Eating Mostly Whole Grains, Few Refined Grains Linked to Lower Body Fat

ΩUnique Relationship Observed Between Grain Intake and Visceral Adipose Tissue People who consume several servings of whole grains per day while limiting daily intake of refined grains appear to have less of a type of fat tissue thought to play a key role in triggering cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Researcher Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University observed lower volumes of Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT) in people who chose to eat mostly whole grains instead of refined grains.“VAT volume was approximately 10 % lower in adults who reported eating three or more daily servings of whole grains and who limited their intake of refined grains to less than one serving per day,” says first author Nicola McKeown,...

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Low-Carbohydrate Beverage Plus Protein Improves Endurance Performance

ΩDespite Fewer Calories, Low-Carb Drink Provides Better Endurance in Cyclists, Reports Study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning ResearchCompared to a standard carbohydrate supplement, a low-carbohydrate beverage with added protein leads to longer endurance times in cyclists, reports the October issue of the The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.Depending on exercise intensity, a low-carb beverage with a moderate amount of added protein can improve...

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No Heart Benefits for Folic Acid Supplements

ΩUse of folic acid supplements appears to lower blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine -- theorized to be a risk factor for heart and blood vessel disease -- but does not appear to be associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular events, cancer or death over a five-year period, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the October 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals."Elevated plasma total homocysteine [an amino acid created by the body, usually as a byproduct of eating meat] has been suggested as a potentially modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke and other occlusive vascular conditions," the authors write as background information in the article. High rates of cardiovascular disease in children with...

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Yoga Can Counteract Fibromyalgia

ΩAccording to new research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University, yoga exercises may have the power to combat fibromyalgia -- a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain. The research is being published in the November 10 online edition of the journal Pain and will appear online on Oct. 14."Previous research suggests that the most successful treatment for fibromyalgia involves a combination of medications, physical exercise and development of coping skills," said James Carson, Ph.D., a clinical health psychologist and an assistant professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine in the OHSU School of Medicine. "Here, we specifically focused on yoga to determine whether it should be considered as a prescribed treatment and the extent to which it can be successful."In...

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Vitamin B12 may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease

ΩA new study shows that vitamin B12 may protect against Alzheimer's disease, adding more evidence to the scientific debate about whether the vitamin is effective in reducing the risk of memory loss. The research will be published in the October 19, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology."Our findings show the need for further research on the role of vitamin B12 as a marker for identifying people who are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease," said study author Babak Hooshmand, MD, MSc, with Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden. "Low levels of vitamin B12 are surprisingly common in the elderly. However, the few studies that have investigated the usefulness of vitamin B12 supplements to reduce the risk of memory loss have had mixed results."For...

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Soy intake associated with lower recurrence of breast cancer

ΩPost-menopausal breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive cancers who consumed high amounts of soy isoflavones had a lower risk of recurrence, found a research study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal.Soy isoflavones are similar to estrogen in chemical structure and may stimulate or inhibit estrogen-like action in tissues. Consumption of soy isoflavones, found in soybeans and soy products, has increased in recent years and there are concerns about the effect of soy consumption on women with estrogen and progesterone receptor positive breast cancer as tumour growth is dependent on estrogen.The study, by researchers at the Cancer Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China, involved 524 women who had surgery for breast cancer and were followed afterwards for...

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Statin use associated with statistically significant reduction in colorectal cancer

ΩA systematic review of the medical literature supports the hypothesis that statins, cholesterol‐lowering drugs used to prevent cardiac problems, are associated with reduced risk of colon and rectal cancers. A comprehensive analysis by investigators at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, included 22 scientific studies with more than 2.5 million combined participants."Statin use was associated with a statistically significant reduction in colorectal cancer," explained Jewel Samadder, M.D., MSc. The relative risk was 0.88 (95% CI 0.84‐0.93; n=22) and represents a 12% reduction in the odds of colorectal cancer among statin users. This effect was largely consistent across study design with both case control and cohort studies showing a strong correlation. The length of statin use, both greater...

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Chest Compression-Only CPR Improves Survival in Cardiac Arrest Patients

ΩHeart attack patients whose hearts have stopped beating and who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from bystanders fare better if their resuscitators skip the rescue breaths and do only chest compression, according to a study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.The study, published online on Oct. 15 in The Lancet, determined that the chest compression-only method of CPR improved survival rates over standard CPR.Standard CPR involves alternating chest compressions with rescue breaths.“We looked at data from three studies,” says principal investigator Peter Nagele, MD. “Individually, the studies were ‘underpowered’ statistically and could not show a survival benefit. Basically, there were too few study subjects to determine whether one method...

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Eating better improves aid memory and protects against disease

ΩForty-four healthy, overweight people between the ages of 50 and 75 took part in a diet study at the Antidiabetic Food Centre of Lund University.For four weeks they ate foods which are presumed to reduce low-grade inflammation in the body, a condition which in turn triggers metabolic syndrome and thus obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.The test diet was high in antioxidants, low-GI foods (i.e. slow release carbohydrates), omega fatty acids, wholegrain products, probiotics and viscous dietary fibre. Examples of foods eaten were oily fish, barley, soy protein, blueberries, almonds, cinnamon, vinegar and whole grain bread. The results of a diet study show that bad cholesterol was reduced by 33 per cent, blood lipids by 14 per cent, blood pressure by 8 per cent and a risk marker...

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Watermelon lowers blood pressure

Ω No matter how you slice it, watermelon has a lot going for it –– sweet, low calorie, high fiber, nutrient rich –– and now, there's more. Evidence from a pilot study led by food scientists at The Florida State University suggests that watermelon can be an effective natural weapon against prehypertension, a precursor to cardiovascular disease.It is the first investigation of its kind in humans. FSU Assistant Professor Arturo Figueroa and Professor Bahram H. Arjmandi found that when six grams of the amino acid L-citrulline/L-arginine from watermelon extract was administered daily for six weeks, there was improved arterial function and consequently lowered aortic blood pressure in all nine of their prehypertensive subjects (four men and five postmenopausal women, ages 51-57)."We are the first...

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Research on Energy Drinks Begs Consumers to Think Before They Drink

ΩThe National Institute of Recreational Drinks (NIRD) has released a new study documenting the dramatic increase in cases of energy drink abuse. "A large majority of Americans are at risk. We are in the midst of an energy epidemic" claims the study.The study required that 200 patients at the NIRD’s Wisconsin campus involved abstain from all energy drinks for 24 hours. The patients were then asked to write about their experiences in a clinical survey. Their feelings were comparable to those of drug and alcohol addicts seeking sobriety - describing their feelings when they have to abstain from using energy drinks in literally the same terms associated with drug and alcohol addictions: In withdrawal, frantically craving, very anxious, extremely antsy, miserable, jittery, crazy.Not only did the...

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Even women with a family history can control breast cancer risk

ΩHaving a family history of breast cancer can lead some women to wonder if the risk is out of their control. However, a study of more than 85,000 postmenopausal women, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Breast Cancer Research, observed that regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking less alcohol lowers breast cancer risk for those with and without a family history of the disease.The University of Rochester Medical Center study is good news for women who have a close relative with breast cancer and fear that no matter what they do, it won't matter, said lead author Robert E. Gramling, M.D., D.Sc., associate professor of Family Medicine, and Community and Preventive Medicine at URMC."It's important to note that a family history of breast cancer can arise...

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Consuming vegetables linked to decreased breast cancer risk in African-American women

ΩInvestigators from the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have reported that African American women who consume more vegetables are less likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer than women with low vegetable intake. The study results, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, were based on data from the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS), a large follow-up study of 59,000 African American women from across the U.S. conducted by investigators at the Slone Epidemiology Center since 1995.The investigators followed 51,928 participants in the BWHS for 12 years, during which time 1,268 cases of breast cancer developed. Among cases on which hormone receptor status was obtained, 35 percent were estrogen receptor-negative/progesterone...

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Walk much? It may protect your memory down the road

ΩNew research suggests that walking at least six miles per week may protect brain size and in turn, preserve memory in old age, according to a study published in the October 13, 2010, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology."Brain size shrinks in late adulthood, which can cause memory problems. Our results should encourage well-designed trials of physical exercise in older adults as a promising approach for preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease," said study author Kirk I. Erickson, PhD, with the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh.For the study, 299 dementia-free people recorded the number of blocks they walked in one week. Then nine years later, scientists took brain scans of the participants to measure their brain size. After four more...

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Luteolin from carrots, peppers, celery, olive oil reduces age-related inflammation in the brain

A diet rich in the plant compound luteolin reduces age-related inflammation in the brain and related memory deficits by directly inhibiting the release of inflammatory molecules in the brain, researchers report.Luteolin (LOOT-ee-oh-lin) is found in many plants, including carrots, peppers, celery, olive oil, peppermint, rosemary and chamomile.The new study, which examined the effects of dietary luteolin in a mouse model of aging, appears in the Journal of Nutrition. The researchers focused on microglial cells, specialized immune cells that reside in the brain and spinal cord. Infections stimulate microglia to produce signaling molecules, called cytokines, which spur a cascade of chemical changes in the brain. Some of these signaling molecules, the inflammatory cytokines, induce “sickness behavior”:...

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Jon's Health Tips - Latest Health Research

I drink some calcium-supplemented OJ, and eat 3-4 yogurts a week. I will try to increase those a bit. I probably should consider taking a calcium supplement, but I take too many already:Most women, older men, and many other people don’t get enough calcium from food. I am going to continue to take Vitamin D – see this study:Forty-three percent of patients scheduled to undergo orthopaedic surgery have insufficient levels of vitamin D and two out of five of those patients had levels low enough to place them at risk for metabolic bone disease.And this review Vitamin D: Many Benefits:I am going to continue exercise vigorously:Vigorous exercise of more than two hours per week reduces the risk of developing breast cancer...by 64 percent.and:Boosting cardiovascular fitness improves sleep, vitality...

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Turmeric May Have Bone-Protective Effects

Turmeric—an herb commonly used in curry powders, mustards, and cheeses—may protect bones against osteoporosis, according to a recent laboratory study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that can lead to an increased risk of fractures. The condition is common in postmenopausal women. This study, which used an animal (rat) model of post-menopausal osteoporosis, builds on previous laboratory research examining turmeric's anti-arthritic properties.Funded in part by NCCAM, the study tested two turmeric extracts containing different amounts of curcuminoids—(components of the herb) in female rats whose ovaries had been surgically removed (ovariectomy—a procedure that causes changes associated with menopause, including bone loss). Researchers...

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What are some important links between vitamin D and health?

Scientists are studying vitamin D to see how it affects health. Here are a few examples of what this research has shown.Bone problemsAs they get older, men and women can develop weak and fragile bones, a condition called osteoporosis. Supplements of both vitamin D and calcium can reduce the risk of bone loss and fractures in elderly people. Talk with your healthcare provider about vitamin D and calcium as part of a plan to prevent or treat osteoporosis as you age.CancerSome studies have tried to find out whether getting more vitamin D can affect the chances of developing cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, pancreas, and other parts of the body. It's too early to say whether low levels of vitamin D affect one's risk of cancer.Can vitamin D be harmful?In healthy children and adults, vitamin...

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What are some effects of zinc on health?

Scientists are studying zinc to see how it affects health. Here are a few examples of what this research has shown.Immune system and wound healingZinc supplements might help some people with sores and skin ulcers, but only if these people have low levels of zinc.DiarrheaChildren who live in developing countries often die from diarrhea. Zinc supplements might help these children get better more quickly. It is not clear if zinc supplements help children with diarrhea who get enough zinc, such as most children in the United States.The common coldSome scientists have tried to find out whether zinc lozenges help people with a cold feel better and recover more quickly. But these studies have had different results. At this time, it is not clear whether zinc lozenges can help treat the common cold.Age-related...

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What are some effects of calcium on health?

ΩWhat foods provide calcium?Many foods have some calcium. You can get enough calcium by eating a variety of foods including milk, cheese, and yogurt; vegetables like kale, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage; and canned sardines and salmon with soft bones that you eat.Calcium is added to some breakfast cereals, fruit juices, soy and rice beverages, and tofu (check the product labels).What kinds of calcium dietary supplements are available?Many multivitamin-mineral supplements have calcium. You can also buy calcium alone or together with vitamin D. If your supplement has calcium carbonate, you should take it with food. Calcium citrate costs more but you can take it on an empty stomach, and people older than 50 can absorb it more easily.To absorb the most calcium from a supplement, don’t take more...

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What are some effects of vitamin C on health?

ΩScientists are studying vitamin C to understand how it affects health. Here are several examples of what this research has shown.Cancer prevention and treatmentPeople with high intakes of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables might have a lower risk of getting many types of cancer, such as lung, breast, and colon cancer. However, taking vitamin C supplements, with or without other antioxidants, doesn't seem to protect people from getting cancer.It is not clear whether taking high doses of vitamin C is helpful as a treatment for cancer. Vitamin C's effects appear to depend on how it is administered to the patient. Oral doses of vitamin C can't raise blood levels of vitamin C nearly as high as intravenous doses given through injections. A few studies in animals and test tubes indicate that very...

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Vitamin D-ficiency Common among Orthopaedic Surgery Patients

Ω Forty-three percent of patients scheduled to undergo orthopaedic surgery have insufficient levels of vitamin D and two out of five of those patients had levels low enough to place them at risk for metabolic bone disease, according to a study published this month in the October 6th issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS).According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is essential for bone growth and bone remodeling. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle or misshapen. People can obtain vitamin D in three ways:• by eating certain types of food (including fish, dairy products, eggs and mushrooms);• receiving sun exposure; and• taking supplements"Given the importance of vitamin D in musculoskeletal health...

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Vigorous exercise reduces breast cancer risk

ΩVigorous exercise of more than two hours per week reduces the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal African-American women by 64 percent, compared to women of the same race who do not exercise, according to researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.Results were presented at the Third AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, 2010."People often want to know what they can do to reduce their risk of disease, and we have found that just two or more hours of vigorous activity per week can made a difference in one's risk of developing breast cancer," said the lead researcher Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D., a cancer control scientist and assistant professor in the department of oncology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.In...

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Walnuts, walnut oil, improve reaction to stress

ΩA diet rich in walnuts and walnut oil may prepare the body to deal better with stress, according to a team of Penn State researchers who looked at how these foods, which contain polyunsaturated fats, influence blood pressure at rest and under stress.Previous studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids -- like the alpha linolenic acid found in walnuts and flax seeds -- can reduce low density lipoproteins (LDL) -- bad cholesterol. These foods may also reduce c-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation."People who show an exaggerated biological response to stress are at higher risk of heart disease," said Sheila G. West, associate professor of biobehavioral health. "We wanted to find out if omega 3-fatty acids from plant sources would blunt cardiovascular responses to stress."The researchers...

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