Encouraging Health

Huge international gene screen ties batch of deletions to 15-fold higher risk

Two huge international studies show that people who lack certain chunks of DNA run a dramatically higher risk of getting schizophrenia, a finding that could help open new doors to understanding and diagnosing the disease.

These deletions are rare, each found in less than 1 percent of schizophrenia patients. But each one boosts the risk of disease by as much as 15-fold, by one estimate.

Scientists said studying such abnormalities may help them find new medications by shedding light on what causes the disease. And if enough rare aberrations can be found eventually, they may be combined into a test to help in diagnosis, said Kari Stefansson, chief executive officer of deCode Genetics of Reykjavik, Iceland, and an author of one of the studies.

The human DNA can be thought of as a very long string of letters — about 3 billion of them — that sometimes form words (genes). Each newly identified deletion removes a section of about half a million to 2 million letters.

Major impact
In the past, scientists have found specific genes and deletions linked to schizophrenia risk. But the new work is notable because two large studies independently identified the same two DNA deletions, and those aberrations have such a big impact on disease risk. Stefansson’s paper also reports evidence for a third deletion.

While the DNA deletions are linked to only a tiny fraction of schizophrenia cases, it’s not unusual that a very rare cause of a disease provides insights that apply more generally, said Dr. Pamela Sklar of Massachusetts General Hospital, an author of the other paper. She said such knowledge can lead to treatments for many people.

Both papers were published online Wednesday by the journal Nature. Experts not connected with the work praised the results.

“This is tremendous” for basic research into the disease, said Dr. Linda Brzustowicz of Rutgers University. But since the deletions found so far are related to such a small fraction of schizophrenia cases, she said it’s too early for companies to offer to test people for them.

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Straight out of the can, peanuts are one amazing health food. But you may get more antioxidants if you buy them in the shell and do this: boil ‘em.

In a recent study, peanuts boiled in their shells had a significantly higher concentration of disease-fighting phytochemicals — more than their raw, roasted, or oiled counterparts.

Nutrition in a Nutshell
The hulls of peanuts are loaded with polyphenols, and the skins are packed with flavonoids. Researchers suspect that boiling peanuts in their shells releases these heart-healthy antioxidant compounds into the water, and the amped-up water is in turn absorbed by the nuts. The result?

One powerfully healthy peanut.

How to Do It
This isn’t a newfangled food idea. In the South, boiled peanuts are part of the culinary heritage, though raw or not-quite-mature peanuts are traditionally used. Cover the peanuts with salted water in a large stockpot. Simmer until the peanuts inside the shell are soft — anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.

A High-Calorie Snack That’s OK for Your Waist

If you love nuts as much as a backyard squirrel does, but you’re caught up by your calorie-counting conscience, relax. And read on . . .

Peanuts may be one high-calorie treat that doesn’t do serious damage to your weight or your waistline.

Say Hi to Mr. Peanut
In a recent small study where people were given a daily snack of peanuts, researchers were surprised to find that no one’s weight changed significantly after many weeks, despite the extra calories. Why? Seems peanuts fill you up (thanks to the fiber, protein, and healthy monounsaturated fats) but the fat and calories in the nuts aren’t completely absorbed by your gut. Now, if only Girl Scout cookies worked the same way.

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You use it for cooking, cleaning, gardening, and a hundred other household chores. But for your blood sugar?

You bet. Seems vinegar — the tart stuff in tasty vinaigrettes and marinades — may help clamp down on blood sugar spikes from eating starchy carbs like potatoes and pasta.

Keep It Steady
Keeping blood sugar from surging may cut down on diabetes risk in the long run. But stabilizing blood sugar can do good things instantly, too — like stymieing hunger pangs, keeping your energy up, and keeping pounds off. To get the blood sugar benefit of vinegar, try pairing starchy foods with vinegar-based sauces or dressings. Or start a meal with a salad dressed in oil and vinegar.

Reality Check
Of course, a shot of vinegar will only go so far when it comes to keeping your blood sugar steady. To really ward off blood sugar problems, you’ll need to:
Get moving . . . so your body uses blood sugar better.

Load up . . . on low-glycemic-index foods that help keep blood sugar stable. We’re talking high-fiber fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

Pare down . . . maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce your risk of diabetes.

Try this easy-on-the-joints workout:

Chi-Gong Workout
Ever tried chi-gong (also spelled qigong)? Ever even heard of it? No, it’s not a tea or percussion instrument, but a 2000-year-old series of bodily movements and breaths that calms the spirit and the mind. It has also been shown to strengthen the immune system, reduce stress, and improve balance and posture (all important as we get older).

The most important goal of chi-gong is to learn how to breathe correctly — which involves breathing from the tan tien — a point 2 inches below the navel.

In each exercise, breathe in slowly. Focus on a point on the wall in front of you, with your chin parallel to the ground — this will help maintain balance. Your eyes should never drop during any exercise. Ideally, do this series of movements, crafted by the YOU Docs and chi-gong master Karl Romain, once daily to help keep your mind and body calm and focused.

Repeat each move three times before moving on to the next.

1. Loosening the Neck
Sink to the ground with your elbows and knees slightly bent and your chin parallel to the ground. Turn your head to the right as you inhale, and exhale as you come back to the middle. Then, turn your head to the left and repeat the sequence.

2. Picking the Fruit
Exhale as you reach for imaginary fruit, and inhale while bringing the fruit down. Reach for the closest fruit first, and then progressively move up the imaginary tree. Keep your knees bent and your back straight.

3. Relaxing the Shoulders
Lift your shoulders first, then elbows, then wrists. Roll your shoulders back; your elbows go out and your hands angle toward the middle — as if you’re grabbing a pole — with your hands sliding down to the level of your waist. Feel the energy as your hands pass down your body.

4. Reaching to Heaven
Inhale and clasp your hands at the level of your navel, and then raise your arms as if you’re reaching toward heaven. Lean to the right as you exhale, and then inhale as you come back to the center. Use the same technique as you lean to the left. Finally, bring your hands down in front of your navel as you exhale.

5. Bow, Bend, and Stretch
As you inhale, bow forward from the waist while your hands slide down your thighs and onto your knees. Bend at your knees and squat with your hands on the insides of knees. (Do not exhale until you come back up; this really works the control of your breath.) Then, stretch your legs as you let your torso hang to the floor, keeping your knees slightly bent. As you slowly rise up, exhale, allowing your head to be the last part of the body to rise up.

6. Stepping over the Fence
Inhale and deliberately shift your weight to the left until the right leg has no weight on it. Lift your leg only when it is weightless. Pretend that your right hand is attached to your right knee by a string. With your hand over your knee and leg, exhale as you rotate your leg and arm to the right — as if you’re stepping over a 1-foot fence. Slowly lower your heel, foot pointed out, and then rotate your foot frontward as you transfer weight to the right. Repeat with your left side.

see the rest of the work out here.

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Due to the extreme organ shortage there is an ever-increasing demand for living kidney donors. Kidneys from living donors have a significantly better long-term survival rate than kidneys from deceased donors (approx. 20 to 30 years versus 10 to 15 years).

They also have better initial function, reducing the need for post-transplant dialysis. Until recently, kidney donation from a living donor could only be accomplished through a surgical procedure called open nephrectomy (kidney removal). This procedure requires a large, muscle-cutting abdominal incision, removal of a rib and a relatively longer hospital stay and recovery period. However, advances in laparoscopic surgery have made an advanced surgical procedure called laparoscopic donor nephrectomy possible. This procedure has significant benefits over the traditional open surgery for kidney donation.

Laparoscopy - also known as “keyhole surgery” - is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a special camera called a laparoscope is used to produce an inside view of the abdominal cavity. Surgeons use the laparoscope, which transmits a real-life picture of the internal organs to a video monitor, to guide them through surgical procedures. The laparoscope magnifies these images many times their actual size, providing surgeons with a superior view of the abdomen.
Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laparoscope to remove a kidney for donation. Laparoscopic kidney removal is considered minimally invasive because it only requires three or four small non-muscle-cutting incisions rather than one large muscle-cutting incision in the abdomen.

During the procedure, carbon dioxide is passed through one of the incisions into the abdominal cavity to lift the abdominal wall away from the organs below, creating more operating space to perform the surgery. The pencil-thin laparoscope and surgical instruments are then inserted through the other incisions.
At the end of the procedure, the kidney is removed through a 7 cm, incision in the left or right flank.

What are the advantages of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy?
Because laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, donor patients experience significantly less discomfort, have a shorter recovery period and return to work quicker than a donor who has had traditional open surgery. Because the incisions are small, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy causes reduced post-operative pain and shorter hospital stays, and patients experience a quicker return to normal eating habits and daily activities.

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A cool wedge of watermelon on a hot summer day? Refreshing, for sure.

But watermelon is more than just a seasonal treat. Here are three great health reasons to dig into this juicy fruit:
It’s loaded with lycopene. Watermelon juice actually gave tomato juice a run for the money in a recent study of lycopene levels. That’s good news for your body, because early research suggests that lycopene may be a cancer crusher.

It can make your skin pretty. Watermelon is loaded with a key compound credited with helping skin’s healing and regenerative processes. Say no more — bring on the melon!

It’s practically calorie-free. With fewer than 50 calories in every cup, watermelon is one smart way to satisfy a sweet tooth. And with a whopping 141 grams of water per cubed cup, watermelon will keep you hydrated, too.

Watermelon: Best Not Chilled

Ice-cold watermelon on a steamy summer day really hits the spot. But you’ll be best served by keeping it on your countertop until cutting time.

Whole watermelons stored at room temperature deliver more cell-protecting antioxidants (specifically lycopene and beta carotene) than refrigerated or freshly picked melons. Here’s why.

A Chilling Effect
After it’s picked, watermelon continues to ripen and build up antioxidants. Cold temperatures appear to cut this process short. So leave your watermelon out, as long as you haven’t sliced it. After it’s cut, it should be stored in the refrigerator for food-safety reasons.

For an ice-cold treat, chill the fruit right before serving. And don’t forget to wash your watermelon before cutting it!

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Iced green tea is delicate and delicious, so keep a pitcher in the fridge and make it a summer staple.

The quick-brew system: Pour 2 cups very hot water over four green tea bags and steep 3–6 minutes, depending on how strong you like it. Add 2 cups cold water and chill.

Then, if friends are dropping by — or you’re just in the mood for something special — pull out the stops: Green tea dresses up like nobody’s business. We tapped some of the country’s top tea gurus for these recipes. They’ll wow the crowd or just help you chill out on a steamy summer day.

GREEN TEA LEMONADE
For porch sippers
If you like your tea lemony and your drinks lightly sugared, this combo should hit your sweet spot. “It gives you that fresh green flavor, with a hint of lemon — perfect for summer,” says Nelson Drago, owner of the Chado Tea Room in Los Angeles.
Makes about four 1-cup servings

1 tablespoon loose Japanese green tea leaves, available in Asian markets and health-food stores
9 ounces lemonade, sweetened to taste
Sliced fresh lemon or whole strawberries for garnish

Steep tea leaves in 18–20 ounces of barely boiling water for 3 minutes, or longer if you like stronger tea. Pour brewed tea through a strainer into a large carafe or pitcher full of ice. Stir in lemonade. Serve in glasses garnished with the fruit.

MANGO TANGO ICED GREEN TEA
Not only for dancing divas
This fruity sensation is from Mary Lou Heiss, coauthor of The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide, coming this fall. Tropical fruits (mango and pineapple) up the antioxidant ante.
Makes four 1-cup servings

1 1/2 cups chilled green tea (Heiss suggests using 2 tea bags of Stash Premium green tea)
3/4 cup chilled mango puree, sold at Asian markets and in some supermarkets
3/4 cup chilled peach or apple juice
1 cup chilled pineapple juice
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients, pour into blender (make in batches if necessary), and blend for 2 minutes. Pour over ice and garnish with sprigs of fresh mint.

MATCHA LATTE ICED ENERGY TEA
Now and Zen
This recipe hails from Essencha Tea House & Fine Teas in Cincinnati. Part of Zen Buddhist culture for centuries, matcha makes brilliant but bitter green tea. However, matcha latte is “creamy yet crisp,” says Essencha co-owner Tracy Monson. “And it gives you the ultimate energy boost!” Because it’s made from the entire leaf, matcha may be the healthiest of all green teas.
Makes one 1-cup serving

1/2 to 1 teaspoon good-quality matcha, sold at Asian markets
1 tablespoon hot water
1 teaspoon sugar, or to taste
8 ounces milk or soymilk

Place matcha and sugar in a high-sided bowl. Whisk gently until blended. Add enough hot water to make a light paste, whisking until the mixture is free of clumps. Transfer to a cocktail shaker. Add milk and ice and shake well until foamy. Strain, and then drink straight up or over ice.

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Which tropical fruit treat gives you the bigger antioxidant payout — guava or papaya?

Turns out guava is tops among tropical fruits when it comes to disease-fighting antioxidants. And it beats out more run-of-the-mill antioxidant superstars, too, like blueberries, raspberries, and apples.

And Fiber to Boot
The little fruits — which come in a variety of shapes (round to oval) and colors (white to red) — are particularly loaded with vitamin C and lycopene. And not only are they rich in age- and inflammation-fighting antioxidants like these, but they also were richest in fiber when compared with other tropical fruits in a recent study. Give guava a shot with this nectar-based Hawaiian Smoothie.

Hawaiian SmoothieFor the best taste and color, use a red-fleshed Hawaiian papaya for this exotic, lip-puckering taste of island summer. Papayas are loaded with papain, a digestive enzyme, so

Ingredients
1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
1/2 cup chopped peeled papaya
1/4 cup guava nectar, (see Ingredient Note)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon grenadine, (see Ingredient Note)
1/2 cup ice

Directions
1. Place ingredients in the order listed in a blender. Pulse three times to chop the fruit, then blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Something Different
Guava is one great way to rev up a boring bananas-and-oranges fruit bowl. So are these exotic, nutrition-packed treats:
Lychee: It’s another antioxidant powerhouse.
Papaya: It could be your skin’s best friend.
Kiwifruit: Your ticker loves this fuzzy fruit: It’s in Your Blood
Kiwifruit appear to put the kibosh on artery-clogging plaques in two ways: They help lower triglyceride levels, and they reduce platelet clumping. The platelet effect could be particularly good for your ticker: Although platelets aid in blood clotting, when these cells stick together too much, it could set the stage for a heart attack or stroke.

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A sponge is like the back row in study hall — it attracts all the bad elements. So here’s what you should do with it:

Duy 10 cheap dishcloths and 2 buckets. Put the clean cloths in one bucket and the dirty cloths in the other bucket along with some diluted bleach. Wash all the cloths once a week.

More Sanitary Solutions
Sponges actually grow bacteria. But if you simply can’t part with your sponges, run them through the dishwasher once a week. You can also microwave damp sponges for a minute to kill germs. But use extreme caution: Wet the sponge thoroughly, and use tongs to take it out of the microwave.

Keeping a Safer Kitchen
Here are a few more simple steps for keeping yourself safe from common illness-causing bacteria:
Get a meat thermometer.
Add extra cilantro.
Toss the “3-second rule.”

The Green That Protects Your Tummy

Any fan of Mexican food is familiar with cilantro. But here’s something you may not know about it: The pungent green could fend off gut-cramping illness.

Potent compounds in cilantro appear to be quite a match against a strain of salmonella common in food poisoning.

Bacteria Busters
When salmonella invades your gastrointestinal
tract . . . well, we won’t go into graphic detail. Suffice it to say that it can quickly spoil a summer outing! But chopping some cilantro into your pool-party salsa just might keep the dip safer, thanks to the strong antibacterial action of substances in the green. And add extra onions to your salsa for good measure. They help battle salmonella, too.

Food That’s Fit to Eat
Keep your picnic and barbecue foods from turning on you later with these other tips:
Don’t go by looks. Ground beef can be undercooked even if it’s brown.
Wash, wash, and wash again. Wash your hands before you cook, wash fresh produce before preparing, and wash the food prep area when you’re done. And use plain soap and water.

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Smoothies — the health-food junkie’s alternative to the milk shake — have been around for decades (by some accounts, since the advent of the Waring blender in 1936). Today, there are probably more smoothie recipes on the Web than YouTube members. But beneath that nutritious veneer of fruit and yogurt can lurk some serious calories — and as much sugar as a fast-food shake.

As recipes go, smoothies are easier than pie: The basic serves-two recipe is 1 cup liquid (milk, soymilk, yogurt, juice, sherbet, ice cream, water, or a combination) and 1 1/2 to 2 cups fruit. Here’s how to be your own smoothie operator without piling on pounds.

1. When a recipe calls for yogurt, milk, or ice cream, opt for the fat-free and no-sugar-added versions. Why? One 8-ounce, fat-free, artificially sweetened vanilla yogurt has 110 calories, while its low-fat version has a whopping 240!

2. For richer flavor and fewer calories, try replacing regular milk with unsweetened almond or hazelnut “milk” (sold in many groceries as well as health-food stores) at only 50 to 110 calories per 8 ounces (versus 150 for milk). Some brands are calcium fortified, too, so you don’t lose out nutritionally.

3. Not nuts about nuts? Stick with skim milk, and kick up the flavor with ice cubes made from your fave juice or tea. They’ll also thicken up your drink.

4. Using frozen fruit? Read the label and choose unsweetened versions. Add your own sugar or low-cal sweetener if needed.

5. Want to add some healthy oomph? Mix in wheat germ or ground flaxseeds to boost nutrition and fiber.

6. Try this batido — the Cuban version of a smoothie from Eating Well.

Blueberry-Banana Batido
1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 tablespoon sugar
4 ice cubes
1 cup buttermilk
Combine banana, blueberries, sugar, ice cubes, and buttermilk in a blender and blend until smooth.

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There may be a newly discovered bonus to good blood sugar control: better recall.

Turns out that Alzheimer’s disease and the #1 blood sugar disorder, diabetes, share something in common — something that wreaks havoc on normal brain function: lack of insulin.

Not All in the Genes
A long-term Swedish study revealed that too little insulin ups Alzheimer’s risk. Men with low insulin secretion at age 50 had a significantly greater risk of the mind-robbing disease — as well as other types of dementia — later in life. One caveat though: The link was strongest in men without the gene that predisposes people to Alzheimer’s.

What It Means to You
Exactly how an impaired insulin response bumps up Alzheimer’s risk isn’t clear. But it definitely underscores the importance of diabetes prevention efforts.

Being active is a big part of living a healthy lifestyle. It offers up many health benefits. This is true for people of all ages and especially true for people with or at risk for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Check out the benefits of being active, how much activity is best for you and get a few tips to become more active now.

Top 10 Benefits of Being Active

Improve blood glucose management. Activity makes your body more sensitive to the insulin you make. Activity also burns glucose (calories). Both actions lower blood glucose.

Lower blood pressure. Activity helps your heart pump stronger and slower.

Improve blood fats. Exercise can raise good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. These changes are heart healthy.

Take less insulin or diabetes pills. Activity can lower blood glucose and weight. Both of these may lower how much insulin or diabetes pills you need to take.

Lose weight and keep it off. Activity burns calories. If you burn enough calories, you’ll trim a few pounds. Stay active and you’ll keep the weight off.

Lower risk for other health problems. Reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, some cancers, and bone loss.

Gain more energy and sleep better. You’ll get better sleep in less time and have more energy, too.

Relieve stress. Work out or walk off daily stress.

Build stronger bones and muscles. Weight-bearing activities, such as walking, make bones stronger. Strength-training activities, such as lifting light weights (or even cans of beans), make muscles strong.

Be more flexible. Move easier when you are active.
Just How Much?

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is put out every few years by the federal government. These Guidelines were revised in 2005 and for the first time they suggest how much activity Americans should aim for. Read through these below. Keep in mind, they are goals, not the place to start. Note that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) supports these Dietary Guidelines and believes they are good advice for people with diabetes or those who want to prevent it.

People with pre-diabetes, diabetes, or the general adult public should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes most days (Walking, gardening, doing yard work, swimming, or cleaning house will all work to meet this goal. Anything that increases your heart rate and causes you to break a light sweat.)

Children &, teens should aim for at least 60 minutes most days.

The Diabetes Prevention Program — a large study done in people with pre-diabetes — showed that 150 minutes of physical activity a week (30 minutes, five times a week) helped prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In this study, people also lost 10 to 20 pounds by making changes in their eating habits.

Do these guidelines seem hard to fit in to your busy life? It’s not easy to find the time. You won’t go from zero to thirty or sixty (minutes), in a day or week. Take one step at a time. Slowly build up to your goal.

First, Doctor’s OK

Most adults without medical problems don’t need their doctor’s OK to exercise. But because people with pre-diabetes and diabetes may have a heart or other diabetes-related problem, ADA suggests you get your doctor’s OK. Talk to your doctor about your plans for activity. Learn from your doctor how to stay safe while you exercise.

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