Podcasts about nutrition examination survey nhanes

BUFFALO, NY — March 26, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Aging (Aging-US) on January 29, 2025, in Volume 17, Issue 2, titled “Diet, lifestyle and telomere length: using Copula Graphical Models on NHANES data.” Researchers Angelo M. Tedaldi, Pariya Behrouzi, and Pol Grootswagers from Wageningen University and Research used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to explore how diet and lifestyle affect telomere length, a key marker of cellular aging. They found that inflammation—rather than diet, exercise, or smoking—had the strongest and most consistent association to telomere shortening. The findings suggest that reducing inflammation may be more effective than dietary changes in slowing down the aging process at the cellular level. Telomeres are protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that get shorter as we age. When they become too short, cells lose the ability to divide properly, which can contribute to aging and age-related diseases. Previous studies suggested that healthy habits might protect telomeres, but many focused on a small number of factors and did not account for important elements like inflammation or differences in blood cell composition. This study aimed to take a more complete, data-driven approach. The research team analyzed health data from over 7,000 U.S. adults collected between 1999 and 2002. Using a method called Copula Graphical Modeling, they examined more than 100 variables—such as diet, physical activity, smoking, and blood biomarkers—across three age groups: Young (20–39 years), Middle (40–59 years), and Old (60–84 years). They found that telomere length was most strongly associated to age, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP)—a common marker of inflammation—and gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E found in the blood. Higher CRP levels were consistently associated with shorter telomeres, especially in younger and middle-aged adults. The results suggest that while lifestyle factors like diet and exercise still play a role, their impact on aging may be indirect—mainly through their influence on inflammation. This finding shifts the focus toward managing chronic inflammation as a potentially more effective way to preserve telomere length and promote healthy aging. “The central role played by CRP and the marginal role of antioxidants suggests that telomeres are particularly vulnerable not to oxidative stress, but to inflammation; and they should be protected against it.” The study challenges earlier research that looked at individual lifestyle factors isolated. By using a more advanced and inclusive method, this analysis offers a clearer picture of how health behaviors, biological markers, and aging are connected. Although this research cannot prove a cause-and-effect relationship, it strongly supports the idea that inflammation plays a key role in cellular aging. The authors recommend further long-term studies to better understand how inflammation affects telomere length over time. In the meantime, reducing chronic inflammation may be one of the most important steps to help support healthy aging and reduce the risk of age-related diseases. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206194 Corresponding author - Angelo M. Tedaldi - angelomt1999@gmail.com Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2yXfF7iY6c Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Could the air we breathe, the food we eat, or the chemicals in our everyday environment be accelerating our aging process? A recent study published in Aging suggests that exposure to certain environmental chemicals may be linked to faster biological aging through changes in DNA. These findings could have major implications for public health and longevity. Understanding How Scientists Measure Aging at the DNA Level Aging is not just about wrinkles and gray hair—it happens at the molecular level too. Scientists use epigenetic clocks to measure biological aging, which can differ from a person's actual chronological age. These clocks track DNA methylation, a type of chemical modification that can change over time due to environmental factors like diet, pollution, and chemical exposure. Until now, there has been little research into how widespread environmental chemicals impact these aging markers. The Study: Investigating the Impact of Environmental Pollutants on Aging A research team led by first author Dennis Khodasevich and corresponding author Andres Cardenas from Stanford University, conducted an exposome-wide association study to examine how different environmental pollutants affect epigenetic aging. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), they analyzed blood and urine samples from 2,346 adults aged 50 to 84. The study measured 64 environmental chemicals, including heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, and tobacco-related compounds, to identify potential links to accelerated aging. The study titled “Exposome-wide association study of environmental chemical exposures and epigenetic aging in the national health and nutrition examination survey,” was published in Aging on February 11, 2025. Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2025/03/how-environmental-chemicals-may-accelerate-biological-aging/ Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206201 Corresponding author - Andres Cardenas - andresca@stanford.edu Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcL-K399a7M Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://aging.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Faging.206201 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts Keywords - aging, epigenetic aging, environmental exposures, exposome, epigenetics About Aging-US The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population. The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.) Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

BUFFALO, NY — March 5, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Aging (Aging-US) on February 11, 2025, Volume 17, Issue 2, titled “Exposome-wide association study of environmental chemical exposures and epigenetic aging in the national health and nutrition examination survey.” First author Dennis Khodasevich and corresponding author Andres Cardenas from Stanford University, and colleagues from other U.S. institutions, studied how exposure to harmful chemicals in the environment affects aging. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), they discovered that cadmium, lead, and cotinine are linked to faster biological aging, a process that can increase the risk of age-related diseases. The study analyzed data from 2,346 U.S. adults aged 50 to 84 who participated in a national health survey. Researchers tested their blood and urine for 64 different chemicals, including metals, pesticides, and industrial pollutants. They assessed how these exposures influenced eight different epigenetic aging markers—biological clocks that measure how fast a person's body is aging at the DNA level. "We harnessed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 cycles to examine exposome-wide associations between environmental exposures and epigenetic aging." The strongest effects were linked to cadmium, a toxic metal found in cigarette smoke and some foods. People with higher levels of cadmium in their blood showed signs of accelerated aging. Higher levels of cotinine, a chemical related to tobacco exposure, were also linked to increased biological age, reinforcing the harmful effects of smoking. Additionally, lead exposure, a heavy metal found in old paint and contaminated water, was also associated with faster aging. The researchers also found that some pollutants, including a type of PCB (PCB118) and a type of dioxin (HpCDD), were linked to slower biological aging. However, it is unclear if this fact is beneficial, as past research shows that slower aging in some cases can still be linked to health risks. This study is one of the largest to investigate how pollution affects the aging process. Unlike previous research that focused on only a few chemicals, it examined a wide range of pollutants in a diverse group of people. The findings suggest that everyday exposure to toxic substances can speed up aging at the cellular level, increasing the risk of age-related diseases. In summary, these findings raise concerns about how widespread environmental contaminants may accelerate aging and contribute to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and cognitive decline. Reducing exposure to toxic substances like cadmium and lead—found in cigarettes, polluted air, and contaminated food—could help slow biological aging and improve long-term health. These insights highlight the need for stronger environmental health policies to protect individuals from premature aging and disease. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206201 Corresponding author - Andres Cardenas - andresca@stanford.edu Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcL-K399a7M Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts About Aging-US The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population. Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

In this episode of the Intelligent Medicine Podcast, Dr. Ronald Hoffman discusses the importance of hydration with Dr. Dana Cohen Integrative Medical Doctor and co-author of “Fuel Up: Harness the Power of Your Blender and ‘Cheat' Your Way to Good Health.” They explore the often-overlooked role hydration plays in maintaining health and preventing chronic diseases. Dr. Cohen emphasizes practical strategies to improve hydration through diet and lifestyle changes. They highlight the risks of both dehydration and overhydration, discuss the impact of processed foods, and offer realistic solutions to help listeners incorporate better hydration practices into their lives. Too often doctors are dismissive of pop culture exhortations to pay attention to hydration. Except for those with specific medical conditions, the conventional mantra remains “In ordinary healthy individuals, thirst is a good guide to how much fluid you should consume.” In medicine, we routinely query patients about their diets, their exercise, their sleep, their stress levels, drug, alcohol and tobacco use, their social interactions, their spirituality, even their sexuality. But so seldom do we ask “How's your hydration?” A recent review found that “Hypohydration is known to reduce mental and physical performance, and more recent evidence suggests hypohydration also impairs vascular function and cardiovascular regulation.” But adequate fluid intake is not merely a matter of optimization; a recent medical study sampling 1200 adults aged 51-70  suggests that it may literally be a matter of life and death: “. . . underhydration was significantly associated with increased prevalence of obesity, high waist circumference, insulin resistance, diabetes, low HDL, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Over 3–6 years of follow-up, 33 chronic disease deaths occurred in the sample, representing an estimated 1,084,144 deaths in the U.S. Alongside chronic health conditions, underhydration was a risk factor for an estimated 863,305 deaths. Independent of the chronic health conditions evaluated, underhydration was a risk factor for 128,107 deaths.” How prevalent is underhydration in a sample of American adults? According to the study: “Nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicate that over 65% of adults aged 51–70 years in the U.S. do not meet hydration criteria.” The episode also touches upon broader health issues, contrasting dietary extremes, and the importance of accessible, enjoyable healthy eating habits.

Could a simple trace mineral be the key to better bowel health? A new study suggests that dietary copper plays a surprising role in reducing constipation.Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010, researchers found that increased copper intake was linked to a 20% reduction in constipation prevalence. This effect was consistent across all demographics, highlighting the potential of copper in promoting intestinal health.Join me as I explore how this often-overlooked micronutrient could transform the prevention and management of chronic constipation.Supplements Featured In This Episode:• Accelerated Scalar Copper® https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/accelerated-scalar-copper • BIOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/magnesium-breakthrough• HerbsForever Laxa Komfort (Laxa Komfort) https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/herbsforever-laxa-comfort  • Accelerated Leaky Gut Bundle https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/accelerated-leaky-gut-bundle   • Accelerated Cellular Detox® Powder https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/accelerated-cellular-detox-powder • HoloZyme™ Digestive Enzymes https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/holozyme-digestive-enzymes • Healthy Gut HCL Guard https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/hcl-guard • Healthy Gut Tributyrin-X https://www.acceleratedhealthproducts.com/products/tributyrin-x Not sure what food to eat and avoid? This guide is for you.⬇️

With all the buzz around childhood obesity, it's easy to become desensitized to the statistics. But the shocking figures can't be ignored: Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity among kids and adolescents in the United States has tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Estimates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) show that 31.7 percent of U.S. children and teens were either overweight or obese in 2008. Among low-income families and certain ethnic groups such as Hispanic boys and black girls, the rates are even higher. The harms of extra pounds are well documented. Obese children are more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breathing problems such as asthma and apnea, fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes, which historically only affected older, overweight adults. Tune in and learn how to help our children learn how to live healthy!

Was man teilweise über Vitamin D hört, klingt fast zu schön, um wahr zu sein. Andererseits deuten hunderte verschiedener Forschungsarbeiten darauf hin, dass Vitamin D zur Vorbeugung einer Reihe von Krankheiten beitragen kann – darunter Osteoporose, Depression, Autoimmun- und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen. Ärzte empfehlen es. Gesundheits- und Fitnesspodcaster sprechen darüber. Vielleicht geht Dir sogar Deine Lieblingstante damit auf die Nerven. Bei all dem Hype ist die Frage berechtigt: "Solltest Du Vitamin D einnehmen?" Hier sind die Antworten – und die neuesten Fakten über ein faszinierendes Vitamin, das ein wahrer Verwandlungskünstler ist. ____________ *WERBUNG: KoRoDrogerie.de: 5% Ermäßigung auf alles mit dem Code „FMM“ beim Checkout. ____________ Ressourcen zur Folge: Literatur: Ratgeber Nahrungsergänzung – Mark Maslow (kostenlos auf MarathonFitness) Blut: Die Geheimnisse unseres flüssigen Organs* – Ulrich Strunz (Heyne) Vitamin D* – Uwe Gröber, Michael F. Holick (Wissenschaftl. Verlagsgesellschaft) Blutuntersuchung (Selbsttest): Vitamin D Test* von Medivere Präparate: D-Form 2.000 K2+* von FormMed D-Form 2.000 K2+ vegan* von FormMed ____________

Episode 177: Urinary Incontinence in Older AdultsFuture Dr. Nguyen explains the evaluation and treatment of older adults with urinary incontinence.  Dr. Arreaza adds insights into the conservative management of urinary incontinence.Written by Vy Nguyen, MSIV, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest. Editing and comments by Hector Arreaza, MD.You are listening to Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California, a UCLA-affiliated program sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. This podcast was created for educational purposes only. Visit your primary care provider for additional medical advice.Definition of urinary incontinence. The International Continence Society (ICS) defines it as any involuntary urine leakage. Epidemiology of urinary incontinence. Data analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2015 to 2018 shows that more than 60% of adult women which is equivalent to around 78,000,000 females living in the United States experience urinary incontinence with 32.4% reporting symptoms monthly. More data analysis shows the strongest association with urinary incontinence include age greater than 70, prior vaginal delivery, and BMI of 40 or greater. Despite urinary incontinence commonly affecting the senior population, this medical condition can also affect the quality of life of younger adult females and males. On top of that, urinary incontinence is often underestimated due to the low report level for various reasons and the obtained data might not accurately reflect the true prevalent rate. Types and etiology.Urinary incontinence is divided into 5 categories: stress, urge, mixed, overflow, and functional. Stress urinary incontinence has the highest prevalence of 37.5% followed by mixed urinary incontinence at 31.3%, urgency at 22%, and unspecified urinary incontinence at 9.2%. Due to time constraints, we will discuss the most prevalent type which is stress urinary incontinence.In females, stress urinary incontinence is often due to urethral sphincter hypermobility caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles. It can also be caused by dysfunction of the sphincter muscle that is exacerbated by increased intraabdominal pressure from coughing, sneezing, or physical exertion. This type of incontinence is commonly seen in pregnant women, those who experienced childbirth, and young women active in sports. In males, the most common etiology for stress urinary incontinence in males is prostate surgery such as radical prostatectomy which can damage the external urethral sphincter. Another cause is spinal cord injury or disease that can interfere with sphincter function. Evaluation. Urinary incontinence is first evaluated by a thorough history taking that includes inquiries about the type, severity, burden, and duration of incontinence. The initial evaluation includes a voiding diary that can provide clarity and help distinguish between the different types of incontinence or identify the dominating type in the case of mixed incontinence. Examples of voiding diary can be found on the websites of International Urogynecological Association (IUGA). Medical conditions such as COPD and asthma can induce cough; heart failure can cause volume overload; neurological disorders and musculoskeletal conditions can interfere with bladder emptying and urinary retention and thus should also be investigated. It is also helpful to ask about medication and substance use as the adverse effects can directly or indirectly contribute to urinary incontinence. For our female-identifying patients, a gynecological and obstetrical history such as birth history (vaginal versus c-section), current pregnancy as well as low estrogen (menopause) can contribute to reversible urinary incontinence. Management. There are various treatment modalities for stress urinary incontinence ranging from conservative to more invasive surgical management. Conservative treatment: -Initial treatment includes pelvic floor strengthening exercises and bladder training with scheduled void. -Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is very effective, and it is proven to help achieve cure and improve the quality of life in women with ALL types of urinary incontinence. -For stress urinary incontinence, the median cure rate is around 58.8% for women after 12 months and 78.8% for men at 6 months of supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). -Certain behavioral modifications such as fluid intake management (

A recent study, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), has found that women who rarely engage in sexual activity have a 70% higher risk of dying compared to those who have sex at least once per week. Additionally, individuals with depression who had sex much less than once per week had a 197% higher risk of dying than those who had sex around once per week. These findings were published in the Journal of Psychosexual Health. Frequent sex has been shown to offer numerous health benefits. It helps reduce stress and improve mood through the release of endorphins and oxytocin. It can also boost the immune system, making the body more resistant to infections and illnesses. Regular sexual activity promotes cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate and circulation. It enhances sleep quality due to the release of the hormone prolactin, which is associated with relaxation. Frequent sex can also improve intimacy and strengthen relationships, contributing to overall emotional well-being. In this episode, Dr. Susan Oakley & Holly want to know do you: Schedule or Sizzle? How often do you get frisky? A) Daily B) A few times a week C) Weekly D) A few times a month E) Rarely/Never Tune in for some fun and fabulous insights. Thank you, ladies, for listening. Always feel free to ask Dr. Oakley any women's health questions at any time. Please send in your comments, questions, and suggestions for future topics at TheLadyBodPod@gmail.com.

A recent study, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), has found that women who rarely engage in sexual activity have a 70% higher risk of dying compared to those who have sex at least once per week. Additionally, individuals with depression who had sex much less than once per week had a 197% higher risk of dying than those who had sex around once per week. These findings were published in the Journal of Psychosexual Health. Frequent sex has been shown to offer numerous health benefits. It helps reduce stress and improve mood through the release of endorphins and oxytocin. It can also boost the immune system, making the body more resistant to infections and illnesses. Regular sexual activity promotes cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate and circulation. It enhances sleep quality due to the release of the hormone prolactin, which is associated with relaxation. Frequent sex can also improve intimacy and strengthen relationships, contributing to overall emotional well-being. In this episode, Dr. Susan Oakley & Holly want to know do you: Schedule or Sizzle? How often do you get frisky? A) Daily B) A few times a week C) Weekly D) A few times a month E) Rarely/Never Tune in for some fun and fabulous insights. Thank you, ladies, for listening. Always feel free to ask Dr. Oakley any women's health questions at any time. Please send in your comments, questions, and suggestions for future topics at TheLadyBodPod@gmail.com.

Is intermittent fasting a potential trigger for heart attacks? Recent research has uncovered startling findings, suggesting a link between time-restricted eating and an up to 91% increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Victor Wenze Zhong, the study's lead author, expresses confusion over why his research found such an association. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the health community, especially given the long-standing praise of fasting for its numerous benefits, including improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, enhanced mental clarity, and even purported improvements in heart health.With a backdrop of media frenzy and sensational headlines, it's crucial to delve deeper and uncover the full story behind these claims. As a staunch advocate of fasting, I believe in its potential, but also recognize the need for a balanced and well-researched perspective. This video represents 15 hours of meticulous research, yet I confess, there remains a critical issue I have yet to fully decipher.The Origin of Fasting:You've likely tried fasting or know someone who has. The concept of intermittent fasting has become a popular health strategy only recently, although its practice dates back much further, often intertwined with cultural and religious rites. However, the modern adaptation—time-restricted eating—carries distinct definitions and intentions, which are crucial in understanding its implications on health.The Study in Question:Derived from data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study tracked approximately 20,000 U.S. adults over an average of 8 years. It highlights potential errors in self-reported dietary recalls, a common issue in nutritional research, which could skew results. Furthermore, the study doesn't account for other significant health influences, which could be critical in evaluating the true impact of intermittent fasting.Expert Opinions:The study reports that restricting eating times to less than 8 hours a day may significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular mortality. However, it's essential to note that the typical fasting window recommended is usually 16:8, not less than 8 hours. The findings also suggested that longer eating durations might reduce cancer mortality among those with the condition, presenting a complex puzzle of diet, health, and longevity.Controversies and Context:Zhong's comments reflect a frustration with the nuances of dietary research, emphasizing the need for personalized dietary advice. Meanwhile, other experts like Christopher D. Gardner, PhD, point out gaps in the study, questioning the nutritional quality of the diets and the reliability of categorizing fasting based on minimal data.https://newsroom.heart.org/news/8-hour-time-restricted-eating-linked-to-a-91-higher-risk-of-cardiovascular-deathhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772487523000429?via%3Dihubhttps://www.nbcnews.com/health/heart-health/intermittent-fasting-risk-cardiovascular-death-rcna143853Self reporting PMID: 32719809Trackers PMID: 34957939Support the Show.@andrewPFM @PrideFitnessandMovement

Are you a late-night snacker? Do you sometimes get home late and push dinner back to 8 or 9 PM? Perhaps you've heard somewhere that eating right before bed is "bad for you"? Is this true? Does the timing of our eating have any impact on our health? How can we know?? RELAX! Your Doctor Friends have got you covered. To start off the new year (and following our trend of starting January episodes with "resolution-adjacent" topics), Jeremy did a deep dive into the data behind "chrono-nutrition". CHRONO= time, and NUTRITION= well... nutrition. Put them together and you've got the concept of following your body's circadian rhythm to time out your eating habits! What happens when we eat late? Does it affect our sleep? What about our metabolism? Is there benefit to changing up our eating times? Your Doctor Friends have scoured the evidence and would love to present you with a little "book report" to help you decide what works best for YOU. Listen to the end for our "dessert" topic, where Julie discusses the new FDA-approved home testing for sexually-transmitted infections! HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS! It's great to be back :) - J&J Resources for this episode include: An October 2023 article from Clinical Nutrition about chrononutrition using NHANES data. A NYT article titled "Is It Bad to Eat Late at Night?". The CDC website for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A January 2023 article from Verywell Health about chrononutrition. A May 2023 article from Verywell Health titled "Is Eating Before Bed Bad For You?". The NIH webpage discussing circadian rhythms. An NBC News article from November 2023 titled "Will first FDA-approved at-home test for gonorrhea, chlamydia ease the epidemic?". The FDA news release regarding its approval of the "Simple 2" gonorrhea and chlamydia home test. Link to the "Let's Get Checked" website for the "Simple 2" at-home gonorrhea and chlamydia home test. For more episodes, limited edition merch, or to become a Friend of Your Doctor Friends (and more), follow this link! This includes the famous "Advice from the last generation of doctors that inhaled lead" shirt :) Also, CHECK OUT AMAZING HEALTH PODCASTS on The Health Podcast Network   Find us at: Website: yourdoctorfriendspodcast.com  Email: yourdoctorfriendspodcast@gmail.com  Connect with us: @your_doctor_friends (IG) Send/DM us a voice memo/question and we might play it on the show! @yourdoctorfriendspodcast1013 (YouTube) @JeremyAllandMD (IG, FB, Twitter) @JuliaBrueneMD (IG) @HealthPodNet (IG)

Mentioned in this Episode: Diversifying Nutrition and Dietetics- MAND Virtual Conferencehttps://www.eatrightmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Jenny-Gherau.pptx National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)'s Insulin Resistance in Healthy U.S. Adults: Findings from the https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31641012/  For more on Jenny Gherou, you can find her on Instagram @jennyg.rd and through her website https://www.jennygherau.com/. For more on Argavan Nilforoush, be sure to follow her on Instagram @babystepsnutrition, on Facebook: Baby Steps Nutrition page, on YouTube: Baby Steps Nutrition Podcast, on Twitter @argavanRDN, on LinkedIn @ArgavanNilforoush and through her website www.babystepsnutrition.com.

Grzyby to fascynujące organizmy, które nie należą ani do królestwa roślin ani do królestwa zwierząt. Przez długi czas uważano je za pokarm pozbawiony wartości odżywczych i ciężkostrawny. Jednak w ostatnim czasie grzyby stały się popularne, a nawet modne. Można powiedzieć, że na nowo odkrywamy ich właściwości prozdrowotne. Coraz więcej badań pokazuje, że grzyby są skarbnicą związków odżywczych oraz wielu interesujących substancji, które potencjalnie mogą wpływać na prewencję chorób cywilizacyjnych, a nawet zostać wykorzystane jako leki. Gość: Prof. dr hab. Bożena Muszyńska jest profesorem nauk medycznych i nauk o zdrowiu na Wydziale Farmaceutycznym Collegium Medicum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, farmaceutką kliniczną, mykologiem i botanikiem. Od 34 lat skupia się na badaniu i promocji wartości terapeutycznej i dietetycznej grzybów. W odcinku znajdziesz odpowiedzi m. in. na następujące pytania: Jak różnorodne biologiczne są grzyby? Czy grzyby mogą być mięsożerne? Jaki jest największy grzyb (organizm) na świecie? Ile prawdy jest w serialach fabularnych o grzybach? Skąd wziął się pogląd, że grzyby nie mają żadnych wartości odżywczych? Jakie wyjątkowe substancje o potencjale prozdrowotne znajdziemy w grzybach? Czy grzyby są źródłem leków i w jakich chorobach mają potencjał leczniczy? Czy pieczarki są zdrowe? Czym jest ergotioneina i dlaczego jest taka ważna? Czy kordycepina jest lekiem przeciwnowotworowym? Czy istnieją wytyczne ile powinniśmy jeść grzybów? Czy grzyby zawierają prekursory „hormonu szczęścia”? W jakiej formie najlepiej jeść grzyby? Czy muchomory są jadalne? Jakie są „nietypowe” grzyby jadalne? Lista publikacji o których wspominamy w podcaście: Ba D.J. i wsp. Mushroom intake and depression: A population-based study using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2016. J Affect Disord. 2021 Nov 1;294:686-692. Fijałkowska A. i wsp. Edible Mushrooms as a Potential Component of Dietary Interventions for Major Depressive Disorder. Foods. 2022 May 20;11(10):1489 Beelman R.B i wsp. Is ergothioneine a ‘longevity vitamin' limited in the American diet? J Nutr Sci. 2020 Nov 11;9:e52. Apparoo Y. i wsp. Ergothioneine and its prospects as an anti-ageing compound. Exp Gerontol. 2022 Dec;170:111982. Lam-Sidun D. i wsp. Mushroom-Derived Medicine? Preclinical Studies Suggest Potential Benefits of Ergothioneine for Cardiometabolic Health. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Mar 23;22(6):3246. Ey J. i wsp. Dietary sources and antioxidant effects of ergothioneine. J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Aug 8;55(16):6466-74. Jędrejko K.J. i wsp. Cordyceps militaris: An Overview of Its Chemical Constituents in Relation to Biological Activity. Foods. 2021 Oct 30;10(11):2634. Jędrejko K. i wsp. Effect of Cordyceps spp. and Cordycepin on Functions of Bones and Teeth and Related Processes: A Review. Molecules. 2022 Nov 24;27(23):8170.  Zięba P. i wsp. Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms: Insight into Growing Technologies. Acta Mycologica 2020, 55, 2, 5526. Krakowska A. i wsp. Selected edible medicinal mushrooms from Pleurotus genus as an answer for human civilization diseases. Food Chem. 2020 Oct 15;327:127084. Włodarczyk A. i wsp.Pleurotus spp. Mycelia Enriched in Magnesium and Zinc Salts as a Potential Functional Food. Molecules. 2020 Dec 31;26(1):162. Kała K. i wsp. Fruiting bodies of selected edible mushrooms as a potential source of lovastatin. European Food Research and Technology 2020, 246,713–722. Kanał o grzybach o którym polecałyśmy w trakcie podcastu: https://www.youtube.com/@ytpaweligrzyby

SUBSCRIBE LIKE SHARE My next guests, Dr. Blanche Grube and Anita Tibau have been at the forefront of biological dentistry and having mercury removed from dentistry. Dr. Blanche Grube Dr. Blanche D. Grube began practicing dentistry over 40 years ago. For the first ten years of her career, she was practicing conventional dentistry. A chance encounter with a patient of hers led to a meeting with Dr. Hal Huggins, who authored the ground-breaking book, It's All in Your Head. Dr. Huggins became her mentor. Dr. Huggins not only mentored Dr. Blanche, but together they developed the Huggins-Grube Protocol whose foundation is based on “Full Dental Revisions”. Dr. Blanche has published many articles. Her most recent paper Alarming Findings on Mercury Dental Amalgam is the first peer-review paper published on mercury dental amalgam's latest research using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Her book, Chew on This…but don't swallow – is now available at www.chewbook.com . Dr. Blanche is also a successful businesswoman. dnaconnexions.com biocomplabs.comhgdcoffice.comAnita Vazquez-Tibau For over two decades, Anita Vazquez-Tibau diligently continues her International Advocacy and Activism, which include her published works and speaking engagements dedicated to the “Global Ban on Toxic Mercury.” Of Puerto Rican heritage, Anita is deeply immersed in ensuring all Latin American countries are also included in her educational process. She has parlayed her passion for social justice into changing “toxic substance” laws. Ms. Vazquez-Tibau has dedicated her life as a writer, researcher, spokesperson, panelist, advisor, policy activist, grassroots organizer, and wellness conference coordinator. In 2002, she went to the United Nations Global Mercury Assessment. She wrote and delivered the closing remarks of the treaty (2013) on behalf of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqs-ysNUB9I   Since joining forces with Dr. Blanche Grube, they had the opportunity to present their scientific posters at the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) in Rhode Island (2017) and Krakow, Poland (2019). One of her peer-reviewed published papers with co-author Dr. Blanche, Mercury Contamination from Dental Amalgam, was widely distributed at the last meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 3, which is the continuation of the now-in-force Minamata Convention. Her most recent paper with co-author Dr. Blanche, Alarming Findings on Mercury Dental Amalgam is the first peer-review paper published on mercury dental amalgam's latest research using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Together, they are committed to educating and are continuing to work on a global ban on mercury in dental amalgam. They recently published their first book “Chew on this…But don't swallow”. Ms. Vazquez-Tibau is a Researcher at the Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research University of Puerto Rico. anitatibau@hotmail.com⁠  Author Researcher Center for Environmental and Toxicological Research  University of Puerto Rico http://cetr.rcm.upr.edu Follow Rev. Wendy on socials: Ig: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/revwendysilvers⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mamawendysilvers⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/revwendysilvers⁠ YouTube LIVE: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MamaWendy/stream⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wendysilvers/message

Videos : Proof Government Lab Created COVID, Says Escaped Chinese Virologist Dr. Li-Meng Yan – Ask Dr. Drew   Fewer cases of melanoma among people taking vitamin D supplements University of Eastern Finland, January 10, 2023 Fewer cases of melanoma were observed among regular users of vitamin D supplements than among non-users, a new study finds. People taking vitamin D supplements regularly also had a considerably lower risk of skin cancer, according to estimates by experienced dermatologists. The study, conducted in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital and published in Melanoma Research, included nearly 500 people with an increased risk of skin cancer. 498 adult patients estimated to have an increased risk of a skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, were recruited at the dermatological outpatient clinic of Kuopio University Hospital. Experienced dermatologists at the University of Eastern Finland carefully analysed the patients' background information and medical history and examined their skin. The dermatologists also classified the patients into different skin cancer risk classes, namely low risk, moderate risk and high risk. Based on their use of oral vitamin D supplements, the patients were divided into three groups: non-users, occasional users and regular users. Serum calcidiol levels were analysed in half of the patients and found to correspond to their self-reported use of vitamin D. A key finding of the study is that there were considerably fewer cases of melanoma among regular users of vitamin D than among non-users, and that the skin cancer risk classification of regular users was considerably better than non-users'. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk for melanoma among regular users was considerably reduced, more than halved, compared to non-users. The findings suggest that even occasional users of vitamin D may have a lower risk for melanoma than non-users. Other relatively recent studies, too, have provided evidence of the benefits of vitamin D in melanoma, such as of the association of vitamin D with a less aggressive melanoma. (NEXT) Diabetics should pay attention to vitamin C University of Otago (New Zealand), January 9 2023. Research reported in Nutrients suggests that low intake and serum levels of vitamin C may be particularly risky for adults with diabetes. The study analyzed data from 25,206 men and 26,944 women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018. Four hundred twenty-eight individuals had type 1 diabetes and 6,807 had type 2 diabetes. At the beginning of the study, 38% of the people had an intake of vitamin C that was below the estimated average requirement (EAR), which worsened to 46.5% by 2017-2018. Individuals whose intake of vitamin C was lower than the EAR had a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared with an intake above the EAR, and those who did not use vitamin C supplements had a 28% greater risk than vitamin C supplement users. Low and deficient serum vitamin C levels were associated with fewer years of life in comparison with normal vitamin levels. Compared with an adequate intake of vitamin C, the risk of mortality through 2019 among type 2 diabetics was 25% greater for those with a very low intake of the vitamin. Deficient serum levels of the vitamin were associated with an 84% greater mortality risk compared with adequate levels. Not supplementing with vitamin C was associated with a 25% greater mortality risk among people with type 1 diabetes, a 20% greater risk among those with type 2 diabetes and a 24% greater risk among nondiabetics compared with supplementation. “Observation of declining vitamin C intake and deleterious consequences of low serum vitamin C in US adults with diabetes suggests encouragement of vitamin C intake, including vitamin C supplementation of 500–1000 mg/day, may be beneficial for pre-diabetic and diabetic US adults,” the authors concluded. (NEXT) Feeling depressed? Performing acts of kindness may help Ohio State University, January 10, 2023 People suffering from symptoms of depression or anxiety may help heal themselves by doing good deeds for others, new research shows. The study found that performing acts of kindness led to improvements not seen in two other therapeutic techniques used to treat depression or anxiety. Most importantly, the acts of kindness technique was the only intervention tested that helped people feel more connected to others, said study co-author David Cregg at The Ohio State University. “Social connection is one of the ingredients of life most strongly associated with well-being. Performing acts of kindness seems to be one of the best ways to promote those connections,” Cregg said. The research also revealed why performing acts of kindness worked so well: It helped people take their minds off their own depression and anxiety symptoms. This finding suggests that one intuition many people have about people with depression may be wrong, Cheavens said. “We often think that people with depression have enough to deal with, so we don't want to burden them by asking them to help others. But these results run counter to that,” she said. “Doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others may actually help people with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves.” The study involved 122 people in central Ohio who had moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. After an introductory session, the participants were split into three groups. Two of the groups were assigned to techniques often used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression: planning social activities or cognitive reappraisal. Members of the third group were instructed to perform three acts of kindness a day for two days out of the week. Acts of kindness were defined as “big or small acts that benefit others or make others happy, typically at some cost to you in terms of time or resources.” Some of the acts of kindness that participants later said they did included baking cookies for friends, offering to give a friend a ride, and leaving sticky notes for roommates with words of encouragement. Participants followed their instructions for five weeks, after which they were evaluated again. The researchers then checked with the participants after another five weeks to see if the interventions were still effective. The findings showed that participants in all three groups showed an increase in life satisfaction and a reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms after the 10 weeks of the study. “But acts of kindness still showed an advantage over both social activities and cognitive reappraisal by making people feel more connected to other people, which is an important part of well-being,” he said. In addition, the acts of kindness group showed greater improvements than the cognitive reappraisal group for life satisfaction and symptoms of depression and anxiety, results showed. Cheavens noted that just participating in social activities did not improve feelings of social connection in this study. “There's something specific about performing acts of kindness that makes people feel connected to others. It's not enough to just be around other people, participating in social activities,” she said. (NEXT) Selenium protects a specific type of interneurons in the brain Helmholtz Zentrum München (Germany) December 29, 2022 Exactly 200 years ago, the Swedish scientist Jöns Jacob Berzelius discovered the trace element selenium, which he named after the goddess of the moon, Selene. Selenium is an essential trace element and indispensable for humans, many animals and some bacteria. A team led by Dr. Marcus Conrad, research group leader at the Institute of Developmental Genetics (IDG) at Helmholtz Zentrum München, showed for the first time why selenium is a limiting factor for mammals. The scientists have been investigating for years the processes of a novel type of cell death, known as ferroptosis. In this context, the enzyme GPX4, which normally contains selenium in the form of the amino acid selenocysteine, plays an important role. In order to better understand the role of GPX4 in this death process, we established and studied mouse models in which the enzyme was modified,” said study leader Conrad. “In one of these models, we observed that mice with a replacement of selenium to sulfur in GPX4 did not survive for longer than three weeks due to neurological complications.” In their search for the underlying reasons, the researchers identified a distinct subpopulation of specialized neurons in the brain, which were absent when selenium-containing GPX4 was lacking. “In further studies, we were able to show that these neurons were lost during postnatal development, when sulfur- instead of selenium-containing GPX4 was present,” stated first author of the study, Irina Ingold. Furthermore, the scientists were able to show that ferroptosis is triggered by oxidative stress, which is known to occur for instance during high metabolic activity of cells and high neuronal activity. “Our study demonstrates for the first time that selenium is an essential factor for the postnatal development of a specific type of interneurons,” said Dr. José Pedro Friedmann Angeli, a scientist at the IDG, describing the results. “Selenium-containing GPX4 protects these specialized neurons from oxidative stress and from ferroptotic cell death.” (NEXT) Association of Dietary α-Carotene and β-Carotene Intake with Low Cognitive Performance in Older Adults Sun Yat-sen University (China), January 3, 2023 With the increased life expectancy around the world, the number of elderly people with cognitive decline has been escalating, causing a burden for their families and governments. The decline in cognitive function is associated with various factors, including normal aging processes and neurological diseases. However, without any prevention measures to delay cognitive function decline, the decline in cognitive function will gradually develop into mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. The process of Alzheimer's disease is irreversible, and medical treatment for this disease is still limited. The underlying mechanism of vitamin B12 on cognitive function is related to the activation of methylation reactions in the brain. According to previous studies, vitamin A, an antioxidant in the central nervous system, also participates in cognitive function decline in older people. Both α-carotene and β-carotene can be transformed into retinol, which will be converted into a long-chain fatty acid ester that is the main precursor of vitamin A in the human body. Thus, α-carotene and β-carotene may have similar effects on neurocognitive decline. Some previous studies showed that higher levels of α-carotene and β-carotene in the plasma were associated with better cognitive function. In this study, our results reflected that dietary α-carotene and β-carotene intake might have inverse effects on cognitive function decline in older people. However, the excessive intake of dietary α-carotene and β-carotene may be a problem that needs special attention. (NEXT) Consumption of fast food linked to liver disease University of Southern California, January 10, 2023 The new year has begun, and with it, resolutions for change. A study from Keck Medicine of USC published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology gives people extra motivation to reduce fast-food consumption. The study found that eating fast food is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a potentially life-threatening condition in which fat builds up in the liver. Researchers discovered that people with obesity or diabetes who consume 20% or more of their daily calories from fast food have severely elevated levels of fat in their liver compared to those who consume less or no fast food. And the general population has moderate increases of liver fat when one-fifth or more of their diet is fast food. “Healthy livers contain a small amount of fat, usually less than 5%, and even a moderate increase in fat can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” said Ani Kardashian, MD, a hepatologist with Keck Medicine and lead author of the study. “The severe rise in liver fat in those with obesity or diabetes is especially striking, and probably due to the fact that these conditions cause a greater susceptibility for fat to build up in the liver.” The findings also reveal that a relatively modest amount of fast food, which is high in carbohydrates and fat, can hurt the liver. “If people eat one meal a day at a fast-food restaurant, they may think they aren't doing harm,” said Kardashian. “However, if that one meal equals at least one-fifth of their daily calories, they are putting their livers at risk.” Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as liver steatosis, can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, which can cause liver cancer or failure. Liver steatosis affects over 30% of the U.S. population. The study characterized fast food as meals, including pizza, from either a drive-through restaurant or one without wait staff. The researchers evaluated the fatty liver measurement of approximately 4,000 adults whose fatty liver measurements were included in the survey and compared these measurements to their fast-food consumption. Of those surveyed, 52% consumed some fast food. Of these, 29% consumed one-fifth or more daily calories from fast food. Only this 29% of survey subjects experienced a rise in liver fat levels. The association between liver steatosis and a 20% diet of fast food held steady for both the general population and those with obesity or diabetes even after data was adjusted for multiple other factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, alcohol use and physical activity.

VIDEOS: CRY FOR FREEDOM – Why cyborgs won't save the world (FILM) Gravitas: Did the US help China cover-up Covid-19 outbreak? (10:57) MEP Clare Daly   Drinking hot tea every day linked to lower glaucoma risk Brown University and UCLA, December 14, 2022 Drinking a cup of hot tea at least once a day may be linked to a significantly lower risk of developing the serious eye condition, glaucoma, finds a small study published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The researchers looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the US. This is a nationally representative annual survey of around 10, 000 people that includes interviews, physical examinations, and blood samples, designed to gauge the health and nutritional status of US adults and children. In this particular year, it also included eye tests for glaucoma. Among the 1678 participants who had full eye test results, including photos, 84 (5%) adults had developed the condition. They were asked how often and how much they had drunk of caffeinated and decaffeinated drinks, including soft drinks and iced tea, over the preceding 12 months, using a validated questionnaire (Food Frequency). Compared with those who didn't drink hot tea every day, those who did, had a lower glaucoma risk, the data showed. After taking account of potentially influential factors, such as diabetes and smoking, hot tea-drinkers were 74 per cent less likely to have glaucoma. But no such associations were found for coffee—caffeinated or decaffeinated—decaffeinated tea, iced tea or soft drinks. This is an observational study so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, and the absolute numbers of those with glaucoma were small. Information on when glaucoma had been diagnosed was also unavailable. But tea contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective chemicals, which have been associated with a lowered risk of serious conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, say the researchers. (NEXT) Effects of Resveratrol on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial. Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Poland), November 29, 2022 Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age. Hyperandrogenism is the central feature of PCOS. Studies on isolated ovarian theca-interstitial cells suggest that resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, reduces androgen production. This study was designed to evaluate endocrine and metabolic effects of resveratrol on PCOS. This was a randomized (1:1) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that evaluated the effects of resveratrol over a period of 3 months in an academic hospital. Resveratrol (1,500 mg p.o.) or placebo were administered daily. Primary outcome was the change in the serum total T. Resveratrol treatment led to a significant decrease of total T by 23.1% . In parallel, resveratrol induced a 22.2% decrease of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, a decrease of fasting insulin level by 31.8% and an increase of the Insulin Sensitivity Index (Matsuda and DeFronzo) by 66.3%. Levels of gonadotropins, the lipid profile as well as markers of inflammation and endothelial function were not significantly altered. Resveratrol significantly reduced ovarian and adrenal androgens. This effect may be, at least in part, related to an improvement of insulin sensitivity and a decline of insulin level. (NEXT) Encouraging risk-taking in children may reduce the prevalence of childhood anxiety Macquarie University's Centre for Emotional Health (Netherlands), December 13, 2022 A new international study suggests that parents who employ challenging parent behavioural (CPB) methods – active physical and verbal behaviours that encourage children to push their limits – are likely protecting their children from developing childhood anxiety disorders. Researchers from Macquarie University's Centre for Emotional Health, along with partners from the University of Amsterdam and the University of Reading, surveyed 312 families with preschool-aged children across the Netherlands and Australia. Results showed that the parents who scored higher in their CPB methods, thereby encouraging their kids to push their limits to a greater extent, had children who were less at risk of exhibiting anxiety disorder symptoms, demonstrating that CPB was related to significantly less anxiety in children. CPB encourages safe risk-taking in children such as giving them a fright, engaging in rough-and-tumble play or letting them lose a game, as well as encouraging them to practice social assertion and confidently enter into unfamiliar situations. This study aimed to build upon existing research that establishes a relationship between parenting behaviours – particularly overinvolvement and overcontrol – and the development and maintenance of childhood anxiety disorders. To determine the effects of CPB on preschool-aged children, parents' CPB was assessed via a questionnaire assessing how much the parents encourage the exhibition of risky behaviour in their children, as well as the extent to which they encourage their children to venture beyond their comfort zones. “While Dutch and Australian mothers showed no differences in CPB towards their sons or daughters, both Dutch and Australian fathers of sons demonstrated more competition towards their sons than fathers of daughters. Dutch fathers in particular reported more rough-and-tumble play than the other groups of parents,” says Rebecca Lazarus from Macquarie University, another co-author of the study. The results are promising in raising the clinical relevance of CPB methods, which could potentially be used to aid parents in helping their children's wellbeing. (NEXT) Music therapy reduces pain and anxiety for patients with cancer and sickle cell disease University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, December 19, 2022 A new study found patients with cancer and patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) treated at an academic cancer center reported clinically significant reductions in pain and anxiety in response to music therapy. Furthermore, patients with SCD who received music therapy reported significantly higher pain and anxiety at baseline than patients with hematologic and/or oncologic conditions excluding SCD. The findings from this study were recently published in the journal, Integrative Cancer Therapies, a leading journal focusing on understanding the science of integrative cancer treatments. In this retrospective study conducted between January 2017 and July 202, music therapists at UH Connor Whole Health provided 4,002 music therapy sessions to 1,152 patients across 2,400 encounters at UH Seidman Cancer Center, making this the largest investigation of the real-world effectiveness of music therapy within hematology and oncology to date. This study builds upon a history of seminal music therapy studies funded by the Kulas Foundation, the country's leading foundation for funding scientific research in music therapy, that have investigated the efficacy of music therapy in palliative care, surgery, and sickle cell disease at UH. Music therapists provided interventions including live music listening, active music making, and songwriting to address patients' needs including coping, pain management, anxiety reduction, and self-expression. As part of clinical care, the music therapists assessed patients' self-reported pain, anxiety, and fatigue on a 0 to 10 scale at the beginning and end of each session and documented their sessions in the electronic health record. “This research highlights the increased symptom burden that adults with SCD face in the hospital and the significant impact that a single session of music therapy can have on their pain and anxiety.” These studies support the benefits of music therapy for managing acute pain, improving self-efficacy and quality of life, and improving sickle cell disease knowledge in adolescents and young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Music therapy sessions differed between the two groups, with interventions including active music making, songwriting, and song recording being much more prevalent in the SCD group than the HemOnc group. Furthermore, in an analysis of patients' comments about music therapy, patients expressed themes including enjoyment, gratitude, and improvements in mood, pain, and anxiety. “Integrative Oncology utilizes complementary therapies, such as music therapy discussed in this study, to improve well-being for those affected by cancer. Using an evidence-based approach and building off research allows us to confidently build a program around supporting patients with integrative modalities as part of a strategy to manage symptoms that they may encounter through therapies or from cancer,” explained Santosh Rao, MD, a board-certified medical oncologist and integrative medicine provider and Medical Director of Integrative Oncology at UH Connor Whole Health. (NEXT) Study links health risks to electromagnetic field exposure Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, December 16, 2022 A study of real-world exposure to non-ionizing radiation from magnetic fields in pregnant women found a significantly higher rate of miscarriage, providing new evidence regarding their potential health risks. The Kaiser Permanente study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Non-ionizing radiation from magnetic fields is produced when electric devices are in use and electricity is flowing. It can be generated by a number of environmental sources, including electric appliances, power lines and transformers, wireless devices and wireless networks. Humans are exposed to magnetic fields via close proximity to these sources while they are in use. While the health hazards from ionizing radiation are well-established and include radiation sickness, cancer and genetic damage, the evidence of health risks to humans from non-ionizing radiation remains limited, said De-Kun Li, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study and a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California. In a new study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, researchers asked women over age 18 with confirmed pregnancies to wear a small (a bit larger than a deck of cards) magnetic-field monitoring device for 24 hours. Participants also kept a diary of their activities on that day, and were interviewed in person to better control for possible confounding factors, as well as how typical their activities were on the monitoring day. Researchers controlled for multiple variables known to influence the risk of miscarriage, including nausea/vomiting, past history of miscarriage, alcohol use, caffeine intake, and maternal fever and infections. Objective magnetic field measurements and pregnancy outcomes were obtained for 913 pregnant women, all members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Miscarriage occurred in 10.4 percent of the women with the lowest measured exposure level (1st quartile) of magnetic field non-ionizing radiation on a typical day, and in 24.2 percent of the women with the higher measured exposure level (2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles), a nearly three times higher relative risk. The rate of miscarriage reported in the general population is between 10 and 15 percent, Dr. Li said. “This study provides evidence from a human population that magnetic field non-ionizing radiation could have adverse biological impacts on human health,” he said. (NEXT) Common food dye can trigger inflammatory bowel diseases, say researchers McMaster University (Ontario), December 20 2022 Long-term consumption of Allura Red food dye can be a potential trigger of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, says McMaster University's Waliul Khan. Researchers using experimental animal models of IBD found that continual exposure to Allura Red AC harms gut health and promotes inflammation. The dye directly disrupts gut barrier function and increases the production of serotonin, a hormone/neurotransmitter found in the gut, which subsequently alters gut microbiota composition leading to increased susceptibility to colitis. Khan said Allura Red (also called FD&C Red 40 and Food Red 17), is a common ingredient in candies, soft drinks, dairy products and some cereals. The dye is used to add color and texture to foodstuffs, often to attract children. The use of synthetic food dyes such as Allura Red has increased significantly over the last several decades, but there has been little earlier study of these dyes' effects on gut health. Khan and his team published their findings in Nature Communications. Yun Han (Eric) Kwon, who recently completed Ph.D. in Khan's laboratory, is first author. “This study demonstrates significant harmful effects of Allura Red on gut health and identifies gut serotonin as a critical factor mediating these effects. These findings have important implication in the prevention and management of gut inflammation,” said Khan, the study's senior author, a professor of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine and a principal investigator of Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute.”What we have found is striking and alarming, as this common synthetic food dye is a possible dietary trigger for IBDs. This research is a significant advance in alerting the public on the potential harms of food dyes that we consume daily,” he said. “The literature suggests that the consumption of Allura Red also affects certain allergies, immune disorders and behavioral problems in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”

Videos: Gravitas: Did the US help China cover-up Covid-19 outbreak? (10:57) Is Government the New God? – The Religion of Totalitarianis   Supplemental, dietary antioxidant intake linked with lower dementia risk Lishui University (China), December 12 2022. Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal European Geriatric Medicine revealed a relationship between increased intake of antioxidant vitamins C and E and a lower risk of dementia. Futao Zhou and colleagues identified 75 studies from 19 articles that included a total of 28,257 participants for their review. The studies evaluated the association between intake from diet and/or supplements of beta-carotene, flavonoids, vitamin C and vitamin E with Alzheimer disease, all-cause dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia. The research included 2,557 participants with Alzheimer disease, 1,035 cases categorized as all-cause dementia and 6,197 cases of cognitive impairment without dementia. When high intake of vitamins C or E was compared to low intake, high dietary plus supplemental intake of either vitamin was associated with a “markedly” lower risk of Alzheimer disease. High vitamin C from diet plus supplementation was associated with 30% lower risk and high vitamin E with a 27% lower risk of the disease in comparison with low intake. Each 20 milligram per day increase in vitamin C from diet, diet plus supplements, or overall, was associated with a 2% reduction in the risk of Alzheimer disease. When dementia from all causes was examined, the authors reported that “It is supplemental, not dietary, use of vitamin E or vitamin C that can significantly reduce the risk.” High supplemental vitamin C intake was associated with a 19% lower risk of all-cause dementia and high supplemental vitamin E intake with a 20% lower risk compared with low intake. (NEXT) Antioxidant capacity of orange juice is multiplied tenfold University of Granada, December 5, 2022 The antioxidant activity of citrus juices and other foods is undervalued. A new technique developed by researchers from the University of Granada for measuring this property generates values that are ten times higher than those indicated by current analysis methods. The results suggest that tables on the antioxidant capacities of food products that dieticians and health authorities use must be revised. In order to study these compounds in the laboratory, techniques that simulate the digestion of food in the digestive tract are used, which analyse only the antioxidant capacities of those substances that can potentially be absorbed in the small intestine: the liquid fraction of what we eat. “The problem is that the antioxidant activity of the solid fraction (the fibre) isn't measured, as it's assumed that it isn't beneficial. However, this insoluble fraction arrives at the large intestine and the intestinal microbiota can also ferment it and extract even more antioxidant substances, which we can assess with our new methodology,” José Ángel Rufián Henares, professor at the University of Granada, explains. His team has developed a technique called ‘global antioxidant response' (GAR), which includes an in vitro simulation of the gastrointestinal digestion that occurs in our body, whilst taking into account the ‘forgotten' antioxidant capacity of the solid fraction. Upon applying the technique to commercial and natural orange, mandarin, lemon and grapefruit juices, it has been proved that their values greatly increase. For example, in the case of orange juice, the value ranges from 2.3 mmol Trolox/L (units for the antioxidant capacity) registered with a traditional technique to 23 mmol Trolox/L with the new GAR method. (NEXT) ‘Obesity can reduce life by up to 8 years' McGill University (Montreal), December 8, 2022 Life expectancy can be reduced by up to 8 years by obesity, which can also cause adults to lose as much as 19 years of healthy life if it leads to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinologyexamines the issue. The researchers behind the study analyzed data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), creating a disease-simulation model to estimate the risk of adults of different body weight developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. From this, the researchers then calculated the extent to which overweight and obesity may contribute to both years of life lost and years of healthy life lost in American adults aged between 20 and 79 years old, in comparison to people of normal weight. They found that people who were overweight (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) were estimated to lose up to 3 years of life, depending on age and gender. Individuals classed as obese (BMI 30-35 kg/m2) were calculated to lose up to 6 years, and people classed as very obese (BMI 35 kg/m2 or more) could lose up to 8 years of life. According to the study, excess weight had the greatest impact on lost years of life among the young and dropped with increasing age. As well as reducing life expectancy, carrying extra weight was also found to reduce “healthy life-years,” which were defined in the study as years free of obesity-linked cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Young adults aged between 20 and 29 showed the highest losses of healthy life-years, adding up to around 19 lost years for very obese people. Among people who were overweight or obese, the researchers calculated that two to four times as many healthy life-years were lost than total years of life lost. The researchers behind that study found that infant mortality was “moderately increased” among overweight and mildly obese mothers (BMI 25-35 kg/m2) compared with mothers of a normal weight; but among more obese mothers (BMI over 35 kg/m2), the risk of infant mortality was more than doubled. (NEXT) The more TV you watch, the more bodily pain you have over time: Study Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (Australia), December 12, 2022 Data from 4,099 participants of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) has revealed that an increase in daily TV-watching time is significantly associated with an increase in bodily pain severity over time, according to a new study from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Bodily pain is common in aging adults and a common presentation in several chronic diseases, including people living with type 2 diabetes. “We found that increments in TV-viewing time over time predicted bodily pain severity,” Professor David Dunstan, principal researcher and Head of the Baker-Deakin Department of Lifestyle and Diabetes said. “Even a one-hour increase in daily TV time was significantly associated with an increase in pain severity. “And those findings were even more pronounced in those living with type 2 diabetes.” The study found that as average daily TV-viewing time increased, bodily pain worsened (score decreased). The mean bodily pain score for those aged 50 years at the start of the study, for example, was 76.9 and worsened by 0.3 units year-on-year. An increase of one hour in TV watching led to a worsening of bodily pain by 0.69 units (score further decreased), or the equivalent of more than two years of pain associated with natural aging. The study also found that the bodily pain scores for people living with type 2 diabetes were even more pronounced. The type 2 diabetes cohort had higher TV-viewing time and more severe bodily pain than those without the condition. People without type 2 diabetes watched on average 1.6 hours per day, compared to 2.2 hours for people with type 2 diabetes. When TV-watching time increased above 2.5 hours per day, the impact on bodily pain severity increased even more significantly. Long uninterrupted periods of time spent sitting (sedentary behavior), especially watching TV, can adversely impact blood glucose control, insulin and other aspects of metabolism in people with type 2 diabetes. Such alterations in metabolism increase levels of inflammation, which can act to precipitate bodily pain. These new findings highlight the benefits of reducing time spent in sedentary behaviors, for both the general population and those living with chronic disease. (NEXT) Study shows clear new evidence for mind-body connection University of Calgary (Canada), December 4, 2022 A group working out of the University of Calgary Department of Oncology has demonstrated that telomeres – protein complexes at the end of chromosomes – maintain their length in breast cancer survivors who practise meditation or are involved in support groups, while they shorten in a comparison group without any intervention. A total of 88 breast cancer survivors who had completed their treatments for at least three months were involved for the duration of the study. The average age was 55 and most participants had ended treatment two years prior. To be eligible, they also had to be experiencing significant levels of emotional distress. In the Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery group, participants attended eight weekly, 90-minute group sessions that provided instruction on mindfulness meditation and gentle Hatha yoga, with the goal of cultivating non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. Participants were also asked to practise meditation and yoga at home for 45 minutes daily. In the Supportive Expressive Therapy group, participants met for 90 minutes weekly for 12 weeks and were encouraged to talk openly about their concerns and their feelings. The objectives were to build mutual support and to guide women in expressing a wide range of both difficult and positive emotions, rather than suppressing or repressing them. All study participants had their blood analysed and telomere length measured before and after the interventions. Scientists have shown a short-term effect of these interventions on telomere length compared to a control group, but it's not known if the effects are lasting. Dr. Carlson says another avenue for further research is to see if the psychosocial interventions have a positive impact beyond the three months of the study period. (NEXT) Yoga reduces blood pressure in patients with prehypertension Sir Gangaram Hospital (India), December 8, 2022 Yoga reduces blood pressure in patients with prehypertension, according to a study. This study investigated the impact of hatha yoga on blood pressure in 60 patients with prehypertension who were otherwise healthy. Patients were randomised to two groups of 30 each to assess the effect of three months of yoga plus conventional lifestyle changes versus conventional lifestyle changes alone (control group) on 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure. Yoga included stretching exercises (asanas), breath control (pranayam) and meditation. Yoga practice was for one hour every day. Conventional lifestyle changes consisted of moderate aerobic exercise, diet, and smoking cessation. The investigators found that in the yoga group, both 24 hour diastolic BP and night diastolic BP significantly decreased by approximately 4.5 mmHg and 24 hour mean arterial pressure significantly decreased by around 4.9 mmHg. The control groupdid not show any significant change in blood pressure. Dr Angrish said: “Although the reduction in blood pressure was modest, it could be clinically very meaningful because even a 2 mmHg decrease in diastolic BP has the potential to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by 6% and the risk of stroke and transient ischaemic attack by 15%.” He concluded: “Our research suggests that patients with prehypertension should be advised to practice hatha yoga (a combination of asanas, pranayam and meditation) for one hour daily. It may prevent the development of hypertension and in addition give a sense of well-being.”

Videos: 6 minutes ago : Elon Musk Shared Terrifying Message (8:39) You're Not Going To Believe This! | Mark Steyn & Eva Vlaardingerbroek (3:03) Tulsi Gabbard News Live/ Tulsi Shares The True Reason Of Her Exit (3:13) Neil Oliver – ‘…it's a toxic hell…' (START @ 9:00) So THIS is how they plan to screw these companies, from inside out | Redacted with Clayton Morris (2:48)   Pomegranate juice found to combat systemic inflammation throughout the body University of Bologna (Italy) & University of Auckland (New Zealand), November 18, 2022 The researchers from the University of Bologna and the University of Auckland looked at the effects of the juice of the pomegranate in particular, which has already been shown to help conditions like diabetes, atherosclerosis and prostate cancer. Chronic inflammation, a response by the body to infection and tissue damage, has been linked to the development of disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and psoriasis. After analyzing an extensive number of existing studies on pomegranate, they found plenty of evidence that shows pomegranate juice can indeed help inflammation-related diseases, although they pointed out that a definitive relationship has not been officially established. Most of the scientific research on pomegranate's health benefits has been carried out on cell culture or animal models, they point out, and clinical trials with humans are generally lacking. They found that pomegranate seems to show the most promise in fighting cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, but the researchers urge care, calling on further studies to determine its specific effects and explain why the fruit juice seems to help chronic inflammatory diseases. A Case Western study published in the Journal of Inflammation, for example, found that the extract of pomegranate significantly inhibited the buildup of damaging proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease by as much as a half. This effect is being attributed to its ability to protect against the oxidative stress that leads to beta-amyloid deposits. Researchers have also demonstrated its potential to help those with prostate, colon and breast cancer. In studies where tumor cells were treated with pomegranate, cell migration dropped and the cancer was stopped from spreading to other areas of the body. Pomegranate juice came out on top in a study of beverages known for their antioxidant content carried out by the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of California – Los Angeles's David Geffen School of Medicine. While all of the beverages examined – blueberry juice, acai berry juice, green tea, white tea, Concord grape juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice and red wine, had impressive amounts of antioxidants, pomegranate juice outperformed them all when it came to polyphenols and protective benefits. Its antioxidant potency composite index was a full 20 percent higher than any of the other drinks that were put through the rigorous testing. (NEXT) Handful of walnuts daily cuts risk of asthma University of North's Carolina, November 20, 2022 Here's another reason for you to eat more walnuts as a type of vitamin E, found in these nuts, may prevent the risk of asthma attacks by reducing airway inflammation. According to researchers, sufferers of a common breathing condition, taking it as part of the study, were also found to have less sticky mucus in their lungs. Gamma-tocopherol is a major form of vitamin E, which is abundant in nuts like walnuts and pecans and in the legume peanut, as well as seed oils such as corn, soybean and sesame. Senior study author Professor Michelle Hernandez from the University of North's Carolina school of medicine said epidemiologic data suggested that people with high amounts of vitamin E in their diet were less prone to asthma and allergic disease. The team randomly analysed participants into two groups, one that received gamma tocopherol supplement and other that received a placebo for two weeks. After a three-week period break, the findings indicated that when people were taking the vitamin E supplement, they had less eosinophilic inflammation. In addition, those who were taking vitamin E were also found to have lower levels of proteins called mucins, which affect the stickiness of mucus. Mucins are often elevated in asthmatics. (NEXT) Using vapes may set the stage for dental decay Tufts University, November 23, 2022 A vaping habit could end up leading to a tarnished smile, and more frequent visits to the dentist. Research by faculty from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine found patients who said they used vaping devices were more likely to have a higher risk of developing cavities. With CDC surveys reporting that 9.1 million American adults—and 2 million teenagers—use tobacco-based vaping products, that means a lot of vulnerable teeth. The findings of this study on the association between vaping and risk of caries—the dental term for cavities—serve as an alert that this once seemingly harmless habit may be very detrimental, says Karina Irusa, assistant professor of comprehensive care and lead author on the paper. The study was published in The Journal of the American Dental Association. Irusa says that the recent Tufts finding may be just a hint of the damage vaping causes to the mouth. “The extent of the effects on dental health, specifically on dental decay, are still relatively unknown,” she says. “At this point, I'm just trying to raise awareness,” among both dentists and patients. This study, Irusa says, is the first known specifically to investigate the association of vaping and e-cigarettes with the increased risk for getting cavities. She and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 13,000 patients older than 16 who were treated at Tufts dental clinics from 2019-2022. While the vast majority of the patients said they did not use vapes, there was a statistically significant difference in dental caries risk levels between the e-cigarette/vaping group and the control group, Irusa found. Some 79% of the vaping patients were categorized as having high-caries risk, compared to just about 60% of the control group. The vaping patients were not asked whether they used devices that contained nicotine or THC, although nicotine is more common. It's also been observed that vaping seems to encourage decay in areas where it usually doesn't occur—such as the bottom edges of front teeth. “It takes an aesthetic toll,” Irusa says. (NEXT) Study finds link between foods scored higher by new nutrient profiling system and better long-term health outcomes Tufts University, November 22, 2022 The idea that what we eat directly affects our health is ancient; Hippocrates recognized this as far back as 400 B.C. But, identifying healthier foods in the supermarket aisle and on restaurant menus is increasingly challenging. Now, researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts have shown that a holistic food profiling system, Food Compass, identifies better overall health and lower risk for mortality. In a paper published in Nature Communications, researchers assessed whether adults who ate more foods with higher Food Compass scores had better long-term health outcomes and found that they did. Introduced in 2021, Food Compass provides a holistic measure of the overall nutritional value of a food, beverage, or mixed meal. It measures nine domains of each item, such as nutrient ratios, food-based ingredients, vitamins, minerals, extent of processing, and additives. Based on scores of 10,000 commonly consumed products in the U.S., researchers recommend foods with scores of 70 or above as foods to encourage; foods with scores of 31-69 to be eaten in moderation; and anything that scores 30 or below to be consumed sparingly. For this new study, Food Compass was used to score a person's entire diet, based on the Food Compass scores of all the foods and beverages they regularly consume. For this validation study, researchers used nationally representative dietary records and health data from 47,999 U.S. adults aged 20-85 who were enrolled between 1999-2018 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Deaths were determined through linkage with the National Death Index (NDI). Overall, researchers found that the mean Food Compass score for the diets of the nearly 50,000 subjects was only 35.5 out of 100, well below ideal. “One of the most alarming discoveries was just how poor the national average diet is,” said O'Hearn. “This is a call for actions to improve diet quality in the United States.” A higher Food Compass diet score was associated with lower blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c levels; and lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cancer. A higher Food Compass diet score was also associated with lower risk of mortality: for each 10-point increase, there was a 7 percent lower risk of death from all causes. Food Compass also boosts scores for ingredients shown to have protective effects on health, like fruits, non-starchy vegetables, beans and legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, seafood, yogurt, and plant oils; and lowers scores for less healthful ingredients like refined grains, red and processed meat, and ultra-processed foods and additives. “We know Food Compass is not perfect,” said Mozaffarian. “But, it provides a more comprehensive, holistic rating of a food's nutritional value than existing systems, and these new findings support its validity by showing it predicts better health.” (NEXT) Acupuncture can relieve lower back and pelvic pain often experienced during pregnancy Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, November 21, 2022 Acupuncture can significantly relieve the lower back and/or pelvic pain frequently experienced by women during their pregnancy, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in BMJ Open. And there were no observable major side effects for newborns whose moms opted for the therapy, the findings indicate, although only a few of the published studies included in the analysis evaluated outcomes, such as premature birth, note the researchers. To add to the evidence base, the researchers trawled research databases for relevant clinical trials that compared the pain relief afforded to pregnant womengiven acupuncture, alone or when combined with other therapies, with other/no/dummy treatments, as well as the potential impact on their newborns. The final analysis included 10 randomized controlled trials, involving 1,040 women. Every study was published between 2000 and 2020, and carried out variously in Sweden, the UK, the U.S., Spain and Brazil. The moms-to-be were all healthy, 17 to 30 weeks into their pregnancy on average, and had lower back and/or pelvic pain. Pooled data analysis of the trial results for nine studies suggested that acupuncture significantly relieved pain during pregnancy. Four of those studies reported on the potential of acupuncture to restore physical function, and the results showed that this was significantly improved. Quality of life was recorded in five studies. When the results of these were pooled, the findings suggested that acupuncture significantly improved this too. Pooled data analysis of four studies indicated that there was a significant difference in overall effects when acupuncture was compared with other or no interventions. The researchers conclude that acupuncture merits closer attention for its potential to ease pain at a time when it's preferable to avoid drugs because of their potential side effects for mother and baby. (NEXT) 6 Health Benefits Of Rutin, And Where To Find It GreenMedInfo, November 24, 2022 Rutin is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powerhouse found in a variety of delicious food that may boost your health via multiple avenues, from promoting healthy circulation to providing pain relief. Rutin is one of about 4,000 types of flavonoids that are found abundantly in plants. Also known as rutoside and vitamin P, rutin is a flavonol that acts as an active constituent in tea leaves, apples, buckwheat, most citrus fruits and passion flower, for example, with nutraceutical effects that have been valued since ancient times. Medicinal plant compounds often have a range of biological activities that are both impressive and varied. Rutin is no exception, with a number of pharmacological activities that include: Six Top Reasons to Try Rutin Rutin is perhaps best known for its ability to ward off oxidative stress via potent antioxidant properties. This makes it valuable in a number of disease conditions and even as a tool for healthy aging. Rutin, for instance, reduces skin aging by strengthening dermal density and elasticity, and is found in more than 130 registered therapeutic medicinal preparations. GreenMedInfo.com has additionally compiled nearly 70 pharmacological actions related to rutin, along with 136 diseases that it may be useful for. Some of its top health benefits follow. Protection From Neurodegenerative Disease Rutin has demonstrated benefits to the central nervous system, including prevention of neuroinflammation, anticonvulsant activity and antidepressant effects. Rutin may be useful for recovery after stroke and also shows promise for Alzheimer's disease. With an ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, rutin may benefit the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and helps to remove the inflammatory component of neurodegeneration. Relieve Arthritis Pain Rutin not only has analgesic and antinociceptive effects but also antiarthritic effects, making it an ideal natural option for arthritis.The plant compound has been found to suppress oxidative stress in people with rheumatoid arthritis,while also inhibiting both the acute and chronic phases of inflammation in an arthritis rat model. Antidiabetic Effects Rutin has beneficial effects on the endocrine system, including antidiabetic and anti-hypercholesterolemic effects. Rutin helps fight diabetes by decreasing carbohydrates absorption from the small intestine, increasing the uptake of glucose into tissues and stimulating the secretion of insulin from beta cells, leading to antihyperglycemic effects as well as protection against the development of diabetic complications. Rutin is also useful for protecting against age-related metabolic dysfunction, with research suggesting it inhibits age-related mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, as well as endoplasmic reticulum, or ER, stress, which is related to proteins that are not properly folded. Promote Healthy Circulation and Reduce Blood Clots Consuming rutin, either from foods or supplements, may be an effective way to block the formation of blood clots. Research by Harvard Medical School researchers suggests that rutin is effective against both platelet-rich clots that form in arteries and fibrin-rich clots that form in veins. Rutin was found to be a “champion compound” for inhibiting protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which plays a role in the initial stages of clot formation. A nano-formulation of rutin was also found to exert powerful antithrombotic effects by inhibiting PDI,while rutin may also augment the production of nitric oxide in human endothelial cells, which is useful for blood pressure and cardiovascular system health. In terms of improved circulation, rutin is a venoactive compound, which means it may be useful for symptoms of chronic venous diseases (CVD). The compound has been demonstrated to reduce severity of lower leg pain, leg cramps, heaviness and itching, as well as edema (swelling), in people with CVD. Anticancer Effects Rutin's anticancer properties have been extensively studied. In human leukemia cells, rutin led to a significant reduction in tumor size, and it's known to inhibit cancer cell growth by cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. It also inhibits proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer cell lines and shows promise for use in ovarian and color cancers, as well as neuroblastoma. Support Gastrointestinal Health Rutin has antiulcer effects, as it inhibits the gastric proton pump that sends acid to your stomach. It also has potential against inflammatory bowel disease, not only due to its antioxidant effects but also by suppressing the release of proinflammatory mediators and the expression of inflammatory proteins. Top Sources of Rutin As noted in the Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, “An ancient saying ‘an apple a day, keeps doctor away' seems to be true as rutin, one of the important constituents of apples, has a wide array of biological activities.”

HEALTH NEWS Low magnesium linked to diabetic retinopathy Exercise Outweighs Genetics When It Comes To Longer Life Guarana found to have higher antioxidant potential than green tea Study links caesareans and cardiovascular risk Black tea drinkers live longer Unhealthy diet during pregnancy could be linked to ADHD Low magnesium linked to diabetic retinopathy Soochow University (China), August 26 2022.  A study reported August 22, 2022, in Biological Trace Element Research found an association between low magnesium and a higher risk of diabetic retinopathy, a major visual complication of long-term diabetes. “Low magnesium consumption has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetic mellitus,” authors Yuan Chen of Soochow University in China and colleagues noted. The body's tight regulation of serum magnesium makes it a poor measure of total body magnesium status. Plasma magnesium also poorly reflects the body's true magnesium status because of the kidneys' reabsorption of the mineral. “The magnesium depletion score (MDS) index was recently proposed as a method of measuring magnesium shortage that took into consideration the pathophysiological factors influencing the kidneys' reabsorption capability and was proven to be more sensitive and reliable than other clinical predictors of magnesium,” Chen and associates wrote. The study utilized data obtained from 4,308 men and women enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2018. Diabetes was present in 10.7% of the participants. Dietary questionnaire responses were used to estimate the amount of magnesium consumed each day.  Greater magnesium intake and lower magnesium depletion scores were associated with a decreased risk of diabetic retinopathy. A high amount of magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy when the magnesium depletion score was at a middle level or lower. “Our research indicates that magnesium deficiency predicts a higher risk of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic individuals and that magnesium supplementation may reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy,” they concluded.     Exercise Outweighs Genetics When It Comes To Longer Life University of California at San Diego, August 26, 2022 If living into your 90s seems to run in the family, don't just assume that means you will too. Our genetics make us who we are, but new research from the University of California, San Diego finds exercise trumps genes when it comes to promoting a longer life. You don't need a medical degree to know that forgoing physical activity in favor of stagnation isn't the wisest choice for your health and longevity. But, certain people are genetically predisposed to live longer than others. The research team at UCSD set out to determine if such individuals don't have to move quite as much as the rest of us to live just as long. This research project began a decade ago. In 2012, as part of the Women's Health Initiative Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health study (OPACH), study authors began keeping track of the physical activity habits among 5,446 older U.S. women (ages 63 or older). Subjects were tracked up until 2020, and wore a research-grade accelerometer for up to seven days. That device measured how much time they spent moving, the intensity of that physical activity, and their usual amount of sedentary time. Sure enough, higher levels of light physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with a lower risk of dying during the tracking period. Additionally, more time spent sedentary was associated with a higher risk of mortality. Importantly, this observed connection between exercise and a longer life remained consistent even among women determined to have different levels of genetic predisposition for longevity. “Our study showed that, even if you aren't likely to live long based on your genes, you can still extend your lifespan by engaging in positive lifestyle behaviors such as regular exercise and sitting less,” explains senior study author Aladdin H. Shadyab, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego. “Conversely, even if your genes predispose you to a long life, remaining physically active is still important to achieve longevity.”   Guarana found to have higher antioxidant potential than green tea University of São Paulo's Public Health School (Brazil), August 25, 2022   The millions of people who consume green tea all over the world benefit from the catechins it contains. Catechins are a class of chemical compounds with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, among other healthy ingredients.  Researchers at the University of São Paulo's Public Health School (FSP-USP) have discovered that guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a worthy competitor, at least as far as catechins are concerned: the seeds of the tropical shrub, used in fizzy drinks that are among the most popular in Brazil, as well as in over-the-counter supplements, contain more than ten times the amount of catechins found in green tea.   A clinical trial with healthy human volunteers has demonstrated that guarana is a rich source of catechins, which, when properly absorbed, reduce the oxidative stress associated with the development of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders, as well as diabetes, cancer, inflammation and premature aging due to cell death, among other conditions harmful to health and wellbeing.   The month-long study was conducted in two stages. After selecting volunteers who were healthy but slightly overweight and with a moderately elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, the researchers measured baseline parameters on the first day and evaluated the same items again on day 15 after a the implementation of a controlled diet. The participants were then asked to take guarana at home every morning before breakfast for the next fortnight. They were given bottles containing guarana seed powder and instructed to prepare a daily drink with the contents of one bottle (3 g of guarana powder) in 300 mL of water.   The oxidative stress markers included oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), popularly known as bad cholesterol. LDL is essential to an organism's proper functioning because it is the main particle that carries cholesterol to cells. Cholesterol is a structural component of all cell membranes and is used to manufacture steroid hormones (estrogen and testosterone). When oxidized, however, LDL causes atherosclerosis and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The tests performed by Yonekura's team showed an increase in oxidation resistance of the LDL in the blood samples taken from the volunteers after they drank guarana.   They also performed a comet assay, also called single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), a technique for quantifying and analyzing DNA damage in individual cells due to various factors, including oxidative stress. In this case, lymphocyte DNA in blood samples taken one hour after guarana intake was less damaged than expected when submitted to an oxidizing environment, indicating the presence of anti-oxidant substances or enhanced performance of the lymphocytes' enzymatic anti-oxidant system.   "All these markers depend on the presence of catechins in the bloodstream," Yonekura said. "The improvement in the parameters we assessed was associated with a rise in the concentration of plasma catechins after guarana intake, showing that guarana was indeed responsible for this effect."   Moreover, she went on, the guarana catechins strengthened the cells' native anti-oxidant enzymes, especially glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, which combine to convert superoxide into peroxide and finally into water, protecting cells from the oxidative damage caused by their own metabolism of outside factors.   The tests showed increased glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity both shortly after guarana ingestion and on the following day.     Study links caesareans and cardiovascular risk James Cook University (New Zealand), August 25, 2022 A new Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health study has found Australian children who were born via cesarean section (C-section) have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity, and it's sparked a call to limit the increasingly popular practice "C-section births have risen across the world with a disproportionately higher rate in developed countries. In Australia, the C-section birth rate has increased from 18.5% in 1990 to 36% in 2019 and nearly half of Australian babies are projected to be cesarean born by 2045," said Dr. Begum. She said the study found a relationship between C-section births and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in children. "Four out of six individual CVD risk components and the composite index of the five CVD risk components showed a positive association with C-section birth. Our study also provided a direct relationship between C-section and increased overweight and obesity among children at 10–12 years of age," said Dr. Fatima. "There's an altered microbial load from C-section birth as compared to vaginal birth. This altered microbial ecosystem hampers the 'gut-brain axis' and releases some pathogenic toxins that cause metabolic damage," said Dr. Begum. She said it was also possible the fetal stress from physiological or pharmacological induction of labor during a C-section could also have an effect.   Black tea drinkers live longer National Institutes of Health, August 29 2022.  The Annals of Internal Medicine reported a lower risk of dying from any cause during a median follow-up period of 11.2 years among men and women who regularly drank black tea in comparison with those who did not consume the beverage.  The study included 498,03 participants in the UK Biobank, a prospective study of people residing in the United Kingdom. Questionnaires completed upon enrollment provided information concerning tea and coffee intake. Eighty-five percent of the participants reported drinking tea, among whom 89% drank black tea. During up to 14 years of follow-up, 29,783 deaths occurred. Compared to participants who did not drink tea, those who consumed 1 cup or fewer per day had a 5% lower risk of mortality and 2 to 3 cups was associated with a 13% lower risk. Tea intake was associated with decreased risks of death from cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease and stroke. “In this study of nearly 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank where black tea drinking was common, higher tea intake was associated with modestly lower risk for all-cause mortality and mortality from all cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, and stroke, with lower risks seen for drinking 2 or more cups per day,” Maki Inoue-Choi, PhD, and colleagues at the NIH concluded. “These findings provide reassurance to tea drinkers and suggest that black tea can be part of a healthy diet.”     Unhealthy diet during pregnancy could be linked to ADHD King's College London and the University of Bristol , August 26, 2022   New research led by scientists from King's College London and the University of Bristol has found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet during pregnancy may be linked to symptoms of ADHD in children who show conduct problems early in life.   Published today in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, this study is the first to indicate that epigenetic changes evident at birth may explain the link between unhealthy diet, conduct problems and ADHD.   In this new study of participants from the Bristol-based 'Children of the 90s' cohort, 83 children with early-onset conduct problems were compared with 81 children who had low levels of conduct problems. The researchers assessed how the mothers' nutrition affected epigenetic changes (or DNA methylation) of IGF2, a gene involved in fetal development and the brain development of areas implicated in ADHD - the cerebellum and hippocampus. Notably, DNA methylation of IGF2 had previously been found in children of mothers who were exposed to famine in the Netherlands during World War II.   The researchers from King's and Bristol found that poor prenatal nutrition, comprising high fat and sugar diets of processed food and confectionary, was associated with higher IGF2 methylation in children with early onset conduct problems and those with low conduct problems.   Higher IGF2 methylation was also associated with higher ADHD symptoms between the ages of 7 and 13, but only for children who showed an early onset of conduct problems.   Dr Edward Barker from King's College London said: 'Our finding that poor prenatal nutrition was associated with higher IGF2 methylation highlights the critical importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy.   'These results suggest that promoting a healthy prenatal diet may ultimately lower ADHD symptoms and conduct problems in children. This is encouraging given that nutritional and epigenetic risk factors can be altered.'

On this week's podcast, John Mandrola, MD discusses fish oil, America's heart health, pharmacists and prescribing and statins This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals only. To read a partial transcript or to comment, visit: https://www.medscape.com/twic I - Fish Oil - New Biomarker Data Add to Concerns Over REDUCE-IT Trial https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/976490 - Effects of Randomized Treatment With Icosapent Ethyl and a Mineral Oil Comparator on Interleukin-1β, Interleukin-6, C-Reactive Protein, Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Homocysteine, Lipoprotein(a), and Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2: A REDUCE-IT Biomarker Substudy https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.059410 - Cardiovascular Risk Reduction with Icosapent Ethyl for Hypertriglyceridemia https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1812792 - Effect of High-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids vs Corn Oil on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients at High Cardiovascular RiskThe STRENGTH Randomized Clinical Trial https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2773120 - Effect of icosapent ethyl on progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with elevated triglycerides on statin therapy: final results of the EVAPORATE trial https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/41/40/3925/5898836 II - US Heart Health - New AHA Checklist: Only 1 in 5 Adults Have Optimal Heart Health https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/976519 - Life's Essential 8: Updating and Enhancing the American Heart Association's Construct of Cardiovascular Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001078 - Status of Cardiovascular Health in US Adults and Children Using the American Heart Association's New "Life's Essential 8" Metrics: Prevalence Estimates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2013-2018 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.060911 III - Pharmacist Prescribing - Paxlovid Is Here: A Pharmacist's Prescribing Pearls https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/973260 - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Paxlovid with Certain Limitations https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-pharmacists-prescribe-paxlovid-certain-limitations IV - Statin Eligibility - New European Guidelines ‘Drastically' Reduce Statin Eligibility https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/976715 - Statin Eligibility for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease According to 2021 European Prevention Guidelines Compared With Other International Guidelines https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2793729 - Time to Revisit Using 10-Year Risk to Guide Statin Therapy https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/article-abstract/2793732 - Mendelian randomization studies: using naturally randomized genetic data to fill evidence gaps https://doi.org/10.1097/mol.0000000000000247 You May Also Like: Medscape editor-in-chief Eric Topol, MD, and master storyteller and clinician Abraham Verghese, MD, on Medicine and the Machine https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine The Bob Harrington Show with Stanford University Chair of Medicine, Robert A. Harrington, MD. https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington Questions or feedback, please contact news@medscape.net

Videos: 1. Forget the Great Reset. Embrace the Great Escape. – Zach Weissmueller of ReasonTV (8:20) 2. Whoopsie: The FDA Green-Lighted the Moderna Jab for Babies After Losing the Placebo Group – Del Bigtree of the The Highwire (20:00) 3. BOMBSHELL: Dr. Clare Craig Exposes How Pfizer Twisted Their Clinical Trial Data for Young Children   Greater folate and vitamin B6 intake linked to lower risk of mortality during 9.8-year period Zhengzhou University (China), July 6 2022.  A study published in Nutrients revealed a decreased risk of death during a median period of 9.8 years among men and women with a greater intake of vitamin B6 and the B vitamin folate compared to those whose intake was lower. The investigation included 55,569 participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and eight cycles of the continuous NHANES that occurred between 1999 and 2014. Dietary recall interview responses were analyzed for the intake of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.  Men whose intake of folate was among the top 25% of individuals in the study had a 23% lower risk of death from any cause, a 41% lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality and a 32% lower risk of cancer mortality during follow-up than those whose intake was among the lowest 25%. Among women in the top 25%, the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 14% and 47% lower.  For men whose intake of vitamin B6 was among the highest 25% of those included in the study, the risk of all-cause mortality was 21% lower, cardiovascular disease mortality was 31% lower and cancer mortality was 27% lower compared to individuals whose intake was lowest. The risk of mortality among women whose vitamin B6 intake was among the top 25% was 12% lower than those whose intake was among the lowest 25% and their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was 44% lower.  To shed weight, go vegan E-Da Hospital  (Taiwan), June 30, 2022 People on a vegetarian diet, and especially those following a vegan one that includes no animal products, see better results than dieters on other weight-reducing plans. In fact, they can lose around two kilograms more on the short term, says Ru-Yi Huang of E-Da Hospital in Taiwan after reviewing the results of twelve diet trials.  Huang's review includes twelve randomized controlled trials, involving 1,151 dieters who followed a specific eating regime for between nine and 74 weeks.  Overall, individuals assigned to the vegetarian diet groups lost significantly more weight (around 2.02 kilograms) than dieters who ate meat and other animal products. Vegetarians who followed a vegan diet lost even more weight. Comparatively, they lost around 2.52 kilograms more than non-vegetarian dieters. Vegetarians who do consume dairy products and eggs lost around 1.48 kilograms more than those on a non-vegetarian diet. People following vegetarian diets that prescribe a lower than normal intake of calories (so-called energy restriction) also shed more kilograms than those without any such limitations being placed on their eating habits. According to Huang, the abundant intake of whole grains, fruits and vegetables might play a role in the favorable results seen in vegetarian diets. Whole-grain products and vegetables generally have low glycemic index values and don't cause blood sugar levels to spike. Fruits are rich in fiber, antioxidants, minerals and protective chemicals that naturally occur in plants. Whole-grain products contain soluble fiber. Such so-called good fiber helps to delay the speed by which food leaves the stomach and ensures good digestion. It also allows enough nutrients to be absorbed while food moves through the intestines.  Social interactions tied to sense of purpose for older adults Washington University in St. Louis, July 6, 2022 Having positive social interactions is associated with older adults' sense of purposefulness, which can fluctuate from day to day, according to research from the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. And although these findings, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, apply to both working and retired adults, the research found that for better and for worse these interactions are more strongly correlated to purposefulness in people who are retired. The research team worked with a group of some 100 adults with an average age of about 71. For 15 days, participants were asked three times daily about the quality of the social interactions they'd had that day. After analyzing the responses, they found—relative to each person's own baseline—the more positive interactions a person had during the day, the more purposeful they reported feeling in the evening. Other measures, including employment and relationship status, did not predict a person's sense of purpose. Of note, Pfund said, the study also showed how dynamic a person's own sense of purpose could be. Although some people do tend to be generally more or less purposeful overall, Pfund said, “We found purpose can change from day to day. Everyone was experiencing fluctuations relative to their own averages.” The association was much stronger in retired people, the data showed: more positive social interactions showed a stronger association with a higher sense of purpose while more negative interactions were more strongly tied to a lower sense of purpose. Resveratrol may prevent sedentary lifestyle effects University of Strasbourg (France), July 01, 2022 An article published in the FASEB Journal reveals yet another benefit for resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine and grapes.  The current research suggests that resveratrol could help protect against the adverse effects of weightlessness during space flight as well as those caused by a sedentary lifestyle, which has been linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity and other health conditions. “Long-term spaceflight induces hypokinesia and hypodynamia, which, along microgravity per se, result in a number of significant physiological alterations, such as muscle atrophy, force reduction, insulin resistance, substrate use shift from fats to carbohydrates, and bone loss. “Each of these adaptations could turn to serious health deterioration during the long-term spaceflight needed for planetary exploration.” The research team tested the effects of resveratrol in rats undergoing simulated weightlessness.  While animals that did not receive resveratrol experienced a reduction in soleus muscle mass and strength, bone mineral density and resistance to breakage, as well as the development of insulin resistance, treatment with resveratrol protected against these conditions.   “There are overwhelming data showing that the human body needs physical activity, but for some of us, getting that activity isn't easy,” commented FASEB Journal Editor-in-Chief Gerald Weissmann, MD.  “A low gravity environment makes it nearly impossible for astronauts. For the earthbound, barriers to physical activity are equally challenging, whether they be disease, injury, or a desk job. Resveratrol may not be a substitute for exercise, but it could slow deterioration until someone can get moving again.” Why does acupuncture work? Study finds it elevates nitric oxide, leading to pain reduction LA BioMed, June 29, 2022  The use of acupuncture to treat pain dates back to the earliest recorded history in China. Despite centuries of acupuncture, it's still not clear why this method of applying and stimulating tiny needles at certain points on the body can relieve pain. A new study from LA BioMed researchers offers some answers for why acupuncture may help and why clinical trials have produced mixed results. The researchers found the proper use of acupuncture (with the reinforcement method or coupled with heat, which is often used in acupuncture treatments) can lead to elevated levels of nitric oxide in the skin at the “acupoints” where the needles were inserted and manipulated. They noted that nitric oxide increases blood flow and encourages the release of analgesic or sensitizing substances, which causes the skin to feel warmer and contributes to the beneficial effects of the therapies.For the latest study, the LA BioMed researchers used a low force and rate/reinforcement method of acupuncture. They gently inserted acupuncture needles into the skin of 25 men and women, aged 18-60 years, and delicately twisted the needles for two minutes or until they achieved a sensation of “de qi” (soreness, numbness, distension or pain). They then manipulated the needles using gentle amplitude and moderate speed for two minutes every five minutes for a total of 20 minutes.They also applied electrical heat for 20 minutes and found elevated levels of nitric oxide at the acupoints. To further validate their findings, they conducted the test with high-frequency and force, which is known as a reduction method, and found nitric oxide levels over the areas of the skin region were reduced. Thyroid problems linked to increased risk of dementia Brown University, July 6, 2022 Older people with hypothyroidism, also called underactive thyroid, may be at increased risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in the online issue of Neurology. The risk of developing dementia was even higher for people whose thyroid condition required thyroid hormone replacement medication. “In some cases, thyroid disorders have been associated with dementia symptoms that can be reversible with treatment,” said study author Chien-Hsiang Weng, MD, MPH, of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.  For the study, researchers looked at the health records of 7,843 people newly diagnosed with dementia in Taiwan and compared them to the same number of people who did not have dementia. Their average age was 75. Researchers looked to see who had a history of either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.  A total of 102 people had hypothyroidism and 133 had hyperthyroidism. The researchers found no link between hyperthyroidism and dementia. Of the people with dementia, 68 people, or 0.9%, had hypothyroidism, compared to 34 of the people without dementia, or 0.4%. When researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect the risk of dementia, such as sex, age, high blood pressureand diabetes, they found that people over age 65 with hypothyroidism were 80% more likely to develop dementia than people the same age who did not have thyroid problems. For people younger than 65, having a history of hypothyroidism was not associated with an increased risk of dementia. When researchers looked only at people who took medication for hypothyroidism, they found they were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who did not take medication. “One explanation for this could be that these people are more likely to experience greater symptoms from hypothyroidism where treatment was needed,” Weng said.

There is much political, professional, and cultural debate around the impact that cannabinoids, good or bad, have on health and wellbeing. This month's “RAPM Focus,” evaluates the relationship between cannabis use and sleep patterns among adult Americans. Editor-in-Chief Brian Sites, MD, interviews authors Calvin Diep, MD, and Karim Ladha, MD, on the paper “Recent cannabis use and nightly sleep duration in adults: a population analysis of the NHANES from 2005 to 2018,” first published in December 2021 (https://rapm.bmj.com/content/47/2/100). The study used observational data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and examined whether recent use of cannabinoids impacted on incidence of too little sleep or too much sleep. Dr. Diap is a second-year resident in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto. He is also enrolled in the clinician investigator program and will be starting his graduate studies at the Institute of Health Policy Management at the University of Toronto. His research interests lie in using clinician epidemiological methods to study patient-centered outcomes in the perioperative period, such as pain and disability, as well as opioid and cannabinoid use patterns at population levels. Dr. Ladha is a clinician scientist and staff anesthesiologist at St. Michael's Hospital at the University of Toronto. He received his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He then completed his anesthesia training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and obtained a master's degree in clinical epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. His research uses mixed methodologies to obtain a multi-faceted view of pain and recovery after surgery, including retrospective analyses of administrative databases and prospective observational studies in multi-center randomized controlled trials. *The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice, and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner's judgement, patient care, or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others. Podcast and music produced by Dan Langa. Find us on Twitter @RAPMOnline.

Omega-3 and cancer recovery: How supplementation helps reduce hospital stays after operations Capital Medical University (China) Omega-3 supplementation boosts immunity and helps reduce inflammation among gastrointestinal cancer patients after surgery, new meta-analysis reports. Recent studies have indicated that nutritional intervention can reduce these problems, with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) particularly promising because of their inflammation benefits. Results showed that patients on an n-3 PUFAs regime had lower levels of inflammation markers. The academics, from China's Capital Medical University, stated: “The results of our study showed that n-3 PUFAs significantly decreased the level of inflammation and increased immune function. “Thus modulation of immune responses and reduction of inflammatory responses together lessens postoperative hospital stay for GI cancer patients.”     Vitamin D levels higher in exercisers   Johns Hopkins University The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published the finding of researchers at Johns Hopkins University of a correlation between increased physical activity and higher levels of vitamin D. Higher levels of vitamin D and exercise was also associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The study included 10,342 men and women who were free of coronary heart disease and heart failure upon enrollment in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study between 1987 to 1989. Physical activity levels were assessed during follow-up visits that took place over a 19.3-year period. Stored serum samples obtained at the second visit were analyzed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Following adjustment for lifestyle and other factors, those who met the recommended levels had a 31% lower risk of being deficient in vitamin D than those with poor activity levels. Subjects in the recommended activity group with levels of vitamin D of 30 ng/mL or more had a 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.   Gingko biloba helps protect against the toxic cognitive effects of aluminium chloride Atomic Energy Authority (Egypt) Ginkgo biloba extract helped protect the brain from the toxic effects of aluminium chloride, exposure to which has been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's. Researchers found its antioxidant properties were key in protecting the brain neurons of rats from oxidative stress caused by aluminium chloride (AlClʒ) intake. “The toxic effect of AlClʒ caused significant histologic changes in brain and testis tissues which is in agreement with other data that found accumulation of Al metal in neurons which cause ultra-structural changes,” wrote researchers from the Atomic Energy Authority in Egypt wrote in Nutrition Journal. “Administration of Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) with aluminium chloride improved some biochemical and histologic changes observed in the brain and testis of male rats.” Overexposure to aluminium, a potent neurotoxin, could be a possible factor in several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, say researchers. GbE on the other hand, has antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. It has been used to help treating cerebral disorders that result from ageing and hypoxia. Previous studies also highlighted its ability to regulate neurotransmitters and exert neuprotective effects.   New data shows avocado consumers have improved nutrient intakes USDA and Haas Avocado Board A new analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, compared avocado consumers to non-consumers and found that consuming avocados may be associated with an overall better diet, higher intake of essential nutrients, lower body weight, lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and smaller waist circumference. Insulin and homocysteine levels were lower in the avocado group, as well as a significantly reduced incidence of metabolic syndrome. Homocysteine, when elevated, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.i Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises the risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes and stroke.ii The analysis, "Avocado consumption by adults is associated with better nutrient Intake, diet quality, and some measures of adipositywas published in the journal Internal Medicine Review. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS: * Compared to non-consumers, avocado consumers have:   Higher intakes of dietary fiber, total fat, good fats (monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids), vitamins E and C, folate, magnesium, copper and potassium.   Lower intakes of total carbohydrates, added sugars and sodium. * Improved physiologic measures include:   On average, avocado consumers weighed 7.5 lbs less, had a mean BMI of 1 unit less and 1.2 in. smaller waist circumference compared to non-consumers.   Avocado consumers were 33% less likely to be overweight or obese and 32% less likely to have an elevated waist circumference compared to non-consumers.   Incidence of metabolic syndrome was significantly reduced for avocado consumers.       Better quality relationships associated with reduced dementia risk University of East Anglia (UK) Positive social support from adult children is associated with reduced risk of developing dementia, according to a new research published today. Conversely, negative social support is linked with increased risk, according to the 10-year follow-up study carried out by a team of researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA), University College London (UCL), London Metropolitan University and the University of Nottingham. The researchers analysed a decade of data that followed 10,055 core participants from ELSA who were dementia-free at the start of the study. Participants were interviewed every two years and incidence of dementia was identified from self-reports by participants or information given by nominated informants. Positive support was characterised by having a reliable, approachable and understanding relationship with spouses or partners, children and other immediate family. But negative support scores showed stronger effects - an increase of one point in the negative support score led to up to 31 per cent rise in the risk. Negative support was characterised by experiences of critical, unreliable and annoying behaviours from spouses or partners, children and other immediate family.   After spouse passes, death risk from ‘broken heart' rises Rice University In the three-month period following a spouse's death, widows and widowers are more likely to exhibit risk factors linked to cardiovascular illness and death, according to a new study This could make a bereaved spouse more likely to “die of a broken heart,” the researchers say. The study, which appears in Psychoneuroendocrinology, found that individuals who have lost a spouse within the last three months have higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (immune markers that indicate inflammation in the bloodstream) and lower heart rate variability (HRV) compared with non-bereaved individuals who share the sex, age, body mass index, and educational level. Both are factors that increase an individual's risk for cardiac events, including death. The study is the first to demonstrate that bereavement is associated with elevated levels of ex vivo cytokines and lower HRV. “In the first six months after the loss of a spouse, widows/widowers are at a 41 percent increased risk of mortality,” says lead author Chris Fagundes, an assistant professor of psychology in Rice University's School of Social Sciences. “Importantly, 53 percent of this increased risk is due to cardiovascular disease. This study is an important step toward understanding why this is the case by identifying how bereavement gets under the skin to promote morbidity and mortality.” Finally, the bereaved spouses reported 20 percent higher levels of depressive symptoms than the control group. Participants ranged in age from 51 to 80 (average 67.87) and included 22 percent men and 78 percent women. The sex and age of the control group was comparable, and the results were the same when accounting for slight differences in weight and health behaviors.

In this interview, Mitch Belkin and Daniel Belkin speak with Katherine Flegal about the relationship between BMI and excess mortality. Dr. Flegal's publication of two papers in JAMA led to substantial controversy among obesity researchers. They discuss the data regarding the U-shaped mortality curve, the history of BMI, as well as the politicization of science.Who is Katherine Flegal?Katherine Flegal is an epidemiologist and former senior scientist at the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. She is one of the most cited scientists in the field of obesity epidemiology. After receiving a bachelor's from UC Berkley, a PhD from Cornell, and an MPH from Pittsburgh, she worked in the biostatistics department of University of Michigan prior to working at the CDC in the National Center for Health Statistics.Dr. Flegal worked on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which is a comprehensive data set of nationally representative cross-sectional data from the US that combines interviews, physical exams, and laboratory tests along with demographic, socioeconomic, and dietary data. Her 2005 analysis of the NHANES data set and her 2013 meta-analysis demonstrated that people who are “overweight” (defined as a BMI between 25 and 30) have significantly lower all cause mortality compared to people who are “normal weight” (BMI 18.5 - 24.9). In addition, her publications showed no significant difference in mortality between people who have a BMI of 30-35 and people who are normal weight.ReferencesThe Obesity Wars and the Education of a Researcher: A Personal Account (Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 2021)Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity (JAMA, 2005)Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index CategoriesA Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (JAMA, 2013) ______________________Follow us @ExMedPod, and sign up for our newsletter at www.externalmedicinepodcast.com/subscribeDaniel Belkin and Mitch Belkin are brothers and 4th year medical students.  The External Medicine Podcast is a podcast exploring nontraditional medical ideas and innovation. 

ReferencesPrentice RL. Clinical trials and observational studies to assess the chronic disease benefits and risks of multivitamin-multimineral supplements.Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 85:308S-313S.NIH State-of-the-Science Conference Statement on Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Chronic Disease Prevention.NIH Consens State Sci Statements 2006, 23:1-30.Fortmann SP, Burda BU, Senger CA, et al. Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: An Updated Systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Ann Intern Med 2013.Allen LH. How common is vitamin B-12 deficiency?Am J Clin Nutr 2009, 89:693S-696S.Hooshmand B, Solomon A, Kareholt I, et al. Homocysteine and holotranscobalamin and the risk of Alzheimer disease: a longitudinal study.Neurology 2010, 75:1408-1414.Morris MC, Evans DA, Tangney CC, et al. Dietary copper and high saturated and trans fat intakes associated with cognitive decline.Arch Neurol 2006, 63:1085-1088.de Bortoli MC, Cozzolino SM. Zinc and selenium nutritional status in vegetarians.Biol Trace Elem Res 2009, 127:228-233.Burnett-Hartman AN, Fitzpatrick AL, Gao K, et al. Supplement use contributes to meeting recommended dietary intakes for calcium, magnesium, and vitamin C in four ethnicities of middle-aged and older Americans: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.J Am Diet Assoc 2009, 109:422-429.Yang Q, Cogswell ME, Hamner HC, et al. Folic acid source, usual intake, and folate and vitamin B-12 status in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006.Am J Clin Nutr 2010, 91:64-72.Troesch B, Hoeft B, McBurney M, et al. Dietary surveys indicate vitamin intakes below recommendations are common in representative Western countries.Br J Nutr 2012, 108:692-698.Bitterman KJ, Anderson RM, Cohen HY, et al. Inhibition of silencing and accelerated aging by nicotinamide, a putative negative regulator of yeast sir2 and human SIRT1.J Biol Chem 2002, 277:45099-45107.Baggott JE, Oster RA, Tamura T. Meta-analysis of cancer risk in folic acid supplementation trials.Cancer Epidemiol 2011.Stranges S, Navas-Acien A, Rayman MP, Guallar E. Selenium status and cardiometabolic health: state of the evidence.Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD 2010, 20:754-760.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that five out of every 100 Americans over the age of 12 have hypothyroidism. The prevalence of this disease increases with age.(1) This makes hypothyroidism the most common disease arising from a hormonal insufficiency.(2) Gender is an influencing factor, as women are three to seven times more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men.(1) Known risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this disease include having a family history of hypothyroidism and pregnancy.(1) Recent research by the British Medical Journal (2021) suggests that taking birth control pills, or oral contraceptives (OCs), may also increase the odds of developing hypothyroidism.(3) Birth Control Pills Statistics Oral contraceptives are a widely used form of birth control by women. Many individuals turn to these medications for reasons other than birth control such as relief from symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, hormonal and menstrual irregularities, etc.(3)Approximately 6 million women in the US, aged 15-49, take oral contraceptives (OCs) each year.(4) The National Survey of Family Growth (2015-2017) reported that OCs are the second most common method of contraception used by women between the ages of 15-49.(4) The use of OCs is higher among younger populations and decreases with age. Approximately 90% of women taking birth control pills are < 40 years old and 54% are under the age of 20.(1)Therefore, an association between the use of OCs and the risk of hypothyroidism could potentially affect a significant number of individuals. These individuals, when presented with other options for contraception and/or better monitoring of thyroid function, may be able to avoid the increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with hypothyroidism. Birth Control Pills and Risk of Hypothyroidism The British Medical Journey (2021) recently stated that women with a history of taking OCs for more than 10 years have greater odds of developing hypothyroidism (OR, 3.837; 95% CI 1.402-10.500; p=0.0090). Their finding was the result of a retrospective, cross-sectional study derived from information gathered in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2012. This large epidemiological survey included a total of 30,442 participants. Of this number, 5116 females met the inclusion criteria for participation in the study. These individuals were divided into two groups: those with a history of OC usage (n=3034) and those that had never used OCs (n=2082). Approximately 16% (830) of the combined individuals were identified as hypothyroid. Hypothyroidism was more frequently diagnosed in those with a history of taking OCs (17.7% vs 14.1%). The state of being hypothyroid was defined as either those taking levothyroxine, regardless of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) or those with a TSH >5.6 mIU/L.(3) Women should therefore consider the long-term health effects of OCs and the increased odds of developing hypothyroidism associated with their use. This study had several strengths, including the large population surveyed, and the strict criteria used to control for confounders. Limitations were also inherent in this type of study. One of the main limitations is the lack of data to differentiate between the types of OCs used, including their chemical composition. Knowing the types of contraceptives used, i.e.: combined contraceptives containing estrogen and progestin versus progestin only contraceptives, may have provided different outcomes. Other limitations included possible recall bias due to the use of self-reported data from individuals, which can often be incorrect. These factors may have skewed the results obtained. It is also important to recognize a cross-sectional, retrospective analysis can only demonstrate an association between the OCs and hypothyroidism and cannot establish causation.(3) According to the National Institute for Health (NIH),

The Gary Null Show is here to inform you on the best news in health, healing, the environment.  If you would like to sign up for the new PRN Newsletter provide your email to Prnstudio@gmail.com   Cancel Culture doxxed me (as an ex-Google tech lead) Millennials, Generation Zs trying to foster a workplace 'culture of victimhood'   Turmeric could have antiviral properties Wuhan Institute of Bioengineering, August 5, 2020 Curcumin, a natural compound found in the spice turmeric, could help eliminate certain viruses, research has found.  A study published in the Journal of General Virology showed that curcumin can prevent Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) - an alpha-group coronavirus that infects pigs - from infecting cells. At higher doses, the compound was also found to kill virus particles.  Infection with TGEV causes a disease called transmissible gastroenteritis in piglets, which is characterised by diarrhoea, severe dehydration and death. TGEV is highly infectious and is invariably fatal in piglets younger than two weeks, thus posing a major threat to the global swine industry. There are currently no approved treatments for alpha-coronaviruses and although there is a vaccine for TGEV, it is not effective in preventing the spread of the virus.  To determine the potential antiviral properties of curcumin, the research team treated experimental cells with various concentrations of the compound, before attempting to infect them with TGEV. They found that higher concentrations of curcumin reduced the number of virus particles in the cell culture. The research suggests that curcumin affects TGEV in a number of ways: by directly killing the virus before it is able to infect the cell, by integrating with the viral envelope to 'inactivate' the virus, and by altering the metabolism of cells to prevent viral entry. "Curcumin has a significant inhibitory effect on TGEV adsorption step and a certain direct inactivation effect, suggesting that curcumin has great potential in the prevention of TGEV infection," said Dr Lilan Xie, lead author of the study and researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Bioengineering. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit the replication of some types of virus, including dengue virus, hepatitis B and Zika virus. The compound has also been found to have a number of significant biological effects, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. Curcumin was chosen for this research due to having low side effects according to Dr Xie. They said: "There are great difficulties in the prevention and control of viral diseases, especially when there are no effective vaccines. Traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients, are ideal screening libraries for antiviral drugs because of their advantages, such as convenient acquisition and low side effects." The researchers now hope to continue their research in vivo, using an animal model to assess whether the inhibiting properties of curcumin would be seen in a more complex system. "Further studies will be required, to evaluate the inhibitory effect in vivo and explore the potential mechanisms of curcumin against TGEV, which will lay a foundation for the comprehensive understanding of the antiviral mechanisms and application of curcumin" said Dr Xie.   A quarter of arthritis cases linked to excess weight Weight loss from young adulthood to midlife was associated with substantially reduced risk of developing arthritis Boston University, August 4, 2020   A new Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) study shows that weight loss between early adulthood and midlife lowers arthritis risk, and found no evidence of any persistent risk of arthritis for people who were heavier earlier in life and then lost weight. The study, published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research, also estimates that nearly a quarter of arthritis cases in the U.S., corresponding to 2.7 million people, are attributable to excess weight. "Policies that address the social and structural factors that promote weight gain are urgently needed. Our findings suggest that such measures could have a significant impact on reducing the incidence of arthritis, a leading cause of disability and chronic pain in the US," says study corresponding author Dr. Andrew Stokes, assistant professor of global health at BUSPH. "Although weight loss could represent a viable way to reduce arthritis risk at the individual level, we found that the best solution at the population level would be to prevent weight gain," says study lead author and BUSPH alumna Kaitlyn Berry, who was a research fellow at BUSPH while working on the study and is now at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.  The researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) on adults 40-69 years old, to categorize individuals based on the changes in their body mass indices (BMI) from early adulthood to mid-life, and analyzed the association between these BMI trajectories and the risk of developing an arthritis condition within 10 years. Of the 13,669 people in the study, 3,603 developed an arthritis condition. Compared with those who had a BMI in the "normal" range in both early adulthood and middle age, those who went from the "normal" range to the "overweight" or "obese" ranges, those who went from the "overweight" range to the "obese" range, and those whose BMIs were in the "obese" range at both points were all significantly more likely to develop arthritis conditions.  On the other hand, those whose BMIs went from the "obese" down to the "overweight" range had a significantly lower risk of developing arthritis compared to those whose BMI remained in the "obese" range. Additionally, those who lost weight had the same likelihood of developing arthritis as those whose BMIs stayed in the "overweight" range.  "These findings highlight the need for lifelong public health measures to prevent obesity at younger ages as an important step to curb later life musculoskeletal and joint health problems such as osteoarthritis. This is particularly important as musculoskeletal pain is a leading cause of disability globally," says study co-author Dr. Tuhina Neogi, professor of epidemiology at BUSPH, professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, and chief of rheumatology at Boston Medical Center.   Consumption of a blueberry enriched diet by women for six weeks alters determinants of human muscle progenitor cell function Cornell University, August 5, 2020  A new research study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, investigated how serum from subjects consuming a diet enriched with blueberries would affect the cells responsible for muscle growth and repair. The emerging study, "Consumption of a blueberry enriched diet by women for six weeks alters determinants of human muscle progenitor cell function," was conducted at Cornell University. The study was conducted over six weeks with 22 women, 12 aged 25-40 and 10 aged 60-75. For the blueberry-enriched diet, participants consumed the equivalent of 1.75 cups of fresh blueberries/day, given as freeze-dried blueberries (19 g in the morning and 19 g in the evening), along with their regular diet. Participants were also asked to avoid other foods rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins. Serum was obtained from the participants 1.5 hours after consuming the morning dose of blueberries. The researchers then investigated how the serum would affect muscle progenitor cell function through proliferation or cell number, capacity to manage oxidative stress and oxygen consumption rate or metabolism. The results showed the six-week blueberry-enriched serum obtained from the women aged 25-40 increased human muscle progenitor cell numbers in culture. There was also a trend toward a lower percentage of dead human muscle progenitor cells, suggesting a resistance to oxidative stress, as well as increased oxygen consumption of the cells. There were no beneficial effects seen in the muscle progenitor cells treated with serum from participants aged 60-75 who consumed the blueberry enriched diet. "The consequences associated with the deterioration of skeletal muscle are a loss of mobility, decreased quality of life, and ultimately, loss of independence. Currently, research on dietary interventions to support skeletal muscle regeneration in humans is limited. This preliminary study of muscle progenitor cell function paves the way for future studies to develop clinical interventions," said Anna Thalacker-Mercer, Ph.D., the study's lead investigator. "While the results cannot be generalized to all populations, this study is an important step in translating findings from cell culture and rodent studies to a potential dietary therapy for improving muscle regeneration after injury and during the aging process." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), muscles lose strength, flexibility, and endurance over time. Muscle mass decreases three to five percent every decade after 30 years of age, and that rate increases over age 60. Therefore, strategies to improve muscle progenitor cell proliferation and lower oxidative stress may also benefit muscle regeneration during the aging process. Research on the role that blueberries may play in promoting good health is ongoing across multiple areas, including cardiovascular health, diabetes management, brain health, exercise and the gut microbiome.     From mitochondria to healthy aging: role of branched-chain amino acid treatment University of Turin (Italy), August 3, 2020   According to news originating from Turin, Italy, research stated, “Malnutrition often affects elderly patients and significantly contributes to the reduction in healthy life expectancy, causing high morbidity and mortality. In particular, protein malnutrition is one of the determinants of frailty and sarcopenia in elderly people.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Turin, “To investigate the role of amino acid supplementation in senior patients we performed an open-label randomized trial and administered a particular branched-chain amino acid enriched mixture (BCAAem) or provided diet advice in 155 elderly malnourished patients. They were followed for 2 months, assessing cognitive performance by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), muscle mass measured by anthropometry, strength measure by hand grip and performance measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the 30 s Chair Sit to Stand (30-s CST) test and the 4 m gait speed test. Moreover we measured oxidative stress in plasma and mitochondrial production of ATP and electron flux in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both groups improved in nutritional status, general health and muscle mass, strength and performance; treatment with BCAAem supplementation was more effective than simple diet advice in increasing MMSE (1.2 increase versus 0.2, p = 0.0171), ATP production (0.43 increase versus -0.1, p = 0.0001), electron flux (0.50 increase versus 0.01, p< 0.0001) and in maintaining low oxidative stress. The amelioration of clinical parameters as MMSE, balance, four meter walking test were associated to increased mitochondrial function.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Overall, our findings show that sustaining nutritional support might be clinically relevant in increasing physical performance in elderly malnourished patients and that the use of specific BCAAem might ameliorate also cognitive performance thanks to an amelioration of mitochondria bioenergetics.”     20-year sedentary lifestyle linked to twice the risk of premature death: Being physically active is key to a longer life Norweign University of Science and Technology, August 4, 202 It's easy to fall into the habit of skipping exercise because you're busy with work or chores. Yet according to a study, having a sedentary lifestyle for at least 20 years is linked to twice the risk of premature death, especially compared to those who exercise regularly. Results from the Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT study) was presented at ESC Congress 2019 and the World Congress of Cardiology. The HUNT study was conducted to determine how changes in physical activity within two decades were linked to “subsequent death from all causes and from cardiovascular disease.” Other studies on the association between physical activity and longevity only ask volunteers about their level of physical activity once and followed them for several years. However, physical activity is a behavior that constantly changes, highlighting the importance of looking into how these changes over time are linked to the risk of death later in life. Physical activity levels linked to premature death risk Researchers asked residents of Norway aged 20 and older to participate during three points: 1984 to 1986, 1995 to 1997 and 2006 to 2008. For all three time points, the volunteers reported their frequency and duration of leisure time physical activity. The researchers then examined data from the first and third surveys. Data for the analysis was obtained from 23,146 male and female volunteers. Physical activity was classified as: Inactive Moderate (Less than two hours a week.) High (Two or more hours per week.) The volunteers were divided into groups based on their activity levels for each survey. The physical activity data were linked to information on deaths until the end of 2013 via the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. The risk of death in the two physical activity groups was compared to the reference group, which included participants who reported a high level of exercise during both surveys. Analyses were also adjusted for factors that influence prognosis: Age Blood pressure Body mass index (BMI) Education level Sex Smoking Unlike volunteers in the reference group, participants who were inactive in both 1984-1986 and 2006-2008 had twice the risk of premature death and a 2.7-fold greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Compared to the reference group, participants with moderate activity at both time points had a 60 percent and 90 percent greater risk of all-cause and cardiovascular deaths, respectively. Exercising consistently is key Dr. Trine Moholdt, a study author from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology at Trondheim, Norway, explained that to reap the maximum health benefits of physical activity and prevent premature all-cause and cardiovascular death, people must be physically active consistently. Moholdt noted that even if you had a sedentary lifestyle, you can still reduce your risk by exercising later in life. Adults should have at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity a week to effectively boost their overall well-being. But these numbers aren't set in stone, said Moholdt. She added that even exercise below the recommended levels will offer some benefits. Instead of focusing on how much you're exercising, Moholdt suggests setting goals to be more physically fit. Consult a trusted physician for activities that suit your health condition. Even smaller amounts of activity can help you be more physically fit, as long as your workout “makes you breathe heavily.” (Related: If you have an 8-hour desk job, exercise for 30 minutes daily to significantly improve your health.) Set aside some time to go to the gym, or sneak in mini-workouts throughout a regular day. Moholdt recommends any exercise that you might enjoy, such as: Using the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Walking instead of driving to your destination. Getting off the bus one stop early and walking the rest of the way. Exercise during work breaks. Break out a sweat in the office break room by doing jumping jacks or squats. Going for a long walk with your dog. Enjoying a walk around the neighborhood with your family. Following online workout videos if you can't leave the house. Some participants changed categories between surveys and those who went from inactive to highly active had a mortality risk “between those who were continually active or continually sedentary.” On the other hand, volunteers who went from highly active to inactive had a similar risk of dying like those who were inactive at both surveys. Moholdt said that it's never too late to start exercising even if you've been sedentary for most of your life. Starting exercise sooner ensures that you also see positive results sooner. Moholdt concluded that you should start and maintain good exercise habits as early as you can. Being physically active doesn't just help prevent premature death, it also helps improve your mental and physical health. Exercising regularly is key to having a longer and healthier life.   Researchers say where you live could add years to your life People who live in blue states are living longer, and the gap is widening Syracuse University, August 4 2020   Could where you live dictate how long you live? New research at Syracuse University's Maxwell School, published today in the Milbank Quarterly, shows Americans who live in so called blue states tend to live longer than those in red states, primarily due to state policies. Among the findings: U.S. state policies since the 1980s have cut short American lives, particularly for women. U.S. life expectancy gains since 2010 would be 25% greater for women and 13% greater for men if states policies had not changed in the way they did, with many becoming more conservative. Enacting more liberal state policies could raise U.S. life expectancy by over 2 years, whereas enacting more conservative state policies could reduce it by 2 years. In the greatest gap between states, residents in Connecticut outlive their counterparts in Oklahoma by as many as seven years. The study examined how state policy environments contributed to U.S. life expectancy trends from 1970 to 2014. It used information on 18 policy domains such as abortion and guns, each measured on a liberal-to-conservative scale, for every state and calendar year. The analysis then predicted U.S. life expectancy trends from all policy domains, controlling for characteristics of states and their residents. "Americans die younger than people in other high-income countries," said Jennifer Karas Montez, sociology professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School and lead author of the study. "This gap in life expectancy between the U.S. and other countries emerged in the 1980s and has grown ever since. Since that time, gaps in life expectancy between U.S. states also expanded. The difference between the highest and lowest life expectancy states has grown to 7.0 years--the largest ever recorded. These two trends are related: the dismal life expectancy trends of some states have been an anchor on overall U.S. life expectancy."'  For instance, between 1980 and 2017, life expectancy rose by just 2.2 years in Oklahoma (73.6 to 75.8 years) but 5.8 years in Connecticut (74.9 to 80.7 years). Life expectancy in Oklahoma now falls between that of Serbia and Brazil, while Connecticut falls between Denmark and Costa Rica.  The study found that Oklahoma and Connecticut differ in other ways. While these two states were diverging in life expectancy, they were also diverging in their policy orientation. Oklahoma made one of the largest transitions toward a conservative state policy environment among all 50 states. Conversely, Connecticut made one of the largest transitions toward a liberal state policy environment. This polarization in state policy environments has occurred across the U.S. and helps to explain the growing gap in life expectancy between states and the troubling trends in U.S. life expectancy since the 1980s.  Among the 18 policy domains studied, 10 strongly predict life expectancy. More liberal versions of those policies generally predict longer lives and more conservative versions generally predict shorter lives. This is especially the case for policies on tobacco, immigration, civil rights, labor (e.g., Right to Work laws, minimum wage), and the environment. For instance, by changing its labor laws from the most conservative to the most liberal orientation, a state could experience a large 1-year increase in life expectancy. State policies have particularly important consequences for women's life expectancy. This finding reflects the reality that state policies such as minimum wage, EITC, abortion laws, and Medicaid are more relevant for women's than men's lives. According to Montez, "During the 1980s and after 2010, overall changes in state policies had a negative impact on U.S. life expectancy. After 2010, the small gains in U.S. life expectancy would have been 13% steeper among men and 25% steeper among women if state policies had not changed in the way that they did, with many becoming more conservative." If all 50 states enacted either liberal or conservative policies, what would happen to U.S. life expectancy? "If all states enacted liberal policies across the 18 domains, our study estimated that U.S. life expectancy would increase by 2.8 years for women and 2.1 years for men," said Montez. "However, if all states enacted conservative policies, U.S. life expectancy would decline by 2.0 years for women and 1.9 years for men. If all states followed current national policy trends, there would continue to be little improvement in life expectancy. This is partly due to countervailing forces: gains in U.S. life expectancy associated with some national policy trends (e.g., toward liberal policies on the environment and civil rights) would be offset by losses associated with other trends (e.g., toward conservative policies on abortion and guns)." Montez said that trends in state policies since the 1980s have cut short many lives. "Improving U.S. health and longevity requires changing many of those policies," said Montez. "In particular, it is essential to enact policies that protect the environment, regulate tobacco and firearms, and ensure labor, reproductive, and civil rights." But Montez believes e nacting these changes in state policies will not be easy. "On the contrary: policymakers in many states have put the interests of corporations and their lobbyists--particularly the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)--and wealthy donors over the interests and health of their constituents." To drive home her point, Montez points out Oklahoma, for example, is one of the most active states in terms of enacting the corporate-friendly and politically-conservative policies promoted by ALEC, while Connecticut is among the least active states. "Policymakers and the public must recognize," she said, "that putting profits over people cuts lives short."   Gut microbes shape our antibodies before we are infected by pathogens University of Bern (Germany), August 5, 2020   B cells are white blood cells that develop to produce antibodies. These antibodies, or immunoglobulins, can bind to harmful foreign particles (such as viruses or disease-causing bacteria) to stop them invading and infecting the body's cells. Each B cell carries an individual B cell receptor (BCR) which determines which particles it can bind, rather like each lock accepts a different key. There are many millions of B cells with different receptors in the body. This immense diversity comes from rearranging the genes that code these receptors, so the receptor is slightly different in every B cell resulting in billions of possibilities of different harmful molecules that could be recognized. Intestinal microbes trigger expansion of these B cell populations and antibody production, but until now it was unknown whether this was a random process, or whether the molecules of the intestinal microbes themselves influence the outcome.  In a research article published in the journal Nature, Dr. Hai Li, Dr. Julien Limenitakis, Prof. Stephanie Ganal-Vonarburg and Prof. Andrew Macpherson of the Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, and Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, have analyzed the billions of genes that code the antibodies in a system that allows the responses to individual benign intestinal microbes to be understood.  The range of available antibodies depends on where beneficial microbes are in the body The number of benign microbes living in our intestines is about the same as the number of cells in our body. Mostly these bacteria stay within the intestinal tube rather than penetrate the body tissues. Unfortunately, some penetration is unavoidable, because the intestine only has a single layer of cells that separate the inside of the tube from blood vessels that we need to absorb our food.  Dr. Limenitakis used specially designed computer programs to process millions of genetic sequences that compare the antibody repertoire from B cells, depending on whether the microbes stay in the intestine, or whether they reach the bloodstream. In both cases the antibody repertoire is altered, but in rather different ways depending on how the exposure occurs.  "Interestingly, this is rather predictable depending on the microbe concerned and where it is in the body, indicating that the intestinal microbes direct the development of our antibodies before we get a serious infection and this process is certainly not random", explains Ganal-Vonarburg. There are different sorts of antibodies in the lining of the intestine (IgA) compared with the bloodstream (IgM and IgG). Using the powerful genetic analysis, the researchers showed that the range of different antibodies produced in the intestine was far less that those produced in central body tissues. This means that once microbes get into the body, the immune system has many more possibilities to neutralize and eliminate them, whereas antibodies in the intestine mainly just bind the bacterial molecules that they can see at any one time. How the antibodies change when the body is exposed to different microbes Over their life-span mammals face a huge variety of different microbial challenges. It was therefore important to know how once the antibody repertoire could change once had been shaped by a particular microbe when something else came along. The research team answered this question by testing what happened with the same microbe at different sites or with two different microbes on after another.  Although intestinal microbes do not directly produce an especially wide range of different antibodies, they sensitize the central immune tissues to produce antibodies if the microbe gets into the bloodstream. When a second microbes comes along, the rather limited intestinal antibody response changes to accommodate this microbe (rather like changing the lock in one's door). This is different from what happens when microbes get into the blood stream to reach the central body tissues when a second set of antibodies is made without compromising the first response to the original microbes (like installing another lock, so the door can be opened with different keys). This shows that central body tissues have the capacity to remember a range of different microbial species and to avoid the dangers of sepsis. It also shows that different B cell immune strategies in different body compartments are important for maintenance of our peaceful existence with our microbial passengers.  Dr. Li comments that "Our data show for the first time that not only the composition of our intestinal microbiota, but also the timing and sequence of exposure to certain members of the commensal microbiota, happening predominantly during the first waves of colonisations during early life, have an outcome on the resulting B cell receptor repertoire and subsequent immunity to pathogens."   Meta-analysis finds higher circulating vitamin D levels associated with lower risk of gestational diabetes Ahvaz Jundishapur University (Iran), August 5, 2020   According to news reporting out of Ahvaz, Iran, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “Several meta-analyses of observational studies revealed a modest increase in the risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) among pregnant women with low levels of serum vitamin D. However, no study examined a dose-response meta-analysis as well as a high versus low analysis in this regard.” Financial support for this research came from Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, “We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus up to August 2019 to find prospective observational studies investigating the association of serum 25(OH)D with the risk of developing GDM. Using a random-effects model, the reported risk estimates were pooled. Nine cohort studies and six nested case-control studies were included in the final analysis (40,788 participants and 1848 cases). Considering linear analysis, each 10 nmol/L increase in circulating 25(OH)D was associated with a 2% lower risk of GDM (effect size (ES): 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98, 0.99; I=85.0%, p

Recently, my friend turned me onto Dr. William Li and his book “” – a really great book that delves into the research-based healing powers of a variety of foods. Over two decades, Dr. Li’s leadership in the field of angiogenesis and its clinical translation has brought to the world 30 paradigm-shifting treatments for cancer, vision loss, and wound healing. His vision, expertise, and global multidisciplinary networks are focused on conquering disease, and improving quality of life and the human condition through diet, lifestyle, and judicious use of medicines that optimize health throughout aging. Dr. Li’s work engages the White House, the Clinton Global Initiative, National Institutes of Health, Fortune 500 companies, and leading universities and medical institutions across North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Dr. Li’s work has impacted more than 50 million people worldwide, and he is a TED Conference speaker. ” Dr. Li received his undergraduate degree with honors from Harvard College, his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and his clinical training in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific and clinical articles, book chapters, and abstracts, including publications in leading journals such as Science, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, and Nature Reviews. Dr. Li has held faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School, Tufts University, and Dartmouth Medical School. He serves on the board of directors of the , the , and , as well as public and private companies focused on health and life sciences innovation. A few of my big takeaways from his book included: – Regarding stem cells: Some foods like , , and beer can mobilize them and help us regenerate. Other foods, like purple potatoes, can kill deadly stem cells that spark cancer growth. – We all have cancer growing in our body. Every single one of us, even you. Over time, however, some tiny nests of cancer can overwhelm the defense system and overcome antiangiogenic countermeasures by releasing huge amounts of the same growth factor signals involved in wound healing. In lab experiments, once new blood vessels sprout into the small cluster of cancer cells, a tumor can grow exponentially, expanding up to sixteen thousand times in size in only two weeks after angiogenesis starts. – Even as little as thirty minutes of exposure to tobacco smoke exhaled by someone else is enough to stun your stem cells. – Not surprisingly, air pollution is similarly damaging. Researchers have found that in people living in communities with major air pollution problems, exposure to fine particulate matter during pollution flares lowers the number of endothelial progenitor cells in their blood. – Among the Malmo participants, researchers found that those with the highest levels of stem cell factor had a lower risk of heart failure by 50 percent, a lower risk of stroke by 34 percent, and a lower risk of death from any cause by 32 percent compared to those participants with the lowest levels of stem cell factor. – During the cholera epidemic of 1892 in France, Metchnikoff mixed bacteria together in a petri dish and found that some bacteria could stimulate cholera growth, but to his surprise found that other bacteria hindered it. This led him to speculate whether swallowing some types of helpful bacteria might be useful for preventing deadly diseases. He was also struck by the fact that some people lived to a ripe old age despite harsh rural conditions and poor hygiene associated with poverty. In Bulgaria, he noted, there were peasants in the Caucasus Mountains who lived beyond one hundred years. He observed that the oldest villagers were drinking fermented yogurt containing the bacteria . Metchnikoff suggested that one secret to longevity is consuming healthy bacteria. – A study of 1,095 “ridiculously healthy people” who have no health issues or family history of serious disease across all age groups (from age three to more than one hundred years old) showed that a common denominator in both young and old is an almost identical microbiome. – The scientists concluded that some healthy bacteria are resilient and can bounce back from a dietary insult, while others cannot. They called the persistent defect a “scar” left on the microbiome due to diet. Here’s where it gets interesting in this study. The microbiome scar became larger over generations when the researchers began breeding the mice and exposing each generation of mice to the high-fat, low-fiber Western-style diet. With each generation, more and more of the original bacteria from the healthy human disappeared from their microbiome. By the fourth generation (great-grandchildren of the original), a sobering 72 percent of the microbes from the initial healthy mice were no longer detectable. Generations of eating the same unhealthy high-fat, low-fiber diet killed off healthy gut microbes permanently. – But wound healing was only the beginning. In the lab, L. reuteri also reduced abdominal fat and obesity in mice, even if they ate a junk food diet of potato chips. L. reuteri can stimulate the growth of thick, shiny, healthy hair; improve skin tone; boost the immune system; and prevent the growth of tumors in the colon and in the breast. And that’s not all. Experiments have shown that in male mice, L. reuteri in drinking water increases testicular size, testosterone production, and mating frequency. A truly fascinating finding was that L. reuteri stimulates the brain to release the hormone oxytocin, which is the social bonding neurochemical that is released from the brain during a hug or handshake, by close friendship, during kissing, breast feeding, and orgasm. The depth of research conducted with this one bacteria is so impressive it led to an article in Needless to say, this is a probiotic worthy of taking because of the scientific evidence for its actions and potential benefits. – Do you wear sunscreen every time you get on a flight? You should. A 2015 study by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco published in the journal JAMA Dermatology showed that pilots flying for just one hour at thirty thousand feet altitude receive the same amount of UV radiation through the cockpit window as they would from a twenty-minute session in a tanning salon. – Solvents off-gassing from carpets, new cars, and chemicals in ordinary household products like nail polish remover, shampoo, and paint damage DNA, too. If you drive a car that uses gasoline, when you fill up the tank, you are breathing in fumes containing benzene, which damages DNA. It is wise to stand upwind of the vapor while you are at the gas station. – Other epigenetic changes from exercise can block harmful genes. These are seen after swimming, sprinting, interval training, and high-intensity walking. – A study by researchers at University of California, San Francisco showed that breastfeeding improved the length of telomeres in the child. In a group of 121 children, those who were exclusively breastfed when they were infants had longer telomeres by the time they were of preschool age (four to five years old) compared to children who were formula fed. This shows the durability of the telomere effect—that the benefits of breastfeeding remain years after a child is weaned and eating solid food.  – Scientists from the University of Southern California showed that fasting cycles can be used to build a fresh immune system. Remarkably, they showed that fasting two to four days in a row forces the human body to go into a recycling mode, which gets rid of the older, worn-out immune cells. Then, when food is started again, it jump-starts the hematopoietic stem cells in your bone marrow to start regenerating fresh immune cells thus rebuilding the immune system. – Soyfoods represent dozens of different kinds of foods made from soybeans, an ancient legume that originated in eastern China three thousand years ago. From fresh soy products, such as edamame, soymilk, and soy nuts, to soyfoods that are fermented, such as soy sauce, tofu, miso, natto, tempeh, and more, soy is encountered in many forms. Asian markets will often have fresh soybeans, but you can also often find them in the frozen section of the grocery store. Fresh tofu is versatile and is a common food in Asia. In Western countries, the best sources to find tofu varieties are Asian markets. Look at the menu of a Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, or Vietnamese restaurant, and you’ll find many soy offerings. Soy contains antiangiogenic bioactives known as isoflavones, specifically genistein, daidzein, equol, and glyceollins. Fermented soy products have higher concentrations of them. – Research has revealed that chicken thighs and drumsticks are especially healthy choices. Dark chicken meat contains , or menaquinone, a naturally occurring fat-soluble vitamin. – At the , we began studying teas for their biological properties using lab testing systems originally designed to evaluate antiangiogenic cancer drugs. We found that tea extracts had really exceptionally potent angiogenesis inhibitory effects, ied comparable to that of drugs. What was interesting was that different varieties of tea exhibited different potencies. We found Chinese jasmine tea to be more potent than Japanese sencha tea, and  was even more potent than jasmine tea. The most remarkable finding was that when we crossed cultures and mixed nde with  tea, the resulting tea blend had a synergistic effect on blood vessel growth that was more than twice as potent against angiogenesis than either one alone. – At the , we conducted research on the antiangiogenic activity of six different wines made by different grape varietals from the same winery (Vintage Wine Estates) and the same vintage, grown on the same terroir. Among the six, we identified the most potent antiangiogenic  as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. – At the end of the study, the researchers compared bloodwork from before and after the experiment. Amazingly, participants who drank the high-flavanol hot had twice as many stem cells in their circulation compared to the people who drank the low-flavanol cocoa. – Scientists at the University of Montreal discovered that a diet rich in fish oil increases production of endothelial progenitor stem cells that can regenerate oxygen-deprived muscles. – Squid ink, which actually usually comes from cuttlefish, contains bioactives that not only inhibit angiogenesis, but also can protect stem cells. – Scientists at the University of Warsaw in Poland examined endothelial progenitor cells in the blood of healthy young individuals and found that exposing them to  could protect the stem cells against stress. The exposure to chokeberry also improved the ability of the stem cells to migrate and participate in regenerating blood vessels. – is a bioactive known as a carotenoid. It is a pigment that gives corn and saffron their yellow-orange color, but it’s also common in leafy green vegetables, like , , , , , , and . The results of this study suggest that eating zeaxanthin-containing foods may help the performance of our stem cells for organ regeneration. – The ellagic acid of the activates stem cells. – The leaves, stalks, and seeds of are all edible and contain a number of health-promoting bioactives, including a tongue twister: 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP). NBP is important because it was approved as a pharmaceutical drug in 2002 by regulatory agencies in China for doctors to use as a neuroprotective treatment in patients who have suffered a stroke. NBP, also found in supplements containing celery seed extract, improves brain circulation, lowers brain inflammation, grows nerves, and limits brain damage from stroke. Researchers from Soochow University in China studied how NBP helps patients recover from a stroke. They recruited 170 individuals who had suffered an acute ischemic stroke, meaning a blood clot caused an interruption of blood flow and killed part of the brain. – While these results are from a drug form of NBP, it shows that a bioactive present in has stem cell–activating properties that may help heal and regenerate organs after a medical catastrophe like a stroke. –  has many well researched health benefits, and now among them is activating the regenerative system. This has been studied in people who smoke. Cigarette smoking chemically scorches the blood vessel lining, which leads to increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Cigarette smoking is also damaging to stem cells, and reduces the number of circulating stem cells. People who smoke have 60 percent fewer stem cells in their bloodstream compared to nonsmokers—another reason not to smoke. Researchers from Chonnam National University Hospital in Korea and the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan examined the effects of drinking green tea on the stem cells of smokers. They enrolled twenty young men in their late twenties who had smoked for six years and gave them four cups of green tea to drink each day for two weeks (a total of 56 cups). Their blood was drawn at the beginning and at the end of the study to count the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells present. The results showed that drinking green tea increased the number of circulating stem cells by 43 percent over two weeks. The health of the smokers’ blood vessels was also improved by green tea over the study period. Their vascular dilation response was improved by 29 percent. In the lab, scientists have discovered that green tea and its catechins can stimulate regeneration of brain, muscle, bone, and nerves and can promote wound healing. – They found that one strain of L. reuteri in a sourdough starter that had been handed down from one baker to another since 1970 had actually evolved to live and thrive in bread dough. To dominate in their new turf, some L. reuteri strains in the starter actually developed the ability to produce a natural antibiotic called reutericyclin that kills other harmful bacteria growing around it. While the bacteria itself does not survive the high oven temperatures used for baking, scientists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have shown that the benefits may not require live bacteria at all when it comes to L. reuteri. In the lab, scientists completely pulverized the bacteria so no live L. reuteri survived, but they found that substances coming from the particles of dead bacteria could create the same benefits as the live bacteria. This is a complete surprise, because it’s always been assumed that the benefits of gut bacteria require them to be alive. – The , renowned for its culinary and medicinal properties, was the subject of a study by scientists at Jiangnan University in China to test its effects on the microbiome. In the lab, they fed mice with severe gut inflammation the human equivalent of one tablespoon of Lion’s mane mushroom. The results showed that Lion’s mane could decrease the symptoms and the proteins associated with gut inflammation by as much as 40 percent. The mushroom increased the healthy bacteria Akkermansia while decreasing the harmful sulfur toxin-producing Desulfovibrio. – In a study called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers documented coffee and caffeine consumption in 5,826 adults and showed that . – drinking was associated with increased telomere length, but only in elderly men, not women. When the amount of tea consumed by men was analyzed, those who drank three or more cups of tea per day had longer telomeres compared to those who drank less than a third of a cup of tea. The difference in telomere length was equivalent to a calculated difference of five years of additional life between high-and low-level tea drinkers. No other food group was associated with any telomere lengthening in this elderly population. The study did not specifically ask which type of tea, but green tea and oolong tea are the most commonly consumed teas in China. – At the end of six weeks of eating , the participants did a 2.5-hour treadmill run. First, researchers drew their blood before the run. Then, an hour before exercise, the blueberry eaters ate a larger than usual amount of blueberries (375 grams, or 2.7 cups worth of fresh blueberries). Immediately after the participants’ run, researchers took another blood sample. One hour later, blood was drawn one final time to see what happened to their immune cells and what the effect of eating blueberries was. The blood samples were analyzed for different immune cells, including T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. The results were eye opening. Blueberry eaters had almost double the number of NK cells before exercise compared to those who did not eat blueberries. Normally, NK cells would be expected to rapidly decline after intense exercise. But in the group that consumed blueberries, the NK cells remained elevated for at least one hour after exercise ceased. – Most cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish, octopus) squirt a black ink to escape predators. This ink is collected by fishermen from a sac in the creature’s body and is a flavorsome delicacy used to make rice and pasta dishes in the seaside cuisine of the Mediterranean. Some famous dishes featuring the ink include Spain’s black rice (arroz negra), Venice’s risotto di nero di seppia, and black spaghetti known as pasta al nero. Lab research on the ink has shown it can have antioxidant, antiangiogenic, stem cell–protecting, and immune-enhancing effects. Squid ink can even protect the gut microbiome against In my , some of the biggest audience reactions came when I showed the results of a study where we did a head-to-head comparison of the potency of different foods versus drugs on angiogenesis. We examined four cancer drugs, seven other common medications (anti-inflammatory drugs, statins, a blood pressure medication, and an antibiotic), and sixteen dietary factors from foods associated with lowering the risk of various cancers. Remarkably, fifteen of the dietary factors were more potent than one of the cancer drugs in the experiment we did. As you can see, there's plenty to be gleaned from this book. So in today's podcast, I take a deep dive with author Dr. William Li on the nitty gritty details of how we truly can eat to beat disease. During our discussion, you'll discover: -What Dr. Li means when he says that "we all have cancer"...8:53 We need to be more aware of how an individual body responds to cancer, rather than the "weapon" used to fight it Microscopic cancers (genetic mutations) are bound to occur in our bodies, which contain over 39 trillion cells (like a factory makes a few mistakes when operating at full power) The body spots these errors and corrects them A study revealed that men, women of various ages had trace amounts of cancer in their bodies upon autopsy It takes just one mutation to not be killed off by the immune system to become problematic Angiogenesis: the physiological process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels, formed in the earlier stage of vasculogenesis. Difference between a harmless microscopic cancer and a harmful one is whether they can hijack blood vessels in order to feed themselves -How drugs stack up versus a diet targeted at cancer prevention...16:33 Cancer research isn't up to speed on how food affects microscopic cancers in us Many foods are equal to cancer to drugs in cutting off the blood supply; some are more powerful Soy extracts were particularly efficacious Soy is oft misunderstood Has a phytoestrogen Soy estrogen side by side with chemical structure of human estrogen is completely different It blocks estrogen against breast cancer Study on 5000 women w/ breast cancer who ate more soy had lower risk of mortality and higher rates of remission Fermentation destroys most of the anti-nutrients in soy The dose is the difference between the poison and the cure -Microbiome and ingesting healthy bacteria for longevity...31:25 It's not the food, it's how our body responds to the food Microbiome is more important than previously thought Elie Metchnikoff found that growing bacteria that contained cholera, some bacteria killed the cholera Human body contains over 39 trillion bacteria; more than there are cells contains ellagitannins, which prompt the colon to secrete mucus -Biochemical individuality: why one food may be good for one and bad for another...42:47 There's no "magic bullet" Ellagitannins are metabolized very differently from one person to another   Communicated from mother to child in utero Boosts immune system Speeds healing Makes hair shinier Shown to prevent tumors from growing Can be taken as a supplement -Foods that can control the growth of cancer within us...50:24 Berries - tartness is important (aronia) Indigenous, farmers markets are good resources Parsley has anti-angiogenic activity Add to a smoothie Beverages: (Chinese jasmine tea more powerful than Japanese) has more power than green tea All red are not created equal Chocolate: Anti-angiogenic Kills lymphoma cells Dutch chocolate had twice the anti-angiogenic as Swiss tea Nose to tail diet Collagen is found in the cartilage, not the meat and peptides -And much more... Resources from this episode: - - -L Reuteri Ben uses: - - - - - - - - - - (code: BEN will save you 15%) - - - Episode sponsors: -: Ben Greenfield's new book is now released in both print and audio! This book makes an excellent Christmas gift for kids, and a great bedtime story for parents to read to their children. Order your copy at . -: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more. Get 10% off your order of Kion Aminos, and everything at the Kion site when you use discount code "bgf10" at checkout. -: Achieve your health goals easier and faster with Pique Tea. My mental clarity is through the roof and energy levels have never been better since I've been drinking Pique Tea. Get 15% off your entire order when you use code: GREENFIELD -: Organic brands you love, for less. Your favorite organic food and products. Fast and free shipping to your doorstep. Receive a gift card up to $20 when you begin a new membership using . -: It’s cloud accounting software that basically does your invoicing for you and on top of that gets you paid 2x faster. Try it out for a free 30-day trial of FreshBooks right now. Go to Freshbooks.com/Ben and enter "The Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast" in the how did you hear about us section. -: Whether you’re an insurance expert or a newbie, Policygenius created a website that makes it easy for you to compare quotes, get advice, and get covered. Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Dr. Li or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Joan Chrisler discuss the definition and origins of “sizeism", especially as it relates to rising rates of obesity.   Fat people are victims of discrimination in the workplace and fat shaming is not useful in attempting to get a person to lose weight. Many fat people avoid visiting health care professionals because they feel discriminated against in the health care setting.  This is the first in a series of Critically Speaking episodes about the obesity epidemic. Next week, the costs of the obesity epidemic will be discussed.    Key Takeaways:         The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of the CDC has shown that obesity has grown from 13%   to 40% of the population from the 1960s to 2012.         Fat people often feel discriminated against in areas ranging from employment to health care.         The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance or NAAFA is an organization that promotes body positivity.   "Some of the advice fat people are given by medical professionals, mimics the systems of eating disorders.” —  Dr. Joan Chrisler   Connect with Dr. Joan Chrisler: Email: jcchr@conncoll.edu ResearchGate: Joan Chrisler – Professor Emerita of Psychology at Connecticut College   Connect with Therese: Website:   www.criticallyspeaking.net Twitter: @CritiSpeak Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net   Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Rationale & objective: As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise in the United States, it is important to understand its impact on the lifetime risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Study design: The CKD Health Policy Model was used to simulate the lifetime risk of CKD for those with and without obesity at baseline. Model structure was updated for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline to incorporate new longitudinal data from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study. Setting and population: The updated model was populated with a nationally representative cohort from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Outcomes: Lifetime risk of CKD, highest stage and any stage. Model, perspective, & timeframe: Simulation model following up individuals from current age through death or age 90 years. Results: Lifetime risk of any CKD stage was 32.5% (95% CI 28.6%–36.3%) for persons with normal weight, 37.6% (95% CI 33.5%–41.7%) for persons who were overweight, and 41.0% (95% CI 36.7%–45.3%) for persons with obesity at baseline. The difference between persons with normal weight and persons with obesity at baseline was statistically significant (p

INGREDIENTS OF THE DAY:    None This is another show devoted to news stories popping up in early 2019.  A recurrent theme in this podcast is the terrible impact that highly processed foods have on our health.  I think, in the next 10 years, that topic will become front-and-center in the national discourse as the health crises in this country and others reach epic proportions.  Even now, I’m seeing some significant early signs, which I’ll talk about later.  Plus, at the end you’ll get a fascinatingly gross story about the fast food industry. Show Notes:  To Contact Show:  foodlabelsrevealed@gmail.com  Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/prophetofprocessedfood/?ref=bookmarks The podcast can be subscribed to at the iTunes store or using most of the podcast apps available for smart phones or tablets.  Just search under Food Labels Revealed. References: British Journal of Medicine:  “Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Cancer Risk” https://tinyurl.com/y2o4rmj7 Big Think.com:  “Eating Ultra-Processed Foods Linked to Cancer by Worrying New Study” https://tinyurl.com/y3mmhcwt  Spilled News.com:  Chinese Restaurant Syndrome:  Causes, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Treatments https://tinyurl.com/y6k2rf5u National Institutes of Health:  “NIH Study Finds Heavily Processed Foods Cause Overeating and Weight Gain https://tinyurl.com/y38rfvsp Cell Metabolism:  “Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain” https://tinyurl.com/y6km22qr JNCI Cancer Spectrum:  “Preventable Cancer Burden Associated with Poor Diet in the United States” https://tinyurl.com/yyktaakf  CNN Report:  “Thousands of Cancer Diagnoses Tied to a Poor Diet” https://tinyurl.com/y6qmk96g USDA:  National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) https://tinyurl.com/yy6e9nxk Journal of the American Medical Association:  “Association of the Frequency of Organic Food Consumption with Cancer Risk” https://tinyurl.com/y9krjkgc Live Kindly.com:  “Researchers Shocked at How Much Poop They Found on McDonald’s Touchscreen Menus” https://tinyurl.com/y3crn224  Music: Intro music is the "Peter Gunn Theme" by Henri Mancini Outro music is "Isolated" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod

Doctor Bryan Walsh is back with us today, discussing the diagnostic benefits of a simple blood chemistry.  He says the results of common and inexpensive lab panels can be mined for meaningful health information, potentially saving patients a lot of time and money on testing – that is, if you know what these blood markers actually mean (and your average doctor probably doesn’t). Fortunately for us, Bryan knows and loves to teach. In this podcast, he shares a bit about his own journey - what led him to study these basic blood markers, and what now inspires him to teach others.  If you like this episode, visit Bryan’s Metabolic Fitness Pro website, where he continues to develop new educational material for health practitioners and other avid learners. Here’s the outline of this interview with Bryan Walsh: [00:00:58] Bryan's WellnessFX videos. [00:02:07] Textbook: Fischbach's A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests 10th Edition. [00:04:27] Albumin. [00:05:58] Study: Allen, Larry A., and Christopher B. Granger. "Risk assessment in the genomic era: Are we missing the low-hanging fruit?." American heart journal 157.5 (2009): 799. [00:06:36] Podcast: How to Understand Glucose Regulation with Dr. Bryan Walsh. [00:06:49] Organic Acids Test. Podcast: How to Measure Your Metabolism with Organic Acids with Dr. William Shaw, PhD. [00:07:33] Blood has to be the first place you go. [00:08:13] Reference ranges. [00:08:40] A lab determines a bell-shaped curve for the population of a given region; the reference range might then be +/- 2 standard deviations. [00:10:21] Vitamin D. [00:13:41] Functional reference ranges. [00:14:30] Harry Eidenier, PhD, widely considered to be the Grandfather of Functional Blood Chemistry analysis. [00:18:26] Total cholesterol. [00:19:18] Bilirubin: A metabolic breakdown byproduct of red blood cell destruction. [00:21:22] Study: Ong, Kwok-Leung, et al. "The relationship between total bilirubin levels and total mortality in older adults: the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004." PloS one 9.4 (2014): e94479. [00:24:19] Insulin and c-peptide. [00:25:07] GGT Studies: Long, Y., et al. "Gamma-glutamyltransferase predicts increased risk of mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies." Free radical research 48.6 (2014): 716-728. and Koenig, Gerald, and Stephanie Seneff. "Gamma-glutamyltransferase: a predictive biomarker of cellular antioxidant inadequacy and disease risk." Disease markers 2015 (2015). [00:25:52] Podcast: How to Measure Hormones, with Mark Newman, 8-OHdG. [00:27:57] GlycoMark, adiponectin. [00:28:39] HDL cholesterol 2.65mmol/L (in US, 102 mg/dL). [00:29:35] Study: Rosenson, Robert S., et al. "Dysfunctional HDL and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease." Nature reviews cardiology 13.1 (2016): 48-60. [00:30:43] HDL - Above 75-80 could indicate dysfunction in the body (e.g., cancer, autoimmunity, liver dysfunction). [00:32:14] Study: Iannello, S., et al. "Low fasting serum triglyceride level as a precocious marker of autoimmune disorders." MedGenMed: Medscape general medicine 5.3 (2003): 20-20. [00:34:20] Undereating as a possible cause of low triglycerides. [00:35:17] Complete Blood Count (CBC) and haemoglobin. [00:36:19] Red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. [00:36:52] Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). [00:37:40] CBC indicates ability to carry oxygen around the body. [00:38:18] B12, folate, iron, copper and zinc deficiencies. [00:38:55] Red cell distribution and mortality studies:  Patel, Kushang V., et al. "Red cell distribution width and mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis." Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biomedical Sciences and Medical Sciences 65.3 (2009): 258-265. and Lippi, Giuseppe, et al. "Relation between red blood cell distribution width and inflammatory biomarkers in a large cohort of unselected outpatients." Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine 133.4 (2009): 628-632. [00:41:37] Causes of low RBC count: Production, destruction and loss. [00:43:22] First, look at the MCV. [00:45:19] Normal RDW: low RBC probably due to destruction or loss. [00:45:38] Occult blood stool test to determine if there is a GI bleed (loss). [00:45:49] Reticulocytes: an underrated blood marker. [00:46:33] Erythropoietin (EPO). [00:49:30] HbA1C. [00:51:42] Estimation of RBC lifespan from the reticulocyte count: RBC survival (days) = 100/[Reticulocytes (percent) / RLS (days)], where RLS = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 days at hematocrits of 45, 35, 25, and 15 percent, respectively. [00:53:17] Bryan and Tommy in a box. [00:54:16] Fatty Liver Index. Study: Bedogni, Giorgio, et al. "The Fatty Liver Index: a simple and accurate predictor of hepatic steatosis in the general population." BMC gastroenterology6.1 (2006): 33. [00:55:58] Website: Metabolic Fitness Pro. [00:57:46] Relying on protocols without knowing the physiology. [00:58:18] Website: Drwalsh.com. [00:58:32] Glucose course: Everything you ever wanted to know about glucose regulation. Detox course: Everything you wanted to know about detoxification.  

Antonio Bianco, MD, PhD, is head of the division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Rush University Medical Center.   Dr. Bianco also co-chaired an American Thyroid Association task force that updated the guidelines for treating hypothyroidism. Dr. Bianco’s research has revealed the connection between thyroidectomy, hypothyroidism symptoms, and T4-only therapy.  Although T4-only therapy works for the majority, others report serious symptoms.  Listen to this segment to hear greater detail in regard to the following topics: Combination therapy of adding T3 to T4 85% of patients on Synthroid feel fine. Nearly 5% of the U.S. population takes T4 or Levothyroxine, as revealed by the NHANE survey.  This means 10 - 15 million Americans.  Residual symptoms of thyroidectomy include depression, difficulty losing weight, poor motivation, sluggishness, and lack of motivation.  For some, there is no remedy to these symptoms.  For others, adding T3 to T4 shows immediate improvement.  The importance of physical activity and its benefit in treating depression If we normalize T3 does it get rid of hypothyroid symptoms? Overlap between menopause and hypothyroid symptoms Notes: American Thyroid Association Bianco Lab Bianco Lab on Facebook NHANES Survey The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations.

Many New York City school water fountains have been found to have higher Lead levels than Flint, Michigan following statewide testing performed December 2016. New York has found over 33,000 school water fountains and faucets that have tested positive for Lead since December 2016. As of March 2017, All NYC Borough Presidents have called on DOE to provide free bottled water and child blood lead tests. Minimal Lead exposure in children has been proven to lower their intelligence quotient (IQ), cause Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), increase aggression, enhance delinquency, decrease rates of childhood growth, cause hearing impairments, and cause infertility. Current New York Childhood testing standards are outdated by more than 5 years - this means what the New York State Department of Health considers "elevated levels" of Lead found in a child's blood is literally 2x higher than the current standard set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When New York children have 2x the amount of Lead in their blood as is safe, high school graduation rate decreases, and the delinquency rate increases. Both scenarios have proven associations with Lead exposure. Both scenarios hurt our economy. We can do better. The CDC considers 5ug/dL of Lead in a child's blood to be considers "elevated." New York State considers 10ug/dL to be "elevated." The CDC their standard in January 2012, following the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A study by the National Institute of Health projects national savings of $1.2 trillion from costs associated with the proven effects of early childhood Lead exposure on high school graduation rates and on crime. Follow Website: www.ProgressiveAction.info Instagram: ProgressiveAction Twitter: ProgressiveAct Email: ProgressiveAction100@gmail.com

Combination Therapy of T4 and T3 as a way to combat Hypothyroidism Thyroidectomy often leads to hypothyroidism-like symptoms.  This includes brain fog, sluggishness, weight gain, unmotivated, and water accumulation.  Dr. Bianco’s research has revealed the connection between thyroidectomy, hypothyroidism symptoms, and T4 only therapy.  Although T4 only therapy works for the majority, others report serious symptoms.  Listen to this segment to hear greater detail in regard to the following topics: Combination therapy of adding T3 to T4 85% of patients on Synthroid feel fine. Nearly 5% of the U.S. population takes T4, as revealed by the NHANE survey Residual symptoms of thyroidectomy include depression, difficulty losing weight, poor motivation, sluggishness, and lack of motivation.  For some, there is no remedy to these symptoms.  The importance of physical activity and its benefit in treating depression If we normalize T3 does it get rid of hypothyroid symptoms? Overlap between menopause and hypothyroidism symptoms Dr. Antonio Bianco, Rush University Medical Center as professor of medicine, senior vice chair in the Department of Internal Medicine and division chief of endocrinology at Rush University Medical Center.  He has more than 30 years of experience in thyroid research. Bianco’s research interests have been in the cellular and molecular physiology of the enzymes that control thyroid hormone action in which he contributed more than 200 papers, book chapters and review articles, and lectured extensively both nationally and internationally. Recently, he has focused on the aspects of the deiodination pathway that interfere with treatment of hypothyroid patients, a disease that affects more than 10 million Americans. He is Director of Bianco Labs.   Notes: Bianco Lab http://deiodinase.org/   Bianco Lab on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/biancolab/   NHANES Survey The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/

By 12 months, infants and toddlers are consuming more than five teaspoons of added sugar and more than 1500 milligrams of sodium a day (which is the recommended limit for adults).New research reveals startling facts about what babies are eating during their most formative years. The study, which analyzed 11 years of food and beverage consumption data among babies 0-24 months in the U.S., shows that on any given day only 40 percent of babies are eating vegetables, and most get only about one-third the recommended amount of whole grains. Furthermore, the analysis, taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), shows that as infants transition from baby food to whole food at around nine months, there is a significant increase in sweets, salty snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages. By 12 months, infants and toddlers are consuming more than five teaspoons of added sugar and more than 1500 milligrams of sodium a day (which is the recommended limit for adults).Nicole Silber, RD, is a Pediatric Dietitian who aims to provide parents with resources and tips when it comes to healthy, clean eating for kids.One very key element is to make things exciting. Add spices and incorporate foods with vibrant colors. Eating is a very sensory experience. Have babies close to the kitchen when you're cooking so they can take in the aroma.Breastfeeding is also a great way to expand your baby's palate from a very young age. Breast milk contains more flavor and variety than formula, which might result in a child who is more open to diverse foods and flavors. Juice and fruit can create an affinity to sweets. Instead, create smoothies with vegetables, chia seeds, coconut oil, and only half a cup of fruit maximum.Silber joins host Lisa Davis to discuss the recent studies on early nutrition, as well as share tips on how you can incorporate healthy, nutritious food into your baby's diet.

By 12 months, infants and toddlers are consuming more than five teaspoons of added sugar and more than 1500 milligrams of sodium a day (which is the recommended limit for adults).New research reveals startling facts about what babies are eating during their most formative years. The study, which analyzed 11 years of food and beverage consumption data among babies 0-24 months in the U.S., shows that on any given day only 40 percent of babies are eating vegetables, and most get only about one-third the recommended amount of whole grains. Furthermore, the analysis, taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), shows that as infants transition from baby food to whole food at around nine months, there is a significant increase in sweets, salty snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages. By 12 months, infants and toddlers are consuming more than five teaspoons of added sugar and more than 1500 milligrams of sodium a day (which is the recommended limit for adults).Nicole Silber, RD, is a Pediatric Dietitian who aims to provide parents with resources and tips when it comes to healthy, clean eating for kids.One very key element is to make things exciting. Add spices and incorporate foods with vibrant colors. Eating is a very sensory experience. Have babies close to the kitchen when you're cooking so they can take in the aroma.Breastfeeding is also a great way to expand your baby's palate from a very young age. Breast milk contains more flavor and variety than formula, which might result in a child who is more open to diverse foods and flavors. Juice and fruit can create an affinity to sweets. Instead, create smoothies with vegetables, chia seeds, coconut oil, and only half a cup of fruit maximum.Silber joins host Lisa Davis to discuss the recent studies on early nutrition, as well as share tips on how you can incorporate healthy, nutritious food into your baby's diet.

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana can actually disrupt your sleep pattern and cause greater sleep problems to arise.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. In fact, usage among adolescents has been on the rise since 2007. Many states have legalized marijuana usage; but, do you really know what it's doing to your health?A study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests marijuana usage could be associated with impaired sleep quality, especially if you've been using the drug since your teenage years.Prior studies have shown that many use marijuana as a sleep and stress aid to help relax. However, recent research suggests that marijuana can actually disrupt your sleep pattern and cause greater sleep problems.The researchers used adults ranging from 20-59 years old that responded to a 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In this survey, a history of marijuana usage was assessed (participants' history of the drug, age of their first time using the drug, number of times used in the past month, etc.).Researchers found that those who had a history of marijuana use also experienced an increased difficulty of falling asleep, struggled to stay asleep, experienced non-restorative sleep, and felt tired throughout the day.What else do you need to know about marijuana and your quality of sleep?Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry, Michael Grandner, PhD, further discusses this study, other side effects of marijuana that could be implementing your health and how marijuana could be getting in your way of a good night's sleep.

Contrary to popular belief, marijuana can actually disrupt your sleep pattern and cause greater sleep problems to arise.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. In fact, usage among adolescents has been on the rise since 2007. Many states have legalized marijuana usage; but, do you really know what it's doing to your health?A study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests marijuana usage could be associated with impaired sleep quality, especially if you've been using the drug since your teenage years.Prior studies have shown that many use marijuana as a sleep and stress aid to help relax. However, recent research suggests that marijuana can actually disrupt your sleep pattern and cause greater sleep problems.The researchers used adults ranging from 20-59 years old that responded to a 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In this survey, a history of marijuana usage was assessed (participants' history of the drug, age of their first time using the drug, number of times used in the past month, etc.).Researchers found that those who had a history of marijuana use also experienced an increased difficulty of falling asleep, struggled to stay asleep, experienced non-restorative sleep, and felt tired throughout the day.What else do you need to know about marijuana and your quality of sleep?Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry, Michael Grandner, PhD, further discusses this study, other side effects of marijuana that could be implementing your health and how marijuana could be getting in your way of a good night's sleep.

Background: Attributable fractions (AF) assess the proportion of cases in a population attributable to certain risk factors but are infrequently reported and mostly calculated without considering potential confounders. While logistic regression for adjusted individual estimates of odds ratios (OR) is widely used, similar approaches for AFs are rarely applied. Methods: Different methods for calculating adjusted AFs to risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were applied using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We compared AFs from the unadjusted approach using Levin's formula, from Levin's formula using adjusted OR estimates, from logistic regression according to Bruzzi's approach, from logistic regression with sequential removal of risk factors ('sequential AF') and from logistic regression with all possible removal sequences and subsequent averaging ('average AF'). Results: AFs following the unadjusted and adjusted (using adjusted ORs) Levin's approach yielded clearly higher estimates with a total sum of more than 100% compared to adjusted approaches with sums < 100%. Since AFs from logistic regression were related to the removal sequence of risk factors, all possible sequences were considered and estimates were averaged. These average AFs yielded plausible estimates of the population impact of considered risk factors on CVD with a total sum of 90%. The average AFs for total and HDL cholesterol levels were 17%, for hypertension 16%, for smoking 11%, and for diabetes 5%. Conclusion: Average AFs provide plausible estimates of population attributable risks and should therefore be reported at least to supplement unadjusted estimates. We provide functions/macros for commonly used statistical programs to encourage other researchers to calculate and report average AFs.