Evidence that Vitamin D Deficiency Harms Lungs

January 31, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY HARMS LUNG GROWTH & FUNCTION

A study has found the first, concrete, cause-and-effect evidence linking a deficiency of vitamin D with a deficit in lung function, as well as with altered lung structure itself. (Previous research had shown that a vitamin D deficiency may increase the severity of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, among people already afflicted; but the new study specifically shows that vitamin D deficiency causes diminished lung function and development among otherwise healthy subjects.)

The deficiency was introduced to both pregnant mouse mothers and to their offspring, in whom the lung function and structure later were found to be damaged. Among D-deficient mice, lung volume was found to be lower and airway resistance was determined to be greater. Physical activity did not differ between the study and control groups. However, it was not possible to determine whether impairment of lung function and altered lung structure stemmed from the mothers’ vitamin D deficiencies, or from the deficiencies in the newborn mice. Further study may help identify what population groups may be able to improve lung health by vitamin D supplementation. This study was released January 28, 2011 but will not be appear in print until a future issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Is Your High Fat/Low Carb Diet Hurting You?

January 28, 2011 by Admin · 1 Comment
Filed under: In the News 

HIGH-FAT DIET HARMS HEART & COGNITIVE FUNCTION

A study concludes that the popular high-fat, low-carbohydrate (HFLC) diet may be detrimental to the both the heart and the brain.

Researchers assigned men aged 21 to 23 to a high-fat, low-carbohydrate (HFLC) diet and at a later time, to an alternate diet. They conducted MR scans, echocardiograms, and computerized cognitive tests. The HFLC diet produced 44% higher “plasma free fatty acids” (fats circulating in the blood). This higher level was associated with impaired cognitive function in the areas of attention, speed and mood; and a 9% lower ratio of cardiac phosphocreatine-to-ATP (indicating reduced energy available to the heart for maintaining its proper functioning).

These results occurred after five days on the high-fat diet and suggest an HFLC diet impairs cognition and heart function, reported the team. Released January 26, 2011, this study will be published in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In the meantime, it is available online at http://bit.ly/eJf9Wc.

Positive Emotions May Buffer Stress & Aging

January 27, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: A Message from the Doctor 

Positive Emotions May Buffer Stress, Aging

United Press International

01-26-11

An optimistic outlook has been shown to combat stress — a known risk factor for heart disease and other illnesses, U.S. researchers say.

Anthony Ong of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., conducted a review of researchers to determine if it is really true that feeling good may be good for health.

“We all age. It is how we age, however, that determines the quality of our lives,” Ong says in a statement.

The review, published in the Current Directions in Psychological Science, suggests positive emotions may be a powerful antidote to stress, pain and illness.

Ong speculates that happier people might take a proactive approach to aging by regularly exercising and budgeting time for a good night’s sleep, or people who have positive emotions may avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and risky sex.

These benefits of a healthy lifestyle may become more important as adults age and their bodies become more susceptible to disease, Ong says.

In any event, the study says people with stronger positive emotions have lower levels of chemicals associated with inflammation related to stress.

Copyright United Press International 2011

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CDC Reports 35% of American are Prediabetic

January 27, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
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CDC REPORTS 35% OF AMERICANS HAVE PREDIABETES

A newly released, statistical analysis by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that 26 million Americans now have diabetes and an estimated 79 million have prediabetes.

This means that, among Americans aged 20 and over, 35% have prediabetes.

Further, the CDC reports that an estimated 27% of all those with full-blown diabetes do not know they have the disease and therefore, are not being treated. (Diabetes involves the gradual loss of ability to use and produce insulin. Risk factors include lack of exercise, obesity, older age, family history and race or ethnicity.)

The CDC cautioned against direct comparisons with previous years’ figures because new diagnostic methods are adding more people to the list of those afflicted and better treatments are resulting in patients living longer with diabetes. However, in 2008, the CDC reported that 23.6 million Americans had prediabetes (26 million now) or 7.8% of the population (8% now).

In a study published last year, the CDC projected that 1/3 of the US population could have diabetes by 2050. The report was released January 26, 2011 and is available online now at http://bit.ly/hk8yIy without charge.

Can Traffic Noise Increase the Risk of Stroke?

January 26, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
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TRAFFIC NOISE INCREASES STROKE RISK

A study has found that exposure to noise from road traffic can increase the risk of stroke, especially among those aged 65 years or older.

Researchers studying 51,485 subjects concluded that every ten-decibel increase in noise volume may raise the risk of stroke by 27% among those 65 years of age and over. Previous studies have linked traffic noise with higher blood pressure and heart attack risk, but this is the first study to link traffic noise with a greater stroke risk.

Epidemiological studies such as this, based on common factors among large populations, cannot prove cause-and-effect; but if this is a causal link, it would mean 8% of all strokes and 19% of strokes among those aged 65 and over are attributable to road traffic noise.

Traffic noise might be interfering with sleep, acting as a stressor and elevating stress hormones. The study was released today, January 26, 2011 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the European Heart Journal. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/hP9XyR without subscription or fee.

Change Your Brain in 8 Weeks

January 25, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION INCREASES BRAIN REGIONS IN 8 WEEKS

A study found that an 8 week program of mindfulness meditation increased the concentration of grey matter in regions of the brain associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.

Researchers found reductions in grey matter in an area linked with stress & anxiety.

This is the first study to report meditation-produced changes in the brain’s grey matter. (Previous work showed, in those who meditate, a thickening of the cerebral cortex in areas linked to attention and emotional integration but it could not be determined whether those changes resulted from the meditation.) The new results suggest, according to researchers, that the physical relaxation and sense of peace reported by those who meditate might be caused by structural changes in the brain, and not simply by the immediate benefit of physical relaxation. Magnetic resonance (MR) scans were used on subjects who meditated for an average of 27 minutes daily. This study was released early, but will not appear in print until the January 30, 2011 issue of the journal, Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/eEDJER without subscription or fee.

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What Does the Color of Your Mucus Tell You?

January 24, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

You’ve heard that when your mucus is green you have an infection and that when it begins to turn yellow, you’re in the clear?

Well, apparently the notion that green mucus indicates the presence of an infection is false.

The relevance of mucus color is a myth that even many doctors believe, according to Drs. Aaron E. Carroll and Rachel C. Vreeman, coauthors of the book, Don’t Swallow Your Gum, who write, “There is no evidence that antibiotics…shorten the duration of an illness when green snot is a symptom.” (The book’s title refers to the often-heard myth that gum will remain in your stomach for seven years.)

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Vitamin E Supplements Can Help Women Reduce the Risk of COPD

January 24, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTS REDUCE RISK OF COPD

Researchers have found that supplementation with 600 international units (IU) every second day is associated with a 10% lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), at least in women.

Previous, observational studies reported links between higher levels of antioxidants and a lower risk of COPD, leading to this randomized, ten-year study on women only, of supplementation with one of the antioxidant vitamins, vitamin E. This benefit was not reduced or increased by a number of other factors: age, multivitamin use, the taking of 100mg of aspirin every second day, dietary vitamin E intake, or smoking of cigarettes. Smoking was found to be a strong predictor of COPD. An important aspect of these results is that the reduction in COPD risk was observed with vitamin E supplementation, but not with vitamin E intake from diet. This study was released January 21, 2011, but will not be published until a future issue of the journal, Thorax. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/gDbKcT.

Breastfeeding Benefits Childhood Cancer Survivors

January 21, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
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BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS

Researchers report that women who survived childhood cancer may benefit during adulthood, from breastfeeding their infants.

The number of childhood cancer survivors is growing and eighty percent of children and adolescents treated for cancer survive. However, survivors face a number of health challenges, including various effects of both the cancer itself and the treatment.

Breastfeeding appeared to improve bone mineral density, metabolic syndrome risk factors, cardiovascular disease and the risk of secondary tumors, all of which are negatively affected by the treatments for childhood cancer. The scientists advised that – in addition to traditional advice to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, avoid tobacco smoke, use sun protection, and get exercise – women who have survived childhood cancer should be encouraged to breastfeed to help protect them from the lasting effects of both the cancer and its treatment. This study was released online on January 20, 2011, but the full study will not be available until a future issue of the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.

Possible Good News for Celiacs

January 20, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

CELIAC PATIENTS CAN EAT HYDROLYZED WHEAT FLOUR

Wheat products are generally toxic for celiac disease patients but a new study has concluded that baked goods made from hydrolyzed wheat flour are safe even for these patients and do not produce typical celiac symptoms. Celiac disease occurs in the digestive system when people cannot tolerate a protein called gluten, which is found primarily in wheat. Gluten is also primarily found in barley and rye, but may be in everyday products such as soy sauce and salad dressing, as well as some medications and vitamins.

A hydrolyzed protein is one that has been broken down into its component amino acids, or building blocks.  In this study, doctors evaluated the safety of the daily consumption of baked goods made from a hydrolyzed form of wheat flour by patients with celiac disease. The doctors fermented wheat flour with sourdough lactobacilli and fungal proteases; this process decreases the concentration of gluten.

Further study may help provide celiac patients with alternatives to the traditional gluten-free diet. This study appears in the January 2011 issue of the journal, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/dFA4Vr.

Living Near Busy Roadways Increases Your Risk of Allergies & Asthma

January 19, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

LIVING NEAR BUSY ROADWAYS INCREASES RISKS OF ALLERGIES, ASTHMA

A study conducted by an international team of lung experts has found that living immediately next to a busy roadway increases the risk of developing allergies by 30% and raises the risk of acquiring asthma by 100%.

Allergies linked to traffic-related pollution included allergies to dust mites, per hairs and mold. The risks of developing asthma or allergies were increased most nearest to roads where a steady stream of traffic flowed down several lanes unimpeded all day long. Although previous studies have linked traffic pollution to self-reported asthma symptoms, this is the first study known to establish a connection between traffic pollution and the actual origins of asthma.

People who do not outgrow their asthma by their early teens are twice as likely to remain asthmatic throughout adulthood. The study included home visits to measure environmental pollutants and lung function.

The team plans to study the biological effect of specific traffic pollutants. This study was released January 18, 2011 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. It can be read online at http://bit.ly/f47cSi.

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Skip the Breakfast, Save the Calories?

January 18, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

SMALLER BREAKFASTS AID WEIGHT LOSS

People commonly believe that skipping breakfast results in greater calorie consumption later in the day and increased weight gain. However, a study has found that eating smaller breakfasts – or even skipping breakfast altogether – results in an overall reduction in daily calories and improved weight loss.

Researchers conducted a 14-day evaluation of breakfast calories and how overall caloric intake was affected each day. They found that those skipping breakfast did not fully compensate for the loss of breakfast calories by increased consumption during the rest of the day; and on days of smaller breakfasts, the overall calorie intake that day was less, resulting in weight loss.

The study team concluded that, “overweight and obese subjects should consider the reduction of breakfast calories as a simple option to improve their daily energy balance.” The study was released January 17, 2011 but will not be published until a future issue of Nutrition Journal. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/f0xiYY without fee.

Ways to Support Healthy Longevity

January 17, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

Several Habits To Support Longevity

From Prevention Magazine:

1.  Cut out the bad fat.

Bad fat being saturated and trans fats.  Good fats like Omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFA) are really important for heart, brain and skin health.  For an excellent source of Omega 3 EFA, see Antarcti-Krill.  Another type of “good fat” are the monounsaturated fats like those from nuts, avocados and olive oil.

2.  Reduce your “added” sugar intake.

Too much “added” sugar can result in additional wrinkles because sugar binds to proteins in skin, damaging collagen.  To avoid “added sugars,” reduce your consumption of packaged foods and any resulting “added sugar” to no more than 160 calories per day.  That would be equivalent to 1 can of soda per day.

3. Develop your friendships.

Close friendships are actually more important in your overall longevity than strong family ties.

4.  Get to bed on time.

Lack of sleep affects aging.  It adversely affects weight, diabetes and high blood pressure.  To help you get the sleep you need, try Z-Caps.

5.  Reduce your stress.

Increased stress builds hormones in the blood stream which delay wound healing, increase blood pressure, reduce cognitive function memory, adversely affect mood and learning.  To help you cope with stress, try InSight Natural or InSight HT.

Try deep breathing at least twice a day to support healthy stress management.

6.  Listen to your iPod at <50% volume.

Listening to loud music can result in early hearing loss.  Experts suggest listening to your iPod at <50% volume and invest in a good set of noise canceling headsets so that you can still hear the music, but at a lower and safer volume level.

 

MCS Poses Greater Risk

January 16, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

People who are sickened by strong colognes or fragrances may be much more than simply allergic.

While those with allergies may be inconvenienced or even temporarily ill, people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or asthma may be at risk of death.

MCS is a neurological disease and asthma is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. Sufferers of these disorders can experience serious harm from strong fragrances, including progressive and permanent, organ and brain damage — and yes, even death. Contrary to popular belief, filter masks and oxygen do not prevent most exposures.

Blueberries Reduce Risk of High Blood Pressure

January 16, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

BLUEBERRIES REDUCE RISK OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

A study found that a compound in blueberries and strawberries lowers the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure). Thanks to the anthocyanins (a flavonoid) in blueberries, researchers found, those eating at least one serving a week reduced their risk of developing the condition by 10 percent, compared with those who rarely or never eat blueberries. Those consuming strawberries weekly showed an eight percent lower risk.

Over 14 years, researchers studied 134,000 women and 47,000 men who did not have hypertension at the start of the study, assessing their health every two years and their diets every four. Newly diagnosed cases of high blood pressure were analyzed in relation to the dietary intake of anthocyanins and the reduced risk was found. The study team concluded that an anthocyanin intake level that is achievable by diet alone could serve to prevent this condition, which leads to stroke and heart disease.

The team suggested raspberries, aubergines (eggplants) and blood orange juice as equivalent alternatives. This study was released recently but will not appear in print until the February, 2011 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is online now at http://bit.ly/ft6gVu.

Eating Peanuts During Pregnancy May Cause Allergy

January 13, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

Infants born to women who ate peanuts during pregnancy may be more likely to develop a peanut allergy.

The theory that a mother’s consumption of eggs, milk or peanuts during pregnancy can cause allergies in infants has been controversial. But a recent study of 503 infants found that eating peanuts during pregnancy was a substantial predictor of peanut allergy risk. These results were reported in the November 1, 2011 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Low Vitamin D in Pregnancy Affects Children’s Insulin Resistance

January 13, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

LOW VITAMIN D IN PREGNANCY AFFECTS CHILDREN’S INSULIN RESISTANCE

A study found that low blood levels of vitamin D during pregnancy may result in less muscle mass and higher insulin resistance in children. (An effect on musculoskeletal development had long been suspected but metabolic effect was not known.)

Researchers measured vitamin D status at the 28-32 week period of pregnancy. Later, they examined various blood, insulin and strength factors in the children born to these mothers at the ages of five and 9.5 years. At both ages measured, children born to mothers who had shown a distinct vitamin D deficiency had smaller arm-muscle area. Also, at 9.5 years of age, children of D-deficient mothers showed higher fasting insulin resistance. (In insulin-resistant individuals, the hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars and raises the risk of diabetes and early heart disease.)

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition released this study on January 12, 2011, although it will not be published until a future issue. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/eEYzbx.

How Can 1 Minute Improve Heart Health?

January 12, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

SHORT BREAKS FROM SITTING BENEFIT HEART

A study has concluded that it is not merely the length of time spent sitting that increases risk factors for heart disease, but also the number of short breaks taken from sitting.  Even one-minute breaks proved beneficial.

Prolonged periods spent sitting worsened indicators of cardio-metabolic function and inflammation, such as larger waist circumferences, lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels of C-reactive protein (indicating inflammation), and higher triglycerides. However, those who took more breaks during these sedentary periods had smaller waistlines and lower C-reactive protein (inflammation) levels.

Researchers stressed that it is not simply the lack of exercise that negatively affects health; it is also the amount of time spent actually sitting during non-exercise periods; and it is the number of brief breaks from sitting that helps reduce the negative effects of being sedentary. The study team recommended that, to significantly reduce heart-related risks, people break up sitting times, stand up once in a while, take phone calls standing up, or walk over to fellow workers rather than emailing. The European Heart Journal published this study in its January 12, 2011 issue. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/hTOktD.

Check Out Our New Health Library

January 12, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Free Stuff 

To learn more about Vitamins, Minerals & Botanicals – check out our new Health Library.  Just click on Health Library at the top right of our homepage:  CLICK HERE.

 

DHA May Protect Against Brain Injury

January 11, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

DHA MAY PROTECT AGAINST BRAIN INJURY

Although results are preliminary, a study to be published in February suggests traumatic brain injury (TBI) might be reduced by pre-treating at-risk individuals, such as military personnel and contact-sport athletes, with docosahexanoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid. TBI is brain damage from a violent blow to the head that launches the brain against the skull, often causing brain bruising, tearing of nerve fibers, and bleeding.

According to the CDC, one-third of all injury-related deaths in the US are linked to TBI. So far, science has found no effective way to prevent serious outcomes. The main fatty acid found in the brain, DHA may play several roles protecting the brain.

Researchers induced TBI in rats after 30 days of DHA supplementation in dosages of 3, 12, and 40 mg per kilogram of body weight. Highest-dosage rats experienced less tissue damage, less brain cell death, and reduced memory loss, indicating less behavioral impairment.

Another noteworthy finding was reduced expression of beta amyloid protein – a protein linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This study will appear in the February, 2011 issue of Neurosurgery. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/i1WzZf.

Are Low Carb Pork Rinds Good For You?

January 9, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

“Low carb,” or “low sodium,” or other front-of-box claims often mislead consumers about a food’s nutritive value.

A study by the FDA and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition found that consumers are less likely to read the standard and comprehensive nutritional panel on the back of a package if there is a prominent health claim on the front.

Health statements on the front of a product, such as “low-carb” claims, often overshadow the amounts of other undesirable contents such as sodium or saturated fat, which may be extremely high.

For example, pork rinds can be labeled “low carb,” thus disguising their 10 grams of saturated fat per serving.

Low Carb?

Can a Cup of Red Tea Reduce Cardiovascular Risk?

January 9, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

ROOIBOS TEA REDUCES CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

In South Africa, rooibos or redbush is a plant (Aspalathus linearis) traditionally fermented and consumed like a tea. Despite a medicinal reputation, little data have been available from controlled trials. However, a new study found that a significant daily intake of rooibos improves the status of various factors relevant to heart disease.

Volunteers consumed six cups of traditional, fermented rooibos every day for six weeks, followed by a control period with no rooibos consumption for comparison. After the rooibos phase, their blood indicated lower levels of lipid peroxidation. This is a process in which free radicals damage cells by stealing electrons from the fat in the cell membranes.

Also, the level of one form of glutathione (reduced glutathione) was raised relative to another form of glutathione (the disulfide form), which signifies a reduction in oxidative stress. HDL (good) cholesterol levels were higher and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels were reduced, both significantly.

These measurements suggest rooibos reduces factors relevant to developing cardiovascular disease. This study was published in the January 7, 2011 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/fXsjTi.

A New Way to Screen for Cancer?

January 7, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

DIETARY FAT LINKED TO BREAST CANCER

Researchers found that the elevated levels of dietary fat and cholesterol found in the typical Western diet may contribute to the growth and spread of breast cancer.

Similar studies of humans have produced contradictory results, prompting this team to study the relationship between cancer, fat and cholesterol in mice with a predisposition towards developing mammary tumors. The development of breast cancer in mice is considered to be similar in many ways to human breast cancer. Mirroring the human Western diet, the study mice received a diet containing 21.2 percent fat and 0.2 percent cholesterol while the control group ate a diet of 4.5 percent fat and negligible cholesterol. Compared to the control group, the mice fed the typical, Western, high-fat, high-cholesterol diet developed twice as many breast cancer tumors and they were 50 percent larger, faster-growing and more easily metastasized.

Since blood cholesterol dropped substantially in mice with breast tumors, the researchers suggested that measuring blood cholesterol may be an effective means of screening for cancer development. Published in the January, 2011 issue of the American Journal of Pathology, this study is available online now at http://bit.ly/f7SZel without subscription or fee.

How Betulin May Help You

January 5, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

BIRCH BARK INGREDIENT HAS STRONG METABOLIC BENEFITS

According to a new study, a component in the bark of birch trees may lower cholesterol, suppress diet-induced obesity, improve insulin sensitivity and slow the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Although the research was conducted on mice, the benefits would be substantial if further work finds the effects hold for humans. For example, betulin decreased cholesterol in the liver, blood and fat to a greater extent than lovastatin, a widely prescribed drug class for treating high cholesterol.

The birch ingredient also made the mice more sensitive to insulin, which may help prevent diabetes, and caused them to burn more calories and lose weight. It also reduced plaque build-up in the arteries. Betulin alters the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, triglycerides and fatty acids.

Although not sold as a supplement, betulin appears to have low toxicity and is a readily available compound already in use as a precursor in the manufacture of some drugs. This study was published in the January 5, 2011 issue of the journal, Cell Metabolism. The full study is available online now at http://bit.ly/hYelkF without charge.

What You Need to Know About Exercise & Hydration

January 4, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

If exercise is part of your New Year’s resolution, then please learn more about hyponatremia.

Drinking too much water in a short period of time can cause “hyponatremia” which can be fatal, especially if it occurs within 48 hours after heavy exercise.

Some marathon runners (usually less experienced & participants in fun runs) have died after downing very large amounts of water immediately after a race.

Hyponatremia involves low sodium levels and water-induced swelling of cells; while most body cells can withstand this, brain cells cannot. Symptoms of hyponatremia include vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, restless fatigue, abnormal mental status (such as hallucinations or confusion), muscle weakness and even convulsions.

Often people are advised simply to consume lots of water or specific volumes per day; however, research shows thirst is your best guide to how much to drink; and water intake after heavy exercise and sweating should be moderate.

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Could You Be Consuming Harmful Trans Fats Unknowingly?

January 4, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

TRANS FAT-FREE LABELS HIDE HARMFUL AMOUNTS

A study found substantial amounts of trans fat in many foods labeled trans fat-free.  Researchers suggested that the government labeling protocol deceives many consumers who unknowingly exceed the healthy recommended intake of 1.11 grams a day.

Trans fats, even when consumed in small quantities increase the risks of coronary artery disease, sudden cardiac death and diabetes. Current FDA regulation requires that fat contents of more than five grams be listed in one gram increments; contents under five grams be listed in 0.5 gram increments; and amounts under 0.5 grams be listed as zero grams of fat. However, zero-fat-labeled foods contain up to 0.49 grams of trans fat.

Consumption of just three such food items (that may contain up to .49 gms of trans fat, but are legally labeled as “O g”) would total 1.47 grams of trans fat, which is considered a medically harmful daily quantity.

While these amounts seem small, research shows that raising daily trans fat consumption from 0.9 to 2.1 percent will increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30 percent.

This study was published in the January/February 2011 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion. It is available at http://bit.ly/ijZBoJ.

How to Reduce Hypertension in Diabetics

January 3, 2011 by Admin · Leave a Comment
Filed under: In the News 

DASH DIET LOWERS CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AMONG DIABETICS

A study has shown that type 2 diabetic patients who follow the DASH diet lower a host of cardiovascular risk factors. (DASH – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension – is an eating plan designed to combat high blood pressure and involves low salt intake, high consumption of fruits and vegetables and low-fat or no-fat dairy; it has been shown to reduce high blood pressure within 14 days.)

Researchers measured the specific effects of the DASH diet on 31 type 2 diabetics and found that various metabolic risk factors were altered significantly. In just eight weeks, participants had lower body weights; smaller waist circumferences; lower fasting blood glucose levels; higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels; lower LDL (bad) cholesterol readings; lower systolic (upper) blood pressure readings; and reduced diastolic (lower) blood pressure scores.

The journal, Diabetes Care, published this study in its January 1, 2011 issue and it can be read online now at http://bit.ly/g8Se2g.