Archive for the ‘General’ Category

A study released at the end of last year reveals that CT scans deliver up to 4 times more radiation than what was previously believed, which is dangerously high. [Smith-Bidman R, Lipson J, Marcus r. et al. Radiation dose associated with common computed tomography examinations and the associated lifetime attributable risk of cancer. Arch Inter Med. 2009 Dec 14:169(22):2078-2086]

Another study by the National Cancer Institute showed that CT scans administered in the year 2007 alone may contribute to 29,000 new cancer cases and nearly 15,000 cancer deaths. [Berrington de Gonzalez A. Mahesh M, Kim KP, et al. Projected cancer risks from computed tomographic scans performed in the United States in 2007. Arch Intern Med. 2009 Dec 14;169(22):2071-7]

There is a place for CT scans but they are way overused today.

Life Extension, August 2010

Interesting study reported by Mike Stone in Food Quality News

Electricity and ultra sound boost potatoes’ antioxidant content by 60 per cent

Treating potatoes with electricity and ultra-sound could improve their antioxidant activity by up to 60 per cent, according to new research from Obihiro University in Hokkaido, Japan.

Kazunori Hironaka who lead the research said: “We found that treating the potatoes with ultrasound or electricity for 5-30 minutes increased the amounts of antioxidants –– including phenols and chlorogenic acid –– by as much as 50 per cent.”

The ultrasound treatment consisted of immersing whole potatoes in water and subjecting them to ultra sound for between five to 10 minutes.

The electrical treatment involved immersing the potatoes in a salt solution for 10 seconds and then applying a small electrical charge for 10, 20, and 30 minutes.

Reseachers then measured both the antioxidant activity and the phenolic content. Both treatments increased signifantly the stressed potatoes’ antioxidant content. For example, t he five minute ultrasound treatment increased polyphenol levels by 1.2 times and other antioxidants by about 1.6 times. Subsequent results revealed that antioxidant levels had rocketed by up to 60 per cent.

“We knew from research done in the past that drought, bruising, and other stresses could stimulate the accumulation of beneficial phenolic compounds in fresh produce,” said Hironaka who is with Obihiro University in Hokkaido, Japan. “We found that there hasn’t been any research on the healthful effects of using mechanical processes to stress vegetables. So we decided in this study to evaluate effect of ultrasound and electric treatments on polyphenols and other antioxidants in potatoes.”

Growing consumer interest in healthy or functional foods could mean a bright future for the low cost and straight-forward treatment techniques.

Potatoes are the world’s fifth most widely-consumed plant food and are already regarded as a good source of antioxidants, including vitamin C and compounds called polyphenols.

Plants create antioxidants to help them combat stress in the form of attacks by pests and diseases and drought.

The research findings were reported at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), in Boston, USA.

www.foodqualitynews.com/Innovation/Electicity-and-ultra-sound-boost-potatoes-antioxidant-content-by-60-per-cent/?

“Nearly the entire U.S. population consumes a diet that is not on par with recommendations,” is the conclusion of a report published online on August 11, 2010 in the Journal of Nutrition.

Susan M. Krebs Smith and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute evaluated data from 16,338 individuals aged 2 and older who participated in the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Quantities of foods reported in 24 hour dietary recall interviews were categorized into groups included in the USDA’s food pyramid, which diagrams the recommended dietary intake of total fruits, whole fruits, total vegetables, dark green vegetables orange vegetables, legumes, starchy vegetables, other vegetables, milk, total grains, whole grains, meat and beans, and oils.

Life Extension http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2010/0820_Does-the-average-American-diet-provide-adequate-nutrition.htm?source=eNewsLetter2010Wk34-2&key=Article&l=0#article

Popeye the Sailorman, and his creators, knew one of the most perfect foods. As a child I would watch him be almost defeated until he got his spinach – then he could counquer the world.

I found it rather amusing when certain political leaders bad-mouthed spinach. Maybe it was Popeye, or my parents, but I have always liked spinach – but I didn’t realize it was a real health food.

Nutritionally, spinach is one of the most perfect foods created.

*it’s anti-inflammatory – it plays a role in controlling asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzeimer’s.

*it’s antioxidant – an excellent source of Vitamins C and A

*eye-health – spinach has lutein which helps protect against eye diseases

*iron – a real source of iron

*strong bones – the vitamin K in spinach helps maintain bone health

The list continues – so – like Popeye, eat your spinach.

The often-prescribed diabetic medications Avandia and Actos have now been proven to cause an increase risk in fractures in postmenopausal women.  In men if these drugs are combined with a potassium-robbing diuretic, then the fracture risk is also increased.  The FDA is currently considering whether to remove Avandia from the market because it causes heart attacks.  Actos is not as bad as Avandia on the heart attack issue.  However, Actos is equally as bad as Avandia on the fracture issue.  This is the third time these researchers have published conclusive data on this risk – the FDA twiddles its thumbs.

Byron J. Richards, CCN, www.wellnessresources.com, Aug 6, 2010

Things the Giant Food Companies Don’t Want You to Know

The ingredients listed on the label aren’t the only things in the food. Cancer-causing chemicals such as acrylamides may be formed in the food during high-heat processing, yet there’s no requirement to list them on the label. Residues of solvents, pesticides and other chemicals may also be present, but also do not have to be listed. The National Uniformity for Food Act, currently being debated in the U.S. Congress, would make it illegal (yes, illegal) for states to require cancer warnings on foods that contain cancer-causing chemicals (such as California’s Proposition 65.)

MSG is routinely hidden in foods in these ingredients: yeast extract, torula yeast, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and autolyzed yeast. Thousands of common grocery products contain one or more of these chemical taste enhancers, including nearly all “vegetarian” foods such as veggie burgers (read labels to check).

ADHD in children is commonly caused by the consumption of processed food ingredients such as artificial colors and refined carbohydrates. Eighty percent of so-called ADHD children who are taken off processed foods are cured of ADHD symptoms in two weeks.

Originally published August 14, 2006 http://www.newstarget.com/019957.html

The National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association proposed new guidelines for diagnosis to find signs of Alzheimer’s in people who do not yet have severe symptoms, or even any symptoms at all.

The guidelines are needed for the new approach to Alzheimer’s drug development. Just about every pharmaceutical company and many biotechnology companies have experimental drugs to block amyloid — there are more than 100 in the pipeline. And the companies would like to show that if they give their drugs early, they can slow or stop the disease.

That is the ultimate goal for the drug in the study sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb. The company is, for the first time, testing such a drug in patients who, on evaluation with memory tests and new brain scans and tests for amyloid in cerebrospinal fluid, seem to be in a very early stage of Alzheimer’s. The idea is to attack the disease when there may still be time to stop the worst brain cell death.

from the New York Times, July 17, 2010, Health

Much scientific evidence shows that with proper nutrition Alzheimer’s doesn’t develop in the first place.

Nordic Naturals® Named 2010 Manufacturer of the Year

By Vitamin Retailer Magazine, Inc.

Watsonville, CA (July 14, 2010) Nordic Naturals, the industry leader in omega-3 fish oil, has received the coveted Manufacturer of the Year Award for 2010 from Vitamin Retailer Magazine (VRM), one of the leading trade publications in the natural products industry. The award is based on several considerations including product quality, innovation, industry leadership and retailer support.

Nordic Naturals offers unique and innovative products that support general health as well as condition-specific formulas that can be enjoyed safely by children, adults, and animal companions. A complete catalog of products can be downloaded from the newly revised company site at www.nordicnaturals.com.

By TARA PARKER-POPE

If you are looking for a chemical-free way to repel mosquitoes, you may already have the solution in your home. Turn on the fan, reports Anahad O’Connor in today’s Science Times.

Studies have found that wind is an effective method against mosquitoes and other airborne pests. The reason seems obvious: it prevents them from circling and landing on you, like a windstorm keeping a plane from its descent. But that is not entirely the case. A fan dilutes and disperses the carbon dioxide you exhale. Carbon dioxide is one of the major chemicals that attract mosquitoes. The wind from a fan also cools you off. Sweat, lactic acid and body heat attract mosquitoes — factors that a fan can help minimize.

From New York Times, 7/12/2010

Traditional diets maximized nutrients
while modern diets minimize nutrients

TRADITIONAL DIETS                           MODERN DIETS

Foods from fertile soil                                             Foods from depleted soil

Choice of organ meats over muscle meats         Muscle meats, few organ meats

Animal fats                                                                 Vegetable oils

Animals on pasture                                           Animals in confinement

Dairy products raw and/or fermented   Dairy products pasteurized

Grains and legumes soaked/fermented              Grains refined and/or extruded

Bone broths                                                                 MSG, artificial flavorings

Unrefined sweeteners (honey, maple syrup)     Refined sweeteners

Lacto-fermented vegetables                                   Canned vegetables

Lacto-fermented beverages                                    Modern soft drinks

Unrefined salt                                                            Refined salt

Natural vitamins in foods                                      Synthetic vitamins added to foods

Traditional cooking                                                Microwave, irradiation

Traditional seeds/open pollination                   Hybrid seeds, GMO seeds