Lots of new research published in the last 3 weeks. Click on links for more details. If you would like to read previous reports, leave a message in comments.
1. I have decided to increase even further my Vitamin D intake - the research is overwhelming:
Studies find treating vitamin D deficiency significantly reduces heart disease risk
Researchers have demonstrated the link between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk for coronary artery disease. Two new studies show that treating vitamin D deficiency with supplements may help to prevent or reduce a person's risk for cardiovascular disease and a host of other chronic conditions.
For the first study, researchers followed two groups of patients for an average of one year each. In the first study group, over 9,400 patients, mostly female, reported low initial vitamin D levels, and had at least one follow up exam during that time period. Researchers found that 47 percent of the patients who increased their levels of vitamin D between the two visits showed a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease.
In the second study, researchers placed over 31,000 patients into three categories based on their levels of vitamin D. The patients in each category who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher had lower rates of death, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, high blood pressure, depression, and kidney failure.
Increasing vitamin D intake by 1000 to 5000 international units (IU) a day may be appropriate. Exposure to 20-30 minutes of sunlight can provide up to 10,000 IU, but it is important to use sunscreen and avoid the hottest parts of the day in order to avoid sunburn and the harmful UV rays associated with skin cancer.
and:
Vitamin D More important than Calcium for bone density?
Correcting inadequate blood levels of vitamin D is more important than increasing dietary calcium intake beyond 566 mg a day among women and 626 mg a day among men for better bone mineral density.
and:
Low levels of vitamin D linked to higher rates of asthma in African American Kids
Researchers at Children s National Medical Center have discovered that African American children with asthma in metropolitan Washington, DC, are significantly more likely to have low levels of vitamin D than healthy African American children. This study supports recent research that suggests vitamin D plays a greater role in the body than just keeping bones healthy. Vitamin D deficiency has been recently linked to a variety of non-bone related diseases including depression, autoimmune disorders, and now asthma.
but:
Vitamin D levels have different effects in blacks and whites
Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "go-to" remedy for treating a wide range of illnesses, from osteoporosis to atherosclerosis. However, new evidence from a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study suggests that supplementing vitamin D in those with low levels may have different effects based on patient race and, in black individuals, the supplement could actually do harm.
2. I am going to have my liver enzymes checked since I am taking red yeast rice, a statin substitute:
Statins for those w/o high cholesterol?
The Food and Drug Administration approved the new criteria last month for Crestor, which is made by AstraZeneca and is the nation’s second best-selling statin, behind Lipitor by Pfizer. AstraZeneca plans soon to begin a new marketing and advertising campaign for Crestor, based on the new F.D.A.-approved criteria.
Under those criteria, an estimated 6.5 million people in this country who have no cholesterol problems and no sign of heart problems will be deemed candidates for statins. That is in addition to the 80 million who already meet the current cholesterol-based guidelines — about half of whom now take statins.
The new Crestor label says it may be prescribed for apparently healthy people if they are older — men 50 and over and women 60 and over — and have one risk factor like smoking or high blood pressure, in addition to elevated inflammation in the body.
The clinical trial on which the F.D.A. approved the new Crestor use was a global study of nearly 18,000 people. It looked only at patients who had low cholesterol and an elevated level of inflammation in the body as measured by a test called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
There is a debate over the blood test being used to identify the new statin candidates. Instead of looking for bad cholesterol, the test measures the degree of inflammation in the body, but there is no consensus in the medical community that inflammation is a direct cause of cardiovascular problems.
Some patients have long complained of muscle aches from taking statins. And doctors periodically check patients on the drugs to make sure liver enzymes are not abnormally high. Doctors, though, have generally seen those risks as being more than offset by the drugs’ benefits for people with high levels of “bad” cholesterol and a significant risk of cardiovascular disease.
3. I am going to increase my daily dark chocolate consumption:
Chocolate reduces blood pressure and risk of heart disease
Just one small square of chocolate a day can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Researchers in Germany followed 19,357 people, aged between 35 and 65, for at least ten years and found that those who ate the most amount of chocolate .an average of 7.5 grams a day, had lower blood pressure and a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate the least amount of chocolate, an average of 1.7 grams a day.
4. I do tend to include high intensity bursts in my less strenuous biking and kayaking exercise, but will try to do more:
Short bursts of intense exercise better than long, less strenuous exercise
The usual excuse of "lack of time" for not doing enough exercise is blown away by new research. The study adds to the growing evidence for the benefits of short term high-intensity interval training (HIT) as a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise. Astonishingly, it is possible to get more by doing less!
5. I will try to eat more fish, nuts, fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices and drink more wine and beer:
Orange Juice Limits Oxidative Stress from High-Fat, High-Carb Meal
Eating foods containing flavonoids -- orange juice, in this case -- along with a high-fat, high-carbohydrate fast-food meal neutralizes the oxidative and inflammatory stress generated by the unhealthy food and helps prevent blood vessel damage, a new study by University at Buffalo endocrinologists shows. Free radicals, or reactive oxygen species, are known to induce inflammation in blood vessel linings and contribute to the risk of heart attack and stroke. Study researchers say the potent preventative effect of orange juice likely is linked to its heavy load of the flavonoids naringenin and hesperidin, which are major antioxidants.
Vegetables Extend Life, Meat Shortens It
At least for women with ovarian cancer.
Walnuts good for the heart & prostate
The bottom line is that what is good for the heart -- walnuts -- may be good for the prostate as well.
Herbs and spices are excellent sources of antioxidants
Foods rich in antioxidants play an essential role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, inflammation and problems associated with cutaneous aging. Marinating and cooking meat with a marinade containing herbs and spices as primary ingredients provides benefits over cooking meat without them.
Good fat cuts heart risk by a fifth, study shows
A Harvard Medical School study says for every 5% increase in polyunsaturated fat consumption there was a 10% fall in heart disease. The reports adds to the growing evidence about polyunsaturated fats, found in some fish and vegetable oils.
The team analyzed the findings from eight previous studies, covering more than 13,000 people, in their research. Saturated fats raise the levels of bad cholesterol that block the arteries to the heart. In comparison, polyunsaturated fats have the opposite effect by increasing the levels of good cholesterol.
Alcohol in moderation is good for sick hearts too
A study shows that a regular and moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for people who had a previous heart attack or other ischemic vascular events
6. I am very optimistic that if I continue taking aspirin regularly it will be good for my health:
Aspirin use lowers breast & ovarian cancer risk
Postmenopausal women who regularly use aspirin and other analgesics (known as painkillers) have lower estrogen levels, which could contribute to a decreased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.
Optimism Is Good For You
Feeling better about the future might help you feel better for real. In a new study, psychological scientists studied how law students' expectations about the future affected their immune response. Their conclusions: Optimism may be good for your health. Other studies have found that people who are optimistic about their health tend to do better. For example, people who are optimistic about heart transplant surgery recover better from that grueling operation. But it's not clear how optimism affects your health or whether pessimism makes you less healthy.
1. I have decided to increase even further my Vitamin D intake - the research is overwhelming:
Studies find treating vitamin D deficiency significantly reduces heart disease risk
Researchers have demonstrated the link between vitamin D deficiency and increased risk for coronary artery disease. Two new studies show that treating vitamin D deficiency with supplements may help to prevent or reduce a person's risk for cardiovascular disease and a host of other chronic conditions.
For the first study, researchers followed two groups of patients for an average of one year each. In the first study group, over 9,400 patients, mostly female, reported low initial vitamin D levels, and had at least one follow up exam during that time period. Researchers found that 47 percent of the patients who increased their levels of vitamin D between the two visits showed a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease.
In the second study, researchers placed over 31,000 patients into three categories based on their levels of vitamin D. The patients in each category who increased their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher had lower rates of death, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, high blood pressure, depression, and kidney failure.
Increasing vitamin D intake by 1000 to 5000 international units (IU) a day may be appropriate. Exposure to 20-30 minutes of sunlight can provide up to 10,000 IU, but it is important to use sunscreen and avoid the hottest parts of the day in order to avoid sunburn and the harmful UV rays associated with skin cancer.
and:
Vitamin D More important than Calcium for bone density?
Correcting inadequate blood levels of vitamin D is more important than increasing dietary calcium intake beyond 566 mg a day among women and 626 mg a day among men for better bone mineral density.
and:
Low levels of vitamin D linked to higher rates of asthma in African American Kids
Researchers at Children s National Medical Center have discovered that African American children with asthma in metropolitan Washington, DC, are significantly more likely to have low levels of vitamin D than healthy African American children. This study supports recent research that suggests vitamin D plays a greater role in the body than just keeping bones healthy. Vitamin D deficiency has been recently linked to a variety of non-bone related diseases including depression, autoimmune disorders, and now asthma.
but:
Vitamin D levels have different effects in blacks and whites
Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "go-to" remedy for treating a wide range of illnesses, from osteoporosis to atherosclerosis. However, new evidence from a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study suggests that supplementing vitamin D in those with low levels may have different effects based on patient race and, in black individuals, the supplement could actually do harm.
2. I am going to have my liver enzymes checked since I am taking red yeast rice, a statin substitute:
Statins for those w/o high cholesterol?
The Food and Drug Administration approved the new criteria last month for Crestor, which is made by AstraZeneca and is the nation’s second best-selling statin, behind Lipitor by Pfizer. AstraZeneca plans soon to begin a new marketing and advertising campaign for Crestor, based on the new F.D.A.-approved criteria.
Under those criteria, an estimated 6.5 million people in this country who have no cholesterol problems and no sign of heart problems will be deemed candidates for statins. That is in addition to the 80 million who already meet the current cholesterol-based guidelines — about half of whom now take statins.
The new Crestor label says it may be prescribed for apparently healthy people if they are older — men 50 and over and women 60 and over — and have one risk factor like smoking or high blood pressure, in addition to elevated inflammation in the body.
The clinical trial on which the F.D.A. approved the new Crestor use was a global study of nearly 18,000 people. It looked only at patients who had low cholesterol and an elevated level of inflammation in the body as measured by a test called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
There is a debate over the blood test being used to identify the new statin candidates. Instead of looking for bad cholesterol, the test measures the degree of inflammation in the body, but there is no consensus in the medical community that inflammation is a direct cause of cardiovascular problems.
Some patients have long complained of muscle aches from taking statins. And doctors periodically check patients on the drugs to make sure liver enzymes are not abnormally high. Doctors, though, have generally seen those risks as being more than offset by the drugs’ benefits for people with high levels of “bad” cholesterol and a significant risk of cardiovascular disease.
3. I am going to increase my daily dark chocolate consumption:
Chocolate reduces blood pressure and risk of heart disease
Just one small square of chocolate a day can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Researchers in Germany followed 19,357 people, aged between 35 and 65, for at least ten years and found that those who ate the most amount of chocolate .an average of 7.5 grams a day, had lower blood pressure and a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate the least amount of chocolate, an average of 1.7 grams a day.
4. I do tend to include high intensity bursts in my less strenuous biking and kayaking exercise, but will try to do more:
Short bursts of intense exercise better than long, less strenuous exercise
The usual excuse of "lack of time" for not doing enough exercise is blown away by new research. The study adds to the growing evidence for the benefits of short term high-intensity interval training (HIT) as a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise. Astonishingly, it is possible to get more by doing less!
5. I will try to eat more fish, nuts, fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices and drink more wine and beer:
Orange Juice Limits Oxidative Stress from High-Fat, High-Carb Meal
Eating foods containing flavonoids -- orange juice, in this case -- along with a high-fat, high-carbohydrate fast-food meal neutralizes the oxidative and inflammatory stress generated by the unhealthy food and helps prevent blood vessel damage, a new study by University at Buffalo endocrinologists shows. Free radicals, or reactive oxygen species, are known to induce inflammation in blood vessel linings and contribute to the risk of heart attack and stroke. Study researchers say the potent preventative effect of orange juice likely is linked to its heavy load of the flavonoids naringenin and hesperidin, which are major antioxidants.
Vegetables Extend Life, Meat Shortens It
At least for women with ovarian cancer.
Walnuts good for the heart & prostate
The bottom line is that what is good for the heart -- walnuts -- may be good for the prostate as well.
Herbs and spices are excellent sources of antioxidants
Foods rich in antioxidants play an essential role in preventing cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, inflammation and problems associated with cutaneous aging. Marinating and cooking meat with a marinade containing herbs and spices as primary ingredients provides benefits over cooking meat without them.
Good fat cuts heart risk by a fifth, study shows
A Harvard Medical School study says for every 5% increase in polyunsaturated fat consumption there was a 10% fall in heart disease. The reports adds to the growing evidence about polyunsaturated fats, found in some fish and vegetable oils.
The team analyzed the findings from eight previous studies, covering more than 13,000 people, in their research. Saturated fats raise the levels of bad cholesterol that block the arteries to the heart. In comparison, polyunsaturated fats have the opposite effect by increasing the levels of good cholesterol.
Alcohol in moderation is good for sick hearts too
A study shows that a regular and moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for people who had a previous heart attack or other ischemic vascular events
6. I am very optimistic that if I continue taking aspirin regularly it will be good for my health:
Aspirin use lowers breast & ovarian cancer risk
Postmenopausal women who regularly use aspirin and other analgesics (known as painkillers) have lower estrogen levels, which could contribute to a decreased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.
Optimism Is Good For You
Feeling better about the future might help you feel better for real. In a new study, psychological scientists studied how law students' expectations about the future affected their immune response. Their conclusions: Optimism may be good for your health. Other studies have found that people who are optimistic about their health tend to do better. For example, people who are optimistic about heart transplant surgery recover better from that grueling operation. But it's not clear how optimism affects your health or whether pessimism makes you less healthy.
