Saturday - June 19, 2010

BPA in Cans Poses Health Threat, Report Claims

Chemical found in 92 percent of products tested, group calls for federal ban

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical used in the metal linings of some canned foods, poses a serious health threat to consumers and should be banned, a new report claims.

BPA is ubiquitous in plastic products, found in baby bottles and sippy cups, and it has come under scrutiny in recent years, with studies linking it to a host of health and developmental problems. This latest research looked at its presence in the metal linings of canned foods.

Wednesday - June 16, 2010

Lung cancer risk 'cut by B vitamin'

People with plenty of a B-vitamin in their blood appear to be at a reduced risk of lung cancer, even if they smoke, a European study suggests.

High levels of Vitamin B6 and the amino acid methionine cut the risk by half, a study of 400,000 people suggested.

These occur naturally in nuts, fish and meat or can be taken as supplements.

But experts told the Journal of the American Medical Association that stopping smoking remained the best way of reducing lung cancer risk.

Sunday - June 06, 2010

Green tea extract may slow leukaemia, researchers have suggested

An extract taken from green tea reduces cancer cells in the blood of patients with a form of leukaemia and may slow progression of the disease, a conference will hear.

Researchers at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in America have found that patients in the early stages of the most common form of leukaemia may respond well to taken supplements of a green tea extract.

The chemical, epigallocatechin galeate (EGCG), was found more than two thirds of 42 patients in the trial showed a significant reduction in the number of leukaemia cells in their blood or other signs the cancer was not spreading.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

Pesticides Cause Parkinson's Disease

A new study just found that Parkinson's disease is linked to pesticide exposure. In fact, the study participants were almost twice as likely to have been exposed to pesticides through their work, and exposure to certain pesticides may have increased the chance of having the disease by more than three-fold. The study looked only at pesticide exposure from work environments and didn't look at pesticides used in home pest control, backyard gardening or our foods.

Saturday - June 05, 2010

High-Fat Meal May Trigger Asthma

Study finds fatty foods lead to inflammation, reduced lung function

It's well known that food laden with fat isn't good for your heart, but now a new study suggests that fatty meals may affect lung function, too.

Australian researchers tested people with asthma before and after a high-fat meal or after a low-fat meal, and found that the high-fat meal increased inflammation and reduced lung function.

Friday - June 04, 2010

Intestinal Health

The human intestinal tract consists of the small and large intestines. The small intestine is approximately 23 feet in length, has a vast amount of surface area, and is where the majority of digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs. The large intestine is only about five feet in length but is significantly wider in diameter than the small intestine.

Tuesday - June 01, 2010

Vitamin D Best Taken With Largest Meal of Day, Study Finds

Blood levels increased more than 50% after timing change, researchers say

Your body may make better use of a vitamin D supplement if you take it with your largest meal, new research suggests. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic examined 17 patients with vitamin D deficiency who weren't getting better under treatment. Over a period of two to three months, the patients were told to take vitamin D supplements with the biggest meal they ate each day.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

US FDA says acid reflux drugs carry fracture risk

• FDA recommends lower dose, shorter duration of use
• Drugs include Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix
• Package insert labels to include fracture-risk warnings

U.S. health regulators have cautioned doctors and patients of an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine from high doses or long-term use of a widely used class of drugs to control the amount of acid in the stomach.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

Mediterranean Diet Helps Protect Aging Brain

People who scored highest in adherence to diet least likely to suffer mental decline, study finds

Eating a Mediterranean diet may help keep your brain healthy as you age, findings from an ongoing study show.

"This diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, fish, olive oil, lower meat consumption, and moderate wine and non-refined grain intake," study author Dr. Christy Tangney, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, said in a news release from the American Society for Nutrition.

Thursday - May 27, 2010

Gut Bacteria Offer New Hope for People with Celiac Disease

Probiotics and/or prebiotics may help alleviate the severity of celiac disease. According to a new research study, intestinal bacteria in celiac patients could influence inflammation to varying degrees.

This means that altering intestinal microbiota could improve the quality of life for celiac patients, and also patients with diseases such as type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune disorders.

Tuesday - May 25, 2010

Vitamin E Helps Treat Common Liver Disease

But only effective in less than half of cases, study finds

A new study has identified vitamin E as a treatment that can provide relief for many of the estimated 10 million Americans who have the most common chronic liver disease.

"This clearly shows that vitamin E is effective for treatment of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis who don't have active diabetes," said study author Dr. Arun J. Sanyal, chairman of the division of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Virginia Commonwealth University. A report on the trial is published in the April 28 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Tuesday - May 25, 2010

The Silent Epidemic -- Legal Prescription Drug Abuse

Not a lot of attention is paid to prescription drug abuse. But nearly 20 percent of Americans have used prescription drugs for nonmedicinal reasons. Three quarters of those may be abusing prescription drugs.

Between 1992 and 2002, the number of prescriptions written increased by 61 percent. In that same period, the number of prescriptions written for opiates increased by almost 400 percent.

Saturday - May 22, 2010

Statins: The side effects 'are worse than feared'

The side effects of statins can be far worse than previously thought, a study suggests.

For the first time, the level of harm posed by the cholesterol-lowering drugs has been quantified by researchers.

They found some users are much more likely to suffer liver dysfunction, acute kidney failure, cataracts and muscle damage known as myopathy.

For some patients, the risk is eight times higher than among those not taking statins. Overall, the risk of myopathy - which may be irreversible - is six times higher for men on statins and three times higher for women.

Saturday - May 22, 2010

Olive Oil May Protect Against Bowel Disease

Study finds diet rich in oleic acid may prevent development of ulcerative colitis

Increasing your intake of olive oil may help protect against ulcerative colitis, a new study finds.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the rectum and colon, resulting in abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. This study found that people whose diet was rich in oleic acid were far less likely to develop ulcerative colitis.

Thursday - May 13, 2010

Probiotics could benefit metabolic syndrome, Danisco study

A new study by Danisco indicates that probiotics could help improve the metabolic syndrome by counteracting the adverse effects of a high-fat diet. According to the unpublished findings, which were presented last week at the Keystone Symposium on Diabetes in Canada, the benefit is the result of a reduction in tissue inflammation and metabolic endotaxaemia.

“The new screening tests have revealed that Bifidobacterium lactis B420, in comparison with other probiotic strains, has the potential to reduce the adverse effects associated with high-fat diets and alleviate metabolic diseases,” said Dr Sampo Lahtinen, senior scientist at Danisco’s Health and Nutrition Research Centre in Kantvik, Finland.

The study, carried out at the National Institute of Health & Medical Research (INSERM) in Toulouse, France, in collaboration with Danisco’s research centre in Kantvik, adds weight to the emerging evidence that gut microflora may have an impact on human obesity.

Thursday - May 13, 2010

Maintain Beautiful, Healthy Skin As You Age

Aging affects every part of your body, but skin changes are a relentless reminder that you're not as young as you used to be. Stopping visible signs of aging is a goal shared by women and men everywhere. Americans spend more than $1 billion annually on anti-aging cosmetics, with hopes that creams, serums and gels will put an end to wrinkles and sagging skin. Unfortunately, many of these products have little or no measurable benefits.

Considered the largest organ, skin is in a unique position: it's outside your body. While carrying out a critically important job—shielding internal body systems from heat, sunlight, injury and infection—skin is repeatedly assaulted by environmental toxins, pollutants and chemicals.

While we may respect our skin's primary biological functions, its appearance is what best motivates us to care for its health. We slather on expensive anti-aging creams and drink extra water daily in hopes of maintaining a youthful look.

Tuesday - May 11, 2010

Bad habits can age you by 12 years, study suggests

Four common bad habits combined — smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet — can age you by 12 years, sobering new research suggests.

The findings are from a study that tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years, and they highlight yet another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Thursday - April 08, 2010

Omega-3 May Reduce Endometriosis Risk

But trans fats could increase it, researchers say

Women who consume high levels of trans fats have a 48 percent increased risk of endometriosis, while those who eat diets rich in omega-3 oils are 22 percent less likely to develop the condition, a new study finds.

In endometriosis, pieces of the womb lining (endometrium) are found outside of the womb. Some women experience no symptoms, but many suffer severe pain. The condition, which can lead to infertility, affects about 10 percent of women. Treatments include pain medication, hormone drugs or surgery.

Thursday - March 25, 2010

Vitamin D Deficiency is Why You Get Flu!

A new study has confirmed that vitamin D plays an important role in activating your immune defenses against infectious diseases like the flu.

Saturday - March 20, 2010

Cutting Salt Could Prevent Almost 500,000 Heart Attacks

A combined government-industry initiative to reduce U.S. sodium consumption by as little as 10 percent would save thousands of lives and billions of dollars, according to new research.