The Latest Health News of Interest to Seniors

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News Roundup - Recent health news worth talking about We review lots of newsletters and daily bulletins related to health interests of senior readers. We offer here the hopefully useful highlights, but without any assurances of validity; do your own followup please. Related Articles: Health News   Senior Fitness   Nurition   Exercise   Drugs   Supplements

1. Researchers important markers of high risk of type 2 diabetes. by Kelly Parkes Doctors are aware of a range of risk factors, mostly related to the patients’ family history, overweight, and lifestyle, that contribute to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Now researchers at the University of Warwick have found markers that indicate endothelial dysfunction (changes in the cells which line the blood vessels) and sub-clinical systemic inflammation can also help identi ...more...

2. Bypassing the insulin highway (Appearing in JBC online April 25) by Nick Zagorski American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology An immune cell known as a neutrophil releases a protein that can suppress glucose production in the liver - without targeting insulin, researchers have found. Neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, produce special immune proteins called defensins which seem to have a connection with glucose levels. During bacterial infection, ...more...

3. Deadly dose: Rensselaer heparin expert helps uncover source of l... by Gabrielle DeMarco Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, N.Y. -- The mysterious death of patients around the world following a routine dosage of the common blood thinner, heparin, sent researchers on a frantic search to uncover what could make the standard drug so toxic. A researcher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was among a small group of scientists with the expertise and the high-tech equipment nece ...more...

4. Readily available treatment could help prevent heart disease in ... by Gwen Ericson Washington University School of Medicine The estimated 19 million Americans living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a high risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that a main source of this cardiovascular risk is CKD patients' high levels of blood phosphate. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have demonstrated ...more...

5. Mammograms benefit women up to the age of 75 and 3-yearly screen... by Emma Mason ECCO-the European CanCer Organisation Berlin, Germany: Breast cancer screening is effective, appropriate and reduces deaths from the disease in women aged up to 75 years old according to new research in over 860,000 women aged 70-75 presented today (Friday) at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-6) in Berlin. In another study of nearly 100,000 women aged 50-62, also presented a ...more...

6. Herceptin and chemo improves response rates without major advers... by Emma Mason ECCO-the European CanCer Organisation Berlin, Germany: Women with a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer seem to do better if they are treated with a combined anthracycline and taxane chemotherapy regimen before surgery, together with trastuzumab (Herceptin) before and after surgery, according to results from the largest multi-centre trial to investigate this treatment. Pro ...more...

7. Breast cancers behave differently before and after the age of 70 by Emma Mason ECCO-the European CanCer Organisation Berlin, Germany: Researchers in Belgium have discovered that increasing age affects the way breast cancer behaves. As women approach the age of 70, they become less likely to be diagnosed with aggressive tumours that have spread to the lymph nodes. But after 70, the cancer is increasingly likely to spread, particularly if the tumours are small. U ...more...

8. Vitamin D and calcium influence cell death in the colon, researc... by Ashante Dobbs Researchers at Emory University are learning how vitamins and minerals in the diet can stimulate or prevent the appearance of colon cancer. Emory investigators will present their findings on biological markers that could influence colon cancer risk in three abstracts at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in San Diego. In a clinical study of 92 patien ...more...

9. NYU dental professor discovers biological clock by Linda Hemphill International & American Association for Dental Research - Why do rats live faster and die younger than humans? A newly discovered biological clock provides tantalizing clues. This clock, or biological rhythm, controls many metabolic functions and is based on the circadian rhythm, which is a roughly 24-hour cycle that is important in determining sleeping and feeding patterns, cell ...more...

10. Yale study shows how rare genes have big impact on blood pressur... by Bill Hathaway Yale University - New Haven, Conn. -Yale University researchers report today in the journal Nature Genetics that they have discovered that rare genetic variants can be associated with a dramatically lower risk of developing high blood pressure in the general population. The insight that rare mutations may collectively play a large part in the development of common yet comple ...more...

11. Significant dementia risk attributable to small blood vessel dam... by Sarah Goodwin American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Autopsy data of 221 men and women found that the brains of one-third of individuals who had dementia before death showed evidence of small, cumulative blood vessel damage that can arise from hypertension or diabetes. Dr. Thomas Montine and colleagues analyzed the brain tissue of select volunteers from the Adult Changes in Th ...more...

12. Significant reductions in mortality shown using blood pressure-l... by Laura Gallagher Imperial College London - Lowering the blood pressure of elderly patients could cut their total mortality by a fifth and their rate of cardiovascular events by a third, according to a new study presented today (Monday 31 March) at the American College of Cardiology in Chicago and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine. The 3,845 patient Hypertension ...more...

13. Vitamin E trials 'fatally flawed' by Balz Frei Oregon State University - CORVALLIS, Ore. – Generations of studies on vitamin E may be largely meaningless, scientists say, because new research has demonstrated that the levels of this micronutrient necessary to reduce oxidative stress are far higher than those that have been commonly used in clinical trials. In a new study and commentary in Free Radical Biology and Medicin ...more...

14. Exercise reduces risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women by Anna Nguyen Exercise reduces risk of heart disease in postmenopausal women Working out regularly lowers chemical stress in the body related to disease and aging Monday, March 10, 2008 Aerobic exercise significantly decreased the chemical imbalances that can lead to heart disease and stroke in postmenopausal women according to a study in the spring issue of the Journal of Women and Aging. E ...more...

15. Research with squirrels provides clues on hormone's role in huma... by William Harms University of Chicago - Correct levels of stress hormones boost learning Research at the University of Chicago shows that young squirrels learning to survive in their environment need a moderate level of stress hormones. The study points toward the role... Click here for more information. Tests on the influence that a stress-related hormone has on learning in ground squirrels coul ...more...

16. Genes that protect against atherosclerosis identified by Katarina Sternudd Karolinska Institutet - One way of combating atherosclerosis is to reduce levels of “bad cholesterol” in the blood. Scientists at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have now identified the genes that bring about this beneficial effect. In a new study on mice, which is presented in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics, the research group has shown that th ...more...

17. New stem cell technique improves genetic alteration by Peter Donovan Efficiency of method could lead to better disease study and future stem cell cures Irvine, Calif., March 7, 2008 UC Irvine researchers have discovered a dramatically improved method for genetically manipulating human embryonic stem cells, making it easier for scientists to study and potentially treat thousands of disorders ranging from Huntington’s disease to muscular ...more...

18. New potential drug target for the treatment of atherosclerosis by Gina Kirchweger Salk Institute - LA JOLLA, CA - A nuclear receptor protein, known for controlling the ability of cells to burn fat, also exerts powerful anti-inflammatory effects in arteries, suppressing atherosclerosis in mice prone to developing the harmful plaques, according to new research by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and the Harvard School of Public Health. Their ...more...

19. Gene discovery linked to muscle atrophy in numerous conditions by Kathy Major National Space Biomedical Research Institute Gene discovery linked to muscle atrophy in numerous conditions HOUSTON-(March 20, 2002)-A newly identified gene, atrogin-1, is involved in muscle loss associated with cancer, diabetes, fasting and kidney disease as well as in the atrophy occurring with disuse, inactivity, and nerve or spinal injury. This discovery, funded by the National ...more...

20. Scientists identify gene responsible for statin-induced muscle p... by Bonnie Prescott Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Atrogin-1 gene mediates muscle toxicity of popular cholesterol-lowering drugs BOSTON – Statins, the popular class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, are among the most commonly prescribed medications in developed countries. But for some patients, accompanying side effects of muscle weakness and pain become chronic problems and, in ...more...

21. Study: Before a CT scan or angiogram, many people should take in... by Kara Gavin University of Michigan Health System - 2/18/2008 Iodine contrast agents that enhance the scans can harm vulnerable kidneys, but N-acetylcysteine taken beforehand can protect at-risk patients. ANN ARBOR, Mich. - As more and more Americans undergo CT scans and other medical imaging scans involving intense X-rays, a new study suggests that many of them should take a pre-scan dru ...more...

22. Anti-cancer drug damages brain vessels by Hema Bashyam Journal of Experimental Medicine: 11-Feb-2008 The cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab) is used to treat advanced bowel cancer in combination with chemotherapy. This drug targets a protein called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) that stimulates blood vessel growth. Avastin inhibits the growth of tumors by cutting off their blood supply, which deprives them of oxygen and other nutr ...more...

23. Artificial sweeteners linked to weight gain by Pam Willenz Cutting the connection between sweets and calories may confuse the body, making it harder to regulate intake. WASHINGTON - Want to lose weight" It might help to pour that diet soda down the drain. Researchers have laboratory evidence that the widespread use of no-calorie sweeteners may actually make it harder for people to control their intake and body weight. The findings appear in ...more...

24. The missing link between belly fat and heart disease? by Daniel Eitzman, M.D. WEBWIRE – Wednesday, January 23, 2008 In animal study, U-M researchers find inflammation could be the key – and might be reversed with medicine ANN ARBOR, MI – By now, everyone knows that overweight people have a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes and other problems that arise from clogged, hardened arteries. And people who carry their extra weight around their waist – giv ...more...

25. Diabetes makes it hard for blood vessels to relax by Toni Baker Medical College of Georgia One way diabetes is bad for your blood vessels is by creating too much competition for an amino acid that helps blood vessels relax, researchers say. That amino acid, L-arginine, is broken down by the enzyme arginase to urea, which helps the body eliminate toxins resulting from the proteins we eat. Diabetics have a lot of arginase activity, which m ...more...

26. Sugary soft drinks linked to increased risk of gout in men by Emma Dickinson Contact: Emma Dickinson edickinson@bmj.com 44-020-738-36529 BMJ-British Medical Journal Soft drinks, fructose consumption, and the risk of gout in men: Prospective cohort study Consumption of sugar sweetened soft drinks and fructose is strongly associated with an increased risk of gout in men, finds a study published on bmj.com today. Gout is a joint disease which cau ...more...

27. Severe hypertension: 'Silent killer' still on the loose by Michelle Gailiun Honolulu, HI – High blood pressure may be one of the top killers in the country, but you’d never know it by the way we’re behaving, say scientists attending the annual congress of the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). “Research shows that some 73 million people in the U.S. have high blood pressure, yet many of them don’t even know it. And among those that do, a large number ...more...

28. Anti-AgingDiary.com Celebrates First Anniversary by Carolisa Pomerantz We can reverse aging. Watch one man’s year long effort at AntiAgingDiary.com. Through 2007, Paul M. J. Suchecki, producer of “Reverse Aging Now,” adopted the principals of age reversal outlined in his feature length documentary. The dramatic photos and documented medical improvements speak for themselves. Mr. Suchecki lost 35 pounds, sliced 7 years off his biological age, and 25 minutes fro ...more...

29. Low vitamin E levels associated with physical decline in elderly by Karen N. Peart, Yale University Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that a low concentration of vitamin E in the blood is linked with physical decline in older persons. Published in the January 23 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association, the study included 698 people age 65 or older who were randomly selected from the population registry in two municipalities clo ...more...

30. Elusive pancreatic stem cells found in adult mice by Cathleen Genova Just as many scientists had given up the search, researchers have discovered that the pancreas does indeed harbor stem cells with the capacity to generate new insulin-producing beta cells. If the finding made in adult mice holds for humans, the newfound progenitor cells will represent “an obvious target for therapeutic regeneration of beta cells in diabetes,” the researchers report in the J ...more...

31. Deficient regulators in the immune system responsible for type 1... by Isabelle Kling Montreal, 24th January 2008 - The main regulators of the immune system, called CD4+Treg cells, are thought to be highly involved in a large range of immune diseases. The gradual reduction in their regulating capacity seems to play a critical role in the onset of type 1 diabetes, as demonstrated in the latest study by Dr. Ciriaco Piccirillo, a researcher in the Department of Microbiol ...more...

32. Protect Your Heart, Prevent Cancer by Dr. Blaylock - Blaylock Tip of the Week We are inundated almost daily by news stories filled with lies and half-truths about the “dangers” of taking nutritional supplements. These stories are often based on poorly conducted research and usually written by reporters who depend on medical center specialists for their accuracy or by practicing physicians ...more...

33. Type 2 Diabetes can be REVERSED IN THREE WEEKS by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger There really is a way to reverse type 2 diabetes. I'm not talking about just masking symptoms or controlling blood sugar, I'm talking about an outright cure. Let me share a personal story with you. Today I'm called the Health Ranger, but I used to be borderline diabetic. I was overweight, depressed and hypoglycemic. But by using the same nutritional and lifestyle strate ...more...

34. The Big Fat Scam for the Obese and Diabetic by By Shane "The People's Chemist" Ellison http://www.thepeopleschemist.com © 2007 Traditionally, a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet is recommended for the obese and type II diabetics. This low-fat approach is based on simple math. Fat has about twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and protein. Regardless of the lower calorie content, applying the theory has proven disastrous. It has secured Ameri ...more...

35. Experimental research finds silibinin reduces the growth of live... by Life Extension Update Exclusive A report published in the October 28, 2007 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology described the finding of hepatologist Ke-Qin Hu, John J Lah and Wei Cui at the University of California, Irvine that silibinin, derived from milk thistle, significantly reduces the growth of several human liver cancer cell lines. The compound has previously demonstrated an inhibitory eff ...more...

36. Fat and meat intake and prostate cancer risk: The multiethnic co... by Song-Yi Park 1 *, Suzanne P. Murphy 1, Lynne R. Wilkens 1, Brian E. Henderson 2, Laurence N. Kolonel 1 1Cancer Epidemiology Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 2Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Dietary fat and meat as potential risk factors for prostate cancer have been the focus of many epidemiologic investigations, and findings from recent studies in particular have ...more...

37. Sunlight May Halve Risk of Advanced Breast Cancer by Newsmax Health A research team from the Northern California Cancer Center, the University of Southern California, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine has found that increased exposure to sunlight – which increases levels of vitamin D in the body -- may decrease the risk of advanced breast cancer. In a study reported online this week in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers ...more...

38. Vitamin D Supplementation and Total Mortality: A Meta-analysis o... by Philippe Autier, MD; Sara Gandini, PhD; Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:1730-1737. Background: Ecological and observational studies suggest that low vitamin D status could be associated with higher mortality from life- threatening conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus that account for 60% to 70% of total mortality in high-income countries. We examined the risk of dying from any cause in subjects who participated in randomized tr ...more...

39. Blaylock Tip of the Week: Stop Colon Cancer by Frank Wilhelmi Of all cancers, colon cancer has the strongest links to diet, in terms of both prevention and causation. Without a doubt, Americans consume more carcinogens than just about any other population in the world. As a whole, our diet is high in carcinogenic fats, cancer-causing nitrosamines and nitrites and tumor-promoting sugar. And worse yet, we eat dangerously low amo ...more...

40. The Mitochondrial Oasis by Life Extension Update Exclusive Life Extension Update Exclusive The mitochondrial oasis The September 21, 2007 issue of the journal Cell published a report by scientists at Harvard, Cornell University, and the National Institutes of Health of Health which reveals new information concerning how calorie restriction influences longevity. Harvard Medical School associate professor of pathology David Sincla ...more...

41. Supplement Users Better Nourished Than Non-users by NewsMax Health Older men and women who take nutritional supplements are more likely to get adequate amounts of several vitamins and minerals than their peers who don't use supplements, a new study shows. The researchers also found that while a substantial proportion of people 51 and older don't get enough vitamins and minerals from diet alone, fewer than half took supplements every day. < ...more...

42. Vitamin C works against cancer (but maybe not the way you though... by Dayna Dye, Editor, Life Extension Update Life Extension Update Exclusive Researchers from Johns Hopkins report in the September, 2007 issue of the journal Cancer Cell that vitamin C can indeed help prevent cancer as has been claimed for years by a number of scientists including Linus Pauling, but it appears to do so in a different manner than that which earlier researchers proposed. While it had been believed that t ...more...

43. 4 Nutrients for Your Heart by Shane Ellison September 12th, 2007 One simple molecule can help your heart beat more forcefully, keep you from feeling fatigued, and can even increase your lifespan. This energizing molecule is known as ATP. Your heart needs vast amounts of energy to function properly… and it’s easy to get your body to produce more ATP. ATP is to your body what gasoline is to a Cessna plane. To re ...more...

44. Get Your Fruits & Veggies: CDC by U.S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency is offering a free kit to help families eat healthy (SOURCE: U.S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, news release, Aug. 27, 2007) FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A new school year, a new chance to eat healthier every day: That's the idea behind the first National Fruits & Veggies More Matters Month, sponsored by a number of leading medical and cooking orga ...more...

45. Americans getting ever fatter by LEF News Americans getting ever fatter: In most states, a new report says, 1 in 5 is obese. But little is being done about it The Philadelphia Inquirer 08-28-07 Aug. 28--Years after public-health authorities declared an obesity epidemic, Americans are not only getting fatter, but they are actually getting fatter faster. And most people aren't doing much about it. In 47 of ...more...

46. A new method for fighting skin wrinkles by From Science Daily Science Daily — A new method for fighting skin wrinkles has been developed at the Hebrew University Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences. In her doctoral research at the university, Dr. Orit Bossi succeeded in isolating a plant-based antioxidant that delays the aging process by countering the breakdown of collagen fibers in the skin. Dr. Bossi conducted her ...more...

47. Higher vitamin D levels could prevent 600,000 cases of breast an... by Life Extension Update Life Extension Update Exclusive Higher vitamin D levels could prevent 600,000 cases of breast and colorectal cancer annually Readers of Life Extension Update may recall the February 6, 2007 issue which reported the results of meta-analyses conducted by Cedric F. Garland, DrPH of the University of San Diego and colleagues that found a strong protective effect for higher serum vi ...more...

48. Curcumin and Alzheimer's Disease. by Frank Wilhelmi Avoiding Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a top priority for every aging senior or person who eventually wants to be one. Science News (July 21 issue) reported another finding regarding the spice turmeric in relation to the progression of AD. They report that; 'a chemical in turmeric' switches on genes expressed in macrophage immune cells that, in healthy people, are effective at removing amyloid- ...more...

49. News that Does the Heart Good by SeniorFitness.net Elaborating on previous advice, the American Heart Association (AHA) says that resistance training can help heart failure patients gain strength for day-to-day life. The new guidance -- published online in the journal Circulation -- supports using muscle strengthening exercise, such as weight lifting, as a complement to aerobic training (but not as a replacement for it). Amit ...more...

50. Health freedom alert: Congress to ramrod FDA Reform Bill through... by Health Ranger Health freedom alert: Congress to ramrod FDA Reform Bill through House with no amendments allowed ...more...

51. Blood Protein Offers Clues to Heart Attack in Healthy People by Newsmax Health This came from Newsmax.com's Health e-mail alert. If you like this kind of reporting, you should sign up for their Newsmax Health e-mail alerts - top notch health information, unbiased by drug company influence. We’ve all wondered how a seemingly healthy person can actually be at high risk for heart disease or a heart attack. Now res ...more...

52. Low testosterone linked to long-term risk of death in over-50s by D. Dye, LEF Magazine The results of a study presented on June 5, 2007 at The Endocrine Society for publication in their ENDO 07 Research Summaries Book determined that men over 50 whose levels of the hormone testosterone are low had a greater risk of dying within an eighteen year period than men with higher levels. University of California, San Diego School of Medicine chief of the Division of Ep ...more...

53. Weight Lift yourself young again! by Allan Spreen, MD This just came in from Northstar Nutritionals in their e-alert; I had to put it up for my reader's benefit, and tack on a hearty - "I TOLD YOU SO!" ........................................................................ No matter how old you are, the power and importance of fitting a regular exercise routine into your schedule is not a debatable one. It helps keep your mind sharp, ...more...

54. Internal Fat You Can’t See May Be What Kills You by Exerpt from Newsmax Health This blurb is from Dr. Blalock's e-mail Newsletter: the signup link is at the end of the article This article should reinforce our message that exercise is a primary driver for recovery of health and quality of life. FW If it really is what's on the inside that counts, then a lot of thin people might be in trouble. Some doctors now think that the internal fat surrounding vital organs like ...more...

55. Endothelial dysfunction induced by postprandial lipemia is neutr... by Atherosclerosis. 2006 Apr;185(2):313-9, Abstract BACKGROUND: Postprandial lipemia is known to reduce endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Because postprandial lipemia can be acutely mitigated when proteins are added to the fatty meal, we investigated whether this mitigation could neutralize the lipemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. DESIGN: Sixteen healthy students (aged 19-23, eight males and eight females) re ...more...

56. Mike Adams Interviews Dr. Ray Strand - You've Got to Read This! by Frank Wilhelmi Would it surprise you that prescribed drugs are the third leading cause of death in the United States? This interview by Mike Adams (The Health Ranger) with Dr. Ray Strand explains how this has become a reality, and should scare you into finding better approaches to enduring health than relying on your TV drug advertizer for health advice. This link is to the PDF copy of the report. Just cli ...more...

57. Could a Pig's Sexual Maturity Hold a Key to Reversing Diabetes? by James Finch By co-transplanting Sertoli cells together with insulin-producing cells into diabetic rats, his recent research demonstrated that insulin-producing cells can survive and can protect the rats against diabetes. By substituting the Sertoli cells from adult pigs, instead of those from baby pigs, Dr. White may have made a medical research breakthrough. StockInterview: How long have you ...more...

58. Olive Oil Lives Up to its Reputation by Amanda Ross - Nutrition & Healing Dear Reader, When a food gets the kind of press olive oil has gotten over the years, it's usually worthwhile to see what all the fuss is about. Many of you probably already have, and, if the rest of your diet has followed suit, I'd be willing to bet that your heart is better off for it. But some new research shows that it's not just your heart that reaps olive oil's benefits: It also ...more...

59. A hugely Informative Book You Should Read ASAP! by Frank Wilhelmi I ordered a book that sounded interesting because I am being led down the standard medical path by my current doctors, now on three of the popular cure-nothing drugs, with one of them insisting I start on a fourth. The book is titled "A Drug-Free Approach to Healthcare", by Dr. David W. Tanton, Ph.D. After reading 80% of the book, picking the topics of most interest, I am more conviced than ev ...more...

60. Naps for Better Health by HSI - Jenny Thompson An interesting article on the benefits of napping came today in HSI’s e-alert. Some exerts below: "A power nap is a brief nap (15 to 25 minutes) in which the brain doesn't dip into deep sleep, but hovers at the low end of that middle zone. After he learned to meditate, Greg started taking daily power naps that rarely last more than 20 minutes. When he awakes, he never feels groggy or cran ...more...

61. Sip your way to a hardy heart by William Campbell Douglass II, M.D. Here is some terrific news for those of us that like the buzz from a few drinks on a faily regular basis - Frank Yet again, a study proves the heart benefits of alcohol consumption... A six-year study of over 11,700 men (ironically, they were professionals in the health-care field) previously diagnosed with hypertension found that those who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol ...more...

62. Some Comments on the Red Meat Controversy by Amanda Ross - "Nutrition and Healing Newsletter" Dear Reader, I'm not sure I trust anyone who calls himself a "health advocate" and then comes out with the advice that "People who wish to avoid cancer are strongly advised to stop eating red meat for life and switch to a primarily plant-based diet." That's sort of like throwing the baby out with the bathwater, no? But let me back up a step... This drastic response came on the ...more...

63. Liver Tonic Lowers Blood Sugar Levels by Amanda Ross - Nutrution and Healing Newsletter Dear Reader, Like most epidemics, diabetes has proven tough to beat. The constant barrage of unhealthy food choices that defines the Western diet certainly isn't helping matters. But if you have managed to successfully cut those negative factors from your diet and are still struggling to keep your blood sugar under control, you don't have to resort to the diabetes drugs most ...more...

64. Inflammation of Joints; Fire in the Joints by HSI Health e-Alerts This is a blurb from HSI's Healthy e-alerts: Today I have important information for the 20 million Americans who suffer from osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic form of arthritis that causes painful inflammation of joints and loss of cartilage. New research indicates that a deficiency of one vitamin may increase the severity of OA. Boston uncommon Low levels of vita ...more...

65. Something Fishy - from House Calls Newsletter by Alan Inglis, M.D. It's hard to imagine a less appealing name than "fish oil." But if you're still shying away from this supplement based on the "ick" factor, you need to take another look. There's never been more evidence that fish oil is an essential part of your healthy living regimen. And taking it doesn't have to be a penance - I'll tell you how you can get all the benefits of fish oil without the icky s ...more...

66. From Medscape: Ban Transfats Now! by Michael Dansinger, MD, MS Partially hydrogenated vegetable fat is a disease-promoting artificial fat used primarily in fast food and other commercially manufactured fried and baked foods.[1] The trans fats in this synthetic ingredient inflame the arteries and accelerate heart disease.[1] The average per-capita intake of 5 g per day in the United States increases the risk for heart disease by approximately 25% ...more...

67. Treat to the Test (PSA) by Dr. Alan Inglis, from his House Calls Newsletter Doctors today are test-happy bunch. We love to order all sorts of scans, blood draws and screens, all in the name of early detection and preventive health. But all too often, those tests produce inconclusive results, which lead to even more invasive (and expensive) tests. In the end, we really haven't learned anything - and as a side effect of testing, we may have created ...more...

68. New Website Evaluates Medical News Stories - Get The Facts! by Frank Wilhelmi This month's Health Alert (a monthly newsletter I find most informative, by Dr. Bruce West) recommends a website specializing in critical analysis of current medical news stories. It evaluates each article against a set of rating criteria that should be a part of every accurate, balanced and informative story. The editor uses a rating system of zero to five stars, and explains in the c ...more...

69. The Aerobics Craze - a Monumental Mistake by Al Sears, MD "What exercise is to the body, employment [in the sense of 'activity' or 'engagement'] is to the mind and morals." - Henry David Thoreau The Aerobics Craze - a Monumental Mistake By Al Sears, MD Back in the 1970s - while studying at the University of South Florida - I made a curious discovery when running a series of tests on the gymnastics team. I had picked out the gy ...more...

70. The Fraud Chronicles Part 1: Dancing on Disability by Tom Reitze Insurance fraud is an exploding problem in America. Most consumers don't realize that 25 percent of their insurance premiums are used to pay fraudulent claims. But some are fighting back. Some investigations companies like DMA Investigations (http://www.dmaclaims.com/investigations.shtml) are working hard to uncover insurance fraud and bust the perpetrators. In many cases, th ...more...

71. Life Extension Update Exclusive by Dayna Dye, Editor, Life Extension Update Life Extension Update Exclusive Meta-analysis finds fruit, vegetable intake linked with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease The results of meta-analysis of nine studies involving 221,080 individuals, published in the October, 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) declined with increased consumption of vegetables and frui ...more...

72. Health e-Tips - Tylenol: a prescription for liver damage by Amanda Ross, Editor - Nutrition & Healing Dear Reader, We've known for years that Tylenol can cause liver damage if it's used over a long period of time, but a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that it's much worse than we expected - healthy adults sustained liver damage after using the drug for as little as two weeks. The study involved 106 people who took 4 grams of Tyl ...more...

73. Rebuttal to Pro-Trans-fat Article in the Wall St. Journal by Mary G. Enig, PhD & Sally Fallon Letter published in the Wall Street Journal, July 10, 2006 Dear Editors: Mr. Sokolov's defense of trans fats (July 27, 2006) misses several important points. Trans fats in Crisco and other vegetable shortenings are cheap and do indeed increase the shelf life of processed foods, but the scientific evidence continues to show that they contribute to a myriad of health problems, shorteni ...more...

74. Hey! You folks who think Nuts are too fattening - Read This! by Dr. Rallie McAllister Read some really good comments on the benefits of making nuts your chief snack food: http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=4166 ...more...

75. Life Extension Update - Study confirms CRP as strong predictor o... by Dayna Dye, Editor, Life Extension Update Exclusive A study published in the August, 2006 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis reaffirmed the value of testing for C-reactive protein (CRP) to assess the risk of fatal and nonfatal coronary artery disease (CAD). Elevated serum C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation that has emerged as a strong independent risk factor for heart attack in both healt ...more...

76. Free Radical Cell Death Switch Identified: Molecular Pathway May... by Harvard Medical School Just as humans undergo daily stress, so do our individual cells. The cellular variety, oxidative stress, is caused by the build-up of free radicals, which over time inflict damage linked to aging and age related diseases such as Alzheimer's. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have now defined a molecular signaling pathway by which oxidative stress triggers cell death, a finding that ...more...

77. Cancer Fighters More Abundant in Organic Produce by Life Extension Daily You're Eating the Wrong Fruit And Veg! ; GoodHealth Research Shows Even 'Healthy' Foods Lack Key Ingredients to Fight Disease Daily Mail 07-05-06 We've known for some time that eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can help protect you against cancer, but now research suggests that if we're not eating the right sort, it could be a waste of time and m ...more...

78. Life Extension Update Exclusive - Calcium from supplements helps... by Dayna Dye, Editor, Life Extension Update The July, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association published the results of a study by investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle which found that increasing calcium intake by supplementing with the mineral improves weight maintenance among middle-aged individuals, especially women. The current study included 10,591 m ...more...

79. Senior Men's Leg Press Record by R. Robillard Note from Frank: I got this link in response to my leg press video: Pretty cool Bob! I've got three years to catch up - must get cracking! This is the kind of stuff you can do when you get old enough, if you keep at it. Bob wrote: On April 25, 2006, at Gold's Gym in Palm Springs, I leg pressed 1,040 Lbs. I am 69 years of age. My previous record, October 2005, was 740 Lbs at PowerH ...more...

80. The Modern Medicine Cabinet - by American Senior Fitness Association June 1, 2006 Table of Contents The Modern Medicine Cabinet (Introduction to special issue) Medication Safety (Valuable resource link) Drug Interactions (University of Florida study) A Gentle Reminder From SFA (Sleep aids) Certain Medications Can Affect Mental Sharpness (Research) Anticoagulant Breakthrough (Technology) Two Classes of Drugs May Have Added Value ...more...

81. Vegetable compound fights hereditary cancers by Dayna Dye, Editor, Life Extension Update Life Extension Update Exclusive Vegetable compound fights hereditary cancers A study conducted at Rutgers University found that an isothiocyanate compound known as sulforaphane (SFN) that occurs in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower may help lower the risk of developing hereditary cancers. The research was published online on May 4, 2006, in the journa ...more...

82. Vitamin E and melatonin help improve cognitive deficits in diabe... by Life Extension/Dayna Dye A study published in the May 10, 2006 issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology found that diabetic rats given the antioxidants vitamin E or melatonin experienced less impairment of memory and learning compared to untreated diabetic rats. The finding provides support for the theory that oxidative stress is a culprit in cognitive impairment that occurs with diabetes. Mehmet ...more...

83. Analysis finds inverse relationship between serum vitamin D leve... by D Dye, lef.org April 12, 2006 Analysis finds inverse relationship between serum vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk The results of a pooled analysis of 1,760 women confirmed that having higher levels of the vitamin D metabolite serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. The finding was reported at the 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association for ...more...

84. Harvard study of professional men finds greater vitamin D levels... by Dayna Dye, Life Extension Update April 4, 2006 In this issue Life Extension Update Exclusive Harvard study of professional men finds greater vitamin D levels protective against all cancers Protocol Pancreatic cancer Featured Products Vitamin D 1000 IU capsules Vitamin D 5000 IU capsules Life Extension Magazine Life Extension magazine April 2006 issue now online! ...more...

85. American Senior Fitness Association - Experience! by American Senior Fitness Association April 1, 2006 Table of Contents Tough Love (Diabetes resource) High or Low Intensity? (Senior strength training study) Arthritis: Exercise Counters Functional Decline (Medical research) Parkinson's Disease: Hopeful New Trials (Gene therapy research) I Think, Therefore I Am (Fascinating health facts) Steadine ...more...

86. "Japanese Wonder" Supports Healthy Circulation, Blood Pressure a... by Dr. Williams' Mountain Home Nutritionals Team Dear Reader, As you've discovered by now, Dr. Williams spends a great deal of time researching and traveling the globe. One of the countries he's focused on most intently over the past year or two is Japan. Japan has one of the lowest disease rates in the world, and one of the best track records for heart health and longevity. No doubt this can be attributed in part to t ...more...

87. "Quality of life." by Jenny Thompson, HSI Baltimore Dear Reader, QOL is an acronym for "quality of life." When QOL is good, we may not give it much thought on a day-to-day basis. But when life is challenged with a serious health crisis, QOL often becomes a moment- to-moment issue. For women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, quality of life and even survival chances may improve with the use of an herbal treatment with ...more...

88. Moving and improving by Dr. Alan Inglis Moving and improving Last week we talked about some problems with antidepressants, and one pretty good natural solution. Today I want to tell you about another great -- and safe -- way to beat depression that does wonders for your whole body. You may have already guessed what the answer is: exercise. Now, you already know that I recommend exercise to pretty much every ...more...

89. Drop in US and Canadian stroke mortality rate coincides with fol... by Dayna Dye; Editor, Life Extension Update Life Extension Update Exclusive Drop in US and Canadian stroke mortality rate coincides with folic acid fortification A report published in the March 14, 2006 issue of the American Heart Association journal Circulation summarized the finding of Quanhe Yang, PhD of the Centers for Disease Control and colleagues that the acceleration of the rate of decline in stroke mortalit ...more...

90. Polyphenols fight periodontal disease by Life Extension; Dayna Dye Life Extension Update Exclusive Polyphenols fight periodontal disease The 35th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research held in Orlando, Florida this year was the site of a presentation on March 10 by researchers from Laval University in Quebec on the finding that polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds found in red wine, grape seeds, cranberries ...more...

91. SFA newsletter Experience! by American Senior Fitness Association March 15, 2006 Table of Contents Food for Thought (Introduction to special issue) Food Programs for the Elderly (On the national news front) Under-Nutrition in Community-Dwelling Seniors (Diet and aging) Anemia and Falls (Geriatric research) Upsetting the Apple Cart (Nutrition research) Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements (Nutrition research) Staff of Life ...more...

92. Diabetes epidemic threatens cardiovascular disease gains; Life E... by Dayna Dye, Editor, Life Extension Update Life Extension Update Exclusive Diabetes epidemic threatens cardiovascular disease gains The March, 2006 issue of the journal Diabetes published the finding of researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University of a large increase in the number of diabetes-related deaths and illnesses in New York City, including a significant rise in heart attacks ...more...

93. For years, you've heard me singing the praises of Omega-3 fatty ... by William Campbell Douglass II, MD One more feather in a cure-all's cap For years, you've heard me singing the praises of Omega-3 fatty acids. In various studies, they've been shown time and again to support optimum heart health, enhance brain function, slow dementia, and even help unruly children to be better behaved (sparing some from being hooked on Ritalin, I can only hope). In my opinion, Omega-3s fro ...more...

94. Fact or myth? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by repetiti... by HSI e-Alert; Jenny Thompson Dear Reader, Fact or myth? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by repetitive movements of the hand and wrist. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there is little clinical data to prove that repetitive movements cause CTS. Of course, that only means it's not yet proven. I know that after finishing up an e-Alert the backs of my hands ...more...

95. Could this be a significant breakthrough in cirrhosis therapy? by HSI e-Alert: Jenny Thompson Dear Reader, Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has called hepatitis C an even graver threat to our public health than HIV and AIDS. And the numbers are indeed grave: More than 170 million people worldwide are currently infected with this blood-borne disease. And in about 85 percent of those cases the infection is chronic, which can prompt cirrhosis, a debilitating liver dis ...more...

96. ADD, Hepatitis-C and the MMR Vaccine by HSI e-Alert Dear Reader, "One of the greatest scandals in medical history." That's an assessment of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine program for children in the UK - a program very much like our own in the U.S. And that quote doesn't come from a radical on the fringe of mainstream medicine. It comes from someone who was once at the very center: Peter Fletcher, M.D., forme ...more...

97. Falls; the greatest danger to the elderly. by American Senior Fitness Association American Senior Fitness Association | 1945 W Park Ave | Edgewater, FL 32132 Address mail to P.O. Box 2575, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170 (800) 243-1478 | info@seniorfitness.net February 15, 2006 Table of Contents Myth Bustin' (Safety fact) Eliminating Potential Stumbling Blocks (Fall prevention) Marital Harmony Advisable (Medical research) From the SFA ...more...

98. There's a new healthier oil to add to your diet: Macadamia Nu... by Dr. Williams' Mountain Home Nutritionals Team Dear Friend, For years, olive oil has been the "gold standard" when it comes to healthy cooking oils. And it's still a far better choice than most oils out there. But now there's a new oil that's making research news. It's macadamia nut oil, and given its immense health benefits, Dr. Williams firmly believes you're going to be hearing a lot more about it. The big news i ...more...

99. Brandy and red wine - the news is good; very good! by William Campbell Douglass II, MD Now this is really good news - had to pass it on to our readers! Good news from the land of brandy-wine! Well, not literally from that fabled, historic region of southeastern Pennsylvania where the revolutionary continental regulars fought a valiant (albeit losing) day-long campaign against the British redcoats in September of 1777, but rather from the realm of scie ...more...

100. Fixing acetaminophen overdose - let there be an antidote? by HSI e-Alert. Dear Reader, I could hardly believe my ears. At a recent work function, a colleague asked me if I'd heard about a plan to combine acetaminophen with an antidote to prevent acetaminophen overdose. I'd heard nothing about this, but we both agreed it sounded like an idea whose time was well overdue. As I've noted in several e-Alerts (most recently in "Safety Measured" 12/2 ...more...