People who regularly eat burned or charred red meat, like that cooked on a grill, have a 60 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer. The finding is one of the strongest yet linking very well-done meat, especially red meat, to cancer. "Our findings in this study are further evidence that turning down the heat when grilling, frying, and barbecuing to avoid excess burning or charring of the meat may be a sensible way for some people to lower their risk for getting pancreatic cancer," Kristin Anderson of the University of Minnesota, who led the study, said in a statement. "I've focused my research on pancreatic cancer for some time to identify ways to prevent this cancer because treatments are very limited and the cancer is often rapidly fatal," said Anderson.
Charred meat contains several known cancer-causing chemicals, including heterocyclic amines. Many studies have linked these compounds with cancer risk, although they have mostly been based on people remembering what they ate in the past. Anderson's team started with 62,000 healthy people and documented what they actually did eat. Over nine years, 208 were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. When divided into five groups based on how much charred meat such as hamburgers they ate, the people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were far more likely to be in the top two groups. "Those with the highest intake of very well-done meat had a 70 percent higher risk for pancreatic cancer over those with the lowest consumption."
Steve - we talked about this in one of our recent Soy & Red Meat: Pros & Cons blog entry.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Even a Dietitian Can Find It Hard to Craft a Diet That Covers All the Bases
by Jennifer Huget
Washington Post
My challenge: To meet all the daily nutrition standards in the federal government's guidelines without taking a multivitamin or other dietary supplement.
My accomplice: Danielle Omar, a registered dietitian based in Fairfax.
As I popped my multivitamin the other morning, I got to wondering how hard it would be to consume all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients recommended by the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans without the help of that daily pill. Like many people, I've used my multivitamin as a safety net to ensure that my body gets what it needs to stay healthy even when my diet isn't all it should be. But talking with experts and reading medical studies has made me question whether nutrients delivered in supplement form pack the same punch as those same nutrients delivered via real food. If possible, I'd prefer to go the real-food route. But how hard would it be to fit everything in without consuming more calories than I should?
Danielle Omar was curious, too, and joined the challenge with gusto. She proposed creating a day's menu for a hypothetical 35-year-old, 5-foot-4-inch woman who weighs 130 pounds and exercises three times a week. (Not quite my profile, but Omar thought it was a good model to use.) That woman would require 1,800 calories per day to maintain her weight. That ought to be do-able, right? But the project proved more challenging than we expected.
Omar took a first pass without doing all the math; she used her general knowledge to devise a basic plan that she figured would cover all the nutritional bases. She aimed to exclude processed foods and all caloric beverages other than milk. She tried not to cop out by offering just a salad for lunch, opting instead for a turkey sandwich and a cup of soup. When she crunched the numbers, though (using the calculator at Fitday.com), she found that some parts of her plan were out of whack. She wasn't offering nearly enough iron, Vitamin D or potassium, and she'd gone way overboard on sodium: about 4,500 milligrams more than the recommended limit of 1,500. The potassium/sodium mix is particularly important in regulating hypertension: Too much sodium raises blood pressure in most people, while potassium lowers it.
So Omar went back to the drawing board. At first it looked like a lot of food. But on closer inspection it seemed awfully meager, more like a weight-loss diet than a maintenance regimen. That piece of salmon weighs four ounces before it's cooked; it's a lot lighter by the time it reaches your plate. And measure out that half-cup of rice: It's a lot smaller than the portion most of us are accustomed to. There's no wiggle room, either. Squeezing all those nutrients into 1,800 calories means no dessert and no alcohol, not even a glass of wine with dinner. And even with eliminating cheese and substituting low-sodium foods for regular versions wherever possible, Omar still couldn't wrestle the sodium down to the target; her menu contains more than 1,000 more milligrams of sodium than the recommended limit. Although she has eight years of experience as a professional dietitian, Omar found this exercise eye-opening.
Here are some tips she learned, if you want to try the no-supplement route yourself:
-- Resign yourself to eating some processed foods, such as cereal and bread, but be selective. When choosing a processed food, Omar suggests, be sure it's helping you meet your goals by delivering fiber, protein or potassium; many processed foods are fortified with calcium, folic acid and other needed nutrients. And read nutrition-facts panels carefully: Omar says she couldn't have met the goal for iron without trading traditional slow-cooking oatmeal, which she would have preferred for its lack of sodium, for packaged microwave oatmeal, which is fortified with that mineral. The trade-off: Processed foods -- including that microwave oatmeal -- are often full of sodium.
-- Sneak in as many fruits and vegetables as you can. Add spinach to your sandwich; dip baby carrots in your hummus. But be aware that you're still likely to fall short: For instance, it would take 11 bananas to meet the target for potassium. (Beans, potatoes and orange juice are other prime sources of this nutrient.)
-- Avail yourself of ground spices and herbs, which are surprisingly rich sources of such essentials as iron and potassium. Omar says cinnamon, thyme, rosemary and paprika are particularly rich in those minerals.
-- Be aware that the daily values listed on food packages are based on a 2,000-calorie diet, so you should use the percentages listed there just to ballpark your intake of calories, fat, fiber and other items. Also note that each person's requirements are different and are affected by such factors as sex and age.
In the end, Omar concluded that supplementing your diet may be prudent, particularly when it comes to Vitamin D, which most of us don't get nearly enough of and which we're learning is more important in maintaining health and preventing disease than we thought. Omar adds that we might want to also consider supplementing with calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids (for cardiovascular health) and folic acid.
Bonnie - as I have always said, diet is 75% and supplements are 25%. You need supplements. Believe me folks, to get a registered dietitian to say you need supplements is a miracle! I do not agree with many of her suggestions, but it just shows that it is near impossible to get all the nutrients needed through food alone. It also shows why you need an expert to individualize your supplemental nutrient needs.
Washington Post
My challenge: To meet all the daily nutrition standards in the federal government's guidelines without taking a multivitamin or other dietary supplement.
My accomplice: Danielle Omar, a registered dietitian based in Fairfax.
As I popped my multivitamin the other morning, I got to wondering how hard it would be to consume all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients recommended by the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans without the help of that daily pill. Like many people, I've used my multivitamin as a safety net to ensure that my body gets what it needs to stay healthy even when my diet isn't all it should be. But talking with experts and reading medical studies has made me question whether nutrients delivered in supplement form pack the same punch as those same nutrients delivered via real food. If possible, I'd prefer to go the real-food route. But how hard would it be to fit everything in without consuming more calories than I should?
Danielle Omar was curious, too, and joined the challenge with gusto. She proposed creating a day's menu for a hypothetical 35-year-old, 5-foot-4-inch woman who weighs 130 pounds and exercises three times a week. (Not quite my profile, but Omar thought it was a good model to use.) That woman would require 1,800 calories per day to maintain her weight. That ought to be do-able, right? But the project proved more challenging than we expected.
Omar took a first pass without doing all the math; she used her general knowledge to devise a basic plan that she figured would cover all the nutritional bases. She aimed to exclude processed foods and all caloric beverages other than milk. She tried not to cop out by offering just a salad for lunch, opting instead for a turkey sandwich and a cup of soup. When she crunched the numbers, though (using the calculator at Fitday.com), she found that some parts of her plan were out of whack. She wasn't offering nearly enough iron, Vitamin D or potassium, and she'd gone way overboard on sodium: about 4,500 milligrams more than the recommended limit of 1,500. The potassium/sodium mix is particularly important in regulating hypertension: Too much sodium raises blood pressure in most people, while potassium lowers it.
So Omar went back to the drawing board. At first it looked like a lot of food. But on closer inspection it seemed awfully meager, more like a weight-loss diet than a maintenance regimen. That piece of salmon weighs four ounces before it's cooked; it's a lot lighter by the time it reaches your plate. And measure out that half-cup of rice: It's a lot smaller than the portion most of us are accustomed to. There's no wiggle room, either. Squeezing all those nutrients into 1,800 calories means no dessert and no alcohol, not even a glass of wine with dinner. And even with eliminating cheese and substituting low-sodium foods for regular versions wherever possible, Omar still couldn't wrestle the sodium down to the target; her menu contains more than 1,000 more milligrams of sodium than the recommended limit. Although she has eight years of experience as a professional dietitian, Omar found this exercise eye-opening.
Here are some tips she learned, if you want to try the no-supplement route yourself:
-- Resign yourself to eating some processed foods, such as cereal and bread, but be selective. When choosing a processed food, Omar suggests, be sure it's helping you meet your goals by delivering fiber, protein or potassium; many processed foods are fortified with calcium, folic acid and other needed nutrients. And read nutrition-facts panels carefully: Omar says she couldn't have met the goal for iron without trading traditional slow-cooking oatmeal, which she would have preferred for its lack of sodium, for packaged microwave oatmeal, which is fortified with that mineral. The trade-off: Processed foods -- including that microwave oatmeal -- are often full of sodium.
-- Sneak in as many fruits and vegetables as you can. Add spinach to your sandwich; dip baby carrots in your hummus. But be aware that you're still likely to fall short: For instance, it would take 11 bananas to meet the target for potassium. (Beans, potatoes and orange juice are other prime sources of this nutrient.)
-- Avail yourself of ground spices and herbs, which are surprisingly rich sources of such essentials as iron and potassium. Omar says cinnamon, thyme, rosemary and paprika are particularly rich in those minerals.
-- Be aware that the daily values listed on food packages are based on a 2,000-calorie diet, so you should use the percentages listed there just to ballpark your intake of calories, fat, fiber and other items. Also note that each person's requirements are different and are affected by such factors as sex and age.
In the end, Omar concluded that supplementing your diet may be prudent, particularly when it comes to Vitamin D, which most of us don't get nearly enough of and which we're learning is more important in maintaining health and preventing disease than we thought. Omar adds that we might want to also consider supplementing with calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids (for cardiovascular health) and folic acid.
Bonnie - as I have always said, diet is 75% and supplements are 25%. You need supplements. Believe me folks, to get a registered dietitian to say you need supplements is a miracle! I do not agree with many of her suggestions, but it just shows that it is near impossible to get all the nutrients needed through food alone. It also shows why you need an expert to individualize your supplemental nutrient needs.
IBS linked to Celiac Disease
In patients meeting diagnostic criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the prevalence of biopsy-proved celiac disease was more than quadruple that in control individuals without IBS, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis reported in the April 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Prevalence of biopsy-proved celiac disease in cases meeting diagnostic criteria for IBS was more than 4-fold that in controls without IBS," the study authors write. "If screening is to be undertaken, then EMA or tTGA testing should be preferred to IgA class AGA testing because of a higher positive predictive value, although the yield will depend on the prevalence in the population being studied."
Bonnie - this makes perfect sense to me based upon my clinical experience with IBS.
"Prevalence of biopsy-proved celiac disease in cases meeting diagnostic criteria for IBS was more than 4-fold that in controls without IBS," the study authors write. "If screening is to be undertaken, then EMA or tTGA testing should be preferred to IgA class AGA testing because of a higher positive predictive value, although the yield will depend on the prevalence in the population being studied."
Bonnie - this makes perfect sense to me based upon my clinical experience with IBS.
Lab study shows how fish oil protects us from Parkinson's
Dr. Nicolas Bazan, Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Boyd Professor, and Ernest C. and Yvette C. Villere Chair of Retinal Degenerative Diseases Research at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, will present new research findings showing that an omega three fatty acid in the diet protects brain cells by preventing the misfolding of a protein resulting from a gene mutation in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Huntington's. He will present these findings for the first time on April 19, 2009 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Nouvelle C Room, at the American Society for Nutrition, Experimental Biology 2009 Annual Meeting.
With funding from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bazan and his colleagues found that the omega three fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), protects cells from a genetic defect. Dr. Bazan's laboratory discovered earlier that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a naturally-occurring molecule in the human brain that is derived from DHA also promotes brain cell survival. In this system NPD1 is capable of rescue the dying cells with the pathological type of Ataxin-1, keeping their integrity intact. "These experiments provide proof of principle that neuroprotectin D1 can be applied therapeutically to combat various neurodegenerative diseases," says Dr. Bazan. "Furthermore, this study provides the basis of new therapeutic approaches to manipulate retinal pigment epithelial cells to be used as a source of NPD1 to treat patients with disorders characterized by this mutation like Parkinson's, Retinitis Pigmentosa and some forms of Alzheimer's Disease."
Steve - something to keep an eye on. For those of us already eating fatty fish and supplementing with EPA/DHA, we are getting the benefit already.
With funding from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bazan and his colleagues found that the omega three fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), protects cells from a genetic defect. Dr. Bazan's laboratory discovered earlier that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a naturally-occurring molecule in the human brain that is derived from DHA also promotes brain cell survival. In this system NPD1 is capable of rescue the dying cells with the pathological type of Ataxin-1, keeping their integrity intact. "These experiments provide proof of principle that neuroprotectin D1 can be applied therapeutically to combat various neurodegenerative diseases," says Dr. Bazan. "Furthermore, this study provides the basis of new therapeutic approaches to manipulate retinal pigment epithelial cells to be used as a source of NPD1 to treat patients with disorders characterized by this mutation like Parkinson's, Retinitis Pigmentosa and some forms of Alzheimer's Disease."
Steve - something to keep an eye on. For those of us already eating fatty fish and supplementing with EPA/DHA, we are getting the benefit already.
Higher Intake of Beta-Carotene Lower Metabolic Syndrome Risk
Higher total carotenoid intakes, mainly those of beta-carotene and lycopene, were associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and with lower measures of adiposity and serum triglyceride concentrations in 374 middle-aged and elderly men (40-80 years) in a Journal Nutrition study. Higher total carotenoid, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lycopene intakes were associated with lower waist circumferences and visceral and subcutaneous fat mass. Higher lycopene intake was related to lower serum triglyceride concentrations.
Low magnesium levels may increase stroke risk
Low blood levels of magnesium may increase the risk of stroke by 25 per cent, suggest findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. More magnesium, potassium and calcium has been inversely linked to hypertension in some observational studies. The new study supports the potential of magnesium to reduce the risk of stroke possibly via an anti-hypertensive mechanism, A large portion of adults does not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men). Study details Over 14,000 men and women aged between 45 and 64 took part in the study, and during the course of 15 years of follow-up the researchers documented 577 cases of ischemic stroke. The incidence of stroke was highest amongst diabetics and people with hypertension, added the researchers. Blood levels of magnesium were negatively associated with the risk of stroke.
A recent study by researchers at Stockholm's Karolinska Institutet, reported that for every 100 milligram increase in magnesium intake, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes decreased by 15 per cent (Journal of Internal Medicine).
Bonnie - a long, prevention-based structure such as this is exactly how nutrient studies should be performed. While the results are not surprising to me, it does the heart good to see such positives for my favorite nutrient.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
FTC shreds claim that Mini-Wheats help kids concentrate
It looks like Frosted Mini-Wheats don't improve kids' attention span, after all.
Kellogg Co. has agreed to a deal to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that accused the cereal maker of making unsubstantiated health claims about the sugary cereal.
The FTC had accused Kellogg of falsely claiming the attentiveness of children who ate Frosted Mini-Wheats at breakfast improved by nearly 20 percent, compared with kids who skipped breakfast.
But the study the ads refer to found a benefit from eating Frosted Mini-Wheats in only half the children studied, and only 11 percent of the kids' attention improved by 20 percent, according to the FTC.
Steve - if you have kids that watch Disney, Nickelodeon, etc., you know there are numerous examples of this. For those who do not frequent these channels, watch for just an hour. You will be appalled at the junk food marketing.
Breastfeeding 'protects mother'
Women who breastfeed their babies may be lowering their own risk of a heart attack, heart disease or stroke, research suggests. A US study found women who breastfed for more than a year were 10% less likely to develop the conditions than those who never breastfed. Even breastfeeding for at least a month may cut the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The research features in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The longer a mother nurses her baby, the better for both of them
The latest US study, by the University of Pittsburgh, focused on nearly 140,000 post-menopausal women. On average, it had been 35 years since the women had last breastfed - suggesting the beneficial impact lasts for decades. As well as cutting the risk of heart problems, breastfeeding for more than a year cut the risk of high blood pressure by 12%, and diabetes and high cholesterol by around 20%. Fat stores It has been suggested that breastfeeding may reduce cardiovascular risk by reducing fat stores in the body. However, the researchers believe the effect is more complex, with the release of hormones stimulated by breastfeeding also playing a role. Researcher Dr Eleanor Bimla Schwarz said: "We have known for years that breastfeeding is important for babies' health; we now know that it is important for mothers' health as well.
Bonnie - wow. If this cannot compel a woman to sacrifice for a year to breastfeed, I don't know what will.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Melatonin May Ease Sleep Problems in Autistic Children
Over-the-counter melatonin supplements may help treat sleep problems in children with autism, a small U.S. study shows. The study included 12 children, aged 2 to 15 years, with autism spectrum disorder, fragile X syndrome (FXS), or both. The participants were randomly selected to take melatonin or a placebo for two weeks. After they completed the first two weeks of the study, the children were switched over to the alternate treatment for another two weeks. Taking the melatonin increased sleep duration by 21 minutes, shortened sleep-onset latency by 28 minutes, and reduced sleep-onset time by 42 minutes, compared to the placebo. The findings were published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
Bonnie - while a very small study, it could be very helpful to parents and their children that have autism. I would recommend that they be tested for their melatonin levels before taking it, however.
Bonnie - while a very small study, it could be very helpful to parents and their children that have autism. I would recommend that they be tested for their melatonin levels before taking it, however.
Tons of released drugs taint US water
Courtesy of Associated Press
Steve - this should come as no surprise to anyone as periodic reports about this have filtered in over the last few years. Filtered water is a must!
U.S. manufacturers, including major drugmakers, have legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water - contamination the federal government has consistently overlooked, according to an Associated Press investigation.
Hundreds of active pharmaceutical ingredients are used in a variety of manufacturing, including drugmaking: For example, lithium is used to make ceramics and treat bipolar disorder; nitroglycerin is a heart drug and also used in explosives; copper shows up in everything from pipes to contraceptives.
Federal and industry officials say they don't know the extent to which pharmaceuticals are released by U.S. manufacturers because no one tracks them — as drugs. But a close analysis of 20 years of federal records found that, in fact, the government unintentionally keeps data on a few, allowing a glimpse of the pharmaceuticals coming from factories.
Read the full piece here.Steve - this should come as no surprise to anyone as periodic reports about this have filtered in over the last few years. Filtered water is a must!
Parkinson's partially linked to pesticides
UCLA researchers have provided strong new evidence linking at least some cases of Parkinson's disease to exposure to pesticides. Researchers have suspected for some time that pesticides may cause the neurodegenerative disorder, and experiments in animals have shown that the chemicals, particularly the fungicide maneb and the herbicide paraquat, can cause Parkinson-like symptoms in animals. But proving it in humans has been difficult because of problems in assessing exposure to the agents.
To explore a potential connection to pesticides, researchers studied public records of pesticide applications in California's Central Valley from 1974 to 1999. Every application of pesticides to crops must be registered with the state. Working with Myles Cockburn of USC, they developed a tool to estimate pesticide exposure in areas immediately adjacent to the fields. They then identified 368 longtime residents who lived within 500 yards of fields where the chemicals had been sprayed and compared them to 341 carefully matched controls who did not live near the fields. They reported in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology that people who lived next to fields where maneb or paraquat had been sprayed were, on average, about 75% more likely to develop the disease. But those who developed the early-onset form of the disease -- contracting it before the age of 60 -- had double the risk of contracting it if they were exposed to either maneb or paraquat alone and four times the risk if they were exposed to both.
To explore a potential connection to pesticides, researchers studied public records of pesticide applications in California's Central Valley from 1974 to 1999. Every application of pesticides to crops must be registered with the state. Working with Myles Cockburn of USC, they developed a tool to estimate pesticide exposure in areas immediately adjacent to the fields. They then identified 368 longtime residents who lived within 500 yards of fields where the chemicals had been sprayed and compared them to 341 carefully matched controls who did not live near the fields. They reported in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology that people who lived next to fields where maneb or paraquat had been sprayed were, on average, about 75% more likely to develop the disease. But those who developed the early-onset form of the disease -- contracting it before the age of 60 -- had double the risk of contracting it if they were exposed to either maneb or paraquat alone and four times the risk if they were exposed to both.
Lack of vitamin D linked to increase in Caesarian births
Pregnant women with a deficiency of vitamin D are more likely to give birth by cesarean section, according to researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine. They measured the amount of vitamin D in 253 women after they gave birth. Of those women, 43 (17 percent) had caesarian section births. The study (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) found the women the women who gave birth via caesarian had lower levels of vitamin D than the women who did not have the cesarean section. Those deficient in vitamin D were nearly four times more likely to deliver by cesarean section than women with higher levels of vitamin D. The investigators noted cesarean delivery among 28 percent of the women deficient in vitamin D, but in just 14 percent of those with vitamin D levels above 37.5 nanomoles per liter.The women in the study were about 25 years old on average and lived in the Boston area for their entire pregnancy.
Friday, April 17, 2009
We have greens
For those who have known us for a while, you have never seen us endorse a Greens Supplement (we are asked about Juice Plus incessantly) before. Most are loaded with allergens, preservatives, artificial ingredients, or sugar.
Metagenics Phytoganix is the one we can finally feel good about! It is a phytonutrient-rich blend of certified organic superfruits, vegetables, herbs, and fiber. Better yet, it tastes delicious.
Learn more about Phytoganix and its the ingredients. Order here.
How do we suggest it be used?
Metagenics Phytoganix is the one we can finally feel good about! It is a phytonutrient-rich blend of certified organic superfruits, vegetables, herbs, and fiber. Better yet, it tastes delicious.
Learn more about Phytoganix and its the ingredients. Order here.
How do we suggest it be used?
- You want your fruit and veggie colors? A daily dose of Phytoganix contains every color of the phytonutrient spectrum. Just add water.
- A welcome nutrient-powered addition to a morning protein shake.
- Should be a staple whenever you do a cleanse or detox.
- A replacement for our "Green Drink" recipe that you find in our Action Plans and recipes.
Natural Body Care: Bargain Basics
We are painfully aware that people are very particular about their body care products. For this reason, we rarely delve into the topic. This piece is not intended to dissuade you from using what you feel comfortable with. Our motivation is simple:
FACIAL CLEANSER/ACNE/PIMPLE THERAPY
Milk of Magnesia (Original Flavor)
SHAVING CREAM/GEL
Aloe Vera Gel
SOAP/BODY CLEANSER
Dr. Bronner Soap
SHAMPOO
Baking Soda/Apple Cider Vinegar
DEODORANT/ANTIPERSPIRANT
Crystal Deodorant Stick for Men
- People are looking to save money.
- People are looking to use safe products that are effective, but free of harmful chemicals, toxins, and allergens.
FACIAL CLEANSER/ACNE/PIMPLE THERAPY
Milk of Magnesia (Original Flavor)
- Consists of magnesium hydroxide and water.
- Magnesium is a natural antiinflammatory, thus making it an ideal topical remedy to reduce swelling and redness for those with acne and pimples.
- Milk of Magnesia can be used as a makeup primer because it absorbs excess oil.
- Apply when you step into shower. Wash off when you are just about to finish.
- Apply several times daily or as need.
- Economic benefit: large bottle costs $6.49 and should last you for 6-8 weeks.
SHAVING CREAM/GEL
Aloe Vera Gel
- Aloe Vera gel, usually used for sunburn, is the ideal shaving gel. Shaving creates skin burn and irritation. So what better to prevent this than applying aloe vera gel right before you shave?
- Raises hair follicles for clean shave.
- Brands vary widely. Make sure you find a product that contains 98% aloe vera or higher.
- Economic benefit: Jason brand 16 oz. canister costs $12.95 and lasts for 4-6 months depending on how much you shave.
SOAP/BODY CLEANSER
Dr. Bronner Soap
- This organic, hypoallergenic soap offers a wide variety of scented and unscented versions.
- Comes in liquid or bar form.
- Contains no preservatives or harmful ingredients.
- Eco-friendly and comes in small to very large quantities.
- Can be used as shampoo as well as conditioner
- Economic benefit: 1 gallon (yes, gallon) costs $30.00.
SHAMPOO
Baking Soda/Apple Cider Vinegar
- Of course, this is as natural as it gets.
- None of us have used this method, but have heard several accounts from clients.
- Use one tablespoon of baking soda per one cup of warm or hot water. You can double or triple the recipe if you have very, very long or thick hair. But do not use more baking soda, your hair will become hard, dry or feel brittle if you use too much. You can put this mix in a recycled shampoo bottle, and apply to your hair with warm water. The mix should not feel gritty, and should be a liquid. Pour the mixture onto your hair and work it in. Let it sit about a minute, and then rinse. You may find it easiest to make a liquidy paste in the palm of your hand with about half a tablespoon, and then sprinkle and massage into dripping wet hair. Experiment and see what works best for you. For a typical rinse, make up a solution of one to two tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar per cup of water. Apply to wet hair, massage into scalp and rinse off with water. You don't always have to apply a rinse with every wash.
- Economic benefit: for pennies, you can have clean hair for months.
- Hand-made from old New England recipe
- Ideal for chemically sensitive individuals
- 100% biodegradable
- Economic benefit: $6.99 - because it is a bar, it is the equivalent to a 24 oz. bottle of liquid shampoo.
DEODORANT/ANTIPERSPIRANT
Crystal Deodorant Stick for Men
- It works for women as well. They do the product a disservice to market it just to men.
- For most, natural, aluminum-free deodorants on the market work perfectly fine. However, there are those in need of something stronger who could use antiperspirant protection. This is the only product we have found that contains ammonium alum, not aluminum chlorohydrate. Ammonium Alum is an aluminum salt whose molecules are too large to be absorbed into the skin (unlike aluminum chlorohydrate).
- Apply liberally (15-30 seconds) to wet underarms when you get out of the shower and let air dry.
- Economic benefit: one $7 stick lasts a year or longer.
Back-to-Basics Cleaning
Real Simple Magazine's April 2009 issue has a great article listing 78 all-natural solutions for cleaning. The article is not available on its website as of yet, so you have to pick up the magazine. it is worth the $5.
Germany Bans Cultivation of GM Corn
The sowing season may be just around the corner, but this year German farmers will not be planting gentically modified crops: German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner announced Tuesday she was banning the cultivation of GM corn in Germany.
Under the new regulations, the cultivation of MON 810, a GM corn produced by the American biotech giant Monsanto, will be prohibited in Germany, as will the sale of its seed. Aigner told reporters Tuesday she had legitimate reasons to believe that MON 810 posed "a danger to the environment," a position which she said the Environment Ministry also supported. In taking the step, Aigner is taking advantage of a clause in EU law which allows individual countries to impose such bans.
Steve - this is a bold move, considering that Monsanto's political influence is far-reaching. We will keep an eye on this.
Under the new regulations, the cultivation of MON 810, a GM corn produced by the American biotech giant Monsanto, will be prohibited in Germany, as will the sale of its seed. Aigner told reporters Tuesday she had legitimate reasons to believe that MON 810 posed "a danger to the environment," a position which she said the Environment Ministry also supported. In taking the step, Aigner is taking advantage of a clause in EU law which allows individual countries to impose such bans.
Steve - this is a bold move, considering that Monsanto's political influence is far-reaching. We will keep an eye on this.
Low vitamin A and C levels may boost asthma risk
Low dietary intakes of vitamins A and C may increase the risk of developing asthma, suggests a review of 40 studies and 30 years of research. Low blood levels of vitamin C and lower dietary intake of vitamin C-containing foods were associated with a 12 per cent heightened risk of asthma, say findings published online in Thorax.
The researchers note that the new findings are plausible since vitamin A and C have well-known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. The Nottingham researchers searched the literature for peer reviewed research, abstracts of conference proceedings on asthma and wheeze, and vitamin intakes. A total of 40 studies were identified. The pooled results showed that vitamin A dietary intakes were significantly lower among asthmatics than in those who had not been diagnosed with the disease. The average intake of 182 micrograms of the vitamin was equivalent to between 25 and 33 per cent of the RDI. The researchers noted that people with severe asthma had significantly lower vitamin A intakes than people with mild asthma. When Leonardi-Bee and his co-workers considered vitamin C they found low blood levels of the vitamin and low dietary intakes of vitamin-C foods were associated with a 12 per cent increase in the risk of asthma. With regards vitamin E, intakes were not associated with asthma, but severe asthmatics were found to have significantly lower blood levels than mild asthmatics, and 20 per cent lower than the RDI, said the researchers. Correlation or causality? The authors point out that their research does not prove cause and effect, but they suggest that an earlier large review, which found no association between antioxidants and asthma risk, was limited in its scope (Cochrane Database Syst Rev., 2004; (3): CD000993).
Steve - we posted this because it shows how meta-analyses can be interpreted differently, based upon the researchers motivations. The Thorax review was positive, yet the Cochrane Review was not. Using meta analyses are not the ideal way to make definitive conclusions.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Genetic testing provides few easy answers
Courtesy of WSJ
If scientists could use one gene — or even a combination of five or 10 — to predict a person’s likelihood of developing a certain type of cancer, there might be fast progress toward developing drugs and finding other ways to help people avoid the disease. But some genetics experts are saying it may take a combination of hundreds of genes to make clear predictions. “With only a few exceptions, what the genomics companies are doing right now is recreational genomics,” Duke University geneticist David Goldstein told the New York Times. “The information has little or in many cases no clinical relevance.”
Goldstein was one of three writers of three commentaries on the issue in the current New England Journal of Medicine. Here are quotes from each:
Common Genetic Variation and Human Traits,: If effect sizes [of particular genes] were so small as to require a large chunk of the genome to explain the genetic component of a disorder, then no guidance would be provided: in pointing at everything, genetics would point at nothing.
Genetic Risk Prediction — Are We There Yet?: The availability of highly predictive and reasonably affordable tests of genetic predisposition to important diseases would have major clinical, social, and economic ramifications. But the great majority of the newly identified risk-marker alleles confer very small relative risks … Even when alleles that are associated with a modest increase in risk are combined, they generally have low discriminatory and predictive ability.
Genomewide Association Studies — Illuminating Biologic Pathways: Ultimately, the usefulness of genetic information for prediction will depend not on the absolute fraction of heritability explained but rather on how much this additional information can shift the cost–benefit ratios of available clinical interventions. For diseases without potential therapies, even perfect prediction might not be clinically useful. By contrast, for diseases with effective preventive measures that are too costly or for which the risk–benefit balance is nearly neutral, small increments in predictive power could help effectively target preventive efforts, with substantial clinical impact. As we’ve noted before, plenty of genetic experts believe predictive gene-based tests aren’t ready for wide use. Even genome guru Craig Venter has expressed skepticism about the relevance of any given variant.
Steve - do not waste your $ on the genetic lifestyle kits. What we DO know right now is that managing epigenetic pathways so as to not express genes negatively is sound science. Diet, lifestyle, and nutrients can calm those epigenetic pathways. How exciting!
If scientists could use one gene — or even a combination of five or 10 — to predict a person’s likelihood of developing a certain type of cancer, there might be fast progress toward developing drugs and finding other ways to help people avoid the disease. But some genetics experts are saying it may take a combination of hundreds of genes to make clear predictions. “With only a few exceptions, what the genomics companies are doing right now is recreational genomics,” Duke University geneticist David Goldstein told the New York Times. “The information has little or in many cases no clinical relevance.”
Goldstein was one of three writers of three commentaries on the issue in the current New England Journal of Medicine. Here are quotes from each:
Common Genetic Variation and Human Traits,: If effect sizes [of particular genes] were so small as to require a large chunk of the genome to explain the genetic component of a disorder, then no guidance would be provided: in pointing at everything, genetics would point at nothing.
Genetic Risk Prediction — Are We There Yet?: The availability of highly predictive and reasonably affordable tests of genetic predisposition to important diseases would have major clinical, social, and economic ramifications. But the great majority of the newly identified risk-marker alleles confer very small relative risks … Even when alleles that are associated with a modest increase in risk are combined, they generally have low discriminatory and predictive ability.
Genomewide Association Studies — Illuminating Biologic Pathways: Ultimately, the usefulness of genetic information for prediction will depend not on the absolute fraction of heritability explained but rather on how much this additional information can shift the cost–benefit ratios of available clinical interventions. For diseases without potential therapies, even perfect prediction might not be clinically useful. By contrast, for diseases with effective preventive measures that are too costly or for which the risk–benefit balance is nearly neutral, small increments in predictive power could help effectively target preventive efforts, with substantial clinical impact. As we’ve noted before, plenty of genetic experts believe predictive gene-based tests aren’t ready for wide use. Even genome guru Craig Venter has expressed skepticism about the relevance of any given variant.
Steve - do not waste your $ on the genetic lifestyle kits. What we DO know right now is that managing epigenetic pathways so as to not express genes negatively is sound science. Diet, lifestyle, and nutrients can calm those epigenetic pathways. How exciting!
Multivitamins improve nutritional status
Multivitamin supplementation raised serum vitamin B12 and folate concentrations and increased serum 25(OH)D, which was accompanied by an apparent positive effect on bone density, according to a study published in the April issue of European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study’s design comprised two groups matched on mobility levels, randomized to receive a daily multivitamin or placebo tablet for six months. There was a greater increase in the MV versus P group for serum 25(OH)D, folate and vitamin B12. Adequate 25(OH)D concentrations were found among 77 percent of participants in the MV group versus 10 percent taking P. Adjusting for baseline levels, the increase in quantitative heel ultrasound was greater in the MV versus P group. There was a trend toward a 63-percent lower mean number of falls in the MV versus P group. Researchers also found a trend towards a reduction in falls and this could contribute to a reduction in fractures.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Home births 'as safe as hospital'
The largest study of its kind has found that for low-risk women, giving birth at home is as safe as doing so in hospital with a midwife. Research from the Netherlands - which has a high rate of home births - found no difference in death rates of either mothers or babies in 530,000 births. Home births have long been debated amid concerns about their safety. UK obstetricians welcomed the study - published in the journal BJOG.
The research was carried out in the Netherlands after figures showed the country had one of the highest rates in Europe of babies dying during or just after birth. It was suggested that home births could be a factor, as Dutch women are able and encouraged to choose this option. One third do so. But a comparison of "low-risk" women who planned to give birth at home with those who planned to give birth in hospital with a midwife found no difference in death or serious illness among either baby or mother. "
In the UK, the government has pledged to give all women the option of a home birth by the end of this year.
Allergies to fruits and veggies on the rise in UK
Dr Pamela Ewan, an allergy consultant at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, said the rise in cases appears to be outstripping even peanut allergies.
Dr Ewan, who sees more than 8,000 people with allergies a year, said most patients with reactions to fruit and vegetables were youngsters.
Symptoms include swelling in the mouth and throat, and breathing difficulties.
She said: "We have seen a big rise in the number of cases in the past four to five years.
"It is a bit like the peanut allergy was the epidemic of the 1990s. I think fruit and vegetables are becoming the epidemic now.
"In term of numbers, fruit and vegetables are the new form of peanut allergy."
Other specialist centres in the UK have confirmed to the BBC that allergies to fruit and vegetables is a growing problem.
Dr Adam Fox, a consultant paediatric allergist at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London, said: "We are certainly seeing lots of oral allergy syndrome.
"This affects people who are actually allergic to pollen - such as birch pollen.
"There is a cross-reactivity between the protein in that pollen with those in fruit and vegetables, so people start getting a reaction to fruits such as apples and pears. The chance of cross-reactions with fruits increases with the larger number of types of fruit to which we are exposed."
Bonnie - this should not come as a surprise. As temperatures rise around the globe, pollen in the air becomes more profuse. Thus, those allergic have more severe symptoms (especially if consuming cross-reactors). Right before and during the height of the spring and fall allergy seasons, one must be extra vigilant about avoiding fruit, vegetable, and grain cross-reactors. Refer to my Spring Allergy To-Do List.
Children whose celiac disease is detected early do better over time
Identifying celiac disease through population-wide screening leads to improved health for those who are diagnosed, and as a result, establishing these types of programs on a limited scale should be considered, according to a study in the April Pediatrics.
"The earlier the better, I truly believe," said Rima Kittley, MD, a family physician in Lufkin, Texas. "There's a whole lot of damage that happens over years, and if you get it diagnosed early, you prevent a lot of the chronic misery." She herself has celiac disease but was not affiliated with the study.
For example, the American College of Gastroenterology's guidelines on managing irritable bowel syndrome direct that people with this condition, should routinely be tested for celiac. These principles were published in the January American Journal of Gastroenterology. Additionally, practice guidelines from the World Gastroenterology Organization issued in February 2005 suggest advising first- and second-degree relatives of those with celiac disease that serological testing may be appropriate.
For the recent paper, researchers at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands followed for 10 years 32 children diagnosed with celiac disease. Their diagnoses occurred between the ages of 2 and 4 in the course of a screening program for everyone in that age range.
After a decade, 26 had adhered to a gluten-free diet, and 17 of them had improved their health status. All 26 bettered their health-related quality of life after one year. After a decade, their quality of life was similar to those without the disease.
"A lot of people think that, if they go on a gluten-free diet, their quality of life worsens. It really does not worsen. It actually makes it better for them," said Dr. Ritu Verma, section chief of clinical gastroenterology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, who was not connected to the paper. "These children are more used to just eating gluten-free foods, and they don't have to see another doctor for bellyaches."
Study at a glance
When celiac is detected through mass screening, how do children fare?
Objective: Assess the impact on long-term health and quality of life when detecting celiac disease through mass screening of toddlers.
Methods: Researchers followed 32 children ages 2-4 whose disorder was detected through screening of the general population in 1998. Their health was assessed in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007.
Results: After a decade, 26 children adhered to a gluten-free diet. Of this group, 17 experienced improvement of health status. All 26 experienced an improvement in health-related quality of life after one year. After 10 years, their quality of life was similar to those without the disease. For six participants, treatment after screening would not have improved their health because they had no symptoms when the disorder was detected. They stayed symptom-free without changing their diets for the duration of the study.
Conclusions: Mass screening and treating those with the symptoms of celiac disease improves health status and health-related quality of life. Limited screening programs should be considered. Delaying treatment for children who test positive but have no symptoms is an option, but longer-term studies are needed to determine the effects of decades of untreated asymptomatic celiac disease.
Source: Pediatrics April 2009
Bonnie - this is welcome, yet long overdue news. now that it has been suggested, will it take another decade to be implemented?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Taking Statins? Five Ways to Boost Your Energy
I guess the mainstream public is beginning to catch on!
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=7329250&page=1
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=7329250&page=1
Aspirin Linked to Brain Microbleeds
A Dutch study finds an increased incidence of tiny bleeding episodes in the brains of people who regularly take aspirin.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of 1,062 people found a 70 percent higher incidence of "microbleeds" among those taking aspirin or carbasalate calcium, a close chemical relative of aspirin, than among those not taking such anti-clotting drugs, according to an April 13 online report in the Archives of Neurology from physicians at Erasmus MC University Medical Center in Rotterdam. The research was expected to be published in the June print issue of the journal.
No increased incidence of microbleeds was seen in people taking clot-preventing drugs that act in different ways, such as heparin, the researchers noted.
The report adds information to a still unfolding medical story about the causes and effects of microbleeds, said Dr. Steven M. Greenberg, a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Hemorrhagic Stroke Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"It is not clear at this point what significance we can attach to seeing microbleeds," Greenberg said. Some studies have shown an association between microbleeds and an increased risk of major bleeding events in the brain, but those studies have included only small numbers of people, he added.
There also is some data indicating that microbleeds are associated with reduced brain function, but their role is unclear, because "they tend to travel together with other kinds of small-vessel brain disease," Greenberg said.
The most that can be said is that the study "is a little bit of a warning for us to think about antiplatelet drug therapy as a risk for hemorrhagic damage to the brain," he said.
Rise in multiple allergy patients in UK
Courtesy of the BBC
Specialist UK clinics have told the BBC they are seeing a significant rise in the number of patients suffering from several allergies at once. They are also finding symptoms are becoming more severe, causing acute pain and in some cases even death. Many of those afflicted are reported to be children.
Staff from specialist clinics in Liverpool, Cambridge, Cardiff, Birmingham and London are among those to confirm the rise. Dr Jonathan North, a consultant immunologist in Birmingham, said: "We used to say that 15% of the population had an allergy of some sort, now the figure is nearer 40%. "As well as the well-documented increase in prevalence, the proportion of complex/multiple allergy cases is increasing."
The reasons for the rise are not fully understood. According to Dr Nasser, climate change is largely to blame. "Global warming is causing an increase in fungal spore levels as well as pollen, so this is something we are going to see more of. The season is also starting earlier and finishing later.
The UK has one of the highest diagnosed allergy rates in the world. Dr Nasser says the reasons for the growth in allergies are several and complex. He cites the hygiene hypothesis as one that is widely supported by the medical profession. "The UK is a developed society and allergies affect westernized countries. If a country passes from a rural to an urban society then the existence of allergies escalates. "The hygiene hypotheses is that in a developed society we avoid exposure to bacterial infection at an early age. This is unlike rural environments", he explains. As Dr Nasser said: "Some say modern life is making us allergic."
Steve - of course missing from "reasons not fully understood" is the fact that Western diets support using a few food staples that appear in just about everything. It should not come as a surprise that wheat, soy, milk, corn, and egg are the most allergenic substances. We eat them every day, several times a day, usually.
The UK and US have very similar public health patterns. So if the UK is seeing this spike in allergies, you can bet the numbers are higher here as well. Of course, this does not even address the food intolerance part of the equation.
C. Difficile becoming more virulent
Tara Parker Pope's column in the New York Times this morning about C. Difficile illustrates the continuing issues we have with the overuse of antibiotics. Here are some excerpts from the piece.
Clostridium difficile is a contagious and potentially deadly bacterium. Although the illness is difficult to track, health officials estimate that in the United States the bacteria cause 350,000 infections each year in hospitals alone, with tens of thousands more occurring in nursing homes. While the majority of cases are found in health care settings, 20 percent or more may occur in the community. The illness kills an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people annually.
The typical treatment for C. difficile is another course of antibiotics, typically the drug vancomycin. But the situation can quickly turn tragic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported on several cases of pregnant and postpartum women who developed life-threatening C. difficile infections after being treated for minor infections. In some instances, a C. difficile infection can be treated only by emergency surgery to remove the patient’s colon. Doctors say many patients report that they continue to suffer from regular bouts of diarrhea even after the infection is gone. About 20 percent of patients with the infection suffer a relapse, and C. difficile support groups have emerged on the Internet.
Bonnie - as is the case with the rise of a more well known superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (M.R.S.A), C. Difficile is directly related to the overuse of antibiotics. As I have said incessantly, antibiotics should be administered only if it is absolutely essential. I cringe when I read about drug stores and pharmacies giving out free antibiotics as a promotional tool.
The other crucial lesson taken away from this piece is that anyone who has to go on an antibiotic must supplement with high dose probiotics to lower the risk of losing their healthy gut flora. My clients who have adhered to this philosophy have seen vastly improved outcomes.
My general recommendation during antibiotic therapy is as follows:
Clostridium difficile is a contagious and potentially deadly bacterium. Although the illness is difficult to track, health officials estimate that in the United States the bacteria cause 350,000 infections each year in hospitals alone, with tens of thousands more occurring in nursing homes. While the majority of cases are found in health care settings, 20 percent or more may occur in the community. The illness kills an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people annually.
What is so frightening about C. difficile is that it is often spurred by antibiotics. The drugs wipe out the targeted illness, like a urinary tract or upper respiratory infection, but they also kill off large portions of the healthy bacteria that normally live in the digestive tract. If a person comes into contact with C. difficile, or already has it, the disruption to the beneficial bacteria creates an opportunity for the harmful bacteria to flourish.
The public health community has been sounding the alarm for years about the overuse of antibiotics and the emergence of “superbugs” — bacteria that have developed immunity to a wide number of antibiotics. “One of the things that we counsel consumers about is to make sure that an antibiotic is really necessary,” said Dr. Dale N. Gerding, an infectious disease specialist at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago. “There are many good reasons for taking an antibiotic, but an illness like sinusitis or bronchitis winds up being treated with antibiotics even though it will go away by itself anyway.” Even appropriate use of antibiotics can put a person at risk. Dr. Gerding said his own adult son came down with a C. difficile infection after taking antibiotics for tonsillitis.
The typical treatment for C. difficile is another course of antibiotics, typically the drug vancomycin. But the situation can quickly turn tragic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported on several cases of pregnant and postpartum women who developed life-threatening C. difficile infections after being treated for minor infections. In some instances, a C. difficile infection can be treated only by emergency surgery to remove the patient’s colon. Doctors say many patients report that they continue to suffer from regular bouts of diarrhea even after the infection is gone. About 20 percent of patients with the infection suffer a relapse, and C. difficile support groups have emerged on the Internet.
C. difficile is not a new illness, but it appears to be spreading at an alarming rate. The rate of C. difficile infection among hospital patients doubled from 2001 to 2005, according to an April 2008 report from the C.D.C. The rise in C. difficile cases around the world is linked with the growing use of all antibiotics, particularly a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones, which came into widespread use around 2001. The use of acid-suppressing drugs, including proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec, also may be a risk factor, although studies have been contradictory.
In addition to becoming more common, C. difficile is also becoming more deadly. Several years ago, the mortality rate from a C. difficile infection was around 1 to 2 percent. But today, various studies estimate that the death rate is 6 percent. The reason is that a hypervirulent strain has emerged that emits higher levels of toxins than earlier strains.Bonnie - as is the case with the rise of a more well known superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (M.R.S.A), C. Difficile is directly related to the overuse of antibiotics. As I have said incessantly, antibiotics should be administered only if it is absolutely essential. I cringe when I read about drug stores and pharmacies giving out free antibiotics as a promotional tool.
The other crucial lesson taken away from this piece is that anyone who has to go on an antibiotic must supplement with high dose probiotics to lower the risk of losing their healthy gut flora. My clients who have adhered to this philosophy have seen vastly improved outcomes.
My general recommendation during antibiotic therapy is as follows:
- Take 250 mg. saccharomyces boulardii (with each antibiotic dose) to reduce antibiotic-induced damage to probiotic populations
- Take a nutraceutical-grade probiotic (lactobacillus acidophilus strain preferred) at least two hours away from antibiotic 2-4 times daily
- Continue with this regimen for at least 1-2 weeks after you finish antibiotic therapy
Monday, April 13, 2009
Osteoporosis drugs linked to heart problems
Popular osteoporosis drugs - which have been widely used since the 1990s - may be the unsuspected cause of serious heart problems, researchers have discovered this week.
Drugs such as Boniva, Fosomax, Reclast and Actonel may cause serious heart rhythm problems, which increase the risk for stroke and heart attack.
The drugs contain bisphosphonates, which a research team from Wake Forest University School of Medicine has pinpointed as the cause of the heart problems.
According to the studdy in Drug Safety, 2009; 32: 219-28, the researchers made the discovery after they tracked the health records of 13,000 patients, who were compared with a further 13,000 people who were given a placebo.
More Americans experiencing medical mismanagement
A new Consumer Reports poll finds that 18 percent of Americans say they or an immediate family member have acquired a dangerous infection following a medical procedure and more than one-third report that medical errors are common in everyday medical procedures.
"Healthcare-acquired infections and medical errors can devastate American families who are already struggling with the cost of health care,” said Consumers Union President Jim Guest. “These preventable errors and infections can cost families hundreds—if not thousands—of extra dollars each year, and add tens of billions of dollars to our national health care costs. It is imperative that Congress pass health care reform legislation that includes simple safety provisions to help save lives and fix our broken health care system."
The new poll was released in conjunction with a Congressional briefing on health care delivery system reform with the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. The poll was performed March 12-16, 2009, and interviewed more than 2,000 adults on issues such as acquired infections, medical errors, and preventive care.
Bonnie - we hear it every day from clients as well as experienced it first-hand with my daughter Carolyn
"Healthcare-acquired infections and medical errors can devastate American families who are already struggling with the cost of health care,” said Consumers Union President Jim Guest. “These preventable errors and infections can cost families hundreds—if not thousands—of extra dollars each year, and add tens of billions of dollars to our national health care costs. It is imperative that Congress pass health care reform legislation that includes simple safety provisions to help save lives and fix our broken health care system."
The new poll was released in conjunction with a Congressional briefing on health care delivery system reform with the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. The poll was performed March 12-16, 2009, and interviewed more than 2,000 adults on issues such as acquired infections, medical errors, and preventive care.
Bonnie - we hear it every day from clients as well as experienced it first-hand with my daughter Carolyn
Soy & Red Meat: Pros & Cons
Soy and red meat are two of the most heavily scrutinized food staples for good reason.
The following sheds light on why they are so controversial, how we can optimize their benefits, and avoid their risks.
SOY
Few foods have exhibited such polarizing research data as soy.
Most of the positive data on soy, especially as a cancer and heart disease preventive, was performed on subjects from the Far East, whose diet is predominately organic fermented soy from sources such as tofu, tempeh, and miso. Soy consumption in the West is predominately nonfermented soymilk, fresh soybeans, concentrated soy meat substitutes, and soybean oil. Most of the processed soy foods you find, even at health food markets, such as soy burgers and soy dogs, contain hidden monosodium glutamate (MSG) labeled as textured soy protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, or autolyzed yeast.
Conventional soy is one of the most heavily sprayed crops (with pesticides). Soy protein concentrate products, such as soy protein and soy protein powder added to shakes and smoothies have been shown in research to be cancer-causing, especially for hormonal cancers of the breast. In large doses, soy also interferes with the drug Tamoxifen.
Soy is also problematic because it is one of the three most allergenic foods (wheat and milk are the other two). What further exacerbates this issue is that soy derived ingredients seem to be in everything.
From a genetic standpoint, soy may not be utilized well as a protein source. This is one of the reasons why some of the new clients we see who are vegetarian/vegan are in very poor health.
Soy may interfere with thyroid function and inhibit the gland's ability to do its job among those who are iodine deficient. Soy may also reduce the absorption of thyroid medication.
Thus, we recommend the following:
Red Meat has a public relations problem and for good reason. In its current state, it is not a healthy food, especially if consumed more than once weekly, and even more so if cooked rare or charred.
With red meat it really boils down to one simple issue: how are the cattle being raised?.
A beef cow's natural diet comes from grass found on vast green pastures. When they eat their natural diet, the beef contains much less saturated fat and produces an ideal balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. Unfortunately, the diet of most cattle in the U.S. is predominately soybeans and corn, which create beef that is much higher in saturated fat and produces an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Most of you are aware that high levels of omega-6 and low levels of omega-3 can create a chronic inflammatory state. So we should not be surprised that study after study reveals how unhealthy consuming red meat really is. It should be noted that many of these studies focused heavily on processed red meat, laden with excess saturated fat, nitrates, and harmful additives.
The tide is turning, albeit on a minor scale. Many farmers are going back to raising cattle exclusively on pasture. For example, a local celebrity in Chicago, Bill Kurtis, founded Tall Grass Beef. All of his cattle are grass-fed. The cost is very competitive with conventional beef. Even superstores like Costco are carrying it. Grass-fed lamb raised in Australia and New Zealand are exclusively grass-fed, making it another acceptable red meat source. If you consume grass-fed red meat instead of conventional, you could probably eat it several times weekly. Red meat is an excellent protein source. Four ounces of lean meat equals between 30-40 grams of complete protein.
When cooking red meat, leaving it rare or charring creates another set of health issues. Rare meat leaves you more susceptible to contracting virulent intestinal pathogens or bacteria. ALWAYS cook your meat thoroughly, but not to excess. Charring red meat, to the point where parts of it are chalky black, creates cancer-causing compounds called heterocyclic amines. Especially in individuals who genetically have impaired detoxification, charred meat is highly contraindicated in their diets.
To recap:
The following sheds light on why they are so controversial, how we can optimize their benefits, and avoid their risks.
SOY
Few foods have exhibited such polarizing research data as soy.
Most of the positive data on soy, especially as a cancer and heart disease preventive, was performed on subjects from the Far East, whose diet is predominately organic fermented soy from sources such as tofu, tempeh, and miso. Soy consumption in the West is predominately nonfermented soymilk, fresh soybeans, concentrated soy meat substitutes, and soybean oil. Most of the processed soy foods you find, even at health food markets, such as soy burgers and soy dogs, contain hidden monosodium glutamate (MSG) labeled as textured soy protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, or autolyzed yeast.
Conventional soy is one of the most heavily sprayed crops (with pesticides). Soy protein concentrate products, such as soy protein and soy protein powder added to shakes and smoothies have been shown in research to be cancer-causing, especially for hormonal cancers of the breast. In large doses, soy also interferes with the drug Tamoxifen.
Soy is also problematic because it is one of the three most allergenic foods (wheat and milk are the other two). What further exacerbates this issue is that soy derived ingredients seem to be in everything.
From a genetic standpoint, soy may not be utilized well as a protein source. This is one of the reasons why some of the new clients we see who are vegetarian/vegan are in very poor health.
Soy may interfere with thyroid function and inhibit the gland's ability to do its job among those who are iodine deficient. Soy may also reduce the absorption of thyroid medication.
Thus, we recommend the following:
- Consume organic, fermented soy in the form of tofu, tempeh, and miso. Organic enriched soymilk and edamame may be okay in moderation.
- High dose soy isoflavone supplements are not recommended. It may be warranted only as an adjunct therapy in small doses for bone loss or menopausal symptoms.
- Avoid soy protein concentrates, especially if you thyroid or hormonal cancer issues (or in your family history).
Red Meat has a public relations problem and for good reason. In its current state, it is not a healthy food, especially if consumed more than once weekly, and even more so if cooked rare or charred.
With red meat it really boils down to one simple issue: how are the cattle being raised?.
A beef cow's natural diet comes from grass found on vast green pastures. When they eat their natural diet, the beef contains much less saturated fat and produces an ideal balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. Unfortunately, the diet of most cattle in the U.S. is predominately soybeans and corn, which create beef that is much higher in saturated fat and produces an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Most of you are aware that high levels of omega-6 and low levels of omega-3 can create a chronic inflammatory state. So we should not be surprised that study after study reveals how unhealthy consuming red meat really is. It should be noted that many of these studies focused heavily on processed red meat, laden with excess saturated fat, nitrates, and harmful additives.
The tide is turning, albeit on a minor scale. Many farmers are going back to raising cattle exclusively on pasture. For example, a local celebrity in Chicago, Bill Kurtis, founded Tall Grass Beef. All of his cattle are grass-fed. The cost is very competitive with conventional beef. Even superstores like Costco are carrying it. Grass-fed lamb raised in Australia and New Zealand are exclusively grass-fed, making it another acceptable red meat source. If you consume grass-fed red meat instead of conventional, you could probably eat it several times weekly. Red meat is an excellent protein source. Four ounces of lean meat equals between 30-40 grams of complete protein.
When cooking red meat, leaving it rare or charring creates another set of health issues. Rare meat leaves you more susceptible to contracting virulent intestinal pathogens or bacteria. ALWAYS cook your meat thoroughly, but not to excess. Charring red meat, to the point where parts of it are chalky black, creates cancer-causing compounds called heterocyclic amines. Especially in individuals who genetically have impaired detoxification, charred meat is highly contraindicated in their diets.
To recap:
- Eat grass-fed red meat exclusively.
- Avoid processed meats.
- Do not eat rare or charred red meat.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hyperactivity drug 'could help solve obesity crisis'
Drugs used to treat hyperactive children, such as Ritalin, could be used to help solve the obesity crisis as new research has shown one in three severely obese adults who fail to lose weight have undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Doctors behind the latest findings claim a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by undiagnosed ADHD prevents severely obese patients from having the willpower to lose weight. And they claim once the condition had been treated with drugs such as Ritalin improve their dieting success dramatically. Dr Lance Levy, from the Nutritional Disorders Clinic in Toronto studied 242 severly obese patients who had failed to lose weight in 10 years. Each patient was screened for ADHD through a series of tests and interviews. Results showed 32 per cent had a diagnosis of ADHD. They were then prescribed anti-hyperactivity drugs including Adderall, a type of amphetamine and a Ritalin-style pill called Concerta, taken once a day. After a year of treatment, those given the drugs had lost an average of 12 per cent of their total body weight, compared to 2.7 per cent of those not given medication.
Bonnie - just when you think you have seen it all...
Doctors behind the latest findings claim a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by undiagnosed ADHD prevents severely obese patients from having the willpower to lose weight. And they claim once the condition had been treated with drugs such as Ritalin improve their dieting success dramatically. Dr Lance Levy, from the Nutritional Disorders Clinic in Toronto studied 242 severly obese patients who had failed to lose weight in 10 years. Each patient was screened for ADHD through a series of tests and interviews. Results showed 32 per cent had a diagnosis of ADHD. They were then prescribed anti-hyperactivity drugs including Adderall, a type of amphetamine and a Ritalin-style pill called Concerta, taken once a day. After a year of treatment, those given the drugs had lost an average of 12 per cent of their total body weight, compared to 2.7 per cent of those not given medication.
Bonnie - just when you think you have seen it all...
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Some multivitamins do not meet label claim
U.S. experts argue for tax on sweet drinks
A penny-per-ounce tax on sugary drinks could help fight obesity by cutting consumption and raising billions of dollars to help state and local governments pay for programs, two experts said on Wednesday. Taxes have been shown to reduce smoking and are just as likely to help adults and children choose healthier drinks, which are now usually more expensive than sodas and other sweetened beverages, the experts wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine.
A tax of one penny per fluid ounce (30 ml) on drinks such as soda, sports drinks and sugar-sweetened fruit juice and iced tea could "reduce consumption of sugared beverages by more than 10 percent," Kelly Brownell of Yale University in Connecticut and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden wrote. "It is difficult to imagine producing behavior change of this magnitude through education alone, even if government devoted massive resources to the task." Studies show that children and adolescents now consume 10 percent to 15 percent of all their calories in beverages. The soft drink industry also opposes such a tax.
"The contribution of unhealthful diets to healthcare costs is already high and is increasing -- an estimated $79 billion is spent annually for overweight and obesity alone -- and approximately half of these costs are paid by Medicare and Medicaid, at taxpayers' expense," they wrote. "Sugar-sweetened beverages may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic," the researchers added. "For each extra can or glass of sugared beverage consumed per day, the likelihood of a child's becoming obese increases by 60 percent."
Bonnie - I would venture to say that this would be a contentious issue among the American public? How would you feel about this? Make a comment below.
A tax of one penny per fluid ounce (30 ml) on drinks such as soda, sports drinks and sugar-sweetened fruit juice and iced tea could "reduce consumption of sugared beverages by more than 10 percent," Kelly Brownell of Yale University in Connecticut and New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden wrote. "It is difficult to imagine producing behavior change of this magnitude through education alone, even if government devoted massive resources to the task." Studies show that children and adolescents now consume 10 percent to 15 percent of all their calories in beverages. The soft drink industry also opposes such a tax.
"The contribution of unhealthful diets to healthcare costs is already high and is increasing -- an estimated $79 billion is spent annually for overweight and obesity alone -- and approximately half of these costs are paid by Medicare and Medicaid, at taxpayers' expense," they wrote. "Sugar-sweetened beverages may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic," the researchers added. "For each extra can or glass of sugared beverage consumed per day, the likelihood of a child's becoming obese increases by 60 percent."
Bonnie - I would venture to say that this would be a contentious issue among the American public? How would you feel about this? Make a comment below.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Tai Chi as stroke therapy
Stroke patients who practice tai chi may improve their balance - reducing the risk of falls after as little as six weeks of training, according to the journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. Researchers took 136 people who had a stroke six months or more earlier and divided them into two groups. Over 12 weeks, one group did general exercise, the other a modified version of tai chi. While the exercise group showed little improvement in balance, the tai chi group made significant gains when they were tested on weight-shifting, reaching and how well they could maintain their stability on a platform that moved like a bus. The benefit of tai chi, the researchers said, is that once the forms are mastered, they can be done without supervision.
Bonnie - I love tai chi as an exercise/stress-reducing modality. It is very encouraging to see this research.
Bonnie - I love tai chi as an exercise/stress-reducing modality. It is very encouraging to see this research.
L-Lysine to treat shingles?
Courtesy of Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon, The People's Pharmacy
Comment - After chemo treatment, I had two bouts with shingles. Knowing that this is a herpes virus, I treated myself with L-lysine as I often do for cold sores. The discomfort and rash disappeared in less than a week. My oncologist was very interested to hear this and has been successful using L-lysine for other patients with shingles.
PP - Prescription antiviral drugs such as Valtrex or Famvir can be helpful against shingles. Many people say L-lysine works for cold sores. We have never heard that this amino acid might also work against shingles.
Bonnie - I never thought about L-Lysine either, but it makes perfect sense. I would recommend 1500 mg. daily until symptoms go away. Then taper off to 1000 mg., 500 mg. over the next week before stopping. I also recommend a very successful protocol that should be in addition to the L-Lysine. Monolaurin (natural antiviral), Quercetin + C, B-Complex, and Zinc. Dosage varies depending upon age.
Comment - After chemo treatment, I had two bouts with shingles. Knowing that this is a herpes virus, I treated myself with L-lysine as I often do for cold sores. The discomfort and rash disappeared in less than a week. My oncologist was very interested to hear this and has been successful using L-lysine for other patients with shingles.
PP - Prescription antiviral drugs such as Valtrex or Famvir can be helpful against shingles. Many people say L-lysine works for cold sores. We have never heard that this amino acid might also work against shingles.
Bonnie - I never thought about L-Lysine either, but it makes perfect sense. I would recommend 1500 mg. daily until symptoms go away. Then taper off to 1000 mg., 500 mg. over the next week before stopping. I also recommend a very successful protocol that should be in addition to the L-Lysine. Monolaurin (natural antiviral), Quercetin + C, B-Complex, and Zinc. Dosage varies depending upon age.
Three nutrients may reduce child asthma
A combination supplement containing omega-3 (300 mg EPA/200 mg DHA), vitamin C (200 mg) and zinc (15 mg) may improve symptoms of childhood asthma. The trio of nutrients were associated with improvements in asthma measures, lung function, and markers of inflammation in the lungs, according to findings of a randomized, double blind, placebo-self-controlled crossover trial published in Acta Pædiatrica. The study adds to a growing body of science linking fish consumption and fruit and vegetable intakes to a reduction in the risk or asthma, or improvements in the symptoms associated with the condition.
Bonnie - these three nutrients all have antiinflammatory properties, so the results of this study should not come as a surprise.
Monday, April 06, 2009
One remedy for overweight kids -- water
Want to help your kids keep the weight off? Give them water instead of soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks. An analysis of the diets of children and teens in the United States showed they drink, on average, 235 "empty" calories in sugar-sweetened beverages each day, according to a study in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Steve - there are numerous ways to enhance the flavor of water. Get naturally sparkling. Add a dash of fresh-squeezed lemon, lime, or pomegranate juice. Just avoid sweetening it unless it is stevia.
Steve - there are numerous ways to enhance the flavor of water. Get naturally sparkling. Add a dash of fresh-squeezed lemon, lime, or pomegranate juice. Just avoid sweetening it unless it is stevia.
When medicine makes you fat
This Wall Street Journal entry is a great example of why staying on certain medication long-term is not the ideal treatment for health issues. It is also a great example of why getting to the root of the problem is paramount.
Einstein scientists propose new theory of autism
Scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have proposed a sweeping new theory of autism that suggests that the brains of people with autism are structurally normal but dysregulated, meaning symptoms of the disorder might be reversible.
The central tenet of the theory, published in the March issue of Brain Research Reviews, is that autism is a developmental disorder caused by impaired regulation of the locus coeruleus, a bundle of neurons in the brain stem that processes sensory signals from all areas of the body.
The new theory stems from decades of anecdotal observations that some autistic children seem to improve when they have a fever, only to regress when the fever ebbs. A 2007 study in the journal Pediatrics took a more rigorous look at fever and autism, observing autistic children during and after fever episodes and comparing their behavior with autistic children who didn't have fevers. This study documented that autistic children experience behavior changes during fever.
"On a positive note, we are talking about a brain region that is not irrevocably altered. It gives us hope that, with novel therapies, we will eventually be able to help people with autism," says theory co-author Mark F. Mehler, M.D., chairman of neurology and director of the Institute for Brain Disorders and Neural Regeneration at Einstein.
The locus coeruleus has widespread connections to brain regions that process sensory information. It secretes most of the brain's noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in arousal mechanisms, such as the "fight or flight" response. It is also involved in a variety of complex behaviors, such as attentional focusing (the ability to concentrate attention on environmental cues relevant to the task in hand, or to switch attention from one task to another). Poor attentional focusing is a defining characteristic of autism.
Drs. Purpura and Mehler hypothesize that in autism, the LC-NA system is dysregulated by the interplay of environment, genetic, and epigenetic factors (chemical substances both within as well as outside the genome that regulate the expression of genes). They believe that stress plays a central role in dysregulation of the LC-NA system, especially in the latter stages of prenatal development when the fetal brain is particularly vulnerable.
Drs. Purpura and Mehler believe that, in autistic children, fever stimulates the LC-NA system, temporarily restoring its normal regulatory function. "This could not happen if autism was caused by a lesion or some structural abnormality of the brain," says Dr. Purpura.
"This gives us hope that we will eventually be able to do something for people with autism," he adds.
The researchers do not advocate fever therapy (fever induced by artificial means), which would be an overly broad, and perhaps even dangerous, remedy. Instead, they say, the future of autism treatment probably lies in drugs that selectively target certain types of noradrenergic brain receptors or, more likely, in epigenetic therapies targeting genes of the LC-NA system.
"If the locus coeruleus is impaired in autism, it is probably because tens or hundreds, maybe even thousands, of genes are dysregulated in subtle and complex ways," says Dr. Mehler. "The only way you can reverse this process is with epigenetic therapies, which, we are beginning to learn, have the ability to coordinate very large integrated gene networks."
"The message here is one of hope but also one of caution," Dr. Mehler adds. "You can't take a complex neuropsychiatric disease that has escaped our understanding for 50 years and in one fell swoop have a therapy that is going to reverse it — that's folly. On the other hand, we now have clues to the neurobiology, the genetics, and the epigenetics of autism. To move forward, we need to invest more money in basic science to look at the genome and the epigenome in a more focused way."
Steve - once again, an arrow pointing to epigenetics. This is a fascinating theory that we are sure to hear more about.
Friday, April 03, 2009
ADHD drugs work for only the first few months
According to a Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (March 2009), stimulant drugs such as Ritalin work for only the first few months on children with ADHD (attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder). At best, the good effects last for 14 months, at which point the drugs should be stopped. The MTA (Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD) tracked 485 children for eight years, and those who were still taking a stimulant drug at the end of that period were showing the same levels of inattention and hyperactivity as those who had never taken a drug. Most of the children had taken the drugs for only the first 14 months, and had then stopped. The MTA researchers conclude that their finding raises “questions about whether medication treatment beyond two years continues to be beneficial or needed at all.” The latest conclusion is very different from the very positive one the same research group reached in 1999 when it advocated the long-term use of ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta. A critic of the MTA research is William Pelham, of the State University of New York Buffalo, who took part in the field work. He said this week: “The stance the group took in the first paper was so strong that the people are embarrassed to say they were wrong and we led the whole field astray. If 5 per cent of families in the country are giving a medication to their children, and they don’t realize it does not have long-term benefits, but might have long-term risks, why should they not be told?”
Steve - it should be noted that the results of this research were nowhere to be found in the mainstream media.
Steve - it should be noted that the results of this research were nowhere to be found in the mainstream media.
Folic acid before conception boosts birth weight
Supplements of folic acid before conception may increase the birth of the baby by over 60 grams. Starting folic acid supplementation before becoming pregnant was also associated with a 57 per cent reduction in the risk of low birth weight, and a 60 per cent reduction in the risk of a baby that was small for gestational age (SGA), according to findings published online ahead of print in the British Journal of Nutrition.
The Dutch researchers, led by Sarah Timmermans from Erasmus MC, analysed data on 6,353 pregnancies and considered the effects of folic acid supplementation (400 to 500 micrograms per day) before, during, and after conception on the birth weight of the infants. The Generation R Study found that folic acid supplementation before conception was linked with heavier babies, and heavier placentas (13 grams more), compared to the infants of women who did not take any folic acid supplements. Benefits were recorded for women who started the folic acid supplements after having their pregnancy confirmed, with an association noted for a 39 per cent reduction in the risk of low birth weight. Starting folic acid supplementation before falling pregnant was associated with reductions of over 50 per cent in the risks of low birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA). “In conclusion, periconception folic acid supplementation is associated with increased fetal growth resulting in higher placental and birth weight, and decreased risks of low birth weight and SGA,” concluded Timmermans and her co-workers.
Steve - yet more evidence of the benefits of folic acid. What is even more important about this study is that it shows how crucial it is to take a prenatal/multi before conception, not just when you get pregnant.
Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula
Traces of a chemical used in rocket fuel were found in samples of powdered baby formula, and could exceed what's considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated with the ingredient, a government study has found. The study by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked for the chemical, perchlorate, in different brands of powdered baby formula. It was published last month, but the Environmental Working Group issued a press release Thursday drawing attention to it. The chemical has turned up in several cities' drinking water supplies. It can occur naturally, but most perchlorate contamination has been tied to defense and aerospace sites. No tests have ever shown the chemical caused health problems, but scientists have said significant amounts of perchlorate can affect thyroid function.
The government requires that formula contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate's effects. The largest amounts of the chemical were in formulas derived from cow's milk, the study said. The researchers would not disclose the brands of formula they studied. Only a few samples were studied, so it's hard to know if the perchlorate levels would be found in all containers of those brands, a CDC spokesman said. Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering setting new limits on the amount of perchlorate that would be acceptable in drinking water. A few states have already set their own limits. The EPA has checked nearly 4,000 public water supplies serving 10,000 people or more. About 160 of the water systems had detectable levels of perchlorate, and 31 had levels high enough to exceed a new safety level the EPA is considering.
Steve - melamine and now perchlorate? How comforting.
The government requires that formula contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate's effects. The largest amounts of the chemical were in formulas derived from cow's milk, the study said. The researchers would not disclose the brands of formula they studied. Only a few samples were studied, so it's hard to know if the perchlorate levels would be found in all containers of those brands, a CDC spokesman said. Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering setting new limits on the amount of perchlorate that would be acceptable in drinking water. A few states have already set their own limits. The EPA has checked nearly 4,000 public water supplies serving 10,000 people or more. About 160 of the water systems had detectable levels of perchlorate, and 31 had levels high enough to exceed a new safety level the EPA is considering.
Steve - melamine and now perchlorate? How comforting.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Hypertriglyceridemia remedied by lifestyle change
Hypertriglyceridemia is common among US adults and should be treated with lifestyle change in most cases, according to the results of a study reported in the March 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Increasing evidence supports triglyceride (TG) concentration as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease," write Earl S. Ford, MD, MPH, from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, and colleagues. "The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia during a period of rising prevalence of obesity and its pharmacological treatment among US adults are poorly understood."
In an accompanying commentary, Warren G. Thompson, MD, and Gerald T. Gau, MD, from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, agree that lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of management of TG concentrations between 150 and 500 mg/dL. They note that if the patient does not make lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, it is difficult to normalize TG concentration with medication alone.
Bonnie - they are just realizing this now? Triglcyerides are as important to cardiac health as cholesterol. I have consistently brought down triglycerides in my clients for years with diet and lifestyle change. Fish oil and limiting grain/refined carbohydrate consumption has the most dramatic effect.
CoQ10 may boost heart health of diabetics on statins
Supplements of coenzyme Q10 may increase the vascular health of diabetics receiving statins. Following 12 weeks of supplementation with CoQ10 (200mg per day) an improvement in the blood flow was observed, according to findings published in the journal Diabetes Care.
It is well known that statins deplete the body’s natural stores of CoQ10. The new findings indicate that, in addition to redressing the balance of CoQ10, supplementation may also improve endothelial dysfunction in statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients. “The patients in our study had endothelial dysfunction despite satisfactory control of blood pressure, glycaemia and lipids, which may represent the proportion of statin-treated patients at increased residual risk of cardiovascular disease,” wrote the researchers, led by Professor Gerald Watts from the University of Western Australia. “Our absolute improvement in [blood flow in the arm] of 1 per cent with CoQ10 supplementation may potentially translate to a 10-25 per cent reduction in residual cardiovascular risk in these patients.”
Steve - the results of this study should surprise nobody who reads this blog and gets our eNewsletters.
Adult Acne Pops Up When Economy Slides
Excerpts courtesy of Associated Press
Here's another bump in the landscape of economic meltdown: adult acne.
Stress is a leading cause of breakouts, and there's no shortage of that these days in the office of Oakland, Calif.-based Dr. Katie Rodan. Many of her clients are either in the financial field or have husbands who are.
Meanwhile, Manhattan dermatologist Dr. Cheryl Karcher is performing far fewer liposuctions or botox injections but is seeing more patients than ever. "They're all insurance patients for eczema, acne and warts. They're all another hit from the immune system," she says.
Karcher explains that the nervous system and hormone systems work together. "They are tightly intertwined and the nervous system is stimulated by stress. ... I am seeing more acne than you can believe."
A traffic jam or a spat with a significant other can set off a rise in cortisol that causes a breakout, but there isn't usually a collective mass of people experiencing a high-anxiety event like there is right now with the recession.
With a 16-year-old daughter to care for — and college to pay for — as well as elderly parents, Zondra Barricks says the economy weighs on her almost every day.
"My skin is a barometer of my emotional state," says Barricks, a patient of Rodan. "I am trying to take care of myself, behind the scenes I'm taking care of my skin. ... I have to cut back, but I don't want to look the raggedy way I'm feeling."
Dr. Kathy Fields points to a Stanford University study from 2002 that found students had more severe acne during exam periods than other times of the year.
"When your cortisol levels go up — and we're having so many spikes during the day — that aggravates acne. Your cortisol levels go up more in one day than a caveman had in one year," says Fields.
The single worst thing you could do, according to Rodan: pop your pimples. "Infections also increase when cortisol levels are high and wound healing slows down."
Bonnie - binge eating and excess junk food consumption also contribute. A wonderful, natural, economical method for breakouts is to wash your face with milk of magnesia twice daily. Put it on at the beginning of your shower and wash off at the end.
Vegetarian diets questioned
The health benefits of adhering to a vegetarian diet may not outweigh the potential detrimental effects.
According to scientists from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Texas, Austin, although vegetarians adhere to a healthier diet, evidence suggests that they may be at increased risk for disordered eating behavior.
Their study, published in the April edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, examined data on 2,500 adolescents and young adults, identified as current, former or never vegetarians.
“Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults my experience the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for binge eating, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight control behaviors,” found the study.
Data on the participants was taken from a Project EAT survey, which had recorded long-term nutritional behavior of adolescents and adults aged 15 to 23.
According to scientists from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Texas, Austin, although vegetarians adhere to a healthier diet, evidence suggests that they may be at increased risk for disordered eating behavior.
Their study, published in the April edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, examined data on 2,500 adolescents and young adults, identified as current, former or never vegetarians.
“Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults my experience the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for binge eating, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight control behaviors,” found the study.
Data on the participants was taken from a Project EAT survey, which had recorded long-term nutritional behavior of adolescents and adults aged 15 to 23.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
CoQ10 may cut pre-eclampsia in high-risk women
Supplements of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may reduce the risk of developing pre-eclampsia in women at risk for the condition. 235 women receiving 200 mg of CoQ10 a day had a 10 per cent lower risk of developing pre-eclampsia than women on placebo, according to results of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. “CoQ10 supplementation starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy appears to be a safe and well tolerated intervention, and resulted in a significant reduction in the rate of pre-eclampsia,” wrote the researchers.
Research Highlights - April
Am Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin seem to act as dietary-derived inhibitors of Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, suggesting that this inhibitory effect may contribute to chemopreventive properties of these molecules.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults may experience the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for binge eating with loss of control, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors. It would be beneficial for clinicians to inquire about current and former vegetarian status when assessing risk for disordered eating behaviors.
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Ginseng is found to be protective against cadmium-induced hepatic injuries.
- With a similar amount of total weight loss, lean mass is preserved, but there is not a preferential loss of abdominal fat when either moderate- or vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise is performed during caloric restriction.
- Calcium and magnesium intakes may protect against the development of Type 2 Diabetes in 65,000 Chinese women.
- Multiple micronutrient supplements increased the length of children who consumed them regularly from 3 to 24 mo. Strategies that promote compliance through effective delivery of micronutrient interventions are needed.
- A diet characterized by a low intake of meat/starches and a high intake of legumes is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in Asian Americans.
- A meta-analysis of the association between consumption of soy foods and prostate cancer risk in men showed lower incidence (26%) between men who consume them as opposed to those that do not. The risk was lower in men who consumed fermented soy foods as opposed to nonfermented. While we are always wary of meta-analyses, this should be another example of why fermented soy is preferred to nonfermented.
Quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin seem to act as dietary-derived inhibitors of Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, suggesting that this inhibitory effect may contribute to chemopreventive properties of these molecules.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
Adolescent and young adult vegetarians may experience the health benefits associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake and young adults may experience the added benefit of decreased risk for overweight and obesity. However, current vegetarians may be at increased risk for binge eating with loss of control, while former vegetarians may be at increased risk for extreme unhealthful weight-control behaviors. It would be beneficial for clinicians to inquire about current and former vegetarian status when assessing risk for disordered eating behaviors.
Food and Chemical Toxicology
Ginseng is found to be protective against cadmium-induced hepatic injuries.
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