Nutrition and Health News"Let medicine be your food, and food be your medicine." A 2,500-year old statement by Hippocrates
This page is under construction but take a look and see what interests you in regard to current health issues and check back with us as we develop our presentation here. |
Digestive issues like acid reflux, gastritis, gas and bloating, irritable bowel syndrome can lead to skin problems, hormone issues and brain function concerns. See a specialist or two for alternative opinions to get a correct diagnosis and a treatment program to follow to solve the problems. We recommend consulting a physician or acupuncturist that will have you collect saliva and stool samples to send to their lab for detection of possible parasite or bacteria causing the symptoms. Disorders of the small intestine in particular can manifest on your skin as redness, mysterious blemishes, ultra dryness or rashes. Other symptoms include memory loss, "brain fog", fatigue, dehydration and thin nails.
Does Aging Equal Illness?
"Aging is often associated with the development of one or more chronic diseases, but it doesn't have to be that way," says Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
It's not always just a matter of time before you have a heart attack or stroke, get type 2 diabetes or cancer, break a hip because of osteoporosis or develop Alzheimer's, even though these conditions are often associated with aging, Blumberg says.
Your risk for disease and disability increases with inadequate physical activity, genetic susceptibility, and poor diet.
Experts suspect the antioxidant compounds found in produce, legumes, and whole grains are largely responsible for holding back the march of time.
Trade coffee for cocoa. In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2006, researchers found cocoa containing high levels of two dietary flavanols (epicatchin and catechin) protected skin from sun damage, improved circulation to skin cells, affected hydration, and made the skin look and feel smoother. Compare labels to make sure you buy high quality chocolate or cocoa without sugar and artificial ingredients added.
Drink lots of Green or White Teas - studies are proving that issues like weight gain, gum disease, vision problems, belly fat, memory loss are improved upon by simply adding these antioxidant rich teas to your daily diet.
Eat more fish -- particularly salmon. Not only is salmon (along with other cold-water fish) a great source of protein -- one of the building blocks of great skin -- it's also an awesome source of an essential fatty acid known as omega-3. Perricone tells WebMD that essential fatty acids help nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful, helping to reduce wrinkles.
Eat more soy -- So far, most of the proof has come from animal studies, but research does show certain properties of soy may help protect or heal some of the sun's photo aging damage. In one recent human study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers reported that a soy-based supplement (other ingredients included fish protein and extracts from white tea, grape seed oil or extract, and tomato, as well as several vitamins) improved skin's structure and firmness after just six months of use. Remember: everything in moderation, however! Too much of a good thing can create other problems.
Published online before print March
26, 2008
(Neurology ® Magazine 2008)
Central obesity and increased risk of dementia more than three decades later
R. A. Whitmer PhD*,
D. R. Gustafson PhD, E. Barrett-Connor MD, M. N. Haan DrPH, E. P. Gunderson PhD, and K. Yaffe MD From Kaiser Permanente Division of Research (R.A.W., E.P.G.), Oakland, CA; Goteberg University (D.R.G.), Goteberg, Sweden; the Department of Family Medicine (E.B.-C.), University of California, La Jolla; the Department of Epidemiology (M.N.H.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and the Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology and Epidemiology (K.Y.), University of California, San Francisco.
Background: Numerous reports show that a centralized distribution of adiposity is a more dangerous risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes than total body obesity. No studies have evaluated whether the same pattern exists with dementia. The objective was to evaluate the association between midlife central obesity and risk of dementia three decades later.
Methods: A longitudinal analysis was conducted of 6,583 members of Kaiser Permanente of Northern California who had their sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) measured in 1964 to 1973. Diagnoses of dementia were from medical records an average of 36 years later, January 1, 1994, to June 16, 2006. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, marital status, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, heart disease, and medical utilization were conducted.
Results: A total of 1,049 participants (15.9%) were diagnosed with dementia. Compared with those in the lowest quintile of SAD, those in the highest had nearly a threefold increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio, 2.72; 95% CI, 2.33–3.33), and this was only mildly attenuated after adding body mass index (BMI) to the model (hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.58–2.35). Those with high SAD (>25 cm) and normal BMI had an increased risk (hazard ratio, 1.89; 95% CI, 0.98–3.81) vs those with low SAD (<25 cm) and normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), whereas those both obese (BMI >30 kg/m2) and with high SAD had the highest risk of dementia (HR, 3.60; 95% CI, 2.85–4.55).
Conclusions: Central obesity in midlife increases risk of dementia independent of diabetes and cardiovascular co morbidities. Fifty percent of adults have central obesity; therefore, mechanisms linking central obesity to dementia need to be unveiled.
Some of Our Dietary Suggestions
... especially for people of all ages with health and skin issues
1) Eat whole, natural foods
2) Eat only foods that will spoil, but eat them immediately to get all the nutritional benefits
3) Eat naturally raised meat including fish, seafood, poultry, beef, lamb, game, eggs
4) Eat whole, naturally produced milk products from pasture-fed cows and goats, preferably raw and/or fermented, such as whole yogurt, kefir, cultured butter, whole cheeses, and fresh or sour cream
5) Use only traditional fats and oils including butter and other animal fats, extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, expeller expressed sesame and flax oil and the tropical oils (coconut and palm)
6) Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic grown, in salads, soups, lightly steamed or raw.
7) Prepare whole grains and nuts by soaking, sprouting or sour leavening to neutralize phytic acid and other anti-nutrient
8) When purchasing packaged or prepared foods, scrutinize the ingredients labels - don't be fooled by the food industry's fancy marketing on their labels. "Whole wheat" or "8 Grain", for example, may not mean there is whole grain - the grain may have its nutrients processed away in production of the item! All yogurts are not healthy. Most are full of sugars, high fructose corn syrup, coloring and flavorings to make them more appealing to the American taste buds (or mindset!). Compare brands at the store and look at the % of proteins, carbs, vitamins, iron, sugar, fats and calories.
9) Prepare home-made meat stocks from the bones of chicken, beef, lamb or fish and use liberally in soups and sauces
10) Use herb teas and coffee substitutes in moderation - drink more Green or White tea for optimum health, improved brain function and blood sugar control
11) Use filtered water for cooking and drinking, mineral waters in moderation
12) Use unrefined Celtic sea salt and a variety of herbs and spices for food interest and appetite stimulation. Date store bought seasonings - they do turn rancid with time. Find out how long ago they were actually packaged by going online to the company web site with the inventory numbers on the bottles or boxes.
13) Cook only in stainless steel, cast iron, glass or good-quality enameled cookware for safety. Store foods in air tight glass. Check the bottom of plastic storage containers for the # listed. These verify the known safety factor, which can be looked up online for the newest research information at your local county extension or health department office.
14) Include enzyme-enhanced lacto-fermented vegetables, fruits, beverages and condiments in your diet on a regular basis for healthy digestive tract
Try to use seasonal foods that are local to get as much nutrition as possible and shrink the ecological "footprint" by reducing energy used to ship and store long distance products. The sooner a fruit or vegetable is eaten after harvest the more nutritious it is for us.
Today's idea: Asparagus. A springtime favorite, asparagus is a good source of vitamins K and C, potassium and folate. This tasty stalk has other health benefits, too - it may help support heart health, healthy fluid balance, and prevent against birth defects. When selecting asparagus, look for stems that are thin and firm, with closed tips that are deep green or purple in color
*Kefir and Probiotics - Kefir is a cultured, enzyme-rich, liquid food filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your "inner ecosystem." More nutritious and therapeutic than yogurt, it supplies complete protein, essential minerals, and valuable B vitamins. We recommend the plain kefir with no fruit or sweetener added to it in order to treat health and skin problems. Buy the brands that offer multiple probiotics, not just 2 or 3, for the most benefits. Our favorite is Helios, with FOS (bifidobacteria-stimulating fructooligosaccharide).
*ISAPP, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics is an association of academic and industrial scientists involved in research on fundamental and applied aspects of probiotics and prebiotics. The scientists participating in ISAPP have a common interest in generating high quality scientific information for the probiotic and prebiotic fields and providing guidance for collaborative and multidisciplinary research. The organization hopes to raise the scientific credibility of the field by working with experts and conducting meetings on high quality research. Providing an objective, science-based voice also will benefit the end users of these products by helping them make informed choices. ISAPP is the only scientific organization dedicated specifically to probiotics and prebiotics, bringing together scientists from all pertinent disciplines, including food science, microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, nutrition and medicine. As a scientific society, ISAPP strives to have all activities focused on science, not promotion of specific commercial products. Industry involvement is considered important to this organization, but no industry group or commercial entity dictates the activities or opinions of ISAPP.*A Probiotic Council within the National Yogurt Association (www.aboutyogurt.com) has been established. This council is intended to be the voice of industry as it relates to standards and regulatory issues for probiotics, at least as they related to dairy foods. This is an important development because it leverages the significant resources and expertise in regulatory affairs of the NYA trade association to promote appropriate standards for probiotics in the US. Press release.
* The best probiotics we have found. A favorite informational and product website of Joy-Marie's is The Body Ecology, go to www.bodyecology.com. Get the book!