How Safe is your Omega 3 supplement? 12/17/2011
Consumer Reports states that Fish oil supplements from various stores may not be safe. Read article below. Fish Oil Supplement Quality May Be Inconsistent A new Consumer Reports investigation suggests that some fish oil products may be inconsistent in quality. Fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). There is supportive evidence from multiple studies that suggests the intake of recommended amounts of DHA and EPA in the form of dietary fish or fish oil supplements lowers triglycerides; reduces the risk of death, heart attack, dangerous abnormal heart rhythms and strokes in people with known heart disease. The Consumer Reports investigation included outside testing of 15 brands of fish oil supplements bought in New York-area stores. Investigators found that all lots contained the labeled amount of EPA and DHA, and did not exceed limits for lead, mercury, dioxins or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a nongovernmental standard-setting group or by the European Union. Consumer Reports noted, however, that several lots contained PCBs in amounts that could require warning labels. Among the brands with inconsistent levels Add Comment Omega 3s Reduce Anxiety, Inflammation Fish oil from salmon and other cold-water species is a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, and according to a new study, can help reduce both inflammation and anxiety. A research team from Ohio State University reported that daily doses of omega-3 supplements, providing about four to five times the amount of fish oil found in a daily serving of salmon, reduced anxiety among a group of medical students. The original aim of the study was to determine whether omega-3s would bring about a reduction in stress levels, but due to a change in the medical school curriculum, the 68 students participating weren't as stressed out during their exam period as had been expected. Earlier studies by the same investigators had shown that stress related to exams lowered students' immune status. In the new study, the team found that the 34 students who received the omega-3s were 20 percent less anxious than were the 34 who were given a placebo. The investigators also saw a 14 percent reduction in inflammation-promoting compounds called cytokines in the students who took omega-3s. Inflammation can foster diseases ranging from arthritis to cancer and heart disease. The researchers noted that if taking omega-3s brings about positive changes in young med school students, seniors and people at high risk for certain diseases might benefit even more. The study was published online on July 19, 2011 by the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity. My take? We've known for some time that omega-3s help tone down inflammation, and may help reduce the risk and symptoms of a number of disorders influenced by inflammation. We also know that people with memory loss, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may benefit from omega-3s, so it makes sense that these fats would also help reduce anxiety. To get adequate omega-3s, I recommend eating oily fleshed, wild-caught, cold water fish two to three times per week. If you use fish oil capsules, take two grams daily of a brand that contains both EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Adapted from Dr. Weil.com Need a good reason to serve fish? Eating wild Alaskan salmon is one of the best ways to get important omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. Omega-3s offer protection against heart attack and stroke, as well as cancer and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, how you store and cook salmon can affect these essential nutrients, which can be destroyed by exposure to air, light and heat. According to the National Fisheries Institute, freezing fish and other seafood as well as avoiding certain cooking methods (like deep-frying, blackening or sautéing at high temperatures) will cause minimal loss of the health-protective omega-3 fatty acids they contain. The best way to preserve omega-3s in salmon and keep down your total fat intake is to bake, broil, poach, steam or grill them just to the point of doneness that you prefer, and avoid adding fatty condiments. Adapted from Heart health from Dr. Weil.com 4 tips to reduce water retention bloating 07/27/2011
Many of us are familiar with the abdominal bloating and swollen fingers that accompany water retention. Whether you retain fluid due to hormonal changes or after eating too much salty food, don't reach for prescription diuretics. Even over-the-counter diuretics are likely to be harder on the system than retained fluid. Instead, try the following: Eat sensibly and watch your salt intake. Get regular exercise. Drink black tea, a safe and natural diuretic. Try an herbal diuretic such as corn-silk tea or freeze-dried dandelion leaf. Both are mild and nontoxic. You can get corn-silk tea in health food stores or make it yourself if you have access to fresh corn by steeping the silks in boiling water for ten minutes. Drink one cup two to four times a day. The dose for freeze-dried dandelion is one or two capsules two to four times a day. Extracted from Dr.Weil.com Airborne chemicals are known as VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. They are called volatile because they don't stay put... they evaporate into the air and then you breathe them in. You never really think that your home could make you tired, irritable or even sick, but over time your body may absorb common VOCs like formaldehyde, phthalates or PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) -- the chemicals in flame retardants used in furniture, which have been found in human breast milk and dryer lint. These chemicals may exacerbate allergies and asthma, and can cause fatigue, nausea, dizziness, eye, nose and throat irritation, cough, headache, flu-like symptoms and skin irritation. As they accumulate in the body over time they can silently affect how efficiently your body runs -- like whether you can maintain a healthy metabolism, burn fat well and keep your hormones in balance. Some also are known to cause heart, lung or kidney damage and even cancer and nerve damage if exposure is prolonged. This in turn can have a devastating effect on your health. If your liver, for instance, becomes taxed by an overburden of chemicals, it may not work efficiently, setting you up for other health problems. There are literally tens of thousands of chemicals that have been invented by humans in the last 60 years and depending on who you ask, somewhere between 70,000 and 100,000 are in common use today. Yet only a very tiny percentage have ever been directly tested for their effects on human health. Our bodies are remarkably resilient in defending ourselves from these chemicals, but only to a point. Scientists question the cumulative effect. It is common sense to believe that the more chemicals you are exposed to, the more likely you will eventually be negatively affected by them. Here are some easy and effective ways to reduce your exposure to chemicals in your home and minimize your risk of getting sick. They are simple to do and will give you peace of mind in knowing you are doing something proactive to help you and your family stay healthy. 5 Ways to Reduce Toxins by Clearing the Air: 1. Remove your shoes at the front door. Shoes track in lead, pesticides and other pollutants. Stuff we track in from the outside can make our home toxic, especially for pets and young children who spend more time on the floor. At the very least, get a good doormat to wipe your shoes before entering your home. 2. Vacuum with a well sealed, high quality HEPA vacuum cleaner. This can do a much better job of cleaning your carpets than the cheaper vacuum cleaners found at most department stores. Steam cleaning can kill dust mites and bacteria as well. 3. Avoid buying new upholstered furniture containing "halogenated fire retardants." If it contains polyurethane foam, look for models where the foam is thickly covered or wrapped inside the cushion so dust from it is less likely to escape into your home. See if they offer non-toxic stain resistant fabrics as well. 4. Use an air purifier. Try one with HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) technology developed by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to filter and trap sub-micron particles. Many reviews say this type of air purifier is the most effective. 5. Add houseplants to green and purify your living space. A NASA study found that common houseplants are natural air purifiers. Look for Aloe Vera, Philodendron, Rubber Plant, English Ivy, Ficus, Boston Fern, Gerbera Daisy and Spider Plant, to name a few. For more practical, simple solutions on how to have a super healthy home or work environment, visit www.BethGreer.com. Childhood obesity has become a rampant issue in our society. Not too long ago, most schoolchildren carried healthy weights and exercised and played vigorously on a daily basis. We played ball, tag, skateboards, jump rope, handball, rode bikes daily. The percentage of children with weight issues was very small. Childhood obesity However, much has changed in the past twenty years. Here are some staggering facts about childhood obesity listed by Dr. Hyman in his new book " Ending the Food Fight" 1. The percentage of overweight children ages six to 11 has doubled in the last 25 years. 2. One in three American children (30 million kids) are overweight today (and it is predicted that one in two — a full half of all children! — will be overweight by 2010). 3. Pediatricians now treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, “adult” onset (type 2) diabetes, heart attacks, and sleep apnea in children. 4. Overweight children are discriminated against more than those in wheelchairs or with facial disfigurement. 5. Childhood obesity affects the quality of life as much as a diagnosis of cancer does. 6. A typical child sees 10,000 junk food ads a year. 7. Neighborhood playgrounds, school physical education, and after-school programs have all declined dramatically — while junk food vending machines are now everywhere in schools. 8. Sixty percent of all childhood obesity can be attributed to watching TV. For every hour of TV watched, weight increases by six pounds. 9. Soda intake has increased 500 percent since the 1950s and now comprises 10 percent of all calories consumed by the average teenager. 10. Among 500 middle school children, the risk of becoming obese increased 60 percent for every additional serving of sugar-sweetened drink per day. Did you know that eating steamed or broiled dark fish help reduce your risk for Heart Failure? 05/26/2011
A 10 year study of 84,493 post-menopausal women reveal that those who frequently ate steamed or broiled dark fish such as salmom, mackerel or bluefish had a a 30% lower risk of developing heart failure. On the other hand, those who ate fried fish once a week had a 50% higher risk of incident of heart failure. The study suggests that not only is it important to eat darker fish which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, but the preparation of the fish was equally important. Frying fish may introduce saturated fats and trans fats that negate the benefits of the Omega- 3 fatty acids found in fish. For good heart health, try to incorporate fish in your diet and eat more of the dark fish as opposed to sole, snapper, cod which are considered white fish. See article: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/743457?sssdmh=dm1.690758&src=nldne Can Resveratrol help blood glucose levels? 05/22/2011
Resveratrol, is a polyphenol with anti-oxidant properties, and is mostly found in the skin of red grapes. It has many reported health benefits such as; preventing and promoting cell death (apoptosis) of cancer cells, reducing inflammation which helps combat heart disease, preventing biuldup of plaque associated with Alzheimer's disease, and preventing insulin resistance. A recent study supports that resveratrol shows significant improvement with insulin resistance and controlling blood glucose levels of patients with type II Diabetes. If you are looking for an alternative solution to controlling your type 2 Diabetes, get informed about this powerful anti-oxidant. http://nutrametrixblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/resveratrol-improves-insulin.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nutrametrix+%28Nutrametrix+Blog%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail Did you know that smoking one pack of cigarettes per day raises your risk for Prostate Cancer? 05/19/2011
Did you know that smoking one pack of cigarettes per day raises your risk for Prostate Cancer? 05/19/2011
We all know that nicotine is very addictive and some people cannot quite quit the smoking habit. If you, or a loved one is looking for another reason to quit smoking, you may want to consider the results of this recent study. The study shows that there exists a link between the severity of prostate cancer and smoking. The study also states that there is a 1% increase in PSA levels (prostate specific antigen) which is a laboratory test done to screen for prostate cancer, for every pack- year of cigarettes smoked. However, nonsmokers were more likely to survive prostate cancer. So, if you have not yet quit, please consider this! See article; http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=652881 |
