Monthly News Archives



		How Non-Stick Chemicals Are Causing An Increase In Fertility January 30, 2009 Chemicals commonly found in food packaging, cookware, upholstery and carpets may be damaging women's fertility, say US scientists. Short, Intense Exercise Can Reduce Diabetes Risk Factors January 30, 2009 Scientists at Heriot-Watt University have found that short, intensive periods of exercise – involving as little as seven minutes per week – can significantly reduce the chances of contracting diabetes. A Strong Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease January 30, 2009 Most people know that too much sodium from foods can increase blood pressure. A new study suggests that people trying to lower their blood pressure should also boost their intake of potassium, which has the opposite effect to sodium. Global Warming Is Not A Threat: The Earth Is on the Brink of an Ice Age January 28, 2009 The earth is now on the brink of entering another Ice Age, according to a large and compelling body of evidence from within the field of climate science. Chemicals 'May Reduce Fertility' January 28, 2009 Chemicals commonly found in food packaging, upholstery and carpets may be damaging women's fertility, say US scientists. Do Plants Speed Our Recovery? January 28, 2009 Contact with nature has long been believed to increase positive feelings, reduce stress and provide distraction from the pain associated with hospital stays and researchers now say they have confirmed the beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from abdominal surgery. A Cure For Diabetes Ignored January 28, 2009 Older research demonstrated the ability to fully cure type I diabetes in mice using stem cells. However, the research was ignored by Pharmaceutical companies preferring to keep diabetes sufferers dependent on costly insulin than to cure them once and for all. Breastfeeding Protects Infants From Neglect January 28, 2009 Breast-feeding has well-documented benefits. Studies have shown it nourishes babies while fighting off infections and even boosting IQ. Now a study in Pediatrics suggests nursing also may protect infants from neglect. Exercise Is No Danger To Your Joints January 27, 2009 There is no good evidence supporting a harmful effect of exercise on joints in the setting of normal joints and regular exercise, according to a review of studies published in this month's issue of the Journal of Anatomy. Canadian Dairy Farmer A Hero In Natural Health Circles For Defending Raw Milk January 27, 2009 A dairy farmer is being admired as a hero and defender of natural raw milk, which many studies have unequivocally stated to be the most nutritious form of the beverage. Antioxidant Compounds In Green Tea Help You Lose Weight January 27, 2009 Antioxidant compounds in green tea could help promote exercise-induced abdominal fat loss, according to a new study from the American Society of Nutrition. Research Shows Splenda And Sucralose Have Extremely Harmful Effects on Humans January 26, 2009 The artificial sweetener Splenda and its key component sucralose pose a threat to the people who consume the product. As Vitamin D Goes Down, Cognitive Impairement Goes Up January 26, 2009 Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan, have for the first time identified a relationship between Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin", and cognitive impairment in a large-scale study of older people. Root Canals Can Have Devastating Effects on Health January 26, 2009 Is it wise and prudent to have a root canal? There are issues with root canal therapy that everyone should know before deciding to have one. Three Cups of Tea A Day 'Slashes Breast Cancer Risk' January 23, 2009 Drinking three cups of tea a day sees the risk of developing a tumour drop by 37 per cent in younger women. Conditions Tied To Obesity Affect Sleep January 23, 2009 Three conditions often linked to obesity have also been tied independently to sleep apnea, new studies show. New Research Confirms Vitamin D Blocks Formation of Breast Cancer January 23, 2009 Women with a higher vitamin D intake may be a quarter less likely to die from breast cancer than women with lower levels, scientists have found. Who Should Be Responsible For Obesity: Restaurant Owners or Their Patrons? January 23, 2009 With a plethora of research and opinions on the issue of responsibility, is there really any one party directly responsible for the obesity epidemic, or is the issue multi-faceted? Since more than 30 percent of westerners are obese, dramatically impacting healthcare costs, this rapidly growing problem needs to be addressed. Are restaurant owners partly responsible for the obesity the growing rates of obesity? Forget About Resolutions, Weight Loss Doesn't Happen Overnight January 22, 2009 There are many examples of people who take up exercise and markedly change their appearance. But how long does it take? And how much time and effort are required? Blood Pressure Varies According To Season January 22, 2009 A French study has found a strong correlation between blood pressure and outdoor temperature in a large sample of the elderly. Apple Juice Delays The Onset of Alzheimer's Disease January 22, 2009 A growing body of evidence demonstrates that we can take steps to delay age-related cognitive decline, including in some cases that which accompanies Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Cleaner Air 'Adds Months To Life' January 22, 2009 Cuts in air pollution in US cities over recent decades have added an average of five months of life to their inhabitants, research suggests. Food-Harvesting Practices Are Effectively Miniturizing The Plants And Animals We Eat January 21, 2009 Policymakers may not intend to keep us trim when they're pondering how to manage fisheries and other wild food resources. But a new study indicates that our current food-harvesting practices are making the stuff we eat smaller very quickly. Top 10 Low Concentrated Compounds in Federally Treated Drinking Water January 21, 2009 A comprehensive survey of the drinking water has detected the widespread but low-level presence of pharmaceuticals and hormonally active chemicals. Cute Babies Are Not An 'Easy Spot' For Men January 21, 2009 Women are better at spotting a cute baby than men, according to a study. Why You Should Never Use A Cell Phone While Driving January 20, 2009 In many cities and counties, it is illegal to use a hand-held cellphone while driving — but perfectly all right to talk on a hands-free device. In terms of distraction, is it really any different? More Evidence That Low-Carb Diets Are Efficient For Weight Loss January 20, 2009 People on low-carbohydrate diets are more dependent on the oxidation of fat in the liver for energy than those on a low-calorie diet, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in a small clinical study. Genetic Testing For Heart Disease Is Useless January 20, 2009 A study tracking a large group of women for a decade casts doubt on the value of testing for a certain genetic trait linked to heart disease to predict one's chances of illness, U.S. researchers recently reported. Study Links Water Pollution With Declining Male Fertility January 19, 2009 New research strengthens the link between water pollution and rising male fertility problems. Happy? Satisfied? Your Health May Be Better Than Those Who Are Not January 19, 2009 People who are happier and more satisfied with their lives might also enjoy better health, said a study led by Mohammad Siahpush, Ph.D., professor of health promotion at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Caffeine Can Cause Hallucinations January 16, 2009 People who take in the caffeine equivalent of three cups of brewed coffee (or seven cups of instant) are more likely to hallucinate, a new study suggests. 'Alternative' Medicine Is Mainstream January 16, 2009 The evidence is mounting that diet and lifestyle are the best cures for our worst afflictions. Cancer May Not Involve Cell Mutation After All January 15, 2009 Seventy-eight years after German scientist Otto H. Warburg's theory of cancer received science's highest honor, researchers from Boston College and Washington University School of Medicine report new evidence in support of the original Warburg Theory of Cancer. Mainstream Media Promoting The Benefits of Probiotics January 15, 2009 Bacteria are everywhere, and in the view of many people that's a good thing. Many medical experts believe that consuming healthy bacteria, called probiotics, improves the body's overall balance of good versus bad micro-organisms, boosting general health. But nutritionists warn that not all the probiotic-containing products found on store shelves provide the health benefits they claim. Free Exercise And Nutrition Program Can Serve As Model In Warm Climates January 15, 2009 What if free exercise classes were offered in public spaces such as parks, beaches and recreation centers? When a city government in Brazil tried such a program, it greatly increased physical activity among community members. A group of health researchers who studied the program believes it could also work in cities with warm climates. Greater Quadriceps Strength May Benefit Those With Knee Osteoarthritis January 15, 2009 Studies on the influence of quadriceps strength on knee osteoarthritis (OA), one of the leading causes of disability among the elderly, have shown conflicting results. A Woman's Level of Estrogen Predicts Likelihood of Flirting and Thrill Seeking January 14, 2009 Women with high levels of estrogen not only look and feel prettier -- but they may act on those feelings by moving from man to man, U.S. researchers recently reported. Your Mouthwash May Cause Oral Cancer January 14, 2009 Claims of a link between antiseptic mouthwash and oral cancer have divided leading dental experts. Olive Skin Provides Natural Defense Against Colon Cancer, Study Suggests January 14, 2009 Researchers from the University of Granada and the University of Barcelona have shown that treatment with maslinic acid, a triterpenoid compound isolated from olive-skin pomace, results in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation and causes apoptotic death in colon-cancer cells. 10 Antidepressant Alternatives Proven to Work January 14, 2009 If you are suffering from depression, but would prefer to try something natural before going the traditional pharmaceutical route, here are some remedies that have stood up to rigorous testing. A Good Night's Sleep Protects Against Parasites January 12, 2009 Animal species that sleep for longer do not suffer as much from parasite infestation and have a greater concentration of immune cells in their blood according to a study published in the open-access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. Young Adults Need To Make More Time For Healthy Meals January 12, 2009 New study demonstrates that eating alone or on the run may result in less healthy choices. As adolescents mature into young adults, increasing time constraints due to school or work can begin to impact eating habits in a negative way. Should Cell Phones Be Banned While Driving? January 12, 2009 A U.S. nonprofit, nongovernmental group cites studies showing that the the use of cell phones and text-messaging devices while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk. The Theory That HIV Causes Aids Now Questioned By International Scientists January 9, 2009 The international nonprofit scientific organization Rethinking AIDS gave its full support today to 37 senior researchers, medical doctors and legal professionals who are requesting that the medical journal Science withdraw four seminal papers on HIV authored by Dr. Robert Gallo—papers widely touted as proof that HIV is the "probable cause of AIDS." An online posting of the letter can be found here. Coca Cola's Orange Drinks Have 300 Times More Pesticide Than Tap Water January 9, 2009 Fizzy drinks sold by Coca-Cola in Britain have been found to contain pesticides at up to 300 times the level allowed in tap or bottled water. TV Addicted Toddlers Lack Basic Communication Skills January 9, 2009 Toddlers could be screened for speech problems after evidence that many are so addicted to television and video games that they are failing to learn basic communication skills. Males Generally More Physically Active Than Females Throughout Their Lifetime January 7, 2009 Females of all ages are less active than their male peers. Two studies, presented January 6 at a major academic conference, reveal the gender difference in activity levels among school children and the over 70s. Both studies show males to be more physically active than females. Wii Fit A Great Tool For Promoting Physical Activity January 7, 2009 While some emerging technologies can create environments that require very little physical effort, one Kansas State University researcher thinks games like Nintendo's Wii Fit can help promote physical rather than sedentary activities for people of all ages. True Love Shows Up On Brain Scans January 7, 2009 Scientists have discovered true love. Brain scans have proved that a small number of couples can respond with as much passion after 20 years as most people exhibit only in the first flush of love. Sleep Apnea, Stroke and Death Connection January 6, 2009 Obstructive sleep apnea decreases blood flow to the brain, elevates blood pressure within the brain and eventually harms the brain’s ability to modulate these changes and prevent damage to itself, according to a new study published by The American Physiological Society. Physical Activity Is Not The Only Culprit Among Obese January 6, 2009 A recent international study fails to support the common belief that the number of calories burned in physical activity is a key factor in rising rates of obesity. Sea Ice Ends Year at Same Level as 1979 January 5, 2009 Rapid growth spurt leaves amount of ice at levels seen 29 years ago. Thanks to a rapid rebound in recent months, global sea ice levels now equal those seen 29 years ago, when the year 1979 also drew to a close. How Switching To A Mediterranean Diet Plan Can Change Your Eating Habits January 5, 2009 In a new study led by the University of Michigan Health System, women more than doubled their fruit and vegetable intakes and dramatically increased their consumption of "good" fats when they were counseled by registered dietitians and provided with a list of guidelines on the amount of certain foods they should eat each day. Sleep May Be A Huge Component In The Pursuit of Health and Weight Loss January 5, 2009 In an amazingly simplistic view of how things work, we have been told for the last 40 years that fat makes us fat. So we cut out the fat from our diets and discovered that we were not only still fat but unhealthy too. Then we were told that we needed to cut out even more fat and increase our visits to the gym. And to top it off, we were handed a copy of the government approved food pyramid or the diet of the National Cancer Institute and told that this is what we are supposed to eat to reach our ideal weight and be healthy. Now we are fatter than ever, riddled with degenerative disease and dying at an earlier age than our parents did. What are we doing wrong?