Reading, crosswords for memory

Social activities that engage the brain – such as reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing card and board games, and having group discussions – all help to keep us sharp.

We can even start these activities late in life, and still delay the onset of memory loss and dementia, as researchers discovered when they tested a group of 488 people aged between 75 and 85 years, who were still mentally sharp.

During the five years of the study, 101 of the group developed dementia – but researchers discovered that those who engaged their brain with one or more of the social activities were able to delay the time their mental functions began to deteriorate.

Of those who developed dementia, most took part in just one of the six activities each day, while 10 did not participate in any of the activities, and 11 reported just one activity a week – in other words, they read or wrote just once a week.

But even doing just 11 of the activities over a week – such as reading every day, and doing a crossword four days a week - meant that, on average, the onset of dementia was delayed by 1.29 years in the Neurology study.

Bonnie - I must say that personally this is great news. I am addicted to crossword puzzles!

Leptin influences our motivation to eat

As we all know from experience, people eat not only because they are hungry, but also because the food just simply tastes too good to pass up. Now, a new study in the August 6th Cell Metabolism, helps to explain how leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue, influences that motivation to eat.

The researchers describe for the first time a new bunch of leptin-responsive (LepRb) neurons in the brain's lateral hypothalamic area (LHA). Those LHA neurons feed directly into the mesolimbic dopamine system seated in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain, which controls the rewarding properties we assign to things.

The study therefore adds to growing evidence that leptin doesn't turn the appetite on and off just by controlling satiety – for instance, whether we feel hungry or full.

"Some people may over-eat rewarding food because of a perceived 'reward deficit,'" researchers suggest. "When leptin is turned up, it might fix that deficit and make us feel better about a lot of things. In the future, it will be crucial to address the potential dysregulation of LHA neurons in states of obesity."

Colon Cancer May Yield To Cellular Sugar Starvation

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have discovered how two cancer-promoting genes enhance a tumor’s capacity to grow and survive under conditions where normal cells die. The knowledge, they say, may offer new treatments that starve cancer cells of a key nutrient - sugar. However, the scientists caution that research does not suggest that altering dietary sugar will make any difference in the growth and development of cancer.

“Cancer cells adapt to living within the inner layers of a tumor, a place where circulating nutrients are relatively scarce,” says Nickolas Papadopoulos, Ph.D., associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. “We wanted to know what makes these cancer cells survive under such conditions.”

The findings are published in the August 6 issue of Science Express.

August Research Highlights

Journal of the American College Nutrition

• Water soluble cinnamon compounds in the diet could reduce risk factors associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease

• Women with anembryonic pregnancies, when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo does not develop, causing miscarriages, were associated with significantly lower levels of folate and ten other elements (including potassium), as well as high homocysteine levels.

• Increasing your walking by 2000 steps daily reduces energy intake by 100 calories as well as promotes positive dietary and physical activity choices.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

• Flaxseed significantly reduced circulating total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but the changes were dependent on the type of intervention, sex, and initial lipid profiles of the subjects. Further studies are needed to determine the efficiency of flaxseed on lipid profiles in men and premenopausal women and to explore its potential benefits on other cardiometabolic risk factors and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

• Changes in dietary zinc intake affected DNA single-strand breaks. Zinc appears to be a critical factor for maintaining DNA integrity in humans (in this study, men).

• Low total and animal protein intakes were inversely associated with blood pressure in Japanese adults.

Journal Nutrition

• Findings demonstrate the usefulness of a novel stearate-enriched phytosterol ester compound in decreasing LDL cholesterol in both normo- and hypercholesterolemic adults.
  
  

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

• Relaxation training supported by new technologies could be a useful tool for reducing emotional eating episodes and thereby reducing weight and obesity.

Journal of the American Medical Association

• Under a wide range of circumstances, there are continuous, independent, and modest associations of Lipoprotein(a) concentration with risk of Congestive Heart Disease and stroke that appear exclusive to vascular outcomes.

Food & Chemical Toxicology

• The antioxidant activity of vegetables subjected to minimal processing (in MAP, and intended for cooking or for use in salads), dehydrated condiments and ready-to-eat vegetables such as soups and purees, was assessed by reference to their ability to scavenge lipoperoxyl and hydroxyl radicals and Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity. In the case, the MAP vegetables were repeatedly measured during eight days of storage in a domestic refrigerator and after cooking (boiling, microwaving, pressure cooking, griddling, frying and baking). MAP vegetables had a good or very good antioxidant capacity, and showed no significant loss of antioxidant activity or scavenging capacity compared with fresh vegetables. The cooking treatments that keep the antioxidant activity of MAP vegetables are microwaving, sautéing and baking. The most aggressive method of cooking were steaming, boiling and frying. The dehydrated condiments (tablets) showed higher antioxidant activity than the ready-to-eat soup. The enrichment of stews and casseroles, with dehydrated vegetable tablets, and the consumption of soup or vegetable purees represent an increased antioxidant intake in our diet. Also “ready-to-eat” vegetable soups show antioxidant activity after they have been submitted to heat treatment to increase their shelf-life. They can be recommended as alternatives in our non-stop “life style”.

Calcium causes hip factures?

Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari, professor of clinical research at the University Hospital in Zurick, Switzerland, is a world authority on calcium metabolism. She's also a visiting professor at Tufts University in Boston and says the science behind calcium is not as simple as most people believe.

Bischoff-Ferrari reports in a Tufts health and nutrition letter that of two major studies, one found no overall benefit to taking greater than average amounts of calcium. The second study showed that calcium supplementation decreased the risk of bone fracture by 72%.

So who is right about calcium supplementation? Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari says that the most important thing to remember is that bone is not just calcium, and that this mineral does not function in isolation. In fact, her studies came up with two major surprises.

She reported that higher calcium intake does not decrease the number of hip fractures, the most common and serious fracture among the elderly. But what is more shocking is the suggestion that taking calcium supplements without vitamin D may cause a 64% increase in hip fractures. So what could be causing the increased number of hip fractures in those who are popping their calcium pills every day?

One explanation is that there must be a balanced amount of calcium and phosphate to build calcium into bone. And that some people, particularly the elderly, are not eating enough protein to absorb sufficient phosphate. This, along with 1,000 units of vitamin D daily, will provide good insurance against brittle bones.

So Dr. Bischoff-Ferrari says it's time to reverse our brains and think about vitamin D first, and then calcium. And if we have enough D, we will automatically increase calcium absorption. Bischoff-Ferrari adds that vitamin D has another important benefit. It improves the strength of muscles.

She says muscles need three things, vitamin D, calcium and protein. Moreover, there is good evidence that adequate amounts of vitamin D prevent both falls and broken bones.

Bonnie - music to my ears. If you haven't listened to me in the past, will you listen to the world's foremost expert?

Best diet for type 2 diabetes?

Dietary carbohydrate is the major determinant of postprandial glucose levels, and several clinical studies have shown that low-carbohydrate diets improve glycemic control. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a diet lower in carbohydrate would lead to greater improvement in glycemic control over a 24-week period in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Volunteers with obesity and type 2 diabetes were randomized to either a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet or a low-glycemic, reduced-calorie diet. Both groups received group meetings, nutritional supplementation, and an exercise recommendation. The main outcome was glycemic control, measured by hemoglobin A_1c.

Both interventions led to improvements in hemoglobin A_1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and weight loss. The Low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet group had greater improvements in hemoglobin A_1c, body weight, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% of LCKD vs. 62% of LGID participants.

Lifestyle modification using low carbohydrate interventions is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes.

Bonnie - what the August Nutrition and Metabolism study did not adequately explain is that keotgenic means higher in protein. While I would never advise a ketogenic diet long-term, the study does prove that increased protein does have a positive, measurable effect on all factors related to metabolic syndrome.

Tanning beds cause cancer

A leading global cancer research group is declaring tanning bed use a significant cancer hazard.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced today that it has moved UV tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category -- "carcinogenic to humans."

Prior to the move, the group had classified sun lamp and tanning bed use as "probably carcinogenic to humans."

The IARC’s Vincent Cogliano, PhD, called the scientific evidence linking indoor tanning to the deadly skin cancer melanoma “sufficient and compelling.”

Bonnie - this should come as no surprise to anyone.

Are miracle antioxidants worth the cost?

Bonnie - if you don't believe me, take it from Oprah's gurus, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen? This is from their syndicated column:

Q. I'm wondering if the claims you hear about the so-called miracle antioxidants -- including goji, acai and noni -- are true. They're not cheap! Should I splurge?

A. These trendy fruits and the products and juices made with them are packed with disease-fighting flavonoids. But whether they truly lower rates of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and other diseases is no more known than if you'll win the lottery (assuming you're at least buying a ticket).

What is clear is that if you want to try a new taste and have the extra cash to spend (one bottle of these juices, for instance, can run from $10 to more than $100), it's fine to give them a go. But a healthy body doesn't require a sip of goji, a nightly nip of noni or a cup of acai.

You can get the flavonoids you need from regular healthy foods that are affordable, in season and local. Summer is the perfect time to fill up on fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and more.

Sports Nutrition Tidbits

This is a compilation of several interesting tidbits, including the growing interest in coffee.

It's Time to Make a Coffee Run (NY Times).
Delves into coffee research and personal accounts about its benefits for performance.

Drinking coffee before high-intensity exercise can reduce muscle pain, according to a study from International journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Participants took a caffeine pill (the equivalent to 2 1/2 - 3 cups of coffee) one hour before 30 minutes of intense cycling and on another occasion took a placebo. The men's perception of pain was lower on days when they took the caffeine pill.

Eating Fuel to Exercise (NY Times).
Interesting interview with a sports nutritionist in which most of her comments right on.

DHEA helps with stress

It is important to understand what biological mechanisms contribute to an individual’s capacity to be resilient under conditions of extreme stress, such as those regularly experienced by soldiers, police, and firefighters. Dr. Charles A. Morgan III and his colleagues from Yale University and the VA National Center for PTSD have worked closely with collaborators at the Special Forces Underwater Warfare Operations Center to study special operations soldiers enrolled in the military Combat Diver Qualification Course (CDQC).

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or “DHEA” as it is commonly known, is a hormone that is secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress. Although medical scientists have known for over a decade that DHEA provides beneficial, anti-stress effects in animals, they did not know until now whether this was also true for humans.

The scientists completed psychological and hormone assessments on a group of soldiers the day before they began the month-long CDQC, and immediately after their final pass/fail exam – a highly stressful, nocturnal, underwater navigation exercise.

They found that soldiers with more DHEA performed better during the final underwater navigation exam than those with less DHEA. These findings are being published in the August 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry.

Underwater navigation is a task that relies on an area of the brain called the hippocampus that is very sensitive to the negative effects of stress. “Animal studies have shown that DHEA buffers against stress, in part, by modulating receptors in this region of the brain,” explained Dr. Morgan. “These findings are important in understanding why and how soldiers may differ in their ability to tolerate stress and also raise the possibility that, in the future, compounds like DHEA might be used to protect military personnel from the negative impact of operational stress."

Bonnie - one would need to test for a deficiency in this hormone before supplementing with it.

Adiponectin associated with Type 2 Diabetes

Persons with higher levels of adiponectin, a protein that is produced by fat cells and that has anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties, have an associated lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Harvard School of Public Health researchers conducted a review to assess the consistency of the association of adiponectin levels and risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers identified thirteen studies with a total of 14,598 participants and 2,623 new cases of type 2 diabetes that met the criteria.

The authors found that higher adiponectin levels were associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This inverse association was consistently observed in whites, East Asians, Asian Indians, African Americans and Native Americans. The results did not differ substantially by method of diabetes ascertainment, study size, follow-up duration, body mass index or proportions of men and women.

Aloe vera beneficial for teeth and gums

The aloe vera plant has a long history of healing power. Its ability to heal burns and cuts and soothe pain has been documented as far back as the 10th century. Recently, aloe vera has gained some popularity as an active ingredient in tooth gel. Experts believe that it is as effective as toothpaste to fight cavities, according to the May/June 2009 issue of General Dentistry.

Aloe vera tooth gel is intended to perform the same function as toothpaste, which is to eliminate pathogenic oral microflora—disease-causing bacteria—in the mouth. The study compared the germ-fighting ability of an aloe vera tooth gel to two commercially popular toothpastes and revealed that the aloe vera tooth gel was just as effective, and in some cases more effective, than the commercial brands at controlling cavity-causing organisms.

Aloe latex contains anthraquinones, which are chemical compounds that are used in healing and arresting pain because they are anti-inflammatory in nature. But, because aloe vera tooth gel tends to be less harsh on teeth, as it does not contain the abrasive elements typically found in commercial toothpaste, it is a great alternative for people with sensitive teeth or gums.

But buyers must beware. Not all aloe vera tooth gel contains the proper form of aloe vera. Products must contain the stabilized gel that is located in the center of the aloe vera plant in order to be effective.

Steve - Bonnie and I, family members, and many clients for years have used an incredible product called NutriBiotic Dental Gel. Among other tooth friendly ingredients, the Dental Gel has always contained aloe.

TNF Arthritis drugs pose cancer risk to children

Tumor necrosis factor blockers, prescribed for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disorder, and Crohn's disease, will receive the "black box" warning because they can increase the risk of cancer in children and adolescents. You may know these drugs as Humira, Remicade, Simponi, and Enbrel.

Spleen: dispensable but not irrelevant

Great study on why the spleen is important to us.

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/325/5940/549

Whole Foods CEO: we sell a bunch of junk

Courtesy of Wall Street Journal

Over the past several years, Whole Foods has morphed from a health food store into a sort of food boutique, selling all kinds of fancy, prepared foods — many of which aren’t healthy. This transformation isn’t lost on John Mackey, the company’s CEO. “We sell all kinds of candy,” he told the WSJ. “We sell a bunch of junk.” Healthy, bulk foods such as “grains, seeds, nuts and beans” now account for about 1% of sales, down from 15% to 20%, Mackey said. Whole Foods is aiming to turn this around and start pushing healthier foods, he added. Plans include kiosks in stores, where staff will educate consumers about healthy eating, as well as programs to encourage staff members to improve on basic health measures. But when the WSJ asked him if the store will stop selling candy and cake and stuff, he couldn’t commit: Customers, we hope, are going to vote them out. You’re just seeing the most tentative efforts at this point because the details are not ready for public release. You need to be fair. I’ve got to plan the revolution.

Steve - don't think this has gone unnoticed. The junk Mackey is referring to is what we call "natural crap." It is still better than the conventional junk, but it is still crap.

Deet bug repellent 'toxic worry' - 2 studies

Scientists have expressed safety concerns about insect repellents that contain Deet after observing the chemical's toxic effects in mammals. Deet has been in use for decades and is found in most of the commonly used repellents to ward off mosquitoes. The study in the open access journal BioMed Central Biology shows deet works in the same way as paralyzing nerve gases used in warfare. However, experts cautioned that the findings in animals could not be translated to humans.

Deet (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) was developed by the US Army in 1946 following its experience of jungle warfare during the second world war, then registered for use by the general public in 1957. Researchers say more investigations are needed to discover any potential neurotoxicity to humans.

In work on rodents at the cellular level, deet blocked an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, whose job is to control one of the main chemical messengers used by the nervous system.The researchers also found that deet interacts with carbamate insecticides, used in agriculture, increasing their toxicity.

The US Environmental Protection Agency said it would evaluate the study and incorporate it into its future review of DEET planned in 2012.

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The active ingredient in many insect repellents, deet, has been found to be toxic to the central nervous system. Researchers say that more investigations are urgently needed to confirm or dismiss any potential neurotoxicity to humans, especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides.

Vincent Corbel from the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement in Montpellier, and Bruno Lapied from the University of Angers, France, led a team of researchers who investigated the mode of action and toxicity of deet (N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). Corbel said, "We've found that deet is not simply a behavior-modifying chemical but also inhibits the activity of a key central nervous system enzyme, acetycholinesterase, in both insects and mammals".

In a series of experiments, Corbel and his colleagues found that deet inhibits the acetylcholinesterase enzyme – the same mode of action used by organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. These insecticides are often used in combination with deet, and the researchers also found that deet interacts with carbamate insecticides to increase their toxicity. Corbel concludes, "These findings question the safety of deet, particularly in combination with other chemicals, and they highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the development of safer insect repellents for use in public health".

Allergy desperation: I'll take a parasite please

Fascinating stuff.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesNews/Story?id=8114307

Kefir not effective in treating antibiotic-related diarrhea

A study that appears in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine showed that kefir, a fermented dairy drink, did little to prevent diarrhea in young children being treated with antibiotics. One of the reasons kefir has become popular was for its probiotic content.

Bonnie - kefir, and yogurt to a lesser degree, contains healthy fora, but as I have said in the past, not enough to prevent such strong side effects from antibiotics. This requires a much more potent probiotic supplement.

Zinc good for healthy immune function, destroying viruses, bacteria

Zinc not only supports healthy immune function, but increases activation of T cells responsible for destroying viruses and bacteria.

According to the study in Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists found that T cells taken from a zinc-supplemented group had higher activation than those from the placebo group.

"As the debate over zinc supplementation in healthy individuals continues," said John Wherry, Ph.D., deputy editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, "studies like this help shed light on how zinc may enhance the ability of our immune systems to fight off foreign invaders.

Preventing pre-term deliveries

A piece that appeared in this week's issue of Time Magazine introduced several, rarely discussed ways in which to reduce pre-term infant deliveries. Of course, you have heard them from us.

• According to a CDC spokesperson, "Of all these things we take for granted - prenatal care, nutrition, almost none have proved effective by themselves in preventing preterm delivery. Only one intervention - weekly shots of synthetic progesterone - has been shown to reduce preterm birth in high-risk pregnancies. But no other measure, such as bed rest or home uterine monitoring, has proved consistently effective.
  
  
• Researchers think that a mother's heightened, chronic, inflammatory response during pregnancy can be passed along to the fetus, thus triggering early labor. Daily stressors placed on the mother via diet, disease, lifestyle, environment, and social all weigh heavily on the health of the fetus.