New Study Links High Sodium To Earlier Mortality
July 12, 2011 by admin
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July 12, 2011
CNN Health
By Anne Harding
People who eat more sodium and less potassium may die sooner of heart or other problems than people who consume the opposite, a large, 15-year-study has found.
The study of more than 12,000 Americans provides more ammunition to health advocates who say that slashing salt intake will save lives. But not everyone is convinced, as some research is contradictory.
In the new study, men consumed an average of 4,323 milligrams of sodium a day, while women took in 2,918 milligrams.
The American Heart Association recommends people limit their sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day or less.
The group with the highest sodium-to-potassium ratio had a mortality risk about 50% higher during the study than the group with the lowest, according to the report by Elena V. Kuklina, M.D., and colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Emory University, and the Harvard School of Public Health. The research was published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Click here for the full report from CNN.
High Doses of Vitamin D May Prevent Cancer
March 1, 2011 by admin
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March 1st, 2011
AOL Health
By: Deborah Huso
Researchers now say higher levels of vitamin D may be necessary to reduce one’s risk of cancer. Scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha just published a new study in the journal Anticancer Research, noting that traditional intakes of the essential vitamin just aren’t enough to reach blood levels that can prevent or significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer and several other major diseases.
“We found that daily intakes of vitamin D by adults in the range of 4,000 to 8,000 IU [international units] are needed to maintain blood levels of vitamin D metabolites in the range needed to reduce by about half the risk of several diseases — breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes,” said Dr. Cedric Garland, professor of family and preventive medicine at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, in a press release. “I was surprised to find that the intakes required to maintain vitamin D status for disease prevention were so high — much higher than the minimal intake of vitamin D of 400 IU per day that was needed to defeat rickets in the 20th century.”
During the study, researchers surveyed several thousand volunteers who were taking vitamin D supplements with a dosage ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 IU per day. They found those taking the highest amounts of vitamin D were less likely to contract major diseases such as cancer.
Despite these findings, some doctors say just boosting your vitamin D levels aren’t enough for disease prevention and in some cases may be dangerous.
Dr. James Spencer, a dermatologist and American Academy of Dermatology board member, says the levels of vitamin D suggested in the study are way too high and that reducing the risk of cancer is not as easy as eating more oranges or taking more vitamin supplements. “Generally, when things are too good to be true, they usually are,” Spencer told AOL Health.
Dr. Sophie Balk, attending pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City agrees. “We know that vitamin D is good for muscle health and osteoporosis — the research shows that,” Balk explained to AOL Health. “But the research isn’t conclusive about its effects on cancers. We really need more research about these other possible effects because we really can’t say for sure.”
Both doctors agree the dosage of 4,000 to 8,000 IU could be dangerous. “If you take that amount, over time it could be toxic,” warns Balk.
“Very high levels of vitamin D, usually above 10,000 [IUs] per day, are known to cause kidney and tissue damage,” adds Spencer.
To get sufficient amounts, but not too much vitamin D, Spencer recommends including salmon, milk, oranges or orange juice, egg yolk and mushrooms in your diet.
Although the sun and its UV rays are the best source of vitamin D, Spencer says there are other harmful results that can stem from too much sunshine, like skin cancer, and doesn’t recommend people seek vitamin D through sunbathing.
Balk recommends 400 IU per day of vitamin D for children and adolescents, while Spencer says the recommended dosage for adults is 600 IU per day and 800 IU per day for adults over 70 years old.
Click here for the full report from AOL Health
Fish Oil Helps Prevent Breast Cancer
October 7, 2010 by admin
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October 7th, 2010
Natural News
By: Jonathan Benson
The best way to fight breast cancer is to prevent it from ever occurring in the first place, and you can help do that by supplementing with a high quality fish oil, suggests a new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. According to researchers from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash., current use of fish oil among the population is associated with a 32 percent decreased risk of developing breast cancer.
Theodore Brasky and his team surveyed 35,000 women between the ages of 50 and 76 on their dietary habits, and evaluated the results based on fish oil consumption patterns. Based on a ten-year average of fish oil intake, the team found that women who consume fish oil are at a significantly reduced risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not.
Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which previous studies have already found work to prevent cancer. These nutrients also help to balance out the negative effects of too much omega-6 intake, which research is showing leads to serious disease. You can learn more about fish oil by visiting the NaturalNews fish oil page.
Preventive medicine is the best medicine, but such medicine comes in the form of quality food and nutritional supplements. While health authorities and cancer groups push women to get mammograms and take preventive breast cancer drugs as a supposed solution, nutrition experts and those aware of the healing power of superfoods advise that women simply eat well and avoid processed food, get plenty of sunshine and vitamin D, and take an omega-3 supplement like high-quality fish oil, among other things.
When choosing a fish oil, it is best to find one that has undergone as little processing as possible, and one that has been tested to be free of harmful contaminants. And if you prefer not to consume animal products, some vegetarians alternatives to fish oil include flax and hemp oils.
Click here for the full report from Natural News
Cinnamon Reduces Risk Of Diabetes, Heart Disease
August 27, 2010 by admin
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August 27th, 2010
Natural News
By: Jonathon Benson
A recent study headed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified a link between cinnamon intake and reduced risk of diabetes and heart disease. According to the research, water-soluble cinnamon extract, which is high in antioxidants, helps to decrease glucose levels in the blood as well as reduce oxidative stress in the body.
Richard Anderson, a chemist with the USDA and study lead, and his colleagues evaluated 22 participants who were obese and considered to be “pre-diabetic” based on their cells’ interaction with insulin. The team divided the participants into two groups, one of which received a placebo, and another that received 250 milligrams (mg) of dried, water-soluble cinnamon extract twice a day for 12 weeks. Follow-up tests revealed up to a 23 percent increase in antioxidant levels among those taking the cinnamon.
Pre-diabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal, and the cells that would normally accept insulin from the pancreas in order to lower these levels begin to reject it. If not addressed quickly, pre-diabetes can quickly develop into full diabetes.
Based on the study, cinnamon is a viable, natural treatment for maintaining healthy blood glucose levels and preventing the onset of diabetes. Other studies have also shown that cinnamon plays a vital role in maintaining healthy circulation and energy levels in the body.
“Recent studies show that cinnamon stimulates circulation and boosts the ability of insulin to metabolize glucose and carry it into cells for energy production,” explain Stephen Sinatra, M.D., and James C. Roberts, M.D., in their book Reverse Heart Disease Now: Stop Deadly Cardiovascular Plaque Before It’s Too Late.
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Green Leafy Vegetables Reduce Risk Of Diabetes
August 23, 2010 by admin
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August 23rd, 2010
BBC News
By: Emma Wilkinson
In an analysis of six studies into fruit and vegetable intake, only food including spinach and cabbage was found to have a significant positive effect.
A portion and a half a day was found to cut type 2 diabetes risk by 14%, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) reports.
But experts urged people to continue to aim for five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
The researchers from Leicester University reviewed data from the studies of 220,000 adults in total.
They found that eating more fruit and vegetables in general was not strongly linked with a smaller chance of developing type 2 diabetes but “there was a general trend in that direction”.
Yet when it came to green leafy vegetables, which the researchers said also includes broccoli and cauliflower, the risk reduction was significant.
The team calculated that a daily dose of 106g reduced the risk of diabetes by 14% – a UK “portion” is classed as 80g.
It is not clear why green leafy vegetables may have a protective effect but one reason may be they are high in antioxidants, such as vitamin C and another theory is that they contain high levels of magnesium.
Study leader Professor Melanie Davies, professor of diabetic medicine at the University of Leicester, said the message to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day remains an important one.
But she added: “People like very specific health messages.
“We know that intake of fruit and vegetables is important, but this study suggests that green leafy vegetables seem to be particularly important in terms of preventing diabetes.”
The team are now planning a study in people at high risk of developing the condition to see if increasing their intake of vegetables like spinach and kale can help to reduce their chances of being diagnosed with diabetes.
Fruit and veg
In 2008/09, the National Diet Nutrition Survey showed that, although fruit and vegetable intake has risen over the past decade, only a third of men and women eat the recommended five-a-day.
In an accompanying editorial in the BMJ, Professor Jim Mann from the University of Otago in New Zealand, stressed that the message of increasing overall fruit and vegetable intake must not be lost “in a plethora of magic bullets,” even though green leafy vegetables clearly can be included as one of the daily portions.
Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Diabetes UK said: “We already know that the health benefits of eating vegetables are far-reaching but this is the first time that there has been a suggested link specifically between green leafy vegetables and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.”
But he warned the evidence was limited and it was too early to isolate green leafy vegetables and present them alone as a method to cut the chances of developing the condition.
“We would be concerned if focusing on certain foods detracted from the advice to eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day, which has benefits in terms of reducing heart disease, stroke, some cancers and obesity as well as type 2 diabetes.”
Diabetes UK is currently funding research into whether fermentable carbohydrates found in foods such as asparagus, garlic, chicory and Jerusalem artichokes could help weight loss and prevent Type 2 diabetes.
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Zinc Helps Prevent Pneumonia In The Elderly
August 23, 2010 by admin
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August 23rd, 2010
Natural News
By: Ethan A. Huff
A new report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that zinc plays a very important role in health maintenance. In a study of over 600 seniors from 33 different nursing homes in the Boston area, researchers found that seniors with healthy blood levels of zinc are 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with sub-par levels.
The study was a follow-up to a previous one which found that people given 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E every day for one year are 20 percent less likely to develop upper respiratory infections, including common colds. But after a follow-up, the trial also revealed that a majority of those same participants had low levels of zinc in their blood.
Subjects in the first trial were supplemented with only half the recommended daily intake of zinc and other essential vitamins, but those who had normal blood levels of the mineral overall experienced less infections and needed fewer antibiotics. Those with zinc deficiencies were far more prone to developing prolonged illness.
Zinc is a necessary mineral for maintaining health in many other areas as well. The eyes and prostate, for example, need zinc in order to function properly.
“[Zinc] is…important for the proper functioning of the immune system — which you definitely want in top working order! Zinc also aids in the regulation of blood pressure and the mineralization of bone,” explains Elaine Magee in her book Food Synergy: Unleash Hundreds of Powerful Healing Food Combinations to Fight Disease and Live Well.
Click Here For The Full Article
Zinc Helps Prevent Pneumonia In Elderly
August 20, 2010 by admin
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August 20th, 2010
Natural News
By: Ethan A. Huff
A new report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that zinc plays a very important role in health maintenance. In a study of over 600 seniors from 33 different nursing homes in the Boston area, researchers found that seniors with healthy blood levels of zinc are 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with sub-par levels.
The study was a follow-up to a previous one which found that people given 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E every day for one year are 20 percent less likely to develop upper respiratory infections, including common colds. But after a follow-up, the trial also revealed that a majority of those same participants had low levels of zinc in their blood.
Subjects in the first trial were supplemented with only half the recommended daily intake of zinc and other essential vitamins, but those who had normal blood levels of the mineral overall experienced less infections and needed fewer antibiotics. Those with zinc deficiencies were far more prone to developing prolonged illness.
Zinc is a necessary mineral for maintaining health in many other areas as well. The eyes and prostate, for example, need zinc in order to function properly.
“[Zinc] is…important for the proper functioning of the immune system — which you definitely want in top working order! Zinc also aids in the regulation of blood pressure and the mineralization of bone,” explains Elaine Magee in her book Food Synergy: Unleash Hundreds of Powerful Healing Food Combinations to Fight Disease and Live Well.
Click For The Complete Article
Cutting Salt In Foods Will Save US $32B A Year
June 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under News Stories
June 23, 2010
Natural News
By Ethan A. Huff
(NaturalNews) Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in California recently released the results of a study they conducted on the best ways to get Americans to consume less salt. The study was in response to research indicating that even a 10 percent cut in salt intake overall would prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes over the course of several decades, saving the U.S. government $32 billion in healthcare costs.
Researchers decided that the best approach to reducing overall salt intake is to establish voluntary programs with the U.S. food industry to cut salt levels in food. The U.K. operates under a similar program that is said to work well.
According to Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from the VA, even a small decrease in overall salt intake would be effective at reducing the number of deaths due to cardiovascular disease. According to the study, more than 500,000 fatal stroke and more than 480,000 heart attacks would be prevented because of the salt-cutting campaign.
Click here for the full report.
Soy Beneficial for Breast Cancer Survivors
December 9, 2009 by admin
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December 9, 2009
Web MD Health News
By Kathleen Doheny
Moderate intake of soy foods by breast cancer survivors appears to be not only safe but beneficial, according to a new study.
”Women who had a higher soy intake had a lower mortality and lower risk of relapse [than women with a low intake],” says researcher Xiao Ou Shu, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Previous research has yielded conflicting findings, with some studies finding that soy foods reduce breast cancer risk but others finding that genistein, an estrogen-like compound known as an isoflavone in soy, helps breast cancer cells grow in the lab and promotes tumor growth in animals.
“Some papers say it’s safe for women [with breast cancer] to eat some form of soy, others say [these] women should be cautious,” Shu tells WebMD. Her findings, she says, should be reassuring to breast cancer survivors.
But the new study isn’t the final word, says an expert who co-authored an editorial accompanying the study, both published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She cites a relatively short follow-up of four years, along with differences in soy consumption habits of women in the U.S. and women in the study, who were from China.
Vitamin D Key to Healthy Brain
August 10, 2009 by admin
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August 10, 2009
Natural News
By David Gutierrez
Sufficient vitamin D intake may play a critical role in maintaining brain function later in life, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Manchester and published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
“This is further evidence from observational studies that vitamin D is likely to be beneficial to reduce many age-related diseases,” said Tim Spector of King’s College London, who was not involved in the study. “Taken together with similar data that shows its importance in reducing arthritis, osteoporotic fractures, as well as heart disease and some cancers, this underscores the importance of vitamin D for humans and why evolution gave us a liking for the sun.”
Researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D in more than 3,000 European men between the ages of 40 and 79 then had the men undergo various tests of mental function, including memory and information processing. They found that the men with the highest blood levels did best on the test, while those with the lowest levels performed worst.
Another study earlier this year also found that higher levels of vitamin D appeared to protect against age-related cognitive decline.
The researchers were not able to determine which biological pathways vitamin D might act through to protect the aging brain, but they hypothesized that it might increase levels of protective antioxidants, increase key hormone levels, or suppress a hyperactive immune system that can lead to brain degeneration.
The researchers warned that vitamin D deficiency is widespread, especially among the elderly, who have decreased absorption from both food and sun sources.
Vitamin D is synthesized by the body when the sun is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The average light-skinned person can get enough vitamin D from roughly 15 minutes of sun on their face and hands per day, significantly less than the time it takes to burn. Darker skinned people, the elderly, and those living far from the equator (particularly during the winter) may need more sun to synthesize the same amount.
