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The Telangana Science Journal

Health and Nutrition

(An International Electronic Science Digest Published from the United States of America)
(Click here to subscribe to this free e-journal)
(Dedicated to one of the most backward regions in India, "Telangana," )

Chief Editor: Sreenivasarao Vepachedu, PhD, LLM

 Associate Editors & Contributers
 Venkateswararao Karuparthy, MD, DABPM

Varaprasad Chamakura, PhD
Rajagopal Duddu, PhD
Ramarao Vepachedu, PhD
Marina Strakhova, PhD

Issue 80

5106 Kali Era , taarana Year, nija Sraavana month
2062 Vikramarka Era, taarana Year, nija Sraavana month
1926 Salivahana Era , taarana
Year, nija Sraavana month
 2004 AD, August

Contents

Diet and Exercise
Women's Health
Men's Health
Miscellaneous 
Recipes
Fiber, Fruits and Sugar
Cancer and Cardio
Fruits and Vegetables
Linoleic Acid
Soy Protects Kidney
Caffeine Interferes with Sugar Metabolism
Salmon Myths
Women and Heart Disease
Viagra for Young
Metzitzah Circumcision and Herpes
Sun and Children
Yoga for Pain Management
Smoking
Baked Breakfast Apples
SPINACH SALAD

Diet and Exercise

Fiber, Fruits and Sugar
Breast cancer rates in the United States are among the highest in the world. Nearly 132 cases are diagnosed for every 100,000 women. In Mexico, incidence is rising and is currently estimated at 38 cases per 100,000 women. In a study, women who ate a lot of insoluble fiber found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables had somewhat less risk of breast cancer, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Fiber can modulate the absorption of carbohydrates. However, high-sugar diets may increase more than just waistlines. The research suggests they might raise the risk of breast cancer. Women in Mexico who ate a lot of sugars, derived from corn, including tortillas, and soft drinks and white bread, were more than twice as likely to get breast cancer than those who ate less starch and sugar, scientists found. 

Drinking sugary soft drinks could increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. That's the finding of a Harvard study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, that looked at data from a long-running study involving more than 51,000 women. Researchers found that women who drank more than one sweetened soda or sugary fruit punch per day had twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to women who drank them less than once a month.

The average Briton can eat up to 20 teaspoons of added sugars a day, an amount most nutritionists would consider excessive for overall health. Many foods and drinks not usually considered ‘sweets' are high in sugars. Carbohydrates aren't sweet, yet they turn into sugars in the body. Even if you avoid ‘sweets', you could still be eating AGE (Advanced Glycosylation End-products) in processed foods. New research carried out by Clinique and released in August reveals that excess sugars may prematurely age our skin. Clinique explains how people who consume excess sugars could be more prone to wrinkles and sagging. To find out more about the effect of sugar on skin go to: www.clinique.co.uk.

Americans need to spend more time working out and less time gobbling down concludes a federal advisory panel looking at ways to get people to adopt healthier eating and exercise habits. The tougher task is motivating people to work toward a healthy weight by being more physically active and watching what they eat.  The 13-member panel of experts came up with nine recommendations, including, control caloric intake, consume a variety of foods within and among the basic food groups, eat whole grain products rather than refined grains to reduce risks of heart disease and other conditions.  The recommendations also call for people to avoid potentially artery-clogging trans fats, reduce total daily salt to 2,300 milligrams and eat more fruits and vegetables. The servings of fruits and vegetables would be expanded to five to 13, from the current five to nine. The expansion would be part of the committee's plan to allow more room for individual differences, so people with high-revving metabolisms, such as active teenagers, could eat more.

A third of cancer deaths in the United States are thought to be due to poor diet and lack of exercise. Diet may play less of a role in hormone-related cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. Studies have found these factors may affect the odds of getting breast cancer:
     Being obese or overweight raises risk, especially after menopause.
     Alcohol raises risk.
     Lower breast cancer rates are seen in countries where diets are lower in fat.
     Consumption of red meat and animal fats may raise risk.
     Diets rich in Fruits and Vegetables reduce risk.
     High levels of Fiber may reduce estrogen, which may lower breast cancer risk.
     Some studies suggest benefits of Soy, others don't.

Gall Bladder Protection
Reducing the risk of gallstones by eating a diet high in fiber, particularly the "insoluble" type found in whole-wheat products and corn bran, may help women avoid gallbladder surgery, new research suggests. The findings, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, appear shortly after a report from the same research team showing that consumption of vegetable protein also seems to block gallstone formation. Women who consumed the highest amounts of fiber were 13 percent less likely to undergo cholecystectomy than those who consumed the lowest amounts. The reduction in risk was even more pronounced for the highest levels of insoluble fiber intake, about 17 percent.


Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Overweight women with low levels of the so-called good cholesterol seem to have a higher risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, Norwegian researchers reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Overweight women with the highest levels of HDL cholesterol were almost one-third less likely to get postmenopausal breast cancer than similar women with low HDL.

Research fails to justify routine use of antioxidant supplements to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published in the first week of August in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association continues to promote a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes etc. to derive antioxidant vitamin benefits.

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Fruits and Vegetables
A six-year study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that adults who boosted their intake of fruit during the research period put on less weight and body fat than those whose fruit consumption dipped. The same benefit was seen among men and women who started drinking more skim or low-fat milk, or who cut back on fatty foods.  Although high-fat, Atkins-style diets have been advocated for weight loss, the new study provides evidence that over the long-term. The findings support the standard public health recommendation that adults eat more fruits and vegetables and limit fat intake.

An antioxidant found in blueberries and grapes appears to lower cholesterol as effectively as a commercial drug, according to a preliminary study by Rimando et al. The investigators found that the blueberry compound, called pterostilbene, activates a cellular structure that helps lower cholesterol, the same mode of action as the cholesterol-lowering drug ciprofibrate, sold under the name Lipanor. These findings suggest that the natural compound may lower cholesterol just as well as this and other drugs.

Q. Have there been studies of whether eating a vegetarian diet increases life expectancy?
A. Large health studies done for various purposes raise the possibility, but do not prove, that avoiding meat could be associated with living longer. It is difficult to separate the effects of vegetarian diets from other factors in such studies. Some of the most often cited surveys, for example, have followed groups of Seventh-day Adventists, who do not eat meat, to see what happens to their health over time.  But almost all Adventists also avoid smoking, and many exercise regularly.  A study published last year in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed data from six studies that included people who ate meat less than once a week. The study also looked at new findings on the life expectancy of longtime vegetarians in the Adventist Health Study.  The authors of the Journal study found that a very low meat intake was associated with a significant decrease in death risks in four studies, and a nonsignificant decrease in the fifth study; they found virtually no association in the sixth.  Two studies also indicated that being on a vegetarian diet for a longer time contributed to a significantly greater decrease in mortality risk. In all the studies, the protective effect seemed to weaken after the ninth decade. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/03/health/nutrition/03qna.html.By C. CLAIBORNE RAY, Published: August 3, 2004


Linoleic Acid
In a study of middle-aged men in International Journal of Cancer, high intake of linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid found in certain plants and vegetables, seemed to lower the risk of prostate and other cancers, Finnish researchers report. Men with high blood levels of linoleic acid, omega-6 fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were less likely than men with low levels to develop prostate cancer. Men who consumed the highest amounts of linoleic acid were 45 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than their peers who consumed the lowest amounts. High intake of linoleic acid also reduced the risk of other cancers.

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Soy Protects Kidney
Kidney function often becomes impaired with long-standing diabetes. A study of older men with diabetes-related kidney disease found that adding a soy product to their diets reduced the amount of protein in their urine indicating improved kidney function. The kidney function of people with type 2 diabetes seems to be improved by dietary soy protein, with the added benefit that their levels of "good" cholesterol also go up a bit, according to Journal of Nutrition, August 2004.

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Caffeine Interferes with Sugar Metabolism
Caffeine could interfere with the body's ability to handle blood sugar, thus worsening type 2 diabetes. Researchers found a strong correlation between caffeine intake at mealtime and increased glucose and insulin levels among people with type 2 diabetes, in the journal Diabetes Care. The findings are significant enough that the researchers recommend people with diabetes consider reducing or eliminating caffeine from their diets.


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Salmon Myths
The research published in the journal Environment Science and Technology, was the latest blow to the nutritious reputation of salmon, which is packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. A prior study by the same researchers recently found troubling levels of PCBs, a known carcinogen, in farm-raised salmon.  On average, wild fish were less contaminated with the fire retardant chemicals than farmed salmon, with two exceptions: chinook from Oregon and British Columbia, which tested at more than 2 parts per billion and 4 parts per billion, respectively.  PBDEs can harm neurological development and function in babies and young children -- just like mercury and PCBs. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, have been banned for decades, but PBDEs are still in production around the world.  Bans in Europe, California and Maine will kick in over the next few years, and U.S. manufacturers voluntarily are stopping production of some forms of the fire retardant.  For now, though, PBDEs are still being added to a long list of common household and workplace items from computers and other electronic gear to foam seat cushions and synthetic fabrics.

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Women's Health
Women and Heart Disease

A woman's risk of developing heart disease rises considerably when she reaches menopause, but a healthy lifestyle can do much to reduce the risk.  Follow-up of menopausal women taking part in a diet and exercise trial showed slowing of atherosclerosis, plaque build-up in the arteries, according to an article in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.



Mens Health
Viagra for Young
In a January 2000 study in Human Reproduction, Italian researchers note men without erectile dysfunction who took Viagra cut in half their "refractory period", the time it takes to get another erection following orgasm from the typical 20 minutes to about 10. Pfizer's data indicates that 8% of prescriptions are written for men between ages 34 and 40. That compares with 26% of prescriptions for men in their 40s, 36% for men in their 50s, and 22% for men in their 60s.
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Miscellaneous
Metzitzah Circumcision and Herpes
Eight infants developed genital herpes following circumcision, highlighting the dangers associated with this procedure, researchers report.  All of the infants underwent a form of circumcision in which the circumciser, or mohel, takes wine in his mouth and sucks the blood from the newly created wound, then spits the blood and wine mixture into a receptacle. The circumciser repeats this procedure, known as metzitzah, until the bleeding stops.  Currently, only a minority of mohels practice metzitzah, with most now opting for a suction device to remove blood from the wound, according to the report in the journal Pediatrics.
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Sun and Children
Children's rate of sun damage increases by more than two-fold between the first and second summers of their lives, but periodic reminders for parents about the importance of sun protection may help, according to new research released in August in Archives of Dermatology. Increase in sun damage may occur if families begin "dropping their guard" regarding sun protection. Parents just have to be incredibly vigilant about protecting their children from the sun.
Yoga for Pain Management
(http://www.womenfitness.net/yoga_pain_management.htm)
Living with chronic pain, can be a cause of constant discomfort, with an attack on your reserves of strength, energy, and feelings of well-being. Using Yoga techniques for pain management can help minimize medication usage and help you lead a happier and fuller life. The best techniques for pain management are Yoga breathing, relaxation, and meditation. These three aspects of Yoga act to distract your mind from pain, reduce your body’s tension in reaction to pain, and provide an opportunity to "move through" the pain instead of resisting it so it loses its full impact.

Yoga is believed to reduce pain by helping the brain's pain center regulate the gate-controlling mechanism located in the spinal cord and the secretion of natural painkillers in the body. Breathing exercises used in yoga can also reduce pain. Because muscles tend to relax when you exhale, lengthening the time of exhalation can help produce relaxation and reduce tension. Awareness of breathing helps to achieve calmer, slower respiration and aid in relaxation and pain management. The act of controlling the breath in yoga also helps reduce pain. The body has a natural phenomenon built in to the nervous system, which keeps tension in the muscles "on stand by" when the lungs are full, or "pressurized". Lengthening the time of exhalation can help produce relaxation and reduce tension in the body.

Relaxation training is a step - by - step process of relaxing each of your body’s muscles; this helps to counteract the body’s natural tendency to increase muscle tension in an unconscious effort to "push" the pain away – which only causes the pain to increase. Mental relaxation is more effective in the relief of chronic pain, when combined with meditation and rhythmic breathing.

Meditation training is a conscious effort to reduce your mind’s constant chatter and to concentrate instead simply on the feeling of not thinking. Regular daily practice of meditation builds a foundation of internal strength by opening a door to a part of yourself that is not governed by the demands of your physical body. Start with five minutes. Build up the time slowly until you can do 20 minutes. You might want to try two 20 minute sessions eventually, one in the morning and the other at night. If you can only do five minutes, don't worry. We all have our comfort levels.

Yoga's inclusion of relaxation techniques and meditation can help reduce pain. Part of the effectiveness of yoga in reducing pain is due to its focus on self-awareness. This self-awareness can have a protective effect and allow for early preventive action.

Smoking

Smoking raises the risk of non-fatal heart attacks by about fivefold in adults between 35 and 39 years of age, according to a report in the journal Tobacco Control. Among adults under 40 who experienced a heart attack, smoking was noted in 81 percent of men and in 77 percent of women.

The air pollution emitted by cigarettes is 10 times greater than diesel car exhaust, suggests a controlled experiment, reported in Tobacco Control.  Environmental tobacco smoke produces fine particulate matter, which is the most dangerous element of air pollution for health. Levels indoors can far exceed those outdoors, because new engine models and lead free fuels have cut the levels of particulate matter emissions from car exhausts.

Meanwhile, according to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, the risk of ovarian cancer increases with increased exposure to diesel exhaust. 

Recipes
Baked Breakfast Apples
Ingredients:
2 medium apples, cut into bite-size pieces, 2 tablespoons snipped, pitted whole dates, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup apple juice, 1 tablespoon raspberry spreadable fruit, 1/4 cup low-fat granola cereal.
Directions: Combine apples and dates in two individual microwave-safe casseroles. Sprinkle with the cinnamon. Reduce apple juice to 1/4 cup; divide evenly between casseroles. Micro-cook, covered, on 100 percent power (high) for 3 to 4 minutes or until apples are slightly tender. Stir spreadable fruit; dollop on top of apples in the casseroles; sprinkle with granola. Serve warm.

SPINACH SALAD

Ingredients: 1 lb. spinach leaves, washed and torn into pieces, tough stems discarded, 2 cups mushrooms, sliced 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half, 1/4 cup fat-free Italian dressing.
Directions:Combine spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes in a salad bowl.  Pour dressing over salad and toss.
womenfitness.net
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Source: The primary sources cited above,  New York Times (NYT), Washington Post (WP), Mercury News, Bayarea.com, USA Today, Intellihealthnews, Deccan Chronicle (DC), the Hindu, Hindustan Times, Times of India, AP, Reuters, AFP, womenfitness.net etc.




Copyright ©1998-2004
Vepachedu Educational Foundation, Inc
Copyright Vepachedu Educational Foundation Inc., 2004.  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!)
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