GM-free Cymru flags up Danish success

Posted by Peter Crosskey on Monday, April 30, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Retired scientist and GM-Free Cymru activist Brian John last week posted an English language account of a story that has set everyone talking in Denmark. It describes the simple way that one Danish pig farmer has been able to raise healthier animals: about a year ago, he stopped feeding his pigs GM soya.

 

Ib Borup Pedersen

 

Ib Borup Pedersen is representative of his sector, with a breeding herd of 450 sows, raising nearly 30 piglets per sow. This is an increase of almost two piglets per sow against the time when he was still feeding GM soy to his animals.

 

However, Pedersen is far from ordinary, since he has had the courage to talk about his findings openly, appearing in the Danish farming paper Effektivt Landbrug on April 13. The paper’s extensive coverage and editorial comment has set off a lively debate within Denmark, all the more heated after interested enquiries from foreigners.

 

John’s independently-written collaborative document with Pedersen’s generous assistance is an account of a closely-argued business case study and not a dossier with any scientific standing. This is something which both John and Pedersen are quick to emphasise. One farmer’s huge savings in pharmacy bills are closer to farming than science, after all.

 

“From a scientific point of view, this can only ever be anecdotal evidence,” John told ARC. “The point is, it’s hard to imagine that Pedersen could be the only farmer to have seen sows with fatal stomach problems or deformed piglets.”

 

There is simply no way of knowing the extent to which piglet deformities go unreported. It is not difficult to record only healthy live births in a litter and quietly dispose of the dead ones.

 

The Danish Pig Research Centre study reported here last week is an industry-funded response to requests for research. It is one that John finds procedurally inadequate, having examined the information released.

 

“For a start, the intake is 30kg weaners, with no apparent dietary monitoring before the start of the study.” In other words, the comparison between control and trial groups is already compromised, since it only looks at the finishing phase.

 

Nor is there an explicit commitment to exclude glyphosate residues from the non-GMO trial group (the allocation of control and trial groups is also a moot point for John). This is complicated by the fact that glyphosate is also a widely-used dessicant for cereal crops, used to start removing moisture from a standing crop before it is harvested.

 

One thing is clear, however: Pedersen is sure of his figures and has made a business case for his decision. The extra cost of his GM-free inputs is more than covered by improved earnings from healthier pigs.

 

Brian John’s full account can be found here:

http://www.gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13883:gm-soy-linked-to-health-damage-in-pigs-a-danish-dossier

http://www.arc2020.eu/front/2012/04/gm-free-cymru-flags-up-danish-success/

Monsanto Threatens to Sue Vermont over GMO Labeling Bill

By Will Allen, Cedar Circle Farm, Vermont, and Ronnie Cummins, Organic Consumers Association

April 4, 2012

The world's most hated corporation is at it again, this time in Vermont.

Despite overwhelming public support and support from a clear majority of Vermont's Agriculture Committee, Vermont legislators are dragging their feet on a proposed GMO labeling bill. Why? Because Monsanto has threatened to sue the state if the bill passes.

The popular legislative bill requiring mandatory labels on genetically engineered food (H-722) is languishing in the Vermont House Agriculture Committee, with only four weeks left until the legislature adjourns for the year.

Despite thousands of emails and calls from constituents who overwhelmingly support mandatory labeling, despite the fact that a majority (6 to 5) of Agriculture Committee members support passage of the measure, Vermont legislators are holding up the labeling bill and refusing to take a vote.

Instead, they're calling for more public hearings on April 12, in the apparent hope that they can run out the clock until the legislative session ends in early May.

What happened to the formerly staunch legislative champions of Vermont's "right to know" bill? They lost their nerve and abandoned their principles after a Monsanto representative recently threatened a public official that the biotech giant would sue Vermont if they dared to pass the bill.

 Several legislators have rather unconvincingly argued that the Vermont public has a "low appetite" for any bills, even very popular bills like this one, that might end up in court. Others expressed concern about Vermont being the first state to pass a mandatory GMO labeling bill and then having to "go it alone" against Monsanto in court.

What it really comes down to this: Elected officials are abandoning the public interest and public will in the face of corporate intimidation.

Monsanto has used lawsuits or threats of lawsuits for 20 years to force unlabeled genetically engineered foods on the public, and to intimidate farmers into buying their genetically engineered seeds and hormones.

When Vermont became the first state in the nation in 1994 to require mandatory labels on milk and dairy products derived from cows injected with the controversial genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone, Monsanto's minions sued in Federal Court and won on a judge's decision that dairy corporations have the first amendment "right" to remain silent on whether or not they are injecting their cows with rBGH - even though rBGH has been linked to severe health damage in cows and increased cancer risk for humans, and is banned in much of the industrialized world, including Europe and Canada.

Monsanto wields tremendous influence in Washington, DC and most state capitols. The company's stranglehold over politicians and regulatory officials is what has prompted activists in California to bypass the legislature and collect 850,000 signatures to place a citizens' Initiative on the ballot in November 2012. The 2012 California Right to Know Act will force mandatory labeling of GMOs and to ban the routine practice of labeling GMO-tainted food as "natural."

All of Monsanto's fear mongering and intimidation tactics were blatantly on display in the House Agriculture Committee hearings March 15-16.

During the hearings, the Vermont legislature was deluged with calls, letters, and e-mails urging passage of a GMO labeling bill - more than on any other bill since the fight over Civil Unions in 1999-2000. The legislature heard from pro-labeling witnesses such as Dr. Michael Hansen, an expert on genetic engineering from the Consumers Union, who shredded industry claims that GMOs are safe and that consumers don't need to know if their food is contaminated with them.

On the other side of the fence, Monsanto's lobbyist and Vermont mouthpiece, Margaret Laggis employed inaccurate, unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims to make Monsanto's case. She warned during the hearings that if this law were passed, there would not be enough corn, canola, and soybean seed for Vermont farmers to plant.

Laggis lied when she said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had done exhaustive feeding tests on genetically modified foods. Hansen corrected her, testifying that all of the GMO feeding tests submitted to the FDA were conducted by Monsanto and other GMO corporations and that the FDA had not done any GMO testing of its own.

Laggis lied again when she claimed that a recent Canadian study showing that more than 90% pregnant women had high levels of a genetically modified bacterial pesticide in their blood resulted from them "eating too much organic food" during pregnancy. Again, Hansen refuted this nonsense by pointing out that the Bacillus thuingensis (Bt) bacterium spray used by organic growers is chemically and materially different from the GMO Bt bacterium which showed up in the pregnant women's blood and the umbilical cords of their fetuses. Hanson pointed that the high levels of Monsanto's mutant Bt in the women's blood was due to the widespread cultivation of GMO corn, cotton, soy, and canola.

The committee heard testimony that European Union studies have been conducted which showed that even short-term feeding studies of GMO crops caused 43.5% of male test animals to suffer kidney abnormalities, and 30.8% of female test animals to suffer liver abnormalities. Studies also have shown that the intestinal lining of animals fed GMO food was thickened compared to the control animals. All of these short-term results could become chronic, and thus precursors to cancer.

Studies like these have prompted 50 nations around the world to pass laws requiring mandatory labels on GMO right foods.

In the end, none of the scientific testimony mattered. Monsanto operatives simply reverted to their usual tactics: They openly threatened to sue the state.

Unfortunately, in the US, industry and the government continue to side with Monsanto rather than the 90% of consumers who support labeling. Monsanto's biotech bullying is a classic example of how the 1% control the rest of us, even in Vermont, generally acknowledged as the most progressive state in the nation.

Vermont activists are organizing a protest at the state capital on April 12 to coincide with the next round of hearings on H-722, and are asking residents to write letters, make calls, and e-mail their legislators and the Governor. For more information, please go to the website http://www.vtrighttoknow.org or the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/vtrighttoknow of the Vermont Right to Know Campaign.

* * *

Will Allen is the co-manager of Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford, Vermont. He is also the Author of The War on Bugs , a history of farm pesticides and fertilizers since 1810. He is on the policy advisory boards of The Organic Consumers Association and Willing Hands. He has attended all of the agriculture committee hearings on H-722, where the testimony referred to above was delivered.

Ronnie Cummins is the National Director of the Organic Consumers Association and its Millions Against Monsanto campaign. He also is a member of the Steering Committee of the California Ballot Initiative to Label Genetically Engineered Foods, and co-author of the book, Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide for Consumers

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25180.cfm

Breathe, it’s your lungs at stake

 06 November 2012 | last updated at 10:03PM

By Nadia Badarudin | nadia@nst.com.my
Many events are taking place this month to raise awareness of lung health, writes Nadia Badarudin

BREATHING is essential to life, but lung health is less recognised as a key health indicator compared to other factors such as blood pressure or weight.


Lung diseases once primarily found in industrialised countries

are now major problems in low- and middle-income countries.

Millions of people struggle for life and breath due to lung diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Regardless of gender and socio-economic background, lung diseases take the heaviest toll on the poor, the elderly and the young, as well as the weak.

THE BIG FOUR

According to the Healthy Ministry (based on discharge diagnosis 2009-2011), the four most common types of lung diseases that affect Malaysians are pneumonia (40 per cent), asthma (20 per cent), COPD (11.5 per cent) and TB (eight per cent).

“These are the Big Four of lung diseases, and most of them are caused by various factors such as urbanisation, living conditions, unhealthy lifestyles and hazards at the workplace,” says Dr Chong Chee Kheong, the ministry’s disease control director.

“Respiratory diseases are No. 2 of the top 10 leading causes of hospitalisation and death at government hospitals in 2010,” he adds.

RISK FACTORS

Infectious and non-infectious lung diseases are triggered by multiple factors. “Stress, lack of sleep or living in a crowded or poorly ventilated house or in an extreme weather condition (too hot or too cold) will weaken one’s immunity system, thus making the person vulnerable to illness,” says Dr Chong.
 

Urbanisation contributes to the rise of

lung diseases around the globe

He says children and the elderly as well as those with existing health conditions such as asthma or uncontrolled diabetes and HIV are more prone to lung diseases.

“Smoking remains a major factor that destroys one’s lung. It will aggravate the conditions of a person with existing illness such as asthma,” he says.
 
SAVE YOUR LUNG

Here are Dr Chong’s tips for taking care of your lungs:

1. Stop smoking.
2. Practise a healthy lifestyle. Eat well and be active.
3. Improve living conditions. Make sure your house has proper ventilation system.
4. Make sure to use personal protective equipment when working in a place that has potential hazards to health (e.g. industrial emissions).
5. Manage your diabetes.
6. Seek early treatment if you experience chronic cough for two weeks, night sweats, unexplained weight loss or other symptoms that you’re unsure of.

Run for your lungs

In conjunction with the conference, the Malaysian Association For The Prevention Of Tuberculosis and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease are organising a run on Sunday at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur. Details at www.maptb.org.my

Lung awareness month

Important lung health awareness events take place round the globe this month.
1. World Pneumonia Day (Saturday) Details at www.worldpneumonia.org
2. World COPD Day (Nov 14). Details at www.goldcopd.org

Health conference

Kuala Lumpur will be hosting the 43rd Union World Conference on Lung Health organised by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Nov 13 to 17.

The five-day scientific programme, themed Driving Sustainability Through Mutual Responsibility, is expected to gather more than 3,000 lung health experts and advocates from 65 countries to discuss issues such as the rising incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the increase in COPD, and the pandemic of diseases caused by tobacco use, among others. For details, visit www.theunion.org

http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/health/breathe-it-s-your-lungs-at-stake-1.166986

Enemy of the lungs

20 November 2012 | last updated at 11:12PM
By Nadia Badarudin | nadia@nst.com.my

In conjunction with World Pneumonia Day on Nov 12, Nadia Badarudin finds out about the disease that can be lethal to children and senior citizens

You are gasping for air and it is just not enough. Your lungs feel constricted. The body has the chills. You have a headache and, sometimes, chest pains. The whole episode started with a flu and cough so you expect all to wane in a few days, but it doesn’t.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by microbial pathogens such as virus, bacteria, mould or other micro-organisms.


ASK someone who has suffered from pneumonia and
he or she will tell you of the ordeal associated
with the simplest of acts — breathing.

Despite vaccinations and improvements in treatment, the World Health Organisation reports that worldwide, pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children. It “kills an estimated 1.4 million children under the age of 5 every year — more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined”.

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease states that “a child dies of the illness every 20 seconds around the globe, with 98 per cent of these deaths reported in developing nations.”

According to the Health Ministry’s hospitals’ discharge diagnosis 2009-2011, pneumonia is among the Big Four in lung diseases that affect Malaysians. The other three are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis.

UNDER-REPORTED

Babies and children (from 6 months to 5 years) the elderly (65 to 80) as well as individuals with vitamin deficiency or a weak immune system are most vulnerable to the disease.

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur consultant respiratory physician Dr P. Ravindran Menon explains:
“Pneumonia can be severe and can cause death. However, it is often under-reported because the symptoms are just like those of the flu (influenza). Only a chest X-ray can confirm whether a person is infected with the disease.

“Besides children, senior citizens and people with an impaired immune system (those with HIV or systemic diseases, or on chemotherapy), there is also an increase in cases among pregnant women.” Smokers and alcoholics are also prone to the disease.

COMMON CASES


Dr P. Ravindran says there are several classifications of pneumonia, but the most common are community-acquired, hospital-acquired and aspiration pneumonia, mainly triggered by bacteria.  

He explains that community-acquired pneumonia is when a person gets infected from public or crowded places, while hospital-acquired pneumonia is when a person gets the infection from hospital (while getting treatment for other illness).


You can get pneumonia in crowded places

He says aspiration pneumonia is common among children and senior citizens, particularly those who suffer from dementia or stroke, or wear ill-fitted dentures.

“Aspiration pneumonia is an infection that develops after foreign objects such as pieces of food get lodged, or accidently inhaled into the lungs.

“Some of the patients don’t even know that the objects are stuck in the lungs. Among the objects that we’ve retrieved are pieces of meat, coins and saga seeds.”

Dr Ravindran adds that individuals infected by pneumonia will experience either typical or atypical symptoms that differ between age groups or the type of pneumonia.

“Typical symptoms are a high fever, cough, runny nose or shortness of breath. Children may look lethargic, irritable or don’t feed well if they are infected, while confusion is an important sign of infection in senior citizens,” he says.

 Symptoms that don’t conform to classical ones are called atypical symptoms and include diarrhoea, muscle pain or a skin rash. “Such symptoms are more apparent in severe or unusual types of pneumonia,” he says.

X-RAY TEST IS CRUCIAL

Most pneumonia cases don’t require hospitalisation and can be cleared up in two or three weeks. Dr Ravindran says an individual who experiences the symptoms but is not feeling better despite taking antibiotics should go for an X-ray examination.

“After four to six weeks, patients should also go for follow-ups to make sure that their lungs are clear. If they are not, doctors will look for other severe complications such as lung cancer.”

He says vaccinations are available for children, the elderly or people in the high risk group (those with systemic diseases, heart diseases, asthma, COPD, bronchitis or HIV) to prevent pneumonia.

“Vaccinations are also available for travellers, healthcare workers and people who want to go on pilgrimage,” he adds.

Big threat

PNEUMONIA was once regarded as the “captain of the men of death” in the 19th Century by father of modern medicine Sir William Osler. The disease overtook tuberculosis as the leading cause of death during his time.

What gets in the lungs

AMERICAN actress and singer Brittany Murphy died at 32, on Dec 12, 2009 due to a combination of pneumonia, anaemia and prescription drug intoxication.

Pneumonia and anaemia were also cited as the causes of death of her husband, Simon Monjack, who died five months later at their Hollywood Hills residence.

It was reported that Murphy’s mother, Sharon, believed that the toxic mould in the couple’s home had caused their illnesses and deaths.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (as reported in a 2011 report by The Huffington Post), exposure to mould can lead to pneumonia, but it is rare.

Prevention tips

HERE are Dr P. Ravindran Menon’s tips to prevent pneumonia:
1. For the elderly: Take good care of dental hygiene and don’t wear ill-fitting dentures.
2. Get vaccinated if you are travelling across continents.
3. Avoid frequenting crowded places or other potential hazards (e.g. haze, cigarette smoke) if you’re in the high risk group.
4. Ensure clean and good ventilation at home. Service the air-conditioners in your house or in your car frequently.
5. Get your pets vaccinated from bacteria that can trigger pneumonia.
6. If you’re infected, use good hand-washing techniques, and cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/health/enemy-of-the-lungs-1.173653

Partners in health ... in Japan

20 November 2012 | last updated at 11:14PM

By Kasmiah Mustapha | kasmiah@nstp.com.my

A school in Tokyo is taking a small but important step to teach children the value of good nutrition by returning to Japan’s culinary traditions, writes Kasmiah Mustapha.

THE clock strikes 12 and it is lunch time for students at Nishikasai Elementary School in Tokyo. Under observation by their teacher, several children wearing white coats, caps and face masks are pulling a trolley to deliver meals to their classmates, who are forming a line. They are holding trays on which are bowls and plates.

Today, lunch for the 648 students is a bowl of rice, grilled fish, boiled greens with mushrooms, miso soup, a slice of pear, a packet of milk and a bottle of probiotic drink Yakult.

As the school in the Edogawa District in the Japanese capital does not have a cafeteria, students have their meals in their classrooms. Once everyone is seated, a student stands in front of the room and recites a short prayer. Then everyone eats.

For Kudomi Tanaka, Kota Takeshita, Genya Azuma, Ami Yamamoto and Sakurako Shimowaki, who are all aged between 8 and 9 years, their lunch is delicious. They are also aware of its health benefits.

“Our teacher has explained to us that we need to eat red, yellow and green foods. They are healthy foods and will give us the energy that we need. I love the food, especially the vegetables and soup,” says Tanaka.

With a big smile, Takeshita nods his head, saying that “lunch is the best time”. “I eat everything. I love it when we have mushrooms and vegetables. I like fish too.”

Azuma is happy about the food. He is the first to finish his lunch, cleaning off his plate. Both Yamamoto and Shimowaki love the menu, which varies every day. During the week, they eat either fish or meat, in addition to vegetables and fruit.

“I know these are good for us. Our teacher told us that we need to eat more healthy food and less fast food. We are also told to always eat breakfast as it is the most important meal. I love it when they serve goya (a Japanese vegetable). It is delicious. I wish I can have it every day,” says Yamamoto.

HEAD START

At a time when childhood obesity is worrying everyone and computer games have replaced outdoor play, this school’s simple but highly valuable education on food and nutrition is proof of what experts have agreed on all along — that education on nutrition must start early.

By introducing children to healthy food, they are aware of how good food fuels the body, and they will be more inclined to make healthier choices.

Under the school’s Food and Nutrition education programme, students are given a healthy lunch comprising the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. The school principal Yasuo Yamashita says that before the programme, students often did not have breakfast before going to school. As a result, they did not have the energy to focus on their lessons. To make matters worse, their diet was full of fat.

“This programme is in response to the increase in lifestyle diseases among youth due to a Western diet. We want our children to learn about nutrition. We want to educate them on the importance of balanced meals to ensure they are healthy. Before the programme, the children had no idea what a balanced meal was as they were not getting it at home,

“They ate whatever they liked and what they liked was often unhealthy. But after they learnt about food and nutrition, most of them are no longer eating unhealthy food. Even at home, parents give them balanced meals.”

The school dietitian Kiyoe Yoshida, who plans the menu, says the focus is to curb excess fat intake by introducing more Japanese dishes and using traditional ingredients including seaweed, dried bonito shavings and small dried sardines to make stock for Japanese dishes instead of artificial seasoning.

“We teach students the importance of eating the food group from three colours: Yellow, green and red. Yellow is food with carbohydrates, green is vegetables and fruit, and red is food with calcium and protein.

“We create well-balanced meals that include grains, potatoes, meat, fish and vegetables so that the students, who are growing, get the essential nutrients.”

To ensure balanced meals, the students’ lunch comprise the staple carbohydrate, main protein dish, side dish with vitamins and minerals, and soup which supplies water and nutrients.

 MAIN DISHES

For the staple food, the school uses a weekly cycle of three days of white rice, one day of bread and one day of noodles. The main dish will be any food high in protein and the side dish will be vegetables and fruit.

“Since Japanese people do not get enough calcium in their diet, we include milk in the lunch menu. We set the nutrient standard to a level that is equivalent to about one-third of the daily required nutrients for students. We want them to have 50 per cent of the daily required amount of calcium, which they do not get at home and about 40 per cent of iron from the school lunch.”

The students are also taught dietary habits. Those in lower grades observe table manners, students in middle grades learn the importance of nutrition from meats, grains, fruit and vegetables and those in higher grades learn the importance of well-balanced meals.

The school publishes a monthly newsletter on food and nutrition. The newsletter informs students thee types of food to eat, benefits of eating a balanced meal and foods to avoid.

“Lifestyle diseases begin as early as childhood. The number of children suffering from obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes in Japan is increasing.

With this programme, we hope students will understand more about healthy living and incorporate it into their lives.”

Lunch is prepared at the school kitchen by a private company. Each student, depending on his grade, pays between 220 and 250 yen (between RM8 and RM10) per year for the lunch.

The writer’s visit to Tokyo is courtesy of Yakult (Malaysia)

Health in numbers

• Lifestyle-related diseases account for about 60 per cent of the cause of deaths and 30 per cent of national medical costs in Japan.
• About 22.1 million Japanese are diabetics or are in pre-diabetic stage.
• One in two men and one in five women between 40 and 74 years old suffer from metabolic syndrome diseases or have the potential to have it.
• About 30 per cent of men between the ages of 20 and 60 are obese. For women in the same age group, the obesity rate is 22.2 per cent.
• Thirty per cent of women in their 20s suffer from underweight problems.

Triumph of tradition

IN its effort to reduce lifestyle diseases and improve the quality of life, the Japanese Government wants the people to return to eating traditional dishes. Instead of relying too much on Western food, the Japanese have been urged to eat more Japanese-style dishes which have balanced nutrients.

Kanagawa Institute of Technology Department of Nutritional Education Professor Naomi Aiba said Japanese eating patterns have changed since the 1960s, when they included more balanced ratios of carbohydrate, protein and vitamins. Now the Japanese have too much processed food which is high in fat and salt, which has led to an increasing number of lifestyle diseases.

“The composition of a well-balanced Japanese meal should consists of staple food such as rice, bread and noodles. There should be vegetables and meat, fish or eggs, milk or other dairy products and fruit. However, this composition is becoming less and less in their daily diet.”

“We want to tackle this issue through the Shokuiku (which means food and nutrition education) programme. We are hoping that once they follow the programme, more people will continue to practise proper diet and exercise to prevent and reduce lifestyle diseases. We also hope there will be an increase in the proportion of the population that is diet-conscious and interested in nutrition education. We want to increase the use of local produce for school lunches and emphasise spending time with family over meals.”

In 2005, the Japanese Government had passed the Shokuiku Basic Act, which focuses on food and nutrition education and promotes quality of life from children to the elderly. Through Shokuiku, the government is hoping that the people will make better food choices.

CHANGING DIET

Office of Shokuiku Promotion deputy director Fukue Seino says some of the issues related to food and nutrition in Japan include a change in dietary habits due to diversification of lifestyles, irregular diet and unbalanced nutrition, obesity and excessive slimming, increase of lifestyle-related diseases, dependence on food and nutrition from abroad, and banishing of the traditional food culture.

“To overcome this problem, there are three priority issues under the second phase of the Shokuiku plan. We focus on building a lifelong Shokuiku society, ensuring it will help prevent lifestyle-related diseases and inculcate healthy habits in children.”

It is important to ensure that the programme is aimed at people of all ages so that they can cultivate a healthy mind and body.

Prevention of lifestyle diseases has become a national issue in Japan. With this programme, the government is working with local governments and authorities and related organisations to prevent these diseases. Appropriate measures include disseminating information so that each person can make an informed decision about food and nutrition.

“It is also important to ensure children cultivate healthy eating habits early as it will be difficult to change once they become adults. Because of this, it is important to encourage families to have meals together. Parents should teach their children basic table manners, diet and good habits as a family.

“With the changes in lifestyles, it gets difficult for families to have meals together. Children lack food and nutrition education at home, which is the place that forms the foundation for food education.”

At present, there are 4,200 nutrition teachers at public schools and lunch is provided for elementary and junior high school students.

There will also be promotions of agriculture, forestry and fishery products from every region in Japan to encourage local dietary patterns. There is also a plan to include Japanese dishes in the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list.


http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/health/partners-in-health-1.173648

Sitting for extended periods doubles risks from ...

Sitting for extended periods doubles risks from diabetes, heart disease and early death




Thursday, October 25, 2012 by: John Phillip


 NaturalNews) Health-conscious individuals are well aware that moderate levels of physical activity are essential to promote health, especially when combined with proper diet, supplementation when necessary and lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and avoiding chemical and household carcinogens. Recent research suggests 30 to 45 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at least five days per week to help prevent chronic illnesses.

Researchers from the University of Leicester in England have published the findings of a study in the journal Diabetologia that has discovered that sitting for long periods increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease and death. It is important to make the distinction between regular physical activity and long periods of sitting. Both are now considered to be independent factors in the development of vascular and metabolic diseases that lead to a shortened lifespan.

Stand or walk briefly to break extended periods of sitting to lower chronic disease risks

To evaluate data on sedentary behavior and disease risk, the study authors analyzed the results of 18 studies including a total of 794,577 participants. The scientists found the results were independent of the amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity undertaken, suggesting that even if an individual meets typical physical activity guidelines, their health may still be compromised if they sit for long periods of time throughout the day.

The lead study author Dr. Emma Wilmot noted "The average adult spends 50-70% of their time sitting so the findings of this study have far reaching implications. By simply limiting the time that we spend sitting, we may be able to reduce our risk of diabetes, heart disease and death." People with sedentary jobs or aging adults that sit for long periods are well advised to take short breaks from sitting. Standing or taking a brief, non-intensive walk should be sufficient to lower the vascular and metabolic risks of sitting for extended periods.

The study authors concluded "There are many ways we can reduce our sitting time, such as breaking up long periods at the computer at work by placing our laptop on a filing cabinet. We can have standing meetings, we can walk during the lunch break, and we can look to reduce TV viewing in the evenings by seeking out less sedentary behaviors." The scientists determined that the most consistent association with extended sitting was increased risk of diabetes, and theorized that it may be related to overweight or obesity from lack of physical activity.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/x8g2407126q581u0/
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/uol-sfp101112.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121015090048.htm

 http://www.naturalnews.com/037668_sitting_heart_disease_chronic_illness.html

Foods Rich in Vitamin B17

Apr 26, 2011 | By Norma Chew 
 

Vitamin B17, or laetrile, is called the anti-cancer vitamin. It is an alternative treatment for cancer. Vitamin B17 works to reduce tumors and prevent metastasis or the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. It kills cancer cells, strengthens the immune system and prevents cancer cells from developing in the future, this according to Cancer Tutor. Foods with a high content of Vitamin B17 are called nitrilosides. They include a variety of seeds, grains and nuts and sprouts and tubers as well as leaves and beans.

 

Seeds

The apricot seed is the richest source of Vitamin B17. The kernel of the apricot can be cracked open to get to the seed. Other fruits with seeds rich with Vitamin B17 are peaches and plums as well as the seeds in cherries, prunes and nectarines. The tiny seeds in apples, grapes and those in berries, such as, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, elderberries and wild crabapples are high in Vitamin B17. Keep in mind when purchasing bottled fruit preserves that the ones with seeds are also a good a source of Vitamin B17.

Grains and Nuts

Grains like millet, buckwheat and barley and flax are good sources. Nuts like bitter almonds, cashew nuts and macadamia nuts are excellent sources of Vitamin B17.

 

Sprouts and Tubers

Bamboo sprout contains a high amount of Vitamin B17 while alfalfa, fava and garbanzo and mung sprouts have medium range amounts. Tubers like yams, sweet potatoes and cassava are foods with a good supply of Vitamin B17. 

 

Leaves and Beans

Leaves that are rich sources of Vitamin B17 include alfalfa, beet greens and spinach, watercress and eucalyptus. Beans that are good sources include black-eyed peas, black beans and green peas and lima beans, kidney beans as well as lentils. These leaves and beans may be prepared as healthy side dishes or used for making soups.

 

Considerations

In addition to the Vitamin B17 content of these seeds, grains and nuts, sprouts and tubers and leaves, they are also rich in other vitamins and minerals, Omega-3 and antioxidants. According to RS Pharmchem there is no data showing any problems caused by not having Vitamin B17, however, theoretically, a deficiency could increase the likelihood of developing cancer.

References

• Cancer Tutor.com: Laetrille, Vitamin B 17 treatment for cancer
• Vitamin B17.org: Foods containing B17
• RS Pharmchem.com: Vitamin B17

 

Article reviewed by JPC Last updated on: Apr 26, 2011

 

Norma Chew is a retired registered nurse who has been a freelance writer since 1978. Chew's articles have appeared in the Journal of the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), "Point of View Magazine" and "Today's OR Nurse." Chew has a master's degree in health care administration from Nova Southeastern University.

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/85705-foods-rich-vitamin-b17/

The 10 Foods Men Need For Bone Health

Dr. Geo Espinosa | Nov 29, 2012 | Comments 1

When was the last time you thought about your bone health? Unfortunately, many men don’t think about it until it’s too late; that is, they have fallen or had an accident and experienced a fracture. But bone health is something all men should consider on a daily basis, especially as they get older; and one great way to take care of your bones is with the right foods.

Why Worry About Bone Health?

Why should men worry about their bone health?

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, up to 25 percent of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. If you thought this bone-thinning disease affected only women, think again.

In fact, about 2 million men in America already have osteoporosis, and an estimated 12 million more are at risk for the disease. You should also know that more men older than 50 are likely to experience a broken bone associated with osteoporosis than are likely to get prostate cancer. ^[1]

Nutrients For Bone Health

Which nutrients immediately come to mind when you think of bone health? If you said calcium and vitamin D, you’re on target. In fact, this mineral and vitamin have a unique working relationship that helps ensure bones are strong. Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium from the gut; so if you are short on this vitamin, the result can be low calcium levels and an increased risk of osteoporosis.

However, it’s important to note that too much calcium may increase the risk of prostate cancer, as may eating lots of dairy foods. ^[2] Therefore, remember that the recommended calcium intake for men is 1,000 mg daily, and remember to include non-dairy foods rich in calcium in your diet. (Hint: There are tips below!)

How about vitamin D? The best source of the sunshine vitamin comes naturally, but many men fall short of the recommended 600 International Units (IU) daily because they don’t get sufficient exposure to sunlight on a consistent basis. Therefore, it’s important to include vitamin D-rich foods and consider supplements for men’s health if sunlight and foods don’t help you reach your daily vitamin D goal. Among other nutrients important for bone health are magnesium (420 mg daily) and potassium (4,700 mg daily).

Eating For Bone Health At Every Meal

Here are eight food suggestions ^[3] for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks — two suggestions for each occasion — that will support and enhance bone health. (I also included two additional bone-supporting food ingredients.) When shopping, be sure to read labels carefully for nutritional content. Different brands have various amounts of nutrients, and manufacturers may even change nutritional content over time.

Breakfast

• Cereals fortified with calcium and/or vitamin D: Readily available in supermarkets; and it’s now possible to get 100 percent of your calcium requirement in just one serving of fortified cereal. One example is Whole Grain Total (1,000 mg calcium in 3/4 cup dried cereal). Instant oatmeal is another breakfast cereal that provides calcium (187 mg per cup, cooked). Hint: Use fortified orange juice instead of milk on your cereal.

• Fortified orange juice: Depending on the brand of fortified orange juice you buy, you can get a significant amount of both calcium and vitamin D in just 8 ounces of orange juice. One brand, for example, provides 500 mg calcium, 142 IU vitamin D and 473 mg potassium.

Lunch

• Sardines in oil (drained) with bones: One can (3.75 oz) provides 250 IU vitamin D, 351 mg calcium, 365 mg potassium and 35.9 mg magnesium.

• Tempeh: Just 4 ounces of this type of fermented soy and grain product can provide 108 mg calcium, 448 mg potassium and 87 mg magnesium. For a touch of added vitamin D, toss in 1 cup of stir-fried white mushrooms for 13 IU of the sunshine vitamin.

Dinner

• Cooked spinach: Just 1 cup of cooked spinach contains 245 mg calcium, 157 mg magnesium and 839 mg potassium. If you drizzle the spinach with olive oil, you’ll be getting additional bone-strengthening value. According to a new study conducted in elderly men, those who consumed a Mediterranean diet enriched with virgin olive oil for two years had an increased level of osteocalcin in their blood. Osteocalcin is a known indicator of healthy bone. ^[4]

• Baked sweet potato: One large baked sweet potato, with skin, contains 1,600 mg potassium, 83.7 mg magnesium and 44.8 mg calcium. Break open the potato, stuff it with the cooked spinach, add a little olive oil and you have a great bone health combination.

Snacks

• Almonds: One ounce of dry roasted almonds contains 74.5 mg calcium and 80.1 mg magnesium.

• Bananas: One medium banana provides 422 mg potassium and 31.9 mg magnesium.

Don’t neglect your bones. Be sure to enhance your bone health every day with food choices that provide bone-supporting nutrients. If you need to boost your intake of vitamin D, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the best supplement for your needs.

For more men’s health tips, visit Prostate.net.

Sources
[1] National Osteoporosis Foundation: http://www.nof.org/articles/236
[2] Calcium and prostate cancer risk: http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/calcium-and-prostate-cancer-risk
[3] Nutritiondata.self: http://nutritiondata.self.com/
[4] A Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil is associated with higher serum total osteocalcin levels in elderly men at high cardiovascular risk.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22855341

http://easyhealthoptions.com/mens-health/the-10-foods-men-need-for-bone-health/

Take Charge of Your Anger to Protect Your Health

November 1, 2012

Take Charge of Your Anger to Protect Your Health

It can contribute to stroke, stomach problems and more.

 

All you have to do is pick up a newspaper or go online to read a story about the many ways that poorly managed anger ruins lives—in schools, offices, relationships and more.

 

Every week, I treat patients who simply “can’t” control their anger. These are usually good, caring people, but their inability to handle their intense feelings of anger hurts their relationships, their ability to work effectively—and their health.

 

What anger does to your body and effective ways to defuse it…

 

 

YOUR BODY ON ANGER

 

In small doses, anger can be a helpful emotion—it signals to you and others that important needs are not being met. Perhaps you’ve been lied to by a loved one or feel overburdened by demands from the family.

 

If you can learn to manage your irate feelings, you can use them as energy to solve problems. For instance, if you see a neighbor illegally burning leaves, instead of starting an argument, you can remain calm and educate him/her about safer ways to dispose of his trash.

 

However, if you’re not able to effectively manage anger, it can blaze out of control. When this happens, you feel threatened, and the primitive fight-or-flight response kicks in to prepare your body mentally and physically for survival. Without conscious thought, adrenaline is released, shoulders tense, the heart beats faster and blood rushes to the face, all of which can have a negative impact on your health.

 

Anger can contribute to…

 

• Heart attack and stroke. Anger increases your heart rate and blood pressure, raising the risk of developing coronary heart disease (or suffering further complications if you already have it). Because of the fight-or-flight response, your red blood cells become more “sticky” (to increase clotting ability in case you are injured), while your liver releases more fats into your blood (for muscles to burn)—both of which increase odds of a cardiac event.

 

• Stomach problems. When you’re fuming, blood from your stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) system is diverted to your brain and muscles, which can contribute to stomach upset, acid reflux, nausea, changes in bowel and urination frequency and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

 

• Muscle tension. Your muscles tighten in a state of anger—they become poised to help you “fight” or “flee” from the situation. The shoulders, neck, forehead and jaw are all typical hot spots. As anger continues, soreness or musculoskeletal pain may occur.

 

• Breathing issues. When you’re feeling outraged, respiration speeds up in an effort to deliver blood to the brain and muscles, resulting in shallow breathing and sensations of chest heaviness and throat constriction.

 

Also, blood vessels in the face, hands and elsewhere constrict during anger. Your face and neck might feel flushed or warm (“hot under the collar”) or may even look bright red.

 

 

ANGER MANAGEMENT

 

If you experience any of these effects, anger is likely impacting your health in a negative way.

 

Besides the symptoms mentioned above, you may notice that you are constantly on edge and have trouble relaxing. You also could have little energy, and the simplest activity might seem overwhelming.

 

But, if you’re aware of your anger being triggered, you can effectively manage it to help prevent harmful automatic responses from happening and harming your health.

 

The following techniques will build your self-awareness and help you better manage your anger by promoting deep relaxation. Do them when you first notice signs of anger in your body. The first step for each technique is to sit down, lean back and let the chair support your back.

 

• Deep breathing. Relax your stomach muscles and breathe in through your nose, allowing your lungs to completely fill with air and expand into the abdominal area. Exhale very slowly through your pursed lips, as if you were letting air out of a small valve. As you exhale, silently count backward from 10 to one, which helps distract you from thoughts of anger. Doing this can help you feel calm and secure. Many people are so used to shallow chest breathing that this may feel odd at first. It becomes more natural with practice. About 15 minutes before bedtime, practice deep breathing for three to five minutes, so you can use it as needed. It also helps promote deep sleep.

 

• Progressive muscle relaxation.* Starting with your fists, begin tensing specific muscle groups (in the forearms, shoulders and legs, for example) for 10 to 15 seconds each. Tense each group until it’s quivering. Take a small breath toward the end of the tensing period, then release your breath and the tension. Repeat, then move on to the next muscle group.

 

Muscle relaxation helps make you aware of when your muscles are tensing and gives you a simple way to relax them. Do this exercise for at least 15 minutes once each day for the first two weeks. Then use when needed.

 

Time to get help? If you have extreme fight-or-flight symptoms, are getting angry more often or if others are complaining about your temper, seek professional help. Visit the American Psychological Association at http://Locator.APA.org to find an anger-management expert.

 

 

3 SMART WAYS TO DEFUSE ANGER…

 

• Sit down! Your brain interprets a seated or reclining position as safe and relaxing, interrupting the flow of anger-enhancing adrenaline. The next time you’re in an argument, get yourself (and the other person) to sit down. Say something like, “Let’s sit and discuss this.” If you’re already sitting down when angered, try leaning back and relaxing your muscles.

 

• Never go to bed angry. Research proves that the old saying is right! A recent study found that hitting the sack after having negative emotions appears to reinforce them. Try to resolve disagreements before saying good night.

 

• Become an observer. The next time your blood boils, step back and view the situation from a distance. Evaluate how angry you are on a scale of 0 to 100. Then project what may happen if you don’t lower that figure by using some of the techniques here. This will help you remain calm.

*If you have a muscle disorder or chronic pain, check with your doctor before starting this technique as it could worsen these conditions.

 

Source: W. Robert Nay, PhD, clinical psychologist and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. The author of Taking Charge of Anger (Guilford), he is in private practice in McLean, Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland, and trains professionals in anger management. www.WRobertNay.com

 

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/take-charge-of-your-anger-to-protect-your-health

Turmeric - The Spice That Could Save Your Heart

November 29, 2012

 

The Spice That Could Save Your Heart

 People tend to think that bypass surgery is pretty safe. But the reality is, patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery—its official name—are vulnerable to an in-hospital heart attack in the first few days after the operation.

 

Now here’s good news: Curcuminoids, chemicals in the spice turmeric (the spice that gives curry its yellow color), may help prevent many of these post-op heart attacks, according to new research from Thailand.

 

 

 

HEART OF THE MATTER

 

I love this sort of news—don’t you? Here’s a natural spice accomplishing something that no drug has yet to do as effectively.

 

In the study, beginning three days prior to their bypass surgery, participants were given either a placebo or 4,000 milligrams (mg) of a curcuminoid supplement daily. They remained on that dose for five days after surgery, along with any necessary medications that they were given before, during and after surgery. The results were striking—30% of the patients who took the placebo had heart attacks in the 72 hours following the surgery...while only 13% of those who took the supplement had heart attacks.

 

“We believe that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of curcuminoids are mainly what helped prevent heart attacks,” the study’s lead author, Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD, told me.

 

It’s possible that curcuminoids might also help patients who aren’t undergoing bypass surgery but are at high risk for heart attack, said Dr. Wongcharoen.

 

SHOULD YOU EAT MORE CURRY?

 

Before you head to the nearest Indian or Malaysian restaurant thinking that a great-tasting, curry-flavored meal will help protect your heart, keep in mind that the amount of curcuminoids that you get in such a meal is typically less than 10 mg—which is very, very little compared with the massive amount that patients in the study received (4,000 mg). So it’s unlikely that consuming curcuminoids through foods would have anywhere near the dramatic effect seen by the bypass patients in the study. Curcuminoid supplements, however, would be more likely to help because they contain much higher amounts, said Dr. Wongcharoen—usually about 250 mg to 500 mg per capsule.

 

If you’re about to undergo bypass surgery, ask your doctor whether taking 4,000 mg of a curcuminoid supplement daily—for three days before the operation and for five days after it—is a good idea, said Dr. Wongcharoen. Just be sure not to abandon your surgery meds. “I do not recommend replacing any drugs with a curcuminoid supplement,” Dr. Wongcharoen said. “But it might be a helpful addition.” You can buy a curcuminoid supplement at a health-food store or at many health-food and vitamin Web sites—there are many different types, so just make sure that the word “curcumin” is on the label, said Dr. Wongcharoen.

 

It’s generally considered to be a very safe supplement, said Dr. Wongcharoen. Potential side effects include nausea, dizziness and/or diarrhea, and it can slow blood clotting, so if it’s taken with other drugs or supplements that may also slow blood clotting (including clopidogrel, ibuprofen, naproxen, warfarin, garlic, ginger, ginkgo and/or ginseng), that could be dangerous. (Dr. Wongcharoen found in his study that the supplement group did not bleed any more than the placebo group, which suggests that the anticlotting effect of these curcuminoids may not be very strong—therefore, in his opinion, the reduction in heart attack risk outweighs an additional risk of bleeding.) Keep in mind that taking any supplement in an extreme amount does raise the risk for side effects and adverse interactions—so definitely check with your doctor first.

 

And if you had bypass surgery more than 72 hours ago, the danger of having an operation-related heart attack has passed, so Dr. Wongcharoen does not recommend that you take a curcumin supplement to prevent heart attacks until future research shows whether it’s helpful.

 

Source: Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD, department of internal medicine, faculty of medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/the-spice-that-could-save-your-heart?

Long life in Limone

The first time I heard of this phenomenon was over 2 years ago when we were at Riva on Lake Garda, Italy, for our summer holidays. We had a brief coach stop at Limone on our way to Venice. Like most towns situated along the lakeside, it was full of charm, atmosphere and history dating back to the middle ages and before, absolutely splendid! Wish we could have spent more time there. Perhaps next time...

Here is an article taken from a tourism site, the source of which is stated below.

Limone sul Garda : Long life in Limone

Limone sul Garda, the lovely town on the Western banks of Lake Garda (province of Brescia) with less than one thousand inhabitants, recently took the international spotlight for the "longevity protein" found in the blood of several of its citizens.

Limone, which is nestled in between the mountains and the lake, has always been an isolated frontier. Precisely this isolation, combined with a series of fortunate and fortuitous episodes, determined the birth of the famous "elixir" in the blood of the locals.

The story of the discovery of Apolypoprotein A-1 Milan began in 1979 when a railway employee, who was born in Limone but had lived in Milan for over 20 years, was hospitalized for a routine check-up. The test results amazed the doctors: although the patient had very high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, he showed no major clinical symptoms and no damage to arteries and heart.

Doctors thought this was very strange: incredible, in fact. They decided to do more tests and discovered that the patient, his father, and daughter all had the same anomalous protein in their blood, which they called "Apolypoprotein A-1 Milan" (named after the city in which it was discovered).

The protein in the blood of these people from Limone behaves in an anomalous but beneficial way: it quickly removes fats from the arteries and takes them to the liver, where they are eliminated, which protects against arteriosclerosis and heart attack.

Researchers stepped up their studies to find out why this genetic mutation only occurred in Limone, and learn the importance of hereditary and environmental factors. All the inhabitants of the town underwent blood tests, and the results were quite surprising: many residents carried the gene.

Researchers recreated the genealogical tree of the carriers. Thanks to the town and church records, they discovered that all carriers of this gene descended from a couple (Cristoforo Pomaroli and Rosa Giovanelli) that married in 1644, the date when the gene might have first appeared.

The gene probably spread due to many marriages between blood relatives, which frequently occurred in Limone until 1932, when the Gardesana Road was inaugurated. The road, with its long tunnels dug out of the mountainside (a genuine marvel of engineering for the time), thus ended Limone?s centuries of isolation and paved the way for tourism from all parts of the world.

Thanks to the valuable cooperation of the citizens of Limone, who willingly submitted to the many necessary blood tests, the A1 Milan protein was synthesized by transferring to several bacteria the ability to reproduce the protein. The first tests on animals took place in the nineties: the animals injected with the cloned protein showed very positive results, with a substantial reduction of cholesterol plaques on artery walls.

In November 2003, news arrived from the U.S., where a group of researchers, led by Steven Nissen, reproduced the protein in an experimental drug that was administered to 47 patients suffering from heart disease. The results after a six-week treatment were amazing: there was an average 4.2% reduction of the plaque. This may well be the most important medical discovery of the decade, and the people in Limone are proud to say that the road to longevity started in their small town on the banks of Lake Garda.

The laboratory synthesis of the protein that led to the production of a revolutionary drug able to cure serious heart disease (the first cause of death in the world) put Limone under the spotlight of the international media, and scores of reporters and TV crews were often seen filming their documentaries in the narrow lanes of the town.

World attention increased last May when Limone hosted an important international scientific conference featuring major American and European experts responsible for developments in the cure of heart disease using Apolipoprotein A1.

The meeting was an opportunity not only to discuss medical issues, but also to speak about the unusual longevity of the inhabitants of Limon, where a high percentage is over 80 years of age.

However, the protein is not the only gift that Nature has bestowed upon the lucky inhabitants of Limone. Thanks to their healthy Mediterranean diet (rich in lake fish and local olive oil and citrus fruits) and the favorable and unique climate (Limone is actually the northernmost place where citrus fruits can be grown), the people here have a very long life expectancy.

Unlike the past, today the locals can share these gifts with the many tourists, mainly from Germany, who spend their holidays in this quiet resort town of Lake Garda, perhaps never realizing how good it is for their health.

In 2004, Doctor Sirtori's medical team returned to Limone, and researchers took blood tests of the children recently born to carriers of the gene. They discovered that the number of carriers of the precious A1 Milan protein had increased: eighth children joined the lucky group of 40 carriers. Therefore, the history of the "elixir of long life", which fortuitously began centuries ago due to the geographic isolation of the village, continues, passing from one generation to another.



---

APOLYPOPROTEIN A-1

• Discovery: Milan (Italy) 1980
• Experimentation: Cleveland (USA) November 2003

---

THE CONGRESSES

• 29/05/2004 Sala Comboni
  HDL THERAPY IN LIMONE:
  5th scientific meeting on the Apolipoprotein A-1 MilanoChairmen:
  R. Newton (Ann Arbor, USA),
  L.O. Andersson (Stockholm, Sweden) T. Mayleben (Ann Arbour, Usa),
  R. Paoletti (Milano, Italy)
  S. Santamarina-Fojo (Bethesda, USA) HDL metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport:
  lessons from animai models
  B.H. Brewer Jr. (Bethesda,USA) HDL metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport:
  lessons from human diseases
  G. Franceschini (Milano, Italy) Pleiotropic functions of HDL
  P.K. Shah (Los Angeles, USA) HDL and the vulnerable plaque
  J.C. Fruchart (Lille, France) PPARalpha as therapeutic target for CHD prevention
  R. Newton (Ann Arbor, USA)
  Drug development in the statin era
  H. Ageland (Stockholm, Sweden) High output production of recombinant proteins
  G. Chiesa (Milano, Italy)
  Recombinant apoA-IMilano in animai models of human atherosclerosis
  M. Marchesi (Milano, Italy) Recombinant apoA-IMilano in experimental myocardial infarction
  C. Bisgaier (Ann Arbor, USA) Methods for a reliable evaluation of the potential of HDL therapy
  B. Krause (Ann Arbor, USA) HDL therapy: what next?
  
• 1/10/1995 - 4/10/1995 Hotel Caravel
  APOLIPOPROTEIN A-1 MILANO:
  Structure, Function and Therapeutic Potential
  
• 5/04/1992 - 9/04/1992
  Centro Missionario Comboniano
  HUMAN APOLIPOPROTEIN MUTANTS:
  Apoliprotein in the Diagnosis and treatment of disease
  
• 27/03/1988 - 30/03/1988
  Centro Missionario Comboniano
  HUMAN APOLIPOPROTEIN MUTANTS:
  From Gene Structure to Phenotypie Expression
  
• 31/03/1985 - 3/04/1985
  HUMAN APOLIPOPROTEIN MUTANTS:
  Impact on Arteriosclerosis and Longevity

http://www.visitlimonesulgarda.com/index.asp?menu=13.58

See also:

Scientists ‘find key to longevity’ in Italian village ...

Long life in Limone

STAND up for your health ...

STAND up for your health: The scary truth about sitting

Monday, November 12, 2012 by: Melissa A. Bartoszewski, DC

(NaturalNews) In today's workplace, the majority of people sit for eight or more hours per day. Think your desk job isn't affecting your health? Think again. A sedentary lifestyle, at home or work negatively impacts your health in multiple ways. Smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise and junk food are all detrimental to our health... we need to add sitting to that list as well. "Sitting diseases" are quickly lowering our lifespans and increasing our healthcare costs.

What happens when we sit?

Sitting requires little to no energy expenditure, "calorie burning drops to one per minute," greatly reduces activation of low back muscles, "electrical activity in the legs shut off, enzymes that help break down fat drop by 90 percent." After two hours, good cholesterol levels drop by 20 percent and after 24, insulin effectiveness drops by 24 percent; your risk of developing diabetes rises. "People with sitting jobs have twice the rate of cardiovascular disease as people with standing jobs. Sitting six-plus hours per day makes you up to 40 percent likelier to die within 15 years than someone who sits fewer than three, even if you exercise" (MedicalCoding&Billing.org). Some of us even spend more time sitting than sleeping.

Sitting affects our internal body systems negatively and our spinal musculature and strength. Remaining seated for prolonged periods of time causes our low back muscles to "take a back seat." If the muscles aren't working properly, other structures, ligaments and intervertebral discs must work overtime (Morl, 2012). Our trunk muscles become deconditioned and lazy. The increase in our sitting times and low back pain are related. The hip flexor muscle (iliopsoas) becomes short and tight with sitting and plays a major role in lower back pain. Lower back pain patients have "atrophy of lumbar muscles," especially the longissimus and multifidi; inactivity and inactivation of such muscles is to blame, sitting being the main culprit (Morl, 2012). The study also found that "lumbar muscle activation does not differ when seated on an exercise ball, different dynamic office chairs or on a reference chair." (McGill et al., 2006; Ellegast et al., 2012)

The journal, Diebetologia, performed a meta-analysis to see the correlation between sitting and disease. They concluded that "sedentary time is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality; the strength of the association is most consistent for diabetes." (Wilmot, et al., 2012)

With obesity at an all-time high, is it because we are eating more and moving less? Obese people sit on average for 2.5 more hours a day than "thin" people. Exercise rates have stayed the same from 1980-2000, but sitting time has doubled to eight percent and consequently so have our waistlines.

Move! Don't become a statistic

Get up at least every 30 minutes to walk, increase circulation, stretch, hydrate, etc. Set a timer on your phone/computer to remind you to get up... chances are you will forget if you don't. Can't leave your desk? At least stand up and move around.

Minimize sitting at home, in a meeting, at a party, on the train/bus; if you sit all day at work, then sit all night at home to "relax," you're not doing your body any favors. Watching TV for three hours a day increases your chances of dying from heart disease by 64 percent. If you feel it is a "necessity" to watch TV, try doing jumping jacks/squats/weight lifting/yoga moves or just standing during the show; at a minimum during the commercials. Life is too short to spend it sitting in front of the TV, slowly dying.

Take the stairs whenever possible, don't find the closest parking spot, walk/bike instead of driving whenever possible; the hours we spend sitting in the car add up. Many offices are now transitioning to standing work stations to decrease sitting times and inevitably, health problems. Activation of the muscles in the lumbar spine will improve with movement and standing tasks; chair type will not make your back work. No chair will do the job of exercise and moving.

Movement is life.

Sources:

J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012 Nov 1. pii: S1050-6411(12)00172-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.10.002. [Epub ahead of print] Lumbar posture and muscular activity while sitting during office work. Morl F, Bradl I. Source Forschungsgesellschaft fur angewandte Systemsicherheit und Arbeitsmedizin mbH, Dubliner Strase 12, 99091 Erfurt, Germany. Electronic address: falk.moerl@apz-erfurt.de

Physiol Meas. 2012 Nov;33(11):1887-99. doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/33/11/1887. Epub 2012 Oct 31.The measurement of sedentary patterns and behaviors using the activPAL? Professional physical activity monitor.
Dowd KP, Harrington DM, Bourke AK, Nelson J, Donnelly AE.Source Centre for Physical Activity and Health Research, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/417749_700b.jpg
Meta-analysisSedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: systematic review and meta-analysis E. G. Wilmot, C. L. Edwardson, F. A. Achana, M. J. Davies, T. Gorely, L. J. Gray, K. Khunti, T. Yates and S. J. H. Biddle
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121015090048.htm
http://www.boston.com

About the author:

Dr. Melissa Bartoszewski is a chiropractor at Estramonte Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Charlotte, NC. She is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College. Dr. Bartoszewski is also a raw food and natural healthcare advocate. Follow her on Twitter at PolishChiro and be sure to LIKE her Facebook Fan page at https://www.facebook.com/MelissaABartoszewskiDC for daily health, exercise, nutrition, wellness, chiropractic tips and much much more!

http://www.naturalnews.com/037919_sitting_health_consequences_weight_gain.html