To most of the rest of the country, Alaska seems very remote. Sometimes larger economic forces will “experiment” with new ideas in this tucked-away backwater. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. In 2006 the American Medical Association (AMA) spent millions of dollars developing a huge document called the “Scope of Practice Partnership” (or SOPP). This weighty and nasty tome has one sole purpose: to stamp out any growth of healthcare professions outside the conventional AMA/FDA/DEA endorsed model. So-called “alternative” healthcare is becoming big enough business that the politically oriented conventional docs are getting more abrasive in their push back.

In 2009, the Alaska Association of Naturopathic Physicians had the dubious honor of being the first group of NDs “attacked” by SOPP. NDs in Alaska have been sporadically attempting to modernize our scope of practice law for two decades. Luckily for us, this SOPP attack did not work so well since the unwieldy tome had a lot of ridiculously outdated information about naturopaths. The Alaska legislators involved in HB 122 mostly were underwhelmed by this heavy-handed power play. However, the bill did not progress because the bulk of last session was taken up with decoupling the oil and gas taxation structures.

This current session, the state AMA lobby is employing a different strategy: attack and malign the president of the ND State association.

I have been targeted in a malicious prosecution case which started in 2008 when a Juneau surgeon “reported” me for trigger point therapy, a technique which is allowed in ND scope of practice in Alaska and in all states licensing NDs. I had actually referred a patient to him who wasn’t improving optimally with the injection technique. Instead of a normal collegiate response, which would have been calling to discuss the patient with me, this arrogant bully chose to report me to the State law enforcement agency. The State didn’t like me using procaine as part of the mix in the trigger point solution, so I stopped. Procaine is biologically identical to a combination of two B vitamins; a mild analgesic in which use I was trained over 20 years ago. Nonetheless, it is a prescription substance and the language of the ND law is ambiguous. The language of the ND law needs clarification, but meanwhile I’m basically being treated as a criminal until I can change the statute (through legislation) or change the regulation (through an administrative trial) so these two parts of the law governing the ND profession are not in contradiction.

During the 2008 investigation which followed the unfounded complaint filed by this surgeon, the State agents did a sweep of local pharmacies and found that I had written scripts for bio-identical hormones, which I and most other NDs in the State have done safely and effectively since our licensure in 1986. The AK statutes for NDs say we “may not give, dispense or recommend in practice a prescription drug.” But the regulations, which qualify and expound upon the very terse “boiler plate” statutes, state that if the medicine is not a controlled substance (such as a narcotic) and is derived from a natural substance, then NDs may prescribe such substances. The bureaucrats have a different idea about interpreting the language of our law than do the professionals (naturopathic physicians and their pharmacists). Nonetheless, I stopped writing scripts in 2008 to the chagrin of many patients. The case was dropped.

This spring (March 2011) when the AK ND scope modernization bill was moving along in Legislature, my case mysteriously re-opened with no new accusations. This vicious piece of business is the work of the state’s AMA lobbyist in collusion with the director of the Division of Occupational Licensing, the agency which currently regulates NDs in Alaska.

I now face either a hugely expensive trial to clarify the language of the law in order to establish that neither I nor my colleagues in Alaska have practiced criminally since 1986, or accept a punitive “consent agreement” which drastically curtails my scope of practice even further. It is deeply stressful to face this dilemma: the proverbial rock and hard place.

If the ND law were “up to speed” with our training and capabilities, we would have a board. My “case” would be reviewed by a jury of peer professionals — not by bureacrats who are unduly influenced by the AMA lobby. Creating a board is the first priority for the scope modernization bill.

Bureaucratically, NDs have been compromised in Alaska because our regulators at the Division of Occupational Licensing don’t really understand what we do. The role of administrative overseers in any professional regulating agency is to ensure that the professionals have the proper credentials to “hang out their shingle.” It is NOT the role of the regulating agency to favor one group of professionals. However, the Division of Occupational Licensing, which is under the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, has clearly been favoring the AMA lobby. This is in direct violation of consumer rights.

In reaching out to colleagues across the country I have received a flood of emails expressing outrage, dismay and encouragement. Many other NDs (and nurses and dental hygienists and optometrists and chiropractors etc) have been vilified and persecuted at the hands of AMA bullies. Join me in coming together to explore legislative, administrative and activist options to stop the harassment, and to promote freedom of choice in healthcare.

If you are a consumer of wellness medicine, and appreciate having REAL HEALTH CARE (not just drug-based disease management) as an option for yourself and your family, please contact me at DrEmilyKane@gmail.com to learn about directing your voice to protect freedom of choice in healthcare.

If you are a naturopathic physician who has been bullied by your state’s AMA lobby, please contact me at DrEmilyKane@gmail.com so we can give our legal team as much evidence as possible about this illegal turf-war behavior.

If you have connections with legislators and are willing to position satisfied patients to “storm the capitol,” please contact me at DrEmilyKane@gmail.com

If you know journalists or radio show hosts who would be interested in a freedom of choice in healthcare story, please direct them my way. I have contacts at KTOO, KINY, the Juneau Empire and Anchorage Daily News but would ultimately like to fill out the big picture and make this a national effort.

The basic message here is the Alaska Naturopaths need a full scope law. Rural and urban citizens alike deserve access to high quality naturopathic care. Currently, naturopathic physicians in Alaska are being denied full scope practice both by administrative bureaucrats and by legislators susceptible enough to AMA lobbyists to hinder forward movement. The AK legislators have been educated about the training and capabilities of naturopathic physicians over the decades of our efforts to expand scope since licensure in 1986. The state insurers figured out years ago that naturopaths are a “good bet” in terms of cost and quality. NDs have insurance parity in Alaska. However, we have our hands tied when it comes to full scope practice. Legislatively, NDs just don’t have clout or money equal to our opponents. However, we are hugely rich in another resource: the genuine gratitude and love of our patients. This is what will win over this attempt to co-opt our healthcare system by the disease-management proponents. Patients will simply not tolerate a medical monopoly indefinitely.

Stand up with me now to protect your health and your freedom.

“Women are not small men,” Dr Gulati says. Women have a different exercise capacity that should be measured using a gender-specific formula.

Here is the current formula based on male only studies and is generally accepted for men and women based on age: ” If you are 50. Subtract 50 from 220 and you get 170, your estimated maximum heart rate. 70% of 170 (119) is the floor and 85% of 170 (145) is the ceiling of your target heart range, and when you work out, you will aim for a target heart rate of between 119 and 145 beats per minute.

Dr Gulati’s new formula for women only is: “based on a study of 5,437 healthy Chicago-area women aged 30 and older. Women multiply their age by 0.88 (to find 88% of their age) and subtract that number from 206 (instead of 220) to find the maximum heart rate for women that age. Then multiply that maximum by 70% to 85% to find your target heart rate range floor and ceiling.”

Ex: If you are” 50 and female. Subtract 44 (88% of your 50) from 206 and you get 162, your maximum heart rate. 70% of 162 (113) is the floor and 85% is (138) is the ceiling of your target heart rate range, so your workout heart rate will range from 113 to 138 beats per minute.”

Julie Ramos,MD, a cardiologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City agrees with the new formula.” Using the right calculation makes a big difference. In the doctor’s office, it shows that women who can’t reach the old target heart rate are not at as high a risk for cardiac events and death as men who can’t reach their targets.”

There is however, a male voice raised in protest. Asked what the new rate means when women go to the gym, Carl Foster, past president of the American College of Sports Medicine is quoted as saying this new formula means “absolutely nothing. You assess how hard you’re working based on how you feel in the perceived exertion test. Moderate is good. Unless you’re an athlete, make sort of hard your upper limit, .Your breathing is the telltale clue in the talk test. Ideally, you should be able to speak in complete sentences without breathing hard. (this is good advice for our patients on beta blockers)

Dr Gulati reports that she hopes soon to have an iPhone app that will make calculating women’s target heart rates easy and fast.

You can find out more about Dr Gulati and this topic from the following websites:

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/findadoctor/directory/Pages/index.aspx?DocID=087833

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/recalibrated-formula-eases-womens-workouts/

Resources:
www.HealthJourney.com
www.BrainSync.com
www.PathofLight.com
Belleruth, Naparstek, “Meditation for Relaxation & Wellness”
Burne, Rhonda, “The Secret”
Hay, Louise L, “You Can Heal Your Life”
Karlsson, Fridrik, “Peace of Mind”
Pert, Candace, “Molecules of Emotion”
Lipton, Bruce PhD, “The Biology of Belief”
Tolle, Eckhart, “A New Earth”

Americans are shelling out big bucks for expensive cosmetics to treat skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and dryness, but most consumers are overlooking the cheapest, safest and most effective remedies: healing foods. A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits:

Green Tea — Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols — compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals.

Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea — EGCG — also acts as a “fountain of youth” of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Salmon — Salmon — along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed — is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin. Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods such as salmon will help keep the skin supple and youthful. A 1:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s is ideal, but the ratio in the typical American diet is more like 20:1, so boosting consumption of salmon and other oily fish can help bring that ratio closer to 1:1. Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

Blueberries — Blueberries are considered by many experts to be the highest food source of antioxidants, which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant sources of nutrition) in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage. When skin cells are protected from damage and disintegration, the skin looks younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.

Carrots — Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

Water — Drinking plenty of water — at least your individual minimum intake — will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. Nutrition expert Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, says when the body is properly hydrated, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear. In addition to consuming therapeutic quantities of green tea, salmon, blueberries, carrots and water, consumers should avoid certain foods that trigger bad skin reactions. Such ingredients include sugar, white flour, saturated fats and fried foods, which are especially bad for the skin, since they can trap oil and bacteria beneath the skin, causing acne and other skin ailments.

The skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can’t alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin without the high price tag of expensive cosmetics.

Note from Mike Adams, aka “The Health Ranger”: An important “overlay” factor on all this concerns raw foods versus cooked foods. Raw food juicing is the surest way to healthy skin, and I recommend juicing fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a Vitamix to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows. On the other hand, those who eat mostly processed, refined or cooked foods have skin that ages rapidly. So be sure to include raw food smoothies in your diet on a daily basis if you want great looking skin!

DID YOU KNOW…?
Your body makes better use of vitamin D supplements if you take them with your largest meal.
According to a Cleveland Clinic study reported in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of Bone
and Mineral Research, this will boost its uptake, over a three-month period, by up to 56 percent.
BELOW-OPTIMUM VITAMIN D LEVELS INCREASE MUSCLE INJURY RISK: New
research has found that deficient and insufficient vitamin D
levels in the blood may increase the risk of muscle injuries
among athletes. The study analyzed levels in the blood of 89
professional NFL football players, and found their vitamin D
concentrations broke down this way: 16 had sufficient levels,
defined by the researchers as more than 32 nanograms per
milliliter (32 ng/ml); 45 had insufficient (sub-optimum) levels,
defined as 20-31.9 ng/ml; and 27 had deficient levels, defined as
less than 20 ng/ml. Sixteen of the 89 players suffered a muscle
injury and the average vitamin D level for these injured players
was 19.9 ng/ml, suggesting that both insufficiency and deficiency
raised the risk of muscle injury. The study recommended screening
for vitamin D insufficiency among professional athletes to help
prevent injuries. However, further research would be needed to
determine whether increasing vitamin D levels would lead to
improved muscle function. This study was presented July 10, 2011
in San Diego at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic
Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). It has not yet been
published in print or online.

HIGHER POTASSIUM INTAKE LINKED TO LOWER RISK OF DEATH: A study
suggests that a higher intake of the element potassium lowers by
20 percent, the risk of dying from any cause; and that compared
to the quarter of the population with the lowest sodium-topotassium
intake ratio, the quarter with the highest sodium-topotassium
intake ratio has a 46 percent greater risk of dying
from any cause and more than double the risk of dying from
ischemic heart disease. The research confirms known links between
higher sodium intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but also
suggests that maintaining a higher ratio of potassium to sodium
may reduce the risk of CVD and all-cause mortality. The results
of this 15-year, 12,267-participant study were consistent
regardless of race, body mass index, age, blood pressure, or
physical activity. (In a varied diet, fruit is the greatest
source of potassium. In 2004, the Institute of Medicine
recommended 4,700 mg of potassium daily; most Americans consume
only half that amount; US law limits the amount of potassium that
non-prescription supplements can contain to 99 mg.) This study
was published July 11, 2011 in the Archives of Internal Medicine
and is available online at http://bit.ly/nOFDun with subscription
or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Your odds of getting skin cancer are greater if you have had other cancers, according to the
American Academy of Dermatology, or if you can count more than 50 moles on your body.

VITAMIN D SUFFICIENCY MAY HELP PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE:
Researchers have concluded that vitamin D sufficiency helps remove amyloid-beta plaque from the aging brain, across the blood-brain barrier, helping to prevent the excessive buildup that causes Alzheimer’s disease. (The buildup in the brain, of amyloid-beta plaque is ordinarily controlled by transporter proteins and vitamin D. Although levels of these protein transporters increase with age, production tends to fail eventually. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked with accelerated declines in memory and cognition, and with an increased
risk of Alzheimer’s.) The team found that vitamin D injections in mice appear to help regulate protein expression and cell signaling, which helps prevent plaque buildup and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The implication is that maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels with advancing age may provide some preventive benefit, and a potential therapy, for these brain disorders. This newly released study will be
published in a future issue of the journal, Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. It is available early at http://bit.ly/nmFQyC without fee.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES INADEQUATE FOR CANCER PREVENTION:
A study has found that current recommendations for alcohol consumption are inappropriate for cancer prevention, and should be changed to reflect the fact that any amount of alcohol involves some cancer risk. (The World Health Organization, or WHO, and other groups have designated alcohol as cancer-causing
in both animals and humans. However, extensive evidence links moderate alcohol consumption with greatly lowered risks of virtually all age-related diseases: coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, diabetes, dementia, and osteoporosis.) The study points to conclusions by the WHO, the World Cancer Research Fund, and the American Institute for Cancer Research, that alcohol raises risks of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast. The new study suggested guidelines are based on only short-term effects of alcohol, such as hospital admissions and psychological effects, but ignore long-term chronic disease. Also, alcohol producers were often part of the working groups that defined safe drinking. Despite other benefits, the researchers stressed that when it comes specifically to cancer risk, there is no safe alcohol intake.
This study was published in the July 11, 2011 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal and is accessible at http://bit.ly/ntWJJm with subscription or fee.

MOLASSES EXTRACT DECREASES CALORIE ABSORPTION AND WEIGHT: A study
has found that when those on a high-fat diet ingested extract of
molasses, there was a reduction in body weight, in body fat, and
in blood levels of leptin (a hormone produced by fat cells), and
an increase in energy excretion (calories lost in feces), and in
gene expression for certain biomarkers of energy metabolism.
(Molasses extract is high in polyphenols, plant-based chemical
compounds known for their beneficial antioxidant properties.)
Despite ingesting the same number of calories in identical highfat
diets, surprisingly, the group receiving the extract ended
the study with less weight and less body fat. Further
investigation found that the molasses extract reduced absorption
of calories, and enhanced energy metabolism (the burning of
calories). The research was conducted on mice, but clinical
trials on humans are planned for next year, which may confirm
molasses extract as a novel approach for weight management. This
study was presented in Clearwater at the annual meeting of the
Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), which ended
July 16, 2011. It is available online at http://bit.ly/pfBtuw for
purchase.

DID YOU KNOW…?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 50 million
unnecessary antibiotic courses are prescribed in the U.S. annually for viral respiratory infections.
However, antibiotics have no impact on viral respiratory infections, and excess use can result in
strains of bacteria, normally susceptible to antibiotics, that are antibiotic resistant.

GRAPESEED POLYPHENOLS MAY PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: A new
study has found that grapeseed polyphenol, a natural antioxidant,
suppresses the creation of a specific form of beta-amyloid
peptide – a substance in the brain long known to cause the
neurotoxicity associated with Alzheimer’s disease – and therefore
confirms, according to the researchers, previous research
suggesting that grapeseed polyphenol may be an effective
treatment for people at risk for the disease to prevent its
development or retard its progression. The authors stress that
for grape-derived polyphenols to be effective, it will be
necessary to find a biomarker for those at risk, although it may
also be beneficial for those in the early stages of this memoryrobbing
disease. The study is significant because it is the first
to examine the effect of this substance on these destructive
peptides, illustrating the mechanism behind the apparent
protective benefit, and because it was conducted on living
subjects, namely mice. However, research is now being conducted
to confirm that the results hold true for humans. The full-text
of this just-released study is not yet available but will be
published in a future issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

DID YOU KNOW…?
It is extremely difficult to spread a cold or the flu by kissing, even kissing babies. Saliva in the
mouth harbors very little virus material. However, coughing is a different matter, because it
brings forth virus-laden fluids from deep within the lungs. Cover your mouth when you cough.

COMPARED TO SHELLED, IN-SHELL PISTACHIOS CUT CALORIES SUBSTANTIALLY: In two separate studies in the same journal, researchers have concluded that shelling and eating pistachios reduces calorie intake by 41 percent compared to eating pistachios that have already been shelled, suggesting that the sight of, and opening of, the shells themselves give visual clues that serve as a mindful benefit that curbs overeating. In one
study, those who ate shelled pistachios consumed an average of 211 calories while those who ate the in-shell nuts took in only 125 calories. In the second study, more pistachios were eaten by those whose discarded shells were removed every two hours, than by those whose discarded shells were left in sight all day.
(Another study released in June 2011 found that the fat in pistachios is not fully absorbed by the body, meaning that they may involve ingestion of fewer calories than previously thought. At 160 calories per ounce, or per 30 grams, pistachios are lower in calories compared to other nuts.) This just-released study will not be published in print until the October 2011 issue of the journal, Appetite. However, it is available online now at
http://bit.ly/r4s0kI with subscription or study access fee.

SENSE OF OPTIMISM PROTECTS ELDERLY FROM STROKE: Researchers have found that, among people aged 50 years and older, every unit higher that an individual scores on an optimism scale ranging from 3 to 18 (with higher scores indicating greater optimism) results in a 10 percent lower risk of having a stroke. In other words, if one person scored 7 and another, more optimistic person scored 12, the second person would have, compared to the first, a 50 percent lower risk of having a stroke. In the two-year study, the researchers accounted for psychological, biological and behavioral differences, as well as age and health, so that the
stroke-protective effect was due strictly to the sense of optimism itself. The results suggest that the effect that
optimistic attitude has on health is distinctly separate from any other psychological element such as happiness or emotional wellbeing. The scientists believe corroborating studies could lead to optimism interventions as a stroke prevention therapy. Optimism was assessed by employing the Life Orientation Test-Revised. This study was released late on July 21, 2011; it will be published in the October 2011 issue of the journal Stroke and is available online now at http://bit.ly/qwznDd without charge.

DID YOU KNOW…?
A federal study found 40 percent of heat-related deaths occur in those 65 or over. Other research
concluded that recommendations for older people for dealing with extremely hot weather often
go unheeded by over-65s because they do not see themselves as old. They should drink more
fluids than younger people, avoid strenuous outdoor activity, and seek air-conditioning.

POTENT NEW ANTIOXIDANT DISCOVERED: Researchers have discovered a
unique, tomato-plant-based phenolic compound (a phenylpropanoid)
with about 14 times as much antioxidant power as resveratrol, the
well-known antioxidant believed to have sufficient power to
retard cellular aging. (Antioxidants render harmless, otherwise
risky, electrically charged particles that result from the
actions of oxygen in the body. They have the ability to damage
the cardiovascular system, trigger cancer, and promote aging.)
The never-before-known antioxidant is synthesized by the tomato
plant when it is under attack by a specific bacterium. It ability
to mop up dangerous free oxygen radicals is about 10 times the
antioxidant ability of vitamin C, and about 4 times the potency
of vitamin E. Patents have been registered on the unique new
antioxidant. Synthesizing the compound, which does not yet have
an official name, is a very simple procedure, and it may be
incorporated into supplement form in the future. This justreleased
study will be published in a future issue of the
journal, Environmental and Experimental Botany. It is accessible
online now at http://bit.ly/qJAqzl with subscription or fee.

MUSCLE MASS TRAINING LOWERS DIABETES RISK: A landmark study has concluded that the greater the muscle mass of an individual, the lower is his risk of developing insulin resistance and pre- or overt diabetes mellitus. This study underscores a little known fact: despite the truth that obesity is extremely common among
patients when they are first diagnosed with diabetes, many thin people do get diabetes, especially among the elderly. This study has shown that low muscle mass, which is common to both the obese and the slender, is the actual risk factor, not weight. In this research on 13,644 people, scientists grade subjects by their
degree of insulin resistance, prediabetes, or diabetes. The grading up the scale from healthy to fully diabetic corresponded well with decreasing levels of overall muscle mass. In fact, every increase of 10 percent in muscle mass produced an 11 percent reduction in insulin resistance, and a 12 percent reduction in diabetes. This relationship held even after accounting for other factors. This suggests that it is muscle training that lowers diabetes risk, not the aerobic exercise often advised for cardiovascular benefit, and it is possible at
any age, to use muscle mass training to lower diabetes risk, and to improve existing diabetes. Also, it is not overall weight that counts, but ratio of muscle to weight: you can be overweight and still muscled enough to avoid diabetes. This study was released early and will not appear in print until a future issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/qTKvcH with subscription or access fee.

SOME ZINC LOZENGES SHORTEN DURATION OF THE COMMON COLD: A review
of past studies has found that, depending on the ingredients,
dosage—and specific individual—zinc lozenges can shorten the
duration of the common cold up to 40 percent. (This effect is not
the same as that from swallowing zinc supplements; absorption by
mouth is required for benefit against colds.) Past studies
reported conflicting results and the current researchers
evaluated differences between the lozenges studied. Generally,
studies of dosages less than 75 mg of zinc did not have any
effect. Among those containing over 75 mg, lozenges containing
zinc salts other than zinc acetate shortened cold duration by
only 20 percent. But lozenges that provided over 75 mg of zinc as
zinc acetate produced an average 42 percent reduction in cold
duration. Researchers cautioned that individual differences play
some role however, because a recent study of lozenges containing
92 mg of zinc as zinc acetate found no difference between zinc
and placebo groups. Still, aside from bad taste, no harmful
effects were noted. This study is published in the current issue
of the Open Respiratory Medicine Journal and is available online
at http://bit.ly/nOLhRG in full-text format without cost.

KEY CAUSE OF AGING DETERIORATION CAN BE CORRECTED: A study has found a diminished capacity to manufacture glutathione (GSH) explains the observed lower levels in, and is a key factor in, age-related deterioration – and that supplementation with two GSH precursors restores normal levels, diminishing age-related damage. (GSH is a primary antioxidant, crucial to completing the antioxidant process started by other antioxidants, and without which, half-finished metabolism of free radicals causes a chain reaction of cell destruction.) Reduced GSH levels occur with age, damaging cells, but the reason for the drop has been unclear. The study showed age-related reductions in GSH levels stem from diminished ability to synthesize GSH. Supplementing with the GSH precursors cysteine and glycine fully restored normal GSH production, largely restored normal GSH concentration levels, and significantly reduced oxidative stress and the cellular damage of
aging. The report suggested supplementation with cysteine and glycine may be a safe and effective way to lower age-related free radical damage. (The body cannot directly absorb GSH well.) This study was released July 27, 2011 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition but will not be published until a future issue. It is online at http://bit.ly/r7uI3F with subscription or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
In at least one study, alcohol was only barely related to the risk of cirrhosis. Being overweight (a
BMI of 28 or more) and having high triglycerides were each far greater risk factors. This
research was published in the June 2011 issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology.

MOST 8-MONTH-OLDS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE SALT: A study reports that 70 percent of babies who are just 8 months old are already consuming levels of sodium chloride (salt) that exceed the dietary recommendations, at least in the UK where the study was completed, and the problem may be establishing a lifelong taste for salty foods in these children, and could damage young kidneys. (Babies up to 12 months should not ingest more than 400 mg of sodium daily.) The report found that 70 percent of 8-month olds are primarily getting excess salt due to consumption of processed adult foods and cow milk. Cow milk contains more sodium, at 55 mg per 100gm, than breast milk, which contains only 15 mg per 100 gm, or formula, which holds 15 to 30 mg per 100 gm, and the research team stressed that milk from cows not be given prior to 2 years of age. Also, adult processed foods are regularly given to babies, according to the report, in the form of a large amount of bread, gravy, canned spaghetti, and baked beans. The study used figures on babies born in 1991 and 1992, but scientists doubt that wholesale changes have since taken place in the feeding of 8-month olds. Just released by the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this study is available online by logging in at http://bit.ly/qWhwVV, searching study doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.137, and paying the access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
The risk of hyperthermia, the condition in which the body overheats in hot weather, increases as
we age, due to age-related changes in the skin, such as decreased functioning of the sweat glands
and small blood vessels. This reminder and tips to avoid hyperthermia were issued by the
National Institutes of Health, and are available at http://1.usa.gov/o12xXp.

MOTORCYCYLE HELMETS A RISK TO HEARING: Helmets worn by
motorcyclists may be contributing to hearing loss, suggests a new
study by scientists who have mapped the airflow and noise
patterns to discover the reason for this risk. Scientists report
that it is not the noise of a loud engine that is behind the
increased risk of hearing loss. It is the sound generated by air
whooshing over the helmet, a sound which exceeds safe hearing
levels even at legal road speeds. In the new study, the team
identified a key source of the rushing-air din. The researchers
found that an area underneath the helmet and near the chin bar is
a significant source of the noise that reaches sensitive
eardrums. The team also investigated how helmet angle and wind
speed affected the loudness. Future tests will move beyond the
wind tunnel to real-life riders on the open road. The findings
may be used to design quieter helmets, but meanwhile riders
should monitor their speed and have hearing checked. This study
was released by the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
and is not available online.

DID YOU KNOW…?
A number of studies link sufficient levels of vitamin D with a reduced risk of colorectal, breast,
prostate, and pancreatic cancers, although some large studies have shown conflicting results.
About one-third of Americans are not getting enough vitamin D, according to a March 2011
report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the elderly are often vitamin-D
deficient. Canadians have higher rates of deficiency as well as a higher cancer rate.

SEVERAL DEFINED DIETARY PLANS REDUCE RISK OF STROKE: Researchers have found that three of the four defined dietary patterns studied reduce the overall risk of stroke significantly, and that all four diets lower the risk of ischemic stroke. The research divided 40,681 volunteers according to adherence to four dietary types: Health Eating Index 2005 (HEI-2005), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Greek Mediterranean Index, and Italian Mediterranean Index. Only the HEI-2005 diet did not reduce the overall risk for stroke, and the Italian diet had the greatest impact, lowering the overall risk of stroke for those in the highest third of adherence by 53 percent over those in the lowest third. Only the Greek diet did not lower the risk for ischemic stroke, and the Italian diet had the greatest ischemic impact, lowering the risk of ischemic stroke for those in the highest third of adherence by 63 percent. Only the Italian diet produced a hemorrhagic stroke risk reduction, which was 49 percent lower for those in the highest adherence third. This just-released study will be published in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Nutrition, but it is available online now at http://bit.ly/mtMpVm with subscription or fee.

TWO NATURAL COMPOUNDS, WHEN COMBINED, FIGHT COLON CANCER: A study has concluded that two grape compounds, one found in the skin and another found in the seed, work synergistically to force colon cancer cells to self-destruct while not harming healthy cells, making the whole seeded red or purple grape a perfect colon-cancer-fighting food. Scientists have known that the grape skin compound resveratrol may prevent colon cancer cells from growing; and that compounds in grape seed extract do the same. However, this is the first research to show that, working together, the skin and seed compounds destroy colon cancer cells. Precise dosages required to fight a specific colon cancer case might be delivered via supplements that have been coated with pectin, a substance (a polysaccharide) often extracted from citrus fruits. Pectin is not digested in the upper gut but is broken down in the colon where the grape supplement becomes available. Research is needed to determine whether these compounds also kill cancer stem cells; if cancer stem cells are left behind, colon cancer is more likely to recur. Published in the June 1, 2011 issue of Frontiers in Bioscience, this study is available online now at http://bit.ly/iWGv9S with subscription or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
All bacteria and pathogens found on raw food are killed when the food item comes into contact with a copper surface, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and the spread of infection. Released June 2011, research at the University of Southampton in UK found that bacteria, including new E. coli strains, die rapidly when placed on copper. This characteristic of copper is shared with the alloys brass and bronze.

LOWER-CARB DIET REDUCES BELLY FAT: Researchers have found that – compared to a lowered-fat diet – a diet that includes a modest reduction in carbohydrates and a slight increase in fat results in a four percent greater weight loss, a greater loss of fat tissue versus lean, and an 11 percent greater reduction in visceral or deep belly fat, changes that lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and coronary artery disease. All participants lowered calorie intake by 1000. However, the control group adopted a standard weight loss diet in which carbohydrates, fat and protein comprised 55, 27, and 18 percent of total calories, respectfully. The test group adopted a diet in which carbohydrates, fat and protein made up 43, 39, and 18 percent of total calories, respectfully, and contained low-glycemic foods, which do not cause excessive blood sugar spikes. The belly reducing effect was found among whites, but not among blacks; whites have a greater amount of deep abdominal fat and may benefit most from trimming fat in this area, the researchers suggested. This study was presented June 5, 2011 in Boston at the annual meeting of The Endocrinology Society. It has not yet been published or posted.

ON-AND-OFF DIETING HEALTHIER THAN NO DIETING AT ALL: A study has found that repeatedly switching between a low-fat diet and a high-fat diet results in greater health and a longer lifespan than not dieting at all. Many have suggested yo-yo dieting, with its repeated weight loss and gain, may more negatively affect health and longevity than simply remaining obese and not dieting at all; this belief might discourage obese persons from dieting. However, researchers divided study mice into three dietary groups: one fed a consistent high-fat diet; another alternating between a low-fat and high-fat diet, mirroring people who yo-yo diet; and a third group given a consistent low-fat diet. The high-fat group consumed more calories, weighed more, had greater body fat, experienced higher blood sugar, became pre-diabetic, and lived an average of 1.5 years. The health profile of the yo-yo diet group worsened during the high-fat phases but bounced back during the low-fat phases, and they lived an average of 2.04 years. Similarly, the healthy low-fat control group lived an average of 2.09 years. This study was presented June 6, 2011 at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society in Boston. It has not yet been published or posted

APPLE PEEL COMPOUND PREVENTS MUSCLE WASTING: Researchers have discovered that a waxy compound found in the skin of apples, ursolic acid, prevents the muscle atrophy that is common with aging and illness; and causes increased muscle size, decreased storing of fat, and reduced blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose (sugar). This suggests ursolic acid may be a therapy for age- and illness-related muscle wasting, as well as for other metabolic diseases. For 92 genes linked to muscle atrophy, scientists pinpointed what are known as gene-expression signatures. After comparing those signatures with the signatures of 1300 bioactive small molecules, they found the signature of ursolic acid to be the opposite of the atrophy-inducing genes. When ursolic acid was fed to fasting mice, it prevented muscle wasting; and when it was fed to non-fasting mice, it increased muscle size. Further research is needed to confirm this apple skin compound has the same effect on humans and to determine whether therapeutic levels can be attained by increased apple consumption or if ursolic acid supplements are needed. This study was published in the June 8, 2011 issue of the journal Cell Metabolism. The full text is available online at http://bit.ly/jbCyH2 without charge.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Abdominal fat is much riskier than fat reserves on other parts of the body. It is linked to as much as double the risk of early death, even if your overall weight is normal and your BMI is in the healthy range, according to a study in the November 13, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

PROCESSED MEAT CONSUMPTION RAISES RISK OF STROKE: Scientists have concluded that people in the highest fifth of processed meat consumption have a 23 percent greater risk of stroke than those in the lowest fifth of consumption, but that people in the highest fifth of fresh red meat consumption do not have significantly increased stroke risk relative to those in the lowest fifth of consumption. Those consuming the most processed meat also showed an 18 percent greater risk for cerebral infarction, compared to people consuming the least. (Cerebral infarction is a type of stroke in which a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or develops a leakage, either of which results in a loss of blood flow to, and death of, a part of the brain.) Red meat consumption has been implicated in several diseases, but information on its link to stroke has been limited until now. The study followed 40,291 men aged 45 to 79 who had no history of cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the research. Released June 8, 2011, this study will be published in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/kp4YxK with subscription or fee.

B VITAMINS MAY LOWER COLORECTAL CANCER RISK AMONG OFFSPRING: A rodent study has found that the offspring of mothers given supplemental vitamin B2, B6, B12, and folate, from prior to conception through weaning, are substantially less likely to develop colorectal cancer tumors and less likely to develop aggressive intestinal tumors. The diet of one group of mothers was supplemented with the B vitamins; the diet of another group included an adequate supply of B vitamins in food, but no supplements; and the diet of the third group included an inadequate supply of these vitamins. Tumor incidence was similar for both of the non-supplemented groups – including the group receiving adequate B vitamins through food – while the supplemented group showed much lower incidence. Of the tumors found in the non-supplemented groups, three times as many were found to be aggressive in the B-deficient group compared to the B-adequate group. It is not known whether these results can be translated to human mothers, and this would take many decades to determine. This study was released June 9, 2011 and will appear in a future issue of the journal, Gut. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/lQe1Ed with journal subscription or an access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
High heels are partly to blame for the arthritis problem that has become virtually epidemic in the UK, according to a June 2011 study by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. One in four UK adults has a muskuloskeletal condition, and 60 percent of arthritis cases are in the feet.

POLYPHENOLS IN BEER BOOST SEVERAL HEALTH FACTORS IN ATHLETES: Researchers have found that foods that contain substantial amounts of a variety of polyphenols, specifically nonalcoholic weissbier or wheat beer, have positive effects on the health of athletes, including a 20 percent reduction in certain indicators of inflammation (leukocytes), a strengthening of the immune system when under physical stress, a one-third reduction in the risk of contracting a cold, and briefer and milder upper respiratory infections. (Polyphenols are compounds found naturally in plants in the form of pigments, flavors, or tannins, and many polyphenols have been linked with health-promoting and cancer-preventative properties. Many athletes have long suspected that nonalcoholic wheat beer boosts their health.) The team selected nonalcoholic Erdinger brand weissbier for the study, because it is commonly consumed by marathoners and tri-athletes, and it is rich in varied polyphenols (and vitamins and minerals), making it strongly representative of polyphenol-rich foods. The test group drank 1.5 liters of wheat beer daily for three weeks prior to running a marathon and for two weeks following the race. This study will be published in the January 2012 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, and is not yet available for access.

DID YOU KNOW…?
The risk of an artery condition known as acute coronary syndrome is reduced substantially by taking 7500 steps a day, according to a 2011 study. Previous research found that the risk of diabetes type 2 is lowered substantially by taking 3000 steps a day five days a week.

COOLING THE BRAIN APPEARS TO ELIMINATE INSOMNIA: A study has found that continuously cooling the frontal cerebral area of the brain at night permits people with primary insomnia to fall asleep more quickly than those without insomnia and to achieve the same percentage of time spent in bed sleeping. (Primary insomnia is sleeplessness not attributed to any medical, psychological, or environmental cause.) A slower metabolism in the frontal cerebral part of the brain is associated with restorative sleep, while insomnia is linked to increased metabolism in this same region. A known way to reduce metabolic activity in this brain area involves using heat transfer to cool the brain in a process called cerebral hypothermia. Researchers supplied participants with a soft plastic cap that contains plastic tubes filled with cool circulating water. Insomnia sufferers wearing the cap fell asleep in 13 minutes, three minutes more quickly than non-sufferers; and slept 89 percent of the time in bed, the same percentage as non-sufferers. Many insomniacs have long sought non-pharmaceutical remedies to insomnia to avoid negative side effects. Presented June 13, 2011 at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Minneapolis, this study has not yet been published or posted.

LONGER TV VIEWING LINKED TO GREATER DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR RISK: Researchers have concluded that the risks of both diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular disease are increased in accordance with a greater amount of time spent watching television (TV). The scientists analyzed eight prior studies including data on a total of 175,938 persons. The results showed that each additional two hours of TV viewing increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular disease, and mortality by 20 percent, 15 percent, and 13 percent, respectively. This kind of study cannot determine the cause of these associations, but it is possible that prolonged TV watching increases obesity levels, which are related to unhealthy dietary habits and low activity levels, both risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The average daily TV viewing time for Europeans and Australians is about three to four hours, while viewing time for Americans averages five hours a day. Previous research had associated greater time spent watching television with reduced exercise and unhealthy diets. This study was published in the June 15, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association and is available online now at http://bit.ly/mBjKnX with subscription or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Contrary to myth, brown eggs are not more nutritious. Shell color has nothing to do with the quality, flavor, nutrition, or shell thickness. Color depends solely on the breed of the hen.

OLIVE OIL MAY REDUCE RISK OF STROKE IN OLDER PERSONS: Scientists have found that older people who regularly consume olive oil both as cooking oil and as salad dressing have a 41 percent lower risk of having a stroke than those who never use olive oil. The study followed 7,625 people aged 65 and over for five years. The team also looked at blood levels of oleic acid – an indirect and as-yet-unvalidated biological indicator of olive oil intake – and found that those in the highest third of oleic acid blood levels had a 27 percent lower chance of having a stroke. Previous research showed olive oil is linked to a reduced incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and high cholesterol. In these cases, and in the current study, there is insufficient proof that any component in olive oil affects these risks; it is possible, for instance, that olive oil makes other healthy food choices such as salads or cooked vegetables taste better, thus increasing consumption of healthier foods. This study was released June 15, 2011 but will not appear in print until a future issue of the journal, Neurology. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/j9Cyym with subscription or fee.

SHELLFISH LINKED TO LOWER RISK OF DIABETES: Researchers have found an association, for women only, between higher consumption of fish and reduced risk of diabetes type 2, as well as an association for both men and women, between higher consumption of shellfish and reduced risk of diabetes. Previously, some experts had suggested that long-chain, polyunsaturated, omega-3 fatty acids, which are found mainly in fish, may be a factor in helping to prevent diabetes type 2, but this theory remains unresolved. This study reviewed the diets of 116,156 people and found that women in the highest fifth of fish consumption had an 11 percent reduced risk of diabetes, while men in the highest fifth of fish consumption showed a lower risk that was not statistically significant. They also found that women in the highest fifth of shellfish consumption had a 14 percent reduced risk of diabetes, while men in the highest fifth of shellfish had an 18 percent lower risk. The team did not find a health risk linked to greater fish consumption. This just-released study will appear in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/kla0Uw with subscription or access fee.

SNACK-BASED, HIGH-FAT DIET RISKIER THAN SIMPLE HIGH-FAT DIET: A study has found that – compared to rats in most studies that are fed high-fat diets through the introduction of foods made from lard – rats fed a high-fat diet comprised of snack foods humans actually eat experienced higher consumption, greater weight gain, more tissue inflammation, and intolerance to glucose and insulin. The researchers suggested that, while rodent studies have often pointed to serious health risks resulting from a high-fat diet, even more severe health risks result from a high-fat diet in which the dietary fat comes from the so-called cafeteria diet, a lab research term describing the common Western diet of buffet-style access to junk food such as processed meats, cookies, and chips. The team found that rats fed the real-life cafeteria diet consumed about 30 percent more calories than those on a high-sugar, or regular high-fat diet, and were more prone to metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors that increase the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and diabetes type 2). Published June 17, 2011 in the online issue of the journal Obesity, this study is accessible at http://bit.ly/lFVppQ free of charge.

FAT SUBSTITUTES PROMOTE WEIGHT GAIN: Researchers have found that synthetic compounds, such as olestra, used by manufacturers as fat substitutes to make low-fat versions of food items, interfere with the ability of the body to regulate food intake, causing inefficient use of calories and resulting in increased food consumption, greater weight gain, and more body fat. (Olestra adds the taste of fat but remains undigested by the body.) Rats fed a generally low-fat diet were able to consume fat substitutes without any negative effect. However, rats fed a generally high-fat diet – when also fed fat substitutes – gained more weight and body fat than those rats fed a generally high-fat diet that contained no fat substitutes. The underlying cause could be that, when accustomed to consuming fat, the body is metabolically primed by any fatty taste but then reacts negatively when no fat is subsequently digested. The report cautioned that studies on rats do not necessarily translate to humans; however, their body responses to food are very similar. This study was released June 20, 2011 and will appear in a future print issue of the journal Behavioral Neuroscience. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/ivP2BQ without charge.

HUMAN BENEFIT FROM RESVERATROL FURTHER SUGGESTED: Following their research review of the limited number of studies conducted so far that have relevance to humans, researchers have suggested that, although the polyphenol compound known as resveratrol may not prevent or retard actual aging, it may indeed help prevent some of the chronic conditions associated with old age, although more long-term human studies are urgently needed. Despite an abundance of evidence pointing to the beneficial effects of resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and wine, very few studies have been done on humans, and the bioavailability of resveratrol in humans, as opposed to animals, is still in doubt. Gathering together evidence from previous studies on animals, cultures and enzymes, the team found indication that resveratrol may have anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. The scientists suggested that, if the ability of resveratrol to alleviate age-related infirmities is established in humans, it could have vast importance as the baby boomer generation enters old age. This just-released study will appear in a future issue of the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. The full-text study is available online now at http://bit.ly/kG4aWy with subscription or fee.

SMOKERS HAVE HIGHER RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER RECURRENCE AND DEATH: A study has found that smokers who develop prostate cancer have a 61 percent greater risk of a recurrence after treatment, and a 61 percent higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, compared to nonsmokers diagnosed with prostate cancer. Researchers also found that smokers who are initially diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer have an 80 percent greater risk of dying from this disease than nonsmokers. A link was also found between smoking and more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Smokers who were diagnosed with prostate cancer also showed a 131 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. However, men who had quit smoking for ten years or more prior to being diagnosed with prostate cancer had the same level of risk as nonsmokers. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer in the US. The team stressed that quitting smoking directly reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer. This study will be published in the June 22-29, 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/lnj1Ur with subscription or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Being overweight poses a greater risk for cirrhosis of the liver than excessive alcohol consumption. A 2011 study reported in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology found a link between a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or more and a high cirrhosis risk.

TYPE 2 DIABETES REVERSED WITH EXTREME DIET: A small but landmark study has found that type 2 diabetes patients who followed for two months, an extreme but tightly supervised diet that restricted calories to just 600 a day experienced a return to normal pre-breakfast blood sugar levels after one week and that 70 percent of those patients remained completely free of diabetes a month after returning to their regular, but newly portion-controlled, diet. (Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are too high due to insufficient insulin or the inability to use insulin effectively.) The researchers believe excess calories eventually cause fat buildup in the liver and pancreas, triggering type 2 diabetes. MRI scans of study subjects showed the pancreas returns quickly to normal fat levels and regains its ability to produce insulin. This suggests type 2 diabetes may be reversed by calorie restriction alone. A 600-calorie diet is a drastic, starvation diet that should only be followed temporarily and only under close practitioner supervision. Presented at the June 24-28, 2011 American Diabetes Association conference, this study will appear in a future issue of the journal Diabetologia, but is now accessible online at http://bit.ly/mDicGp without cost.

CHEMICAL PRODUCED BY PANCREAS MAY CURE TYPE 1 DIABETES: A study has found that injection of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a compound that is produced in non-diabetic people by the same pancreatic cells (islet beta cells) that normally make insulin, can prevent and even reverse type 1 diabetes in mice. (In type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make and secrete insulin, leaving the patient with little or no insulin. GABA is also known as a brain messenger, or neurotransmitter, but its role in the pancreas was unknown.) This may be an especially effective therapy and prevention for type 1 diabetes because GABA was found both to regenerate insulin-producing beta cells, and to prevent destruction of those cells by the immune system. This treatment would need human trials before it could be considered a new treatment for type 1 diabetes. This study was released June 27, 2011 and will appear in a future issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/l0YWg9 with subscription or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Anyone who consumes a cooked weight of 90 grams of red meat or processed meat per day has a significantly higher risk of developing bower cancer compared to those who eat 70 grams or less. On February 26, 2011, the British Department of Health advised people to keep red meat consumption at 70 grams a day. Men tend to eat more red or processed meat than women.

GREEN TEA LOWERS CHOLESTEROL: Researchers have completed a comprehensive meta-analysis, or review of previously done studies, and have found that drinking green tea or taking green tea extract lowered blood levels of total cholesterol, reduced levels of low-density-lipoprotein (LDL or bad) cholesterol, but did not have any effect on levels of high-density-lipoprotein (HDL or good) cholesterol. (LDL cholesterol is often referred to by the media as bad cholesterol because some studies have associated higher levels of these fat particles in the blood with health problems and cardiovascular disease.) The effect of green tea on cholesterol has been controversial. The combined results of 14 trials involving a total of 1,136 test subjects showed an average reduction in total cholesterol of 7.20 mg/dL, and an average reduction in LDL cholesterol of 2.19 mg/dL, both of which are considered statistically significant. This study was released June 29, 2011 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and will appear in a future print issue. It is accessible online now at http://bit.ly/l4mYEW to subscribers or those who pay the access fee.

COMPOUND MIGHT OFFSET SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE: A study has suggested that resveratrol, a compound found in small amounts in cocoa powder, boiled peanuts, and red wine, may offset the negative health effects – such as insulin resistance and loss of bone mass – stemming from a lack of exercise in a sedentary lifestyle. (Resveratrol is an antioxidant substance known as a phenol. It is often reported by the mainstream media to be a major component of red wine; in fact, wine contains only trace amounts. Its cardiovascular health benefits are controversial and the subject of ongoing research.) The researchers tested resveratrol on rats that lived in an environment mimicking the weightless of space, which has negative health effects on astronauts. The rats provided resveratrol managed to avoid the insulin resistance and loss of bone mineral density that affected those sedentary rats not fed resveratrol. (Insulin resistance is linked to diabetes risk.) Resveratrol is found in supplements, which are often made from Japanese knotweed and in small amounts in cocoa powder, red wine, and boiled peanuts. This study was released June 29, 2011 and will appear in a future issue of The FASEB Journal. It is online now at http://bit.ly/lLx6fj with subscription or fee.