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Feeling under the weather? Instead of running to the local drugstore, try heading for your kitchen cabinet. You don’t even have to leave home to boost your immune system — you may even start feeling better immediately. Make these five foods kitchen mainstays and you’ll boost your health and vitality all year long. 1. Garlic Garlic is nature’s antibiotic, so it’s great to add to your diet when you’re feeling not-so-hot. Compounds like allistatin, allicin, garlicin, and ajoene deliver super-strong antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and immune-enhancing benefits. Fresh garlic is best (and large quantities of it!) so add the flavor-maker to your meals. It’s incredible for you, so the garlic breath is worth it! 2. Green Tea Green tea contains polyphenols, potent plant antioxidants, which give it immune-system boosting effects. And, EGCG, the active compound in green tea, has been known to fight bacteria and viruses. Matcha is the most nutrient-rich green tea, making an alr...

Low-fat diets do not curb heart disease or help you live longer – the real enemy is sugar and carbohydrates, according to a leading scientist and reported by the Daily Mail of UK. Current dietary advice is based on flawed evidence from the 1950s that has demonised saturated fat and put public health at risk, the scientist said. James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist in New York, United States, said: “We need a public health campaign as strong as the one we had in the 70s and 80s demonising saturated fats, to say that we got it wrong.” Writing in the journal, Open Heart, he added: “There is no conclusive proof that a low-fat diet has any positive effects on health. Indeed, the literature indicates a general lack of any effect (good or bad) from a reduction in fat intake. “The public fear that saturated fat raises cholesterol is completely unfounded.” Experts believed the low-fat diet would lead to less obesity and diabetes – when the exact opposite was ...

Energy drinks are not just an alternative to carbonated soft drinks to replenish lost energy and improve  mood. Experts warn that its consumption, especially among teenagers may be linked with poor mental health and substance use, reports Sade Oguntola. ENERGY drinks is the favourite of many, after a hard day’s work or exhaustion, who want to replenish lost energy. Marketing suggests benefits such as increased energy and stamina, weight loss, and enhanced physical and mental performance. To some, it sounds like the perfect student elixir. However, if you consume energy drinks, it can lead to mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse. In a new study, researchers from the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University are calling for limits on its intake, especially among youths and a reduction in the amount of caffeine in each can. They are warning that energy drinks might facilitate marijuana or alcohol use and depression among teenagers, in a study. The study...

Festivals that celebrate tradition and display history are common to peoples and cultures all over the world. In Nigeria, the many and varied festivals are usually colourful avenues through which the cultural heritage of the people is showcased and celebrated. Artistic presentations, singing and dancing and so on characterise these festivals and each of the diverse cultures in Nigeria has one or the other that has refused to lose relevance, in spite of the influences of modernisation and Western religions. LEADERSHIP Friday in this edition takes a look at the most popular festivals celebrated across Nigeria. ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL The popular Argungu Fishing Festival is one of the most famous and exciting traditional festivals in Nigeria. The four-day annual festival dates back to 1934 and has continued with more alluring dynamics every year. The festival is an all-men affair; women can only be there as spectators. But what is the festival all about? It is a competit...

The military has launched a discreet probe into the activities of a senator from Borno State who is being accused of being sympathetic to the outlawed Boko Haram terrorist group. Sources told THISDAY yesterday that Senator Ahmed Khalifa Zanna who was alleged to have breached the State of Emergency Rule Act through unguarded utterances and acts aimed at causing disaffection among troops engaged in the anti-terror war with the aim of causing mutiny was already on the run. The legislator was said to have granted interviews to BBC Hausa Service, BBC English Service, Aljazeera and Saharareporters during which he made inciting statements "that betray  his connections and contacts with the insurgents." According to an intelligence source: “The senator, who is on the run now, has for several occasions flouted  the State of Emergency Rule Act with unguarded utterances  and inciting statements in sympathy for Boko Haram. "We noted that he has been consistently doi...

Federal Government has paid N41.074billion to 27 oil marketers as fuel subsidy. This was confirmed by the Special Adviser on Communications to the Minister of Finance, Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, yesterday, adding that the government had successfully verified the claim made by the oil marketers before payment was effected. He noted that the ministry would continue to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the fuel subsidy regime. Paul Nwabuike listed some of the marketers who benefitted from the payment to include: A-Z Petroleum Products Ltd, AcornPetroleum Plc, Aiteo Energy Resource Ltd, Ascon Oil and Gas Company Ltd, and Avidor Oil and Gas Company, others are Conoil Plc, Dee Jones Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Dozzy Oil and Gas Ltd, Folawiyo Energy Ltd, Gulf Treasures Ltd, Hudson Petroleum Ltd, Hyde Energy Nigeria Ltd, Ibafon Oil Ltd and Masters Energy Oil and Gas Ltd. Others are: Matrix Energy Ltd, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, MRS Oil and Gas Company Ltd, Nepal Oil an...

More revelations by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts indicated on Thursday that the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation could not account for N35bn it collected from the Service Wide Vote within nine years. While the records of the Budget Office of the Federation showed that the OHSF received N52bn between 2004 and 2012, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Remi Adelakun, admitted only N17.6bn. The committee, which is chaired by Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, insisted on Thursday that Adelakun must explain how the N35bn was spent. At Thursday’s session, the permanent secretary and officials of the budget office had disagreed over how much the latter released to the OHSF. The records of the budget office showed that in 2004, the OHSF received N2.7bn; N9.8m in 2005; N701.7m in 2006; N896.3m in 2007; N5.3bn in 2008 and another N612.9m; and N70m in 2009. For 2010, the figure was N17.6bn; in 2011, it was N13.6bn and N8.5bn in 2012. However, the OHSF ad...

CBN Governor's Suspension: I speak because I want my country to improve - Press Statement released by Atedo N A Peterside con on 26 February, 2014 I don’t know if anything is true or false. What I do know is that in a Presidential system, various aides and pressure groups try and pull the President towards the direction that they believe is best. Is that not why they even have lobbyists in Washington DC? One does not have to jump on the rooftops and sound populist every time in order to be branded “patriotic”. Sometimes the true patriots are those who apply pressure where it matters most – and sometimes on some issues, that might be in private. The facts of the matter are clear and are all now in the public domain and I list some of them sequentially:- 1) On 07 June, 2013, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) wrote to the President. This was a damning and vitriolic attack where words like “fraud” and “misrepresentation” were used freely. They also re...

Kano Security agencies yesterday, confirmed that they had smashed a syndicate behind the abduction and murder of a minor, Aliyu Haidar Aminu, in the Kano metropolis. Director of State Security Service (SSS) in Kano State, Mr. Bassey Etang, who briefed newsmen in his office, said a combined team of the 3rd Brigade, Nigerian Army, and officers of the DSS investigated and effected the arrest of the suspects. The suspects included Jamilu, who allegedly masterminded the operation;  Aliyu, a student of Hassan Usman Katsina  Polytechnic, Katsina; Bashir and one  Umar, whose account was used to collect the ransom from the father of the boy. Checks by Daily Sun revealed that the victim was kidnapped on March 4 while leaving his school, located at Turauni Quarters, but his lifeless  body was found  in an uncompleted building around Eastern Bye pass the next day. One of the suspects, Aliyu, said he was recruited by Jamilu, who sewed similar Islamic school uniforms f...

Emotions ran high at an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court after a 12-year-old boy (name withheld) appeared before the court for allegedly stabbing his friend, Musa Tajudeen, to death. Our correspondent learnt that the 14-year-old victim was stabbed in the stomach with a knife by the minor during an affray. The action was said to have resulted in the victim’s death. The police said the incident happened on Town Hall Street, Amukoko, Apapa, Lagos State. The magistrate, O.O. Olatunji, appeared shocked after the young suspect, who broke down in tears, was put in the dock to answer to the charge of murder. Olatunji called the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Allan Deorji, to explain the outcome of police investigation. Deorji said, “On January 31, 2014, there was a fight between boys from Akintumoye and Tall Hall streets. Four people were involved from both sides. “During the fight, the defendant went inside his father’s house to pick a knife. We learnt that his frie...

It is reported that loud shouts and yells of support were coming from congregants the moment the pastor died A congregation loudly confronted its longtime pastor about his alleged infidelity — and in the midst of their yelling, the pastor dropped dead. That’s what happened Sunday at the Miracle Faith World Outreach Church, according to members of the congregation and police sources. Bishop Bobby Davis, pastor of the Harriet Street church since its founding in 1967, was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital. “After the service on Sunday the bishop’s family asked us to remain in the church and the bishop confessed to us something that happened long ago,” said Judy Stovall, an elder at the church. “He wanted to come clean with all of us. He wanted to ask our forgiveness.” Members of the congregation were very vocal with Davis just before he passed out, but they were shouting support for him, Stovall said. “We were shouting, `We forgive you, we love you,’ but the stre...

Survivors of the boat mishap, which capsized at 6th Avenue Canal, FESTAC Town, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, yesterday, recounted how they cheated death and how other passengers died in the ill-fated canoe. The residents, however, demanded that the council construct a link road from 6th Avenue to 4th Avenue, to ease their movement to the Lagos Badagry Express Road. About 13 persons died in the boat mishap on Tuesday night, with only five persons surviving the tragedy. The survivors are Samuel Ochina, Joseph Essien, Mene Temisan, Daniel Peter and Etukufot Godfrey. When our men visited the survivors, Temisan was gloomy and all he could do was sigh. Speaking to reporters, Joseph Essien, who was mourning his friend, blamed human error for the accident, saying “if the passengers had taken the boat boy’s warning, maybe the tragedy would not have occurred.” He added that what also hindered the victims of the boat mishap was the state of the canal: it is very deep ...

Victory Ibe, until recently, was known around Port Harcourt, Rivers State and environ as a man of God. He was also regarded as such. But things have changed. The self-acclaimed pastor has confessed. Confessed to what? Not a few residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital had approached a self acclaimed Pastor, Victory Ibe, for cleansing of various afflictions and deliverance from spiritual attacks. Ibe, who always parades himself as the Leader in Charge of a new generation church in the oil rich city, was far from being a chosen man of God. Ibe attends to miracle seekers together with a cousin of his who also appeared to the public as Personal Assistant to the Man of God. Unknown to those people Pastor Ibe and his Personal Assistance are dupes, with no association with the clergy. Recently, the evil deeds of these brothers were brought to the fore when a woman reportedly brought her husband, Mr. Umejiego, to the prophets seeking business development and growth. U...

Those looking for the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 plane , had better come to Nigeria to consult with our super seer, Prophet T.B Joshua who has come out to say that the plane is lodged inside the deep sea with all passengers and crew dead. The plane, whose disappearance without trace has been a source of worry to the Malaysian government as well as many people all over the world went off the radar almost a week ago and every effort to trace it or its debris physically and via the satellite has proven abortive. But our very own T.B Joshua has given what seems to be the accurate location of the missing plane, if we are to go by his antecedents on accurate predictions. This is what he said: The plane concerned is deep inside the sea. Some of the particles will be seen on the surface of the sea any moment from now. May their souls rest in peace; we pray the Lord gives the family and loved ones the strength to bear the loss. Our prayer and love are alway...

This is, no doubt, a season of ‘divorces’ in the Nigerian music industry. With issues ranging from the general lull in album sales to  breech of contract on the increase, more artistes seem to have chosen to part ways with their records labels. The result is that many of the affected labels have lost their ‘prized possessions’ of late. Recently, Kennis Music artiste, Jaywon (real name Iledare Oluwajuwonlo) reportedly asked his records label to set him ‘free’. Now, the singer has joined the growing number of singers calling it quits with their  labels and by implication, metaphorically ‘biting’ the fingers that fed them. A statement released by the Public Affairs Unit of Kennis Communications says the singer had written a letter through his lawyer to request the termination of his contract with the company. The statement reads in part, “Jaywon wrote, in the same letter, his willingness to pay off all costs therein accordingly. However, Kennis Music, has urged...

Pete Edochie, Nollywood veteran, won the lifetime achievement award at the second edition of the African Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) held at the convention centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Osita Iheme (Paw Paw) also won the Best Actor in a Comedy, while Desmond Elliot won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama and Funke Akindele Best Actress in a Comedy. The Full list of winners : BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life (WINNER) Olabimpe Cole – Lekki Wives Alex Gakumo – Sumu La Penzi Episode 1 Season 1 Michael Wawuyo – The Felistas Fable Rehema Samo – Siri Ya Mtungi Israel Moses – A Wish Rosemary Obika – Redemption BEST COSTUME DESIGNER Adeola Ramonu – Adebola Omo Oba Doreen Estazia Noni – Siri Ya Mtungi Catherine Kibugi – Sumu La Penzi Episode 5 Ruth Ndulu Maingi – Lies That Bind Episode 2 Season 2 Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom (WINNER) BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER Don Izuchukwu Anozie – Brother’s Keeper Godwin Daniel – Li...

A Senior Magistrates' Court in Lagos, Wednesday remanded a former pastor with the Christ Embassy Church, Jones Nweze, at the  Kirikiri Prisons, Apapa, for allegedly assaulting his colleague. The Senior Magistrate in Isheri, Mrs. Adejumoke Olagbegi-Adelakun, ordered the accused to be remanded following his re-arraignment and the violation of a court order. The police had arraigned Nweze on August 7, 2013 for attempting to attack, with a machete, some members of the church during service. The court had ordered the accused to stay away from the church after he was  granted bail in the sum of N50,000,  with two sureties in like sum. Nweze was re-arraigned for allegedly assaulting his successor, Pastor Nike Akinola. Nweze, 52, who lives at No. 24, Ajilogo Street, Ketu, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of breach of the peace and assault. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen Thomas, said the accused committed the off...