• Anti-Inflammatory Diets Improve Inflammation

    Anti-Inflammatory Diets Improve Inflammation

    December 28, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

    A CNN review article noted that anti-inflammatory diets improve inflammation. This is important for medical conditions that also have inflammation attached to it. For instance, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes or chronic kidney disease all carry inflammation with them. But according to a 2019 study more than 50% of … [Read More...]

  • Ultraprocessed Food Leads to Premature Aging

    Ultraprocessed Food Leads to Premature Aging

    November 24, 2024 by · Comments Off on Ultraprocessed Food Leads to Premature Aging

    An article in the medical journal “Medical News Today” found that ultraprocessed food leads to premature aging. What are ultraprocessed foods? The NOVA Food Classification System explains what ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are and what other ones are not. Examples of ultraprocessed foods are: fatty, sweet, savory … [Read More...]

  • Vital Information about Cholesterol Drugs

    Vital Information about Cholesterol Drugs

    November 9, 2024 by · Comments Off on Vital Information about Cholesterol Drugs

    Most people know about statins to treat high cholesterol, but they do not have vital information about cholesterol drugs. Recently an article appeared in CNN, which was very informative. In the following I will review what is new about cholesterol lowering drugs. PCSK9 inhibitors, which are monoclonal … [Read More...]

  • Common Chemicals Affecting your Health

    Common Chemicals Affecting your Health

    October 26, 2024 by · Comments Off on Common Chemicals Affecting your Health

    There are common chemicals affecting your health that have been known since the 1950’s. They have the name PFAS, which stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. There was a review article recently in CNN describing the complexity of PFAS, the toxicity, and what you can do to improve your risk. People … [Read More...]

  • Cardiovascular Risk Markers Predict Heart Attacks and Strokes

    Cardiovascular Risk Markers Predict Heart Attacks and Strokes

    October 12, 2024 by · Comments Off on Cardiovascular Risk Markers Predict Heart Attacks and Strokes

    An article in The New England Journal of Medicine stated that cardiovascular risk markers predict heart attacks and strokes. A summary of this study was also published by NBC News. 30-year follow-up of the Women’s Health Study This is based on a 30-year follow-up study of the Women’s Health Study. In the beginning … [Read More...]

  • Red Meat and Processed Meat Can Become a Cause of Diabetes

    Red Meat and Processed Meat Can Become a Cause of Diabetes

    September 21, 2024 by · Comments Off on Red Meat and Processed Meat Can Become a Cause of Diabetes

    A clinical study at the end of 2023 showed that red meat and processed meat can become a cause of diabetes. The authors published the results of this study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on December 2023. Results of the study Notably, the study consisted of several pooled studies. To emphasize, … [Read More...]

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Hard Liquor And Beer Hike Colon Cancer Risk

    By | Cancer, Nutrition, Prevention, Substance abuse

    The old adage of “everything in moderation” has become something like an excuse-me note for those who do not wish to change their lifestyle. And the little bit that supposedly does not harm is another variation in the theme of excuses. Yet the truth remains, that this does not apply to various lifestyle habits. It still matters, what you ingest in your food or drink, as Dr. Joseph Anderson found out in a study of 2,291 patients.

    All of these individuals presented for screening colonoscopy. It turned out that those who had a history of consuming more than 8 drinks of spirits or beer per week for at least ten years were more than twice as likely as abstainers to have significant cancer of the colon. The group that drank beer and hard liquor (and hard liquor also applies to the category of mixed drinks) faced at least a one in five chance to have significant colorectal neoplasia (meaning cancer of the colon or rectum). This came as no surprise to the researchers, as beer and hard liquor seem equally pernicious.
    Even though wine does not seem to carry the same risk, Dr. Anderson is in no position to condone counseling patients to drink wine instead.

    Hard Liquor And Beer Hike Colon Cancer Risk

    Hard Liquor And Beer Hike Colon Cancer Risk

    His advice to other doctors is to ” counsel the patients on what they are drinking and counsel them to temper their drinking.”

    More information about causes of colorectal cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/colon-cancer/food-risk-factors-colon-cancer-rectal-cancer/

    Reference: The Medical Post, October 11, 2005, page 46

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Digital Mammography Superior For Some

    By | Cancer, Prevention, Women’s Diseases

    Mammography has been considered a reliable screening test for breast lumps. It has become a crucial diagnostic tool for the early recognition of breast cancer. Nevertheless there are situations when the test has its limitations, which is especially true for women who have very dense breast tissue.
    Dr. Martin Yaffe, PhD, a biophysics professor at the University of Toronto and Women’s College Health Sciences Center has done the groundwork for digital mammography, and 20 years of research and development have finally paid off. For women who have dense breast tissue, digital mammography will be the superior diagnostic tool, as opposed to the conventional film mammography. In a study that involved 42,760 patients who were asymptomatic both film mammography and digital mammography were used for screening. In the general study population the accuracy of the two methods was found to be similar. In the group of women under 50 years of age the digital method showed significantly more accuracy (84% vs. 69%). Accuracy for women with dense breasts was also higher with the digital method (78% vs. 68%). It also was superior for premenopausal women (82%vs.67%).

    The digital equipment used was still in its development stages, and the potential of the technology will become even greater with more sophisticated equipment down the road. At this point it is not cost effective to use the digital method for all women. The digital system costs between one and a half to four times as much as the film systems.

    Digital Mammography Superior For Some

    Digital Mammography Superior For Some

    “There is certainly no indication that digital is any less accurate than film mammography, but certainly the benefit is in a defined subgroup of women at this time,” states Dr.Yaffe. For most women film mammography remains a method that works well.

    More information about breast cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-diagnosis/

    Reference: The Medical Post, October 4, 2005, page1, 62

    Last edited November 2, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

    By | Health, Nutrition, obstetrics, Prevention, Vitamins and supplements

    The importance for good maternal nutrition during pregnancy has been emphasized for a long time. Of course in this case it was up to the mom-to-be to avoid toxins, such as smoking and alcohol and to take prenatal supplements along with sensible nutrition. Enticing the women away from the excesses of the standard Western diet would yield handsome health benefits for the country. Dr. David Barker, a medical advisor to the British government pointed out, that this approach would reduce heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases in the mothers as well as in their offspring. This concept does not address all the aspects, which are important for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
    For the past 20 years a group of around 20 British family physicians, obstetricians and researchers under the name of Foresight has been putting a program into practice, which identifies and addresses the health deficiencies in prospective parents. Almost all couples that followed the pre-conception program had previously experienced problems relating to conception, pregnancy and birth. In one follow-up study of 367 couples that followed the Foresight program from 1990 to 1992, 327(89%) of the women became pregnant and had healthy, well-developed babies. None of the babies suffered malformations and none was transferred to special care. Of the 367 couples, 217(59 %) had suffered from infertility (from 1 to 10 years) and 139 (38%) had histories from 1 to 5 previous miscarriages. Eleven (3%) had previously given birth to a stillborn child, 40 had small-for-date babies and 15 had already had a low birth weight baby (less than 2,500 g). Seven couples had a previous baby with malformations and three had lost a baby to sudden infant death.
    In a larger follow-up study of 1,076 couples, almost all of whom had previous fertility or miscarriage problems, 846 conceived success rate of 78%, as reported by Belinda Barnes, who runs Foresight. There were four problem pregnancies, including one Down syndrome baby, two terminations and one child with an adhesion of the intestine, which was correctable. This is a complication rate of only 0.47 %.

    Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

    Pre-Conception Nutrition For Healthy Children

    As the complication rate in the general population amounts to 6.43%, the pre-conception program has only 1/7th of the complications, a strong indicator that a pre-conception program does make a difference.

    More info about healthy nutrition: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/

    Reference: The Medical Post, September 27, 2005, page 33

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Nov
    01
    2005

    Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

    By | Health, Nutrition, Vitamins and supplements

    Antioxidants provide powerful cellular protection, and several sources are available through food. One of them under the name ergothioneine was known to be available through food sources like wheat germ or chicken liver. The latter is not necessarily a popular choice for a lot of people! However, antioxidants are necessary to protect us from diseases like arthritis, Alzheimers disease and cancer.
    Researchers at Penn State have better news in the meantime. Joy Dubost, who led the research team, stated in a recent press release, that exotic mushrooms like shiitake, oyster mushrooms, king oyster or maitake mushrooms contain up to 13 mg of the desirable antioxidant ergothioneine in a typical serving, about 40 times as much as wheat germ.
    Consumers who are reluctant to try these varieties and are more used to Portobello mushrooms, crimini mushrooms (brown mushrooms) or even the ubiquitous white mushrooms, still get a good dose of up to 5 mg ergothioneine per serving.

    Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

    Exotic Mushrooms Best Source For Antioxidants

    Antioxidant levels do not decrease when the mushrooms are cooked.

    More information about antioxidants, which  are explained in detail here: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/nutrition/vitamins-minerals-supplements/

    Reference: The Medical Post, September 27, 2005, page 21

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

    By | Cancer, Health, Men's Health, Obesity, Stress management

    Life expectancy between the sexes has always been different: females generally outlive males by several years, but close observation from the Office of Health Economics in Great Britain shows a shift in Life expectancy. Males have been catching up, and their life expectancy rates have been rising faster than those of females. There is still a difference for a boy born in 2002. He will have a life expectancy of 76 years, whereas his sister will live to age 81.

    Researchers believe that the reason for the shift is lifestyle change in females. Many of them now face the same workplace stress that has been traditionally shouldered by males. Detrimental habits are also more common in females. Heavy drinking in young females has more than tripled in the last 17 years, and 10% of young females exceed the recommended drinking limit (compared to 12% males). Non-smoking campaigns are less successful in women. Males have cut their smoking habits. 51% smoked in 1974, and by 2002 only 28 % were smokers. Female smokers amounted to 41 % in 1974, but by 2002 there were still 26 % smokers. The results show most dramatically in cancer statistics. Since 1973 lung cancer rates in men have been reduced to half and the lung cancer survival rate has increased. In comparison lung cancer in females during the same time period has increased by 45%. As a result of sedentary lifestyles the body mass index has also shown an increase.

    Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

    Men Expected to Catch Up On Life Expectancy

    Estimates showed that by the year 2010, life expectancy will likely converge for both sexes at an age of 81.

    Reference: BMJ 2005; 331:656 (24 September)

    Last edited December 6, 2012

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

    By | Health

    Stuttering is a frustrating problem for kids and their parents, and about 5% of all preschoolers are found to stutter. The onset of the problem usually occurs between the ages 3 and 4. Opinions about intervention have been divided so far. Some voices called for early treatment, but there was no research to back up a better success rate. Others suggested that kids would outgrow the problem and it was early enough to seek treatment, if the stuttering persisted once the children were entering school.
    Researchers tested a new behavioral program (the Lidcombe program) to establish whether early treatment intervention would show a better success rate as opposed to natural recovery. They conducted a study in which 54 children in the age group of 3 and 4 years were enrolled. All of them had a stuttering problem. 29 of them received the Lidcombe program, and 25 were a control group who did not receive the program.

    At the end of the study the children of the control group had reduced their stuttering by 43 %, but only 15% had reached a minimum level of stuttering. The results of the children who had received the Lidcombe program were impressive: they had reduced their stuttering by 77%, and over half of them (52%) had reached a minimum level of stuttering.
    The experts concluded that the Lidcombe approach is more successful than the normal discovery, and initiating the program early is crucial for the following reasons: it works best in preschoolers.

    Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

    Early Treatment For Stuttering Children Is Better

    Also it is more beneficial to intervene early, as in school a child with a stuttering problem has to face frustration and social problems among classmates.

    Reference: BMJ 2005; 331:659 (24 September)

    Last edited December 6, 2012

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Mindless Snacking Makes You Fat

    By | Nutrition

    Eating healthy and exercising is considered the key to healthy lifestyle and also thought to be a reliable way to natural weight loss. There seem to be other aspects that matter, according to some thought provoking research that comes out of the Food and Brand Lab at the University of Illinois.
    One of the lab’s more recent experiments looked at mindless eating: people snack totally oblivious to the fact that they are not really hungry. The researchers looked at the most common venue for this habit and investigated 158 moviegoers in Philadelphia with an average age of 28.7 years. They gave them 120g pails and 240 g pails of fresh and stale popcorn. Those who received the large size pails consumed more popcorn (45.3 % more when it was fresh and 33.6 % more of the old and stale product.) When it comes to overeating, the researchers suggest, that portion size is more important than taste! The study appeared in the September/October edition of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. It also confirms the results of similar research. One member of a family who had been given a bulky 900g bag of candy to munch on during a film reported, that between four people they consumed a pound-and-a-half of M&Ms during the show. They just could not stop!
    The shape of drinking glasses can also fool even veteran bar tenders. The “vertical-horizontal illusion” is an innate human sensory deficiency, and people think that a tall, skinny glass holds more than a squat tumbler, even though they both hold the same volume.

    Mindless Snacking Makes You Fat

    Mindless Snacking Makes You Fat

    The founder of the Food and Brand Lab, Professor Brian Wansink, PhD is aiming his research at helping consumers to become more responsible in eating small quantities of more nutritious foods.

    More information about food intake and changing eating habits: http://nethealthbook.com/health-nutrition-and-fitness/weight-loss-and-diet/changing-eating-habits/

    Reference: National Review of Medicine, September 15,2005, page 1,5

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Oct
    01
    2005

    More Education Needed About Ovarian Cancer

    By | Cancer

    Campaigns that inform about breast cancer are abundant in the media, but the one cancer which may be the most fatal of gynecologic cancers is silently at work, killing more than 60% of women diagnosed – ovarian cancer.
    It is also the cancer women know shockingly little about, and most women cannot identify its symptoms. Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden from the University of Ottawa, Canada confirmed in a study, that there are a lot of misconceptions about the disease. One in three women falsely believe that a Pap test screens for ovarian cancer. Remarkably, 12% of Canadian women claim that they have never heard about the disease, and only 35% consider themselves well informed. Even more problematically, women 50 years and older-those with the highest risk for ovarian cancer- are significantly less likely to be aware of their risk for disease than their younger counterparts. 71% of women think that ovarian cancer mainly affects women under 50 years of age.
    In the view of the findings that 96% of the women could not identify a combination of the most common symptoms of ovarian cancer, it is of great importance that more education and information is needed. Women as well as their health care providers have to be vigilant about early warning signs and symptoms. The most common warning signs and symptoms for ovarian cancer are bloating, abdominal pain, changes in urinary frequency, weight fluctuation and nausea.

    More Education Needed About Ovarian Cancer

    More Education Needed About Ovarian Cancer

    Diagnostic tests involve a bimanual examination by a physician, which is needed for all women, including those who did have a previous hysterectomy. The other test to consider would be an abdominal ultrasound.

    More information about ovarian cancer: http://nethealthbook.com/cancer-overview/ovarian-cancer/

    Reference: The Medical Post, September20, 2005, page 47

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Oct
    01
    2005

    Olive Oil Combats Inflammation

    By | Health, Nutrition, Prevention

    The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have received a lot of positive press, and so far the benefits have been credited to fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as olive oil. It has been pointed out that the bioflavonoids in fruit and vegetables are the positive forces at work. Also, the monounsaturated fatty acids of olive oil are part of a heart healthy diet.
    Researchers from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Galveston, Texas have found yet another piece of evidence that olive oil has positive effects on heart health. They have found a natural occurring chemical in extra-virgin olive oil which they named oleocanthal. This substance is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, a so-called COX inhibitor. The pharmacological action is the same as in the anti-inflammatory ibuprofen.

    Dr. Gary Beauchamp (PhD) stated, “Some of the health-related effects of the Mediterranean diet may be due to the anti-COX activity of oleocanthal from premium olive oils”.

    More information about the concept of inflammation being at the root of many diseases: http://nethealthbook.com/about/overview/

    Reference: The Medical Post, September13, 2005, page5

    Olive Oil Combats Inflammation

    Olive Oil Combats Inflammation

    Last edited October 29, 2014

    Sep
    01
    2005

    Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

    By | Cancer, Health, Men's Health, Women’s Diseases

    It is a known fact that exposure to toxic substances during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
    Investigators at the Center For Reproductive Biology of the University of Washington in Seattle examined the consequences of environmental toxins, which are also known as endocrine disruptors in their research. Dr. Michael K. Skinner led the study. The research team worked with rats, and they noticed that it was not only the first generation that was affected, but the effect persisted for as many as four generations later The substance they used in the experiment was either vinclozolin, an antiandrogenic compound commonly used as a pesticide in vineyards or methoxychlor, an estrogenic DDT replacement. Both pesticides are endocrine disruptors, as they interfere with the normal functioning of reproductive hormones. It was no surprise that ninety percent of male offspring that had been born to the exposed females had low sperm counts and reduced fertility.
    The unexpected result showed up in the next generation. If these offspring were mated to unexposed females, they still had low sperm counts and reduced fertility. The effect persisted-completely unexpectedly- through all generations tested without further pesticide exposure. The researchers concluded that the toxins affected inheritance by altering patterns of DNA in the germ line. Genetic changes that are passed on for generations to come might play a role in more frequently occurring diseases such as breast cancer and prostate disease, as they may not be caused by genetic mutations.

    Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

    Environmental Toxins Harmful For Generations To Come

    This is also the first report that shows the menacing ability of an environmental factor to reprogram the germ line and promote a transgenerational disease pattern.

    More information on environmental toxins: https://www.askdrray.com/protecting-yourself-from-environmental-toxins/

    Reference: Parkhurst Exchange Volume 13,Number 6, August 2005, page 33

    Last edited October 29, 2014