2010 Archives
2010 Archives:
Healthy Living
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Cognitive function and tea consumption in community dwelling older chinese in singapore. (Nutr Health Aging. 2010) “Conclusions: Tea consumption was associated with better cognitive performance in community-living Chinese older adults. The protective effect of tea consumption on cognitive function was not limited to particular type of tea.”
Dietary folate intake and the risk of 11 types of cancer: a case-control study in Uruguay. (Ann Oncol. 2010)
Dietary Guidelines may reduce allowance for salt and sodium “The recommendation to gradually move toward consuming 1,500 mg of sodium a day (about two-thirds of a teaspoon's worth of salt) is part of an effort to lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease. The average daily consumption has most recently been estimated at more than twice that: 3,436 mg to 3,712 mg per day. Consuming less sodium can lower an individual's blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. … Be aware that your desire for salt will likely diminish within a few weeks after you cut back. That taste is apparently not inborn in humans.
Cook more meals at home. This is the biggest change you can make. Substitute less-processed, more "whole" foods in place of processed, packaged foods and restaurant meals. About three-quarters of our sodium comes from such foods, a reality that suggests that much of the sodium-reduction work has to be done with food manufacturers and restaurants, not so much with individuals.”
Diverse Diet of Veggies May Decrease Lung Cancer Risk
Does cleaning with antibacterial products reduce illness in your home? “Infectious diseases expert Dr Michael Whitby says no 'reputable research' has found that using antibacterial products to clean surfaces – such as bench tops, bathroom sinks and toilets – will cut sickness. (Much of the research into bacteria in the home is funded by the companies that make the antibacterial products.) "I'm not saying that inanimate surfaces don't spread disease. What I'm saying is that in the close relationship of a household, a lot of it [disease] is spread person to person, and cleaning the inanimate surfaces with an antibacterial cleaner is not going to help," Whitby says.”
Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Blood Pressure (Southern Medical Journal 2010) “Oral vitamin D supplementation may lead to a reduction in systolic blood pressure but not diastolic blood pressure.”
Eight Cups A Day--And Other Water Myths
Exercise Can Treat Cardiovascular Disease as Well as Prevent It
Fish Oil Might Help Fight Gum Disease
Higher Exercise Capacity Equals Improved Survival in Older Adults
How much physical activity do older adults need?
Is Hand Washing Enough to Stop the Spread of Disease? “Not drying your hands thoroughly after washing them, could increase the spread of bacteria and rubbing your hands whilst using a conventional electric hand dryer could be a contributing factor. Frequently people give up drying their hands and wipe them on their clothes instead, but hand-hygiene is a key part of infection control and drying hands after washing is a very important part of the process. … Our bodies naturally have bacteria called commensals all over them. However, bacteria from other sources, such as raw meat, can also survive on hands, and can be easily transferred to other surfaces, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. When hands are washed the number of bacteria on the surface of the skin decreases, but they are not necessarily eliminated. If the hands are still damp then these bacteria are more readily transferred to other surfaces. … Dr Snelling says: "Good hand hygiene should include drying hands thoroughly and not just washing. The most hygienic method of drying hands is using paper towels or using a hand dryer which doesn't require rubbing your hands together."“
Love red meat? Cutting back just a bit helps heart “Now, a new study suggests that you don't have to cut out red meat altogether to improve your heart health. If you eat red meat more than once a day, cutting back to one serving every other day can substantially reduce your risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease, the study found.”
Mediterranean Diet Helps Control Cholesterol: Adding Monounsaturated Fats to a Low-Cholesterol Diet Can Further Improve Levels “The addition of monounsaturated fat (MUFA) to a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio in patients with mild to moderate elevated cholesterol levels increased HDL by 12.5% and lowered LDL levels by 35%, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).”
More Physical Education for Children Boosts Bone Mass “Increasing the amount of physical activity that children get in school increases the health of their bones and might be one way of preventing the epidemic of hip and other fractures currently seen in adults … “
Multivitamin use and the risk of myocardial infarction: a population-based cohort of Swedish women. (Am J Clin Nutr. 2010) “The use of multivitamins was inversely associated with MI, especially long-term use among women with no CVD. Further prospective studies with detailed information on the content of preparations and the duration of use are needed to confirm or refute our findings.”
Physical Activity and the Risk of Dementia: The Framingham Study (ICAD 2010) “Conclusions: Moderate to heavy physical activity is associated with a reduced risk for dementia, for up to two decades of follow-up. Our data emphasize that a reduced risk of dementia may be one additional health benefit to adults of maintaining at least moderate physical activity.”
Physical activity predicts gray matter volume in late adulthood (Neurology 2010) “Greater amounts of walking are associated with greater gray matter volume, which is in turn associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment.”
Protect Your Colon From Diverticular Disease
Regular workouts ward off the common cold “"The most powerful weapon someone has during cold season," Nieman told MyHealthNewsDaily, "is to go out, on a near-daily basis, and put in at least a 30-minute brisk walk." … The researchers found the length of time cold symptoms lasted was shorter by 43 percent to 46 percent in people who worked out five or more times a week, compared with people who worked out once a week or never.“
Vitamin B12 May Lower Alzheimer's Risk
When Niacin is a Drug “Niacin’s beneficial effect on blood cholesterol has been recognized for at least half a century. It does not reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol as much as statins do, but one advantage of niacin is that it raises HDL (“good“) cholesterol substantially; statins raise HDL only modestly. No one is sure exactly how niacin works, but it does change the proportion of LDL to HDL in a favorable direction. It also decreases triglycerides, fats in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease. In clinical trials niacin has proved to reduce the risk of heart attacks, perhaps because it boosts HDL so much. Niacin may raise blood sugar slightly, but it is now considered safe for people with diabetes.”
Red onions help you stay hale and hearty
You don't have to hurt as you age! Eat broccoli and avoid arthritis
Young Teens Who Play Sports Feel Healthier and Happier About Life
You don't have to hurt as you age! Eat broccoli and avoid arthritis
Physical activity and the risk of stroke. (Expert Rev Neurother. 2010) “ … increasing levels of leisure-time physical activity in women tended to be associated with lower stroke risk, with a particular benefit of regular, brisk walking for those who did not vigorously exercise. The results reinforce recommendations that both men and women participate in regular, leisure-time physical activity.”
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Reduced Odds of MCI: The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. (J Alzheimers Dis. 2010) “In this study, higher intake of PUFA and MUFA was associated with a reduced likelihood of MCI among elderly persons in the population-based setting.”
Resveratrol May Slow Aging in Humans
Vitamin D Levels Associated With Parkinson's Disease Risk “Vitamin D is known to play a role in bone health and may also be linked to cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to background information in the article. "Recently, chronically inadequate vitamin D intake was proposed to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease," the authors write. "According to the suggested biological mechanism, Parkinson's disease may be caused by a continuously inadequate vitamin D status leading to a chronic loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain."“
Vitamin E–Rich Foods May Reduce Long-Term Risk for Dementia “Vitamin E may play a modest role in altering the course of dementia, say researchers. Compared with participants with the lowest intake, investigators found that those patients with higher vitamin E intake were 25% less likely to develop dementia. "When beta-amyloid — a hallmark of pathologic Alzheimer disease — accumulates in the brain, an inflammatory response is likely evoked that produces nitric oxide radicals and downstream neurodegenerative effects," report investigators led by Elizabeth Devore, ScD, from the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. "Vitamin E is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that may help to inhibit the pathogenesis of dementia."”
Those Who Exercise When Young Have Stronger Bones When They Grow Old “The researchers have therefore established that there is a positive link between exercise while young and bone density and size. The connection is even stronger if account is taken of the type of sports done. "The bones respond best when you're young, and if you train and load them with your own bodyweight during these years, it has a stimulating effect on their development," says Nilsson. "This may be important for bone strength much later in life too, so reducing the risk of brittle bones."”
A healthier, fitter YOU — Simple strength training tips
Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention Trial: Sex Hormone Changes in a Year-Long Exercise Intervention Among Postmenopausal Women (J. Clin. Oncol. 2010) “Conclusion This trial found that previously sedentary postmenopausal women can adhere to a moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise program that results in changes in estradiol and SHBG concentrations that are consistent with a lower risk for postmenopausal breast cancer.”
Better Vitamin D Status Could Mean Better Quality of Life for Seniors
Cognitive performance among the elderly in relation to the intake of plant foods. The Hordaland Health Study. (Br J Nutr. 2010) “For individual plant foods, the positive cognitive associations of carrots, cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits and high-fibre bread were most pronounced. The only negative cognitive association was with increased intake of white bread. In the elderly, a diet rich in plant foods is associated with better performance in several cognitive abilities in a dose-dependent manner.”
Exercise, Vitamin D Seem to Cut Alzheimer's Risk: Researchers “Those who did moderate to heavy amounts of exercise had about a 40 percent reduced risk of developing any type of dementia. People with the lowest levels of physical activity were 45 percent more likely to develop any type of dementia than those who did the most exercise. These trends were strongest in men. … The study found that the risk of cognitive impairment was 42 percent higher in people who were deficient in vitamin D, and 394 percent higher in those with severe vitamin D deficiency.”
Reducing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated With Reduced Blood Pressure. A Prospective Study Among United States Adults (Circulation 2010)
The Effects of Acute and Chronic Exercise on the Vasculature. (Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2010)
Regular Tea Consumption May Slow Cognitive Decline “Participants who drank tea 5 to 10 times per year, 1 to 3 times per month, 1 to 4 times per week, or 5 or more times per week had average annual rates of cognitive decline that were 17%, 32%, 37%, and 26% lower, respectively, than those of non-tea-drinkers. "What is interesting here is that there does not seem to be a dose response but, rather, there seems to be a threshold effect," said Dr. Arab. In contrast, only the highest level of coffee consumption was associated with a significantly reduced cognitive decline (20%) in 3MSE and was present for caffeinated as well as decaffeinated coffee consumption.”
Vigorous exercise strengthens hip bones in young children
Vitamin B6 Tied to Lowered Lung Cancer Risk “A new study shows that people with high levels of a B vitamin are half as likely as others to develop lung cancer. But while the reduction in risk is significant, this doesn't mean that smokers should hit the vitamin aisle instead of quitting. While the study links vitamin B6, as well as one amino acid, to fewer cases of lung cancer, it doesn't conclude that consuming the nutrients will reduce the risk. Future research is needed to confirm that there's a cause-and-effect relationship at work, not just an association, researchers said.“
Vitamin D May Cut Risk of Flu “Sabetta says vitamin D has known effects on the immune system, and the study reinforces the association between vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to infections of the respiratory tract.”
Cruciferous vegetable intake is inversely associated with lung cancer risk among smokers: a case-control study. (BMC Cancer. 2010)
Exercise Helps Reduce Falls in Young and Old
Exercise May Buffer Effects of Stress “Short bursts of vigorous exercise -- the kind that makes you really break a sweat and increases your heart rate -- may help buffer the devastating effects that stress can have on cellular aging, a new study finds. Brief bouts of vigorous physical activity reduced one of the key signs of cellular aging: telomere shortening. Telomeres are tiny strips of genetic material that look like tails on the ends of our chromosomes. Telomere shortening is a known indicator of aging in cells. The study appears in the May 26 online issue of PLoS ONE.”
Dietary Folate and Vitamin B6 and B12 Intake in Relation to Mortality From Cardiovascular Diseases. Japan Collaborative Cohort Study (Stroke. 2010) “Conclusions—High dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B6 were associated with reduced risk of mortality from stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure among Japanese.”
Focus on Fiber “The idea that fiber protects against colon cancer was first proposed many years ago when researchers found that Africans who ate high fiber diets had a low incidence of colon cancer. Since then dozens of studies have supported the protective role of fiber. There are plenty of reasons fiber might lower colon cancer risk: Fiber increases fecal bulk and may dilute potential cancer-causing substances; fiber reduces the time the stool spends in the intestine, which might limit the colon's exposure to carcinogens. Fiber may also alter the intestinal environment in other beneficial ways. Yet, several recent studies have cast doubt on the theory that fiber protects against colon cancer. “
Foods That Fight Alzheimer's Disease
High fruit intake is associated with a lower risk of future hypertension determined by home blood pressure measurement: the OHASAMA study (Journal of Human Hypertension 2010)
Mediterranean Diet Helps Offset Bad Genes “A Mediterranean-style diet -- one that is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in saturated fats -- promotes heart function even in men who are genetically predisposed to poor heart health.”
Primary Prevention of Colorectal Cancer (Gastroenterology 2010) “For example, several studies have shown that high intake of red and processed meats, highly refined grains and starches, and sugars is related to increased risk of colorectal cancer. Replacing these factors with poultry, fish, and plant sources as the primary source of protein; unsaturated fats as the primary source of fat; and unrefined grains, legumes and fruits as the primary source of carbohydrates is likely to lower risk of colorectal cancer. Although a role for supplements, including vitamin D, folate, and vitamin B6, remains uncertain, calcium supplementation is likely to be at least modestly beneficial. With respect to lifestyle, compelling evidence indicates that avoidance of smoking and heavy alcohol use, prevention of weight gain, and maintenance of a reasonable level of physical activity are associated with markedly lower risks of colorectal cancer. Medications such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and postmenopausal hormones for women are associated with substantial reductions in colorectal cancer risk, though their utility is affected by associated risks.”
How Your Home Affects Your Health
Magnesium May Reduce Men’s Colon Cancer Risk
Mediterranean diet may help prevent dementia, study says “Eating a diet rich in healthy fats and limiting dairy and meat could do more than keep your heart healthier. It could also help keep you thinking clearly. New research shows that sticking to the Mediterranean diet, previously shown to reduce heart and other health issues, also may help lower the risk of having small areas of dead tissue linked to thinking problems. Known as brain infarcts, they're involved in vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia, after Alzheimer's disease. … A Mediterranean diet includes a lot of fruit, vegetables and fish, olive oil, legumes and cereals, and fewer dishes containing dairy, meat, poultry, and saturated fatty acids than other diets. It also involves small to moderate amounts of alcohol. … Researchers found that people who most closely followed a Mediterranean-like diet were 36 percent less likely to have areas of brain damage, compared with those whose eating habits were furthest from the diet. The study shows association, not causation, meaning there could be some other factors linking the Mediterranean diet to resilience against this form of brain damage.”
Older Women Need To Exercise “Normal-weight women who want to prevent weight gain as they age need to do an hour a day of moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking, a study shows. Over the years, some experts have suggested it takes that much to control weight, but this is one of the first large-scale studies to examine the question.”
Omega-3 May Promote Youthful Biological Age
Persistent low-grade inflammation and regular exercise. (Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2010) “We suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of exercise may be mediated via a long-term effect of exercise leading to a reduction in visceral fat mass and/or by induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines with each bout of exercise.”
Plant-focused diet may curb breast cancer risk “Diets high in vegetables, fruits and soy might cut the risk of developing breast cancer by 30 percent, new research suggests.”
Physical Activity and Weight Gain Prevention (JAMA 2010) “Conclusions Among women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain only among women whose BMI was lower than 25. Women successful in maintaining normal weight and gaining fewer than 2.3 kg over 13 years averaged approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity throughout the study.”
Should You Join This Tea Party?
1 Hour Daily Exercise Fights 'Fatso' Gene in Teens “One hour of moderate to vigorous exercise a day can help teens beat the effects of a common obesity-related gene with the nickname "fatso," according to a new European study. The message for adolescents is to get moving, said lead author Jonatan Ruiz of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. "Be active in your way," Ruiz said. "Activities such as playing sports are just fine and enough." The study, released Monday, appears in the April edition of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The research supports U.S. guidelines that tell children and teenagers to get an hour or more of physical activity daily, most of it aerobic activity such as running, jumping rope, swimming, dancing and bicycling. Scientists are finding evidence that both lifestyle and genes cause obesity and they're just learning how much diet and exercise can offset the inherited risk. “
Apple Cider Vinegar “Vinegar is a product of fermentation. This is a process in which sugars in a food are broken down by bacteria and yeast. In the first stage of fermentation, the sugars are turned into alcohol. Then, if the alcohol ferments further, you get vinegar. The word comes from the French, meaning "sour wine." While vinegar can be made from all sorts of things -- like many fruits, vegetables, and grains -- apple cider vinegar comes from pulverized apples. The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar, is acetic acid. However, vinegars also have other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids. … Should I Use Apple Cider Vinegar? The answer depends on how you want to use apple cider vinegar. As a salad dressing, you should be fine. But taken as a daily medical treatment, it could be a little more risky. Yes, some studies of apple cider vinegar are intriguing. But a lot more research needs to be done. Right now, there is not enough evidence that apple cider vinegar -- or any vinegar -- has any health benefit for any condition. Since the benefits are unknown, so are the risks.”
Brain Fitness Games Improve Delayed Memory in Elderly Adults “Elderly adults who play brain fitness games that exercise global aspects of memory show improvements in the domain of delayed memory at 6 months compared with a slight decline in active controls, according to preliminary findings presented here at the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2010 Annual Meeting.”
Can Nutrients Prevent or Delay Onset of Alzheimer's Disease? (Alzheimers Dis. 2010) “The literature reinforces the need for early intervention in AD and suggests that multi-nutritional intervention, targeting multiple aspects of the neurodegenerative process during the earliest possible phase in the development of the disease, is likely to have the greatest therapeutic potential.”
Colorado, California Cities Dominate Slimmest Cities List
Diet can sharply cut Alzheimer's risk: study “"Diet is probably the easiest way to modify disease risk," said Gu, whose study appears in Archives of Neurology. She said because there are no cures for Alzheimer's, prevention is key, especially as the population ages. … Those least likely to develop the disease ate more olive oil-based salad dressing, nuts, fish, tomatoes, poultry, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, fruits, and dark and green leafy vegetables and ate less red meat, organ meat or high-fat dairy products. "People who adhered mostly to this dietary pattern compared to others have about a 40 percent reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," Gu said. She said the diet likely works in two ways. Because it is rich in heart-healthy foods, it may be protecting the brain from strokes that could make it more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. But it also may be that the nutrients -- such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and folate -- directly protect the brain.”
Diet High in B Vitamins Lowers Heart Risks in Japanese Study “Eating more foods containing the B-vitamins folate and B-6 lowers the risk of death from stroke and heart disease for women and may reduce the risk of heart failure in men, according to Japanese research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.”
Dietary vitamin K intake in relation to cancer incidence and mortality: results from the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Heidelberg). (Am J Clin Nutr. 2010) “CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that dietary intake of menaquinones, which is highly determined by the consumption of cheese, is associated with a reduced risk of incident and fatal cancer.”
Dietary intake of folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and riboflavin and risk of Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Japan. (Br J Nutr. 2010) “In conclusion, in the present case-control study in Japan, low intake of vitamin B6, but not of folate, vitamin B12 or riboflavin, was independently associated with an increased risk of PD.”
Examples of Sodium Levels in Some Foods
Positive Effects of Physical Training in Activity of Daily Living-Dependent Older Adults. (Exp Aging Res. 2010)
Potassium-Rich Foods Do a Heart Good “Eating plenty of potassium-rich foods such as leafy greens, potatoes and bananas may reduce the risk of stroke and coronary artery disease, according to Italian researchers. The new analysis was based on 10 studies published between 1966 and 2009 that included almost 280,000 adults. During follow-ups that ranged from five to 19 years, there were over 5,500 strokes and almost 3,100 coronary heart disease events, the investigators found. Higher potassium intake was associated with a 19 percent lower risk of stroke and an 8 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease. The findings support global recommendations for people to increase their consumption of potassium-rich foods in order to prevent vascular disease, said Dr. Pasquale Strazzullo, of the University of Naples, and colleagues. Other foods high in potassium include soybeans, apricots, avocados, plain non-fat yogurt, prune juice, and dried beans and peas.”
Purpose in Life May Reduce Alzheimer's Risk “Elderly people with a strong sense of purpose in life are almost 2½ times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD), report researchers. The new finding adds to emerging data suggesting that psychological and experiential factors are associated with cognitive impairment. "Our results suggest that positive factors, such as having a sense of goal-directedness that guides behavior, may provide a buffer against negative health outcomes, particularly in old age," coauthor Lisa Barnes, PhD, from the Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, told Medscape Psychiatry.”
Regular Exercise Helps Prevent Elderly People From Falling “Regular exercise lowered the risk of falls by 17 to 35 per cent, the review showed. Tai chi was the most effective type of exercise, reducing the rate of falls by 37 per cent and the risk of falls by 35 per cent. Other preventative measures, such as taking vitamin D or improving home safety, had little effect.”
Selenium Protects Men Against Diabetes, Study Suggests
Study: Those Who Stay Fit Have Longer Sex Lives
The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide (Nutr J. 2010)
Vitamin B6 and Risk of Colorectal Cancer (JAMA. 2010) “Conclusion Vitamin B6 intake and blood PLP levels were inversely associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in this meta-analysis.”
Vitamin D Crucial to Activating Immune Defenses “Scientists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that Vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defenses and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin, the killer cells of the immune system -- T cells -- will not be able to react to and fight off serious infections in the body.”
Vitamin D may help pre-diabetes
Dietary Calcium and Magnesium Intake and Mortality: A Prospective Study of Men (American Journal of Epidemiology 2010) “This population-based, prospective study of men with relatively high intakes of dietary calcium and magnesium showed that intake of calcium above that recommended daily may reduce all-cause mortality.”
Dietary Formula That Maintains Youthful Function Into Old Age “Ingredients consists of items that were purchased in local stores selling vitamin and health supplements for people, including vitamins B1, C, D, E, acetylsalicylic acid, beta carotene, folic acid, garlic, ginger root, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, green tea extract, magnesium, melatonin, potassium, cod liver oil, and flax seed oil. Multiple ingredients were combined based on their ability to offset five mechanisms involved in ageing.”
Don't worry, be happy: positive affect and reduced 10-year incident coronary heart disease: The Canadian Nova Scotia Health Survey (Eur Heart J (2010))
Effect of Exercise on Oxidative Stress: A 12-Month Randomized, Controlled Trial. (Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010) “CONCLUSION:: These findings suggest that aerobic exercise, when accompanied by relatively marked gains in aerobic fitness, decreases oxidative stress among previously sedentary older women, and that these effects occur with minimal change in mass or body composition.”
Effect of Nutrition on Blood Pressure (Annual Review of Nutrition 2010) “Higher intakes of potassium, PUFA, protein, exercise, and possibly vitamin D may reduce blood pressure. Less conclusive studies suggest that amino acids, tea, green coffee bean extract, dark chocolate, tea, and foods high in nitrates may reduce blood pressure. Short-term studies indicate that specialized diets may prevent or ameliorate mild hypertension, most notably the DASH diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, and the DASH low-sodium diet. Long-term compliance to these diets remains a major concern.”
Exercise Your Way to a Healthier Colon
Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of acute coronary syndrome. (Br J Nutr. 2010) “The present results provide some support for previously observed inverse associations between fresh fruit intake, particularly apples, and ACS risk.”
Green Tea May Help Cut Risk for Lung Cancer
High Levels of Vitamin D in Older People Can Reduce Heart Disease and Diabetes “Middle aged and elderly people with high levels of vitamin D could reduce their chances of developing heart disease or diabetes by 43%, according to researchers at the University of Warwick.“
High Vitamin D Levels Linked to Lower Risk of Colon Cancer “High blood levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of colon cancer, finds a large European study published online in the British Medical Journal. The risk was cut by as much as 40% in people with the highest levels compared with those in the lowest.”
Aerobic Exercise No Big Stretch For Older Adults But Helps Elasticity Of Arteries “An improvement was seen in the elasticity of the arteries of the group that performed the activity compared to those who didn't exercise. "There was an impressive drop in arterial stiffness after just three months of exercise. In that time we saw a 15 to 20 per cent reduction."”
Association of Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels With Telomeric Aging in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease (JAMA 2010) “Conclusion Among this cohort of patients with coronary artery disease, there was an inverse relationship between baseline blood levels of marine omega-3 fatty acids and the rate of telomere shortening over 5 years.”
Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults (dagger). (J Agric Food Chem. 2010) “The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit and establish a basis for more comprehensive human trials to study preventive potential and neuronal mechanisms.”
Cognitive and Cardiovascular Benefits of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Aging and Cognitive Decline. (Curr Alzheimer Res. 2010) “Collectively, data reveal a potentially beneficial role for DHA in preventing or ameliorating cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease in the aged.”
Physical Exercise, Aging, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (Arch Neurol. 2010) “Conclusion In this population-based case-control study, any frequency of moderate exercise performed in midlife or late life was associated with a reduced odds of having MCI.”
Resistance Training and Executive Functions (Arch Intern Med. 2010) “Conclusion Twelve months of once-weekly or twice-weekly resistance training benefited the executive cognitive function of selective attention and conflict resolution among senior women.”
Running Boosts Brainpower “Running may do more than improve your cardiovascular fitness and overall physique. It might actually make you smarter. Scientists reporting in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences say that running has a profound impact on the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Adult mice that voluntarily used running wheels increased their number of brain cells and performed better at spatial learning tests than non-exercising mice, they discovered.”
Running enhances spatial pattern separation in mice (PNAS 2010)
Vitamin D and cardiovascular risk. (Int Urol Nephrol. 2009) “Further activities of vitamin D relate to defence of microbial infections, e.g. tuberculosis, prevention of cancer, contractility of muscle cells and counteraction of congestive heart failure. Given early reports in the 1960s on deleterious effects of vitamin D supplementation in rodents, that is ectopic media ossification of arterial vessels, a pro-atherogenic function had been anticipated for humans as well. However, cross-sectional studies reveal that vitamin D deficiency in humans is associated with elevated blood pressure and propagation of atherogenesis. These contradictory findings on the progression of atherosclerosis may be reconciled by dissecting the activation mechanism(s) of vitamin D in rodents versus humans. Notably, novel findings convincingly indicate that vitamin D exerts anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, vitamin D supplementation in adults may be regarded as simple means with few potential side effects to prevent atherogenesis or halt its progression and combat arterial hypertension. Adjustment of vitamin D dosing regimens is required in patients with chronic kidney disease…”
Vitamin D Plus Calcium Guards Against Fractures “There's a growing consensus that a combination of calcium and vitamin D is more effective than vitamin D alone in preventing nonvertebral fractures, Opinder Sahota, of Queen's Medical Center in Nottingham, England, wrote in an accompanying editorial.”
Vitamin D, innate immunity and upper respiratory tract infection. (J Laryngol Otol. 2010)
Whole Diet May Ward Off Depression and Anxiety “A traditional or whole diet characterized by vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and high-quality meat and fish may help prevent mental illness — specifically, depression and anxiety. Conversely, a Western diet high in refined or processed foods and saturated fats may increase the risk of depression, new research suggests.”
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