By Kathleen Blanchard Feb 2, 2012 - yesterday in Health
Children exposed to anesthesia before age 3 may have a higher risk of developing ADHD, suggests a new investigation. Researchers found two exposures to anesthesia might double the risk of attention-defici t/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids.
Mayo Clinic researchers observed the link after becoming intrigued by animal studies that showed anesthesia changes the brain of young animals.
In the study, led by David Warner, M.D., a Mayo Clinic pediatric anesthesiologist and lead investigator looked at ADHD rates and learning disabilities in children born between 1976 and 1982 in Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
The research team found 341 cases of ADHD in youth under age 19 in medical records included in the Rochester Epidemiology Project, which is a complete database of patient care in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
A study published May, 2011, led by Dr. Vesna Jevtovic-Todorovic, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., Professor of Anesthesiology and Neuroscience at the University of Virginia Health System also found a link between anesthesia and learning disabilities.
The study, presented at the "SmartTots: Pediatric Anesthesia Neurotoxicity panel" at the International Anesthesia Research Society annual meeting in Vancouver, B.C" linked Ketamine, an anesthetic drug used to sedate children for minor procedures to learning dysfunction, based on primate studies.
The current study found higher rates of ADHD in children exposed to anesthesia before age 3. Two or more exposures to anesthesia before age 3 was associated with 17.9 percent higher rate of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, even after adjusting for other factors including existing health conditions.
The researchers are planning more studies to clarify the finding. The current investigation found two or more exposures to anesthesia before age 3 more than doubled the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, compared to children who had no exposure to anesthetic drugs.
ADHD causes symptoms that include inability to focus. The Mayo Clinic states symptoms in children can occur as early as age 2 or 3. Children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) have difficulty playing quietly, might talk excessively, have difficulty sitting still and are easily distracted. A medical exam is necessary for proper diagnosis.
The observational study, published February 2 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, doesn’t mean anesthesia exposure before age 3 definitely causes ADHD, but does suggest further studies are warranted, according to Dr. Warner.
Read original article HERE
Friday, 3 February 2012
Mouse Study Suggests Alzheimer’s Spreads Through Brain Like an Infection
Last Updated: February 02, 2012.
If validated, finding might open doors to new therapies, even a vaccine, experts say.
By Margaret Farley Steele and Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporters
THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Alzheimer's disease appears to spread through the brain, traveling from neuron to neuron in much the same way that an infection or cancer moves through the body, new research with mice suggests.
Scientists reported Thursday that their work indicates that abnormal tau protein -- already identified in the brains of those with Alzheimer's -- starts in one region of the brain and spreads along linked cellular circuits.
Identification of this tau pathway could influence the direction of future research and treatment of the mind-wasting disease, the study authors and other experts said.
"This opens up a whole new area of biology that has direct relevance for Alzheimer's disease. We now have a whole new set of targets that perhaps we can develop drugs for," said study lead author Karen Duff, a professor of pathology at Columbia University's Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain.
Rea more HERE
If validated, finding might open doors to new therapies, even a vaccine, experts say.
By Margaret Farley Steele and Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporters
THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Alzheimer's disease appears to spread through the brain, traveling from neuron to neuron in much the same way that an infection or cancer moves through the body, new research with mice suggests.
Scientists reported Thursday that their work indicates that abnormal tau protein -- already identified in the brains of those with Alzheimer's -- starts in one region of the brain and spreads along linked cellular circuits.
Identification of this tau pathway could influence the direction of future research and treatment of the mind-wasting disease, the study authors and other experts said.
"This opens up a whole new area of biology that has direct relevance for Alzheimer's disease. We now have a whole new set of targets that perhaps we can develop drugs for," said study lead author Karen Duff, a professor of pathology at Columbia University's Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain.
Rea more HERE
Thursday, 2 February 2012
STUDY - Characterization of essential oil and effects on growth of Verbena gratissima plants treated with homeopathic phosphorus.
Source
Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras/MG, BR 37200-000, Brazil. fulvia.maria@gmail.comAbstract
Plant models offer a method to examine the efficacy of homeopathic solutions. Homeopathic Phosphorus (P) dynamizations were evaluated on the linear growth and dry biomass of Verbena gratissima, a plant native to Brazil. The yields and chemical characterization of the essential oil are also given. Plants exhibited phenotypic plasticity after the homeopathic Phosphorus treatments. The dynamization 9CH, in particular, interfered with plant growth, height, diameter of stems and total dry mass. 9CH treatment showed the highest yield of essential oil. The essential oil composition of V. gratissima varied according to the different dynamization used. Homeopathic Phosphorus provided the greatest amount of beta-pinene, trans-pinocarveol, trans-pinocamphone and trans-pinocarvyl acetate in comparison with controls.- PMID:22164793[PubMed - in process]
Medical journal openly questions science, ethics of HPV vaccinations
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by: Rosemary Mathis, Vice President of Victim Support, SANE VAX, INC.
(NaturalNews) On January 12, 2011 the Annals of Medicine published a ground-breaking peer-reviewed paper titled, Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: Are they at odds?, 1written by renowned researchers Lucija Tomljenovic, Ph.D., and Christopher Shaw, Ph.D., with the Neural Dynamics research Group, University of British Columbia, in Vancouver. 2.
The article points out to the medical community what most consumers now know about the fraudulent global health agency policies in combination with the pharmaceutical companies lack of science based evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Gardasil and Cervarix before they were unleashed on unsuspecting parents of adolescents.
Clinical Trials on Healthy People vs. Mass Vaccination Campaigns
Tomljenovic and Shaw clearly state the obvious in their abstract by stating that vaccines represent 'a special category of drugs generally given to healthy individuals and therefore a small level of risk for adverse reactions is acceptable.'
Merck's clinical trials were flawed because they used an aluminum adjuvant as a 'placebo' and only used saline as a comparative for minor, non-serious adverse reactions. With serious adverse reactions, they pooled the results from the saline group and the aluminum 'placebo' group. By doing this, they concealed the true rate of serious reactions.
If FDA approved drugs and vaccines were as safe and effective as Pharma would like consumers to believe the risk level should be negligible to none. The FDA removal of drugs after they have been on the market and damaged desperate people looking for cures who then have to file lawsuits to recover damages is simply unacceptable.
Medical Ethics Questioned
The authors also point out the myth of informed consent - basically a waiver signed by medical consumers that they have been 'educated' about the risk vs. benefit ratio of the drug about to be administered. Tomljenovic and Shaw open their paper citing that 'medical ethics demand that vaccination be carried out with the participant's full and informed consent' and not just the handing out of the HPV vaccine Patient Product Insert - prepared by none other than the vaccine's manufacturer.
What the authors do not cover in this paper is what happens to informed consent when governments grant children the right to consent to medical procedures, such as California's recent passage of AB 499 - basically granting parental rights of children ages 12 and older to the state for the treatment of STD's. Is it really because the 'state' knows better - or is it because legislatures have been paid off by the pharmaceutical companies?
The authors go on to state:
"What is more disconcerting than the aggressive marketing strategies employed by the vaccine manufacturers is the practice by which the medical profession has presented partial information to the public, namely, in a way that generates fear, thus promoting vaccine uptake.........It thus appears that to this date, medical and regulatory entities worldwide continue to provide inaccurate information regarding cervical cancer risk and the usefulness of HPV vaccines, thereby making informed consent regarding vaccination impossible to achieve."
Money Talks - Nobody Walks - but the Vaccine Injured
According to Maplight California - a web site that reveals money's influence on politics, contributions from interest groups to CA legislators who supported the bill were $2,174,648 - more than 28 times the $76,404 given to interest groups who opposed the bill.It is also interesting to note that republican based groups and pro-life groups were on the dissenting side vs. the overwhelming number of liberal and democratic groups supporting the bill.
Similar bills are now in front of South Carolina and Florida legislatures. We are now personal witnesses to the erosion of medical ethics encouraged by politicians abundantly rewarded with special interest contributions.
Tomljenovic and Shaw continue their message by reminding medical professionals that 'contrary to claims that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, existing data show that this only applies to developing countries. In the Western world cervical cancer is a rare disease with mortality rates that are several times lower than the rate of reported serious adverse reactions (including deaths) from HPV vaccination.'
The author's state - what should become the mantra of all medical practitioners and consumers concerned about vaccine safety and efficacy:
Future vaccination policies should adhere more rigorously to evidence-based medicine and ethical guidelines for informed consent.
Tomljenovic and Shaw cite these key messages:
- To date, the efficacy of HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer has not been demonstrated, while vaccine risks remain to be fully evaluated.
- Current worldwide HPV immunization practices with either of the two HPV vaccines appear to be neither justified by long-term health benefits nor economically viable, nor is there any evidence that HPV vaccination (even if proven effective against cervical cancer) would reduce the rate of cervical cancer beyond what Pap screening has already achieved.
- Cumulatively, the list of serious adverse reactions related to HPV vaccination worldwide includes deaths, convulsions, paraesthesia, paralysis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis, facial palsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, anaphylaxis, autoimmune disorders, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, and cervical cancers.
- Because the HPV vaccination programme has global coverage, the long-term health of many women may be at risk against still unknown vaccine benefits.
- Physicians should adopt a more rigorous evidence-based medicine approach, in order to provide a balanced and objective evaluation of vaccine risks and benefits to their patients.
- The almost exclusive reliance on manufacturers' sponsored studies, often of questionable quality, as a basis for vaccine policy-making should be discontinued.
- Greater efforts should be made to minimize the undue commercial influences on academic institutions and medical research, as this influence may impede unbiased scientific inquiry into important questions about vaccine science and policies.
- Passive adverse event surveillance should be replaced by active surveillance to better understand the true risks associated with vaccines, particularly new vaccines.
The abstract of Tomljenovic and Shaw's paper, Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: Are they at odds? is posted on the SANE Vax Inc. web site. The entire paper can be accessed via this link on or after January 12. Share the 12-page paper with your medical practitioner, school nurses, and boards of education considering enforcing state legislation, and parents or guardians considering HPV vaccination for their child. Should you have difficulty accessing the entire paper you may contact the corresponding author via email at lucijat77@gmail.com.
The entire paper can be accessed via this link on or after January 12. Share the 12-page paper with your medical practitioner, school nurses, and boards of education considering enforcing state legislation, and parents or guardians considering HPV vaccination for their child.
Medical consumers need to demand the healthcare industry stop focusing on 'drug policies' and direct efforts toward uncovering science-based evidence to identify those actually at risk for the disease. As Tomljenovic and Shaw readily point in their dissertation on the HPV vaccine, the risk of cervical cancer is relatively small to justify a mandatory mass vaccination program with vaccines of questionable safety.
SaneVax Inc. views the presentation of partial and/or non-factual information regarding cervical cancer risks and the usefulness of HPV vaccines, as cited above, to be neither scientific nor ethical. These practices do not serve public health interests, nor are they likely to reduce the levels of cervical cancer. Independent evaluation of HPV vaccine safety is urgently needed and should be a priority for government-sponsored research programs.
Sources:
1.Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: Are they at odds?Annals of Medicine,
http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/record/22188159/full_citation/Human_papillomavirus__HPV__vaccine_policy_and_evidence_based_medicine:_Are_they_at_odds
2. Maplight California -AB 499 - An Act to Amend Section 6926 of the Family Code, Relating to Minors
http://maplight.org/california/bill/2011-ab-499/1007609/total-contributions
Story by Norma Erickson and Leslie Carol Botha of SANEVAX, INC.
Please visit our site at http://sanevax.org/
About the author:
THE SANE VAX MISSION is to promote Safe, Affordable, Necessary & Effective vaccines and vaccination practices through education and information. We believe in science-based medicine. Our primary goal is to provide the information necessary for you to make informed decisions regarding your health and well-being. We also provide referrals to helpful resources for those unfortunate enough to have experienced vaccine-related injuries.
Articles on this site are written by Norma Erickson, President and Leslie Carol Botha, women's health educator, broadcast journalist and Vice-President Public Relations for SANE Vax, Inc. We also allow content from various contributing authors. Other members include Rosemary Mathis, mother of a Gardasil-injured daughter and Vice President Victim Support; Janny Stokvis, Vice-President Research, Freda Birrell, Secretary and HPV vaccine lobbyist United Kingdom /Scotland, and Linda Thompson, Treasurer.
We are demanding the HPV vaccines be taken off the market until an independent study on their safety and efficacy has been conducted. Until then, we are committing our efforts to an educational media campaign to alert the public about the dangers of the HPV vaccines.
SANE Vax, Inc. is involved in the ground-breaking production of the One More Girl Documentary which will premier in 2012. Please join our cause by contributing to this project by contacting Ryan Richardson, Producer at ryan@onemoregirlfilm.com.
For more information, please visit our site at http://sanevax.org/.
read the original article HERE
(NaturalNews) On January 12, 2011 the Annals of Medicine published a ground-breaking peer-reviewed paper titled, Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: Are they at odds?, 1written by renowned researchers Lucija Tomljenovic, Ph.D., and Christopher Shaw, Ph.D., with the Neural Dynamics research Group, University of British Columbia, in Vancouver. 2.
The article points out to the medical community what most consumers now know about the fraudulent global health agency policies in combination with the pharmaceutical companies lack of science based evidence demonstrating the safety and efficacy of Gardasil and Cervarix before they were unleashed on unsuspecting parents of adolescents.
Clinical Trials on Healthy People vs. Mass Vaccination Campaigns
Tomljenovic and Shaw clearly state the obvious in their abstract by stating that vaccines represent 'a special category of drugs generally given to healthy individuals and therefore a small level of risk for adverse reactions is acceptable.'
Merck's clinical trials were flawed because they used an aluminum adjuvant as a 'placebo' and only used saline as a comparative for minor, non-serious adverse reactions. With serious adverse reactions, they pooled the results from the saline group and the aluminum 'placebo' group. By doing this, they concealed the true rate of serious reactions.
If FDA approved drugs and vaccines were as safe and effective as Pharma would like consumers to believe the risk level should be negligible to none. The FDA removal of drugs after they have been on the market and damaged desperate people looking for cures who then have to file lawsuits to recover damages is simply unacceptable.
Medical Ethics Questioned
The authors also point out the myth of informed consent - basically a waiver signed by medical consumers that they have been 'educated' about the risk vs. benefit ratio of the drug about to be administered. Tomljenovic and Shaw open their paper citing that 'medical ethics demand that vaccination be carried out with the participant's full and informed consent' and not just the handing out of the HPV vaccine Patient Product Insert - prepared by none other than the vaccine's manufacturer.
What the authors do not cover in this paper is what happens to informed consent when governments grant children the right to consent to medical procedures, such as California's recent passage of AB 499 - basically granting parental rights of children ages 12 and older to the state for the treatment of STD's. Is it really because the 'state' knows better - or is it because legislatures have been paid off by the pharmaceutical companies?
The authors go on to state:
"What is more disconcerting than the aggressive marketing strategies employed by the vaccine manufacturers is the practice by which the medical profession has presented partial information to the public, namely, in a way that generates fear, thus promoting vaccine uptake.........It thus appears that to this date, medical and regulatory entities worldwide continue to provide inaccurate information regarding cervical cancer risk and the usefulness of HPV vaccines, thereby making informed consent regarding vaccination impossible to achieve."
Money Talks - Nobody Walks - but the Vaccine Injured
According to Maplight California - a web site that reveals money's influence on politics, contributions from interest groups to CA legislators who supported the bill were $2,174,648 - more than 28 times the $76,404 given to interest groups who opposed the bill.It is also interesting to note that republican based groups and pro-life groups were on the dissenting side vs. the overwhelming number of liberal and democratic groups supporting the bill.
Similar bills are now in front of South Carolina and Florida legislatures. We are now personal witnesses to the erosion of medical ethics encouraged by politicians abundantly rewarded with special interest contributions.
Tomljenovic and Shaw continue their message by reminding medical professionals that 'contrary to claims that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, existing data show that this only applies to developing countries. In the Western world cervical cancer is a rare disease with mortality rates that are several times lower than the rate of reported serious adverse reactions (including deaths) from HPV vaccination.'
The author's state - what should become the mantra of all medical practitioners and consumers concerned about vaccine safety and efficacy:
Future vaccination policies should adhere more rigorously to evidence-based medicine and ethical guidelines for informed consent.
Tomljenovic and Shaw cite these key messages:
- To date, the efficacy of HPV vaccines in preventing cervical cancer has not been demonstrated, while vaccine risks remain to be fully evaluated.
- Current worldwide HPV immunization practices with either of the two HPV vaccines appear to be neither justified by long-term health benefits nor economically viable, nor is there any evidence that HPV vaccination (even if proven effective against cervical cancer) would reduce the rate of cervical cancer beyond what Pap screening has already achieved.
- Cumulatively, the list of serious adverse reactions related to HPV vaccination worldwide includes deaths, convulsions, paraesthesia, paralysis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis, facial palsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, anaphylaxis, autoimmune disorders, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, and cervical cancers.
- Because the HPV vaccination programme has global coverage, the long-term health of many women may be at risk against still unknown vaccine benefits.
- Physicians should adopt a more rigorous evidence-based medicine approach, in order to provide a balanced and objective evaluation of vaccine risks and benefits to their patients.
- The almost exclusive reliance on manufacturers' sponsored studies, often of questionable quality, as a basis for vaccine policy-making should be discontinued.
- Greater efforts should be made to minimize the undue commercial influences on academic institutions and medical research, as this influence may impede unbiased scientific inquiry into important questions about vaccine science and policies.
- Passive adverse event surveillance should be replaced by active surveillance to better understand the true risks associated with vaccines, particularly new vaccines.
The abstract of Tomljenovic and Shaw's paper, Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: Are they at odds? is posted on the SANE Vax Inc. web site. The entire paper can be accessed via this link on or after January 12. Share the 12-page paper with your medical practitioner, school nurses, and boards of education considering enforcing state legislation, and parents or guardians considering HPV vaccination for their child. Should you have difficulty accessing the entire paper you may contact the corresponding author via email at lucijat77@gmail.com.
The entire paper can be accessed via this link on or after January 12. Share the 12-page paper with your medical practitioner, school nurses, and boards of education considering enforcing state legislation, and parents or guardians considering HPV vaccination for their child.
Medical consumers need to demand the healthcare industry stop focusing on 'drug policies' and direct efforts toward uncovering science-based evidence to identify those actually at risk for the disease. As Tomljenovic and Shaw readily point in their dissertation on the HPV vaccine, the risk of cervical cancer is relatively small to justify a mandatory mass vaccination program with vaccines of questionable safety.
SaneVax Inc. views the presentation of partial and/or non-factual information regarding cervical cancer risks and the usefulness of HPV vaccines, as cited above, to be neither scientific nor ethical. These practices do not serve public health interests, nor are they likely to reduce the levels of cervical cancer. Independent evaluation of HPV vaccine safety is urgently needed and should be a priority for government-sponsored research programs.
Sources:
1.Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine policy and evidence-based medicine: Are they at odds?Annals of Medicine,
http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/record/22188159/full_citation/Human_papillomavirus__HPV__vaccine_policy_and_evidence_based_medicine:_Are_they_at_odds
2. Maplight California -AB 499 - An Act to Amend Section 6926 of the Family Code, Relating to Minors
http://maplight.org/california/bill/2011-ab-499/1007609/total-contributions
Story by Norma Erickson and Leslie Carol Botha of SANEVAX, INC.
Please visit our site at http://sanevax.org/
About the author:
THE SANE VAX MISSION is to promote Safe, Affordable, Necessary & Effective vaccines and vaccination practices through education and information. We believe in science-based medicine. Our primary goal is to provide the information necessary for you to make informed decisions regarding your health and well-being. We also provide referrals to helpful resources for those unfortunate enough to have experienced vaccine-related injuries.
Articles on this site are written by Norma Erickson, President and Leslie Carol Botha, women's health educator, broadcast journalist and Vice-President Public Relations for SANE Vax, Inc. We also allow content from various contributing authors. Other members include Rosemary Mathis, mother of a Gardasil-injured daughter and Vice President Victim Support; Janny Stokvis, Vice-President Research, Freda Birrell, Secretary and HPV vaccine lobbyist United Kingdom /Scotland, and Linda Thompson, Treasurer.
We are demanding the HPV vaccines be taken off the market until an independent study on their safety and efficacy has been conducted. Until then, we are committing our efforts to an educational media campaign to alert the public about the dangers of the HPV vaccines.
SANE Vax, Inc. is involved in the ground-breaking production of the One More Girl Documentary which will premier in 2012. Please join our cause by contributing to this project by contacting Ryan Richardson, Producer at ryan@onemoregirlfilm.com.
For more information, please visit our site at http://sanevax.org/.
read the original article HERE
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Vitamins From A to Z - What the 50+ need to know
by: Nissa Simon | from: AARP Bulletin | Updated January 2012
The best way to get crucial vitamins and minerals is by eating the right balance of healthy foods. But for people over age 50, even the best diet may not provide enough of some important nutrients.
"How many of us can claim to be getting the full complement of what we need from our diet each day?" asks Meir Stampfer, M.D., professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard University.
AARP's A to Z Guide will help you learn about the vitamins, minerals and supplements that are most important for older adults so you can be sure to consume them regularly. (Note: If you have certain diseases, such as cancer or diabetes, your body may have special nutritional needs. Also, certain medications can have adverse interactions with vitamins and other dietary supplements. Be sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about the vitamins, minerals and supplements you take.)
Abbreviations: IU=international units, MG=milligrams, MCG=micrograms
Why you need it: Promotes good vision; helps keep immune system healthy.
Good to know: In supplements, look for vitamin A as beta carotene, not as retinol or retinoic acid, which increases the risk of bone fracture.
Food sources: Dairy products, fish, darkly colored fruits and vegetables.
Why you need it: Thiamine is necessary for healthy nerve and brain cells; helps convert food to energy.
Good to know: Antacids and some diuretics may lower thiamin levels by decreasing absorption and increasing urinary secretion.
Food sources: Liver, whole grains, enriched breads and cereals.
Why you need it: Riboflavin is important for red blood cell production; helps convert food to energy.
Good to know: Older men and women may be especially susceptible to riboflavin deficiency, which can cause cracking or sores at the corners of the mouth, skin irritation or weakness.
Food sources: milk, eggs, fortified bread products and cereals.
Why you need it: Niacin is necessary for the proper functioning of the digestive system, skin and nerves; helps convert food to energy.
Good to know: Can cause skin flushing; may be prescribed to treat high cholesterol but should be used only under a doctor's care because of potentially severe side effects.
Food sources: Meat, fish, poultry, eggs.
Why you need it: Vitamin B6 aids in the formation of red blood cells; strengthens the immune system.
Good to know: Too high doses of supplements may cause nerve damage, numbness and trouble walking.
Food sources: Beans, nuts, eggs, whole grains.
Why you need it: B12 is essential for keeping nerves and red blood cells healthy.
Good to know: As many as a third of people over 50 do not absorb enough B12 from diet alone; inadequate absorption may lead to neurological and balance problems.
Food sources: Fish, shellfish, meat, dairy products.
Vitamin C
How much do you need? Men: 90 mg. Women: 75 mg. (Smokers should add an extra 35 mg.)
Why you need it: Important for wound healing; boosts immune system; required for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of body.
Good to know: No studies confirm that vitamin C prevents colds, although it may shorten the length of a cold; excessive amounts can lead to upset stomach and diarrhea.
Food sources: Citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, strawberries.
Why you need it: Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium; may protect against heart disease, cancer, diabetes and several autoimmune diseases
Good to know: Very high levels of vitamin D (above 10,000 IU a day) may cause kidney and tissue damage. Some blood test results for vitamin D may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency.
Food sources: Sun exposure provides the body's main supply of vitamin D; fatty fish, fortified milk and juices also contribute.
Why you need it: Vitamin E helps protect cells from damage; may reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases, but further research is needed.
Good to know: If you take a blood thinner, talk to your doctor before taking supplements; vitamin E increases bleeding risk.
Food sources: Vegetable oils, nuts, fruits, vegetables.
Why you need it: A B vitamin, folic acid helps form red blood cells and produce DNA.
Good to know: High levels may mask vitamin B12 deficiency, especially in older adults. Recent research, suggests that for women, folic acid along with vitamins B6 and B12 may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
Food sources: Enriched cereals, whole-grain breads, dark, leafy vegetables.
Why you need it: Vitamin K helps blood clot properly and helps maintain strong bones in older men and women.
Good to know: Can dilute the effect of blood thinners, so talk to your doctor if you take Coumadin (warfarin) or other blood thinners.
Food sources: Plant oils, green vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower.
Calcium
How much do you need?Men to age 70: 1000 mg (then 1200 at 71+). Women, 1200 mg starting at age 51
Why you need it: Calciumhelps form and maintain healthy teeth and bones; needed for normal heartbeat; helps with blood clotting.
Good to know: The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium, so if you use calcium supplements choose one that contains D. Recent studies have linked calcium pills to increased risk of heart attack.
Food sources: Dairy products, green leafy vegetables, bok choy, calcium-fortified orange juice.
Why you need it: Chromium helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Good to know: There has been interest in treating high glucose levels and type 2 diabetes with supplemental chromium, but research to date is inconclusive.
Food sources: Meat, chicken, broccoli, apples, fish, grape juice.
Why you need it: Dietary iodine is necessary for normal thyroid function; prevents goiter, a swelling of the thyroid gland.
Good to know: Deficiency occurs more often in women than men; when buying salt, choose one labeled "iodized."
Food sources: Seafood, iodized salt.
Why you need it: Dietary iron is essential for healthy red blood cells.
Good to know: Men and women over 50 generally should not take a mutivitamin containing iron unless they have been diagnosed with iron deficiency.
Food sources: Meat, eggs, fortified bread and grain products.
Why you need it: Magnesium supports a healthy immune system; helps keep bones strong; regulates heart rhythm.
Good to know: Magnesium-rich foods may help protect against the development of type 2 diabetes; may also decrease the risk of high blood pressure in women.
Food sources: Whole grains, nuts, green vegetables.
Why you need it: Potassium is crucial for heart, kidney, muscle, nerve function; important in controlling blood pressure; works with sodium to maintain the body's water balance.
Good to know: With age, kidneys become less able to remove potassium from blood, so speak with your doctor before taking supplements. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables generally provides sufficient potassium.
Food sources: Cantaloupe, bananas, yogurt, leafy green vegetables and sweet potatoes.
Why you need it: Selenium helps make special proteins that play a role in preventing cell damage.
Good to know: May reduce the risk of certain cancers, including lung, colorectal and prostate, although not all studies have found this effect.
Food sources: Red meat, fish, chicken, vegetables.
Why you need it: Aids in wound healing; keeps sense of smell and taste sharp.
Good to know: Many people take zinc to ease the miseries of a common cold, but its effect is controversial; some studies suggest zinc can speed recovery, others conclude it doesn't work. Some studies show that taking a combination of antioxidants and zinc reduces the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Food sources: Fortified cereals, red meat, eggs, seafood.
Omega-3 fatty acids
What it does: Omega-3 fatty acids (which should not be confused with omega-6 fatty acids) are important for blood clotting, cell division and the relaxation and contraction of muscles.
Good to know: The omega-3 fatty acids plentiful in fatty fish and fish oil supplements have built a powerful reputation for reducing the risk of a second heart attack. Studies on fish oil and memory have had mixed results. Also, fatty acid supplements may interact with blood thinners.
Good to know: Study results are mixed about whether echinacea can prevent colds and other infections.
Good to know: Research on ginkgo's effect on Alzheimer's and memory loss has been disappointing. Ginkgo can increase bleeding risk, so talk to your doctor if you take blood thinners or have surgery scheduled.
Good to know: People with diabetes should use caution with ginseng, especially if they are taking medication to lower blood glucose.
Nissa Simon, a health writer, lives in New Haven, Conn.
You might also like to read: Nine medications to use with caution.
Related
The original article can be found HERE
The best way to get crucial vitamins and minerals is by eating the right balance of healthy foods. But for people over age 50, even the best diet may not provide enough of some important nutrients.
"How many of us can claim to be getting the full complement of what we need from our diet each day?" asks Meir Stampfer, M.D., professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard University.
AARP's A to Z Guide will help you learn about the vitamins, minerals and supplements that are most important for older adults so you can be sure to consume them regularly. (Note: If you have certain diseases, such as cancer or diabetes, your body may have special nutritional needs. Also, certain medications can have adverse interactions with vitamins and other dietary supplements. Be sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about the vitamins, minerals and supplements you take.)
Abbreviations: IU=international units, MG=milligrams, MCG=micrograms
Vitamin A
How much to you need? Men: 900 mcg. Women: 700 mcgWhy you need it: Promotes good vision; helps keep immune system healthy.
Good to know: In supplements, look for vitamin A as beta carotene, not as retinol or retinoic acid, which increases the risk of bone fracture.
Food sources: Dairy products, fish, darkly colored fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
How much do you need? Men: 1.2 mg. Women: 1.1 mgWhy you need it: Thiamine is necessary for healthy nerve and brain cells; helps convert food to energy.
Good to know: Antacids and some diuretics may lower thiamin levels by decreasing absorption and increasing urinary secretion.
Food sources: Liver, whole grains, enriched breads and cereals.
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
How much do you need? Men: 1.3 mg. Women: 1.1 mgWhy you need it: Riboflavin is important for red blood cell production; helps convert food to energy.
Good to know: Older men and women may be especially susceptible to riboflavin deficiency, which can cause cracking or sores at the corners of the mouth, skin irritation or weakness.
Food sources: milk, eggs, fortified bread products and cereals.
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
How much do you need? Men: 16 mg. Women: 14 mgWhy you need it: Niacin is necessary for the proper functioning of the digestive system, skin and nerves; helps convert food to energy.
Good to know: Can cause skin flushing; may be prescribed to treat high cholesterol but should be used only under a doctor's care because of potentially severe side effects.
Food sources: Meat, fish, poultry, eggs.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
How much do you need? Men: 1.7 mg. Women: 1.5 mgWhy you need it: Vitamin B6 aids in the formation of red blood cells; strengthens the immune system.
Good to know: Too high doses of supplements may cause nerve damage, numbness and trouble walking.
Food sources: Beans, nuts, eggs, whole grains.
Vitamin B12
How much do you need? Men and women: 2.4 mcgWhy you need it: B12 is essential for keeping nerves and red blood cells healthy.
Good to know: As many as a third of people over 50 do not absorb enough B12 from diet alone; inadequate absorption may lead to neurological and balance problems.
Food sources: Fish, shellfish, meat, dairy products.
Vitamin C
How much do you need? Men: 90 mg. Women: 75 mg. (Smokers should add an extra 35 mg.)
Why you need it: Important for wound healing; boosts immune system; required for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of body.
Good to know: No studies confirm that vitamin C prevents colds, although it may shorten the length of a cold; excessive amounts can lead to upset stomach and diarrhea.
Food sources: Citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, strawberries.
Vitamin D
How much do you need? Ages 51-70: 600 IU. Age 71+: 800 IUWhy you need it: Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium; may protect against heart disease, cancer, diabetes and several autoimmune diseases
Good to know: Very high levels of vitamin D (above 10,000 IU a day) may cause kidney and tissue damage. Some blood test results for vitamin D may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency.
Food sources: Sun exposure provides the body's main supply of vitamin D; fatty fish, fortified milk and juices also contribute.
Vitamin E
How much do you need? Men and women: 15 mgWhy you need it: Vitamin E helps protect cells from damage; may reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and other chronic diseases, but further research is needed.
Good to know: If you take a blood thinner, talk to your doctor before taking supplements; vitamin E increases bleeding risk.
Food sources: Vegetable oils, nuts, fruits, vegetables.
Folic Acid
How much do you need? Men and women: 400 mcgWhy you need it: A B vitamin, folic acid helps form red blood cells and produce DNA.
Good to know: High levels may mask vitamin B12 deficiency, especially in older adults. Recent research, suggests that for women, folic acid along with vitamins B6 and B12 may reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.
Food sources: Enriched cereals, whole-grain breads, dark, leafy vegetables.
Vitamin K
How much do you need? Men: 120 mcg. Women: 90 mcgWhy you need it: Vitamin K helps blood clot properly and helps maintain strong bones in older men and women.
Good to know: Can dilute the effect of blood thinners, so talk to your doctor if you take Coumadin (warfarin) or other blood thinners.
Food sources: Plant oils, green vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower.
Calcium
How much do you need?Men to age 70: 1000 mg (then 1200 at 71+). Women, 1200 mg starting at age 51
Why you need it: Calciumhelps form and maintain healthy teeth and bones; needed for normal heartbeat; helps with blood clotting.
Good to know: The body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium, so if you use calcium supplements choose one that contains D. Recent studies have linked calcium pills to increased risk of heart attack.
Food sources: Dairy products, green leafy vegetables, bok choy, calcium-fortified orange juice.
Chromium
How much do you need? Men: 30 mcg. Women: 20 mcgWhy you need it: Chromium helps maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Good to know: There has been interest in treating high glucose levels and type 2 diabetes with supplemental chromium, but research to date is inconclusive.
Food sources: Meat, chicken, broccoli, apples, fish, grape juice.
Iodine
How much do you need? Men and women: 150 mcgWhy you need it: Dietary iodine is necessary for normal thyroid function; prevents goiter, a swelling of the thyroid gland.
Good to know: Deficiency occurs more often in women than men; when buying salt, choose one labeled "iodized."
Food sources: Seafood, iodized salt.
Iron
How much do you need? Men and women: 8 mgWhy you need it: Dietary iron is essential for healthy red blood cells.
Good to know: Men and women over 50 generally should not take a mutivitamin containing iron unless they have been diagnosed with iron deficiency.
Food sources: Meat, eggs, fortified bread and grain products.
Magnesium
How much do you need? Men: 420 mg. Women: 320 mgWhy you need it: Magnesium supports a healthy immune system; helps keep bones strong; regulates heart rhythm.
Good to know: Magnesium-rich foods may help protect against the development of type 2 diabetes; may also decrease the risk of high blood pressure in women.
Food sources: Whole grains, nuts, green vegetables.
Potassium
How much do you need? Men and women: 4700 mgWhy you need it: Potassium is crucial for heart, kidney, muscle, nerve function; important in controlling blood pressure; works with sodium to maintain the body's water balance.
Good to know: With age, kidneys become less able to remove potassium from blood, so speak with your doctor before taking supplements. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables generally provides sufficient potassium.
Food sources: Cantaloupe, bananas, yogurt, leafy green vegetables and sweet potatoes.
Selenium
How much do you need? Men and women: 55 mcgWhy you need it: Selenium helps make special proteins that play a role in preventing cell damage.
Good to know: May reduce the risk of certain cancers, including lung, colorectal and prostate, although not all studies have found this effect.
Food sources: Red meat, fish, chicken, vegetables.
Zinc
How much do you need? Men: 11 mg. Women: 8 mgWhy you need it: Aids in wound healing; keeps sense of smell and taste sharp.
Good to know: Many people take zinc to ease the miseries of a common cold, but its effect is controversial; some studies suggest zinc can speed recovery, others conclude it doesn't work. Some studies show that taking a combination of antioxidants and zinc reduces the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Food sources: Fortified cereals, red meat, eggs, seafood.
Omega-3 fatty acids
What it does: Omega-3 fatty acids (which should not be confused with omega-6 fatty acids) are important for blood clotting, cell division and the relaxation and contraction of muscles.
Good to know: The omega-3 fatty acids plentiful in fatty fish and fish oil supplements have built a powerful reputation for reducing the risk of a second heart attack. Studies on fish oil and memory have had mixed results. Also, fatty acid supplements may interact with blood thinners.
Echinacea
What it does: This plant may reduce the duration of a cold.Good to know: Study results are mixed about whether echinacea can prevent colds and other infections.
Gingko
What it does: Derived from the oldest living tree species, ginkgo extract improves walking in people with certain circulatory problems that affect the legs.Good to know: Research on ginkgo's effect on Alzheimer's and memory loss has been disappointing. Ginkgo can increase bleeding risk, so talk to your doctor if you take blood thinners or have surgery scheduled.
Ginseng
What it does: The root of the ginseng plant appears to benefit people with heart disorders. It may also lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.Good to know: People with diabetes should use caution with ginseng, especially if they are taking medication to lower blood glucose.
Nissa Simon, a health writer, lives in New Haven, Conn.
You might also like to read: Nine medications to use with caution.
Related
- How much vitamin D or calcium do you need? Read
- Vitamin E and prostate cancer. Read
- Vitamin B12 and memory. Read
- The AARP Drug Interaction Checker. Do
The original article can be found HERE
Drinking Coffee Actually Alters Hormones in Women
1 February 2012
The daily shot of java may affect more than just your energy levels. A new study of women found that drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages can alter levels of estrogen, a regulating hormone in women.
Over 1,000 chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee, and 19 are known rodent carcinogens.
Coffee is the second most traded product in the world after petroleum. Worldwide coffee production tips the scales at about 6 million metric tonnes. The average yield from one tree is the equivalent of one roasted pound of coffee and it takes five years for a coffee tree to reach maturity. Coffee growers must thus resort to toxic methods to ensure maximum yield from their crops including the use of harmful chemicals to ensure crops are free of insects and pathogens.
The impact on the estrogen study appeared to vary by race. In white women, for example, coffee appears to lower estrogen, while in Asian women it has the reverse effect, raising levels of the hormone.
Estrogen is structurally responsible for accelerating metabolism, increasing vaginal lubrication, increasing bone formation and increasing uterine and endometrial growth. It also helps increase HDL cholesterol, decrease LDL cholesterol and balance salt and water retention.
“This is important physiologically because it helps us understand how caffeine is metabolized by different genetic groups, ” said Dr. Enrique Schisterman, an author of the study and senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health.
The study, which was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analyzed data on more than 250 women who were examined one to three times a week over two menstrual cycles. They provided blood samples along with details about behaviors like exercise, eating and smoking. On average, they consumed about 90 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to roughly one cup of coffee.
After controlling for a number of variables, like age and diet, the researchers found that among Asian women, those who had 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day had higher estrogen levels compared to those who consumed less. A similar pattern was seen among black women, though it was not statistically significant. In white women, however, 200 milligrams or more of caffeine appeared to have a slight lowering effect on estrogen.
Nationwide, about 90 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 34 drink the caffeine equivalent of one to two cups of coffee every day.
Why caffeine would have a different impact depending on race was unclear, though Dr. Schisterman said it was likely that genetics has an influence on caffeine metabolism. But the source of caffeine also seemed to make a difference. When the researchers looked exclusively at caffeine from beverages other than coffee -- like green tea and soda -- it was linked to higher estrogen in all women, regardless of race. Various levels of antioxidants and other compounds in the drinks, as well as additives like milk and sugar, might play a role, he said.
Dr. Schisterman noted that more research was needed to see if there could be a cumulative impact over many years or decades. “We don’t know if there are long-term effects of these small shifts in hormonal levels, ” he said.
Other Health Consequences
Despite a number of studies showing the beneficial effects of coffee, there are also those that show detrimental effects on human health. Almost all publications rely on conventional sources of coffee for their studies.
Researcher Marie-Soleil Beaudoin has discovered not only that a healthy person's blood sugar levels spike after eating a high-fat meal, but that the spike doubles after having both a fatty meal and caffeinated coffee -- jumping to levels similar to those of people at risk for diabetes.
Doctors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham also revealed that women who drink decaffeinated coffee are more than twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Caffeine has recently been found to reduce muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman's ovaries to her womb. "Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant, " says Professor Sean Ward from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, USA.
The amount of caffeine in just one cup of coffee could also be enough to harden a person's arteries for several hours afterward, according to a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress here.
Another study suggested that heart attacks might be a risk for coffee drinkers with a common genetic trait that makes caffeine linger in their bodies.
A growing body of research suggests that caffeine disrupts glucose metabolism and may contribute to the development and poor control of type 2 diabetes, a major public health problem. The blood sugar fluctuations that a caffeine high produces can contribute enormously to cravings.
Coffee can cause the body to excrete calcium in urine. We don't want the body to rid itself of calcium because this can lead to osteoporosis. According to The Diet Channel, about five milligrams of calcium is lost per every six ounces of coffee consumed.
One of the Most Sprayed Crops in the World
The coffee plant is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. It's coated with chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides, nothing you'd want to be ingesting. These chemicals then leech into the ground water and make people sick in local areas where coffee is grown.
Even though many chemicals that have been found to be harmful to the environment have been banned or are strictly regulated in the U.S. or Europe, they remain legal to use in less-developed countries, including many countries that grow coffee.
For instance, workers in these countries may be less likely to be well-informed about the dangers of the chemicals, less likely to be provided with protective gear, and less informed about proper application methods (see this abstract, for example). These regions are also much higher in biodiversity and ecosystem complexity, increasing the risk to the environment.
Here are just some of the more common chemicals used on coffee farms to control major pests and pathogens:
Endosulfan (brand nameThiodan) -- used against coffee cherry borer. Does not dissolve readily (but does degrade) in water and sticks to soil particles, so may take years to completely break down. Its breakdown products are more persistent than parent compounds. It is toxic to mammals, birds, and fish. Effects the central nervous system, and in animals causes kidney, testes, and liver damage. Class II (moderately hazardous).
Colombia has considered endosulfan worse than the coffee cherry borer. In that country, more than 100 human poisonings and one death were attributed to endosulfan use in coffee during 1993; more than 100 poisonings and three deaths were reported in 1994. Here is an article on endosulfan.
Chlorpyrifos (brand name Dursban). A broad spectrum organophosphate used against coffee cherry borer and coffee leaf miner. In the U.S. , the Environmental Protection Agency banned most household uses in 2000. It is a contact poison. It has caused human deaths, and has been linked to birth defects. It is extremely toxic to birds, freshwater and marine organisms, bees, and other wildlife. It can bioaccumulate and effect bird reproduction. Class II. A recent report on exposure and risks (especially to children) of chlorpyrifos from the Organic Center is here.
Diazinon (brand name Basudin).
Used against coffee borer. Not very toxic to mammals unless inhaled, it is nonetheless highly toxic to wildlife and beneficial insects, and acutely toxic to birds. In the U.S. where it is still commonly used on turfgrass, diazinon has caused the second largest number of total known incidents of bird mortality of any pesticide. Class II. Another profile here.
Disulfoton.
A systemic organophosphate insecticide used against leaf miner. In the U.S. , restricted use due to its high toxicity to mammals by all routes of exposure. It is also highly toxic to birds and fish. Secondary exposure and poisoning occurs after birds feed on insects that have consumed residue-laden plants; these insects are impaired by the disulfoton and are easier for birds to capture, compounding the problem. High levels of toxins can be attained in this manner and has resulted in avian mortality in connection with disulfoton use. It is delivered in granular form, which poses the threat of runoff and contamination of other crops when applied on slopes, on which coffee is often grown. Degrades or is metabolized by plants into harmful compounds that are very persistent in the environment. Class 1a, extremely hazardous (highest toxicity). Another profile here.
Methyl parathion (a.k.a. ethyl parathion, parathion). Organophosphate used against leaf miner. One of the most toxic pesticides, highly restricted in U.S. Very toxic to birds when ingested or through skin exposure. Also highly toxic to animals and fish. Persistent in soil and will bioaccumulate. Areas sprayed with this chemical should not be entered for 48 hours. It is banned in Indonesia and restricted in Colombia, but Pesticide Action Network reports that there is evidence that methyl parathion is not used safely in Central America and is regularly misused in developing countries. Class 1a, extremely hazardous.
Triadimefon (brand name Bayleton). Copper-based fungicide used to against coffee rust. Only slightly toxic to birds, little is known about its effect on humans, but it is a suspected that there is potential for reproductive problems with chronic exposure. It has been found to induce hyperactivity in rats. The major concern is that long-term use of this and other copper-based fungicides is copper accumulation in soils, such as been found in coffee farms in Kenya and in Costa Rica. Copper toxicity has been found in other crops grown in these soils, and copper impacts other biochemical and biological processes in soil, and little is known about long-term effects in tropical ecosystems. The primary metabolite of triadimefon is triadimenol, which is Class III (slightly hazardous). Another profile here.
Cypermethrin. A synthetic pyrethroid used against coffee cherry borer. Generally low direct toxicity to birds, but ingestion via contaminated insects causes mortality in young birds. Extremely toxic to fish other aquatic organisms, and should not be applied any place where it may drift into water. Class II.
Decaffeinated coffee goes through additional processing where caffeine is removed with chemicals. Conventional decaffeinated coffee often has more chemicals that regular.
The original article can be found HERE
The daily shot of java may affect more than just your energy levels. A new study of women found that drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages can alter levels of estrogen, a regulating hormone in women.
Over 1,000 chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee, and 19 are known rodent carcinogens.
Coffee is the second most traded product in the world after petroleum. Worldwide coffee production tips the scales at about 6 million metric tonnes. The average yield from one tree is the equivalent of one roasted pound of coffee and it takes five years for a coffee tree to reach maturity. Coffee growers must thus resort to toxic methods to ensure maximum yield from their crops including the use of harmful chemicals to ensure crops are free of insects and pathogens.
The impact on the estrogen study appeared to vary by race. In white women, for example, coffee appears to lower estrogen, while in Asian women it has the reverse effect, raising levels of the hormone.
Estrogen is structurally responsible for accelerating metabolism, increasing vaginal lubrication, increasing bone formation and increasing uterine and endometrial growth. It also helps increase HDL cholesterol, decrease LDL cholesterol and balance salt and water retention.
“This is important physiologically because it helps us understand how caffeine is metabolized by different genetic groups, ” said Dr. Enrique Schisterman, an author of the study and senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health.
The study, which was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analyzed data on more than 250 women who were examined one to three times a week over two menstrual cycles. They provided blood samples along with details about behaviors like exercise, eating and smoking. On average, they consumed about 90 milligrams of caffeine a day, equivalent to roughly one cup of coffee.
After controlling for a number of variables, like age and diet, the researchers found that among Asian women, those who had 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day had higher estrogen levels compared to those who consumed less. A similar pattern was seen among black women, though it was not statistically significant. In white women, however, 200 milligrams or more of caffeine appeared to have a slight lowering effect on estrogen.
Nationwide, about 90 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 34 drink the caffeine equivalent of one to two cups of coffee every day.
Why caffeine would have a different impact depending on race was unclear, though Dr. Schisterman said it was likely that genetics has an influence on caffeine metabolism. But the source of caffeine also seemed to make a difference. When the researchers looked exclusively at caffeine from beverages other than coffee -- like green tea and soda -- it was linked to higher estrogen in all women, regardless of race. Various levels of antioxidants and other compounds in the drinks, as well as additives like milk and sugar, might play a role, he said.
Dr. Schisterman noted that more research was needed to see if there could be a cumulative impact over many years or decades. “We don’t know if there are long-term effects of these small shifts in hormonal levels, ” he said.
Other Health Consequences
Despite a number of studies showing the beneficial effects of coffee, there are also those that show detrimental effects on human health. Almost all publications rely on conventional sources of coffee for their studies.
Researcher Marie-Soleil Beaudoin has discovered not only that a healthy person's blood sugar levels spike after eating a high-fat meal, but that the spike doubles after having both a fatty meal and caffeinated coffee -- jumping to levels similar to those of people at risk for diabetes.
Doctors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham also revealed that women who drink decaffeinated coffee are more than twice as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Caffeine has recently been found to reduce muscle activity in the Fallopian tubes that carry eggs from a woman's ovaries to her womb. "Our experiments were conducted in mice, but this finding goes a long way towards explaining why drinking caffeinated drinks can reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant, " says Professor Sean Ward from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, USA.
The amount of caffeine in just one cup of coffee could also be enough to harden a person's arteries for several hours afterward, according to a study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress here.
Another study suggested that heart attacks might be a risk for coffee drinkers with a common genetic trait that makes caffeine linger in their bodies.
A growing body of research suggests that caffeine disrupts glucose metabolism and may contribute to the development and poor control of type 2 diabetes, a major public health problem. The blood sugar fluctuations that a caffeine high produces can contribute enormously to cravings.
Coffee can cause the body to excrete calcium in urine. We don't want the body to rid itself of calcium because this can lead to osteoporosis. According to The Diet Channel, about five milligrams of calcium is lost per every six ounces of coffee consumed.
One of the Most Sprayed Crops in the World
The coffee plant is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. It's coated with chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides, nothing you'd want to be ingesting. These chemicals then leech into the ground water and make people sick in local areas where coffee is grown.
Even though many chemicals that have been found to be harmful to the environment have been banned or are strictly regulated in the U.S. or Europe, they remain legal to use in less-developed countries, including many countries that grow coffee.
For instance, workers in these countries may be less likely to be well-informed about the dangers of the chemicals, less likely to be provided with protective gear, and less informed about proper application methods (see this abstract, for example). These regions are also much higher in biodiversity and ecosystem complexity, increasing the risk to the environment.
Here are just some of the more common chemicals used on coffee farms to control major pests and pathogens:
Endosulfan (brand nameThiodan) -- used against coffee cherry borer. Does not dissolve readily (but does degrade) in water and sticks to soil particles, so may take years to completely break down. Its breakdown products are more persistent than parent compounds. It is toxic to mammals, birds, and fish. Effects the central nervous system, and in animals causes kidney, testes, and liver damage. Class II (moderately hazardous).
Colombia has considered endosulfan worse than the coffee cherry borer. In that country, more than 100 human poisonings and one death were attributed to endosulfan use in coffee during 1993; more than 100 poisonings and three deaths were reported in 1994. Here is an article on endosulfan.
Chlorpyrifos (brand name Dursban). A broad spectrum organophosphate used against coffee cherry borer and coffee leaf miner. In the U.S. , the Environmental Protection Agency banned most household uses in 2000. It is a contact poison. It has caused human deaths, and has been linked to birth defects. It is extremely toxic to birds, freshwater and marine organisms, bees, and other wildlife. It can bioaccumulate and effect bird reproduction. Class II. A recent report on exposure and risks (especially to children) of chlorpyrifos from the Organic Center is here.
Diazinon (brand name Basudin).
Used against coffee borer. Not very toxic to mammals unless inhaled, it is nonetheless highly toxic to wildlife and beneficial insects, and acutely toxic to birds. In the U.S. where it is still commonly used on turfgrass, diazinon has caused the second largest number of total known incidents of bird mortality of any pesticide. Class II. Another profile here.
Disulfoton.
A systemic organophosphate insecticide used against leaf miner. In the U.S. , restricted use due to its high toxicity to mammals by all routes of exposure. It is also highly toxic to birds and fish. Secondary exposure and poisoning occurs after birds feed on insects that have consumed residue-laden plants; these insects are impaired by the disulfoton and are easier for birds to capture, compounding the problem. High levels of toxins can be attained in this manner and has resulted in avian mortality in connection with disulfoton use. It is delivered in granular form, which poses the threat of runoff and contamination of other crops when applied on slopes, on which coffee is often grown. Degrades or is metabolized by plants into harmful compounds that are very persistent in the environment. Class 1a, extremely hazardous (highest toxicity). Another profile here.
Methyl parathion (a.k.a. ethyl parathion, parathion). Organophosphate used against leaf miner. One of the most toxic pesticides, highly restricted in U.S. Very toxic to birds when ingested or through skin exposure. Also highly toxic to animals and fish. Persistent in soil and will bioaccumulate. Areas sprayed with this chemical should not be entered for 48 hours. It is banned in Indonesia and restricted in Colombia, but Pesticide Action Network reports that there is evidence that methyl parathion is not used safely in Central America and is regularly misused in developing countries. Class 1a, extremely hazardous.
Triadimefon (brand name Bayleton). Copper-based fungicide used to against coffee rust. Only slightly toxic to birds, little is known about its effect on humans, but it is a suspected that there is potential for reproductive problems with chronic exposure. It has been found to induce hyperactivity in rats. The major concern is that long-term use of this and other copper-based fungicides is copper accumulation in soils, such as been found in coffee farms in Kenya and in Costa Rica. Copper toxicity has been found in other crops grown in these soils, and copper impacts other biochemical and biological processes in soil, and little is known about long-term effects in tropical ecosystems. The primary metabolite of triadimefon is triadimenol, which is Class III (slightly hazardous). Another profile here.
Cypermethrin. A synthetic pyrethroid used against coffee cherry borer. Generally low direct toxicity to birds, but ingestion via contaminated insects causes mortality in young birds. Extremely toxic to fish other aquatic organisms, and should not be applied any place where it may drift into water. Class II.
Decaffeinated coffee goes through additional processing where caffeine is removed with chemicals. Conventional decaffeinated coffee often has more chemicals that regular.
The original article can be found HERE
British Medical Journal Reveals That Academics Admit Data Falsification
27 January 2012
Just days after the nutrition science world was rocked by allegations that a famed veteran resveratrol researcher fabricated data in 26 articles over seven years, a British Medical Journal survey reveals the practice is disturbingly widespread.
The survey of 2700 doctors and scientists found one in seven (13%) had, "witnessed colleagues intentionally altering or fabricating data during their research or for the purposes of publication". Those are only the doctors that admitted the findings. Critics suggest the actual percentage may be higher than 30%.
That manipulation included, "inappropriately adjusting, excluding, altering, or fabricating data".
Many respondents said they were aware of possible misconduct within their own institution that had not been investigated sufficiently.
"Not all scientific misconduct is these gross violations like falsifications, plagiarism and fabrication," said Raymond De Vries, an associate professor of medical education and a member of the Bioethics Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
"A lot of us aren't making up data and stealing data," he said. However, he believes that intense competition within the sciences is having a negative effect on researchers.
The researchers then sell out to the highest bidders if it will mean further funding and grants to continue research initiative.
Since the 1960s, the FDA has had the authority to disqualify or remove from FDA-regulated trials any clinical investigators who have "repeatedly or deliberately" ignored regulations designed to protect human research participants or who have repeatedly or deliberately submitted false information to the agency or the sponsor of their research. But this process often took years to complete and to this day, the ability for the FDA to disqualify and clinical investigator appears to be extremely biased based on that investor's ties to the pharmaceutical industry, something the FDA denies.
Deserve Better
"...science and medicine deserve better. Doing nothing is not an option," said Dr. Fiona Godlee, BMJ editor in chief.
"While our survey can't provide a true estimate of how much research misconduct there is...it does show that there is a substantial number of cases and that...institutions are failing to investigate adequately, if at all."
"The BMJ has been told of junior academics being advised to keep concerns to themselves to protect their careers, being bullied into not publishing their findings, or having their contracts terminated when they spoke out."
Committee on Public Ethics (COPE) chair, Dr. Elizabeth Wager, added: "This survey chimes with our experience from COPE where we see many cases of institutions not cooperating with journals and failing to investigate research misconduct properly."
BMJ noted the survey mirrored one conducted in 2001 that found similar levels of fabrication awareness.
Dr. Godlee and Dr. Wager issued a joint BMJ editorial recently that stated: "There are enough known or emerging cases to suggest that the UK's apparent shortage of publicly investigated examples has more to do with a closed, competitive, and fearful academic culture than with Britain's researchers being uniquely honest."
Many papers showing that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) reduced the risk of oral cancer, turned out to be completely false. Databases of study participants were fabricated, with many people sharing the same birth date. An example was the author of one study, Dr. Jon Sudbo, of the Norwegian Radium Hospital in Oslo, Norway, who confessed to faking data for mouth-cancer studies published in 2004 and 2005.
More and more evidence is suggesting that medical journals are increasingly having to retract reports due to fabricated, erroneous or misleading data from Doctors and Scientists. Although fraud is clearly on the rise in Drug studies which serve the pharmaceutical industry, they are also increasing in the natural health industry.
Resveratrol Research Scandal
Dr. Dipak Das, a longtime researcher of the red wine antioxidant, resveratrol, was accused this month by his former employer, the University of Connecticut, of fabricating data on at least 145 occasions, in 26 research papers published in 11 journals over seven years.
The University had taken part in a three-year investigation before going public this month with its allegations that Dr. Das enagaged in systematic alteration of a type of data called Western Blot images which plot data - usually by Photoshop manipulation on his computer.
Those allegations are refuted on the grounds of a racist conspiracy by Dr. Das, but aside from a statement from his lawyer, the Doctor has remained largely silent on the affair as he recovers from a heart complaint in India.
Professor Lindsay Brown, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Southern Queensland, was at a Free Radical Society conference in Kolcatta, India, where Dr. Das spoke two weeks ago on January 13 about Western Blots before being struck down by a stroke and hospitalised.
"This is the end of his career. He will be remembered for this scientific fraud and for little else," Professor Brown told The Australian newspaper.
Commenting on the website Retraction Watch , someone known as Mallika observed: "I am a grad student at UCHC. I did know a couple of people in Dr. Das's lab and interacted with them outside the lab. I was always surprised at how rapidly they seemed to produce data and got tons of publications where we struggle to get our experiments and papers out."
Original article can be found HERE
Just days after the nutrition science world was rocked by allegations that a famed veteran resveratrol researcher fabricated data in 26 articles over seven years, a British Medical Journal survey reveals the practice is disturbingly widespread.
The survey of 2700 doctors and scientists found one in seven (13%) had, "witnessed colleagues intentionally altering or fabricating data during their research or for the purposes of publication". Those are only the doctors that admitted the findings. Critics suggest the actual percentage may be higher than 30%.
That manipulation included, "inappropriately adjusting, excluding, altering, or fabricating data".
Many respondents said they were aware of possible misconduct within their own institution that had not been investigated sufficiently.
"Not all scientific misconduct is these gross violations like falsifications, plagiarism and fabrication," said Raymond De Vries, an associate professor of medical education and a member of the Bioethics Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
"A lot of us aren't making up data and stealing data," he said. However, he believes that intense competition within the sciences is having a negative effect on researchers.
The researchers then sell out to the highest bidders if it will mean further funding and grants to continue research initiative.
Since the 1960s, the FDA has had the authority to disqualify or remove from FDA-regulated trials any clinical investigators who have "repeatedly or deliberately" ignored regulations designed to protect human research participants or who have repeatedly or deliberately submitted false information to the agency or the sponsor of their research. But this process often took years to complete and to this day, the ability for the FDA to disqualify and clinical investigator appears to be extremely biased based on that investor's ties to the pharmaceutical industry, something the FDA denies.
Deserve Better
"...science and medicine deserve better. Doing nothing is not an option," said Dr. Fiona Godlee, BMJ editor in chief.
"While our survey can't provide a true estimate of how much research misconduct there is...it does show that there is a substantial number of cases and that...institutions are failing to investigate adequately, if at all."
"The BMJ has been told of junior academics being advised to keep concerns to themselves to protect their careers, being bullied into not publishing their findings, or having their contracts terminated when they spoke out."
Committee on Public Ethics (COPE) chair, Dr. Elizabeth Wager, added: "This survey chimes with our experience from COPE where we see many cases of institutions not cooperating with journals and failing to investigate research misconduct properly."
BMJ noted the survey mirrored one conducted in 2001 that found similar levels of fabrication awareness.
Dr. Godlee and Dr. Wager issued a joint BMJ editorial recently that stated: "There are enough known or emerging cases to suggest that the UK's apparent shortage of publicly investigated examples has more to do with a closed, competitive, and fearful academic culture than with Britain's researchers being uniquely honest."
Many papers showing that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) reduced the risk of oral cancer, turned out to be completely false. Databases of study participants were fabricated, with many people sharing the same birth date. An example was the author of one study, Dr. Jon Sudbo, of the Norwegian Radium Hospital in Oslo, Norway, who confessed to faking data for mouth-cancer studies published in 2004 and 2005.
More and more evidence is suggesting that medical journals are increasingly having to retract reports due to fabricated, erroneous or misleading data from Doctors and Scientists. Although fraud is clearly on the rise in Drug studies which serve the pharmaceutical industry, they are also increasing in the natural health industry.
Resveratrol Research Scandal
Dr. Dipak Das, a longtime researcher of the red wine antioxidant, resveratrol, was accused this month by his former employer, the University of Connecticut, of fabricating data on at least 145 occasions, in 26 research papers published in 11 journals over seven years.
The University had taken part in a three-year investigation before going public this month with its allegations that Dr. Das enagaged in systematic alteration of a type of data called Western Blot images which plot data - usually by Photoshop manipulation on his computer.
Those allegations are refuted on the grounds of a racist conspiracy by Dr. Das, but aside from a statement from his lawyer, the Doctor has remained largely silent on the affair as he recovers from a heart complaint in India.
Professor Lindsay Brown, professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Southern Queensland, was at a Free Radical Society conference in Kolcatta, India, where Dr. Das spoke two weeks ago on January 13 about Western Blots before being struck down by a stroke and hospitalised.
"This is the end of his career. He will be remembered for this scientific fraud and for little else," Professor Brown told The Australian newspaper.
Commenting on the website Retraction Watch , someone known as Mallika observed: "I am a grad student at UCHC. I did know a couple of people in Dr. Das's lab and interacted with them outside the lab. I was always surprised at how rapidly they seemed to produce data and got tons of publications where we struggle to get our experiments and papers out."
Original article can be found HERE
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
WASH BEFORE WEARING……
This was originally posted at Jawbreaker88.com
Posted by: jawbreaker88 on: September 26, 2011
It is horrible. Guys tell your wife, sisters, girlfriends, and girl cousins wash bra before wearing.
ALL PLEASE WASH ALL BRAS, UNDERWEAR WHEN YOU BUY BEFORE WEARING THEM. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PARASITE IS IN OUR CLOTHES WHEN WE BUY THEM. FORWARD TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW. LET ME FORE WARN YOU THIS IS SO SQUIMISH, I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS CRAWLING ALL OVER ME EVEN AS I SEND THIS TO YOU. BE AWARE. IT IS SO GROTESQUE. PLEASE WASH YOUR UNDERWEAR BEFORE WEARING. PREFERABLY IN BOILING HOT WATER.
This is not for the weak; I have never seen anything like this. Read the article first before looking at the picture and film. This looks horrible. Oh my God!!!!!!! Ladies this could happen to you and Guys this could happen to your wife, girlfriend, partner so please BEWARE,and also warn others.
It has been reported that this is happening in Kenya as well, please make sure you iron your undergarments before you wear them and make sure that your clothes are ironed when they are dry and not damp. The picture is horrible but I felt that I should share with you. After anthropologist Susan McKinley came back home from an expedition in South America, she noticed a very strange rash on her left breast. Nobody knew what it was and she quickly dismissed it believing that the holes would leave in time. Upon her return she decided to see a doctor after she started developing intense pains. The doctor, not knowing the exact severity of the disease, gave her antibiotics and special creams. As time lapsed the pain did not subside and her left breast became more inflamed and started to bleed.
She decided to bandage her sores however as Susan's pain grew more intense she decided to seek help from a more certified doctor. Dr. Lynch could not diagnose the infection and told Susan to seek the aid of one of his colleagues who specialized in dermatology whom was sadly on vacation. She waited for two weeks and finally was able to react the dermatologist.
Sadly,a life changing event was about to unfold during her appointment.
To Miss McKinley's surprise, after she removed the bandages, they found larva growing and squirming within the pores and sores of her breast. Sometimes these wicked creatures would all together simultaneously move around into different crevices.
What she didn't know was that the holes were in fact, deeper than she had originally thought for these larvae were feeding off the fat, tissue, and even milk canals of her bosom.
Click to View Video (video link)
more pics
Posted by: jawbreaker88 on: September 26, 2011
It is horrible. Guys tell your wife, sisters, girlfriends, and girl cousins wash bra before wearing.
ALL PLEASE WASH ALL BRAS, UNDERWEAR WHEN YOU BUY BEFORE WEARING THEM. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PARASITE IS IN OUR CLOTHES WHEN WE BUY THEM. FORWARD TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW. LET ME FORE WARN YOU THIS IS SO SQUIMISH, I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS CRAWLING ALL OVER ME EVEN AS I SEND THIS TO YOU. BE AWARE. IT IS SO GROTESQUE. PLEASE WASH YOUR UNDERWEAR BEFORE WEARING. PREFERABLY IN BOILING HOT WATER.
This is not for the weak; I have never seen anything like this. Read the article first before looking at the picture and film. This looks horrible. Oh my God!!!!!!! Ladies this could happen to you and Guys this could happen to your wife, girlfriend, partner so please BEWARE,and also warn others.
It has been reported that this is happening in Kenya as well, please make sure you iron your undergarments before you wear them and make sure that your clothes are ironed when they are dry and not damp. The picture is horrible but I felt that I should share with you. After anthropologist Susan McKinley came back home from an expedition in South America, she noticed a very strange rash on her left breast. Nobody knew what it was and she quickly dismissed it believing that the holes would leave in time. Upon her return she decided to see a doctor after she started developing intense pains. The doctor, not knowing the exact severity of the disease, gave her antibiotics and special creams. As time lapsed the pain did not subside and her left breast became more inflamed and started to bleed.
She decided to bandage her sores however as Susan's pain grew more intense she decided to seek help from a more certified doctor. Dr. Lynch could not diagnose the infection and told Susan to seek the aid of one of his colleagues who specialized in dermatology whom was sadly on vacation. She waited for two weeks and finally was able to react the dermatologist.
Sadly,a life changing event was about to unfold during her appointment.
To Miss McKinley's surprise, after she removed the bandages, they found larva growing and squirming within the pores and sores of her breast. Sometimes these wicked creatures would all together simultaneously move around into different crevices.
What she didn't know was that the holes were in fact, deeper than she had originally thought for these larvae were feeding off the fat, tissue, and even milk canals of her bosom.
Click to View Video (video link)
more pics
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