In tests with rats, tea consumption reduced oxidative stress, researchers say
Substances found in green tea work their way into the tissues of the eye and could protect against common eye diseases like glaucoma, researchers say.
It recommends a broad response, including consuming less salt and getting more exercise
Americans eat way too much salt and cutting down on that consumption should be a cornerstone of new public health efforts to curb hypertension.
That's one of the key messages of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, commissioned by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and released Monday, that calls hypertension -- or high blood pressure -- a "neglected disease," one that has fallen off the public health radar and needs to be put back on.
"High blood pressure and its consequences are too important to remain a neglected disease," Dr. David Fleming, chairman of the committee that produced the report, said during a morning news conference. "It's time to give our complete attention to take full advantage of known and promising interventions, and take concerted actions necessary to achieve prevention and control of hypertension."
Patients being treated in intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals may see benefits from taking fish oils intravenously, according to a new study.
Findings published in Critical Care, suggest that there are multiple health benefits from receiving intravenous treatments of fish oil. In addition to its calming symptoms, the nutritional supplements have also been shown to reduce inflammatory chemicals and improve gas exchange.
The good news about fish oil just keeps on coming. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, this nutrient has now been shown to reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medicine in dogs with joint pain, results which may bode well for humans also dealing with joint discomforts.
A 12-week study evaluated a total of 131 dogs who suffered from stable chronic osteoarthritis. All the dogs were treated with Carprofen, an anti-inflammatory medication. One group received food enriched with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids, while a control group received only a small amount of the nutrient. At the end of the study, researchers found that the dogs consuming more fish oil omega-3s were perceived to be in less pain compared to the control group, allowing for a reduction in their medication dosage.
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, bladder, ureters and urethra. The urinary system plays an important role in well-being by removing wastes from the body and keeping electrolytes, salts and water in healthy balance.
The urinary system removes urea; a toxic waste formed as a byproduct of the metabolism of proteins, from the body. Urea, other wastes and water make up the urine which is removed by the kidneys. On average, adults eliminate approximately 1 quart of urine per day.
Bacterial populations in the gut of diabetics differ from non-diabetics, says a new study from Denmark that may open up a potential role for modifying gut microflora with probiotics and prebiotics to improve health.
The study, published in the open-access peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE, builds on earlier studies that have linked gut microflora and obesity.
Resting after learning helps to cement new information, researchers say
Great news for working stiffs: You can take a break and feel good about it, new research suggests.
If you want to strengthen your memory, take a break after learning new information, say New York University researchers who found such "active rest" strengthens memory.
While sleep has been studied and found valuable as a way to preserve memories, less is known about how "active rest" during the day may affect them, said Lila Davachi, an assistant professor of psychology at NYU. So, she tested the memory of 16 study participants and evaluated the effect of rest on memory.
The case for vitamin D continues to gain steam, as new research suggests that high levels of this crucial nutrient could reduce the risk of heart disease, elevated blood sugar and metabolic syndrome. More than ever, it is important to consider vitamin D consumption and supplementation.
There's more good news for my favorite nutrient. In a recent meta-analysis, middle aged and elderly people who had high levels of vitamin D cut their risk of developing heart disease or elevated blood sugar nearly in half.
There are lifestyle changes you can adopt that may reduce your chance of developing dementia by as much as 20 percent. A panel of independent experts evaluated more than 70 research papers and articles to come up with this series of tips for reducing your risk.
Could eating a chocolate bar actually reduce your risk of having a stroke or dying from a stroke? A new analysis of several studies suggests that may be the case.
The first study, involving almost 45,000 people, found that those who ate one serving of chocolate per week had a 22% reduced risk of stroke, compared to those who ate none. A second study of 1,169 stroke victims found that those who ate 50 grams of chocolate a week reduced their risk of dying from a stroke by 46%. A third study found no association between chocolate consumption and stroke.
Human trials will begin soon, researchers say
Green tea extract shows promise as a treatment for uterine fibroids, say U.S. researchers who add they'll soon begin human trials of the therapy.
Uterine fibroids, which affect 40 percent of women of reproductive age, cause excessive vaginal bleeding, anemia, fatigue and lack of energy. Currently, hysterectomy is the only treatment option.
Green tea extract can kill human leiomyoma cells in tissue cultures and can eradicate fibroid lesions in lab animals, according to Dr. Ayman Al-Hendy, director of clinical research at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., and colleagues. Their findings were published Jan. 14 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Low levels may also hinder response to steroid treatment, study finds
People with asthma who have low levels of vitamin D fare worse than those with high levels of the "sunshine" vitamin, a new study finds.
Researchers found that asthmatics with high vitamin D levels have better lung function and respond better to treatment than asthmatics with low vitamin D levels do.
"Our findings suggest that low vitamin D levels are associated with worse asthma," said lead researcher Dr. E. Rand Sutherland, from the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at National Jewish Health in Denver.
If you’re one of more than 39 million Americans taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, then you probably have a deficiency in the spark needed to ignite your fuel and turn it into energy—the powerful antioxidant known as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).
This amazing antioxidant, discovered in 1957, provides 95 percent of your body’s energy! And hundreds of scientists have proven that the more CoQ10 you have the more energetic your body will be.
When you’re young, your liver produces CoQ10 in the amounts necessary to give strength to the muscles and cells of your body. CoQ10 can help:
A study links thyroid disease with human exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is a persistent organic chemical used in industrial and consumer goods including most nonstick cookware and stain- and water-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics.
The study included nearly 4000 adults aged 20 and older whose blood serum was sampled between 1999 and 2006 for PFOA.
As people celebrate Valentine’s Day we can turn our attention on American Heart Month. Since 1963, Congress has required the president to declare February “American Heart Month”. The goal is to raise funds for research and education to focus on cardiovascular disease as the #1 cause of death in the U.S.
When we think of circulatory health we want to focus on the entire cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system is composed of the heart and blood vessels. The heart pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients through vessels to organs in the body and in turn removes carbon dioxide and waste products.
Scientists have discovered that everyday emotional stress is a trigger for the growth of tumors. Any sort of trauma, emotional or physical, can act as a "pathway" between cancerous mutations, bringing them together in a potentially deadly mix.
The findings seem to show for the first time that the conditions for developing the disease can be affected by your emotional environment, including everyday work and family stress.
In a shift of position, the U.S. FDA is expressing concerns about possible health risks from bisphenol A, or BPA, a widely used component of plastic bottles and food packaging. The agency declared BPA safe in 2008.
But the FDA now has “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.”
The action is another example of the drug agency becoming far more aggressive in taking hard looks at what it sees as threats to public health over the past year. In recent months, the agency has stepped up its oversight of food safety and has promised to tighten approval standards for medical devices.
Having a higher level of vitamin D in your blood means you are less like to develop bowel cancer than those with low levels, according to scientists.
A study published in the British Medical Journal has concluded that those with the highest levels of the vitamin were at 40 per cent lower risk of developing the disease compared with those with the lowest levels. Scientists looked at vitamin D quantities in 1,248 people with bowel cancer and 1,248 controls in the largest ever study of the subject.
Germ linked to tooth decay evolved from a beneficial organism, researchers say
New research provides insights into the genetic makeup of a germ that causes cavities, and shows why the germ does such a great job of colonizing the mouth.
Early use of antibiotics in the 1960s may have given birth to one of the most common strains of MRSA, a study has found.
A new genetic method of tracking infection suggests that the superbug emerged five decades ago in Europe, just as antibiotics were being widely introduced for the first time.
Scientists used DNA-mapping technology to compare the genetic relatedness of bugs isolated from individual patients.