The Telangana Science Journal

Health and Nutrition

(An International Electronic Science Digest Published from the United States of America)
(Dedicated to one of the most backward regions in India, "Telangana," My Fatherland )

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Issue 129

5110 Kali Era, Sarvadhari Year, Bhadrapada month
2066 Vikramarka Era, Sarvadhari Year,  Bhadrapada month
1930 Salivahana Era
Sarvadhari Year, Bhadrapada month
 2008 AD, September


Contents
Home

Management
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Vegetarian Links

Disclaimer

Soliciataion

Contact

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Vedah

   
Diet and Exercise

The United Nations Recommends Meat-less Food
Brain Exercise
Omega-3 Oil
Brain Food
Fighting the Fat Gene

Miscellaneous

Sleep
Smoking
Old Fathers Cause Bipolar
Effects of Blood Sugar Control
Hypertension 
Recipes

Couscous Salad
Couscous Lemon Salad
Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito with Avocado and Soy Cheese


   
Diet and Exercise

The United Nations Recommends Meat-less Food to Protect Environment
Although the UN has long recognized the negative environmental impact of meat production, recently it has connected individual meat consumption to global warming, a move that the meat industry in the UK is predictably up in arms about. People should eat less meat to help combat the effects of climate change, the world's leading expert on global warming has claimed.  Dr Rajendra Pachauri, UN economist and chair of the Nobel prize winning UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommends that individuals should start by omitting meat from their diet one day a week, then progress towards a plant-based diet from there. While the media that picked up this story focuses mostly on greenhouse gases and methane emissions, it completely ignored the myriad of other reasons that eating meat is bad for the environment, including (but certainly not limited to) water pollution and consumption, land usage, rainforest depletion, and more. There's simply no arguing the fact that eating a plant-based diet of locally grown foods is the optimum diet for reducing our carbon footprint.

Compassion in World Farming has calculated that if the average UK household halved meat consumption that would cut emissions more than if car use was cut in half.  While Dr Pachauri's comments are likely to be met with opposition by many in the food and restaurant industry, Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John Torode offered his support.

A study in 2006 by researchers at the University of Chicago showed that a vegetarian diet can do more to reduce your planetary footprint than driving a hybrid car.  In an interview, Professor Gidon Eshel, a geophysicist and oceanographer states, "the less animal-based food you eat, and the more you replace those calories with plant-based food, the better off you are, in terms of your health as well as your contributions to the health of the planet". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/09/08/eameat108.xml

According to a new study published in the Journal for Consumer Research, most people can't distinguish between real meat and mock vegetarian meat! In the study, performed by social anthropologists from three different universities, participants rated food items, including vegetarian mock meat substitutes, better when they thought they were eating the real thing.  The researchers report that although many people claim that they eat meat rather than a vegetarian substitute because they prefer the taste: Our results challenge that claim. Participants who ate the vegetarian alternative did not rate the taste and aroma less favorably than those who ate the beef product. Instead, what influenced taste evaluation was what they thought they had eaten. It seems that when it comes to taste, our perceptions and expectations shape our experience more than the actual food we eat.


Brain Exercise
Brisk walking could help mental function in older adults. An Australian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found slight improvements in cognitive function in older people who regularly engaged in brisk walking or other physical activity per week. The study involved 85 people aged 50 and older who were experiencing memory problems.  The participants were assigned to do at least 2 1/2 hours of physical activity per week, mainly brisk walking, for 6 months. They were compared with 85 people who were not asked to exercise. After 6 months, the people who exercised performed 1.3 points better on a 70-point scale of brain function than those who did not exercise. The effects remained 18 months later, although the scores were lower. The results are as good as those seen with drugs prescribed to help Alzheimer's disease. The researchers could not say why exercise affects brain function.  They also note that their results do not prove that exercise reduces the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's.


Omega-3 Oil
Omega-3 oil supplements may work slightly better than a popular cholesterol-reducing drug to help patients with chronic heart failure, according to new research published online in the medical journal The Lancet.  The researchers concluded that omega-3 oil is slightly more effective than the drug because the oil performed better against a placebo than did Crestor. Omega-3 fatty acids have long been proven to offer health benefits like protecting the heart and brain, though scientists aren't exactly sure how.  Omega-3 fats are thought to increase the body's good cholesterol levels, as well as possibly stabilizing the electrical system in heart cells, to prevent abnormal heart rhythms.  In contrast, statins act on the body's bad cholesterol, which may not have a big impact on heart failure.  Omega-3 oils can be found in flaxseed, flax oil, walnuts, almonds, urad, verdalago (purslane) and fish.


Brain Food
Here are some foods to make your brain happy:
Blueberries This fruit, like many others, contains antioxidants, which neutralize the nasty effects of free radicals. A free radical is a molecule that "steals" an electron from another molecule. The other molecule then become a free radical, and now it's searching for an electron. All this "electron stealing" can damage a cell. Antioxidants can give up an electron and remain stable, so they're useful for taking the punch out of free radicals.
Green leafy vegetables Every "healthy eating" article touts the benefits of green leafy vegetables. We like them because they contain high levels of folate, a vitamin that helps break down homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Broccoli and cauliflower These "cruciferous vegetables" appear to help maintain brain power. Results from the Nurses' Health Study show that women who ate these veggies most frequently staved off memory loss better than women who ate them the least frequently.
Fruit juice One study found that people who drank at least 3 glasses of juice a week had ¼ the risk of Alzheimer's disease, compared with people who drank less than one glass per week. Take your pick — apple, grape, cranberry — and start guzzling.
Fat More than half your brain is fat; you need it to stay sharp. But stick with "good" fats, those found in nuts, canola oil and olive oil. Avoid saturated fats (from meat and dairy) and trans fats (from margarine and many processed foods).
Vitamins Remember, it's always better to eat healthful foods than to take a vitamin. One multiple vitamin per day won't hurt you, but high doses of any vitamin aren't recommended.


Fighting the Fat Gene

People with a genetic propensity for obesity may be able to offset the risk with a few hours of moderate activity per day. That's the finding of a study involving 704 Amish people in Lancaster, Pa., published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers found that Amish people with a particular genetic variant that predisposes them to obesity were no more likely to be overweight than those without the variant, if they got three to four hours of moderate activity every day, including activities such as brisk walking, house-cleaning and gardening. The most active people with the gene variant tended to weigh about 15 pounds less than the least active people with the variant, the researchers found. They say their findings suggest that physical activity is particularly important for people who are genetically susceptible.




Miscellaneous
Sleep
1. Learning and memory
Sleep helps your brain commit new information to memory. People who get a good night's sleep before taking tests or performing a new task usually do better than people who are tested immediately after learning something new. Other studies seem to show that people are more insightful or creative in their problem solving after getting a full night’s sleep.
2. Weight
A constant lack of sleep may cause weight gain by altering the way the body processes and stores carbohydrates, and by stimulating the release of cortisol, a stress hormone. Excess cortisol has been linked to an increase in abdominal fat. Loss of sleep also reduces levels of leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite, and increases ghrelin (GRELL-in), an appetite-stimulating hormone — a combination that can encourage eating.
3. Safety
There’s no evidence that we ever adapt to chronic sleep loss. This sleep "debt" contributes to daytime sleepiness, including “microsleeps,” seconds-long daytime dips into sleep. These lapses may cause falls, injury and road accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year, drowsiness causes 100,000 vehicle crashes, resulting in 76,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths.
4. Quality of life
Long- and short-term sleep loss causes irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate and moodiness. Too little sleep can leave you so tired that you don’t want to spend time with family and friends or have sex. Poor sleep affects the ability to work. Sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea are associated with depression.
5. Heart and lung health
We don’t know much about how chronic sleep loss affects heart health and our lungs. But serious sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea have been linked to high blood pressure and irregular heart beat. Lack of sleep increases stress hormone levels and inflammation, two factors associated with heart attacks.
6. Immunity
Although not all the facts are clear, scientists have found that sleep deprivation alters the body's immune system, which fights off illness. For example, sleep loss around the time of a flu shot has been shown to reduce the production of flu-fighting antibodies.


Smoking
Women who smoke have heart attacks some 14 years sooner than women who don't. That's the finding of a Norwegian study presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Munich this week. The study found that men who smoked had heart attacks about 6 years earlier than non-smokers. The study looked at some 1,780 patients who'd had their first heart attack. The men, on average, had their first heart attack at age 72 if they didn't smoke, and at 64 if they did. Women had their first heart attack at 81 if they didn't smoke, and at 66 if they did. Some doctors suggest that smoking may neutralize some factor, such as estrogen, that usually offers protection against heart attack prior to menopause.


Old Fathers Cause Bipolar
Children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder, according to one of the largest studies linking mental illness with advanced paternal age.  Previous research has connected schizophrenia and autism with older dads, and a Danish study published last year added bipolar disorder to the list. The new study led by researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute strengthens the evidence.  The leading theory is that older men's sperm may be more likely to develop mutations.  Similar mechanisms might contribute to risks for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism. Each of these disorders is thought to have many causes including biologic and outside factors.
The risks started increasing around age 40 but were strongest among those 55 and older. Children born to these dads were 37 percent more likely to develop bipolar disorder than those born to men in their 20s.  They also faced more than double the risk of developing bipolar disorder before age 20.  Scientists call that early onset disease, and while they have long known that bipolar disorder tends to run in families, early onset disease has been thought to be most strongly linked with genetics. 

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings, from deep depression to manic highs. It affects more than 5 million Americans.  Factors involving mothers, including age and health, have long been thought to be most closely linked with birth defects and other abnormalities. The new study adds to mounting evidence that paternal factors also play an important role.  Sperm are produced throughout a man's lifetime, and scientists believe that as men age there is a greater chance for mutations that could contribute to disorders in their children.  Some sperm banks have age limits for donors because of that.

Effects of Blood Sugar Control for Type 2 Diabetes

Maintaining tight control of blood sugar levels in early stages of the disease can help prevent heart attack, other complications and death in people with type 2 diabetes. A British study published in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 3,277 patients who were treated with dietary restrictions or medications (insulin, sulfonylurea or metformin) for an average of 10 more years, first in clinics and then through questionnaires. After one year, the differences in blood sugar control between the groups disappeared. The sulfonylurea group had a 15% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of death compared with the dietary restriction group, and the metformin group had a 33% lower risk of heart attack and a 27% lower risk of death.  Experts say the findings suggest that there should be new emphasis on rigorous treatment when people first learn they have type 2 diabetes.

Hypertension
About 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, but many people don't do a good job of controlling the problem because medications can be pricey. And doctors may not be doing all they can, either. According to new research, released last week during the annual meeting of the American Heart Association's Council for High Blood Pressure Research, many doctors fail to follow national guidelines that call for treating people above the 120/80 level. Here, then, is an online calculator from the American Heart Association that will help you calculate your risk, as well as five low-cost ways to lower your blood pressure.





Recipes
   
Couscous Salad
Ingredients: 2/3 cup vegetable broth or 1 14 ounce can; 1 cup couscous, uncooked; 3/4 cup garbanzo beans, drained; 1/2 cup diced cucumber; 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced; 2 tbsp green onions (scallions) chopped; 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1/2 tsp lemon peel; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp lemon pepper.
Preparation: In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil; stir in couscous. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; let cool for 10 minutes.  In a large bowl, lightly toss couscous with garbanzo beans, cucumber, red pepper and onions.  Mix balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard, lemon rind and black pepper in a separate small bowl. Add to couscous mixture and toss. Garnish with lemon pepper.


Couscous Lemon Salad
Ingredients: 1 10 ounce box couscous; 1/2 cup raisins; 2 cups water; 2 lemons, juiced and zested; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1 16 ounce can garbanzo beans, drained; 1 cup seeded and chopped red bell pepper; 2 cups chopped cucumbers; 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes; 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint; salt and pepper, to taste
Preparation: Prepare couscous per directions on the box. Place couscous and raisins in a large bowl, set aside.  Combine water, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small pot. Bring to simmer, pour over couscous mixture and stir. Season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, let sit for 15 minutes.  Remove plastic wrap, gently fluff with fork. Set aside.  In a large bowl, combine beans, red pepper, cucumber, and tomatoes. Pour in lemon juice and remaining olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Let sit for 15 minutes.  Combine fluffed couscous, garbanzo bean mixture, parsley and mint in a large serving platter. Gently toss to combine. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/middleeasternrecipes/r/couscousmint.htm


Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito with Avocado and Soy Cheese

Ingredients: 1/2 onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 block firm or extra-firm tofu, chopped into cubes; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp soy sauce; 2 tomatoes, chopped; salt and pepper to taste; grated soy cheese, about 1/2 cup; 1 avocado, sliced thin; ketchup or hot sauce, to taste; flour tortillas; Preparation:Sautee the onion, garlic and tofu in olive oil for a few minutes, then add turmeric, soy sauce and tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes, until tofu is lightly golden brown and done cooking. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Assemble burritos by spooning about 1/4 cup tofu mixture on the flour tortilla. Sprinkle each burrito with a bit of soy cheese, then add avocado slices and ketchup or hot sauce to taste. Wrap tortillas to form burritos.
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/breakfastrecipe1/r/avoburrito.htm

Vegetarian Recipes
http://www.vegcooking.com/?c=vcgavrg08&gclid=CMXf48yTt5UCFQMLswodu2M_RA




Notice: This material contains only general descriptions and is not a solicitation to sell any insurance product or security, nor is it intended as any financial, tax, medical or health care advice. For information about specific needs or situations, contact your financial, tax agent or physician.
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Source: The primary sources cited above,  New York Times (NYT), Washington Post (WP), Mercury News, Bayarea.com, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Intellihealthnews, Deccan Chronicle (DC), the Hindu, Hindustan Times, Times of India, AP, Reuters, AFP, womenfitness.net, about.com etc.




Copyright ©1998-2008
Vepachedu Educational Foundation, Inc
Copyright Vepachedu Educational Foundation Inc., 2007.  All rights reserved.  All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for special medical conditions or any specific health issues or starting a new fitness regimen. Please read disclaimer.





Om! Asatoma Sadgamaya, Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya, Mrityorma Amritamgamaya, Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih!
(Om! Lead the world from wrong path to the right path, from ignorance to knowledge, from mortality to immortality and peace!)
One World One Family





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