Encouraging Health

This Study states that Smokers looking for a less harmful way to get their nicotine fix should switch to Swedish snus — a smokeless tobacco that puts them at a significantly lower risk of cancer than cigarettes, doctors say in an article posted online Thursday in The Lancet. (courtesy of cnn.com).

The article goes on further to state:

“Swedish snus makers say the production process there is different from similar products in the U.S., adding that they work hard to remove carcinogens during manufacturing.

But snus is far from harmless; about 30 carcinogens have been found in the smokeless tobacco. In 2004, the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice upheld a ban on the substance, ruling that the dangers of snus merited its being outlawed.

However, the two studies show snus may not be as harmful as previously thought, and far less harmful than cigarettes.”

So, what will American Tobacco and Cigarette makers think about this? Hard to tell. If there is an alternative for a ‘healthier’ cigarette, you can bet some smokers will switch. That is, if the FDA and USDA allows the Snus brand into the United States.

tobacco, cigarettes, healthier cigarettes

tobacco, cigarettes, healthier cigarettes

Exercise harder and keep weight off,is the key, according to this CNN.com article.

From the article:

“Among a group of overweight men and women participating in an 18-month weight loss program, those who were still getting 75 minutes of exercise daily a year after the program ended had lost 26 pounds, compared with 1.8 pounds for people who were exercising less.

But only 13 of the 154 people who completed the study were able to sustain this level of activity, Dr. Deborah F. Tate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and her colleagues found. “Strategies are needed to help participants maintain high levels of activity over the long-term,” she and her colleagues conclude in a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

…

The researchers believe that their e-mails, mailings and phone calls to study participants for the initial 18 months of the study were successful in helping them to reach exercise goals; continuing to stay in touch may have helped them sustain this level of activity.

“It is also possible that sustaining the long-term behavior changes that are needed for behaviors such as physical activity will require changes in the larger social and environmental context in which these behaviors occur,” they conclude.”

This is the reason so many lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) don’t last. There isn’t anyone for them to be held accountable to.

I would recommend going a group that you tell comfortable with.

Exercise, Weight Loss

Exercise, Weight Loss

I thought I would share one of my favorite breakfast bakes, Baked Eggs in a Tomato Cup, courtesy of “Vegetarian Times”.

Cut top off tomato (med to large), spoon out seeds and pith, sprinkle with pepper and parmesean cheese. Crack 1-2 eggs in cavity, sprinkle more parmesean cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 10-20 minutes or until egg is set and cheese is bubbly and brown.

Sometimes I have this for a snack or lite supper with tomato soup or a side salad.

Vegetables can really be incorporated into every meal and snack. Its all in the way they are prepared. An easy way to fix them, is by either lightly sauteeing in Olive Oil with a favorite spice or two, flash-boil for 2 minutes with a light vinagrette or sprinkling of cheese or even raw!

breakfast, tomato, egg

breakfast, tomato, egg

is this what we’re faced with? If scientists are unable to develop a vaccine to the super flu, we may be reduced to wearing surgical face masers and wearers rubber gloves.

Even those may not help! From the article:

“If a super-flu strikes, face masks may not protect you. Even so, the government says people should consider wearing them in certain situations, just in case.

The consumer advice issued Thursday reflects the fact that the science behind it is unclear. Whether widespread use of masks will help, or harm, during the next worldwide flu outbreak is a question that researchers are studying furiously.

But it’s a question the public keeps asking as the government makes preparations for the next flu pandemic. So the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came up with preliminary guidelines.

Why aren’t masks a no-brainer to add to the list? They can help trap virus-laden droplets flying through the air with a cough or sneeze. But it’s unclear whether large droplets or far tinier, so-called aerosolized particles, are the bigger risk from flu.

Simple surgical masks filter only the larger droplets. But better-filtering respirators aren’t for everyone. They must be fitted to the user’s face, don’t fit over beards, and many people find them hard to breathe in. ”

So, be smart and actively practice flu-prevention!

flu, face mask

flu, face mask

Dementia lessened by Hormones, according to this article by DiscoveryHealth.com.

From the article:

“New research suggests that hormone therapy taken soon after menopause may help protect against the mental decline of dementia, even though it raises that risk in elderly women.

The study adds yet another frustrating twist to the back-and-forth findings about whether hormone-replacement therapy protects against diseases of aging. Though the accepted answer has been “no” in recent years, the latest evidence suggests that timing of treatments may be key, at least for heart attacks and now for dementia.

“Previous research showed that women who take hormones after age 65 experience a 75 percent increased risk of dementia over other women.

But this study found the opposite for women who took hormones before age 65: Dementia risk was reduced by nearly half.

Dementia developed in 22 of 2,228 women — or only 1 percent — who took hormones at the earlier time, but in 84 of 4,925 who did not — or 1.7 percent. The apparent protective effect was especially strong for Alzheimer’s disease, a common form of dementia.”

This is another great boon for Elderly Studies. With all the preventative steps and medical breakthroughs, these diseases that are associated with aging may become a thing of the past. When my mother was in several nursing homes throughout the last decade of her life, they were turned into Alzheimers Homes. Seeing the once-vital persons now unable to remember their own name, reverting backwards towards child-like behaviour, was and is, heartbreaking.

It’s great seeing scientists working towards these goals.

elderly, alzheimers, dementia, hormone therapy

elderly, alzheimers, dementia, hormone therapy

From the Discovery Health channel Dark Chocolate, But Not Tea, Takes a Bite Out of Blood Pressure!

Even more good news for Chocolate lovers. Awhile back, I wrote an article about the health benefits of Dark chocolate, here’s another article that states:

“The benefits are believed to come from compounds known as polyphenols (or flavonoids), explained Dr. Dirk Taubert, senior lecturer in pharmacology and toxicology at Cologne and lead author of the report.

“Based on our analysis, regular consumption of polyphenol-rich cocoa products like dark chocolate may be considered a part of a blood pressure-lowering diet, provided there is no total gain in calorie intake,” Taubert said. “However, in the studies we reviewed, the blood pressure results occurred with cocoa doses above the habitual intake and were observed only in the setting of short-term interventions.”

In other words, for the average chocolate nibbler, the jury is still out on the sweet’s health effects, Taubert said. “To date, it is not known whether long-term intake of small habitual amounts of cocoa, such as a small bar or piece of chocolate per day, may also cause significant blood pressure effects,” he said.”

So, be cautious about nibbling!

chocolate

chocolate

According to RealAge.com, Honey has more health benefits than previously thought.

From the article:

“Choose your honey like you choose your chocolate: Go dark.

Dark honey, like dark chocolate, can be a better source of health-protecting antioxidants than lighter-color counterparts. Here’s why dark honey is different…

The dark honey showed the greatest potential for helping to protect cells from harmful substances (free radicals) that cause aging and disease.”

It seems the more science studies Natures bounty, more is learned that will help as treat disease, fight infections and lead healthier lives.

Honey, free radicals, health benefits

Honey, free radicals, health benefits

According to this Article on CNN,Whites have a mutation on then DNA that gives them a greater chance of threat Disease.

From the article:

“Both teams used a new method of combing the genome for disease genes called a genome-wide association study, which was not possible until the full human genome was published in 2003. Now scientists can map the DNA of people with a disease, compare them to this template genome or to people without a disease, and find what is different.

The two studies, using 40,000 people, found the same thing — a stretch of DNA called 9q21 carried certain mutations in people with heart disease. It is an area that had not previously been identified as a gene, which may make it more difficult to determine how it causes disease, scientists said.”

Lets hope scientists use this information to help people reduce their risk of Heart Attacks. Lets also hope Insurance companies don’t use this information to deny coverage, hike rates or any of their usual ideas.

DNA, heart disease

DNA, heart disease

Eight Fitness Tips to Lower Cholesterol, thanks to WebMD.com

From the article:

There’s a link between exercise and cholesterol. A sedentary life can keep your LDL bad cholesterol levels high and your HDL good cholesterol levels low, just the opposite of the way you want them. But incorporating exercise into your life may help lower your cholesterol levels on its own — and help you stay at a healthy weight. How can you safely start a healthy exercise plan you can stick with?

For the tips, click the link above.

[tag]exercise, cholesterol, weight, diet

This Article over on RealAge.com sums up perfectly the way people view low-fat stickers on food:

“That’s because people aren’t good at estimating serving sizes of low-fat foods, so they eat up to 50 percent more calories than they would with the “full-fat” version.”

The article does give three hints on how to help yourself not to fall into that trap:

1. Check Calories
2. Check Ingredients
3. Check Portions

I admit, when I see ‘low-fat’ on a package, its a sure bet i’m going to eat the whole thing. Is it right? no. Is it human? yes.

All the information in the world, admonishments and lectures aren’t going to help one iota. It boils down to one thing: are we willing to help ourselves in the long run, to stop ourselves from overeating? Only you can answer that question.