities, they need to work for us. It is not just about the economic efficiencies.'     Reuters photographer Jim Urquhart recently captured these scenes from a fading culture, as he followed Montana ranchers on their final horse drive, moving more than 300 horses down from their winter range. Every spring the Mantle family, along with with a group of wranglers, drives the herd north over 35 miles and three days, through the small town of Three Forks to their ranch. After decades of supplying and tending to horses, the Mantles, citing financial challenges, now plan to sell off their herd and shift to raising beef cattle. Take a moment to travel with the Mantle family through big sky country, on a journey once so familiar and iconic, now fading into memory with the rest of cowboy culture. Wrangler Shad Boardman rides into a pasture during Montana Horses' final horse drive outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 6, 2012. The Mantle family, who own Montana Horses, held their last horse drive where they rounded up approximately 300 horses and drove the herd 35 miles from their winter range to the Mantle ranch. The horses will be picked up by leasers to be used as pack and trail horses at dude ranches and national parks. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) 2 A view of the 500 acre Mantle ranch outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 3 Renee Mantle rides in a truck on her way to the wrangler camp before Montana Horses' last annual horse drive, on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 4 Kail Mantle give instructions to wranglers before the horse drive on May 4, 2012. Kail, a former rodeo champion, and his wife Renee have been operating Montana Horses off a plot of land north of Three Forks since 1995.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 5 Renee Mantle checks the hoof and shoes of a horse during Montana Horses' annual horse drive on May 3, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 6 Wrangler Lori Young readies her horse before the start of the horse drive, on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 7 Wranglers ride along railroad tracks during Montana Horses' last horse drive, on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 8 Wranglers gather a herd of horses off the winter range south of Three Forks, Montana, on May 4, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 9 Horses cross a river during Montana Horses' annual horse drive, on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 10 Wranglers work to gather horses outside Three Forks, on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 11 Wrangler Shad Boardman rides his horse through a river on May 4, 2012. The drive is not without dangers -- over the years, a number of wranglers have suffered minor injuries, from head injuries to broken bones. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 12 Wranglers gather at camp outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 13 A spur on a wrangler's boot during Montana Horses' last horse drive outside Three Forks, Montana, May 6, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 14 Wranglers visit beside a campfire under a moonlit sky on May 3, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 15 Wrangler Denise Boyd laughs by the campfire on May 4, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 16 The last of the daylight fades over the wrangler's camp outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 3, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 17 The belt buckle of wrangler Sara Tharp, seen before Montana Horses' last horse drive on May 4, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 18 Renee Mantle chases a horse trying to break away on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 19 Horses run to the corrals during Montana Horses' last horse drive in central Montana, on May 4, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 20 Wranglers from lead a herd of horses down a paved road on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 21 A horse shakes itself off after the second day of Montana Horses' last horse drive on May 5, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 22 Wranglers lead a herd of horses outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 23 Renee Mantle sorts a herd of horses in a corral on May 5, 2012. The Mantles know each of their 300-plus horses by name.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 24 A wrangler's hand rests on a saddle horn during a horse drive on May 6, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 25 Wranglers lead a herd of horses during Montana Horses' last horse drive on May 5, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 26 After the drive, Renee Mantle enjoys a moment in the pasture with her horses as they vie for attention, on May 6, 2012.(Reuters/Jim Urquhart) # 27 Wrangler Nate Cummins takes the opportunity to ride by moonlight, the night before the "Super Moon" during Montana Horses' final horse drive outside Three Forks, Montana, on May 4, 2012. A combine cuts rice in a field near Tucker, Arkansas, on August 16, 2012. Arkansas rice farmers planted 1.135 million acres in 2012, equal to 59 percent of the nation's rice crop this year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.(AP Photo/Danny Johnston) #   Boys and girls compete with their sheep at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. (Image was created using an iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)   A nodding donkey pump extracts oil from the earth at an abandoned farm near the old ghost town of Dore, North Dakota, on April 19, 2012. Dore has seen a rebirth with booming oil activity in western North Dakota.(AP Photo/ James MacPherson)   A firefighting helicopter fills a bucket of water in heavy smoke as the North Merna wildfire burns in the Bridger National Forest west of the town of Pinedale in Sublette County, Wyoming, on September 16, 2012. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #   Visitors walk through the "infinity room" before a public memorial service for U.S. astronaut Neil Armstrong at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 29, 2012. Armstrong, who took a giant leap for mankind when he became the first person to walk on the moon, died in August at the age of 82. (Reuters/Matt Sullivan) #   A bear cub with second-degree burns to its paws is examined and treated at the Garden Valley Ranger Station in Idaho, on August 28, 2012. The cub, who is about four months old, was injured in the Mustang Complex Fire. Wildlife veterinarian Mark Drew said the cub, nicknamed Boo Boo, will require long term care to survive. Efforts to locate the cub's mother were unsuccessful. (Reuters/USFS/Kari Greer) #     Kameron Hays, 7, sports a mohawk while attending the Iowa 80 truck stop's 33rd Annual Truckers Jamboree in Walcott, Iowa, on July 12, 2012. The Iowa 80, located along Interstate 80, is said to be the world's largest truck stop.(Reuters/Adrees Latif)   A view of Monument Valley Tribal Park in Utah, on August 14, 2012. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) A cowboy rides his horse through town as he watches a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Beardstown, Illinois, on May 6, 2012. There are approximately 900 immigrant workers from 34 countries employed in Beardstown at the Cargill meat packing plant and most are willing to work hard at just about anything for a better life in the United States. While both longtime community residents and immigrants agree that most people accept the newcomers, the beginnings were rocky and some problems still remain.(Reuters/Jim Young)   Beach visitors watch the sunset in Dauphin Island, Alabama, on August 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) #   View from the south Rim of the Grand Canyon near Tusayan, Arizona, on August 10, 2012. (Reuters/Charles Platiau)

Forever young: Bodybuilding and The pill that will keep you youthful by preventing the ills of old age

 

 

Bodybuilding saved my life, says father who survived aggressive cancer and a heart attack  David Prescott, 50, began bodybuilding when he was a young man Made him feel 'invincible' - but was diagnosed with liver cancer 4 years ago Doctors discovered he had tumours in his liver and intestines Left hospital with 57 staples holding abdomen together and 27lb lighter Credits bodybuilding with giving him the 'fight' discipline, determination and the character' to recover and become fit and healthy again He has also inspired his 26-year-old son to follow in his footsteps A father who battled cancer and later suffered a heart attack claims his life was saved by years of bodybuilding. David Prescott had tumours in his liver and intestine as well as suffering a massive heart attack. But rather than letting his body get the better of him, he used bodybuilding to save his life - by building back his strength using weights to get back to full health.     David Prescott says after becoming a bodybuilder when he was young, he felt he was 'invincible' +7 After battling tumours in his liver and intestine - and then a heart attack - the 50-year-old said: 'For me, bodybuilding has given me the fight, discipline, determination and the character to come out of that four year spell of major health issues wanting to be fit and healthy again' Mr Prescott, 50, said: 'Bodybuilding always gets a pretty raw deal and a lot of negative things follow the sport around. 'For me, it has given me the fight, discipline, determination and the character to come out of that four year spell of major health issues wanting to be fit and healthy again. 'Never be surprised with how much your body can soak up, and with a strong frame of mind what it can physically and mentally overcome.' After becoming a bodybuilder when he was young, Mr Prescott, from Standish, Lancashire, began to feel he was invincible. But in 2010, his life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. 'The diagnosis initially floored me, it was like a steamroller crushing me,' he said. 'Yes I had various symptoms but I was just under 16 stone and felt quite literally invincible. 'My wife Trish and I sat in a side room, and the results were given. In the next 30 minutes I laughed, cried and felt like I had died.' Mr Prescott underwent a 10-hour operation which took away half of his liver. He left hospital with 57 staples holding his abdomen together and was 27lb lighter.   Mr Prescott (pictured right, today) underwent a 10-hour operation which took away half of his liver. He left hospital with 57 staples holding his abdomen together and lost 27lb. He said: 'Never be surprised with how much your body can soak up, and with a strong frame of mind what it can physically and mentally overcome' +7 Mr Prescott has inspired his 26-year-old son David Jnr (pictured) to follow in his footsteps.The young engineer competes as a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu He said: 'Everything I had worked so hard to achieve had been taken off me. Mentally and emotionally I was battered. 'Virtually from the time I got home my recovery was being mapped out in my mind and it was the ultimate challenge. 'The first week, I could barely shuffle from my front gate to the nearest lamp post. The following week I persuaded Trish to take me to the gym. 'She didn't try to talk me out of it, she knew by hook or by crook I'd have got there anyway. 'The steps up to the gym were a challenge on their own. 'I picked up the weights and proceeded to curl them, my arms started to shake uncontrollably, I dropped the weight and struggled on. +7 He said: 'Nobody knows my body better than me and that's the knowledge bodybuilding gave me. I just wanted my life back' 'This was the start of my recovery I now had something to build on. 'Day after day, week after week, I chipped away at it, getting fitter and stronger. I was in control again.' But just a year later Mr Prescott was left devastated once again after he suffered from a heart attack. He was told he would be on medication for life after having to have a stent fitted and he was advised to exercise less. He said: 'In some respects this affected me more mentally. To me, it sounded like my life as I knew it was finished. 'But after a few days I decided to return to the gym and see for myself and I started off very sensibly. 'However, after a few weeks I became fitter and stronger, I was confident in my ability and never felt afraid to push myself a little further. 'Nobody knows my body better than me and that's the knowledge bodybuilding gave me. I just wanted my life back.' He has also inspired his 26-year-old son David Jnr to follow in his footsteps. The young engineer competes as a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has won the British Open twice alongside many other major competitions. Mr Prescott added: 'People say if their story could inspire one person they would be happy. I couldn't think of anybody better to inspire than my own son. 'He has that steely drive and determination and a positive outlook on life which he gained having to live through those tough uncertain years not knowing if his dad was going to pull through or fully recover.'  Garlic slows ageing and protects the brain from disease, study reveals Nutrient in garlic offers the brain protection against ageing and disease Could even prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's It may be handy for killing vampires, but garlic can keep humans alive in more ways than one, researchers have found. They say a nutrient in garlic offers the brain protection against ageing and disease. It could even prevent age-related neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. +2 Missouri researchers say a nutrient in garlic offers the brain protection against ageing and disease - and could even prevent use from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The University of Missouri researchers found a carbohydrate in the superfood is key. 'Garlic is one of the most widely consumed dietary supplements,' said Zezong Gu, associate professor of pathology and anatomical sciences at the MU School of Medicine and lead author of the study. 'Most people think of it as a 'superfood,' because garlic's sulfur-containing compounds are known as an excellent source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection. CAN GARLUIC BEAT MRSA? A thousand year-old potion made out of onions, garlic, wine and bile from a cow's stomach can kill hospital superbugs, scientists claim. The potent 10th century brew - used by Anglo Saxons to treat a stye (an abscess on the eyelid) destroyed 90 per cent of the bacteria on scraps of skin taken from mice with MRSA. Interestingly, the ingredients had little effect unless they were all brought together into the concoction, the study by Nottingham University researchers found. 'Scientists are still discovering different ways garlic benefits the human body,' he said. 'Our research focused on a carbohydrate derivative of garlic known as FruArg and the role this nutrient plays in protective responses.' Gu's team looked at the nutrient's ability to inhibit ― and even possibly reverse ― brain cell damage caused by environmental stress. Environmental stress could include the aging process, smoking, pollution, traumatic brain injury or excessive alcohol consumption. 'Microglia are immune cells in the brain and spinal cord that are the first and main line of defense in the central nervous system,' Gu said. 'Unlike other mature brain cells that seldom regenerate themselves, microglial cells respond to inflammation and environmental stresses by multiplying. 'By massing themselves and migrating toward an injury site, they are able to respond to inflammation and protect other brain cells from destruction.' However, increasing the number of microglial cells won't provide age-defying protection for the brain, Gu said. In fact, it can do more harm than good. 'Although important to brain cell health, microglial cells also produce nitric oxide in reaction to their function as protectors,' Gu said. 'If we simply increased the number of microglial cells, we also would increase the amount of nitric oxide in the brain. 'Excessive production of nitric oxide leads to brain cell damage and promotes neurodegenerative diseases such as cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, the nutrient FruArg may provide an answer to this reactive dilemma. +2 Gu's team looked at the nutrient's ability to inhibit ― and even possibly reverse ― brain cell damage caused by environmental stress. Howcast: How to prevent cancer with herbs and spices By creating a cell model of neurological stress and monitoring microglial cell function, Gu's team was able to study FruArg's contribution to brain health. 'When stress was applied to the model, there was an expected increase in microglial cells and their byproduct, nitric oxide,' Gu said. 'However, once we applied FruArg, the microglial cells adapted to the stress by reducing the amount of nitric oxide they produced. 'Additionally, FruArg promoted the production of antioxidants, which offered protective and healing benefits to other brain cells. 'This helps us understand how garlic benefits the brain by making it more resilient to the stress and inflammation associated with neurological diseases and aging.' In the future, Gu and his colleagues hope to study the effects of FruArg on other cells in the body associated with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

What does your tongue say about your health? From allergies to syphilis, the signs of illness hidden in your mouth Scientists in India have developed a new test to spot 14 conditions Aimed at those people in remote areas without regular access to doctors Black tongue is a sign of over use of antibiotics and fungal overgrowth in HIV patients, while long furrows in the surface are indicative of syphilis Test uses symptoms combined with an image of the patient's tongue Can offer a likely diagnosis and indicate if someone should see a doctor +2 Indian scientists have developed a new test to detect what your tongue indicates about a person's health. It can spot 14 different conditions For those feeling under the weather, the old adage of 'stick your tongue out', may betray the signs of the illness by which they are afflicted. The tongue can signal signs of a cough, fever, jaundice, headache or bowel habits, and helps doctors make their diagnosis. A healthy tongue should be pink, clean and covered in papillae, which contain taste buds. But inflamed, red, black or white tongues could be a sign of other conditions such as thrush, while a swollen tongue can be a sign of an allergic reaction. Meanwhile a black, discoloured tongue is indicative of extended antibiotic use, or a fungal overgrowth in HIV patients, say Indian scientists. And long furrows on the surface are a sign of the sexually transmitted infection, syphilis. Ulcers should ring alarm bells, warning of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. And a 'beefy and smooth' tongue might reveal vitamin B12, iron or folate deficiency, and anemia. Moving on to more serious conditions, sores or lumps on the tongue - or unexplained bleeding - can be a sign of mouth cancer, warns Cancer Research UK.  Spotting mouth cancer signs and symptoms early But for those living in remote parts of the world, where access to a doctor can be difficult, the simple act of checking a patient's tongue can prove hard. To combat the problem, scientists in India have now developed a new test. The new diagnostic system, reported in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, works to combine symptoms with a digital analysis of an image of the patient's tongue. Karthik Ramamurthy, from Rajalakshmi Engineering College in Chennai, and Siddharth Kulkarni and Rahul Deshpande of School of Electronics Engineering at VIT University, have developed the new software. The neural network can take 'soft inputs' - standard questions about symptoms - and a digital image of a patient's tongue to help offer a likely diagnosis. It aims to help decide if a professional healthcare worker should be sought out for further advice. The digital images of the patient's tongue reveal discolouration, engorgement, texture, and other factors linked to various illnesses. The team's automated diagnosis, however, ultilises the condition of the tongue in combination with other symptoms, to identify whether a patient has a common cold, flu, bronchitis, stretptococcal throat infection, sinusitis, allergies, asthma, pulmonary edema, and food poisoning. In its current form the system allows diagnosis of 14 distinct conditions. But the team hope they can soon add images of patient's eyes to use as additional information, thus extending the system's repertoire significantly. IS YOUR PARTNER'S SNORING DRIVING YOU MAD? THEIR EXTRA-LARGE TONGUE MIGHT BE TO BLAME, SCIENTISTS SAY A recent study has discovered that the tongues of some people who snore are extra large. It's already well-known that being overweight or obese increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which leads to snoring because the airway becomes blocked. Until now, it was thought that a large neck was to blame.  Now, however scientists say piling on the pounds can also cause a fat tongue - which may well be the culprit. U.S. researchers found that obese people with OSA had a higher percentage of tongue fat - especially at the base of their tongues - which made their tongues larger overall. +2 A recent study, published in the journal Sleep, found the tongues of people who snore are extra large This was compared with obese people who didn't suffer from the sleep condition. Increased tongue fat might prevent the tongue's muscles from positioning the tongue away from the airway, causing snoring because the airway becomes blocked, researchers said. They added the study might provide an explanation for the link between obesity and sleep apnoea - and said screening to identify fat tongues may could help diagnose the condition. It's known that obesity is a major cause of obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition where the throat closes repeatedly during the night. Snoring occurs because the airways become narrowed, or even completely blocked, preventing the body from getting enough oxygen. In severe cases, the brain jolts the body awake, causing the airway to reopen. The person may wake up repeatedly without knowing it, increasing their heart rate and blood pressure and preventing deep sleep.  Dr. Richard J. Schwab, of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in the U.S. said: 'This is the first study to show that fat deposits are increased in the tongue of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea.' Dr Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said doctors should look at tongue size when screening for OSA. He said: 'Tongue size is one of the physical features that should be evaluated by a physician when screening obese patients to determine their risk for obstructive sleep apnoea. 'Effective identification and treatment of sleep apnoea is essential to optimally manage other conditions associated with this chronic disease, including high blood pressure, heart disease, tType 2 diabetes, stroke and depression.' The study was published in the journal Sleep.   Forever young: The pill that will keep you youthful by preventing the ills of old age Miracle cure? the pill could prevent many of the ills of old age A ‘forever young’ drug that allows people to grow old gracefully could be available in just ten years, a leading scientist said last night. Professor Linda Partridge, an expert in the genetics of ageing, said that the science is moving so quickly that it will soon be possible to prevent many of the ills of old age. By taking a pill a day from middle-age, we will grow old free from illnesses of the body and mind such as Alzheimer’s and heart disease. People could work for longer – or simply make the most of their retirement. Some research even suggests skin and hair will retain its youthful lustre. Professor Partridge, of University College London, said: ‘I would be surprised if there weren’t things within ten years. If told you could take a drug that has minimal side-effects and that’s going to keep you healthy for another five or ten years and then you’ll drop off your perch without disability, most people would want it.’ Extraordinary as the professor’s prediction may seem, it is based on a host of promising scientific studies from around the world. They have discovered key genes linked to longevity and health – and found ways of tinkering with them, at least in animals.   In one of the remarkable examples, a Harvard University doctor made old mice young again, in experiments that mirrored the plot of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, where the lead character played by Brad Pitt ages in reverse. At the start of the experiment, the animals’ skin, brains, guts and other organs resembled those of an 80-year-old person. In development: One experiment saw a professor make old mice young again Within just two months of being given a drug that switches on a key enzyme, the creatures had grown so many new cells that they had almost completely rejuvenated. Remarkably, the male mice went from being infertile to fathering large litters. Other research has shown that chains of reactions in the body involving insulin and related hormones are key to health and ageing. This means that years of research into diabetes could have yielded medicines that can be reinvented as anti-ageing drugs. Professor Partridge told the Cheltenham Science Festival that some medicines abandoned by drug companies may soon be dusted off and put to use. She said: ‘There are drugs there already, some of them are just sitting in cupboards. I’d be surprised if people don’t start taking them out. ‘The principle is for drugs that if taken from middle-age will ward off quite a broad array of diseases rather than doing things piece-meal or acting when the diseases appear.’ However, she said any drugs would have to be shown to be extremely safe before they were given to healthy people to combat ageing. http://