Atkins-Like Diet Cuts Epileptic Seizures (HealthDay)

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THURSDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) — Adults with epilepsy who have failed other treatments may be able to dramatically reduce their number of seizures by following a modified Atkins-like diet, Johns Hopkins researchers report.

The high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet has already been shown to be valuable in controlling seizures in children, and now results from a small be eager suggest that the diet also works in favor of adults.

"There are a division of adults with very bad seizures. There are a lot of adults who have failed medicines and are not candidates for other treatments," said lead researcher Dr. Eric H. Kossoff, an assistant professor of neurology and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

For the study, Kossoff's team gave the diet to 30 adults who had unsuccessfully tried at least two anti-convulsant drugs and had an average of 10 seizures a week. The eating plan restricts patients to 15 grams of carbohydrates a day. Most of the calories come from fats such as eggs, meats, oils and heavy cream. In addition, patients are free to eat as much protein and no-carb drinks as they want.

"There was good news and bad news," Kossoff aforesaid. "The good news was it worked. The bad news it was tough. About 30 percent of the patients stopped the diet. This happened even in patients who had good seizure control who thought the diet was still too tough to do."

After a month on the diet, half the patients reported suffering 50 percent fewer seizures. At three months, about one-third of the patients cut the frequency of seizures by half.

However, by three months, one-third of the patients had dropped out of the study because they fix the diet also restrictive, Kossoff said.

The diet's side effects, such as increases in cholesterol or triglycerides, were pleasant, Kossoff noted.

After six months on the diet, 14 patients continued with it, even though the study was over, he said.

The findings are published in the February number of the journal Epilepsia.

No one knows how the diet works to reduce seizures, Kossoff said. And, most people find it too hard to follow, so it's probably not a long-term solution for most people with epilepsy, he added.

He also noted that patients who go upon the commons need to continue with it, perhaps for years to keep seizures under control.

But Kossoff thinks the diet be possible to be simplified to make it easier to follow. "We are looking at less time in the clinic and fewer restrictions and without a dietitian," he said.

Dr. Gholam Motamedi, director of the epilepsy service at Georgetown University Hospital, thinks the diet can be useful for patients who have no other options.

"The study is promising, especially given that patients with refractory epilepsy in particular — those who are not surgical candidates — are left with not much hope," he said.

Normally, the plan for these patients is to try a combination of different drugs or to use vagus nerve stimulation, but none of these options offers much hope of seizure control, Motamedi said.

"Therefore, having another modality available is always welcomed by the neurologists," he said. "It also encourages basic research looking for insight to the underlying reasons for epilepsy."

More information

For more on epilepsy, visit the Epilepsy Foundation.

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dermaCM Completes Study On Nanotechnology Taste-Masking For Use In Beverage And Pharmaceutical Applications

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dermaCM, announces successful findings of a double blind human taste test using proprietary nanolipidic particles (NLP) to mask the taste of sodium chloride in distilled water preparations. Taste-masking nanotechnology can be used to mask unpleasant tastes in drink, pharmaceuticals and nutricuetical preparations, vastly improving consumer acceptance, patient compliance and user satisfaction. The NLPs used in this study are safe and all-natural, marking the first successful testing of an all-natural integrated delivery system in taste-masking applications. Further benefits of using these proprietary NLPs in taste-masking includes the high-loading capacity of passenger molecules, an optically clear appearance, the ability to control population size, a 60 nm to 150 nm row and a system that is inherently non-precipitating. dermaCM provides this NLP integrated delivery system for OTC pharmaceuticals, beverage and nutricuetical applications via its state-of-the-art manufacturing and development facility. dermaCM offers services not only to pharmaceuticals, beverage and nutricuetical developers, but also to the cosmeceutical, skincare and sun care industries.

An all-natural taste-masking system can lull. consumer-concerns over other taste-masking technologies. Current taste-masking technologies include using man-made resins that are that cannot be dissolved, allowing the drug to bypass the mouth, be separated by gastrointestinal fluids and then these man-made insoluble resins finish through the GI tract. Coatings are also man-made and, while effective when used for pill-formulas, render not solve the taste-masking needs for liquids. Nanotechnology enables the delivery of unpleasant salts or other taste particles in an all-natural configuration that bypasses taste centers.

“The NLP delivery has been test marketed in Sports Drinks in the USA and has proven to successfully evasion the taste of salts within the drink formula,” quotes Dr. Michael Fountain. “This market research has led to our preliminary work in the pediatric oral medications arena to what our taste-masking nanotechnology could prove very helpful in masking the bitterness associated with numerous company oral medications.”

75 volunteers sampled four types of nanotechnology preparations - distilled water, NLP in distilled water, NLP containing sodium chloride in distilled water and sodium chloride in distilled water. Using a Likert taste preference scale, participants evaluated the statement “Sample masks the taste of salt (sodium chloride)” with a score from one (1) to five (5), where a score of one (1) equaled “strongly disagree” and five (5) equaling “strongly agree.” The preparations using NLP containing sodium chloride had a mean Likert score of 4.05, with no statistical difference between the distilled water, distilled water with NLP and the distilled water with NLP containing sodium chloride. The inference is that an NLP delivery system is effective in masking the taste of sodium chloride.

dermaCM offers more than 17 years in inquiry and development of cutting-edge all-natural nanotechnologies at a facility that is one of the most advanced analytical, microbiological research and development laboratories in the industry. dermaCM, offers formulating, private labeling, manufacturing, packaging and fulfillment services supported by stringent adherence to FDA regulations for OTC pharmaceuticals and respected industry standards for cosmeceuticals.

About dermaCM

dermaCM is a division of Dermazone Solutions, Inc. Dermazone Solutions, Inc. is an acknowledged leader in the field of nanotechnology and holds patents on its proprietary nanosphere delivery system. The state-of-the art manufacturing facility is FDA-registered and can offer a wide range of product types to the pharmaceutical, beverage, nutricuetical, cosmeceutical, skincare and sun care industries. The facility offers additional laboratories for analytical, microbiology and research and development and is located in St. Petersburg, FL, U.S. For more information, visit http://www.dermaCM.com.

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Hunger Could Be Alleviated And Rural Development Bolstered By African Fruits, Resulting In Environmental Stability

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Africa’s own fruits are a largely untapped contrivance that could combat malnutrition and boost environmental stability and rural development in Africa, says a new report from the National Research Council. African science institutes, policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals could all use modern horticultural knowledge and scientific research to fetch these “lost crops” — so as baobab, marula, and butterfruit — to their full potential, said the panel that issued the report.

Today, tropical fruit production in Africa is dominated by species introduced from Asia and the Americas, such as bananas, pineapples, and papayas. Because these and other crops arrived on the continent centuries ago already improved through horticultural selection and breeding, they increasingly displaced the traditional species that had fed Africans for thousands of years. The imported species also received the support of colonial powers who wanted familiar crops that were profitable to grow, and indigenous fruits continued their downward spiral of dwindling cultivation and knowledge.

With renewed scientific and institutional support, still, Africa’s native fruits could make a abundant greater contribution to nutrition and economic development, the new report says. Fruit trees and shrubs also offer long-term benefits by improving the stability of the environment.

The report highlights 24 fruits that hold special word; some are already being cultivated in parts of Africa, under which circumstances others are harvested from the wild. Examples are:

* AIZEN. Giving more people access to this wild fruit — which grows in extreme climates with few other food resources — could reduce malnutrition and mortality, the report says. The fruits are a good source of vitamins A and C, calcium, and some minerals, during the time that the seeds are high in protein and zinc. This large, resilient Saharan shrub shows promise as a way to protect erodible slopes, stabilize dunes, and create windbreaks.

* BALANITES. This small desert tree tolerates heat and aridity so properly it thrives deep in the Sahara. It produces heavy yields of datelike fruits, as well as kernels that are one-half oil and one-third protein — similar to the makeup of soybeans and sesame seeds. These fruits and kernels already feed families in arid zones where few other food crops exist, but their full in posse is scarcely tapped. The seeds supply a food-grade vegetable oil also used in local cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The trees stabilize the natural environment, helping dry areas resist desertification.

* BAOBAB. The fruits of the baobab tree contain a sticky pulp that can be dried into a nutritious powder high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. The powder is stirred into warm water or milk to create a healthy drink, and also beaten and dried into thin pancakes for use months or even years later, aiding food security. During the rainy season, villagers often store water in the tree’s trunk since later use. The sale of baobab fruits aids rural commerce, and the trees themselves — which also yield a popular leafy vegetable — are almost indestructible.

* BUTTERFRUIT. This small tree produces fruit that is mainly used as a vegetable. High in calories and one of the best protein sources in the fruit world, butterfruit is especially promising for reducing child malnutrition. Even now, these fruits help many communities survive seasonal food shortages in the harshest hot, humid lowlands. Butterfruit also serves as a cash crop, pouring into cities and rural markets in large quantities. And the trees, which crop mahoganylike wood, may have potential for plantation forestry.

* EBONY. The ebonies of Africa yield some of the world’s finest timber and also bear abundant, flashing red fruits that are succulent and sweet. These can be dried for use when seasonal foods become scarce. The seeds of some ebonies are also edible, and the leaves are used as animal feed. Though the trees are known and valued on a local level, hardly anything scientific is known about managing them as food crops.

* MARULA. This tree is a nutritional powerhouse, producing both fruits high in vitamin C and nuts similar to the macademia, high in protein and minerals. The fruits are popular in markets and even exported, while the kernels contribute to nutrition and food security. In addition, oils extracted from the nuts are also exported for high-priced skin care products. Harvesting the fruits and shelling the nuts make ready work for thousands of rural women who have hardly any other source of income.

* TAMARIND. These fruits are a strong source of B vitamins and calcium, and can be stored for months without refrigeration. In addition, tamarind’s sweet-sour pulp can be preserved in the form of sun-dried cakes — a simple procedure that perhaps millions throughout Africa could exploit in opposition to food certainty, the report says. Already widespread, the trees have great promise for restoring damaged lands to health and productivity, and likely for sequestering carbon, since they are treasured and seldom cut down.

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Article adapted through Medical News Today from original press release.
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The report is the third and final volume in a series that explored the benefits of reviving Africa’s indigenous crops. Previous reports included VOLUME 2, VEGETABLES (2006) and VOLUME 1, GRAINS (1996).

The study was sponsored by the Africa Bureau and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development, with additional support from the Presidents Committee of the National Academies. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are private, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under a congressional charter. The Research Council is the principal operating agency of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. A panel roster follows.

Copies of LOST CROPS OF AFRICA: VOL. 3, FRUITS are available from the National Academies inculcate on the Internet at HTTP://WWW.NAP.EDU.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Policy and Global Affairs
Development, Security, and Cooperation

PANEL ON AFRICAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

NORMAN E. BORLAUG* (CHAIR)
Senior Consultant to the Director General
Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo
Mexico City

ANTHONY CUNNINGHAM
Professional Research Fellow
School for Environmental Research
Charles Darwin University
Darwin, Australia

JANE I. GUYER
Professor
Department of Anthropology
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore

HANS R. HERREN*
President
Millennium Institute
Arlington, Va.

CALESTOUS JUMA*
Professor of the Practice of International Development, and
Director
Science, Technology, and Globalization Project
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University
Cambridge, Mass.

AKINLAWON MABOGUNJE
Chair
Development Policy Centre (retired)
Ibadan, Nigeria

BARBARA UNDERWOOD
Chemist
National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health (retired)
Sun City, Calif.

MONTAGUE YUDELMAN
Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow
Washington, D.C.

RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF

MARK DAFFORN
Study Director

NOEL D. VIETMEYER
Consulting Author and Scientific Editor

* Member, National Academy of Sciences

Source: Sara Frueh
The National Academies

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Links Between Prostate, Cadmium, Zinc Investigated By Researchers

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Cadmium exposure is a known risk factor for prostate cancer, and a new University of Rochester study suggests that zinc may offer protection against cadmium.

In an article published in the February 2008 journal, The Prostate, epidemiologist Edwin van Wijngaarden, Ph.D., reports that PSA levels were 22 percent higher among American men who had zinc levels underneath the median (less than 12.67 mg/daily) and cadmium levels above the median. (PSA is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more in a fair way cancer is present.)

In opposition, among men through a greater than median zinc intake, little evidence of an association between cadmium and PSA was found.

The way zinc and cadmium interact within human organs is significant and provides interesting leads for study, van Wijngaarden said. Zinc stimulates fruit of a protein that binds cadmium thereby taking it out of circulation and reducing its toxic effects.

However, it is too early to recommend zinc supplements for those who’re worried about prostate damage, he added.

“Your health is based on the complex interplay of many factors,” said covered wagon Wijngaarden, an assistant professor in the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Environmental exposures play out differently in people. It’s important to identify those subpopulations that may be more sensitive to toxicities.”

The study was based on data from a model of 1,320 men registered in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002, which was the first time PSA levels were available. In men over age 40, urinary cadmium levels were measured in about one-third of the sample and dietary zinc intake was reported based on 24-hour recall. Information on all three variables was available for a total of 422 men.

Cadmium exposure occurs mostly through smoking and diet, the latter as a result of fertilizer-soaked soil used for growing crops. Cadmium is also a byproduct of the industrial process used for making fungicides, batteries, pigments and coatings that defend metals from corrosion. Workers in those areas are at risk for much higher exposures. When ingested or inhaled, cadmium collects in the liver, kidneys and prostate.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin malignancy in the United States. Nearly 219,000 new cases and 27,000 deaths were expected in 2007.

Zinc is an important nutrient to maintain health. However, the jury is still out on the benefits of large quantities zinc and van Wijngaarden cautioned that some studies show it may do more harm than good when taken as a dietary supplement. Zinc toxicity can harm the immune system, reduce beneficial cholesterol, and alter iron function.

“This type of inconsistency may be explained by variability in certain populations,” he said. “Epidemiologists often converging-point on single exposures, but biology is not that simple. The latest scrutiny suggests we should be studying the interplay of exposures on certain subgroups of people and how they vary.”

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Van Wijngaarden did not receive any outside funding for the data analysis. Co-authors are Eric A. Singer, M.D., a urology resident at the URMC and Ganesh S. Palapattu, M.D., a specialist in urology oncology at the University of Rochester James P. Wilmot Cancer Center.

Source: Leslie Orr
University of Rochester Medical Center

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The Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease May Be Reduced By Fruit Consumption

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Apples, bananas, and oranges are the most common fruits in both Western and Asian diets, and are weighty sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A new study in the Journal of Food Science explores the additional health benefits of these fruits and reveals they also preserve against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease.

Researchers at Cornell University investigated the effects of apple, banana, and orange extracts on neuron cells and form in a mould that the phenolic phytochemicals of the fruits prevented neurotoxicity on the cells.

Among the three fruits, apples contained the highest content of protective antioxidants, followed by bananas then oranges.

The authors concluded “[their] study demonstrated that antioxidants in the major fresh fruits consumed in the United States and Korea protected neuronal cells from oxidative stress….Additional consumption of fresh fruits similar as apple, banana, and orange may be beneficial to improve effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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This do one’s best is published in the Journal of Food Science.

Chang Y. Lee, PhD, is affiliated with the Department of Food Science and Technology at Cornell University.

The goal of the Journal of Food Science is to offer scientists, researchers, and other food professionals the opportunity to share knowledge of scientific advancements in the myriad disciplines affecting their work, through a respected peer-reviewed publication. The Journal of Food Science serves as an international forum for vital research and developments in food science.

Wiley-Blackwell was formed in February 2007 as a result of the acquisition of Blackwell Publishing Ltd. by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., and its merger with Wiley’s Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. Together, the companies have created a global publishing business through deep strength in every major academic and professional field. Wiley-Blackwell publishes approximately 1,400 scholarly peer-reviewed journals and an extensive collection of books with global appeal. For more information on Wiley-Blackwell, please visit http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ or http://interscience.wiley.com/ .

Source: Amy Molnar
Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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Results Of Largest US Study Of Pre-Conceptional Folic Acid Supplementation

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New research suggests that women who take folic acid supplements for at least one year before they become pregnant can cut their put in peril of having a premature baby by half.

Researchers at the 28th Annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) meeting - The Pregnancy Meeting™ - has unveiled a study linking pre-conceptional folate supplementation of at least one year to reduced early premature delivery rates of 50 to 70 percent, regardless of age, race or other factors. Of particular note is the drop in very betimes premature births, those babies who are at the greatest risk of complications such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, chronic lung infirmity, and blindness.

The study is an observational analysis based on the self-reporting of folate supplementation by 38,033 participants in an earlier trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH.) The current consider attentively only examined singleton pregnancies and excluded pregnancies in which there were medical or obstetrical complications such as preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, and congenital or chromosomal abnormalities.

“Thanks to the depth and width of the NIH study, which included an early pregnancy ultrasound of each participant, we had highly accurate evidence of the gestational ages of the preterm deliveries,” said Radek Bukowski, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, the lead study author and SMFM member. “This evidence enabled us to determine that folate supplementation for at least one year is linked to a 70 percent decrease in very early preterm deliveries (20 to 28 weeks in gestational age) and up to a 50 percent reduction in early preterm deliveries of 28 to 32 weeks.”

“We even now knew that folic acid supplementation beginning before pregnancy and continuing into the first trimester helps prevent weighty birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, such as spine bifida,” said Alan R. Fleischman, M.D., senior vice president and medical director of the March of Dimes. “Now Dr. Bukowski’s research makes us optimistic that taking folic acid for at least one year before pregnancy also may greatly reduce the risk of premature birth. These findings add even greater weight to March of Dimes support on account of the U.S. Public Health Service’s long-standing approbation that every woman of childbearing age vanish out of being 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. We hope this new research also will spur more health care professionals to animate their female patients to make folic acid part of their daily routine as a simple step toward having a healthy baby in the future.”

“In addition to its benefits in preventing pregnancy complications, previous studies have suggested that folic acid may also have for one’s interest effects in preventing stroke and cardiovascular disorder in adults,” said Katharine Wenstrom, M.D., president of the SMFM, “That’s why everyone - men and women - should get into the habit of taking it.”

Today’s abstract, Preconceptional Folate Prevents Preterm Delivery, represents the first and largest U.S. close attention to look at the effects of pre-conceptional folate supplementation on early preterm delivery. It is the fifth study by SMFM members to be honored by the March of Dimes for honing the tools used in the fight against prematurity. The March of Dimes conducts a National Prematurity Campaign aimed at raising awareness and reducing the growing rate of premature births.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from source press release.
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The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (est. 1977) is a non-profit membership group for obstetricians/gynecologists who have additional formal education and training in maternal-fetal medicine. The society is devoted to reducing high-risk pregnancy complications by continuously educating its 2000 members on the latest pregnancy assessment and treatment methods. It moreover serves as an advocate for improving public policy, and expanding research funding and opportunities for maternal-fetal medicine. The group hosts an annual scientific meeting in which new ideas and research in the area of maternal-fetal medicine are unveiled and discussed.

For more information, visit http://www.smfm.org/.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, visit http://www.marchofdimes.com/ or mailto:nacersano.org.

Source: Elizabeth Lynch
March of Dimes Foundation

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Afraid of Cold Weather Exercise?

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by J. M. Graham (”Crabby McSlacker”)

Many population find it challenging enough to stick to their outdoor exercise plans which time the weather’s luscious. But what if you don’t be seized of access to a gym and it’s really cold outside? Can’t it be dangerous to go out in frigid temperatures?

The surprising answer, is: nope, it’s never too cold to exercise outdoors. At least not according to researchers who’ve studied this subject of investigation.

Safe At Minus Fifty Degrees?
John Castellani is an exercise physiologist, and was lead author of a position paper on exercise and cold get the better of published by the American College of Sports Medicine. In a recent interview with the New York Times (registration may be required), Dr. Castellani argued that it’s never too cold to go outside to exercise. “People go to the poles, people are out there when it’s minus-50 degrees, people do incredible things, and safely. There really isn’t a point in which place you can tell people it is not safe anymore.”

While the ACSM paper and the New York Times article do acknowledge some safety issues, these apparently shouldn’t keep most exercisers at home. And they try to dispel several myths about outdoor exercise.

What relative to Hypothermia?
So don’t people die of hypothermia while they’re out in excessive get the better of? Well, not if you keep some advice in mind:

  • Keep moving: You’ll generate much more body heat this way. The position paper points out there is a large difference in body heat privation between heavy exercise and light exercise.
  • Watch out for wind and wet conditions: The ACSM paper notes that even when temperatures aren’t as extreme, swimmers and those exercising in the rain can experience a good deal of body heat loss.
  • Don’t wear too much–you’ll sweat if you’re overdressed. “You should feel cool before you start exercising,” Dr. Castellani related. “You should not feel comfortable.” (God forbid).

But Isn’t Exercise-Induced Asthma Worse in Cold Weather? Researches, say, no, the cold isn’t the problem; dry air is. By the time the air hits your lungs it’s already body temperature, but it may not be damp enough in cold weather.

It’s suggested you take proper medications and wear “a balaclava,” so your exhaled breath can moisten the air you breathe. (A balaclava is “a knit cap for the head and neck,” according to Mirriam-Webster, fair though it sounds a lot allied baklava, which is a very tasty dessert but won’t help you much with your breathing).

What About Frostbite?
Do make sure you don’t expose your extremities to devoid of warmth temperatures for far-seeing periods of time. Frostbite sets in when skin temperature drops to about 27 degrees fahrenheit.

But What if You’re Just Not Used to the Cold?
Researchers claim it’s a myth is that you have to acclimatize to cold weather; they speech there is surpassingly little adaptation to cold over time.

more of us spoiled Californians who shiver when the thermometer goes much below 60 degrees may find ourselves skeptical. Does that mean we can’t blame our “thin blood’ and are just devoid of warmth weather wimps?

Well, as a wimpy Californian, I have to admit this quote in the Times article gave me pause. Timothy Noakes, another application physiologist, said: “Even in temperatures as low as ten to minus-20 degrees, a runner probably needs to bring about gradually no more than a track suit, mittens or gloves and a hat.”

Minus 20 degrees? In just a track suit? Sorry, no thanks. But what do other people think about getting out there in really cold weather?

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Some Scientists Questioning Folic Acid Fortification, Baltimore Sun Reports

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Some scientists are questioning whether a 1998 FDA requirement to fortify flour, bread and pasta with folic acid in an effort to prevent birth defects has had “unforeseen trade-offs,” including an increase in colon and prostate cancer cases and every increase in cognitive impairment among seniors, the Baltimore Sun reports. However, proponents of folic acid fortification pronounce the benefits — including a decrease in birth defects and possible prevention of some cancers and cardiovascular disease — are proven and argue that “potential downsides” to fortification are unproven (Desmon, Baltimore Sun, 1/27).

According to CDC, the fortification requirement and an effort launched in 1992 to encourage women to hold daily vitamins containing folic acid has contributed to a decline of about one-third in the rate of infants born from spina bifida and anencephaly from 1991 to 2005. March of Dimes, the American Medical Association and several pediatric groups in the last two years have called on FDA to double the amount of folic acid required in fortification (Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, 1/23).

According to the Sun, scientists are precarious to what extent folic acid works, but many believe it assists in forming DNA, stimulating confined apartment growth, preventing hurt and helping DNA replicate. Folic acid also helps cells divide in normal tissues but can have the same effect in precancerous tissue, causing cancer cells to reproduce quickly, the Sun reports.

A report published last summer by Joel Mason — director of the Vitamins and Carcinogenesis Laboratory at Tufts University — and colleagues found a possible link betwixt folic acid castle in the U.S. and Canada, and colorectal cancer rates, which are not declining as quickly as they were prior to fortification. According to the study, folic acid fortification has lead to as many as 15,000 additional colorectal cancer cases in the U.S. annually and 1,500 in Canada. Mason said that although his study is not definitive, the U.S. cannot “afford” a 10% chance that it is valid. Mason does not recommend that the U.S. stop stronghold until more data are collected, but he does rely upon that the United Kingdom, which is currently considering fortification requirements, should wait till more data is available.

Walter Willett, chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, said that it will take about 10 years until the impact of fortification is known. “I think we’ve done something that overall is beneficial, and we won’t know the replete balance of benefits or possible adverse effects for multitude years,” he said, adding that “overall the picture looks good” (Baltimore Sun, 1/27).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women’s Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

&manuscript; 2007 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

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UK Prison Study To Investigate Link Between Diet And Behavior

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Trials will in a short time subsist underway in three UK prisons to investigate the link betwixt nutrition and behaviour. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the sift will look at the kind of one. nutrients are most important and at what dosage.

In the study, volunteers from three young offenders institutions housing male prisoners aged 16 to 21 will take nutritional supplements on top of their normal choice of diet to ensure they receive the necessary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids to unite quotidian guidelines. The results will be compared with a control group under double blind conditions. Researchers will monitor how levels of nutrients affect a range of behaviours including violence, drug-related offences and incidents of self-harm.

The recent trials build on foregoing research carried out at the then greatest security HM Young Offenders Institution Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, funded through Natural Justice, a research charity that investigates the social and physical causes of offending behaviour. In that study, nutritional supplements were given to ensure that inmates’ diets reached recommended UK dietary standards. The researchers found that the prisoners who consumed the active nutrient capsule committed on average 26% fewer disciplinary offences overall than those taking the placebo and 37% fewer violent offences

“Our initial findings indicated that improving what people eat could lead them to behave more sociably as well as improving their health,” said Professor Stein. “This is not an area currently considered in standards of dietary adequacy and little is currently known about optimum nutrient dosages required for brain function or behaviour. We are not saying that nutrition is the only influence on behaviour but we seem to have seriously underestimated its importance.”

The new study will be led by Professor John Stein at the University of Oxford and Natural Justice. Professor Stein and colleagues believe that the reason why supplements can have similar a large effect is because the proper functioning of nerve cell membranes and signalling molecules depends upon adequate amounts of minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids in the diet.

“This is a positive approach to preventing the problems of antisocial and criminal behaviour,” says Bernard Gesch, Director of Natural Justice. “It is simple, it seems to be highly effective and the only ‘risk’ from a better diet is better health. It is a rare win-win situation in criminal justice.”

The study is vital principle funded through a £1.4 million award from the Wellcome Trust, the UK’s largest medical research charity.

“If this study shows that nutritional supplementation affects behaviour, it could have profound consequence for nutrition guidelines not only within the criminal justice system, but in the wider community, in schools, for example,” says Dr Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust. “We are all used to nutritional guidelines for our physical health, but this apply the mind could show the way to revisions taking into account our mental health, as well.”

The new three year be zealous will start in May and has been facilitated by the Ministry of Justice, HM Prison Service and the Scottish Prison Service. It will be carried out at three HM Young Offenders Institutions - Hindley, Greater Manchester; Lancaster Farms, Lancashire; and Polmont, Falkirk.

Prisons Minister David Hanson MP said: “I welcome this study by the Wellcome Trust and I hope that it will shed further light on the possible links between nutrition and behaviour among youthful lower classes. Sound, further research in this area will have the potential, dependent in succession the findings, to inform the development of policy on behaviour management.”

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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The University of Oxford and Natural Justice will be working in collaboration with a team of leading researchers including academics from Imperial College London, the Institute of Psychiatry, the University of Surrey, the University of Liverpool, University College, Cork and the Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research.

Source: Craig Brierley
Wellcome Trust

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Celebrate American Heart Month By Eating Red

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“Go red” or “wear red” have become universal mantras for promoting heart-health during February, American Heart Month. But health and nutrition experts say we should also be eating red to protect our hearts. Americans are encouraged to expose to view the power of eating heart-healthy red foods during the first-ever National Eat Red Week, Feb. 4-10.

Why eat red? Science suggests the pigments that make up the red color in many fruits and vegetables like tart cherries and tomatoes, are powerful disease-fighting antioxidants that may help reduce excitement associated with atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries and reduce certain risk factors for heart disease.

A recent study from the University of Michigan1 revealed that cherry-enriched diets in animals lowered total blood cholesterol levels and reduced triglycerides (fat acids), major risk factors for heart disease. With more than 80 million Americans livelihood every day with some form of heart disease, scientists are increasingly studying the heart health impact of the foods we consume.

“We’ve always known fruits and vegetables were ‘in a sound condition,’ but now we’re beginning to better understand precisely why,” said Dr. Steven F. Bolling, a cardiac surgeon at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center who also heads the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. “Researchers are uncovering the unique potential for plant compounds, like those in cherries, to affect multiple heart health factors. For cherries, we’re learning the benefits may come from effects on both cholesterol levels and inflammation.”

Dried cherries are certified by the American Heart Association. To help raise funds in support of the American Heart Association’s mission, for every person who visits http://www.choosecherries.com to learn more about the heart-health benefits of cherries, a donation will be made in their name (up to $5,000).

Cherries: One of Today’s Hottest “Super Fruits”

Cherries are reality hailed by nutrition leaders as one of today’s hottest “Super Fruits.” According to Doctor of Public Health, registered dietitian and author of the newest edition of The SuperFoodsRx™ series, The SuperFoodsRx Diet: Lose Weight with the Power of SuperNutrients, Dr. Wendy Bazilian, cherries have quite an untold story.

“Most people don’t realize tart cherries are loaded with antioxidants, as many as blueberries in fact, and are linked to many potential health benefits including reducing risk factors for heart disease” said Dr. Bazilian. “What’s especially great about these cherries is that they’re available year-round as dried, frozen and juice. And, they’re protean plenty for just about every eating occasion from breakfast to snacks to salads.”

That’s good news for those seeking foods with health promoting properties. A recent survey revealed most respondents would prefer to eat or drink foods with health promoting properties, with heart-health topping the list, granting that they knew it could potentially limit the amount of medication they needed to take2.

Science suggests tart cherries may have potential health benefits including reducing pain related to arthritis and gout. Cherries are also one of the few food sources of melatonin, a potent antioxidant that may help improve the body’s natural sleep patterns and aid with jet lag. To learn more about cherries visit http://www.choosecherries.com to view The Cherry Nutrition Report, the first abridgment. of peer-reviewed studies on the benefits of cherries.

You in addition can find new cherry recipes, menu ideas and else information on where you can buy red tart cherry products.

The Cherry Marketing Institute (CMI) is an organization funded by North American tart cherry growers and processors. CMI’s mission is to increase the demand for tart cherries through promotion, market expansion, product development and research. For more information on the science supporting the unique health benefits of cherries and for cherry recipes and menu ideas, visit http://www.choosecherries.com.

References:

1. Seymour EM, Singer AAM, Bennink MR, Bolling SF. Cherry-enriched diets reduce metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in lean Dahl-SS rats. Experimental Biology 2007 225.8, Presented in minisymposium 225, Dietary Bioactive Compounds: Chronic Disease Risk Reduction.

2. Survey of 1,517 adults age 45 and older, conducted by Opinion Research Corporation’s Caravan Services, November 2007, on behalf of the Cherry Marketing Institute.

Cherry Marketing Institute

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