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Sunday 30 September 2012

Home Meal Delivery Service for Patients in the US

 Sep 28, 2012, 13:48 ET

 
Former Wall Street Executive Starts New Health Food Venture To Help Cancer Patients
 

Meals to Heal to Provide Home Meal Delivery Service for Patients and Peace of Mind for Caregivers

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Big Apple is about to get a house call thanks to a former finance executive and her new business endeavor. Susan Bratton is bringing more than 25 years of experience representing healthcare corporations to the table with her new Manhattan-based company, Meals to Heal. The startup will offer weekly home delivery of fresh, nutrient-dense meals to cancer patients in the contiguous 48 states.

After witnessing close friends and family suffering from cancer, Bratton noticed their urgent need for high-quality foods and the difficulty both patients and caregivers had finding healthy meals that mitigated the side effects of cancer treatment. Lack of proper nutrition contributed to fatigue, weight loss, weakened immune systems and depression.

"Something had to be done," said Bratton, founder and CEO of Meals to Heal. "The time and energy it takes to properly prepare food can be extremely taxing on patients, as well as caregivers. And they often don't know what meals will alleviate nutritional side effects. Poor nutrition is indicated in 50 to 80 percent of all cancer patients. We hope to help by bringing balanced nutrition, tailored to help patients manage nutrition-related side effects, right to people's doors."

Meals to Heal employs oncology Registered Dietitians who hold the Certified Specialist in Oncology ("CSO") credential, as well as a registered oncology nurse who holds the Oncology Certified Nurse ("OCN") credential. Customers will be able to access this clinical team with their questions via telephone or internet.

"So many cancer patients struggle with proper nutrition," states Dr. Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, who is on the Scientific Advisory Board of Meals to Heal. "A service that provides convenient, safe and affordable nutrition could help many people undergoing treatment for cancer, supporting them through their treatment and preventing weight loss."

Orders can be placed online for various meal programs, including 5-day and 7-day plans. In addition to home delivery of breakfast, lunch and dinner, patients will receive two daily snacks. Gift certificates and sample tasting packages are also offered. The Company will soon be offering a dinner-only option as well.

All fare from Meals to Heal is based on the proven Mediterranean Diet and meets the nutritional standards set forth by the USDA and the IOM. Entrees are paired with nutrient dense snacks to assist cancer patients in meeting their increased nutritional needs.

Meals to Heal

Meals to Heal is dedicated to making the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers easier and less stressful by providing services which relieve them of the significant time, energy and worry associated with ensuring proper nutrition for themselves and their loved ones. Meals to Heal provides a single, comprehensive solution to cancer patients' and their caregivers' nutritional needs through the home delivery of healthy, nutritious meals, in addition to a wealth of nutrition resources based on high-quality scientific studies and access to experienced oncology nutrition professionals. http://www.Meals-to-Heal.com

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Liver Donation Saves Cousin ...


Hawthorne woman's liver donation saves cousin, the 'big sister' she never had [video]


Sunday, September 9, 2012 Last updated: Monday September 10, 2012, 3:10 PM
         
The Record

****************



Over the last year, Jennifer Carrino had come back from the brink of death, survived internal bleeding and spent weeks in intensive care. Then came the hard part: asking her cousin for a part of her liver.
Jennifer Carrino, left, and cousin Nina Walsh showing off their surgery scars. Nina donated a portion of her liver to her older cousin, likely saving her life.
CARMINE GALASSO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jennifer Carrino, left, and cousin Nina Walsh showing off their surgery scars. Nina donated a portion of her liver to her older cousin, likely saving her life.

In April, doctors told Jennifer that without a transplant she probably had a year to live. Jennifer, 37, was already on transplant waiting lists in two states, but it was going to take too long, they said. She needed to think about a living donor.

Jennifer turned to her younger cousin, Nina Walsh, a slip of a woman with an outsized sense of generosity.

She asked her to consider giving up part of her healthy liver. The procedure, pioneered 20 years ago, pushes the ethical boundaries of medicine because it goes against a basic tenet of medicine to “first do no harm.” If she agreed, her cousin — a perfectly healthy 27-year-old — would undergo risky abdominal surgery. But she might save Jennifer.

Though each is an only child, the two women grew up in Hawthorne like sisters under separate roofs.

Each was christened at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, where their grandparents were married 65 years ago. All of them live within a mile of one another: the grandparents in a double-decker with Jennifer’s parents; Nina with her parents a few blocks away, and Jennifer and her husband one street over.

Sitting side by side on the sofa at Jennifer’s house, the cousins told the story of the last few months — a tale of Jennifer’s worsening medical condition and her decision to ask Nina to consider donation; of the scrupulous care taken to insulate Nina from feeling pressured by relatives as she was vetted and allowed to choose whether to donate; and, finally, the long day of surgery.

“I just can’t believe it’s been three weeks already,” said Nina, still sore and exhausted. Her scar is long, from chest to belly; all her energy goes to healing. Since the surgery, Jennifer has been using round-the-clock oxygen, wafting through plastic tubing from a machine that hums in the corner.

Their relationship is alternately feisty and tender. Of Jennifer, Nina said: “She was the big sister I didn’t have.” Jennifer quickly replied: “She was the little sister I never wanted.”

In their Mets jerseys with Mets pillows to hold against their midsections when they laughed, they were like salt and pepper shakers: The older cousin is blond and soft, the younger darker and edgier. Jennifer cries easily. Nina said she lacks the “crying gene.”

Jennifer said she and her husband, Vincent, a technology specialist at JPMorgan Chase, “were trying to get pregnant,” when this all started last year. She knew she’d have a high-risk pregnancy because of the injuries she’d suffered in a car accident 20 years ago. She also had cirrhosis of the liver, and its heavy scarring had caused varicose veins to develop along her esophagus. To prevent them from rupturing during pregnancy, doctors placed tiny rubber bands around the bulges. It would be the first of a succession of complicated and invasive procedures.

Nine days after the banding, Jennifer started to bleed internally, and was rushed to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. It was her mother’s birthday in July 2011. Jennifer doesn’t remember much of the next few weeks — a period when doctors performed numerous procedures as they tried to stop the bleeding. A shunt was finally placed in Jennifer’s liver to reroute the blood flow, but even that required a couple of adjustments.

Nina visited Jennifer in the hospital’s intensive-care unit and was stunned. “I couldn’t imagine going on without her,” she recalled. “I said, ‘If there’s anything I can do, let me know.’Ÿ”

By October, Jennifer was out of the hospital and back at work as a recruiter for a Paramus company that organizes clinical trials. But she found herself short of breath after each telephone call — and she was on the phone all day. As a result of her liver disease and its treatment, she had developed a complication known as hepato-pulmonary syndrome, which affected her lungs and reduced their ability to oxygenate her blood.

“The only treatment, aside from supplemental oxygen, is a liver transplant,” said Dr. Michael Meininger, a gastroenterologist who treated Jennifer at Englewood. “The clock was ticking to get her a transplant.”

Jennifer’s name was added to transplant waiting lists in New York and New Jersey in December. The lung complications ensured a higher priority than she would have had otherwise, but it was still unlikely she’d get the organ in time.

Most people live about two years after a diagnosis of hepato-pulmonary syndrome, Meininger said. Jennifer’s chance of surviving for five years without a transplant: 23 percent.

“Most cancers have a lot better survival rate than that,” Meininger said.

But a transplant would improve her odds to 75 to 80 percent.

As Jennifer’s breathing worsened last spring, her doctors encouraged her to think about a living donation. The lung problems would end up damaging her heart. Without a transplant, Jennifer said she was told she would probably be dead in a year from congestive heart failure.

Liver transplants from living donors are uncommon: Only 247 of the 6,342 liver transplants performed last year came from living donors. People only have one liver, unlike kidneys, where a pair ensures redundancy. In a living donation, one of the liver’s two lobes is carefully cut away and removed for transplant. It’s major abdominal surgery for the donor, with a big incision and a long recovery.

The risk of dying as a result of the donation, although small, is real, and much greater than the risk of donating a kidney. The operation is much more complex, as surgeons go behind the ribs and gall bladder to extract part of a still-vital organ. Possible complications for the donor include liver failure, bile duct problems, and surgical infection.

“If there were enough livers to go around, we would never dream of taking a perfectly healthy person and subjecting them to a possibly life-threatening operation,” said Dr. Sandy Florman, director of Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute in New York City.

But the liver is also unique among the body’s organs in its ability to regenerate. The portion left in a donor and the portion transplanted into the recipient will both grow into fully functioning livers, if all goes well.

“It’s like a lizard,” Meininger said. “You cut off a lizard’s tail, it will regrow.”

Jennifer thought about what to do for two days. “Torture,” she cried, when asked to describe her thoughts, adding emphatically: “I did not want to ask her [Nina] to do that.”

Vincent, Jennifer’s husband, encouraged her to approach Nina. “We have to at least see if she’s a match,” he said.

She called Nina at her job as a medical assistant on Good Friday and gave her the telephone number at Mount Sinai to set up the screening tests.

The death in 2002 at Mount Sinai of a man who was recovering from donating part of his liver to his brother led to a soul-searching review of the standards — or lack of them — to protect the interests of living donors. The Mount Sinai program was temporarily suspended. In February 2004, the New York State Department of Health enacted a 31-page set of regulations, covering everything from staffing and pain management for the donor at the hospital to the responsibility for life-long health monitoring.

The cousins’ first brush with the regulations was this: only Nina — not her potential recipient, not a family member — could make the call to schedule the screening appointment.

A few days later, Nina picked up the phone and scheduled the screening for mid-May.

Nina met the initial criteria handily: she was between 18 and 55 years old, and had “a vital emotional relationship” with the recipient. New York State does not permit donations of livers by unrelated strangers, because of the risk of complications.

To be precise, the risk of death for liver donors is 0.2 percent, or 2 out of 1,000 donors, Florman said — “still really rare, but much greater than a kidney.” Since the procedure was first performed in the early 1990s, 23 donors around the world have died, he said.

“The risk is real,” Florman said. “We do this because the people are going to die without this. Their loved ones want to help them.”

Nina’s medical team — the “donor advocate team” — was kept separate from Jennifer’s doctors.

Nina had a thorough physical, blood tests and imaging studies to ascertain that she could survive the removal of more than half her liver, and also that the portion donated would be big enough to save Jennifer’s life. She met with a psychiatrist. She talked with a woman who had donated part of her liver to her father.

She passed all the tests. Then came a mandated two-week cooling-off period — a time “of reflection and reaffirmation of the decision to donate,” according to the regulation.

During that blackout, “I went back and forth, I can’t deny that,” Nina said. But “all it came down to was I love my cousin. If there’s something I can do to help her, I’m going to.”

Nina knew there was a chance of death, she said. But she believed she was “young and … healthy.
I’m going to beat it. And Jen — she’s just a fighter. She doesn’t give up for anything.”

On June 4, Nina said yes.

Jennifer said she felt happy and horrible at the same time.

“Now I knew it was guaranteed I was going to live,” she said. “But again, I felt horrible because I … just didn’t want her to have go through all this.”

Day of surgery

A photo taken on July 31 in the holding area before the two teams of surgeons began their work at Mount Sinai shows the two women holding hands, in hospital gowns and caps as their beds were wheeled side by side. Jennifer, on oxygen, looks drained. Nina, smiling, looks spunky.

As surgeons removed 60 percent of Nina’s liver and transplanted it into Jennifer, the families waited. Nina’s operation took six hours; Jennifer’s 10.

Mary Anne Ottens, Nina’s mother, said she never tried to influence her daughter’s choice about the donation.

“Of course, I was more hoping that she would go through with it, because Jennifer is my niece and also my goddaughter,” she said.

Ottens said she believes things happen for a reason. “This may be the very reason I had Nina,” Ottens told her sister back in April, when Jennifer asked Nina to donate.

Michele D’Angelo, Jennifer’s mother and Ottens’ sister, sees the last year as a long journey whose darkest moments she’d rather not think about. “I just want her [Jennifer] to have the happy, healthy life she deserves,” she said.

It was a couple of days after the surgery before the cousins saw each other again. Post-op, “I felt horrible overall, I really did,” Nina said. When she could talk, she asked for Jennifer, her cellphone, and ice chips.

Jennifer doesn’t remember Nina’s visit to the ICU. She woke up five days later and said “Nina,” said her mother.

Despite the pain, Nina said she had “no regrets — none whatsoever.” She’ll keep that scar on her belly covered for a year, but then it will be back to bikinis, she said.

Her liver started to regenerate as soon as surgeons cut into it, Florman said. Since the operation, it should have grown back almost completely. The donated portion inside Jennifer is also expected to grow into a full-sized, fully functioning organ over the next several months.

Jennifer will stop needing supplemental oxygen in two to three months, Florman said, and ultimately will make a complete recovery. And in a year’s time, he added, she can go ahead and get pregnant, noting that organ recipients have had successful pregnancies.

At a checkup after the surgery, Jennifer learned that she could one day have a baby. She surprised her mother with the news a day later.

“I’m happy for you, because I know it’s what you want,” said her mother, choking up as the rest of the family gasped with surprise.

“But me, I have you.”

Email: washburn@northjersey.com

http://www.northjersey.com/community/family/Hawthorne_womans_liver_donation_saves_cousin_the_big_sister_she_never_had.html?page=all-->

Therapy for stroke patients


Posted on 23 July 2012 - 01:27pm


ATHEROSCLEROSIS – the principal cause of stroke – is responsible for about 50% of all causes of death.

Raised blood pressure is another major cause of cardiovascular disease, which is responsible for more than 60% of stroke cases.

Factors which can raise hypertension rates include elevated stress and low socioeconomic status, which tends to diminish access, utilisation, and quality of health care.

According to Lynch et al (2001), knowing the risk factor profiles can help predict stroke outcomes.

Its metabolic risk factors include high body mass index, being overweight or obese, family history of strokes, abnormal blood fats, diabetes, blood pressure with readings of more than 140/90mmHg (systolic/diastolic) and chronic inflammation, among others.

Lifestyle factors include smoking, lack of exercise, high salt intake, and alcohol consumption.

In older hypertensive patients, a higher blood pressure surge in the morning is associated with increased stroke risk.

Four clinical features – namely prior stroke, advancing age, hypertension, and diabetes – are consistent independent risk factors for stroke in atrial fibrillation patients.

However, in about 30% of cases the cause of stroke remains unclear.

Stroke survivors today have the option of using complementary therapy to help cope with the debilitating consequences of this disease. The therapy includes:

Dietary recommendations

Dietary salt restriction is essential in the prevention and treatment of hypertension.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) in food may cause significant increase in systolic blood pressure.

But dietary potassium lowers the risk of hypertension and stroke by neutralising the hypotensive effects of salt. Sengkuang, ubi kayu leaf, and tomato are some of the richest sources of potassium.

Cruciferous vegetables, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit seem to contribute most to the protective effects associated with lower ischemic stroke risk.

The latest study suggests that having more than six servings per day of these fresh vegetables may reduce stroke risk by 69%.

Fish rich in EPA/DHA fats lowers risk of stroke and three servings of fish per week may lower risk by 6%.

Unprocessed whole grains rich in fibre also reduces incidence of stroke.

Contrary to popular belief, extra virgin coconut oil containing medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) can reduce risk of vascular disease.

MCTs promote weight loss because they have a lower calorie content than other long-chain fats, are minimally stored as fat in the body, contribute to thermogenesis (enhanced metabolism), thus burning more stored calories, and suppress appetite, especially if consumed at the beginning of a meal.

Leptin (a hormone which promotes early satiety) secretion by fat cells can be triggered by adequate MCTs.

Soy products (protein isolate, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, and soy bean sprouts) contain isoflavones, which can inhibit artery cell adhesion, alter growth factors activity and inhibit cell proliferation involved in arterial lesion formation.

Cocoa is also known to lower blood pressure as it is rich in flavanols and magnesium, which is a strong anti-hypertension mineral.

It is able to reverse the effects of endothelial dysfunction by improving the dilation of blood vessels and reducing the tendency of blood clot formation. It improves blood flow, and reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol oxidation.

Foods to cut back or avoid

Meat from farmed animals (livestock or fish) tends to have higher percentage of the fragile omega-6 polyunsaturated (n-6) fats, which are pro-inflammatory and raises risk of stroke. Corn oil, sunflower, safflower oil, or even soy oil are rich in these n-6 fats.

Research by Johnson et al (2007) showed that fruit sugar (fructose) is linked to the present epidemic of hypertension, obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

Fructose (from corn syrup) is found in most soft drinks too. So choose only low-fructose fruits in season such as lemon, mangosteen, guava, pomegranate, kiwi and berries.

Mangosteen can lower inflammation and fat accumulation, whereas guava improves insulin hormone levels since it lowers blood glucose.

Reduce intake of red meat, organ meat, eel, and cashewnut since these are rich in oxidising iron.

In men over 40 years, there is strong link between serum ferritin (stored iron) and the risk factors for systolic and diastolic blood pressures, besides ischemic heart disease.

Lifestyle modifications

Lack of exercise has been identified as an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and in a multiracial stroke population.

Regular tai chi exercise is known to lower blood pressure. Transcendental meditation and stress reduction programme(s) can reduce production of the stress hormone, cortisol, by a fifth.

Besides damaging the liver, regular alcohol intake raises stroke risk. Heavy drinking is also linked to increased risk of sudden death.

Cigarette smoking generates excessive free radicals which can damage arterial wall and promote oxidation of fats and cholesterol.

The incidence of being overweight or obese is seven times higher in people with short sleep duration than those with an average sleep duration of between six and eight hours per night.

Nutritional therapy

Nutraceuticals commonly used as adjunct therapy for stroke patients include folate, potassium citrate, magnesium citrate, niacin, L-arginine, vitamin C, Hawthorne, OPC, Ginkgo biloba extracts, pyridoxine, and cobalamin.

Though natural, this therapy should be administered by a MOH-licensed therapist.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/443621

Controlling osteoarthritis

Posted on 9 July 2012 - 04:26pm
        



OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) is one of the oldest and most common forms of arthritis and it is caused by the wear-and-tear of daily living.

It is characterised by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage resulting in bones rubbing against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joints.

At the molecular level, OA is characterised by an imbalance between chondrocyte (cartilage cell) anabolism and catabolism.

A variety of other causes – hereditary, metabolic and mechanical – may initiate processes leading to loss of cartilage.

OA of the hip and knee represent two of the most significant causes of pain and physical disability in adults.

In many countries, OA is the second most common form of disability and has been declared an international health burden by the World Health Organisation.

The main risk factors consistently associated with knee OA are obesity, previous knee trauma, and hand OA, among others.

The influence of obesity stems from a complex interaction of genetic, metabolic, neuroendocrine and biomechanical factors.

Arthritis appears to be inevitable because of the ­mal-distribution of load that results from the age-related changes in joint shape and the joint requirement for stability.

Approximately 80-90% of individuals older than 65 years have evidence of primary osteoarthritis.

Earlier trauma or wear-and-tear from repetitive use of joints such as during bending and heavy labour promote OA. Patients with symptoms usually do not notice them until after they turn 50.

Secondary osteoarthritis, the causes of which are more specific, often occurs in relatively young individuals.

Acute knee joint injury appears to be a risk factor for the development of knee OA, which may also be linked to bone bruises.

In individuals aged above 55, the prevalence of OA is higher among women than men.

Moderate levels of physical activity do not appear to increase the incidence or progression of OA and may even have a weak protective effect.

Earlier perceptions and rationalisations held by older adults might alter their treatment outcome for OA pain.

They are likely to be non-adherent to their prescribed treatment if they hold low expectations of pain relief.

OA differs from rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that affects many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints.

Complementary therapies

Current drug interventions focus primarily on improving symptoms. At higher or more frequent doses, the popular drug acetaminophen (paracetamol) can cause liver damage.

Studies showed that almost 50% of OA patients sought traditional/complementary (T&CM) medicines to achieve symptomatic relief.

Some patients benefit from heat and capsaicin cream applied locally over the affected joint, and some report relief with ice application.

According to Herman et al (2004), popular adjunct therapies include oral supplements, mind-body therapies, herbal topical ointments, vitamins/minerals, herbs, consulting a CAM therapist, using T&CM movement therapies, or going on specially tailored diets.

T&CM is commonly used to treat joint and arthritic pain in about 50% of people with radiographic-confirmed knee OA.

Consult only a MoH-licensed nutritional therapist to find out which supplements and diets are suited to your exact conditions. You need to be supervised while on supplements.

Considering its favourable safety records, acupuncture seems a useful option for knee OA since it can effectively treat acute pain with minimal side effects.

However, not everyone likes the idea of having needles on their forehead and arms.

Although tai chi may be effective for pain control in patients with knee OA, there is little evidence on its use for pain reduction.

Physical activity and diet programmes are beneficial for pain relief and improving functional status for adults with OA who are obese.

A pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation device may treat OA of knee and cervical spine or treat stiffness suffered by the elderly.

It acts on the articular cartilage by maintaining proteoglycan composition of chondrocytes via preventing its rapid turnover.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation using a frequency device may be another treatment option for pain relief.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/429301

Saturday 29 September 2012

Organics beat conventional foods in new study

24 September 2012


Why you should pay more for your food

Love to gamble? Then forget Vegas and head to your local supermarket, where the buy-in is cheap and the stakes are high.

Inexpensive non-organic meats are so loaded with potentially deadly germs that you’re taking your life into your own hands every time you bite into a pork chop or a chicken cutlet.

One new study out of Stanford finds that non-organic meats not only contain more drug-resistant bacteria, but they’re also a third more likely to contain at least three different types of these microscopic monsters than organic meats.

Sounds to me like big news, right? So what’s the headline out of this one? I’m sure you’ve seen some version of it by now — here’s the one that ran in big letters on Stanford’s Web site:

“Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, Stanford study finds.”

Huh??? You have to wonder if these people read their own study, because along with finding a much lower risk of drug-resistant superbugs in organic meats, the study also found that organic fruits and veggies contain much lower levels of pesticides.

That adds up to HUGE evidence of health benefits from organic foods… yet because the look at close to 250 studies found that many organic foods have the same nutrition levels as non-organics, they’re calling it a tie.

But even that part just ain’t so.

I don’t know how they cherry-picked the studies they used in this analysis, but the ones I’ve seen over the years have been consistent and crystal clear: Organic meats have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and other essentials, while organic fruits and vegetables have more antioxidants and other vitamins.

But that’s just the icing on the cake. The fact that you don’t have to char your meats to a crisp to make sure all the potentially deadly germs are killed is a much bigger plus, in my book. And while I’m not going to panic over a little pesticide exposure here and there, keeping your exposure down when you can is definitely going to be better for you in the long run.
 

http://douglassreport.com/2012/09/24/Why-you-should-pay-more-for-your-food/

Are Your Meds Making You Fat?



Are Your Meds Making You Fat?


3053.jpgI recently reported on the two newly FDA-approved weight-loss drugs, Belviq and Qysmia, which have been getting lots of buzz.

Know what’s not getting lots of buzz, though?

The growing evidence that many prescription medications include weight gain as a side effect.

There’s even a special name for the plumpness caused by medicine—iatrogenic fat.

Have you been gaining weight? Before you ask your doctor about which medications to start taking (such as Belviq and Qysmia), ask your doctor about which drugs to stop taking.

There often are substitute drugs and natural treatments that don’t include weight gain as a side effect. I’ll get you started with a list of some of the drugs that could be making you fat…

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DRUG PROBLEM


Some experts suspect that our growing obesity problem in the US could be due, at least in part, to the fact that laws changed in the 1990s, allowing pharmaceutical companies to market drugs directly to consumers through TV and print ads.

You’re probably wondering whether one of your drugs is fueling your battle with the bulge. To find out which medications are the worst offenders, I called John Morton, MD, director of bariatric surgery at Stanford Hospital & Clinics in California, an expert on weight gain and weight loss who has been outspoken about the iatrogenic nature of some people’s weight gain.

  • Steroids. Prednisone and its ilk won’t just make you chubby. “They flat out make you hungry,” Dr. Morton explained. They also cause water retention and fat retention and slow down metabolism, so patients often gain 20 to 40 pounds with continued use, according to Dr. Morton.
  • Antidepressants. It’s true that some people go on eating binges when they feel unhappy. But, in general, people tend to eat less when they are unhappy and more when they feel happy, such as when antidepressants lift their moods, said Dr. Morton. Plus, antidepressants block acetyl choline, histamine and/or serotonin receptors—and when some or all of these are blocked, weight gain can follow.
  • Statins. Doctors warn patients who take these cholesterol-lowering drugs about the common side effects of muscle cramps and muscle pain. And weak and painful muscles can make patients less likely to move around, which causes them to burn fewer calories. The other issue is psychological: “If you’re taking a pill to deal with high cholesterol, you might think that the problem is taken care of, and that it’s no longer necessary to eat well and exercise more,” Dr. Morton said.
  • Antihistamines. These might relieve allergies, but they can harm your body’s ability to regulate weight, since that’s one job of histamine. “Also,” said Dr. Morton, “antihistamines have a sedating effect that decreases energy.” So they may make you want to watch TV rather than go for a walk.
  • Antibiotics. A growing amount of evidence is showing that the type of bacteria that is in our intestines determines how much energy we extract from food—and antibiotics disturb that “native mix,” as Dr. Morton puts it.
  • Insulin. It’s a lifesaver for diabetics, but it can initiate a vicious cycle. Insulin makes you hungry, which makes you gain weight, so you need more insulin, which makes you even hungrier!

 

ADDRESSING PILL PUDGE


Though the amount of iatrogenic weight gain varies depending on the drug and how long you’re on it, it’s generally unremitting and progressing, Dr. Morton said. So before you start any new medication, ask your doctor four critical questions…

1. Will this make me gain weight?
2. How long will I need to take this?
3. Are there any natural treatments that I can try instead that won’t make me gain weight?
4. Are there any other types of medication that I can take instead that won’t make me gain weight?

If you have to be on a drug that may lead to weight gain, make an effort to eat healthier foods and exercise—more than you normally would if you weren’t on the drug. Then you can cancel out the side effect and potentially stop the problem before it starts!

Source: John Morton, MD, director of bariatric surgery and surgical quality, Stanford Hospital & Clinics, and associate professor of surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, California.
 

Listing Details


Publication
Daily Health News
Original publication date
September 25, 2012
 
http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/are-your-meds-making-you-fat

Melatonin and Exercise to Fight Alzheimer's


Take This Supplement When You Exercise To Fight Alzheimer’s
Exercise has been shown to help boost brain health. And now researchers in Spain have found that one particular supplement taken when you exercise may significantly lower your risk of Alzheimer’s.

Research from the Barcelona Biomedical Research Institute (IIBB), in collaboration with the University of Granada and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, shows that daily exercise along with melatonin provides synergistic protection against brain deterioration.

“For years we have known that the combination of different anti-aging therapies such as physical exercise, a Mediterranean diet, and not smoking adds years to one’s life,” Coral Sanfeliu, from the IIBB, explains. “Now it seems that melatonin, the sleep hormone, also has important anti-aging effects.”

“Even though many more studies and clinical tests are still required to assess the doses of melatonin which will be effective for a wide range of diseases, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin mean that its use is highly recommended for diseases which feature oxidative stress and inflammation,” adds researcher Dario Acuña-Castroviejo

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/take-this-supplement-when-you-exercise-to-fight-alzheimers/

How to Boost Brain Power


Until just a few years ago, doctors believed that the brain stopped making new neural connections - meaning that the memory began to get irreversibly worse - when the body stopped developing, usually in the early 20s. And doctors knew that, like any other part of the body, neurons weaken as people age. Loss of brain function due to neural breakdown was assumed to be a normal, unavoidable part of aging. It turns out they were wrong.

In the past few years, it has become clear that you can, in fact, make new neurons starting in your 20s and continuing well into old age. You can literally rewire the brain with new parts as the older parts wear out. How?

There are lots of things you can do right now to preserve, protect and enhance your gray matter.


1 Physical exercise

A healthy body really does mean a healthy mind. In the last decade it became clear that regular exercise beneficially affects brain function. Exercise boosts brain power by stimulating formation of new brain cells (neurons), the process known as neurogenesis2. Also, exercise strengthens connections between those cells. Researchers have found the areas of the brain that are stimulated through exercise are associated with memory and learning1.

Physical exercise may even help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Several studies7 have confirmed that regular physical activity reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in old age.


2 Lifelong learning - your brain is a learning machine

For most of us, after we graduate from high school or college, our pursuit of new knowledge bottoms out over time. We may be masters at what we do, but we aren't learning new things. There is clear evidence8 that education and learning produce favourable changes in the brain. Researchers believe that intellectual activity play a neuroprotective role against dementia. Some studies suggest that having a low level of formal education and poor linguistic skills is a risk factor for cognitive decline in later life.

But if you continue to learn and challenge yourself, your brain continues to grow, literally. Recent research9 have demonstrated that learning over time enhances memory and the survival of new brain cells. An active brain produces new connections between nerve cells that allow cells to communicate with one another. This helps your brain store and retrieve information more easily, no matter what your age.
How can you challenge yourself? Scientists agree that anything that is new and expands your knowledge will be effective:
  • Learning to play a musical instrument
  • Switching careers or starting a new one
  • Starting a new hobby, such as crafts, painting, biking or bird-watching
  • Learning a foreign language. According to the latest study speaking more than one language may slow the aging process in the mind.
  • Staying informed about what's going on in the world
  • Learning to cook new dish
If you let your brain be idle, it's not going to be in the best health.


3 Mental stimulation

Researchers found that a woman's memory can be impaired for at least a year after giving birth, although the effects are minor
 
Stimulate your brain. Make sure you're actively problem-solving and having to use your memory. Just as physical activity keeps your body strong, mental activity keeps your mind sharp and agile. The more we think, the better our brains function - regardless of age. Without something to keep us mentally charged, our brains, like unused muscles, can atrophy, leading to a decline in cognitive abilities.

The study6, conducted by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, found that mentally active seniors reduced their risk of dementia by as much as 75 percent, compared to those who do not stimulate their minds. Researchers from the Princeton University10 found that simple cognitive stimulation such as Bingo can be of great value to the daily management of Alzheimer's patients.
 
Some good ways to stimulate your mind:
  • Travel
  • Going to museums
  • Reading books, newspapers, or magazines
  • Play 'thinking' games like cards, checkers, chess, crosswords, sudoku puzzles
  • Scrabble or doing crossword puzzles
  • Playing musical instruments
  • Dancing
  • Crafts such as drawing, painting, and ceramics
  • Ditch the calculator once in while and forcing yourself to do the calculation
  • Volunteering

4 Social interaction - People are good medicine

"Social interaction" can be measured by how often people talk on the phone with friends, neighbors and relatives, how often they get together with them, how many people they can share their most private feelings and concerns with.

Men are one and a half times more likely than women to develop mild cognitive impairment (the transition stage before dementia).
 
Socializing may have a protective effect on the brain because it's a form of mental exercise. Not only does interacting with people stimulate the brain, but it can also keep you sharp, because dealing with people can be pretty challenging. Strong social ties have been associated with lower blood pressure and longer life expectancies.

And having no social ties is believed to be an independent risk factor for cognitive decline in older persons.

A U.S. team found11 that talking to another person for 10 minutes a day improves memory and test scores. They found that socializing was just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual performance. They also found that the higher the level of social interaction, the better the cognitive functioning. Social interaction included getting together or having phone chats with relatives, friends and neighbors.

In a study of more than 2,800 people ages 65 or older, Harvard researchers12 found that those with at least five social ties - church groups, social groups, regular visits, or phone calls with family and friends - were less likely to suffer cognitive decline than those with no social ties.


5 Sleep & Nap

Sleep plays a crucial role in brain development and growth.
One of the explanations the science has come up with for the healing power of sleep is that sleep may contribute to neurogenesis, the formation of new nerve cells in the brain. New research in animals13 provides a clue about how the sleep deprivation harm the brains - reduces the number of new brain cells. Without sufficient sleep, neurons may not have time to repair all the damage, and so could malfunction during the day.

Sleep is necessary for the brain to process and consolidate knowledge and for memories to form. Neuroscientists say that during sleep the hippocampus (where memory is stored) becomes highly active and moves knowledge from short-term memory to long-term memory14.
     
The memories laid down by the sleeping brain are of two kinds. Declarative memory is memory for information - facts, dates, and names. Procedural memory is what allows us to do things like play a musical instrument, ride a bicycle, or add up a bill. Scientists think these two types of memory are influenced by different parts of the sleep cycle. Slow wave sleep benefit mainly the consolidation of declarative memories. In contrast, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep seems to benefit procedural memory15.

According to animal studies, when you perform a task, the brain cells fire in a certain sequence. If you then fall asleep, the same cells automatically fire in an identical sequence without being distracted or disrupted by incoming visual stimuli.

There is a consistent pattern: Learn something new during the day, consolidate what you have learned during a good night's sleep, then remember or perform the task better in the morning. However, sleep before learning is also critical in preparing the brain for next-day memory formation.

Even a nap in the middle of the day may benefit some learning, according to a recent study5. Sleep appears to help "set" the declarative memories and make them easier to recall.


6 Stress management

The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood.
 
Scientists believe people exposed to chronic stress tend to have elevated levels of cortisol - a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to acute and chronic stress. High cortisol levels are dangerous to the brain.

Some of the most impressive effects of the stress on brain are hippocampus atrophy, shrinkage of the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain unique to humans), and even neural death in some brain regions20. The hippocampus, a vital brain region for episodic, spatial, and contextual memory, has many cortisol receptors, which makes it especially susceptible to stress.

Severe stress lasting weeks or months can impair cell communication in the brain's learning and memory region. Increased stress hormones lead to memory impairment in the elderly and learning difficulties in young adults19.
 Short-term stress is also destructive. Researcher from the University of California18 have found short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can impair brain-cell communication in areas associated with learning and memory. They found that rather than involving the widely known stress hormone cortisol, which circulates throughout the body, acute stress activated selective molecules called corticotropin releasing hormones, which disrupted the process by which the brain collects and stores memories.

Stress is a constant in our lives and cannot be avoided. So, stress management is the key, not stress elimination. Several ways to help you manage stress in your daily life:
  • See problems as opportunities
  • Get away from the noise
  • Exercise
  • Learn relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation
  • Cut down on unnecessary responsibilities and avoid over-scheduling
  • Make time for leisure activities
  • Get a massage

7 Laugh & Humor
Laughter is the best medicine! We've heard the expression time and again. Medical world has begun to take more serious notice of the healing power of humor and the positive emotions associated with it. By having fun and laughing, your stress levels decrease significantly. Humor stimulates the parts of our brain that use the "feel good" chemical messenger dopamine. Also, researchers found that humor improves memory26.


8 Healthy breakfast

It might be the last thing on your morning to-do list, or it might not be on your list at all. However, many studies have shown that having breakfast improves the ability of concentration, reaction time, learning ability, mood and memory, whereas skipping breakfast reduces people's performance at school and at work27.

A recent study done at Cardiff University in Wales found that subjects who ate a high-fiber cereal in the morning showed a 10 percent reduction in fatigue, lower incidence of depression, and better cognitive skills. Fiber helps slow down the absorption of food in the stomach, so you have more energy for a longer period of time.


9 Omega-3 fatty acids

High intake of omega-6 rich oils (such as sunflower or grape seed oil) may boost the risk of developing memory problems, say French researchers4.
     
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health - they provide the physical building blocks necessary for the development and maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of the brain. In fact, one of the omega-3 fatty acids, commonly known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), makes up a large portion of the gray matter in the brain and is vital for brain cells function. Adding more DHA to your brain directly influences cell-to-cell communication, affects nerve conduction and neurotransmitter release, and other things that allow brain cells to send messages to each other21. DHA is essential to normal brain function, and a diet rich in DHA improves learning, while a lack of DHA worsens learning ability.

French researchers4 found that people who regularly consume omega-3 rich oils, such as canola, flaxseed, and walnut oil, are 60 percent less likely to develop dementia than those who do not regularly consume such oils. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables lowers dementia risk by 30 percent. People who eat fish at least once a week are 40 percent less likely to develop dementia.

Coldwater fish, such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and herring are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids (just be careful to eat this in moderation due to potential contamination with mercury). Dutch studies22 revealed that high fish consumption may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.


10 Blueberries
 
Would you believe that eating this tasty, low-glycemic superfood every day was found by the USDA at Tufts University23 to slow and even reverse age-related brain decline, as well as improve short-term memory loss and help reverse age-related loss of balance?!

Blueberries are a major source of flavonoids, in particular anthocyanins and flavanols. Although the precise mechanisms by which these plant-derived molecules affect the brain are unknown, they have been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake. It is believed that they exert their effects on learning and memory by enhancing existing neuronal connections, improving cellular communications and stimulating neuronal regeneration.


11 Vegetables

Researchers found that eating vegetables appears to help keep the brain young and may slow the mental decline sometimes associated with growing old16. Cruciferous and green leafy vegetables including cauliflower, spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprout and collards appear to be the most beneficial17. Researchers say that may be because they contain healthy amounts of vitamin E, an antioxidant that is believed to help fight chemicals produced by the body that can damage cells.

Increased blood level of homocysteine is a strong risk factor for the development of Alzheimer disease and dementia31. Three B vitamins, folic acid, B6, and B12, can help lower your homocysteine levels. Fortified cereal, other grains, and leafy green vegetables are good sources of B vitamins.


12 Want to drink? Choose red wine!

People who drink to forget bad memories may actually be doing the opposite by reinforcing the neural circuits that control negative emotional memory3

While heavy drinking clearly causes serious problems for many people, drinking in moderation may be good for the brain.

Intake of up to three daily servings of wine, unlike other alcohol beverages (liquor, beer), is associated with a lower risk of dementia. This may be due to the ability of red wine polyphenols to protect brain cells against alcohol-induced damage25. There is well-documented evidence that resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine and red grape skin and seeds, has a significant antioxidant properties and produces neuroprotective effects24.


13 Care for your heart and vessels

Many risk factors for cardiovascular disease may also contribute to cognitive decline and dementia.
High blood pressure in midlife increases the risk of cognitive decline in old age28.

Diabetes29 and high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol30 appear to significantly increase the risk of dementia.

14 Neurobics

Created by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., a professor of neurobiology at Duke University Medical Center, neurobics is a unique system of brain exercises using your five physical senses and your emotional sense in unexpected ways that encourage you to shake up your everyday routines. Studies have shown that even small changes in daily patterns cause brain stimulation.
Neurobics can be done anywhere, anytime, in offbeat, fun and easy ways. These exercises can activate underused nerve pathways and connections, helping you achieve a fit and flexible mind:
  • Drive to work a different route
  • Get dressed with your eyes closed
  • Brush your teeth with the other hand
  • Unlock the door with your eyes closed
  • Use your opposite hand to dial the phone or operate the TV remote
  • Listen to music and smell flowers at the same time
  • Shop at new grocery store
Research has suggested that using your left hand if you're right handed or your right if you're left handed more often, can help stimulate parts of the brain that you don't normally use.
 
 
Sources & References
  • 1. Wu CW, Chen YC, Yu L, Chen HI, Jen CJ, Huang AM, Tsai HJ, Chang YT, Kuo YM. Treadmill exercise counteracts the suppressive effects of peripheral lipopolysaccharide on hippocampal neurogenesis and learning and memory. J Neurochem. 2007 Dec;103(6):2471-81. PubMed
  • 2. van Praag H. Neurogenesis and Exercise: Past and Future Directions. Neuromolecular Med. 2008 Feb 20.
  • 3. Bruce KR, Pihl RO. Enhanced consolidation of emotionally charged memory by alcohol. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 1997 Aug;5(3):242-50. PubMed
  • 4. Barberger-Gateau P, Raffaitin C, Letenneur L, Berr C, Tzourio C, Dartigues JF, Alpe'rovitch A. Dietary patterns and risk of dementia. Neurology. 2007 Nov 13;69(20):1921-30.
  • 5. Tucker MA, Fishbein W. Enhancement of declarative memory performance following a daytime nap is contingent on strength of initial task acquisition. Sleep. 2008 Feb 1;31(2):197-203.
  • 6. Verghese J, Lipton RB, Katz MJ, Hall CB, Derby CA, Kuslansky G, Ambrose AF, Sliwinski M, Buschke H. Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly. N Engl J Med. 2003 Jun 19;348(25):2508-16. PubMed
  • 7. Andel R, Crowe M, Pedersen NL, Fratiglioni L, Johansson B, Gatz M. Physical exercise at midlife and risk of dementia three decades later. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2008 Jan;63(1):62-6. PubMed
  • 8. Hatch SL, Feinstein L, Link BG, Wadsworth ME, Richards M. Adult education and midlife cognitive ability. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007 Nov;62(6):S404-14. PubMed
  • 9. Sisti HM, Glass AL, Shors TJ. Learning over time enhances memory and the survival of new neurons. Learn Mem. 2007 May 10;14(5):368-75.
  • 10. Sobel BP. Bingo vs. physical intervention in stimulating short-term cognition in Alzheimer's disease patients. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2001 Mar-Apr;16(2):115-20 PubMed
  • 11. Ybarra O, Burnstein E, Winkielman P, Keller MC, Manis M, Chan E, Rodriguez J. Social interaction promotes general cognitive functioning. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2008 Feb;34(2):248-59.
  • 12. Bassuk SS, Glass TA, Berkman LF. Social disengagement and incident cognitive decline in community-dwelling elderly persons. Ann Intern Med. 1999 Aug 3;131(3):165-73
  • 13. Guzman-Marin R, Suntsova N, Bashir T, Nienhuis R, Szymusiak R, McGinty D. Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation contributes to reduction of neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of the adult rat. Sleep. 2008 Feb 1;31(2):167-75.
  • 14. Gais S, Born J. Declarative memory consolidation: mechanisms acting during human sleep. Learn Mem. 2004 Nov-Dec;11(6):679-85.
  • 15. Wagner U, Born J. Memory consolidation during sleep: Interactive effects of sleep stages and HPA regulation. Stress. 2007 Jul 20;:1
  • 16. Morris MC, Evans DA, Tangney CC, Bienias JL, Wilson RS. Associations of vegetable and fruit consumption with age-related cognitive change. Neurology. 2006 Oct 24;67(8):1370-6.
  • 17. Kang JH, Ascherio A, Grodstein F. Fruit and vegetable consumption and cognitive decline in aging women. Ann Neurol. 2005 May;57(5):713-20. PubMed
  • 18. Chen Y, Dube' CM, Rice CJ, Baram TZ. Rapid loss of dendritic spines after stress involves derangement of spine dynamics by corticotropin-releasing hormone. J Neurosci. 2008 Mar 12;28(11):2903-11.
  • 19. Lupien SJ, Fiocco A, Wan N, Maheu F, Lord C, Schramek T, Tu MT. Stress hormones and human memory function across the lifespan. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2005 Apr;30(3):225-42. PubMed
  • 20. Madrigal JL, Garci'a-Bueno B, Caso JR, Pe'rez-Nievas BG, Leza JC. Stress-induced oxidative changes in brain. CNS Neurol Disord. 2006 Oct;5(5):561-8.
  • 21. Kurlak, L.O., Stephenson, T.J Plausible explanations for effects of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) on neonates. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1999 March; 80(2).
  • 22. Kalmijn S, van Boxtel MP, Ocke' M, Verschuren WM, Kromhout D, Launer LJ. Dietary intake of fatty acids and fish in relation to cognitive performance at middle age. Neurology. 2004 Jan 27;62(2):275-80. PubMed
  • 23. Galli RL, Bielinski DF, Szprengiel A, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA. Blueberry supplemented diet reverses age-related decline in hippocampal HSP70 neuroprotection. Neurobiol Aging. 2006 Feb;27(2):344-50. PubMed
  • 24. Bastianetto S, Zheng WH, Quirion R. Neuroprotective abilities of resveratrol and other red wine constituents against nitric oxide-related toxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons. Br J Pharmacol. 2000 Oct;131(4):711-20.
  • 25. Assunc,ao M, Santos-Marques MJ, de Freitas V, Carvalho F, Andrade JP, Lukoyanov NV, Paula-Barbosa MM Red wine antioxidants protect hippocampal neurons against ethanol-induced damage. Neuroscience. 2007 Jun 8;146(4):1581-92.
  • 26. Schmidt SR. Effects of humor on sentence memory. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 1994 Jul;20(4):953-67.
  • 27. Rampersaud GC, Pereira MA, Girard BL, Adams J, Metzl JD. Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight, and academic performance in children and adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 May;105(5):743-60; PubMed
  • 28. Takechi H. Hypertension as a risk factor of dementia and cognitive decline in the elderly. Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 2007 Jul;44(4):433-6.
  • 29. Okereke OI, Kang JH, Cook NR, Gaziano JM, Manson JE, Buring JE, Grodstein F. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cognitive Decline. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Apr 1 PubMed
  • 30. Anstey KJ, Lipnicki DM, Low LF. Cholesterol as a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008 May;16(5):343-54. PubMed
  • 31. Ravaglia G, Forti P, Maioli F, Martelli M, Servadei L, Brunetti N, Porcellini E, Licastro F. Homocysteine and folate as risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Sep;82(3):636-43
http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/brain.shtml

Still drinking Soda (Coke, Pepsi) n Fizzy Drinks?


Having seen the evidence, I don't touch fizzy drinks any more. Frankly they're evil, says leading biologist
  • Consumption of soft drinks has more than doubled since 1985 - from ten gallons per person a year to more than 25 gallons
  • Sugary drinks lead to alterations in muscles similar to those in people with obesity problems and type 2 diabetes

|


Biological scientist Dr Hans-Peter Kubis, who's just led a study into what soft drinks do to our bodies, has reached some shocking conclusions. When you read what he discovered, you may well choose never to touch the fizzy stuff again. 
 
Fizzy drinks appear to increase the risk of heart disease, liver failure and hypertension
Fizzy drinks appear to increase the risk
of heart disease, liver failure and hypertension
Once upon a time, fizzy drinks were an occasional luxury treat.

Now, many of us think nothing of having at least one every day — maybe a lunchtime can of cola or a ‘natural’ lemonade from Pret.

We use them as instant pick-me-ups, and even as ‘healthy’ sports aids bought from vending machines at the gym.

No trip to the cinema is complete without a supersize soft drink, either.

It’s no surprise to learn, then, that our consumption of soft drinks has more than doubled since 1985 — from ten gallons per person a year to more than 25 gallons.

We know this is not entirely good for us — but could sugary soft drinks be so dangerous that they should carry health warnings?

This may sound alarmist, but new medical studies have produced worrying results.

Even moderate consumption — a can a day, or just two a week — may alter our metabolism so that we pile on weight.

The drinks also appear to increase the risk of heart disease, liver failure and hypertension.

In children, soft drinks have been linked to addict-like cravings, as well as twisting kids’ appetites so they hunger for junk food.

Already, countries such as Denmark and France are introducing soft-drink taxes to cut consumption.

In the U.S., around 100 medical and consumer organisations are now calling on the Surgeon-General to investigate the health effects of soda and other sugary drinks.

Should we in Britain follow suit?

Sugary soft drinks come in numerous guises — from ‘innocuous’ fizzy elderflower to ‘health’ drinks such as Lucozade and ‘sports’ beverages like Gatorade.
 
Last year, we swallowed an astounding 14,585 million litres of soft drinks, an increase of more than 4 per cent in 12 months, according to the British Soft Drinks Association.

Our spending rose by nearly 6 per cent to £13,880 million in 2010 — the fastest growth in the past seven years.

We clearly like our soft drinks. But the medical evidence is stacking up against them.

Last week, a study suggested they can cause weight gain and long-term health problems if drunk every day for as little as a month.
   
What's in your favourite?The research, by Bangor University and published in the European Journal Of Nutrition, reported that soft drinks actually alter metabolism, so that our muscles use sugar for energy instead of burning fat.

It seems that exposure to liquid sugar causes genes in our muscles to change their behaviour, perhaps permanently.

Not only do we pile on weight, but our metabolism becomes less efficient and less able to cope with rises in blood sugar, say the researchers.

This, in turn, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

‘Having seen all the medical evidence, I don’t touch soft drinks now,’ says Dr Hans-Peter Kubis, a biological scientist and expert in exercise nutrition who led the research.

'I think drinks with added sugar are, frankly, evil.’

In fact, the Bangor study is only the latest in a long line of reports warning of the link between soft drinks and serious health problems.

A study in March, for example, warned that men who drink a standard 12oz can of sugar-sweetened beverage every day have a 20 per cent higher risk of heart disease compared to men who don’t drink any sugar-sweetened drinks.

The research published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation, followed more than 42,000 men for 22 years.

Blood tests found soft-drink fans had higher levels of harmful inflammation in their blood vessels, and lower levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.

Energy drinks such as Red Bull have boomed in popularity in the past ten years. The regular version contains seven teaspoons of sugar per 250ml
Energy drinks such as Red Bull have boomed in popularity in the past ten years.
The regular version contains seven teaspoons of sugar per 250ml
 
The study suggested this may be a result of the sugar rush these soft drinks cause.
 
This increased sudden sugar load on the body may also explain research which found just two carbonated drinks (330ml each) every week appears to double the risk of pancreatic cancer, reported the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Meanwhile, soft drinks with high levels of fruit juice may cause severe long-term liver damage, according to an Israeli study.

People who drank two cans of these drinks a day were five times more likely to develop fatty liver disease — a precursor to cirrhosis and liver cancer.


Dr Hans-Peter Kubis says he no longer touches soft drinks after his research
Dr Hans-Peter Kubis says he no longer
touches soft drinks after his research
In the Journal of Hepatology, the lead investigator, Dr Nimer Assy, warned high levels of fructose fruit sugar in the drinks can overwhelm the liver, leading it to accumulate fat.
 
Perhaps most disturbing is the picture emerging from various studies that suggest sugary drinks expose children to a perfect storm of obesity threats.

Four years ago, researchers at University College London’s Health Behaviour Research Centre discovered a powerful — and lucrative — effect sugary soft drinks have on youngsters.

The study of 346 children aged around 11 found drinking soft drinks makes them want to drink more often, even when they’re not actually thirsty — and that their preference is for more sugary drinks.

Children who drank water or fruit juice in the tests didn’t show this unnecessary need to drink.

The researchers expressed concern that this may set the children’s habits for life — in particular, giving them an ‘increased preference for sweet things in the mouth’, without compensating for the extra calories by eating less food.

More recent research suggests fizzy drinks may sway children’s tastes towards high-calorie, high-salt food.

Part of this worrying phenomenon was revealed earlier this year by Oregon University investigators.

Their study of 75 children aged between three and five found those given sugary soft drinks avoided eating raw vegetables such as carrots or red peppers, but went for foods high in calories, such as chips.

This did not happen when the children were given water to drink.

The researchers said this wasn’t about simple fussiness. Instead, our tastes for food and drink seem to be shaped in a like-with-like manner.

This discovery comes on top of an earlier finding, by heart experts at St George’s, University of London, that children and teenagers who consume sugary soft drinks are far more likely to prefer foods high in salt.

Dr Kubis believes that liquid sugars not only alter our bodies, but also foster addict-like responses.

‘The body absorbs liquid sugars so much faster because they are more easily taken into the stomach lining, and this rapid intake fires up the body’s pleasure responses,’ he says.

Coca-Cola in the U.S. has reduced levels of one of its ingredients following fears that it could cause cancer
Coca-Cola in the U.S. has reduced levels of
one of its ingredients following fears that it could cause cancer
 
‘At the same time, your brain reduces its desire for the taste of nutrients such as vitamins or minerals,’ says Dr Kubis. This is what makes these sugary drinks so habit-forming.

‘There is a huge overlap between what is addictive behaviour with drugs and the use of sweet food,’ he adds.

‘In lab experiments, even rats who have been made addicted to cocaine will prefer to have a sugary drink instead of cocaine.’

He says sugary drink habits aren’t necessarily an addiction ‘because not all of us suffer withdrawal symptoms when we cut out sugary drinks’.

The story may be different with children, however. ‘With children, there is more evidence of addictive behaviour,’ Dr Kubis says.

‘You get tantrums, restlessness and distress if you stop their soft-drink consumption.’

This may be because children’s developing brains are more prone to developing sugar cravings, or because children’s desires are simply more transparent.

Sadly, there’s little point shifting from sugary soft drinks to ‘healthy alternatives’ such as fizzy real-fruit lemonades or fruit-juice drinks, says Dr Kubis, because the liquid sugar problem still remains.

‘Posh soft drinks with real fruit might be marketed as healthy, but this may be rather cynical, as such drinks can be just as dangerous,’ he explains, adding that some fruit drinks contain more sugar than a can of fizz.


SUGAR: THE BIGGEST DANGER HIDDEN IN A CAN OF COKE

Doctors are in no doubt - the biggest danger from cola doesn’t come from the hidden additives, flavourings or colourings, but from sugar.

Sugar cubesToo much sugar leads to obesity, the major cause of cancer in the western world.

It also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, causes heart disease and increases the risk of stroke.

The over-consumption of sugar has been linked to depression, poor memory formation and learning disorders in animal experiments. And it rots teeth.

Each regular can of cola contains eight teaspoons of sugar. When you drink that much sugar so quickly, the body experiences an intense sugar rush.

The cane and beet sugar used in Coca-Cola is used up quickly by the body, which soon experiences a rapid drop in energy, leading to cravings for more sugar.

Even when it comes to ‘healthy’ sports drinks, the evidence is that they’re not only a waste of money, because you don’t need them, but they could also be harmful.

An investigation by the universities of Oxford and Harvard warned that popular brands such as Lucozade and Powerade contain large amounts of sugar and calories which encourage weight gain, the British Medical Journal reported earlier this month.

On top of all this is the damage fizzy drinks can wreak on teeth. A study in the journal General Dentistry in June found that cola is ten times as corrosive as fruit juice in the first three minutes of drinking.

Diet Coke has no sugar - but still contains chemicals that can rot the teeth
Diet Coke has no sugar - but still contains
chemicals that can rot the teeth
One of the chief culprits is citric acid, which gives tangy drinks their kick.

A study in the British Dental Journal found four cans of fizzy drink a day increased the risk of tooth erosion by 252 per cent.

The drinks industry, of course, has spent countless millions of pounds bombarding us with sophisticated and expensive marketing in order to weld their products in our minds to images of healthiness and fun.

Few who lined the streets of Britain for the Olympic torch procession could have failed to notice the role of Coca-Cola.

The company paid more than £100 million for the exclusive rights to be the official provider of soft drinks at the Games.

The late Coca-Cola chief executive, Roberto Guizueta, said: ‘Eventually, the number-one beverage on Earth will not be tea or coffee or wine or beer. It will be soft drinks — our soft drinks.’

Today, however, there is a growing backlash against soft drinks.

Earlier this month, a group of leading health organisations, including the American Cancer Association, the American Diabetes Association, Yale University’s Rudd Centre for Food Policy and Obesity, and the American Heart Association, called on the U.S. Surgeon-General to investigate the health effects of soda and other sugary drinks.

Soft drinks play a major role in the U.S.’s obesity crisis, the campaigners say, and they want a study into them similar in scale and impact to the Surgeon-General’s landmark report on the dangers of smoking in 1964.

Kathleen Sebelius, the former Governor of Kansas, who campaigns on behalf of the American Cancer Society, declared: ‘An unbiased and comprehensive report on the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages could . . . perhaps begin
 to change the direction of public behaviour in their choices of food and drinks.’

Legislators are already starting to act. In May, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, announced a ban on serving cartons bigger than 16oz (a pint).

Last year, the Hungarian government imposed a tax on unhealthy drinks and foods.


CITRIC ACID: HELPING FIZZY DRINKS ROT YOUR TEETH


Lemons

Citric acid gives lemons, oranges and grapefruit their kick and cola its bite, helping to make the drink nearly as corrosive as battery acid when it comes to teeth.

Prolonged exposure to cola and other fizzy drinks strips tooth enamel causing pain, ugly smiles and — in extreme cases — turning teeth to stumps.

A study in the journal General Dentistry found that cola is ten times as corrosive as fruit juices in the first three minutes of drinking.

The researchers took slices of freshly extracted teeth and immersed them in 20 soft drinks. Teeth dunked for 48 hours in cola and lemonade lost more than five per cent of their weight.

A study in the British Dental Journal found that just one can of fizzy drink a day increased the risk of tooth erosion. While four cans increased the erosion risk by 252 per cent.

And, earlier this year, France imposed a tax on sugary soft drinks after a study found that more than 20 million of its citizens are overweight.

Health campaigners here are pressing for a similar tax. Researchers at Oxford University calculate that a 20 per cent tax on soft drinks would reduce obesity and overweight in Britain by 1 per cent — roughly 400,000 cases across Britain.

‘We don’t get anything like that level of success from trying to educate people about healthy eating,’ says researcher Dr Mike Rayner.

‘I am not suggesting that people should never have soft drinks,’ he stresses. ‘I myself like drinking them. But they really should be restricted to weekends and holiday treats.’

Understandably, the idea of a tax has met stiff opposition from the British Soft Drinks Association.
Its spokesman, Richard Laming, argues that ‘soft drinks, like any other food or drink, can be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, and there is no reason to tax them’.

On top of that, he says, UK soft drink manufacturers are producing more low-sugar products.
‘About half of the soft drinks market in the UK is made up of reduced or zero calorie drinks nowadays.’

Nor is Mr Laming impressed by last week’s Bangor University findings.

‘The study lasted only four weeks and had only a tiny sample size of just 11 people. That is no basis on which to make claims about effects that last a lifetime.’

Dr Kubis acknowledges the study’s limitations and says that he is working to produce a much larger trial to see if the findings are confirmed in people who start consuming large amounts of sugary soda.

In this, he faces one significant problem.

‘It is difficult to find young people who have not previously been exposed to a lot of soft drinks,’ he laments.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2181290/Having-seen-evidence-I-dont-touch-fizzy-drinks-Frankly-theyre-evil.html


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