July 9, 2009

Meta-analysis finds higher antioxidant enzyme levels associated with decreased heart disease risk
Life Extension, July 10, 2009
An advance access article published on May 22, 2009 in the American Journal of Epidemiologyrevealed the results of a meta-analysis conducted by Spanish researchers which determined that higher levels of the body's antioxidant enzymes correlate with a lower risk of coronary heart disease. The enzymes defend against oxidative stress, which is characterized in atherosclerosis by the oxidation of lipids and proteins in the vascular wall, a process that is considered to be an initial step in heart disease. Oxidative stress is also involved in endothelial dysfunction, which plays a major role in the disease.
For their analysis, Dr Maria-Isabel Covas, of the Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group in Barcelona and her colleagues selected 42 case-control studies and 3 prospective studies that provided information concerning levels of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, and coronary heart disease outcomes including fatal heart disease, nonfatal heart attack, or angina. Pooled analysis of the data found a reduced risk of heart disease associated with higher levels of each enzyme compared with lower levels. The risk associated with a 1-standard-deviation increase (a measure of variance from average values) in glutathione peroxidase was 49 percent lower, while those associated with superoxide dismutase and catalase were 52 percent and 68 percent lower.
According to the authors, the relationship between antioxidant enzyme levels and heart disease risk had not been previously evaluated. While the analysis determined strong inverse associations between antioxidant enzyme levels and coronary heart disease outcomes, it is not known whether lower enzyme levels are a causative factor or a result of the increased oxidative stress induced by a coronary event or subclinical disease. The authors recommend large, prospective cohort studies to further evaluate the association.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2009_07.htm#meta-analysis-higher-antioxidant-enzyme-levels-associated-decreased-heart-disease-risk

On Nutrition: Berry Good Advice

The Monterey County Herald, Calif. 07-10-09
I popped another blueberry in my mouth and listened intently to the speaker. This was, after all, the "Berry Health Benefits Symposium," a gathering of respected researchers from around the world who came to report their findings on the health impact of eating blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cranberries - all kinds of berries.  These colorful fruits pack powerful compounds that help protect the body from what neuroscientist Jim Joseph of Tufts University Human Research Center on Aging calls "the evil Gemini twins" - inflammation and oxidative stress. These processes damage cells and are now known to lead to the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Heart disease, for example, is now considered a "pro-inflammatory" state, as is obesity, according to Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, obesity and metabolic disease researcher at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She reported how a high-fat meal creates an "inflammatory response" in the body (as measured by markers in the blood called C-reactive proteins). And how something as simple as adding 2 / 3 cup sliced strawberries to the meal helped block this response.
"Time and again," she said, "we continue to find substances in fruits and vegetables that work as powerful anti-inflammatory agents."  Oxidative stress is a bad boy, too. "Just look in the mirror," Dr. Joseph told us. "Wrinkles and skin damage are signs of oxidative stress." His research shows that people who eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are healthier as they age. "Compounds in these foods quench the fires of inflammation and prevent or reverse some age-related processes."
One of Joseph's studies showed that the addition of blueberry juice (up to about 10 ounces a day for 12 weeks) improved memory scores in people diagnosed with "mild cognitive impairment" - what he jokingly referred to as "CRS"(Can't Remember ... Stuff.)  Some components in berries fight off infections. Cranberries, for example, contain proanthocyanidins that help prevent urinary tract infections by keeping bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. These same substances have also been found to help reduce the risk for stomach ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria, reported research scientist Amy Howell of Rutgers University.
How much? Howell's research shows benefits with 1 or 2 cups of cranberry juice a day. ("Light" cranberry juice was just as effective.) One cup (8 ounces) of cranberry juice is equivalent in antibacterial action to 1 ounce dried cranberries.
-Eat more color. Berries get their color from pigments called "anthocyanins." These are potent antioxidants that can improve brain function and protect against cancer and heart disease.
-Eat a variety. It's not just one particular compound in berries that imparts a powerful impact on health and longevity, said Ron Prior, a Ph.D biochemist from Cornell University. Each berry has a different profile of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory compounds. It's the synergy between them that probably confers the greatest benefits to our health.
-Eat the whole fruit. Berries are unique packages of nutrients and other compounds that nourish and protect the body from everyday cellular distress. Therefore the whole fruit is better than any one individual ingredient.
-Eat berries often. Most of the research has shown beneficial health effects when people eat to 1 cup of fresh or frozen fruit or juice a day.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8496&Section=Nutrition

New stroke research findings from National University, Medical Department described

NewsRx.com  07-10-09
"Increased total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for stroke. This study examines whether the efficacy of B-vitamins in reducing tHcy is modified by ethnicity in a Singaporean ischemic stroke population," scientists in Singapore, Singapore report (see also Stroke Research).
"505 patients (419 Chinese, 41 Malays and 45 Indians) with ischemic stroke were randomized to receive placebo or B-vitamins. Fasting blood samples collected at baseline and 1 year were assayed for tHcy. MTHFR polymorphisms were genotyped. Ethnicity did not independently determine tHcy at baseline. The magnitude of tHcy reduction by B-vitamin treatment was consistent across ethnic groups (Chinese -3.8 +/- 4.5, Malay -4.9 +/- 4.2, and Indian -3.3 +/- 3.6 mu mol/L) despite ethnic differences in MTHFR genotype and baseline folic acid (FA) and vitamin B-12 (vitB(12)) concentrations. Ethnicity does not appear to affect the tHcy-lowering effect of B-vitamins, despite differences in dietary intake and prevalence of MTHFR polymorphisms. This suggests that the effect of B-vitamins in lowering tHcy is generalizable across Asian populations," wrote K. Kasiman and colleagues, National University, Medical Department.
The researchers concluded: "However, due to relatively small numbers of non-Chinese studied, confirmation in other populations is required. (Stroke. 2009; 40:2209-2211.)."
Kasiman and colleagues published their study in Stroke (Ethnicity Does Not Affect the Homocysteine-Lowering Effect of B-Vitamin Therapy in Singaporean Stroke Patients. Stroke, 2009;40(6):2209-2211).
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8495&Section=Vitamins

Lots of soy may lower breathing problem risks
Last Updated: 2009-07-09 16:05:25 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Eating high amounts of soy could lower the risk of the breathing disorder known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, researchers report.
Cigarette smoking is known to be the principle risk factor for COPD, Dr. Andy H. Lee of the Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia, and colleagues point out in their report in the journal Respiratory Research. "Other factors such as dietary and environmental exposures may protect against, or contribute to, disease development."
The investigators studied 278 COPD patients (244 men and 34 women) between the ages of 50 and 75 years who were diagnosed within the past 4 years. They also recruited 340 people (272 men and 68 women) without the disease.
Control subjects consumed more soy per day (about 60 grams) than patients with COPD (about 45 grams). The risk of COPD was significantly reduced among those who ate more soy.
Similar decreases in the risk of COPD were observed with higher intakes of tofu and bean sprouts. The more soy people consumed, the fewer breathing problems they had, particularly breathlessness.
"Habitual intake of soy foods ... can have an important impact on the cost to health care systems associated with the morbidity and death from this disease," Dr. Lee told Reuters Health. "Long-term follow-up studies are recommended to ascertain whether soy consumption can lengthen the survival of patients already diagnosed with COPD."
SOURCE: Respiratory Research, June 26, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/07/09/eline/links/20090709elin031.html

Low-calorie diet slows aging in monkeys
Last Updated: 2009-07-09 15:06:55 -0400 (Reuters Health)
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A 20-year study of monkeys shows that a reduced-calorie diet pays off in less disease and longer life, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
They said rhesus monkeys on a strict, reduced-calorie diet were three times less likely to die from age-related diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes over the study period than monkeys that ate as they liked.
"We have been able to show that caloric restriction can slow the aging process in a primate species," Richard Weindruch of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, whose study appears in the journal Science, said in a statement.
"We observed that caloric restriction reduced the risk of developing an age-related disease by a factor of three and increased survival," Weindruch said.
The study in primates reinforces similar findings in yeast, worms, flies and rodents, and suggests other primates -- including humans -- may benefit, too.
Since people live far longer than monkeys, it may never be possible to fully study the effects of calorie restriction in humans, but monkeys do offer a close approximation, the team said.
Most caloric restriction studies have found that a lifetime of deprivation is needed to achieve the longer-life benefits, and many research teams are working on ways to replicate the findings with drugs.
Researchers reported on Wednesday that the antibiotic rapamycin, sold by Wyeth under brand Rapamune to suppress the immune system in transplant patients, showed promise at slowing age-related disease in older mice, but it is not clear how it works.
And several teams are hoping to harness the age-defying benefits of red wine. GlaxoSmithKline last year spent $720 million to buy Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, which has developed a souped-up version of the red wine compound resveratrol that has been found to make mice live longer and stay healthier.
MONKEY ATE 30 PERCENT FEWER CALORIES
In the latest study, Weindruch and colleagues studied the effects of calorie restriction over two decades in a group of rhesus macaque monkeys.
Half of the monkeys were allowed to eat as they pleased, and the other half ate a carefully controlled diet that provided just two-thirds of the calories they would normally choose to eat.
The team found that half of the monkeys that were allowed to eat freely over the course of the 20-year study have survived, while 80 percent of the monkeys that ate 30 percent fewer calories over the same period are still alive.
While rhesus macaques have an average life span of about 27 years in captivity, the team said.
The animals that ate less had half the amount of heart disease and cancer, and there were no cases of diabetes in the low-calorie group.
Animals on a restricted diet also had more brain volume in some regions than the animals that ate freely, suggesting diet may affect brain health in aging as well.
SOURCE: Science, July 10, 2009.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/07/09/eline/links/20090709elin018.html

Bran may slash hypertension risk: Study

Nutraingredients.com, 10-Jul-2009

Increased intakes of whole grains, and bran in particular, may reduce the incidence of hypertension in men, according to new findings from Harvard.
Data from over 30,000 men participating in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study indicated that increased intakes of whole grains are associated with a 19 per cent lower incidence of hypertension.
The researchers, led by Alan Flint from Harvard School of Public Health, report their findings online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
“These findings have implications for future dietary guidelines and prevention of hypertension,” they wrote.
High blood pressure (hypertension),defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a disease that causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated €169bn ($202bn) per year.
While the potential heart health benefits of whole grains have been reported before, the Harvard researchers note that no studies have reported if the total grams of whole grains are linked to the risk of hypertension.
The 31,684 male health professionals aged between 40 and 75 without known hypertension, cancer, stroke, or heart disease were followed for 18 years. During this time, 9,227 cases of incident hypertension were documented.
Comparing the highest intakes of whole grains to the lowest intakes, the researchers calculated that whole grains were associated with a 19 per cent reduction in the incidence of hypertension.
When they subsequently looked at total bran, a 15 per cent reduction in the incidence of hypertension was observed for men with the highest intakes, compared to the lowest.
“In summary, we found an independent inverse association between intake of whole grains and incident hypertension in men,” wrote the researchers. “Bran may play an important role in this association,” they concluded.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27460
"Whole grains and incident hypertension in men"
Authors: A.J. Flint, F.B. Hu, R.J. Glynn, M.K. Jensen, M. Franz, L. Sampson, E.B. Rimm
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Bran-may-slash-hypertension-risk-Study

Whole Foods Market seeks non-GMO seal

Foodnavigator-USA.com, 09-Jul-2009

Whole Foods Market has partnered with the Non-GMO Project to test for the presence of genetically modified (GM) ingredients in its private label products in order to independently verify them as GM-free.
Although the USDA requires that certified organic produce must also be GM-free, there is no government requirement for labeling of foods containing GM ingredients in the non-organic sector. And for some crops, it is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers to source non-GM versions. GM soy, for example – the most widely grown GM crop – now accounts for 90 percent of soy produced in the US.
Whole Foods Market has said it will use the Non-GMO Project’s Product Verification Program (PVP), which uses a process combining on-site audits, genetic testing of ingredients and a document-based review to confirm that foods do not contain GM ingredients – and it is urging other parts of the food industry to do the same.
The company’s quality standards coordinator and Non-GMO Project board member Joe Dickson said: “As you can imagine, the level of diligence involved will require an enormous amount of effort at every step in the manufacturing process. The more participation we have in the program, the more rapidly the industry will realize efficiencies. Economies of scale will ultimately have a real and lasting impact on the available supply of non-GMO ingredients.”
Wider interest
The PVP has already caught the attention of some food manufacturers, which have sought to avoid using GM ingredients in their products on the back of consumer pressure. Although the move from Whole Foods makes it the largest brand to seek the project’s verification, there are a number of other well-known companies that have products registered with the program, including SK Foods, Whole Soy & Co., Lundberg Family Farms and San J, among others.
It is anticipated that the project’s non-GMO verification seal will start appearing on products from October this year.
Senior global vice president of purchasing at Whole Foods Market Michael Besancon said: “Since there is no US regulation regarding disclosure on products manufactured with GMO ingredients, we are committed to helping our shoppers make confident choices by knowing that what they are buying has been verified as meeting the standards of the non-GMO Project.”
Whole Foods Market has also announced that it will hold an educational webinar on August 26 to provide industry with more information about the Non-GMO Project and PVP.
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Financial-Industry/Whole-Foods-Market-seeks-non-GMO-seal

ADHD Drugs Proven Absolutely Useless for Children - Plus, They Stunt Growth
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  July 10, 2009 

(NaturalNews) Stimulant drugs such as Ritalin provide no long-term benefit in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the latest findings of the ongoing Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA), published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

According to previous analysis of MTA data, stimulant drugs do improve the social functioning and reduce symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in children with ADHD for the first year of treatment. In the current analysis, however, researchers followed 485 children for eight years and found that children who remained on medication for that entire time showed no improvement in symptoms over those who had stopped taking the drugs.

"If you put a child on medication, he or she is far better right at that time. The question for parents is: Is this going to make a benefit for my child long term?" said researcher William Pelham, of the University of Buffalo. "The answer is no. Behavioral treatments are going to have much better benefit in the long term."

Another analysis of MTA data, published in the same journal, found that use of ADHD drugs appeared to stunt children's growth. Children who had never taken stimulant drugs were an average of six pounds heavier and 0.75 inches taller than children of the same age who had taken the drugs for three years. This height and weight difference was permanent.

According to Pelham, behavioral treatments for ADHD can be harder to find than drugs, and often insurers will not cover them. Nevertheless, such treatments are available and have been proven to work without the side effect risk of pharmaceuticals.

"It's wrong for a doctor to say to a parent, this treatment is harder to find, so instead we're going to put your child on a drug that will have no long-term benefit," he said.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026588_drugs_adhd_ADHD_drugs.html

Chemicals found in fruit and veg offer dementia hope

PHYSORG.COM   July 10th, 2009
A group of chemicals found in many fruits and vegetables, as well as tea, cocoa and red wine, could protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease, a  dementia expert will tell scientists at a conference today (Friday).

Speaking at the British Pharmacological Society’s Summer Meeting in Edinburgh, Dr Robert Williams will argue that, while much more research needs to be done, there is mounting evidence that certain flavonoids - chemicals found in plants and food derived from plants - might provide therapeutic benefit for Alzheimer’s sufferers.
“There have been some intriguing epidemiological studies that the consumption of flavonoid-rich vegetables, fruit juices and red wine delays the onset of the disease,” says Dr Williams, a Biochemist working at Kings College London. “These reports, while not as powerful as controlled, randomised clinical trials, have encouraged a number of research groups, including our own, to investigate the biology of flavonoids in more detail.”
Dr Williams says that a lack of good research and clinical trial data meant this field of research had suffered from a lack of scientific credibility, not helped by early positive health claims for flavonoids that cannot access the brain or are broken down too rapidly by the body to be of any benefit. Scepticism also persists because flavonoids are known antioxidants and yet clinical trials with other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, showed no reported benefit on either symptoms or disease progression in dementia.
However, a new concept is emerging that suggests flavonoids do not act simply as antioxidants but exert their biological effects through other mechanisms. A small number of recent studies carried out in models of Alzheimer’s disease have found that oral administration of green tea flavonoids or grape flavonoids reduces brain pathology and, in some cases, improves cognition. Dr Williams and colleagues have focused their own cellular studies on a flavonoid called epicatechin, which is abundant in a number of foodstuffs, including cocoa.
“We have found that epicatechin protects brain cells from damage but through a mechanism unrelated to its antioxidant activity and shown in laboratory tests that it can also reduce some aspects of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
“This is interesting because epicatechin and its breakdown products are measurable in the bloodstream of humans for a number of hours after ingestion and it is one of the relatively few flavonoids known to access the brain suggesting it has the potential to be bioactive in humans.”
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating, progressive disorder affecting an estimated 15-20 million people worldwide. Over the past four decades, through worldwide research efforts, it is now known that in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease there are abnormal cellular processes which lead to neurodegeneration and dementia. Understanding these disease processes at the molecular level will allow the development of pharmacological agents to block these processes, and lead the way for effective therapies in Alzheimer’s disease.
Central to the development of Alzheimer’s disease is toxic beta-amyloid peptide, a substance that is normally produced in the brain but, in this disease, is deposited abnormally as amyloid plaques. Dr Williams has shown that flavonoids can protect brain cells against the toxic actions of beta-amyloid.
He adds: “Although our findings support the general concept that dietary intake of flavonoid-rich foods or supplements could impact on the development and progression of dementia, they are clearly insufficient to make any sort of nutritional recommendations at this stage.
“The challenge now is to identify the single flavonoid or combination of flavonoids that exert the most positive effects and to define the mechanisms of action and optimal quantity required before embarking on clinical trials to treat their effectiveness in dementia.”
The British Pharmacological Society Summer Meeting in Edinburgh will also highlight the work of three other scientists who are working on different aspects of Alzheimer’s disease. They will present their latest research findings showing that insight into disease mechanisms is leading to the development of agents with the potential to become new and effective therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Tiziana Borsello, from the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Milan, Italy, will present data which show that cell death in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative states involves the activation of a protein called JNK. Over a number of years, she and her team have developed the powerful and specific cell-permeable inhibitor of JNK (D-JNKI1). In her talk, Dr Borsello will show that D-JNKI1 can reduce production of beta-amyloid and amyloid plaques and improve memory in mice. This exciting research opens up new prospects for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Professor Michael Rowan, from University College Dublin, Ireland, will present data showing that beta-amyloid can directly affect the physiological processes involved in memory formation. His research has identified therapeutic agents that target the cytokine system in the brain and are able to prevent this detrimental effect of beta-amyloid. This line of enquiry suggests that agents that remove cytokines could improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Warren Hirst, from Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Princeton, USA, will outline two potential therapeutic strategies. The first is the discovery and development of novel potent, selective and brain-penetrant small molecule beta-secretase inhibitors. These investigational small molecules have the potential to prevent the accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain. The second strategy addresses the cognitive deficits associated with the disease, which are only partially addressed by current therapies. Neurotransmitter receptors in the brain play an important role in cognitive processes and new evidence suggests that blocking a specific class of receptors, the 5-HT1A receptors, can improve learning and memory in rats and mice.  These, or similar molecules, may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
In summary, the symposium highlights how basic molecular and pharmacological research, including the work presented here, has enabled the identification and development of agents with promise to treat this devastating disease. Turning the findings from research into new medicines which are effective to treat Alzheimer’s disease is some way off, but is within reach
http://www.physorg.com/news166429234.html

Cream with green tea extract hinders HIV transmission: study

PHYSORG.com  May 19th, 2009
A chemical found in green tea helps inhibit sexual transmission of the virus which causes AIDS, said a study Tuesday that recommends using the compound in vaginal creams to supplement antiretrovirals.

Medical experts at Germany's University of Heidelberg said the compound could be a low-cost arrow in the quiver of medical weapons to fight the spread of HIV in research-poor countries.
The researchers said they determined that the green tea polyphenol, or vegetable tannin, called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is capable of neutralizing a protein in sperm which serves as a vector for viral transmission during sex.
EGCG degrades what is known as a semen-derived enhancer of virus infection, or SEVI, described in the study as "an important infectivity factor of HIV."
Writing in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said they "recently identified a peptide fraction in human semen that consistently enhanced HIV-1 infection."
SEVIs capture viral elements and attach them to the surface of target cells, enhancing cell fusion and decreasing a cell's ability to repel viral threats.
EGCG "targets SEVI for degradation" and "abrogates semen-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection in the absence of cellular toxicity," said the researchers, some of whom work at the university's Heinrich-Pette-Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology.
Because of its effects on semen-based HIV transmission threats, the study's authors said "EGCG appears to be a promising supplement to antiretroviral microbicides to reduce sexual transmission of HIV-1."
With the vast majority of the world's 33 million people with HIV infected through heterosexual sex, and as 96 percent of new infections occur in poor and developing nations, researchers said the use of green tea EGCG in topical creams would "provide a simple and affordable prevention method" to guard against HIV transmission.
Green tea, which originated in China and is widely consumed in Asia, the Middle East and growing numbers of western countries, is already popular for its antioxidant qualities.
http://www.physorg.com/news161963111.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4760615,prtpage-1.cms

Synthetic Hormones May Be Linked to Lung Cancer Deaths

Margaret Priddy, NaturalNews.com  July 9, 2009

(NaturalNews) According to researchers, women using synthetic hormones may have an increased chance of dying from lung cancer. Findings from the Women`s Health Initiative indicate that the use of Prempro, a synthetic estrogen coupled with a synthetic form of progesterone, can lead to a 59 percent increased risk of death if a woman develops non small-cell lung cancer. This was revealed by Dr. Rowan Chlebowski of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

A study showed that for non small-cell lung cancer, there was a significant risk of dying if the women taking these synthetic hormones developed cancer.

There were 67 lung cancer deaths in the women taking Prempro and 39 among those in the placebo group, according to Chlebowski. The women taking the synthetic hormones had a median survival rate of 9.4 months while the survival rate of the women who took the placebo and got the disease was 16.1 months.

This recent analysis regarding Prempro and lung cancer deaths was taken from data stemming from the Woman`s Health Initiative study in which Chlebowski was lead author. This study enrolled 16,608 postmenopausal women ages 50 through 79 and randomly assigned these women either a placebo or Prempro. In 2002, researchers stopped this study short of its completion because they noted a significant increased incidence of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease among the women who took the synthetic hormones.

Acording to Chlebowski, 15 percent of postmenopausal women still take synthetic hormones.

A hormone is classified as synthetic if it does not have the identical structure as is found in the human body. When a synthetic hormone is taken into the body, the body metabolizes it differently than it would a natural hormone. This difference may account for the many grave side effects women who take synthetic hormones encounter.

Fortunately, natural hormones do exist and have been used by holistic physicians for many years. Natural hormones have an identical structure as those found in the human body and are used to effectively treat menopause symptoms. Natural hormones are available in creams, capsules, patches, and other system delivery methods. Before prescribing natural hormones, the holistic practitioner will test a woman's present hormone level through blood, urine, and saliva testing. The holistic physician will prescribe bioidentical hormones based on these findings. Bioidentical hormones are those identical in molecular structure to the hormones made by the woman's body.

Traditional doctors are trained by the big drug companies to prescribe medicine manufactured by them. These drug companies are against natural remedies as natural remedies cannot be patented. Since these traditional doctors are in allegiance with the pharmaceutical companies, the physicians too, often turn their minds off to the notion of natural hormones. In light of the negative press about synthetic hormones as reported in the study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative, more traditional doctors are now willing to look at the use of natural hormones. These doctors, however, represent a growing, but still woefully small number.

Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing significant amounts of estrogen and progesterone. This leads to a cessation of the menstrual cycle, and in many women begins with symptoms such as hot flashes. The average woman will experience the onset of menopause at age 52. A woman is considered to be in menopause if she has had no periods for a year. Menopause is not a disease even though some women suffer, often for years, from some of the following symptoms:
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings
Night sweats
Insomnia
Reduced libido
Weight gain
Urinary incontinence

Treatment for menopausal symptoms includes eating a diet rich in plant foods, especially whole grains, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits. These foods contain phytosterols that have a hormone-balancing effect. Eating these foods also increases fiber that helps a heart stay healthy.

In addition, eating hormone-free animal products helps guard against a hormone imbalance in the body. Reduce red meat consumption and other sources of saturated fat. Caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and sugar aggravate hot flashes while carbonated drinks deplete calcium from the body.

The following remedies may help to safely minimize symptoms:
St. John's wort may be used to treat mild to moderate depression. This should not be used in conjunction with prescription antidepressants.

Soy and Isoflavones are plant estrogens that may be helpful in relieving hot flashes and night sweats.

Black cohosh has been used to relieve hot flashes and night sweats.

American ginseng has been found to improve a woman's sense of well being.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026585_hormones_cancer_synthetic_hormones.html

Drug extends lives of old mice
LIFE EXTENSIONS, July 08, 2009
In an article published on July 8, 2009 in the journal Nature, scientists from three U.S. research centers report that rapamycin, a compound discovered on Easter Island that has diverse medical uses, extends the life span of mice when given in old age.
Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center’s Institute of Biotechnology and Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, the University of Michigan, and the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine collaborated on the current study. The team intended to give rapamycin to mice beginning at 4 months of age, however, the compound proved to be unstable in food and in the animals’ digestive tracts. By the time the drug was reformulated to bypass the stomach and break down in the intestine, the animals were 20 months old, the equivalent of age 60 in humans. The scientists decided to go ahead with the experiment despite the animals’ advanced age and were surprised by the results. Mice that received rapamycin were found to experience an extension of 28 to 38 percent in life expectancy, an effect greater than that which would occur in humans if heart disease and cancer did not exist. The drug’s mechanism appears to be similar to that of calorie restriction.
"I did not think that it would work because the mice were too old when the treatment was started," stated Barshop Institute director Arlan G. Richardson, PhD. "Most reports indicate that calorie restriction doesn't work when implemented in old animals. The fact that rapamycin increases lifespan in relatively old mice was totally unexpected."
"I've been in aging research for 35 years and there have been many so-called 'antiaging' interventions over those years that were never successful," Dr Richardson added. "I never thought we would find an antiaging pill for people in my lifetime; however, rapamycin shows a great deal of promise to do just that."
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/2009_07.htm#drug-extends-lives-of-old-mice

High protein diet linked to liver cancer

United Press International 07-08-09
SEATTLE, Jul 7, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers linked diets high in protein and cholesterol with a higher risk of liver disease.
The study, published in the journal Hepatology, also found a high carbohydrate diet associated with a lower risk of cirrhosis -- a disease where liver tissue is replaced by fibrous scar tissue.
Study leader George Ioannou of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle used data from 9,221 participants in the National Health Examination Survey. The study participants did not suffer from cirrhosis or liver cancer at the start of the study and completed a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire.
During the follow-up period -- an average of 13.3 years -- 118 participants received a new diagnosis of cirrhosis and five people a diagnosis of liver cancer. These individuals were more likely to be male, diabetic, non-white, older, more obese with more central fat distribution and had higher alcohol consumption.
Subgroup analyses, the researchers said, showed the significant associations of protein and cholesterol intake with cirrhosis or liver cancer described in the entire study population were limited to overweight or obese persons.
"No such associations were observed in normal-weight persons," the study authors said in a statement. "Our study raises the possibility that dietary factors may be important, modifiable, and hitherto unrecognized determinants of liver disease progression."
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8488&Section=Disease

Higher levels of certain protein associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes

Xinhua News Agency  07-08-09
WASHINGTON, Jul 08, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Persons with higher levels of adiponectin, a protein that is produced by fat cells and that has anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties, have an associated lower risk of type 2 diabetes, according to an analysis of previous studies, reported Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Some studies have suggested several mechanisms through which adiponectin may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes, although the strength and consistency of the relation between plasma adiponectin and risk of type 2 diabetes has been unclear, according to background information in the article.
Shanshan Li, of the Harvard School of Public Health, and colleagues conducted a review and meta-analysis to assess the consistency of the association of adiponectin levels and risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers identified thirteen studies with a total of 14,598 participants and 2,623 new cases of type 2 diabetes that met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis.
The authors found that higher adiponectin levels were associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This inverse association was consistently observed in whites, East Asians, Asian Indians, African Americans and Native Americans. The results did not differ substantially by method of diabetes ascertainment, study size, follow-up duration, body mass index or proportions of men and women.
"Although these epidemiologic studies cannot establish causality, the consistency of the association across diverse populations, the dose-response relationship, and the supportive findings in mechanistic studies indicate that adiponectin is a promising target for the reduction of risk of type 2 diabetes," the authors wrote.
The researchers added that recent studies have shown that adiponectin levels can be increased through pharmaceutical and lifestyle interventions.
"In addition, adiponectin levels may be useful for identifying persons likely to benefit most from interventions to treat 'dysfunctional adipose tissue' and its metabolic complications. Future studies should also evaluate whether adiponectin is useful for prediction of type 2 diabetes in addition to established risk factors using statistical techniques appropriate for prognostic analyses."
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8487&Section=Disease

Fish oil during pregnancy may slash infant allergy

Nutraingredients.com, 09-Jul-2009

Supplements of omega-3-rich fish oils during pregnancy may reduce the risk of food allergy and eczema in children, according to a new study from Sweden.
The occurrence of eczema and food allergies was 16 and 13 per cent lower, respectively, in infants of mothers receiving the fish oil supplements during pregnancy and the early months of breast-feeding, compared to placebo, according to findings published in the journal Acta Paediatrica.
“This randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study shows that omega-3supplementation during pregnancy and lactation may reduce the risk of developing allergic sensitization to egg, IgE-associated eczema and food allergyduring the first year of life,” wrote the authors, led by Catrin Furuhjelm from Linkoping University.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the predominant antibody associated with an allergic response.
The new study adds to the ever-growing list of studies supporting the potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA. Much of its healthy reputation that is seeping into consumer consciousness is based largely on evidence that it can aid cognitive function and may help protect the heart against cardiovascular disease.
From mother to child
Furuhjelm and her co-workers recruited 145 pregnant women with allergies, or with partners or other children with allergies. Starting at the 25th week of their pregnancy, and continuing for between three and four months of breastfeeding, the women were randomly assigned to receive either daily fish oil supplements providing 1.6 g of EPA and 1.1 g of DHA (Bio Marin capsules from Pharma Nord, Denmark), or placebo.
Using a range of tests, including clinical examination, skin prick tests, and blood tests for IgE, the researchers observed a 2 per cent prevalence of food allergy in the omega-3 group, compared to 15 per cent in the placebo group.
Furthermore, the incidence of IgE-associated eczema was only 8 per cent in the omega-3 group, compared to 24 per cent in the placebo group.
“Our findings suggest that the mechanisms leading to sustained IgE antibody production early in life may be inhibited by the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA,” wrote Furuhjelm.
What’s happening?
Commenting on the mechanism, the Linkoping-based scientists proposed several possibilities. Both DHA and EPA may produce changes in the fluidity of the membranes of immune cells, and reduce the levels of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA). By inhibiting the metabolism of AA, the formation of the less inflammatory eicosanoids is favoured, which may be linked to lower allergic sensitization in the children, said the researchers.
“Additional anti-inflammatory effects of EPA andDHA in early immune development through bioactive lipids, lipoxins, neuroprotectines and resolvins, have been discussed but it is not clear whether those are plausible explanatory mechanisms regarding our findings,” they said.
Food allergy rises
The number of allergic disease has also been rising, with an estimated eight per cent of children in the EU suffering from food allergies, according to the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations.
The most common food allergen ingredients and their derivatives are cereals containing gluten, fish, crustaceans, egg, peanut, soybeans, milk and dairy products including lactose, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seed, and sulphites.
Source: Acta Paediatrica
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01355.x
“Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy”
Authors: C. Furuhjelm, K. Warstedt, J. Larsson, M. Fredriksson, M. Fageras Bottcher, K. Falth-Magnusson, K. Duchen
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Fish-oil-during-pregnancy-may-slash-infant-allergy

More Americans than ever are obese: CDC
Last Updated: 2009-07-08 13:01:16 -0400 (Reuters Health)
* 26 percent obese in US, up from 25.6 percent
* Trend could mean higher healthcare costs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans are getting heavier than ever, with more than 26 percent of the population now fully obese, the U.S. government reported on Wednesday.
Despite warnings that the population must stop layering on the fat and frightening statistics that show two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, the weight trend continues, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
"The proportion of U.S. adults who are obese increased to 26.1 percent in 2008 compared to 25.6 percent in 2007," the CDC said in a statement.
"If this trend continues we will likely see increases in healthcare costs for obesity-related diseases," said the CDC's Liping Pan, who headed the study.
"Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes," the CDC's Dr. William Dietz added in a statement. "As obesity increases among all age groups, we are seeing chronic diseases in much younger adults compared to a few decades ago.
"For example, we now see young adults who suffer from heart disease risk factors and other conditions such as type 2 diabetes that were unheard of in the past."
The agency used its Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey of 400,000 adults, to gather its data.
At least 30 percent of adults are obese in six states -- Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, the CDC found.
Only Colorado can claim that fewer than 20 percent of its residents are obese.
Last week the Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a similar report showing residents of 23 U.S. states are fatter now than they were a year ago.
Body mass index, a measure of height to weight, is used to calculate obesity. A person is considered overweight with a BMI of 25 or more and obese with a BMI of 30 or above.
BMI is equal to weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Someone 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall and weighing 240 pounds (109 kgs) would be obese and would have to get below 195 pounds (88.5 kg) to be no longer considered overweight.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has an online BMI calculator at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/.
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/07/08/eline/links/20090708elin010.html

Aging population could boost sales of healthy foods

Foodnavigator-USA.com, 08-Jul-2009

Foods that are perceived to bring added health benefits are forecast to be among the fastest growing market trends over the next decade, according to a new report from the NPD Group.
The report, A Look into the Future of Eating, suggests that organic and low-calorie foods in particular will experience a surge in popularity as the baby boomer generation gets older.
The report’s author and director of product development at NPD Ann Hanson said: “As the population ages, levels of concern regarding food and nutrition are expected to rise. For this reason, ‘better for you’ food options are forecasted to grow strongly over the next ten years.”
But even more than low-calorie and diet options, it is the organic sector which is predicted to experience to strongest growth – 41 percent over the next decade, compared to 18 percent for light/lite/diet/low-calorie labels.
Hanson told FoodNavigator-USA.com: “As they grow older, people are more likely to be overweight, to diet, and to have medical conditions. Attitudinally, they are more likely to be concerned about certain things…There is a growing awareness among consumers in general about healthy eating. People are becoming more sophisticated.”
She added that the study’s findings have major implications for food companies in terms of long-term product development.
Interest in organic foods has boomed over the past decade, although the sector’s growth has slowed recently as consumers have felt the pinch during the economic crisis.
Supply and demand
However, if the NPD Group’s prediction is correct that older consumers will ditch non-organic foods and help to reinvigorate the organic market, there are concerns that US suppliers may struggle to keep up with demand.
A recent report from the US Department of Agriculture said that although certified organic acreage has doubled in the US since 1997, organic food sales have quintupled over the same period, from $3.6bn to $21.1bn last year. This has led handlers to look to international markets for supplies – which can often be cheaper due to lower labor and input costs.
Fortified foods
Older consumers are also expected to show an interest in ingredients for health and wellness, so as their numbers swell, so will sales of foods with added health benefits. “Even though obesity is not expected to outpace population growth – we expect that nearly half of our population will continue to be overweight or obese and, tied with the aging of the population, will bring rising medical concerns,” said the report.
“Healthy options for ‘heart health’, for diabetics, for weight control or loss, and to address other health-related needs should also represent a growing opportunity.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Americans aged 65 or over is expected to more than double by 2030 compared to 2000 levels, from 35m to 71m. It says that the rapid increase in the global median age is due to two factors: A 20-year increase in average lifespan during the second half of the twentieth century, and decreasing fertility.
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Financial-Industry/Aging-population-could-boost-sales-of-healthy-foods

Disease Mongering Galore: Panel Says ALL Teens Should be Screened for "Depression"
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  July 9, 2009 

(NaturalNews) The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued a new recommendation, published in the journal Pediatrics, that all children between the ages of 12 and 18 be regularly screened for the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).

The new recommendations surpass those of most doctors' groups -- which advise screening high-risk youths only -- and even those of the of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends only that doctors ask teens about depression, rather than giving them a full screening.

"Adolescent-onset MDD is associated with an increased risk of death by suicide, suicide attempts, ... recurrence of major depression by young adulthood, ... early pregnancy, decreased school performance, and impaired work, social, and family functioning during young adulthood," the report authors wrote. "Mass screening in primary care could help clinicians identify missed cases and increase the proportion of depressed children and adolescents who initiate appropriate treatment. It could also help clinicians to identify cases earlier in the course of disease."

The Preventive Services Task Force is a panel of independent experts given responsibility for setting national primary care treatment guidelines.

According to the panel, approximately 6 percent of U.S. teens, or two million, suffer from MDD, also known as clinical depression. Symptoms include sadness, anxiety, changes in eating or sleeping habits, hopelessness, irritability, isolation, moodiness, negativity, poor grades, risk taking, substance abuse and death wishes or suicidal thoughts.

Because depression is so common in teens, the researchers said, the majority of cases go undiagnosed.

"You will miss a lot if you only screen high-risk groups," said task force chair Ned Calonge of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

In order to develop the recommendation, the researchers reviewed high quality studies conducted since 2002 on the effectiveness of screening in diagnosing depression in children between the ages of 7 and 18, and also on the effectiveness of various treatments. They concluded that all children between the ages of 12 and 18 should receive yearly screening, preferably in a primary care setting such as an annual physical. Patients would merely need to fill out a simple questionnaire, which could even be completed in the waiting room, the researchers said.

The panel did not recommend screening younger children, due to absence of evidence that screening was effective in that age group.

"Limited available data suggest that primary care–feasible screening tools may accurately identify depressed adolescents and treatment can improve depression outcomes," the task force wrote. 

Another report, authored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and appearing in the same issue of Pediatrics, also calls for primary care physicians to get more involved in the treatment of mental illness, including depression. Recommendations include that pediatricians consult regularly with child psychiatrists, and try to have one working in their office if possible.

Report co-author Alan Axelson said that because parents have built up trust with pediatricians over time, these doctors may be in a better position to screen for and treat mental illness without invoking the social stigma of a visit to a therapist or psychiatrist. He noted that pediatricians are authorized to prescribe antidepressant drugs, though they may not perform psychotherapy.

Yet the Preventive Services Task Force report recommends that doctors screen for depression only in cases where psychotherapy is available as a treatment option. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs commonly used to treat depression have been linked to increased risks of suicidal thoughts in teenagers, Calonge noted, and the panel does not want to encourage their use in the absence of therapy.

"Treating depressed youth with [SSRIs] may be associated with a small increased risk of suicidality and should only be considered if judicious clinical monitoring is possible," the report reads.

The task force's study did not show any correlation between depression screening and improved physical or mental health outcomes.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026582_depression_teens_disease.html

Flame Retardant Chemicals Found in U.S. Coastal Waters and Great Lakes
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  July 9, 2009 

(NaturalNews) Toxic flame retarding chemicals are found in all U.S. coastal waters and in the Great Lakes, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances.

"This is a wake-up call for Americans concerned about the health of our coastal waters and their personal health," said John Dunnigan, assistant administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's (NOAA's) National Ocean Service. "Scientific evidence strongly documents that these contaminants impact the food web and action is needed to reduce the threats posed to aquatic resources and human health."

The chemicals in question, known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were first produced in the 1970s, and have since been banned in a variety of countries across Asia and Europe. Manufacture of most varieties was voluntarily discontinued by companies in the United States, but other kinds are still produced to this day. They are chemically similar to PCBs, which have been banned in the United States and throughout the world.

Studies have indicated that PBDEs accumulate in the blood, body fat and breast milk of humans and other animals, and can be passed from mother to infant. They have been implicated in causing damage to the liver, kidneys and immune system, and to result in impaired neurobehavioral development. Like most persistent organic pollutants, they are especially dangerous to pregnant women and children.

Previously, researchers believed that only a few locations were contaminated with PBDEs. Analysis of date from the 24-year NOAA Mussel Watch Program, however, turned up evidence of contamination in all U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes. PBDE levels were highest near urban and industrial centers.

The most contaminated area was the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, which contains the Port of New York and New Jersey. Second was California's Anaheim Bay. Other especially high concentrations were found in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa, Florida; in Lake Michigan near Gary, Indiana; in the Southern California Bight; and in Puget Sound.
http://www.naturalnews.com/z026575_chemicals_flame_retardant_chemicals_health.html

Preventable Lifestyle Risks Kill More Than One Million Americans Yearly
Michael Jolliffe, NaturalNews.com  July 9, 2009 

(NaturalNews) The top six preventable risks in the average American lifestyle alone kill more than one million people each year, with omega-3 deficiency now the sixth most significant factor, according to new research published by Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian and colleagues examined national health surveys and statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics to assess the number of deaths related to the twelve most significant modifiable lifestyle practices for Americans including tobacco use, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake and alcohol consumption.

"To have hundreds of thousands of premature deaths caused by these modifiable risk factors is shocking and should motivate a serious look at whether our public health system has sufficient capacity to implement interventions and whether it is currently focusing on the right set of interventions," said lead author Dr Goodarz Danaei in reference to findings reported in "The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle and Metabolic Risk Factors", a new study published by the Public Library of Sciences Medicinejournal. [1]

As an average, the authors concluded, the annual death toll is around 1.14 million, but could be as high as 1.6 million.

"The government should support research that can find effective strategies for modifying the dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors that cause large numbers of premature deaths in the U.S.," the authors concluded.

While smoking and high blood pressure remain the biggest risk factors, results suggested that omega-3 deficiency has now become the sixth biggest killer of Americans, with nearly 100,000 deaths attributed to health problems related to an insufficient dietary intake, making it a more significant issue than an excessive consumption of trans-fats.

Speaking about the findings, Dr Mozaffarian, Assistant Professor Medicine and Epidemiology and one of America`s leading researchers on the relationship between omega-3 intake and public health, warned that the impact of such dietary factors was "not on the radar the way it should be". [2]

In an interview with Time magazine in January 2009 the scientist warned that "the real danger in this country, the real concern, is that we`re not eating enough fish. That is very likely increasing our rates of death from heart disease. We know from very good human studies that fish intake reduces the risk of dying from a heart attack by about a third."

The highest levels of omega-3s are found in fresh water fish such as salmon, mackerel and trout. In reference to concerns over the danger of heart problems related to mercury from fish consumption, Dr Mozaffarian was keen to stress that the benefits still outweighed the risks, iterating that "There`s no consistent evidence right now for significant health effects from mercury in adults". [3]

However, other experts have been keen to stress evidence of other significant negative effects caused by mercury consumption. Research has linked high mercury levels in food in large fish-eating populations to neurological symptoms, including learning and behavioral difficulties in children. [4] In 2005, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis was criticized for publishing a pro-fish report funded by a $500,000 grant from the United States Tuna Foundation.

[1] Danaei et al. The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors. PLoS Medicine. 2009 April; 6(4):e1000058
[2] http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicH...
[3] http://www.time.com/time/health/art...
[4] Marsh DO, et al. The Seychelles study of fetal methylmercury exposure and child development: introduction. Neurotoxicology. 1995 Winter; 16(4):583-96
http://www.naturalnews.com/026579_health_mercury_omega-3.html

How to Increase Your Natural Growth Hormone Production
Melanie Grimes, NaturalNews.com  July 8, 2009 

(NaturalNews) Growth hormone (GH) is naturally produced in the pituitary gland but the production of this hormone decreases as we age, especially in men over the age of 40. This decrease leads to loss of both muscle mass, increased fat, and loss of energy and mental acuity. Research on synthetic growth hormone has been inconclusive, as side effects vary. However, there are many nutrients that can stimulate your body's production of GH and help maintain youthful levels of this important hormone.

The best ways to increase GH in the body are by lifestyle changes and by adding nutrients that support endogenous GH secretion. Numerous nutrients are needed to fuel the natural production of GH.

Lifestyle Recommendations to Boost Natural Growth Hormone Production

Both sleep and exercise have been shown to help increase GH production. GH is released at night, via messages from the hypothalmus. Vigorous exercise also helps induce GH release. A diet low in simple sugars is also advised, because GH release is inhibited by insulin.

Nutrition to Boost Natural Growth Hormone Production

Protein
Along with exercise and sleep, protein is needed to provide the essential amino acids necessary for GH synthesis. Protein is utilized by the growth hormones to build muscles.

Glutamine
The amino acid Glutamine is especially indicated in bolstering the immune system, aiding absorption in the intestines, and regulating the conversion of protein to muscle. L-Glutamine has been shown to stimulate growth hormone release.

Choline
The neurotransmitter choline (acetylcholine) is a nutrient used for memory and brain function and preventing Alzheimer's disease. It has been found to aid the manufacture of GH in the body.

Niacin
B vitamins help balancing hormone levels and niacin , B3, has been shown to release growth hormone's GH levels. In one study, 500 mg of niacin caused a significant rise in growth hormone. When fatty acids were injected along with the niacin, the effects slowed, as the growth hormone production is slowed by fatty acid. Niacin is best absorbed when taken during fasting, or on an empty stomach, as insulin and glucose are also known to inhibit growth hormone production.

Conclusion
Growth hormone production decreases as we age. With exercise and proper sleep, the endogenous GH levels can be maximized. With additional nutritional supplementation, natural growth hormone production can be increased and the mental and physical side effect of aging can be slowed, leading to a more productive lifestyle as we age.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026569_growth_hormone_niacin_glutamine.html

FDA Admits Drug in Tylenol and Excedrin is Main Cause of Liver Failure in U.S.
Jane Jones, NaturalNews.com  July 7, 2009 

(NaturalNews) The drug in question is acetaminophen. It`s in prescription and all too popular over-the-counter drugs including Tylenol and Excedrin. According to the FDA, taking too much will kill you and the government agency also admits this chemical is the leading cause of liver failure in the U.S. Acetaminophen is responsible for 56,000 emergency room visits and 456 deaths annually, according to studies done between 1990 and 1998. In spite of this, billions of doses are sold each year.

The FDA rarely admits the damage the drugs they`ve approved do. In fact, in recent years, the drug approval agency has been in the spotlight for doing precisely the opposite; they`ve been caught hiding this information from public view.

The harmfulness of the substance is highlighted by the fact that people are dropping dead from inadvertently consuming "too much" and that begs some pretty serious questions.

Questions like - "If taking too much accidentally has a decent chance of killing me, isn`t it likely that taking even the recommended amount is doing some damage?" And, "If it`s doing damage, how am I to know what damage it`s actually doing?" And even, "Why are doctors prescribing drugs that are known to be harmful to me?"

The last question might be the most important one because in allopathic, drug-centered medicine prescribing harmful chemicals in the name of "health" and of a "cure" is done all too often. Then, the consequences of those chemicals are often blamed on the disease, or are seen as another problem that appears down the road. According to your medical provider the harmful chemicals you`ve been consuming and your health problems are completely unrelated. Besides, they will say, you "need" the drugs.

In any case, liver failure isn`t a problem to be taken lightly; it`s often synonymous with death.

Your liver is such an important organ that according to the American Liver Foundation, "Anything that keeps your liver from doing its job - or from growing back after injury - may put your life in danger."

Using a substance that impairs your liver is all the more tragic when it`s combined with other chemicals, which is often the case with drugs. This is because your liver is the organ that breaks down those substances. If your liver is slowed from doing that job by the acetaminophen, it means the other chemicals will remain in your body longer, and they too, are often toxic.

In a small step in the right direction, FDA panelists voted to eliminate acetaminophen from prescription drugs that also include other medications and to lower the recommended dosage amounts. The FDA, however, is not required to follow the advice of the panel and what they will actually do remains to be seen.

In the nineteen years since data collection began on the harmfulness of acetaminophen, it can be extrapolated that over a million emergency room visits and 8,000 deaths have stemmed directly from the use of this drug. For those who are keeping track, over two and a half times as many people were killed from this drug as were killed on that fateful day in September, 2001. And unfortunately, acetaminophen is but one drug, of many drugs, that cause significant harm to the population - all with the stamp of the FDA.

In light of the facts, it`s about time a serious conversation took place to stem the use of this drug, although eliminating its use entirely makes a lot more sense. Hopefully, more conversations about other harmful drugs will follow and ideally, with a lot less pain and tragedy in the meantime - and a much faster reaction time by those who are supposed to be protecting our health.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026565_drugs_acetaminophen_liver_failure.html

Carotenoid Nutrients Proven to Keep Senior Citizens Active
Michael Jolliffe, NaturalNews.com  July 6, 2009 

(NaturalNews) Senior citizens who consume a high dietary intake of carotenoids, nutrients found in colored fruits and vegetables such as carrots, peppers, mangoes and kiwi fruit, are able to walk 'longer and stronger' than those with a low dietary intake, suggest the results of a new study published by the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Ageing.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Center used blood tests to measure levels of carotenoids in 687 older adults aged sixty-five and over, and subsequently assessed the results against the physical walking performance of the trial participants.

Results showed that a higher dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, as indicated by a higher blood carotenoid level, was associated with a significant protective effect against physical degeneration over the course of three years, as measured by a strong or weak walking performance. [1]

The latest findings are the second such study to examine the connection between these dietary factors and sustainable physical performance inaging. Previous research, also carried out by Johns Hopkins and forming part of the larger Women's Health and Aging Study, revealed that "low serum carotenoid levels, an indicator of low intake of fruits and vegetables, are independent predictors of the progression towards severe walking disability among older women living in the community." [2]

Prior to both studies, the link between a low carotenoid intake and poor muscle strength had been established [3], as had a more general correlation between fruit and vegetable consumption and functional disability in senior citizens. [4]

Researchers in the current study felt that their results may be particularly important given that such mobility assessments can be accurate predictors of future disability and even mortality, and that the findings could help senior citizens in maintaining independence and quality of life with aging.

Lead author Dr Alipanah and colleagues suggested a number of explanations for the findings, including that the antioxidant properties of the nutrients could protect against the progression of aging and may help to dampen down a type of inflammation unique to muscle weakness and physical decline. The research team also suggested that physical degeneration may on occasion simply be related to undernutrition and that an increased intake offruits and vegetables could be indicative of consuming enough calories to lend to a strong physical walking performance.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the highest levels of carotenoids are found in collards, sweetcorn, tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, butternut squash and carrots. Guidelines recommend an intake of around 6mg each day, or equivalent to eating three portions of carotenoid rich foods. [5]

[1] Alipanah et al. Low Serum Carotenoids Are Associated With A Decline In Walking Speed In Older Women. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. 2009, 13; 3: 170-175.
[2] Semba et al. Low serum carotenoids and development of severe walking disability among older women living in the community: the Women's Health and Aging Study I. Age Ageing. 2007 January. 36; 1:62-67.
[3] Cesari M, Pahor M, Bartali B, et al. Antioxidants and physical performance in elderly persons: the Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004. 79:289-94.
[4] Houston DK, Stevens J, Cai J, Haines PS. Dairy, fruit and vegetables intakes and functional limitations and disability in a biracial cohort: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005. 81:515-22.
[5] Holden et al. Carotenoid Content of U.S. Foods: An Update of the Database. Journal Of Food Composition And Analysis. 1999. 12; 169-196.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026564_senior_citizens_aging_vegetables.html

Scientists Discover Vitamin C can Halt Diabetes Damage
Michael Jolliffe, NaturalNews.com  July 6, 2009 

(NaturalNews) A team of US and British scientists has discovered that a combined therapy of insulin and vitamin C can stop disease-related blood vessel damage in patients with Type I diabetes.

Researchers at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center in Oklahoma and the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire, UK, recruited forty participants into a trial that involved providing vitamin C or insulin therapy, or both, for a range of time periods and assessing the effect of each therapy on endothelial (blood vessel) injury, blood flow and oxidative stress. The patient group included a range of sufferers, from those recently diagnosed with the condition to those who had been controlling the illness for five years or more.

Results revealed that either therapy was mildly effective for those with a recent diagnosis of Type I diabetes, but that only the combined treatment was completely effective, particularly for longer-suffering participants.

Lead investigator Michael Ihnat, Ph.D., a pharmacologist at the Oklahoma University College of Medicine Department of Cell Biology, commented in an article published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism: "For patients with diabetes, this means simply getting their glucose under control is not enough. An antioxidant-based therapy combined with glucose control will give patients more of an advantage and lessen the chance of complications with diabetes." [1]

Complications of blood vessel damage, even in well controlled diabetes, can include kidney problems, injury to the small blood vessels in the eye leading to vision impairment and blindness, heart disease and nerve damage.

A second discovery by the researchers was that only the combined therapy was able to switch off the 'memory' triggered by the onset of diabetes. Scientists believe that a cellular 'switch' is flicked early on in the course of the illness leading to damage and deterioration, which cannot be reversed with insulin control alone. The current team was excited to confirm that the joint vitamin C and insulin therapy was able to reset this process.

Future experiments involving patients with Type II diabetes are said to be currently in the planning stages.

The relationship between vitamin C and diabetes has been investigated for many decades, with scientific papers dating as far back as 1937. [2]

Another complication of diabetes is the excessive accumulation of the sugar sorbitol in the body, which can lead to nerve and eye damage. In 1994, researchers investigating the effect of vitamin C on sorbitol levels in young adults discovered that doses of 100 or 600mg per day were able to normalize levels within a month. [3]

A sixteen year study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, involving around1,500 women with diabetes found that supplementation with 400mg or more of vitamin C each day significantly reduced the risk of coronary heart disease. [4]

[1] Ceriello et al. Long-term glycemic control influences the long-lasting effect of hyperglycemia on endothelial function in type 1 diabetes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2009 June. doi:10.1210/jc.2009-0762.
[2] Pfleger R et al. 1937. Diabetes und vitamin C. Wiener Archiv fr Innere Medizin 31: 219-230.
[3] Cunningham JJ et al. Vitamin C: an aldose reductase inhibitor that normalizes erythrocyte sorbitol in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Am Coll Nutr. 1994 Aug. 13; 4: 344-5.
[4] Osganian SK et al. Vitamin C and risk of coronary heart disease in women. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003; 42(2):246-252.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026568_diabetes_vitamin_C_blood.html

Is Obesity An Oral Bacterial Disease?
ScienceDaily (July 9, 2009) — A scientific team from The Forsyth Institute has discovered new links between certain oral bacteria and obesity. In a recent study, the researchers demonstrated that the salivary bacterial composition of overweight women differs from non-overweight women. This preliminary work may provide clues to interactions between oral bacteria and the pathology of obesity. This research may help investigators learn new avenues for fighting the obesity epidemic.
This work will be published in the Journal of Dental Research."There has been a world-wide explosion of obesity, with many contributing factors," said Dr. J. Max Goodson, senior author of the study. "However, the inflammatory nature of the disease is also recognized. This led me to question potential unknown contributing causes of obesity. Could it be an epidemic involving an infectious agent?" "It is exciting to image the possibilities if oral bacteria are contributing to some types of obesity," added Goodson.
Summary of Study
In order to measure the salivary bacterial populations of overweight women, samples were collected from 313 women with a body mass index between 27 and 32 (classifying them as overweight). Using DNA analysis, the researchers measured the bacterial populations of this group and compared it with historical data from 232 individuals that were not overweight. Significant differences in seven of the 40 species studied occurred in the salivary bacteria of subjects in the overweight group.
In addition, more than 98 percent of the overweight women could be identified by the presence of a single bacterial species, called Selenomanas noxia, at levels greater than 1.05 percent of the total salivary bacteria. These data suggest that the composition of salivary bacteria changes in overweight women. It seems likely that these bacterial species could serve as indicators of a developing overweight condition and possibly be related to the underlying causation.
Dr. Goodson noted that the reasons for a relationship between obesity and oral bacteria are likely complex. The observed relationship may be circumstantial as being related to diet or opportunistic due to metabolic changes. In the next phase of this research, Dr. Goodson plans to further examine this relationship by initially conducting a controlled cohort study to see if this initial observation can be reproduced. In addition, he hopes to conduct longitudinal studies in children to see if oral infection relates to weight gain. Ultimately, the development of strategies to eliminate specific oral bacteria would be required to provide definitive evidence that certain oral bacteria may be responsible for weight gain.
J. Max Goodson, DDS, PhD, is a Senior Member of the Staff at The Forsyth Institute and heads up The Forsyth Clinical Research Collaborative (CRC). . Principal research personnel associated with the CRC include scientists that conduct clinical and health care delivery research.
This work was supported in part by Interleukin Genetics of Waltham, MA and by a grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
The Forsyth Institute is the world's leading independent organization dedicated to scientific research and education in oral health and related biomedical sciences.
Goodson, J.M., Groppo, D., Halem, S., Carpino, E. Is Obesity an Oral Bacterial Disease? Journal of Dental Research, Online July 8, 2009 88: 519-523 DOI: 10.1177/0022034509338353
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090708153240.htm

Inflammation May Trigger Alzheimer's Disease

ScienceDaily (July 9, 2009) — The anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin could hold promise as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, says a Saint Louis University doctor and researcher.
Two research studies published by William A. Banks, M.D., professor of geriatrics and pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, support this conclusion and offer what he calls a "one-two punch" in giving clues on how Alzheimer's disease develops and could be treated.
His study in the July edition of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease supports the idea that toxic levels of amyloid beta protein, the substance scientists believe is responsible for Alzheimer's disease, accumulate in the brain because a pump that pushes it into the blood and past the blood-brain barrier malfunctions.
The blood-brain barrier is a system of cells that regulates the exchange of substances between the brain and the blood. The blood-brain barrier transporter known as LRP is the pump that removes amyloid beta protein from the brain and into the bloodstream.
"LRP malfunctions like a stop light stuck on red, and keeps amyloid beta protein trapped in the brain," said Banks, who also is a staff physician at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Louis.
He tested the hypothesis by giving mice an antisense, which is a molecular compound that blocked the production of LRP. Amyloid beta protein accumulated in the brain and the mice showed memory loss and learning impairment.
The finding raises the question of what causes LRP to malfunction. Banks' study in the May issue of Brain Behavior and Immunity suggests inflammation as the culprit and supports using indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory medication, as a buffer to protect LRP from being turned off.
Inflammation, which is part of the body's natural immune response, occurs when the body activates white blood cells and produces chemicals to fight infection and invading foreign substances.
"We induced inflammation in mice and found that it turned off the LRP pump that lets amyloid beta protein exit the brain into the bloodstream. It also revved up an entrance pump that transports amyloid beta into the brain. Both of these actions would increase the amount of amyloid beta protein in the brain."
Banks then gave mice indomethacin, which prevented inflammation from turning off the LRP (exit pump).
His findings help to explain what doctors who are studying the use of indomethacin to treat people with Alzheimer's disease are seeing in their clinical practice.
"Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially indomethacin, have been associated with protection against Alzheimer's disease. Our work could influence that debate and thinking at the patient-care level," Banks said.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090708181204.htm