Issue: 61
Top 10 Stories
Omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acid
Obesity And Diabetes
Epidemic
Sari isn't Indian?
Marine County Mistery
Eugenics
Detection of Heart Disease
Sleep and Heart Disease
Cheese From Cloned
Cows
Ants,
Mushroom and Mold
Your
Body:2003
Omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acid
Ischemic stroke is interruption of blood flow to a certain area
of the brain. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health
assessed the effect of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid from
fish on the risk of ischemic stroke. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid
is found in fish and flax seed abundantly. Researchers found that men who
consumed a small amount of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid one
to three times per month reduced their risk of ischemic stroke by 40 percent
compared to the men in the study who ate fish less often or not at all.
There was no evidence of further risk reduction of stroke by consuming
fish more often. Men who ate fish five times per week received the same
benefits as those in the study who ate fish two or three times per month.
The findings are published in the December 25, 2002 issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Association. Other studies found
benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in reduction of stroke in women also. Fish
is not the only source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. The parent
compound of the omega-3 fatty acid is called alpha-linolenic acid. Flaxseed
is loaded with alpha-linolenic acid. Plant Sources (mostly Alpha
linolenic acid): Nuts, almonds, dried butternut, English walnuts, flaxseed,
soybeans, pinto beans, wheat germ, purslane, leeks, mustard seeds, pumpkin
seeds, walnut & rapeseed (canola) oils, green leafy vegetables, grain,
spirulina etc.
Sources of unsaturated oils:
Omega-3s
wheat germ oil (bottled oil or capsules), walnuts (raw nuts, bottled
oil or capsules),pumpkin seeds, purslane (dark, leafy green used throughout
Mediterranean countries), hemp seed oil (bottled oil or capsules), flaxseed
oil, unrefined or cold-pressed brands of canola oil.
Omega-6s
Enjoy 1-2 grams of borage oil (liquid or capsules) daily or 3-6 grams
of evening (liquid or capsules). Other savory omega-6 sources:
primrose oil, black currant seed oil (capsules), pine nuts (raw nuts),
pistachios (raw nuts), sunflower seeds (raw seeds), Conjugated Linoleic
Acid--CLA (capsules), Check labels and avoid products made with partially
hydrogenated versions of these oils.
Omega-9s
olive oil, sesame oil (bottled oil), avocado (raw or bottled oil),
peanuts (raw nuts or bottled oil), almonds (raw nuts or bottled oil), pecans
(raw nuts), cashews (raw nuts), hazelnuts (raw nuts or bottled oil), macadamia
(raw nuts).
Cancer, Obesity And Diabetes
Epidemics
Americans keep getting fatter and more are developing diabetes, according
to the alarming finding of a study from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association. The CDC says that more than 44 million Americans
were obese and 16.7 million people had diabetes in 2001. The findings
were based on telephone surveys of 195,005 U.S. adults. The real
rates may be even higher because people tend to underestimate their weight
on phone.
Bigger Portions: In a new study, researchers looked at such foods as hamburgers, burritos, tacos, french fries, sodas, ice cream, pie, cookies and salty snacks and found that the portions got bigger between the 1970s and the 1990s, regardless of whether people ate in or out. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was published in January 22nd issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. The University of North Carolina study looked at people's portions at home, in fast-food joints and at other restaurants. It included a sample of 63,380 people over the age of 2. A person who ate Mexican food in 1977 consumed an average of 408 calories in one sitting compared with 541 calories in 1996. The USDA suggests between 1,600 and 2,800 calories per day depending on a person's age, gender and activity level.
The World Health Report 2002 attributes at least 2.7 million deaths globally per year to low fruit and vegetable intake. Evidence suggests that there is insufficient consumption of these foods in most countries of the world. As well as helping prevent chronic diseases, adequate fruit and vegetable intake also improves nutritional deficiencies and increases resistance to infectious diseases. Chronic diseases, which include cardiovascular diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancers and obesity, now contribute 60 per cent of deaths and 49 per cent of the global disease burden. This is largely a result of a few major risk factors, including tobacco use and a significant change in diet habits and increased physical inactivity. Such changes are taking place in the context of industrialization, urbanization, economic development and food market globalization. The 3rd Biennial 5 A Day International Symposium in Berlin, Germany, January 14-15, was held to bring health professionals and industry representatives together to widen the initiative to boost increased fruit and vegetable consumption.
Life Expectancy: People who are overweight at 40 are likely to die at least three years sooner than those who are slim, meaning that in terms of life expectancy, being fat during middle age is just as bad as smoking, researchers say. The study was conducted by Dutch researchers and published in January 7th issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Nonsmokers who were classified as overweight, but not obese, lost an average of three years off their lives. Obese people died even sooner. Obese female nonsmokers lost an average 7.1 years, while men lost 5.8 years. For smokers, the results were even worse. Obese female smokers died 7.2 years sooner than normal-weight smokers, and 13.3 years sooner than normal-weight nonsmoking women. Obese male smokers lived 6.7 years less than trim smokers, and 13.7 years less than normal-weight nonsmokers. Being obese at age 20 can cut up to 20 years off a person's life, with the biggest impact on black men, according to yet another study that underscores the long-term dangers of being overweight. The research appeared in January 8th issue of Journal of the American Medical Association.
Stroke: Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston say a weight gain of 6-7 pounds can increase the risk of stroke. Obese men were, in fact, twice as likely to have a stroke as men who weren't overweight, according to the study, published in the Dec. 9 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Stroke accounts for one in every 14 deaths in the United States, making it the third leading cause of death and disability in the nation.
Intra-abdominal fat: In September 2002, the Institute of Medicine said that an hour's worth of moderate physical activity per day is needed to maintain a healthy body weight. A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows how. In the new study, researchers measured the fat levels of 168 sedentary and overweight postmenopausal women. Half of the women were required to exercise moderately for 45 minutes a day, five days a week. For the first three months, they worked out in supervised sessions at a gym three days a week. For the next nine months, they went to the gym at least once a week but did the bulk of their workouts at home. The other half attended stretching classes once a week. Twelve months later, the women who worked out for an average of 45 minutes five times a week had made the biggest change in their bodies' composition, losing about 7 percent of their intra-abdominal fat. Women who worked out but not quite as much had significant but smaller reductions. Those who only stretched were essentially unchanged, both in weight and body composition. Intra-abdominal fat is harder to see, but has been linked to a greater incidence of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by dividing a person's weight in pounds by height in inches squared and then multiplying by 703. A caucasian person whose index is 25 or greater is considered overweight. The proposed measure of BMI for Asians and East Indians: Low morbidity at <18.5 BMI; Average morbidity at 18.5-22.9 BMI; Overweight with increased morbidity at 23 BMI; At risk at 23-24.9 BMI; Obese with high morbidity at 25-29.9 BMI; Obese with severe morbidity at >30 BMI.
See also: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/4995054.htm
President Bush's fiscal year 2004 budget plan will include an increase of $100 million to $125 million for a new initiative to prevent diabetes, obesity and asthma through community initiatives to achieve healthier lifestyles for hundreds of thousands of Americans, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced. "To truly stem the epidemic of preventable diseases that threaten too many Americans, we need to move from a health care system that treats disease to one that avoids disease through wiser personal choices," Secretary Thompson said.
Sari isn't Indian?
The Indian saree could be derived from Athenian dress, the West Chinese
Kushans brought the jubba-coat and the pyjamas to India under Emperor Kanishka
two thousand years ago, and the kurta is a pure Moghul creation. Strange
but true. These facts have emerged from the research being undertaken
by Goa-based prominent fashion designer Wendell Rodricks, currently undertaking
a research project on clothing down the ages here. ‘Khakhi’ does not have
any iconographic or spiritual symbolism in any Indian texts. Instead, it
means dust in Urdu, and was the colour promoted by the British in World
War I, adopted by many European nations as a military costume and still
has colonial undertones internationally, says Wendell. Wendell says the
Huns from Central Asia introduced the long cloaks and breeches-pyjamas.
Arabs of the eighth and ninth centuries introduced skirts and robes.
Earlier, Indian colouring of cloth was restricted to nila (blue), lothitaka
(red magenta), laksa (red of lac), kalka (black) and haldi (yellow). Islamic
influences in the 12th century introduced “delicate colours” like old rose,
pista green, copper, violet, ruby, orange and sandlewood. Most were
extracted from fruits and nuts. Cutting of cloth and elaborate sewing became
prominent after the Muslim invasion, according to Wendell. “It is
a tribute to the wisdom of our ancestors that they used outside cultural
traditions along with our own ancient heritage to make Indian clothing
one of the most culturally rich in the world,” argues Wendell. In Goa on
the weekend, he announced plans to soon publish a book on his study of
Goan clothes across the centuries, and possibly set up a museum of local
garments. Deccan Chronicle, Panaji, Jan. 12
Marine County Mistery
For the past decade, residents of Marin County have been wondering
how such a pristine area could have the nation's highest rate of breast
cancer. But amid a new wave of publicity and concern, scientists suspect
the answer may be found in the people who live there.
It's counter-intuitive to think that being wealthy and educated -- attributes
that usually lower disease risk -- would raise a woman's chances of getting
breast cancer. But as scientists uncover more about the individual risk
factors associated with the disease, the link begins to make sense. Researchers
have consistently found that not having children or having the first child
at an older age raises a woman's risk. No one knows for sure why this is,
but experts believe the most likely explanation involves both hormones
and the way breast tissues develop. Pregnancy and breast feeding cause
breast cells to mature and start producing milk, and scientists believe
the process helps stabilize cells and may protect them from cancer-causing
influences, including hormones like estrogen. But as more time passes before
maturation, the cells may have already sustained damage that could eventually
lead to cancer. Both estrogen and progesterone, which spike up and down
during a woman's menstrual cycle, are known to prompt cell division in
breast tissue, which could also promote the growth of damaged cells. That's
also apparently the reason hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is tied to
an increased risk of breast cancer. In general, women from higher socioeconomic
groups and those who live in the western United States are more likely
to use HRT. Although one survey in Marin suggested the rate of using HRT
was about on par with the rest of the country, other experts believe the
county's number is probably higher. Furthermore, well-off women are more
likely to get medical attention and mammograms, which catch many cancers
that might not otherwise be diagnosed. But, again, a recent survey found
that mammogram rates in Marin County are only slightly higher than national
and state norms.
Drinking alcohol has also been correlated with higher breast cancer
risk. In a recent survey of Marin County households, 12 percent of women
drink almost daily, as compared with 5 percent in the general U.S. population,
according to Rochelle Ereman of the Marin County Department of Health and
Human Services.
Finally, women in certain ethnic groups are more likely to carry genetic mutations known to be involved in breast cancer. Those include Ashkenazi Jews, Icelanders and the Dutch, according to Dr. Mary B. Daly, director of cancer prevention and control at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. All of those factors also help explain why breast cancer has become such a highly publicized cause. Unlike most other diseases, it disproportionately hits a population that is relatively vocal and powerful. And because of recent nationwide trends toward fewer children and more use of hormone replacement therapy, along with better screening, the rates overall are up. Whether the entire increase can be explained by known risk factors hasn't yet been determined. For More Click Here.
Detection of Heart Disease
New guidelines published on January 28th suggest doing a blood test
for C-reactive protein, or CRP, when doctors are unsure whether their patients
need aggressive treatment and lifestyle changes to protect their hearts.
Studies in recent years have shown that people with high levels of this
inflammatory protein, necessary for fighting injury and infection, face
double the usual risk of heart attacks and strokes. The new
recommendations, drawn up by the American Heart Association and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, are the first to propose an important
role for inflammation testing in heart disease.
Sleep and Heart Disease
Women who averaged five hours or less of sleep a night were 39 percent
more likely to develop heart disease than women who got eight hours. Those
sleeping six hours a night had an 18% higher risk of developing blocked
arteries than the eight-hour sleepers. Nine or more hours of sleep was
associated with a 37% higher risk of heart disease. The researchers
suggested that getting enough sleep may be nearly as important to heart
health as eating right and exercising. And they pointed out a recent poll
that found that about one in three Americans has long-term sleep deprivation.
The study was published in January 28th issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Cheese From
Cloned Cows
Scientists have created cows that produce milk with higher than normal
levels of protein, which would speed the process of making cheese. Cows
have previously been genetically engineered to produce proteins for use
as pharmaceuticals in their milk. The journal Nature Biotechnology
will publish a paper on the work in its February issue. The researchers
at AgResearch, a New Zealand government-owned research company, introduced
extra copies of the genes for beta-casein and kappa-casein into cow cells
in the laboratory and cloned cow embryos from those cells. Out of eleven
cows created, nine produced milk with 8 percent to 20 percent more beta-casein
and twice as much kappa-casein as controls.
SPICY JACKET POTATOES
Serves: 2-4 Ingredients: 2 larger baking potatoes, 5ml/1 tsp sunflower oil, 1 small onion, finely chopped, 2.5cm/1 in piece fresh ginger root, grated 5ml/1 tsp ground cumin, 5ml/1 tsp ground coriander, 2.5ml/1/2 tsp ground turmeric, garlic, salt. Preparation
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PIZZA
Serves: 2 Ingredients: For base:450g/1 lb/4 cups plain flour, pinch of salt, 1 sachet easy-blend yeast, about 350ml/12 fl oz/11/2 cups warm water For topping: 1 onion, sliced, 10ml/2 tsp olive oil, 2 large red and 2 yellow peppers, seeded and sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed 400g/14oz can tomatoes, 8 pitted black olives, halved salt and black pepper Directions: To make the dough, sift the flour and salt into a bowl ,add in
the yeast. Stir in just enough warm water to mix to a soft dough.
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Lentil Soup
Serves 8 Ingredients
Preparation Sort and rinse lentils. Bring lentils and water
to a boil in stockpot; reduce heat. Simmer for 1-1/4 hours, stirring
occasionally. Sauté garlic in olive oil in skillet until brown.
Stir into lentil mixture. Add carrots and tomatoes; mix well. Simmer for
30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Ladle into soup bowls. Serve with
shredded cheese and Italian bread. May add 8 ounces cooked ditalini or
spaghetti or 1 cup cooked white or brown rice to soup.
Cucumber and Yogurt Sauce Ingredients: 3 long, thin cucumbers
Preparation: Peel cucumbers and cut into halves lengthwise; remove
and discard seeds. Chop coarsely. Combine cucumbers with salt and wine
vinegar in bowl; mix well. Let stand for 1 hour or longer; drain and pat
dry. Combine cucumbers, yogurt, dill and cayenne in serving bowl; mix well.
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MARINATE
VEGETABLES JARDINIÈRE
Ingredients: 3/8 cup Italian dressing low cal, 3/4 Tablespoon Mustard Dijon, 3/4 cup Broccoli, 1 cup, 3/4 cup Cucumber, 1 cup slices, 3/4 medium Pepper yellow, 1 medium, 15 small Tomatoes cherry, 9/16 cup Carrots sliced, 1 cup, 1-1/2 Tablespoons Parsley fresh Directions: Diagonally slice carrots. Cut yellow
pepper into strips. Mix dressing and mustard. Pour over combined remaining
ingredients; cover. Refrigerate 2 hours to marinate. Refrigerate several
hours or overnight. Stir in tomatoes just before serving.
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Note: Due to Dr. Karuparthy's busy schedule in India, KVR's column is
not available for this month.
Return to the Telangana Science Journal
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By narrow domestic walls"
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Gitanjali, 1912.
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