- - European weblog on food, health and environment
The 21st century - time to wake
up….
Cancer to be the leading cause of death in
2010 through deadly cocktail of toxins ? We destroy our lungs with cigarettes, feed our
kids fast sugars. trans fats, salt, artificial flavors and colors, chemical sugars,
vaccines, etc. Then we wonder how it is that an increasing percentage of the population
develops chronic diseases such as asthma, allergies, diabetes, cancer, food intolerances,
skin problems and bowel problems. Mercury in fish and thermometers poses a problem for
most, but in tooth fillings or flu shots it doesn't seem to be a problem. Where's the
logic in that? We have the same ambivalence about antibiotics, the 'wonder drug' for
bacterial infections but also the great killer of your intestinal flora. Never mind that
friendly gut bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining long-term health. According to
ancient Chinese wisdom death resides in the bowels.
Magnesium is the second-most abundant
element in human cells and the fourth-most important positively charged ion in the body,
so it's little wonder this low-profile mineral is so vital to good health and well being.
Magnesium, a major component of Epsom Salt, also helps to regulate the activity of more
than 325 enzymes and performs a vital role in orchestrating many bodily functions, from
muscle control and electrical impulses to energy production and the elimination of harmful
toxins.
The National Academy of Sciences, however,
reports that most Americans are magnesium deficient, helping to account for our society's
high rate of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive
maladies and stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a host of other ailments. The
Academy estimates the average American male gets just 80% of the magnesium required for
good health, while females get only 70% of their recommended levels. Nutritionists say
Americans' magnesium levels have dropped more than 50% in the past century.
A variety of factors contributes to the
nation's magnesium deficiency. Intensive farming practices deplete magnesium from the
soil, and magnesium is not a standard component in most fertilizers. Therefore, a diet
that would have supplied enough magnesium a century ago may not supply enough today.
At the same time, average Americans eat
diets far less healthy than their ancestors ate. The typical modern diet, rich in fat,
sugar, salt and protein, not only contains less magnesium than a balanced diet does; these
same foods actually accelerate the depletion of magnesium from our systems.
So, too, does our emphasis on calcium as an
antidote for bone disease; calcium drains magnesium from the body, and calcium can only
perform its role in the cells when sufficient magnesium is present. Studies indicate that
taking a calcium supplement without ensuring the body also receives enough magnesium can
therefore amplify the shortage of both nutrients. Researchers have found that most
Americans have five times as much calcium as magnesium in their bodies; the proper ratio
for optimum absorption of both minerals is about two to one.
Scientists have demonstrated a new
technique for detecting a painful nerve condition known as neuropathy, which affects
millions of people with diabetes
and many other patients as well.
Damming the Red Sea could solve the growing
energy demands of millions of people in the Middle East and alleviate some of the region's
tensions pertaining to oil supplies through hydroelectric power. Equally, such a massive
engineering project may cause untold ecological harm and displace countless people from
their homes.
Scientists identify gene that
influences alcohol consumption
Researchers applied a variety of genetic
and analytic techniques to mice having nearly identical genetic background, but differing
in their preference for alcohol, to identify a chromosomal region, and ultimately a gene,
associated with alcohol preference. If further studies show that a similar gene is
relevant to alcohol problems in humans, the finding may lead to new opportunities for
developing drugs to treat alcohol dependence.
Breast MRI spots other cancers, may
alter treatment plan
MRI, which is not routinely administered to
women who plan to undergo a lumpectomy, can find additional cancerous areas in the breast
that previously evaded detection, discover cancer in the opposite breast that standard
imaging tests such as mammography and ultrasound missed, or determine a tumor is actually
larger than expected.
The herbal extract of a yellow-flowered
mountain plant indigenous to the Arctic regions of Europe and Asia increased the lifespan
of fruit fly populations, according to a UC-Irvine study.
Diesel exhaust fumes affect people
with asthma, finds study on London's Oxford Street
Diesel exhaust fumes on polluted streets
have a measurable effect on people with asthma, according to the first study looking at
exhausts and asthma in a real-life setting, published on Dec. 6 in the New England Journal
of Medicine. The new study looked at the effects on 60 people with mild and moderate
asthma of walking along the western end of busy Oxford Street in London, where only
diesel-powered taxis and buses are permitted.
Respiratory infections linked to
increased heart attacks and strokes
A new study, which appears today in the
online edition of the European Heart Journal, has found strong evidence that recent
respiratory infections increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, both of which are
more common in the winter.
Increasing numbers of critically ill
patients develop fungal or yeast infections, which are associated with high mortality. Now
a review published in the online open access journal, Critical Care, compares treatments
involving single-drug antifungal prophylaxis or a multi-drug regimen of selective
digestive tract decontamination and suggests that both methods reduce yeast-related
morbidity and mortality, but to different extents.
A missing brain protein may be one of the
culprits behind autism and other brain disorders, researchers at MIT's Picower Institute
for Learning and Memory report in the Dec. 6 issue of Neuron.
A chemical found in household fittings has
been found to affect the development of the mammary gland in rats and further studies will
be required to determine if the presence of this chemical could lead to breast cancer. New
research published in the online open access journal BMC Genomics is the first to show
that this chemical can affect the breasts' genomic profile.
Gene-expression profiles might be used to
identify prognostic biomarkers for Kawasaki disease, and help to unravel the underlying
biology of the illness, research published this week in the online open access journal
Genome Biology reveals. The new findings also support the idea that gene-expression
profiles might be used to generate biomarkers for other systemic inflammatory illnesses.
One way to alleviate the pain of banging
your shin while on a hike is to encounter a grizzly bear -- a well-known phenomenon called
stress-induced analgesia. Now, researchers have elucidated a key mechanism by which the
stress hormone noradrenaline -- which floods the bloodstream during grizzly encounters and
other stressful events -- affects the brain's pain-processing pathway to produce such
analgesia. Pankaj Sah and colleagues published their findings in the Dec. 6, 2007, issue
of the journal Neuron, published by Cell Press.
Cognitive 'fog' of normal aging
linked to brain system disruption
Comparisons of the brains of young and old
people have revealed that normal aging may cause cognitive decline due to deterioration of
the connections among large-scale brain systems. The researchers linked the deterioration
to a decrease in the integrity of the brain's "white matter," the tissue
containing nerve cells that carry information. The researchers found that the disruption
occurred even in the absence of pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Price of lower-calorie foods rising
drastically, researchers find
As food prices rise, the costs of
lower-calorie foods are rising the fastest, according to a University of Washington study
appearing in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. As
the prices of fresh fruit and vegetables and other low-calorie foods have jumped nearly 20
percent in the past two years, the UW researchers say, a nutritious diet may be moving out
of the reach of some American consumers.
Transcendental meditation effective
in reducing high blood pressure, study shows
This study is unique in that it shows
transcendental meditation to be effective in reducing high blood pressure compared to
other stress reduction programs.
Although virtually all doctors think they
should report impaired or incompetent colleagues or serious medical errors to the relevant
authorities, nearly half don't, a study suggests Monday.
Agency warns of chemical found in
cans of baby formula
The Environmental Working Group, the
non-profit agency that warned consumers about a chemical found in plastic baby bottles, is
out with new research which claims the chemical is also found in cans of baby formula.
Darker fruits and vegetables found
to fight colon cancer
Dark-colored fruits and vegetables may
provide a colon-cancer-fighting effect, according to a study presented at the national
meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.
Depression is over-diagnosed and
over-treated, says top psychiatrist
Leading mental health researcher Gordon
Parker says that psychiatrists are too quick to diagnose and treat people for depression.
Parker made his claims in an article in the British Medical Journal. Criticizing the
current diagnosis guidelines as overly broad, Parker says that the term has now become a
"catch-all" for a variety of normal emotional conditions.
The Great Fat Debate - Why Virgin
Coconut Oil Is Best
One of the most outstanding benefits of
consuming MCFA’s is that they do not require the liver and gallbladder to digest and
emulsify them. This means instant energy and increased thermogenesis (increased metabolic
rate in the body) which leads to more heat production as well as improved circulation. For
anyone with impaired fat digestion or a removed gallbladder, coconut oil is the only oil
to consume as it is very easily digested. MCFA’s are also known for having
antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, so they are beneficial to our immune system. In
addition, coconut oil assists people with under-active thyroids by increasing the
metabolic rate of the body and creating more energy. Ray Peat Ph.D., a physiologist who
has worked with progesterone and related hormones since 1968, says that the sudden surge
of polyunsaturated oils in the food chain post World War II has caused many changes in
hormones.
The conclusions of a study conducted in
Sweden have just been published in the Diabetes Care journal, revealing that high levels
of blood sugar enhances the risk to women developing cancer of the womb, skin, pancreas,
urinary tract and breast.
The study involved 65,000 women who were 40
to 60 years of age, and continued for 13 years. Their results indicated that of the women
with high blood sugar, 25% experienced a 26% greater possibility of developing cancer then
the opposing 25% of those with the lowest levels of blood sugar.
Interestingly, the researchers found that
high blood sugar rates did not translate to cancer risk in. This was also taking into
account body mass. It has long been known that a high level of fat saturated food intake
corresponds to high levels of blood sugar, and also that high blood sugar rate brings on
type 2 diabetes. This new study takes things a bit further, by showing the connection
between high blood sugar and increased cancer risk.
The World Cancer Research Fund, UK branch funded the study. Science and Research manager
for the UK branch, Dr. Greg Martin, said: "It is very easy to reduce blood sugar
levels with a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables, and by maintaining a healthy
body weigh." Dr Martin added that "We know that up to 40 percent of cancer cases
can be prevented by this type of healthy lifestyle, so this is just another reason for
people to make those small changes that could make a big difference."
Sea
minerals and carbon chemistry
We humans
are designed to take in trace elements. How does it work? Plants feed off
of minerals in the soil. They will take up only those minerals they need for
their growth and development. The plants digest these minerals by adding a carbon atom.
When we consume these plants we eat whatever mineral traces they still contain (trace
elements) plus the carbon atom. The minerals find their way into our system and we breathe
out the carbon. Plants in turn use carbon as oxygen. This is simple carbon chemistry and
it’s how we form a natural cycle with nature and plants.
While the
full dose of minerals may be good for the plant it’s not good for human consumption
because carbon chemistry is not part of our digestive process. Though sea salt contains no
less than 84 elements it’s nevertheless a bad idea to put sea salt directly in or
over your food. Instead, it’s better to eat plants that contain lots of trace
elements. Doctors who put people on a salt-free diet never tell their patients not to eat
a celery stick. Yet a celery stick contains roughly the same amount of salt you would
normally put in your food. This is because the celery uses carbon chemistry to predigest
the various salts. Besides sodium chloride (table salt) there are other mineral salts,
among which contain magnesium, calcium and potassium. These are all completely harmless
for human consumption provided they have been predigested by plants, not when taken
directly in the form of sea salt.
Children's Hospital researchers
identify molecular 'switch' that could save very young lives
A team of researchers at Children's
Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC have identified a molecular 'switch' that, when blocked,
may help reverse necrotizing enterocolitis, a leading cause of death in premature infants.
Survey confirms Americans prefer
root canal treatment by endodontists
There may not be a more feared dental
procedure than a root canal, but the key to ensuring a positive experience is choosing the
right professional to perform the procedure. Painful root canal treatment is a thing of
the past thanks to advances pioneered by endodontists, the root canal specialists. In a
just released L.C. Williams & Associates poll, 89 percent of individuals who
previously underwent a root canal by an endodontist would return to the specialist for
future procedures.
Mitochondria defects linked to
social behavior and spatial memory
Respiration deficiencies in mitochondria,
the cell’s powerhouses, are associated with changed social behavior and spatial
memory in laboratory mice, report scientists at the American Society for Cell Biology 47th
Annual Meeting.
Complementary medicines training
provides balance, not bias
Complementary and alternative medicines
training for students in the health professions improves their ability to provide
balanced, evidence-based advice to patients.
Elite athletes - often perceived as the
epitome of health and fitness – may be more susceptible to common illness and are
therefore proving useful in helping scientists understand more about the immune system.
Video - Michael Moore: Healthcare
and Crime Rate of Norway
Feinstein researchers develop new
genetic method and identify novel genes for schizophrenia
Scientists at the Zucker Hillside Hospital
campus of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have identified nine genetic
markers that can increase a person's risk for schizophrenia. In a study published this
week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research team uncovered
original evidence that this disabling brain disease can be inherited in a recessive
manner. A recessive trait is one that is inherited from both parents.
Fate might not be so unpredictable
after all, TAU study suggests
Why does it take so long for soul mates to
find each other" How does disease spread through a person’s body" When will
the next computer virus attack your hard-drive"
A new theory published last month in Nature on the statistical concept of “First
Passage Time,” or FPT, may provide the key to answering at least a few of these
questions, says theory co-author Prof. Joseph Klafter from Tel Aviv University’s
School of Chemistry. And the answers may lead to breakthroughs in medicine, mathematics,
the environment, and elsewhere.
Prof. Klafter and his colleagues from the University of Pierre & Marie Curie in Paris
(where he has been visiting professor) are the first to have developed an analytical model
that calculates the average arrival time – the mean FPT – of a randomly-moving
object in a complex environment.
Best treatment identified to reduce
deadly Staph infections
One type of over-the-counter product for
topical wound care is more effective than others in killing methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or MRSA, which is potentially deadly and in recent years
has moved from its historic hospital setting to a much broader public concern.
A team of UIC chemists has characterized
the molecular structure of the intermediate stage of plaque-forming amyloid fibrils,
believed to cause Alzheimer's disease. The finding may lead to new drug targets for this
and other amyloid diseases, such as Parkinson's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob.
Got Sugar? Glucose Affects Our
Ability to Resist Temptation
New research from a lab at Florida State
University reveals that self-control takes fuel-- literally. When we exercise it,
resisting temptations to misbehave, our fuel tank is depleted, making subsequent efforts
at self-control more difficult. Florida State psychologist Roy F. Baumeister and his
colleagues Kathleen D. Vohs, University of Minnesota, and Dianne M. Tice, Florida State,
showed this with an experiment using the Stroop task, a famous way of testing strength of
self-control. Participants in this task are shown color words that are printed in
different-colored ink (like the word red printed in blue font), and are told to name the
color of the ink, not the word. Baumeister found that when participants perform multiple
self-control tasks like the Stroop test in a row, they do worse over time. Thus, the
ability to control ourselves wanes as it is exercised.
Researchers discover possible
markers for mental illness
Researchers have discovered natural genetic
differences that might help predict the most effective antipsychotic drugs for particular
patients with mental disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's and drug addiction. They
found the differences in the gene for a molecule called the dopamine D2 receptor, a
protein present on brain cells that are sensitive to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Do medical schools affect the way
future doctors interact with drug companies?
Bulk of the approximately $21 billion
dollars that pharmaceutical companies spend annually to market their products is targeted
to physicians, doctors in training and medical students. Indiana University School of
Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute researchers report on interaction between drug
companies, medical students and residents and conclude that well-designed seminars, role
playing and focused curricula can affect medical student and resident attitudes and
behavior toward drug companies.
Aerosol launches immune response in
lungs to wipe out lethal infections
An inhaled immune system stimulant protects
mice against lethal pneumococcal pneumonia and other deadly bacterial, viral and fungal
infections of the lungs, a research team led by scientists at the University of Texas M.
D. Anderson Cancer Center reports at a major scientific meeting.
Giardia loses its hold on
intestinal tissue after 'tonic shock'
The single-celled intestinal parasite
Giardia lamblia colonizes the upper small intestine by fastening to the microvillus brush
border of intestinal cells. But exactly how Giardia attaches itself was unknown until now.
At the American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting, University of California-Berkeley
researchers present evidence that Giardia uses an osmotic 'suction cup' to hang on, a
discovery that could make attachment a prime target for new treatments of Giardia
infections.
We've all seen the term "super
food" used to describe those nutrition-loaded edibles that promote health and
discourage disease. Powerhouse foods high in antioxidants and phytochemicals that block
the development of cancer cells have been touted as nature's way to fight off the
potentially devastating disease.
Low-carb diet reduces inflammation
and blood saturated fat in metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a pre-cursor to
diabetes, coronary heart disease, and other serious illnesses. Patients have long been
advised to eat a low-fat diet even though carbohydrate restriction has been found to be
more effective at reducing specific markers, such as high triglycerides. A new study
indicates that a diet low in carbohydrates is also more effective than a diet low in fat
in reducing saturated fatty acids in the blood and reducing markers of inflammation.
Lymphatic vessel and lymph node
function are restored with growth factor treatment
The frequent spread of certain cancers to
lymph nodes often necessitates surgery or radiation therapy that damages the lymphatic
system. The study of the researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, published in
Nature Medicine, demonstrate for the first time that growth factor therapy, combined with
lymph node transplantation, allows for complete restoration of the lymphatic system in
damaged tissues, and provides a working model for future treatment of lymphedema in
patients.
Lupus gene finding prompts call for
more DNA samples
Wellcome Trust researchers have identified
a key gene involved in the disease lupus, which affects around 50,000 people in the UK,
mostly women. The lead researcher behind the study has called for more patients to
volunteer DNA samples to enable them to further study the underlying causes of the
disease.
Leading cause of death in
'preemies' might be controlled by resetting a molecular switch
Blocking signals from a key molecular
receptor that normally switches on the intestine's immune response but instead becomes too
intense in the presence of stress and toxins may help reverse necrotizing enterocolitis, a
leading cause of death in premature newborns.
DNA methylation shown to promote
development of colon tumors
DNA methylation has been directly proven in
mice to promote the development of colon tumors, and to target specific regions of DNA
rather than being distributed at random. Growing understanding of this process is a
promising pathway to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers with
minimal side effects.
Short, long sleep duration
associated with increased mortality
A study published in the Dec. 1 issue of
the journal SLEEP is the first to show that both a decrease and an increase in sleep
duration are associated with an elevated risk of mortality by cardiovascular and
non-cardiovascular means, respectively.
Altered Sex Hormone Levels, Higher
Body Temperature may be Associated with Poorer Sleep Quality in Older Postmenopausal Women
In an examination of potential
relationships between objective sleep measures, nocturnal sex hormone levels, and the
nocturnal course of body temperature of older postmenopausal women, a study published in
the December 1 issue of the journal SLEEP finds that altered levels of both sex hormones
and gonadotropins may contribute to sleep disturbance in older postmenopausal women and
confirm the results of previous studies indicating that higher body temperature is
associated with poorer sleep quality.
The study, authored by Patricia J. Murphy, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medical School in White
Plains, NY, focused on 10 women between 57 and 71 years of age, who were at least five
years past menopause.
New study in the journal Sleep
finds that sleep duration raises the risk for diabetes
The most common factors believed to
contribute to diabetes are a decreased amount of physical activity and access to highly
palatable processed foods. However, there is growing evidence that another aspect of our
modern lifestyle, short sleep duration, is also contributing toward the "diabetes
epidemic."
