Monthly News Archives



		It's Never Too Late To Get Active For life-long couch potatoes in their 60s, 70s and beyond, the prospect of starting an exercise program can be daunting -- but it doesn't have to be, a researcher told the American College of Sports Medicine's 12th annual Health and Fitness Summit in Long Beach, California. Cod Liver Oil Reduces Arthritis Pain Taking 10g of cod liver oil a day reduced the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by 30%, Dundee University researchers say. Infant Formula Should Contain Omega-3 / Omega-6 For Eye And Brain Development New recommendations published by international experts in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine state that infant formula should include DHA omega-3 and AA omega-6 to guarantee a correct eye and brain development. How Are Teenage Brains Different? Many parents are convinced that the brains of their teenage offspring are different than those of children and adults. New data confirms that this is the case. Preschoolers Do Better On Tasks When They Talk To Themselves Parents should not worry when their pre-schoolers talk to themselves; in fact, they should encourage it, says Adam Winsler, an associate professor of psychology at George Mason University. Love, Kindness And Compassion Are Teachable Through Meditation New research suggests that qualities the world desperately needs more of -- love, kindness and compassion -- are indeed teachable. Keeping In Good Shape In Old Age Is Harder For Women Women aged 65-plus find it harder than men of the same age to preserve muscle -- which probably impacts on their ability to stay as strong and fit, according to new research. Vitamin D Deficiency Linked To Softening Of Baby's Skull Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may be linked to a softening of bones in a baby's skull, Japanese researchers report. Is Inflammation The Root Of All Disease? Acute inflammation is characterized by the redness, heat, swelling, and pain. But there�s another kind of inflammation�low-grade, chronic, and "systemic." It�s been getting a lot of attention lately. The Health Risks Of Shift Work Scientific evidence on shift workers suggests their disrupted circadian rhythms may cause a kind of biological revolt, raising their likelihood of obesity, cancer, reproductive health problems, mental illness and gastrointestinal disorders. More Evidence Shows Grape Skin Antioxidant Resveratrol Kills Cancer Rochester researchers showed for the first time that a natural antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells by reaching to the cell's core energy source, or mitochondria, and crippling its function. The Earth's Agricultural Biodiversity Is Being Threatened By Monsanto The gigantic biotech corporation Monsanto is threatening to destroy the agricultural biodiversity which has served mankind for thousands of years. The endless list of genetically modified seeds sold and controlled by Monsanto are putting at enormous risk age-old agricultural patterns under the presumptuous slogan of aiming at solving the huge problem of hunger in the world. Your Neighborhood Has A Major Influence On Your Exercise Levels Your neighborhood has a major influence on how much you exercise, according to a study that looked at data on 8,782 people in 373 neighborhoods. U.S. Legislation Aims To Promote Pregnancy As Mental Illness The Mothers Act is pending legislation that will indoctrinate hundreds of thousands of mothers into taking dangerous psych drugs. It is a great example of how Pharmaceutical companies and lobbyists control the U.S. Congress to the detriment of health, as well as needlessly and dramatically inflating the costs of our health care system for everyone. Influence Through Ignorance In the current issue of The RAND Journal of Economics, USC researchers provide a challenge to the classic economic model of information manipulation, in which knowing more than anybody else is the key to influence. Baby Boys More Vulnerable And Likely To Die Than Baby Girls Male infants in developed nations are more likely to die than female infants, a fact that is partially responsible for men�s shorter lifespans, reveals a new study by researchers from University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California. Fruits and Veggies Help Neutralize Stress Caused By Eating No matter how pleasant a meal is, eating causes what's known as oxidative stress. As we digest our food, we create sometimes-harmful molecules known as free radicals. But antioxidants healthful compounds in fruits and vegetables can help by neutralizing the free radicals. Comprehensive Action Needed To Fight Obesity There is little debate that obesity presents a public health issue in North America -- obesity rates have more than doubled over a generation, but the causes of obesity -- and therefore, the solutions -- are not as obvious, according to research presented this week at a media workshop run by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Allergies Dramatically Impact Moods A new Harris Interactive phone survey conducted among 1,000 allergy sufferers, 1,000 consumers (both allergy sufferers and non-sufferers) and 300 physicians shows that beyond the sneezing, sniffling and watery eyes, allergies also have deep and emotional impacts on a sufferer's mood and self-perceptions. Do Attractive Women Want It All? Although many researchers have believed women choose partners based on the kind of relationship they are seeking, a new study from The University of Texas at Austin reveals women's preferences can be influenced by their own attractiveness. Differences In Eating Habits Between Men And Women When it comes to what we eat, men and women really are different according to scientific research presented at the 2008 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, Georgia. If You Want Your Children To Do Better In School, Give Them a Healthy Diet A new study in the Journal of School Health reveals that children with healthy diets perform better in school than children with unhealthy diets. Exercise Benefits The Vascular System Despite Being Overweight Overweight but active men responded dramatically better compared to their inactive counterparts in a first-of-its kind study from Indiana University that examined the vascular response to exercise in overweight men. Only 2% of Child Drug Trials Are Indepdently Tested For Safety Only two per cent of paediatric drug trials reported that they had established independent safety monitoring committees that can help lead to the early detection of adverse drug reactions, according to a major review in the April issue of Acta Paediatrica. A Natural Approach To Family Planning A study appearing in the March 2008 issue of the journal Contraception reports that a natural family planning method brings new women to family planning. Having Faith May Be Linked To A Happier Life A belief in God could lead to a more contented life, research suggests. How Negative Emotions Impact Brain Activity Emotions play an important role in the lives of humans, and influence our behavior, thoughts, decisions, and interactions. The ability to regulate emotions is essential to both mental and physical well-being. The Right Neighborhood Inspires Exercise The neighborhoods people live in can help inspire – or discourage – their residents to exercise and keep physically active, new research suggests. Male Fertility Problems Determined In The Womb Male fertility problems are determined in the womb, research from the University of Edinburgh suggests. Expectant Mothers Need To Keep Options Open Regarding A Pain-Free Labour A pain-free and drug-free labour may be many expectant mothers� dream but a review in the open access journal BMC Medicine reveals that reality hits hard and women need to be flexible about their options before labour begins. Belgium Resorting To Extreme Measures To Force Parents To Vaccinate Children As doctors struggle to eradicate polio worldwide, one of their strategies is persuading parents to vaccinate their children. In Belgium, authorities are resorting to an extreme measure: prison sentences. Breast Cancer Is More Aggressive In Obese Women Women with breast cancer have more aggressive disease and lower survival rates if they are overweight or obese, according to findings published in the March 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Antibiotics For Common Sinus Infections Are Useless Doctors should cut down on antibiotic prescriptions for a common infection because the drugs do not work, researchers say. How Height Influences Your Jealousy Jealous lovers will wish they could adjust the height of their heels, for the power of the green-eyed monster depends on how tall you are. The Only Way To Save A Sicko Nation: Bring Down Big Pharma, Prevent Disease Welcome to Sicko Nation: Swimming in a toxic soup of 100,000 synthetic chemicals-carcinogens, neurotoxins, hormone disruptors, immune suppressors, excitotoxins. Worn down by corporate junk food, tainted consumer products, air and water pollution, incessant advertising, infectious disease, synthetic drugs, cigarette smoke, and alcohol. What can we do about it? Enough Vitamin D In Early Childhood Cuts Adult Diabetes Risk Vitamin D supplements in early childhood may ward off the development of type 1 diabetes in later life, reveals a research review published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. Can Virtual Gaming Replace Real Exercise? Video games like Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution can play an important role in getting kids off the couch and involved in physical activity. But are they a replacement for traditional exercise? Recognizing Ways To Prevent Disease How can we prevent disease if we don't recognize it? Nutrition is the number one world health problem. In third world countries, 30% of people have micronutrient deficiencies that can be prevented with a small amount of money. This exorbitant statistic is a heinous crime on all citizens since the money is available, but education and the way to get it there isn't. Weight Loss Success Boosted By Personal and Web-based Support Findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association on the largest weight loss maintenance study to date reinforce Kaiser Permanente�s approach to obesity prevention. Life Expectancy Rises For Those Who Are More Educated New findings from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University demonstrate that individuals with more than 12 years of education have significantly longer life expectancy than those who never went beyond high school. Drinking Prevention Needed In School A significant number of children are already drinking by middle school, suggesting that prevention needs to start in the elementary grades, researchers conclude in a new report. Creatine Supplementation May Prevent Brain Damage In Newborns A food supplement used by athletes and body builders to boost muscle power might help to prevent brain damage and death of newborn babies from oxygen starvation, researchers say. Bacteria In Babies Can Predict Obesity Babies with high numbers of bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus may be protected from excess weight gain, according to a team of researchers from the University of Turku in Finland. A Natural Approach To Cancer Nature gives us an array of tools to beat cancer and the underlying causes that lead to cancer, including foods, vitamins, minerals, supplements and lifestyle choices. Worrying About Your Weight May Be Bad For You Regardless of Your Weight Using results from a telephone health survey run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers analyzed data on more than 170,000 men and women nationwide. Among other information about health and lifestyle, all reported height and weight, how much they would like to weigh and how many days in the past month they had felt physically or mentally unhealthy. World Food Supply At Risk For Contamination A new study illustrates the real potential for contamination of globally sourced foods and proposes a conceptual framework of supply chain quality management. Bullying More Harmful Than Sexual Harassment On The Job? Workplace bullying, such as belittling comments, persistent criticism of work and withholding resources, appears to inflict more harm on employees than sexual harassment, say researchers who presented their findings at a conference today. Why Self-Image And Other Introspective Tasks Are Less Complex In Children A brain network linked to introspective tasks�such as forming the self-image or understanding the motivations of others�is less intricate and well-connected in children, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have learned. Men Who Want More Sex Should Do More Housework The average dad has gradually been getting better about picking himself up off the sofa and pitching in, according to a new report in which a psychologist suggests the payoff for doing more chores could be more sex. How Our Temptations Get The Best of Us At The Bakery Window What makes you suddenly dart into the bakery when you spy chocolate- frosted donuts in the window, though you certainly hadn't planned on indulging? As you lick the frosting off your fingers, don't blame a lack of self-control. Immune Systems Increasingly On Attack First, asthma cases shot up, along with hay fever and other common allergic reactions, such as eczema. Then, pediatricians started seeing more children with food allergies. Now, experts are increasingly convinced that a suspected jump in lupus, multiple sclerosis and other afflictions caused by misfiring immune systems is real. Curing Cancer With Natural Products Curing cancer with natural products � a case for shamans and herb women? Not at all, for many chemotherapies to fight cancer applied in modern medicine are natural products or were developed on the basis of natural substances. Calorie-Conscious Consumers Beware: Diet Sweeteners Make You Sick and Fat If you are among those calorie-conscious consumers who opt for diet sodas or other diet products, you may actually ruin your health and become fat, according to several new studies. Obesity Contrarians Sharply Criticized For Unscientific and Asinine Views On Obesity Go on, have another doughnut. According to Dr. Vincent Marks, a UK professor at the University of Surrey, "the obesity epidemic has absolutely been exaggerated". He claims that the jury is still out on how dangerous it is to be fat. Our Happiness Is Strongly Influenced By Our Genes Our level of happiness throughout life is strongly influenced by the genes with which we were born, say experts. Men Are More Rewarded By Video Games Than Women Men are more rewarded by video games than women on a neural level, which explains why they're more likely to become addicted to them, researchers at Stanford University claim. More People Realizing That Mainstream Media Is Out Of Touch With Reality Nearly 70 percent of Americans believe traditional journalism is out of touch, and nearly half are turning to the Internet to get their news, according to a new survey. US Government Finally Concedes That Mercury Causes Autism After years of insisting there is no evidence to link vaccines with the onset of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the US government has quietly conceded a vaccine-autism case in the Court of Federal Claims. Why Does The Flu Strike In Cold Weather Viruses that cause the flu seem to spread best during the winter, and new research shows a tough, rubbery coat may be to blame. On the infectious agent, that is, and not on you. More Corruption Evident Within The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dismissed an award-winning neurotoxin specialist from a toxicology review panel in August 2007, in compliance with a request from the industry lobby group the American Chemical Council. Testosterone Linked To Depression Older men with lower levels of the male sex hormone testosterone in their blood may be more prone to depression, a study suggests. Teens Who Eat Breakfast Daily Eat Healthier Than Those Who Skip Breakfast Researchers examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents, and the results indicate that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence. Flaxseed Benefits Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Whole flaxseeds are known to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels, reduce postprandial glucose absorption, decrease some markers of inflammation, and raise serum levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Language Processing More Abstract In Girls, More Sensory In Boys Although researchers have long agreed that girls have superior language abilities than boys, until now no one has clearly provided a biological basis that may account for their differences. Low-Fat Diets More Effective Than Low- Carb At Reducing Risk Of Heart Disease Low-fat diets are more effective in preserving and promoting a healthy cardiovascular system than low-carbohydrate, Atkins'-like diets, according to a new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Does Greasy Hair Make For Cleaner Air? Greasy hair may not help you to attract the object of your affection, but it might reduce the amount of ozone you breathe in.