As Few As 3 Drinks a Week May Up Breast Cancer Risk

Nov. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have as few as three alcoholic drinks a week may have a moderately increased risk of developing breast cancer, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 106,000 women taking part in the U.S. Nurses' Health Study to examine any links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. The women were followed from 1980 through 2008 and asked about their alcohol consumption about every four years. "We did see a modest risk [of breast cancer] associated with lower levels of alcohol consumption," said lead study author Dr. Wendy Chen, an assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. But Chen stressed that women who occasionally over-imbibe on vacation or at a holiday party shouldn't be alarmed; the research measured cumulative alcohol consumption over many years. During the study period, about 7,700 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Women who reported drinking 5 to 9.9 grams of alcohol daily (less than half an ounce a day or the equivalent of three to six glasses of wine weekly) were 15 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than women who never or rarely drank alcohol. Women who drank more -- about two glasses of wine, or 30 grams of alcohol, daily -- had a 51 percent increased risk of breast cancer. (Although the researchers converted grams of alcohol into glasses of wine, the risk was similar whether women drank wine, liquor or beer.) The study is in the Nov. 2 issue of the Journal ... More »

On Monday 14 Nov 2011
In Cancer, Food and Drink, Health News, Women's Health
Tag Breast Cancer Drinks
With No Comments Yet

Fructose Confusion

Albert Einstein once famously quipped, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” The topic of sugar aptly illustrates his point. Some would have you believe that all calorically equivalent, naturally sourced sweeteners are basically the same. Just eat them in moderation and there’s really little danger. However, a careful examination of the medical literature suggests otherwise. In particular, fructose stands out as a sweetener that ought to be limited in one’s diet. In recent months, fructose has been implicated as: a) reducing the calorie and fat “burning” (net fat oxidation and resting energy expenditure) potential of overweight men and women; b) contributing to abdominal pain, digestive symptoms and sleep disturbance in children; c) elevating various risk markers for cardiovascular disease including LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides; d) a primary contributor to the development of abdominal obesity, hypertension and metabolic syndrome in a population study consisting of over 2,500 adults. Many of the pitfalls associated with fructose can be avoided by simply steering clear of products containing agave nectar or syrup, crystalline fructose and high fructose corn syrup. Excessive fruit and fruit juice consumption can likewise present issues for some individuals. Another strategy to consider is the regular inclusion of sulfur rich foods in your diet such as garlic, onions and shallots. Several experiments in animal models have determined that these aromatic bulbs can mitigate some of the blood sugar, cardiovascular and inflammatory activity initiated by fructose intake. More »

On Monday 14 Nov 2011
In Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Health News
Tag Confusion Fructose
With No Comments Yet

Health Tip: Focus on Emotional Health

Suggestions that could make for a happier you (HealthDay News) -- Being emotionally healthy can make it easier to build lasting relationships, help you feel good about yourself and deal with the problems of everyday life. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests how to help improve your emotional health: Find healthy, appropriate ways to share your feelings. Don't get bogged down by the negatives of life. Develop a strong network of social support, develop a healthy sense of perspective and learn to accommodate change. Find ways to help your mind and body relax, such as meditation. Keep your body physically healthy with nutritious foods, regular exercise and by avoiding alcohol and drugs. Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved. More »

On Monday 7 Nov 2011
In Health News, Mental Health
Tag Emotional Health
With No Comments Yet

Diet versions of citrus drinks such as Sprite may reduce risk of kidney stones

Fizzy citrus diet drinks may help stop people developing painful kidney stones, research suggests. An ingredient in some soft drinks could be a preventive measure for those at risk of the disorder, scientists say. The drinks - 7Up, Sunkist, Sprite, Fresca and Canada Dry ginger ale - contain high amounts of a compound called citrate. This is known to inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate stones, the most common form of kidney stone. Researcher Dr Brian Eisner, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said that patients are advised to drink two to three litres of fluids a day to reduce the problem. 'If drinking these helps reach that goal, that may be a good thing,' he told the Journal of Urology, adding that he is not advocating that those prone to stones 'run out and get diet soda'. Kidney stones develop when urine contains more crystal-forming substances - such as calcium, uric acid and oxalate - than can be diluted by the available fluid. Potassium citrate supplements are a common treatment for preventing calcium oxalate stones, as well as another type of stone called uric acid stones, in people who are prone to them. In a study ten years ago, one of Dr Eisner's fellow researchers found that a homemade lemonade concoction was effective at raising stone-formers' urine citrate levels. Exactly how effective 'lemonade therapy' is at preventing stones remains unclear, said Dr Eisner. The current study investigated whether any commercially available drinks had a similar citrate content as the homemade lemonade. Overall, the study found, citrus-based diet sodas - including ... More »

On Monday 7 Nov 2011
In Diet and Weight Loss, Health News
With No Comments Yet

Handful of nuts a day can help beat belly fat

By Sadie Whitelocks A handful of nuts a day can keep hunger at bay and beat belly fat, according to scientists. This is the first time a link between eating nuts and higher levels of serotonin - a substance that decreases appetite, boosts happiness and improves heart health - has been detected. Researchers from the University of Barcelona say that it only took one ounce of raw and unpeeled walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts a day to produce the positive health effects. It is hoped the findings, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, will benefit patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) which is characterised by excess abdominal fat, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. Dietary changes along with the regular consumption of nuts, which contain healthy fats and antioxidants, may help patients shed excess weight, decreasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The team led by Cristina Andris-Lacueva in collaboration with the Human Nutrition Unit of the Rovira i Virgili University said: 'An increased excretion of serotonin metabolites was associated for the first time with nut consumption.' Adding that the discovery raises the 'prospects for new intervention targets'. During the study, scientists put 22 MetS patients on a nut-enriched diet for 12 weeks and compared them to another group of 20 patients who were following a nut-free diet. Compounds excreted in the patients' urine were then examined. Those consuming 30 grams of mixed nuts a day displayed higher serotonin levels. Approximately 90 per cent of the body's serotonin is located in the gut while he remainder is found ... More »

On Monday 7 Nov 2011
In Diet and Weight Loss, Health News
Tag nuts
With No Comments Yet

Halloween Health Tip: Beware Black Licorice Overdose

As costume-clad kids get ready for a night of trick-or-treating, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a warning for candy-loving grown-ups: Too much black licorice can cause heart problems. The old-fashioned favorite contains glycyrrhizin, a chemical that can trigger a dangerous drop in potassium levels. When potassium runs low, heart rhythms fluctuate and blood pressure can rise causing swelling, lethargy, even congestive heart failure. Licorice has long been used as a natural remedy for heartburn, stomach ulcers, sore throat and some infections. Although its healing powers remain unclear, several studies have linked black licorice to heart disease and high blood pressure in people over 40 — even if they had no history of these conditi8ons. So how much is too much? According to the FDA, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks could land someone in the hospital with a heart arrhythmia. People with high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease are even more susceptible to black licorice’s effects, according to the National Institutes of Health. As few as 5 grams (.18 ounces) per day could cause health problems. The good news is cutting back on black licorice can quickly restore potassium levels. Avoid eating large amounts of black licorice at a time, and alert your doctor if you notice an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, the FDA said. Black licorice can also interact with some medications and dietary supplements, so talk to your doctor if you eat the sweet regularly. More »

On Friday 4 Nov 2011
In Diet and Weight Loss, Health News
With No Comments Yet

5 Surprising Halloween Health Hazards

Just in time for Halloween, the FDA has come out with a warning that eating too much black licorice could lead to heart problems in adults.. Here are five surprising hazards to keep an eye out for this Halloween. "Heart attack" licorice: Consuming too much black licorice may cause abnormal heartbeats, or arrhythmias, particularly in order adults, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which can cause the body's potassium levels to fall. In some people, this can lead to, besides arrhythmias, edema (swelling), lethargy or congestive heart failure, the FDA says. Several studies have linked black licorice to health problems in people over 40. The agency has the following advice for licorice lovers: Don't eat lots of black licorice all at once; and if you've been binging on the stuff and you experience irregular heartbeats or muscle weakness, contact your doctor. "Halloween diarrhea": Candy flavored with the sugar substitute sorbitol can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Sorbitol has fewer calories than sugar, and so it is often used in "dietetic" candies, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. [Halloween Health: The Best and Worst Trick-or-Treat Candy] When adults consume 10 to 50 grams of sorbitol, they may experience a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, from mild gas and bloating to cramps and serve diarrhea, the CSPI says. Children may be affected by smaller amounts. Flying eggs: Eggs thrown around Halloween time can cause severe eye injuries, according to a landmark study of the issue, published in the ... More »

On Friday 4 Nov 2011
In Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Health News, Men's Health, Women's Health
Tag Halloween Health
With No Comments Yet

Dieting Forces Brain To Eat Itself, Scientists Claim

By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent, Telegraph UK, August 2, 2011 Like other parts of the body, brain cells begin to eat themselves as a last-ditch source of energy to ward off starvation, a study found. The body responds by producing fatty acids, which turn up the hunger signal in the brain and increase our impulse to eat. Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York said the findings could lead to new scientifically proven weight loss treatments. Tests on mice found that stopping the brain cells from eating themselves – a process known as autophagy – prevented levels of hunger from rising in response to starvation. The chemical change in their brains caused the mice to become lighter and slimmer after a period of fasting, the researchers reported in the journal Cell Metabolism. More »

On Thursday 3 Nov 2011
In Health News
Tag Brain
With No Comments Yet

A Rapid HIV Testing Kit For Home

MELBOURNE: A rapid HIV testing kit for home use has been announced for sale in Australia. News of the testing kit, which is claimed to allow people to test themselves for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), was made in Melbourne and Sydney newspapers last week. The report said the yet to be named testing kit may be offered for sale in local service stations and night clubs. The kit is currently being reviewed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the report claims the kit was expected to be approved by the end of October. A spokesperson for the overseas manufactured kit said it is 99.8 per cent accurate and could test for 15 STIs, including HIV. A positive test with the kit would need to be confirmed with a hospital test, the spokesperson said. If approved the company intend to make the testing kits available at pharmacies, truck stops, public toilets, vending machines and online. The spokesperson said the kit will be marketed with condoms which “makes it more discreet”. In Australia HIV testing is currently available as a clinical service by visiting a doctor or sexual health clinic. Melbourne’s Burnet Institute recently completed a review of rapid HIV testing devices and procedures currently in use overseas in preparation for the introduction of rapid testing in Australia. That report recommended the use of rapid testing in clinical settings such as clinics or specialised sexual health centres. Matt Dixon, executive director of the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre (VAC/GMHC), told MCV he was aware there is a rapid ... More »

On Thursday 3 Nov 2011
In Health News
Tag HIV
With No Comments Yet

Gluten in Cosmetics Poses Hidden Threat to Celiac Patients

By Anne Harding People with celiac disease are accustomed to being on the lookout for gluten in their food, but they should also be aware of the gluten lurking in their cosmetics and toiletries, researchers warned today at a national meeting of gastroenterologists in Washington, D.C. Food labels almost always say whether or not a product contains gluten, a type of protein found in wheat, barley, and other grains. But the packaging of body lotions and other beauty products rarely provides that information, even though many such products contain substances derived from grain, says Pia Prakash, MD, a resident in internal medicine at George Washington University. “Lipsticks and powders and foundations are probably the ones we worry about most, and you really never see ingredient lists on those products,” says Prakash, who helped conduct the research. She and her colleagues surveyed the websites of 10 leading makeup companies, Prakash says, and found that “none actually provided any information on products that contained gluten.” An estimated 2 million people in the United States have celiac disease. When these people consume gluten, their immune system attacks structures (known as villi) that line the small intestine and are crucial for absorbing nutrients from food. Symptoms can include diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, and joint pain. The only way to treat celiac disease is to avoid eating gluten. At the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Prakash and her colleagues presented a case report on a 28-year-old woman with celiac disease who had successfully controlled her symptoms ... More »

On Wednesday 2 Nov 2011
In Health News, Women's Health
Tag Cosmetics
With No Comments Yet

Page 1 of 212 »

Categories

Archives

Tag Cloud

Blogroll