Jon's Health Tips - Latest Health Research

Friday, October 7, 2011

1. I will continue to take lots of Vitamin D, even if I'm not pale

Vitamin D Could Lower Risk of Developing Diabetes

Vitamin D deficiency common in cancer patients

Pale people may need vitamin D supplements

2. Too much iron in the blood has been linked to heart attacks, but here is another reason I will continue to avoid cereals with added iron, and red meat (and drinking white tea)

Reducing iron may lower age-related brain disease risk



"Iron accumulates in our bodies as we age," Bartzokis said, "and in the brain contributes to the development of abnormal deposits of proteins associated with several prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Higher brain iron levels in men may be part of the explanation for why men develop these age-related neurodegenerative diseases at a younger age, compared to women."

"But there are things postmenopausal women and especially men can do to reduce their iron levels through relatively simple actions," Bartzokis said. "These include not overloading themselves with over-the-counter supplements that contain iron, unless recommended by their doctor; eating less red meat, which contains high levels of iron; donating blood; and possibly taking natural iron-chelating substances, molecules that bind to and remove iron, such as curcumin or green tea, that may have positive health consequences."



3. I'm not homeless, but I imagine playing soccer three times a week is good for my health as well

Could soccer give homeless men a health kick?

Playing street football two or three times a week could halve the risk of early death in homeless men.


Small Amount of Exercise Could Protect Against Memory Loss

A Bout of Exercise May be the Cure for Brain Fatigue


4. I have switched from green tea to white tea, (click on link for the reasons) but here is another reason to keep drinking one or the other

Green tea may slow down weight gain


5. I will continue to drink red wine (and an occasional beer) and take reservatrol supplements

Resveratrol stops breast cancer growth

Alcohol can reduce asthma risk

6. I have high-but-normal blood pressure, so will continue to take Co-enzyme Q for its many benefits, including reducing blood pressure

Even high-but-normal blood pressure elevates stroke risk


People with prehypertension have a 55 percent higher risk of experiencing a future stroke than people without prehypertension, report researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

Prehypertension is clinical category created by experts in 2003 to describe patients whose blood pressure was elevated, but still considered within normal range. Hypertension or abnormally high blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and strokes, but much less is known about the health threat posed of prehypertension, which is defined by a systolic pressure reading between 120 and 139 mmHg (the top number) and a diastolic reading between 80 and 89 mm Hg (the bottom number)


High Blood Pressure Is Linked to Increased Risk of Developing or Dying from Cancer



The overall risk of developing any cancer increased by 29% between men in the lowest quintile and those in the highest. The researchers also found that, as blood pressure rose, the risk of oral, colorectal, lung, bladder, and kidney cancers, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers rose in men. In women, increased blood pressure was not statistically significantly associated with the overall risk of developing any cancer, but was associated with an increased risk of cancers of the liver, pancreas, cervix and endometrium and melanoma.




7. I stopped taking saw palmetto quite a while ago

Saw palmetto no more effective than placebo for urinary symptoms


8. I may resume taking B12

Low Vitamin B12 Levels May Lead to Brain Shrinkage, Cognitive Problems



Older people with low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood may be more likely to lose brain cells and develop problems with their thinking skills, according to a study published in the September 27, 2011, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Foods that come from animals, including fish, meat, especially liver, milk, eggs and poultry, are usually sources of vitamin B12.


8. I think I may need to start drinking coffee

Increased Caffeinated Coffee Consumption Associated With Decreased Risk of Depression

Depression Associated With Increased Risk of Stroke and Stroke-Related Death


9. I need to use more olive oil and keep eating nuts

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids = Less Cognitive Decline


The researchers found that a higher intake of dietary monounsaturated fatty acids was associated with less cognitive decline over a 3-year period. Monounsaturated fats are found in olive and canola oils,and nuts. Further, after testing for associations between monounsaturated fatty acids and individual components of cognitive function, the researchers found that greater intake of monounsaturated fatty acids was associated with less decline in visual-spatial ability and memory after adjusting for other factors (i.e., age, education, reading ability).

The researchers noted that monounsaturated fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects and suggested that these effects may provide one explanation for their protection against cognitive decline (as chronic inflammation appears to be one contributor to Alzheimer’s disease).



10. I think I'm OK on this one

Exposure to goats could increase the risk of lung cancer

11. It's really, really hard to get enough vegetables in my diet now that the salad bar near my office has closed.

Fruits and vegetables reduce risks of specific types of colorectal cancers


12. I'll try to remember this next time I throw my back out.

Moving Despite Back Pain Better Than Resting

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