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Chief Editor:
Sreenivasarao
Vepachedu, PhD, LLM
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Associate Editors &
Contributers
Venkateswararao Karuparthy,
MD, DABPM
Varaprasad Chamakura,
PhD
Rajagopal Duddu, PhD
Ramarao Vepachedu, PhD
Marina Strakhova, PhD
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Issue 80
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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
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Contents
Diet and Exercise
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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.
Back to Contents
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.
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