The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 06-01-20

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Nutrition and Mental Health The Menu of Well-Being

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: BBC, Sustain, Mental Health

The changes that have come upon modern way of life, in the past 50 years, could not leave nutritional habits unaffected, or the quality of food products. Two British health organisations, Sustain (Alliance for better food and farming) and the Mental Health Foundation, are convinced over the unbreakable tie between nutrition and mental health. They estimated that the above changes are partly responsible for the increase of psychologists clients and noted that whatever lies in our plate should be responsible over a series of mental problems and disorders, since the substitution of fresh and healthy foods with saturated fats and sugars weights down the body with unwanted fat.

Incriminating Foods

In order to prove their point, they began a research aimed at proving the relation between the two. A few days ago they presented their first report, claiming that a unbalanced diet, in basic nutritional ingredients, is reflected in ones lifeline mental state, either in the form of psychological disorders, problematic behaviours, or neurological problems.

The research has a long way ahead of it. "We were aware of the effect of nutrition on the body. Now we are beginning to realise that the brain, as a bodys organ, is also affected by the nutritional ingredients it receives," explained Dr Andrew McCulloch, Manager of Mental Health Foundation, adding that treating psychological problems with drastic changes in nutrition has brought better results than conventional pharmaceutical treatments or psychotherapy. An example is the case of 71-year-old Brian Godfrey, who managed to escape chronic depression after he stopped eating cereals, dairy, coffee and beer, which he could not tolerate.

"The Feeding Minds"

Anxiety Lack of folic acid Depression Lack of vitamins B3, B-6, C, folic acid, magnesium, Omega 3 fatty acid, selenium, zinc Irritability Lack of vitamin B6, magnesium, selenium Sleepiness Lack of zinc Insomnia Lack of magnesium Poor memory Lack of Omega 3, vitamins B5, B6, B12 Stress Lack of vitamin B6 Trouble concentrating or confusion Lack of B1, B12, zinc

The report entitled "The Feeding Minds," presented by the Mental Health Foundation, indicated the vulnerable balance of foodstuffs content in vitamins, metals and fats, which has been overthrown by the passage of time. The cause is the industrialisation of crops and the wide usage of fertilisers, which have caused changes in the structure and quantity of breeding animals fat. For example, as per a research on chickens, 30 years ago, the animals contained 2% fat while currently it is 22%. Moreover, their fat is poorer in good fatty acids Omega 3 and 6, which are important for the brain.

At the same time, modern nutritional habits included in the greater consumption of saturated fats, decrease of vegetables by 34% and fish intake by 2/3, than 50 years ago, are creating disruptions in the brains operation. All the above are associated with depression, concentration problems, hyperactivity, as well as schizophrenia and Alzheimers disease.

In particular:

Depression is associated with low consumption of fish, rich in fatty acids Schizophrenia is associated with low levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids Research on Alzheimers research has indicated that nutrition rich in vegetables protects against the disease Hyperactivity, a disorder mainly affecting children, is associated with low levels of iron and fatty acids

The Foundations experts stated that the field of study remains unexplored, thus they are encouraging persons to adopt a healthier diet focused on vegetables, fruits and fish, while recommending special "fuel" recipes for the brain.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related Links:

Food and Mental Health Campaign

Feeding Ìinds

Sustain (Alliance for better food and farming )

Ìental Çealth

[02] Summon over Robbery

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: NET

A 26-year-old student, associated with 28-year-old arrested robber Giannis Dimitrakis, was summoned to testify as a witness over the National Bank of Greece robbery case, at the General Police Directorate of Attica. The police located the young man at a bank in Gyzi. As the authorities stated, they hold sufficient evidence in order to proceed to his arrest within the coming hours. It is also believed that he is possibly a member of the "robbers in black" group.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[03] Carrying NATO Peace Corps Members Slovak Military Aircraft Crashed

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA, MPA, Reuters, AFP, German News Agency

The toll of a Slovak military aircraft in a forested area at the borders between Hungary and Slovakia is one survivor and 42 dead. NATO Peace Corps members, returning Slovakia from Kosovo, were boarded on the Antonov-24, which crashed near the village of Telkibanya, 250km from the Hungarian capital and just 20km from the Slovak base of Kosice, where it was supposed to land.

Hungarian news agency MTI broadcast that the survivor, who is seriously injured, was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Kosice. It has not yet been announced if the man recovered alive from the Antonov debris is a member of the NATO force or one of the seven crewmembers.

The crash took place yesterday at 20:30 (local time) in an uninhabited area, at an altitude of 700m and the aircraft immediately caught on fire. The Slovak emergency crews and 100 men of the Hungarian Armed Forces battled the fire, as the morphology of the terrain, as well as the verdant vegetation obstructed their work.

The Hungarian Disaster Management announced that the two-engine aircraft performed flights since 1959.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Read the story on other sources:

BBC-Slovak plane crash leaves 44 dead

[04] Appellate Vice Prosecutor Testified New Figure in Investigations

By Tina Valaoura

Sources: ANA

Another judiciary, suspected of breach of duty, testified to Supreme Court Vice Prosecutor Mr Sanidas, who is investigating the extrajudicial ring. He is an Appellate Vice Prosecutor who served in Chania and relocated to Syros, and is being investigated over a forged financial audit of declarations of assets, as his real estate and bank accounts were not declared.

In the meantime, Mr Sanidas will arrive at the Korydallos prisons on Saturday, in order to take testimonies by remnant prisoners Sakis Kechagioglou and Giorgos Nikolakopoulos over the cases handled by Christina Valinaki.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

Related News:

Christina Valinaki Testified

Extradition Procedure Begun

[05] 15 Survivors in Critical Condition Recovered Deadly Bus Accident in Kashmir

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: Reuters, Associated Press

At least 50 persons lost their lives in Indian Kashmir, when the bus they were aboard swerved and fell into a deep gorge. In particular, the driver lost control of the vehicle when attempting to take a difficult turn near the city of Jammu, winter capital of Indian Kashmir, resulting in the bus falling from an altitude of 120m into the gorge. Policemen and civilians attempted to rescue the survivors. Up to the moment, 15 persons were recovered alive, however, in a critical state, and taken to the nearest hospital, where the doctors confirmed their condition. The bus carried 70 passengers in total.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[06] Fears Over a Blackout Russia Freezes Over

By Vicky Keleri

Sources: Reuters, BBC

Russia is experiencing the coldest winter of the last 26 years. During the previous days, temperature in Moscow dropped to -30 degrees Celsius, while in the northern regions of the country, temperatures are even lower. The dead by the cold exceeded 30, while seven persons died just yesterday. In total, 126 deaths due to the frost have been recorded since October. Today, temperature slightly rose in the Russian capital, but as per the countrys meteorological service it will continue a downward spiral for the next five days. In the meantime, fears over a blackout are heightened, since the consumption of electricity has risen, causing the decrease of natural gas and power exports to Europe. Moreover, oil production in Siberia has decreased due to the arctic temperatures in Siberia.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[07] By Consumers' Organisations Advice In View of Winter Sales

Sources: ANA

Consumers organisations called on the attention of shoppers, in view of the winter sales starting on coming Monday, January 23. As both the Greek Consumers Union and the Union of Consumers for the Quality of Life (EKPOIZO) stated, consumers having investigated prices, expect that the items on stores windows will be exhibited with decreased prices from the first day of this years sales. Actually, in their announcements, EKPOIZO and the Consumers Union stated that shoppers should purchase as per their needs, programming and recording their personal and family needs, paying special attention to the quality of products, as well as investigating the market before they reach their final choice. They advised for persons to be careful with the use of credit cards, reminding that in sales periods, the rights of the consumer and the storeowners duties are not revoked, in the case that the product is faulty and a return is mandatory.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[08] Panathinaikos Conquered Belgrade

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

Panathinaikos, scoring its 10th win in Euroleague, earned a victory against Partizan in Belgrade. The "greens," even though difficultly, reached the win 93-94 against the Serbs, and remained at the top of the group with 21 points, together with Unicaja, which also won and follows with 20 points. The top players for the Greek team were Lakovic and Batiste. Home teams Milojevic and Tripkovic also played a great game. The score of the ten-minute periods: 27-27, 46-48, 64-66, 93-94.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

[09] Christina Valinaki Testified

By Dimitris Alexopoulos

According to her lawyers, Christina Valinaki testified as a witness last night before the Supreme Court Deputy Prosecutor regarding the extra-judicial network. Judicial sources reported that Mrs Valinaki denied any suspicious handlings in the Kestekoglou case. The prosecution also underlined there was no evidence of illegal transactions, however the case remains open. Incarcerated lawyers Sakis Kechagioglou and Giorgos Nikolakopoulos will be examined on Saturday over the cases Mrs Valinaki handled. Her overnight testimony triggered reactions.

Nothing Blameworthy

Christina Valinaki was testifying for more than five hours before Supreme Court Deputy Prosecutor Giorgos Sanidas on the extra-judicial network.

Judicial sources said no incriminating evidence of an illegal transaction came up from Mrs Valinaki's testimony. However, the case has not closed yet.

Sakis Kechagioglou's law firm, where Mrs Valinaki was employeed, had undertaken the Kestekoglou case, of which the deputy foreign minister's wife is accused.

For this reason, the Supreme Court Deputy Prosecutor will visit the Korydallos prison this Saturday to examine Messrs Kechagioglou and Nikolakopoulos, who had also handled the case in question.

Clarifications on Overnight Testimony

However, Mrs Valinaki's overnight testimony triggered various reactions.

Deputy government spokesperson Evangelos Antonaros was asked on the matter.

"The Government will not comment issues that concern the operation of judicial authorities," he stressed and further underlined, "There is no political issue regarding Deputy Foreign Minister Mr Valinakis."

Commenting Mrs Valinaki's special treatment, the Supreme Court clarified that since Deputy Prosecutor Giorgos Sanidas started investigating the extra-judicial network, witnesses have been repeatedly called to testify in the afternoon or at night.

After her five-hour testimony, Mrs Valinaki asked to leave the premises from the underground parking lot to avoid speaking to reporters.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

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