Guardian Unlimited | Science | Dark chocolate 'may cut smokers' heart risk'

Dark chocolate 'may cut smokers' heart risk'



Ian Sample Tuesday December 20, 2005 The Guardian



Dark chocolate could help smokers cut the risk of serious heart disease, a study at the University Hospital in Zurich has found.

Researchers used ultrasound scans to look at blood flow and clot-causing platelets in the arteries of 25 male smokers after they ate white and dark cholocate. Antioxidants rose two hours after eating 40g of dark chocolate, blood flow was smoother and the build-up of platelets halved.



White chocolate made no difference, they say in the journal Heart. "Only a small treat of dark chocolate may benefit vascular health," said Roberto Corti who led the study.



For Dark 60% Chocolate, Sugar Free, Dairy Free see Plamil

More about → Guardian Unlimited | Science | Dark chocolate 'may cut smokers' heart risk'

Proof that stress makes you sick - Yahoo! News UK

Proof that stress makes you sick - Yahoo! News UK



At last it seems the medical profession is finally catching up with Nutritional Therapy. "Stress makesyou sick" well "durrr". Still it's good to have some "scientifically proven" evidence rather than just common sense and practical evidence that's been around for thousands of years.



Nutrition and Health expert Yvonne Bishop Weston a Nutritionist with The Food Doctor and Foods For Life says "especially in my city clinics I see a lot of patients suffering with the effects of stress - there's lots we can do help andsupport the immune system apart from just recommending Yoga!"



More info at The Food and Mood Project Website



SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian researchers said they had scientifically proven a long-suspected link between emotional stress and illnesses ranging from the common cold to cancer.



The group from Sydney's Garvan Institute found that a hormone released into the body during times of stress, neuropeptide Y (NPY), undermined the body's immune system and literally made you sick.



"Until now there has mostly been circumstantial evidence of a link between the brain and the immune system, but now we



(Advertisement)

have that connection," said the institute's Fabienne Mackay.



"During periods of stress, nerves release a lot of NPY and it gets into the bloodstream, where it inhibits the cells in the immune system that look out for and destroy pathogens in the body," she said.



"That stress makes you sick is no longer a myth, it is a reality and we need to take it seriously."



The group's findings were published in Monday's edition of the Journal of Experimental Medicine and the researchers said they hoped their work would lead to new kinds of therapeutic intervention.



Herbert Herzog, another of the scientists, said neuropeptide Y had been known to affect blood pressure and heart rates, but discovering its impact on the immune system opened up new doors for tackling some illnesses.



"That makes you more vulnerable when you for example have a cold or flu and even in the more serious situations such as cancer can be enhanced in these situations," he said on ABC radio.



Other illnesses with a link to stress include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, type 1 diabetes and lupus, the researchers said.



Mackay stressed that it would take years to develop drugs to counter the affects of NPY and that the best short-term solution for people was to combat their stress.



"The best thing to do is to remove stress from our lives just by reorganising the way we live, changing our lifestyle and using things like yoga and relaxation to the best of our ability," she said.

More about → Proof that stress makes you sick - Yahoo! News UK

All those McDonalds Milkshakes and still poor bone health

You'd think with all those cheeseburgers, milkshakes, ice creams, lattes, and the dairy that's sneaked into every kind of food imaginable that the medical establishment would have worked out that something didn't add up as dairy as a useful source of calcium for humans.



America and the UK are suffering record levels of oesteoporosis and the message is illogically is to eat even more dairy. The Doctors who get very little (2 days) training in nutrition can be excused but even some quite experienced nutritionists get suckered in to the dairy lobby's hype "Dairy is an excellent source of Calcium"



For a cow maybe?



With the amount of Dairy secreted in our food forcing the EU to legislate for better labelling laws on allergens it just doesn't add up, if dairy were the answer the problem would be solved.



But guess what? - the generation who had free milk at school are experiencing record levels of suffering - despite this the Billion Dollar Dairy industry still maintain it's not enough that is the problem



USDA statistics show only 12% of girls and 32% of boys ages 12 to 19 get the DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) of calcium. Nearly 90% of adult bone mass is established by the end of this age range, and those who are not getting enough calcium are at increased risk for osteoporosis later in life, according to Dr. Duane Alexander, director, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Rockville, MD. He warns that osteoporosis is a geriatric disease with roots that can be traced back to adolescence.



Some of the consequences don't wait for old age, however. Grace Wyshak, Ph.D., researcher, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, has conducted studies to examine the relationship between drinking carbonated soft drinks, physical activity and bone fractures. The most recent, published in the June 2000 issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, showed that active girls who drink cola drinks are five times more likely to have bone fractures than girls who don't drink soda. With each population studied, from teenagers and adolescents to postmenopausal women, the researcher consistently found strong relationships between consumption of carbonated beverages and bone fractures in physically active populations.



After age 8, soft-drink intake climbs dramatically. By age 18, a teenager consumes about 19 oz. of soft drinks per day and less than one serving of milk. The problem is more acute for adolescent girls than boys the same age.



Furthermore, pediatricians are seeing the reemergence of rickets, a bone disease that results from low levels of vitamin D, a nutrient commonly fortified in all types of fluid milk. Vitamin D also aids in calcium absorption, and study results published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine in Oct. 2004 showed that nearly a quarter of 300 healthy teenagers were deficient in vitamin D.



The real answer? More green leafy veg, vitamin K, magnesium (soya, cashew, almonds, brocolli, bananas, green leafy veg) and some quality sunshine for vitamin D. Less of anti nutrients such as caffienated carbonated drinks will help to stop bone robbers too.

More about → All those McDonalds Milkshakes and still poor bone health

BSE, CJD, Mad Cow Disease may be in milk as well as meat!

news @ nature.com - Prions suspected in milk - Sheep mammaries shown to contain agents of fatal brain disease.



Scientists have finally found evidence for what some nutritionists have suspected for years, that BSE could be passed on in milk. This follows circumstantial evidence of a higher than average rate of CJD amongst Dairy Farm workers.



It also may explain new cases of BSE amongst cattle who have been allegedly protected and kept free from contaminated food.



The inflamed mammary glands of sheep have been found to contain protein particles that cause scrapie, a sickness similar to mad cow disease. This suggests that the suspect proteins, called prions, may also be present in the milk of infected animals.



"It is unlikely that the prions are not in the milk," says Aguzzi, a pathologist at the University of Zurich Hospital, Switzerland. "And the prospect is not a pleasant one."



Neil Cashman, a prion researcher at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, is worried too. People have looked for prions in the milk of cows with BSE and haven't found any, he says. "But they haven't looked in cows with mammary-gland infection and BSE."



On 13 January 1995 SEAC held a special meeting to consider the significance of the death of a third dairy farm worker case from CJD. They concluded that the occurrence of CJD in three dairy farm workers with BSE in their dairy herds within the first five years of the CJDSU's surveillance study was a matter of concern, given the low probability of this happening by chance.



More - BSE Overview - BMJ - BSE Background News - Guardian

More about → BSE, CJD, Mad Cow Disease may be in milk as well as meat!

Baby Health: The importance of DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding

• A 2003 study published in the journal Pediatrics showed children whose mothers took a DHA supplement during pregnancy scored higher on intelligence tests at four years of age than children of mothers not taking DHA supplements.



• A 2004 study published in Child Development found that babies whose mothers had high blood levels of DHA at delivery had advanced attention spans into their second year of life. During the first six months of life these infants were two months ahead of babies whose mothers had lower DHA levels.



• Other research studies suggest breastfed babies have IQs of six to 10 points higher than formula-fed babies. Medical and nutritional experts attribute this difference to the DHA infants receive while nursing.



• In a trial of women receiving DHA supplementation during the third trimester, the average length of gestation increased six days (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2003).



• Research has found low levels of DHA in mother's milk and in the red blood cells of women with postpartum depression. (Journal of Affective Disorders, 2002). Some scientists believe increasing levels of maternal DHA may reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

More about → Baby Health: The importance of DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Eggs and Bird Flu Warning

The European Union's food safety agency will advise consumers to avoid raw eggs and poultry in order to prevent the spread of bird flu, an official at the watchdog said, confirming a newspaper report.



The deadly H5N1 virus first surfaced in Asia but appears to be spreading quickly to the west on the wings of migrating birds. But it is difficult to transmit from bird to human - thousands of cases among poultry in Asia have resulted in only 120 human cases, of which 60 led to death.

More about → Eggs and Bird Flu Warning

New Chocolate! Sugar Free, Dairy Free, EFA & higher protein, lower carb.

Plamil UK leaders in dairy free foods have liased with nutrition expert Yvonne Bishop-Weston to make a delicious vegan chocolate that's almost too good to be true! Using a new natural birch tree sweetener called xylitol Plamil hope to ensure there's no logical reason to buy Cadbury's or Nestle Dairy milk chocolate ever again.

Adrian Ling is keeping the Plamil innovative tradition alive with a new range of nutrition rich magic vegan chocolate having liased with top London nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston.

Adrian tells us “Yvonne asked if we could create a magic version of our famous dairy free chocolate that she could happily recommend, with no sugar, lower carb, higher protein and perhaps some essential fats, but still retain the delicious flavour of chocolate.”

“Having found a source of birch tree sugar alternative that has a very low Glycaemic Index (GI/GL) value we then added high protein hulled hempseed to add in omega, 3, 6 and 9 and subtle nutty flavour,” says Adrian proudly.

A delighted Yvonne tells us “Plamil really are the Willy Wonkas of healthy chocolate – this really is guilt free with all the health benefits and none of the drawbacks of sugar or artificial sweeteners – at last we really can have our cake and eat it!”

Full Story and Pictures - Try Some vegan chocolate NOW!

More about → New Chocolate! Sugar Free, Dairy Free, EFA & higher protein, lower carb.

UK ASA uphold Vegan Complaint against Nestle & Milk Claim

ASA uphold complaint against Nestle - Milk is not essential : "The ASA considered that the use of the word 'essential' implied dairy products were the only source of calcium. Because that was not correct, they concluded that the advertorial was likely to mislead and advised Nestle to amend the claim and to seek assistance from the CAP Copy Advice team before using a similar campaign in future. "

More news- Dairy Producers to beware of false nutrition claims

More about → UK ASA uphold Vegan Complaint against Nestle & Milk Claim

Junk food to be banned in schools

Junk food to be banned in schools - Yahoo! News UK



LONDON (Reuters) - Junk food high in fat, salt or sugar is to be banned in schools within a year, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly announced on Wednesday after a high profile campaign by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.



Kelly, speaking to the BBC and Sky News, said she would give details of the ban during her speech at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.



"Teachers know that eating well at school encourages good behaviour and children getting better results," she told Sky News

More about → Junk food to be banned in schools

Documentary offers 'Food' for thought

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - "The Future of Food," a documentary about the genetically modified (GM) food industry is a cross between "The Corporation" and "Super-Size Me."



"The Future of Food" attacks GM food on three fronts. The first is on health grounds. Interviewees say that GM food has not been proved to be a safe source of nutrition. Nature has been regulating what we eat for thousands of years, but no one knows what side effects might result from food that has been genetically modified. The fact that GM food does not have to be labeled as such in the U.S. -- though it does in Europe -- also means that it's difficult to trace any illness back to it.



The second attack is ecological. When GM seeds stray into fields of non-GM crops, they take over, and the other crops die. This, say experts, is beginning to destroy the diversity that is nature's way of maintaining our planet's ecological balance.



The third attack is political. Court rulings have upheld GM food manufacturers' right to sue farmers if their seeds accidentally grow in their fields -- even if the farmers are unaware that the GM crops are present. This, in some cases, has led to the near ruination of small farmers.

More about → Documentary offers 'Food' for thought

Doctors 'must train in nutrition'

Doctors 'must train in nutrition'







Doctors in the UK are not given enough training in child nutrition, which can play a major part in good health in adulthood, an expert has warned.



Professor Alan Lucas, from University College London's Institute of Child Health, said the lack of medical training in paediatric nutrition was a serious problem.



Research has shown that how babies are fed in the early months of life can influence their risk of heart disease later on.



And the ongoing epidemic of childhood obesity means that nutritional advice to parents is also important, Prof Lucas said.



Now the UK's first stand-alone centre for paediatric nutrition is being created at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London.



Top London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop Weston has often been exasperated by the nutrition information given to her clients in the past by doctors. She said "More than 2 days training in nutrition would obviously help doctors to do their job better but the training is a minimum of 3 years to be a Nutritional therapist. Maybe Doctors should just make better use of the experts. Nutritional therapy could save the NHS billions."



More

More about → Doctors 'must train in nutrition'

Vegan Diet Plan -New study shows high-carb, vegan diet causes major weight loss

New study shows high-carb, vegan diet causes major weight loss

Diet effective with no limits on portion size

WASHINGTON -- A low-fat, plant-based diet is more effective at helping women lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity than an omnivorous diet, shows a new study appearing in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine. The study, involving 59 overweight, postmenopausal women, was conducted by Neal D. Barnard, M.D., president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), together with colleagues at Georgetown University Hospital and George Washington University. Half of the study participants followed a vegan diet; the other half followed a control diet based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.

"The study participants following the vegan diet enjoyed unlimited servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other healthful foods that enabled them to lose weight without feeling hungry," says Dr. Barnard, the lead author. "As they began to experience the positive effects, weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, the women in the intervention group became even more motivated to follow the plant-based eating plan."

Scientific studies show that obesity and overweight are far less prevalent in populations following a plant-based diet. In a recent study of more than 55,000 Swedish women, Tufts University researcher P. Kirstin Newby and her colleagues found that 40 percent of meat-eaters were overweight or obese while only 25 to 29 percent of vegetarians and vegans were. Worldwide, vegetarian populations experience lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other life-threatening diseases. A new study appearing in September's Journal of Urology shows that a low-fat, primarily vegan diet may slow the progression of prostate cancer.

The simplicity of a vegan diet appeals to people who are busy with work and family, and many familiar recipes are easy to adapt. At least four studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that patients give the low-fat vegetarian diet a high rating in terms of acceptability, and that the transition only takes about three weeks or less.

Yvonne Bishop Weston Says "Once again this is a diet that may be as much to do with calorie restriction as nutrition. I'm wary of low fat diets as it's the type of fat that's important not fat generally. Your body needs good fats for optimum health so it's important to find reliable plant sources such as nuts, seeds and purslane."

PCRM - Neal Barnard M.D. - Report in Scotsman - Daily Mail

More about → Vegan Diet Plan -New study shows high-carb, vegan diet causes major weight loss

Healthy innovation attractive to investors

Healthy innovation attractive to investors: "09/09/2005 - Developing healthier foods is not only key to stronger sales for food makers but it also boosts a firms financial value, as investors increasingly consider it an important element of corporate sustainability.



You cannot look at it in an isolated way but it is clearly a factor,says Pierin Menzli, research analyst at the SAM group, an asset management company specialising in sustainability investments that compiles the Dow Jones Sustainability Index ( DJSI).

This year, for the first time, R&D in health and nutrition was included as one of about 20 criteria used by SAM to assess the sustainability of food companies for the index. It is among the three criteria with the highest weighting. "

More about → Healthy innovation attractive to investors

World Vegan Day 1st November

Following a statement by UK Food expert Professor Tim Lang, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, London Nutritionists Foods for Life are urging food manufacturers, supermarkets, schools and journalists to exploit World Vegan Day on November 1st to highlight the benefits of eating more fruit and veg.

The BBC reported Professor Lang’s message that “the healthy eating drive is at risk of failing because the public is getting contradictory messages.”

Top London nutritionist and tutor at The Institute of Optimum Nutrition Yvonne Bishop-Weston agrees “Eating more plant based foods is essential for better health. So many people I see in my London clinics can be helped with simple changes in their diets rather than expensive drugs. Fertility, heart health, cognitive function, digestion and weight management can all usually be improved through rebalancing the body and a healthy optimum nutrition program.”

“World Vegan Day 1st November is the perfect awareness day to unite governments, manufacturers, health professionals, chefs and retailers to encourage higher awareness about plant based solutions to many of the world’s problems” says husband Tony.

More about → World Vegan Day 1st November

Strokes are preventable

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050830: "The Times, The Guardian and the The Daily Mail all report on a survey conducted by the Stroke Association, which reveals the extent to which people underestimate the risk posed by strokes. The Stroke Association said that 50,000 strokes a year could be prevented if people were aware of the connections with high blood pressure, alcohol consumption and smoking. Currently, someone will have a stroke every five minutes, making it the single biggest cause of severe disability within the UK and the third biggest killer. Joe Korner of the Stroke Association called for more to be done to educate the public, saying: 'The lack of awareness of the risk factors, particularly high blood pressure, is very worrying. Up to 40% of strokes could be prevented'. GP Brian Crichton said: 'These results confirm what many GPs have long felt, that more needs to be done to raise awareness of risk factors for stroke and encourage people to take early action'. "

More about → Strokes are preventable

Isle of Wight News - VEGAN SCHOOL ON THE MENU FOR ISLAND

A vegan chef and a top London nutritionist have raised half a million pounds in just a week - to set up the new venture being billed as an international school of nutritional health and culinary arts. The plan is to set up the sustainable vegetarian development on a 17th century pig farm. They need support with another £500,000 ($1 million) to make environmentally friendly dreams come true.



Full story - Pictures - Pdf file

More about → Isle of Wight News - VEGAN SCHOOL ON THE MENU FOR ISLAND

Doctor Recognized for Research on Nutrition and Effect on Chronic Diseases

Dr Walter Willett has probably done more than most scientists to expose the myths and marketing lies about cow's milk that fool people into big waistlines and a host of related illnesses



Doctor Recognized for Research on Nutrition and Effect on Chronic Diseases :: PNNOnline :::

"Walter C. Willett, M.D., Dr. P.H., Chairman of the Department of Nutrition and Fredrick John Stare Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, was named winner of the twenty-fifth annual Bristol-Myers Squibb/Mead Johnson Freedom to Discover Award for Distinguished Achievement in Nutrition Research. "



Among his major findings: that alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer and that animal fats can lead to heart attacks. His work has uncovered the benefits of olive oil, peanut butter and other nuts – so-called good fats—and the hazards of refined starches. He found that with the right dietary choices as part of a healthy lifestyle, 82 percent of heart attacks, about 70 percent of strokes, more than 90 percent of type 2 diabetes and more than 70 percent of colon cancer cases could be prevented. He also uncovered significant associations between trans-fats from partially hydrogenated oils and heart disease and between red meat consumption and colon cancer.



Interview With Dr Willett - Dr Walter Willett on Diabetes -

More about → Doctor Recognized for Research on Nutrition and Effect on Chronic Diseases

Brightly-coloured fruit and veg may protect against arthritis

Brightly-coloured fruit and veg may protect against arthritis: "Rheumatoid arthritis currently affects around 1% adults in the UK. Previous studies have suggested that vitamin C and the pigment beta-cryptoxanthin, both of which are found in brightly-coloured fruit and veg, may act as antioxidants, and protect the body against the oxidative damage which can cause inflammation.



The Manchester team, based in the Arthritis Research Campaign's Epidemiology Unit, worked with researchers from the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cambridge to analyse health questionnaires and diet diaries by over 25000 45-74 year-olds; completed as part of the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation of Cancer) Norfolk study of diet and chronic disease in the 1990s. They then followed-up the participants over a nine year period to identify new cases of inflammatory polyarthritis (IP), including rheumatoid arthritis.



Dr Dorothy Pattison, who led the research, said: "We found that the average daily beta-cryptoxanthin intake of the 88 patients who had developed inflammatory polyarthritis was 40% lower than those who hadn't, and their intake of another carotenoid, zeaxanthin, was 20% lower.



"Those in the top third for beta-cryptoxanthin intake were only half as likely to develop IP as those in the lowest third, and vitamin C was also found to be an important factor."



The findings appear to confirm previous evidence that a modest increase in fruit and vegetables containing beta-cryptoxanthin and vitamin C, equivalent to one glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice each day, might help to protect against developing inflammatory joint diseases.



Read more about Fruit and Veg at the 5 A Day NHS website

More about → Brightly-coloured fruit and veg may protect against arthritis

New York to Ban Trans Fats?

New York Restaurants Urged to Eliminate Trans Fats - Los Angeles Times: "NEW YORK No one would ever mistake a place teeming with steakhouses and French restaurants not to mention street vendors hawking beef-laden hot dogs and margarine-covered bagels as being particularly health-conscious.



But if the city's health department has its way, New York will become the first American metropolis whose restaurants do away with trans fats, chemically engineered ingredients in cooking oils that act like cement in the human heart.



Trans fats are created when unsaturated vegetable oils undergo a chemical process known as hydrogenation. That gives the oils a solid form that is essential to holding together a cookie or achieving the golden crisp of French fries.



Trans fats, known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, were developed years ago to replace saturated fats.



Scientists later discovered that trans fats, common in such things as baked goods and fried chicken, were even worse for the heart.



The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has targeted trans fats in grocery stores. Beginning Jan. 1, food makers must disclose levels of trans fats on nutrition labels."

More about → New York to Ban Trans Fats?

Alzheimer's fought with Oranges & Green leafy veg.

Picture: Purslane, high in EFA's Omega 3 another brain protector.

Today@UCI: Press Releases:: "Folates more effective in limiting Alzheimer's disease risk than antioxidants, other nutrients

Major observational study points to importance of healthy diet for long-term brain health

Irvine, Calif., August 12, 2005
Adults who eat the daily recommended allowance of folates B-vitamin nutrients found in oranges, legumes, leafy green vegetables and folic acid supplements significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimers disease, according to results from a long-term National Institute on Aging study of diet and brain aging."

More about → Alzheimer's fought with Oranges & Green leafy veg.

chocolate prevents strokes?

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050811: "Cocoa fights clots

Source: Daily Mail

Date: 11/08/2005

In a brief snippet in the Daily Mail today, it is reported that scientists in Southampton, led by Dr Denise O'Shaughnessy, have claimed from studies that drinking hot coca can help prevent fatal blood clots, because coca inhibits platelet function. The finding could now lead to new therapies to treat heart disease and preventative measures for strokes. "

More about → chocolate prevents strokes?

Strawberries Most Effective in Fighting Against Cancer Cells

Strawberries Most Effective in Fighting Against Cancer Cells: "In one phase of the study, all of the berry extracts exhibited

anti-proliferative effects and did so in a dose-dependent manner. The

strongest strawberry effects were seen against two types of oral cancer cells

and one type of colon cancer cells. A second phase of the experiment measured

their ability to induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) against a

cyclooxygenase (COX)-II expressing enzyme colon cancer cell. The results

showed that the berries were potent inducers of apoptosis in the human colon

cancer cells.

Navindra Seeram, Ph.D., presented the findings of this study at the

International Berry Health Benefits Symposium, June 13-14, 2005."

More about → Strawberries Most Effective in Fighting Against Cancer Cells

Antioxidants Proven To Be Key To Long Life

Research from the The University of Washington suggests higher dose of antioxidents could allow us to live 20% longer and easily reach ages of over 100 in good health.



Antioxidants Proven To Be Key To Long Life: "The International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 2004 published results showing that Reishi caused a significant post-ingestion increase in plasma antioxidant capacity with peak response at 90 min. Increase in urine antioxidant capacity was seen within 3 hours. Results indicate that Reishi intake causes an acute increase in plasma antioxidant capacity.



Reishi is a powerful antioxidant; in a laboratory study Reishi significantly elevated the free radical scavenging ability of blood and was so strong that even after the Reishi extract was absorbed and metabolized the scavenging effect still continued. A compound called GLB 7 actually decreases the production of oxygen free radicals. Dr. Vladimir Kupin of the Cancer Research Centre in Moscow discovered that Reishi was more effective as a free radical scavenger than isolated refined compounds. A laboratory study with fruit flies that have a very similar genetic make up to humans and are often used in experiments proved that Reishi significantly lengthened the life span of those that had been fed Reishi compared to controls.



Cancer and Dietary Antioxidants



Epidemiological studies show that a high intake of anti-oxidant-rich foods is inversely related to cancer risk. Animal and cell cultures confirm the anticancer effects of antioxidants. Selenium and vitamin E reduced the risk of some forms of cancer, including prostate and colon cancer and carotenoids have been shown to help reduce breast cancer risk.



Cancer treatment by radiation and anticancer drugs reduces inherent antioxidants and induces oxidative stress, which increases with disease progression. While clinical studies on the effect of anti-oxidants in modulating cancer treatment are limited in number and size, experimental studies show that antioxidant vitamins and some herbs selectively induce apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells but not in normal cells and prevent angiogenesis and metastatic spread, suggesting a potential role for antioxidants as adjuvants in cancer therapy. Reishi has been shown to suppress cell adhesion and cell migration of highly invasive breast and prostate cancer cells, suggesting its potency to reduce tumor invasiveness.



Accumulation of excess free radicals causing oxidative damage to cells is one of the contributing factors in ageing and has been implicated in many diseases, including cancer. The human immune system and antioxidant activity becomes weaker and less efficient with age; this reduced effectiveness helps to explain the rising incidence of cancer and life threatening infections in older people. It is thought antioxidant supplements could help to maintain bodily processes and prevent a significant number of degenerative diseases, especially those of the immune, cardiovascular and liver functions. Indeed, antioxidant supplementation has shown a remarkable ability to forestall age related changes to the immune system and even reverse many aspects of immune function in subjects with damaged immune functions.



Extracts from medicinal mushrooms are classified as nutraceuticals, i.e. dietary supplements. Functional food science is a rapidly evolving discipline researching ways to maintain good health and improve homeostasis and thus create conditions for reducing the risk of disease. It is quite distinct from medical and pharmaceutical sciences where the objectives are mainly to eliminate, cure or control diseases rather than to fortify the patient and prevent disease. Functional foods are poised to play an increasingly important role in developed nations to curtail spiraling health care budgets.



It is widely recognized that diet has a critical role in general health and that many types of cancer can be linked to inappropriate diets. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables (functional foods) are now considered essential ingredients in cancer and coronary disease prevention programs, e.g. the Department Of Health campaign advocating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Cancer Research UK note, ‘Dietary supplements consisting of whole mushroom extracts are becoming increasingly popular. Unlike most dietary supplements, mushroom dietary supplements contain a veritable Pandora's box of compounds'.

More about → Antioxidants Proven To Be Key To Long Life

Study - Essential fatty acids in plasma in British meat-eating, vegetarian, and vegan men

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma in British meat-eating, vegetarian, and vegan men -- Rosell et al. 82 (2): 327 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:



Long-chain n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma in British meat-eating, vegetarian, and vegan men1,2,3

Magdalena S Rosell, Zouë Lloyd-Wright, Paul N Appleby, Thomas AB Sanders, Naomi E Allen and Timothy J Key

1 From the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom (MSR, PNA, NEA, and TJK), and the Nutrition, Food and Health Research Center, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom (ZL-W and TABS)





Background: Plasma concentrations of long-chain n–3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are lower in vegetarians and in vegans than in omnivores. No data are available on whether these concentrations differ between long- and short-term vegetarians and vegans.



Objectives: We compared plasma fatty acid composition in meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans and examined whether the proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n–3; EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n–3; DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n–3; DHA) were related to the subjects’ duration of adherence to their diets or to the proportions of plasma linoleic acid (18:2n–6; LA) and -linolenic acid (18:3n-3; ALA).



Design: The present cross-sectional study included 196 meat-eating, 231 vegetarian, and 232 vegan men in the United Kingdom. Information on anthropometry, diet, and smoking habits was obtained through a questionnaire. Total fatty acid composition in plasma was measured.



Results: The proportions of plasma EPA and DHA were lower in the vegetarians and in the vegans than in the meat-eaters, whereas only small differences were seen for DPA. Plasma EPA, DPA, and DHA proportions were not significantly associated with the duration of time since the subjects became vegetarian or vegan, which ranged from <1 y to >20 y. In the vegetarians and the vegans, plasma DHA was inversely correlated with plasma LA.



Conclusions: The proportions of plasma long-chain n–3 fatty acids were not significantly affected by the duration of adherence to a vegetarian or vegan diet. This finding suggests that when animal foods are wholly excluded from the diet, the endogenous production of EPA and DHA results in low but stable plasma concentrations of these fatty acids.





Key Words: n–3 Fatty acids • vegetarians • vegans • cross-sectional study

More about → Study - Essential fatty acids in plasma in British meat-eating, vegetarian, and vegan men

USA Healthy vegetarian Lifestyle Expo-

Healthy Lifestyle Expo: "5th Annual Healthy Lifestyle Expo Friday, Oct 14 through Sunday, Oct 16, 2005 Burbank Hilton, Burbank California



Held during two and a half days at the 50,000 square foot Burbank Hilton Convention Center, the Healthy Lifestyle Expo will help you change your life! Featuring eye-opening presentations from leading health experts, you'll learn how to be the healthy person you deserve to be."



Vegetarian Health Exhibition, conference and speaker seminars on health, nutrition and healthy eating with plant based diets. Buy Tickets here

More about → USA Healthy vegetarian Lifestyle Expo-

Mercury In Fish - More evidence

Natural Products Magazine: "FSA reports on high levels of fish contaminants - July 20, 2005

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) claims to have found significant levels of methylmercury and dioxins in both farmed and wild fish.



Although no real differences were found in the level of contamination between farmed or wild fish in terms of safety and nutrient contribution, the concentration of contaminants overall varied depending on breed of fish, and type of contaminant.



Methylmercury is claimed to be the most toxic form of mercury found in the human diet, and the most predominant form of mercury in fish, affecting the human nervous system and the developing brain. Dioxins are said to affect the development of the male reproductive organs, and exposure to the contaminant when pregnant is not advised.



The accumulation of toxins are said to take months, sometimes years, to clear properly from the body. As a result of the study, the EFSA have warned that women of a child bearing age, or those who are attempting to become pregnant, should limit their weekly intake of fatty fish, such as salmon, trout, mackerel and tuna to two portions, at 130g per portion. "

More about → Mercury In Fish - More evidence

Got Milk? - Got Health Problems?

Got Intolerance?

Got Skin Problems?
Got Growth Problems?
Iritability?
A Bit Bloated?
Feel like an incredible hulk?

Infoplease - Got Milk Substitutes?: "the majority of non-white American adults are lactose intolerant:(*1)

Asian Americans 95%
African Americans 65%
American Indians 65%
Hispanic Americans 50%
Caucasians 15%
Entire American pop. 25%
World population 75%
All children are born with the enzyme lactase, which allows them to digest milk, but by the age of ten many children of non-European descent no longer produce the enzyme. Health and civil rights groups, spearheaded by the Congressional Black Caucus's Health Brain Trust, have urged that the lactose intolerance of non-white Americans be taken into account when preparing the new dietary guidelines that will be issued in 2000. Donna M. Christian-Christensen, head of the Black Caucus's committee, remarked to the New York Times, These are called Guidelines for Americans, so they should reflect all Americans.

1. Source of statistics: Richard Grand, M.D., Tufts University Medical School."

If you are in doubt, and are shocked that many doctors get it wrong and milk isn't best for your health then a nutritionist can arrange a blood test to test if you have the key antibodies".

More about → Got Milk? - Got Health Problems?

Dark Chocolate for Heart Health

Breaking Vegan News, Vegetarian News, International News, Worldwide vegan News Feed: "According to a new study, a daily bar-sized indulgence of flavonol-rich dark chocolate could reduce blood pressure and improve insulin resistance.

'Previous studies suggest flavonoid-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, tea, red wine and chocolate, might offer cardiovascular benefits,' says Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Ph.D, Senior Scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. 'But this in one of the first clinical trials to look specifically at dark chocolate's effect on lowering blood pressure among people with hypertension.'"

More about → Dark Chocolate for Heart Health

Red Meat - Red Alert - Cancer Risk

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050719: "Red alert Source: The Independent Date: 19/07/2005

The Independent reports on the news that two warnings about the dangers of red meat have appeared in the past month. A European study has suggested a strong link with bowel cancer, and a smaller British study has found a powerful association with the inflammatory bowel condition Crohn's disease. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition involving 500,000 Europeans in 10 countries, whose diets were monitored for five years, showed that those who ate two portions a day of red meat had a third higher risk of developing bowel cancer than those who ate one portion a week. "

More about → Red Meat - Red Alert - Cancer Risk

Nutrasweet Aspartame cancer risk.

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050715: "Sweetener's link to cancer" .
Source: Daily Mail Date: 15/07/2005
The Daily Mail and others report today on new claims surrounding the artificial sweetner NutraSweet. The artificial additive, also known as Aspartame, that is used in 6,000 diet food and pharmaceutical products, has been linked to cancer by the European Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences. The research has suggested that cancer could be triggered by chemicals created by aspartame as it is broken down in the body, such formaldehyde and methanol. The report has now prompted the European Food Safety Authority to call for an expert review of the EFOE data. "

FOODS FOR LIFE says Use a natural sweetener like Stevia or Xylitol. Low GI/GL Xylitol is usually made from Birch Tree bark and has been used extensively since the Second World War. Dentists love it as it actually supresses bacteria unlike many artificial sweeteners. Due to it's low GI/GL low carb rating it's great for weight management, it also tastes great.

Xylitol was first extracted in the 1890’s by a German chemist. It was first manufactured shortly after the Second World War in Finland where there was a shortage of sweeteners following the war. In the 1950’s it was found to be a normal part of our metabolism. It has been used in foodstuffs since the 1960’s in Japan, the former Soviet Union, Germany and Switzerland. In 1963 the American Foods and Drugs Administration approved its use for special dietary uses such as diabetic diets. In 1988 they allowed it to be classified as a food additive.

Buy Xylitol USA $7.99 - UK £4.99 - Australia - Canada $8.75

Aspartame studies show cancer and obesity risk - False Claims? Hoax? You decide.- Details about Splenda (sucralose) - Splenda is not Splendid

More about → Nutrasweet Aspartame cancer risk.

KRT Wire | 07/14/2005 | Food, advertising industries tout new strategy on junk food

KRT Wire | 07/14/2005 | Food, advertising industries tout new strategy on junk food: "WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Faced with mounting criticism of food marketing directed at increasingly obese children, the food and advertising industry on Thursday fired back by touting its healthier new products and vowing a get-tough strategy on children's ads.

The industries' response reflects an effort to ward off government regulation of advertising aimed at children and a growing consumer demand for healthier products.

At a government-sponsored program entitled Marketing, Self Regulation and Childhood Obesity, the Nickelodeon children's television network announced that the SpongeBob SquarePants character would soon appear on the side of spinach packages. McDonald's touted its apple dippers. And General Mills promoted the health benefits of its whole-grain cereals for kids.

Meanwhile, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents many major food companies, said that on Friday it would unveil beefed-up guidelines for advertising aimed at children. The new guidelines would significantly increase the scope of the industry-funded Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU), which was established in 1974 to review children's advertising. They include a prohibition on product placement in children's shows, scrutiny of advertising on such new media as Internet Web sites and video games and a review of licensed characters used to tout food products.

Despite those efforts, critics noted that children are fatter than ever, with the rates of obesity among kids ages 6 to 11 tripling during the last three decades and doubling for children ages 2 to 5 and among adolescents 12 to 19 years old. They also argued that the industry has failed at regulating itself during the last three decades, as evidenced by the proliferation of junk food ads."

More about → KRT Wire | 07/14/2005 | Food, advertising industries tout new strategy on junk food

GSK Asthma Drug Could Kill

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050714: "Asthma drug scare at GSK

Source: Daily Mail

Date: 14/07/2005

The Mail also features a brief item on new concerns for GlaxoSmithKline's popular drug Advair, used to treat asthma. There have been fears for the safety of the drug folloiwng a number of premature deaths linked to the active ingredient in the drug. The drug could now be cleared from pharmacy shelves in the US. "

More about → GSK Asthma Drug Could Kill

Vitamin Ban by EU

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050713 Better Health: why the answer is on your plate

Source: Times 2 Date: 13/07/2005

In the light of today's ruling on vitamin supplements by the European Union, the Times 2 section offers a two page guide to replacing vitamins readers may be taking in supplement form with actual food that contains the vitamins previously supplied by these tablets. The article features contributions from Dr Thomas Stuttaford, who argues that supplements are essential to many people's diets. However, it is stated that there would be no health crisis amongst the public as a result of the ban.



Foods For Life says "Prevention is obviously better than cure and we applaud the Times for highlighting healthy foods. The trouble is that after many years of neglect or illness many people's stores of these vitamins and minerals are so low they have led to serious imbalances. Supplements are the easiest and quickest way to rebalance the body. It is a total hypocrasy to target natural remedies in this way and turn a blind eye to the thousands of pharmaceuticals that create serious illnesses instead of healing people. Intensive and modern farming methods have also led to serious mineral deficiencies in the soil such as selenium. It's not hard to guess who's behind this new legislation."

More about → Vitamin Ban by EU

The Blackcurrant Foundation

The Blackcurrant Foundation: "It may be small, but the mighty blackcurrant is bursting with more health promoting antioxidants than most other fruit and vegetables, including blueberries!

It's the special antioxidants called anthocyanins, which give blackcurrants their distinctive dark colour. British blackcurrants are grown and bred especially for their deep colour, which makes them extra good for you. "

More about → The Blackcurrant Foundation

Let food be thy medicine

Let food be thy medicine: "Instead of scribbling off prescriptions willy-nilly, doctors would better serve the aims of achieving healthy patients by drawing food and diet into their repertoire. Now.

Not all health conditions can be alleviated through diet. But many can, and often without setting up secondary health risks.

Statin drugs can lower cholesterol, but side effects include liver damage and kidney failure. A diet high in unsaturated fats, soluble fiber and phytosterols also lowers cholesterol, but without the side effects.

This makes it a route that many would opt for. But most people are unaware that the choice exists.

That is because most of the information presented to doctors on the latest treatment methods comes from pharmaceutical companies, who devote gargantuan sums to promoting their drugs and offer perks to doctors who prescribe them. "

More about → Let food be thy medicine

East Anglian Ambulance mobile ICE campaign

Simple but great idea - have you got ICE in your mobile?

East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust website - ICE: "In the case of an emergency would the police or ambulance service know who to contact?



Simply type ICE plus a contact name and number into your mobile and help the emergency services to help you."

More about → East Anglian Ambulance mobile ICE campaign

Vegetarian Nutrition for Cars

Nutrition for cars - what do you feed yours?



As Biofuel / biodiesel becomes more popular more cars are going vegetarian to save money and protect the environment.



Vegetarian News Feed - vegan cars eat chip fat: "Most of us drive vehicles with ravenous appetites for gasoline. Steve Morrison drives obliviously past gas stations in a car with an aroma that stimulates people's appetites."



It's not just people that can benefit from eating more plantfood.

More about → Vegetarian Nutrition for Cars

Co-op Bans MSG and Artificial Food Colours

Co-op Bans MSG and Artificial Food Colours:



The Co-op has become the first supermarket group to ban a range of commonly-used colours and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in all its own-label food, because of potential links to food intolerance* and fresh concerns about children's diets.



According to independent research carried out amongst parents on behalf of the Co-op**:



Six in 10 think that children's diets are worse than they were 10 years ago, with over a third (35 per cent) feeling that children's diets have got much worse in the last decade



A third (33 per cent) link their children's diet to hyperactivity, naughtiness, anger and lack of concentration



However, whilst 84 per cent of parents acknowledge that they are primarily responsible for ensuring the food children eat is healthy, followed by schools, government and manufacturers, less than half actually check the contents for sugar (45 per cent), artificial additives (43 per cent), fat (40 per cent) and salt (37 per cent), and a quarter (26 per cent) of all parents surveyed say they don't check the labels at all



Although over a third (37 per cent) have never heard of MSG, on learning of possible links between MSG and food intolerance, 75 per cent say that they may at least re-think their food purchasing for children. Nearly half (43 per cent) say it would definitely affect the food they bought for children.



"Sally Bunday, founder director of the Hyperactive Children's Support Group, said: ' The HACSG and the families whom they represent welcome the Co-op's decision to remove artificial colourings and MSG from its own-label products. Parents whose children are sensitive to these additives or who prefer alternatives will appreciate the changes made by the Co-op.'

- ends -



Notes to editors:



* The following colours, all of which should be avoided according to the HACSG, have been removed from Co-op brand products:



E120 Cochineal, Carmines and Carminic Acid

E102 Tartrazine � linked to intolerance/allergic reaction. Widely thought to cause hyperactivity

E110 Sunset Yellow � thought to cause allergic reaction, some evidence of gastric upset and some inference affects kidneys

E122 Carmoisine � linked to intolerance/allergic reaction

E124 Ponceau 4R � linked to intolerance/allergic reaction

E129 Allura Red AC � some evidence of hypersensitivity

E104 Quinoline Yellow

E127 Erythrosine � may affect thyroid hormone levels in children. Adverse effects on thyroid

E131 Patent Blue V � linked to intolerance/allergic reaction

E132 Indigo Carmine � linked to allergy/allergic reaction

E142 Green S � low incidence of testicular cancer has been reported in a study

E151 Brilliant Black (Black PN) "

Animal derived E Numbers - Non Vegan *





the coop, the co-op, the Co-operative Group

More about → Co-op Bans MSG and Artificial Food Colours

Mistletoe extract may treat bladder cancer - Healthypages news

Mistletoe extract may treat bladder cancer - Healthypages news: "After surgery for superficial bladder cancer, treatment with a mistletoe extract appears to be effective at reducing tumor recurrence, German researchers report.

Mistletoe extract could be a potential alternative postoperative therapy for treating patients with superficial bladder cancer successfully, 'without the typical side effects induced by other therapies,' Dr. Ursula Elsaesser-Beile from the University of Freiburg, told Reuters Health.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has been shown to decrease tumor recurrence significantly after surgery for bladder cancer. However, serious side effects and even deaths have prompted a search for alternatives. So far, none has been equally effective.

Mistletoe extracts have been shown to act favorably on proteins that affect cancer and have been widely used for many years as alternative therapy in patients with malignancies. "

More about → Mistletoe extract may treat bladder cancer - Healthypages news

Nutrition and Health Writers - Trusted

Natural Products Magazine: "New research by the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) reveals the extent to which people increasingly trust and rely on newspaper health pages to help them make vital decisions for themselves and their family.



Writing on this theme in The Observer, NMA director Maureen Duffy said: 'The health pages make people particularly women as the principal carer in a family feel empowered. According to the NMA research, the readers of health columns believe that the content and advice given must have been well researched and therefore be trustworthy.



The effect of this is that people are acting at all levels on the advice offered by the likes of Dr John Briffa, Carole Caplin, Yvonne Bishop-Weston and Fred Kavalier everything from seeking out a particular herbal remedy to encouraging their children to sit in front of their Playstation less. "

More about → Nutrition and Health Writers - Trusted

Make Poverty History

Make Poverty History

More about → Make Poverty History

Top 20 anti-cancer, anti-oxident foods

Berries, Beans Top 'Best Antioxidants List': "(HealthDayNews) -- A variety of vegetables, fruits and nuts battled it out for the top spot on a new list of the 20 most antioxidant-rich foods, ranked by nutrition scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In the end, small red beans won the day, narrowly beating out wild blueberries as the food with the highest concentration of disease-fighting compounds per serving. Antioxidants fight damage to cells from rogue molecules called 'free radicals.' Experts believe this assault on cells may fuel killer diseases such as heart disease and cancer, and even aging itself.

The new Top 20 list, published in the June issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 'is a relative ranking of the capacity of foods to interfere with or prevent oxidative processes and to scavenge free radicals,' explained list co-creator Ronald L. Prior, a USDA nutritionist and research chemist based in Little Rock, Ark.

Prior and his colleagues used the most advanced technologies available to tabulate antioxidant levels in more than 100 different types of fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts and spices.



Their Top 20:

1) Small red beans (dried)

2) Wild blueberries

3) Red kidney beans

4) Pinto beans

5) Blueberries (cultivated)

6) Cranberries

7) Artichokes (cooked)

8) Blackberries

9) Prunes

10) Raspberries

11) Strawberries

12) Red delicious apples

13) Granny Smith apples

14) Pecans

15) Sweet cherries

16) Black plums

17) Russet potatoes (cooked)

18) Black beans (dried)

19) Plums

20) Gala apples



Links Bristol Cancer Clinic * World Health Organisation * Media Contacts - Nutritionist Foods For Life

More about → Top 20 anti-cancer, anti-oxident foods

Blueberries' anti oxident anti cancer properties

newsobserver.com | Lifestyles: "According to Ronald L. Prior, a research chemist and nutritionist with the USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, a one-cup serving of blueberries delivers as much antioxidant power as five servings of grapes, peaches or broccoli."



CDC more color = more health * Blueberry Hills Farm * US Blueberry Council * North American Blueberrys * Dr Mercola on Blueberries * Anti Aging Blueberries * I left my Heart on Blue Berry Hill

* Michigan Blueberry Growers Association *

More about → Blueberries' anti oxident anti cancer properties

Organic Food more Nutritious, more Vitamins?

Research At Great Lakes Meeting Shows More Vitamin C In Organic Oranges Than Conventional Oranges: "Organically-grown oranges contain up to 30% more vitamin C than those grown conventionally, it was reported today at a Great Lakes Regional meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. "



Organic UK - Soil Association * Why Buy Organic * Organic Report Download

More about → Organic Food more Nutritious, more Vitamins?

Psoriasis relief by University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Press Release - University of Newcastle Upon Tyne: "Scientists at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, studying the effects of a drug used in the treatment of a distressing skin condition, have found that it is actually killing off the cells which are the cause of the problem.

The team believe the discovery represents a major step towards enabling the design of better treatments for psoriasis, which affects up to a million people in the UK alone (figures from the Psoriasis Association).

The results of the Wellcome Trust-funded study of the drug, dithranol, are published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).

Dithranol, which is widely used in the treatment of psoriasis, is derived from a natural compound, called chrysarobin. Chrysarobin is prepared from the araroba tree found in the rain forests of the Amazon. In India, the same substance is known as Goa powder.

Psoriasis is a genetic condition "



For Nutritional Therapy to treat Psoriasis see www.foodsforlife.org

More about → Psoriasis relief by University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Women's Brains Really Are Blown By Orgasms

Women's Brains Really Are Blown By Orgasms - Yahoo! UK & Ireland News: "Women's Brains Really Are Blown By Orgasms

An orgasm is literally a mind-blowing experience for a woman, scientists have revealed.Much of her brain shuts down when she reaches a sexual climax.The discovery was made during experiments in the Netherlands when couples' brains were scanned during lovemaking.

Neuroscientist Dr Gert Holstege, from the University of Groningen said it appeared that shutting down the brain during orgasm ensured that obstacles such as fear and stress did not get in the way.

'When you are fearful or have a very high level of anxiety, then it's hard to have sex because during sex you really have to give yourself and let go.'

Men were studied in the same way but because the male orgasm typically takes such a short time it was difficult to obtain meaningful brain scan data.

A total of 13 women and 11 men, ranging in age from 19 to 49, took part in the experiments at Dr Holstege's laboratory."



Also Reported in

The Sun * Denver Channel *

More about → Women's Brains Really Are Blown By Orgasms

Less meat could mean less weight

Less meat could mean less weight: "A new study of about 55,000 healthy, middle-aged Swedish women finds that vegetarians of all types weighed significantly less than their meat-eating counterparts. The findings are some of the first to show a direct link between a plant-based diet and a lower body mass index.



The study found graduated weight benefits from following a semi-vegetarian lifestyle, being vegan (no animal products) or being a lactovegetarian, which was linked with the lowest body weight.



"The take-home message is that individuals who have the lowest risk of being overweight or obese are consuming a mostly plant-based diet," said P.K. Newby, lead author of the study and a scientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston.



Vegan is the new Black * Nutrition and Health News * Vegan Websites * Nutrition

More about → Less meat could mean less weight

Cranks - still Cranks.

Awwww - Cranks bless them ! despite Nadine Abensur's and Yvonne Bishop's best efforts it's kind of nostagically reassuring that those nutters at Cranks who were giving us wholemeal pastry in the 1960's when everyone else was getting out of their heads on cheap drugs and free sex have now done a back somersault to prove they are still cranky and out on the fringe.

Whilst even Nestle are spending millions of pounds to woo the grown up Cranks fed baby boomers with a range of wholemeal breakfast cereals - dear dear old,40 year old, vegetarian Cranks are giving us WHITE BREAD!!



Cranks, Organic Breads: Phil Lynas tells us "Our customers tell us that organic is good as long as the food is simple & wholesome. Thats why all our breads are organic and free of preservatives, which does mean that they have a slightly shorter shelf life than other breads, but they're so good they're usually eaten by then.

Along with our famous Organic Wholemeal and Honey & Sunflower Breads, we've just launched our new Organic White and Malthouse Breads. We hope you like them."

Meanwhile healthy vegetarianism and now veganism has seemingly moved on and left poor old cranks standing, and a little bemused.

BBC - White Bread could spoil your diet.

CBS - White Bread Linked to diabetes

Other Cranks Stories - Bye Bye Homity Pie * Cranks for the memory * The end of an era * A glut of vegetarianism * Cranks refused to Grow Up * Cranks- A little thing that makes revolutions * Nandos bring 40 years to a close

More about → Cranks - still Cranks.

Improve Fertility with Nutrition & Health not IVF say Foods For Life.

Preconception.com Organic Conception Using Nature to Boost Your Fertility: "'Over 15 percent of couples in the U.S. have difficulty conceiving a child,' "



A spokesperson for London Nutritionists Foods For Life has dismissed The recent health scares about infertility and IVF treatment as a moneymaking smokescreen by fertility ‘experts’.

Yvonne Bishop-Weston, London nutrition expert says “there’s no doubt the UK health service have a poor record on assisted pregnancy but the real tragedy is that very many cases of infertility can be helped simply by better health and nutrition.”

Fertility - barometer for health

Even with IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) it’s very difficult to stay pregnant if your body hasn’t been nutritionally nurtured. The body is very good at deciding that all those nine months of effort just aren’t worth it. If you are not feeding yourself right, scoffing little but sugar and saturated fat and artificially stimulating yourself with caffeine instead of food then what chance has the baby got to grow into a healthy adult?

Of course sometimes it’s more complicated than stupified, drugged, poisoned, malnourished sperm or poisoned eggs lacking essential amino acids and omega fats but even in these cases optimum nutrition is often even more important to avoid IVF being a waste of time and money.

The main problem is that showing people why they should avoid coffee and eat more broccoli and hempseeds is not nearly as profitable as complicated medical procedures and selling rigorously tested, expensive, patented drugs.

Expensive addictions

Some people would rather pay thousands of pounds on pills and surgery rather than ditch the morning espresso and give up the cigarettes and five bottles of chardonnay a week. They don’t want the extra personal responsibility. They already have enough stress in their lives which is often at the root of the problem and it’s easier to delegate to an ‘expert’.

Over 1% of births artificially ‘assisted’

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published a guide that indicates that 8,800 babies (1.5% of all births) are now born every year by IVF, 3650 every year are born by intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and many more thorough other Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), underlining how successful the treatment has become since it was first pioneered in Britain in 1978.

Causes of infertility

In 1992, The British Medical Journal reviewed 61 separate studies and concluded there had been an average 42 per cent fall in sperm count from 113 million per millilitre in 1940 to 66 million. Sperm counts under 20 million per millilitre point to infertility and, under 5 million, sterility.

Some researchers are looking at the root cause of infertility rather than lucrative quick fix methods but funding is tight. CHAPS the Chemicals And Pregnancy Study is looking into whether workplace chemicals and toxins are to blame for problems with fertility.

Copper maybe an issue. Although copper is an essential element, an excessive amount is toxic. The symptoms of copper poisoning, which are frequently associated with suicidal intent, are clearly documented including: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, hypotension, jaundice, haematuria, anuria, coma and death. One of the most prominent sources of copper comes from our drinking water supplies running through copper piping. Particularly in areas where the water is soft and acidic, as this literally corrodes layers of copper off the pipes. Cigarette smoking is also a prominent source of excessive copper accumulation Similarly oral contraceptives are notorious in raising the body's copper burden. (Foresight)

Nutrition Solutions

London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston works with Foresight the charity for preconceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. Foresight help hundreds of couples every year to have healthy babies.

Yvonne reveals some interesting statistics “Foresight has shown that Nutritional Therapy can double the success rate of babies born to couples with infertility issues. Foresight therapies achieve 72% success rate of healthy babies born whilst the success rate for assisted conception is only 30-47%.

Tony Bishop-weston says “That could mean that over half the people paying for IVF are wasting their money and many of the others may have been able to save themselves re-mortgaging their house by visiting a Foresight practitioner.”

Of course you could go to Bombay, India where IVF can cost as little as UK£1,500.

In the UK IVF could cost well over £5,000, plus the cost of scans, drugs and don’t lose your notes as it may cost you over £30 for another set.

Optimum Nutrition still looks the best value for money in the first instance.

Editors Notes

Foods For Life – http://www.foodsforlife.org.uk
London Nutritionist – www.london-nutritionist.co.uk
Foresight - http://www.foresight-preconception.org.uk
The Institute of Optimum Nutrition http://www.ion.ac.uk

IVF London - http://www.thebridgecentre.co.uk
IVF Bombay - http://www.drmalpani.com/

More about → Improve Fertility with Nutrition & Health not IVF say Foods For Life.

Britain near bottom for IVF in Europe

"The Govt and NHS should avoid wasting it's money on IVF and invest in education about nutrition" says Tony Bishop-Weston from Foods For Life.



SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Health | Britain near bottom for IVF in Europe: "Britain near bottom for IVF in Europe



James Meikle in Copenhagen Thursday June 23, 2005 -The Guardian



Fertility experts sharply criticised the lack of IVF provision in Britain yesterday as new figures suggested it was near the bottom of the European league.

Only Croatia offered less treatment to couples desperate for children among 11 countries which reported IVF cycles, while another list of nine states put the UK last for the percentage of babies born using various assisted reproduction techniques. "

More about → Britain near bottom for IVF in Europe

UK Doctors urge action on child 'diabesity'

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Society | Doctors urge action on child 'diabesity': "Doctors urge action on child 'diabesity'



Sarah Boseley, health editor

Thursday June 23, 2005

The Guardian



One million obese children under 16 live in the UK - a third of the total in Europe - according to a report from Britain's doctors which urges the government to intervene in schools, to improve the nation's diet and exercise habits.

The cost of childhood obesity is soaring. Doctors from the British Medical Association said yesterday that children and young adults were now arriving in their surgeries with the diseases of late middle-age.

At the launch of the BMA's report, called Preventing Childhood Obesity, Sam Everington, a GP at the Bromley by Bow health centre in London, said he now regularly tests children for type 2 diabetes, which is associated with obesity and used to be seen only in adults. 'There's now a new disease, called diabesity,' he said.

Dr Everington said he had started to measure children's blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which would once have been unheard of. 'The situation is much worse than people think,' he said. 'A quarter of the children I see are overweight and blood tests show that more than 50% are malnourished.' Typically they had iron deficiency and low levels of vitamins and minerals in their blood because of their poor diet.

He also saw children suffering from sleep apnoea, in which their weight gives them problems breathing in the night, and bone disease.

The BMA is calling for the government to mount a sustained and consistent public education campaign for parents and children on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

'It is madness that at a time when children are being told to eat less and do more exercise, they go into school"

More about → UK Doctors urge action on child 'diabesity'

Plant-based foods best hope for the future of our health

Plant-based foods best hope for the future of our health: "Animal-derived foods contain substances that scientific investigations have shown to be associated with cancer and heart disease incidence: saturated fat, cholesterol, and arachidonic acid. All animal products are low (or completely lacking) in the nutrients that protect us against cancer and heart attacks: fiber, antioxidants, phytochemicals, folate, vitamin E and plant proteins.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the greater the quantity and assortment of fruits and vegetables consumed, the lower the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

We must act on the unanimous recommendations of leading health authorities and phase out meat, dairy and other fatty foods from our diet and replace these with plant-based foods. "

More about → Plant-based foods best hope for the future of our health

Crisp sales down by 12% in UK

Is the UK public finally getting the message that Gary Linekar is the devil and a peddlar of heart problems, obesity, alzhiemers, strokes, diabetes, and osteoporosis? Sales of crisps are down by 80,000 tons say mintel.



Natural Products Magazine: "Crunch time for crisps as shoppers look for healthier alternatives - June 15, 2005

Are Britons finally curbing their crisp cravings? This is the question posed by a new survey from Mintel which finds that crisp and savoury snack sales have plummeted by 12% since 2002. In tonnage terms that's a fall from 360,000 tonnes to 280,000 tonnes.



Mintel says last year appeared to be a turning point. Crisp and snack sales had been in slow decline for a number of years but fell away sharply in 2005 as media concern over issues such as obesity and high-fat, high-salt foods reached a peak. "



Mintel analyst David Bird predicts that a wave of vitamin and omega-3 enriched snacks will arrive in the coming year as the industry tries to get its products to appeal to health conscious parents.

More about → Crisp sales down by 12% in UK

Bug may risk heart health

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050616: "Bug link to heart

Source: The Times

Date: 16/06/2005

In a small piece in the Times , it is reported that a study lead by Professor Annibale Monternero has found from a study that patients who need treatment for atrial fibrillation also suffered from gastric problems caused by the ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori. The findings are published in full in the journal 'Heart'. "

More about → Bug may risk heart health

Red Meat & Bowel Cancer: Study

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050615: "Red meat linked to increased risk of bowel cancer

Source: Daily Telegraph

Date: 15/06/2005

Story from Daily Telegraph concerns renewed fears on red meat consumption. A study by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition has found that regularly eating red meat and processed meat increases the risk of developing bowel cancer. A study involving 478,040 men and women in 10 European countries were enrolled between 1992 and 1998 and followed for an average of five years. In that time 1,329 colon or rectal bowel cancers were diagnosed, with factors such as smoking, obesity and heavy drinking taken into account. The Food Standards Agency has urged moderation in consumption of red meat. "



Food Standards Agency



EPIC Study



International Agency For Research on Cancer

More about → Red Meat & Bowel Cancer: Study

Fluoride in water cancer risk

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050613: "Fluoride in water linked to cancer

Source: Daily Mail

Date: 13/06/2005

The Daily Mail today reports on new research by scientists at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, which has suggested that adding fluoride to tap water can increase the risk of boys developing bone cancer. Currently fluoride is added to the water of around six million people in the UK - 10 per cent of the population - by health authorities in the Midlands and North-East. The Environmental Working Group is calling for fluoride in tap water to be formally added to a U.S. government list of substances known or feared to be carcinogenic to humans. Dr Vyvyan Howard, a senior toxicologist at the University of Liverpool, said that the evidence of a link 'seems pretty strong'. The study found that fluoride does not pose the same risk to young girls, but scientists say that they have not worked out why this is. "

More about → Fluoride in water cancer risk

Nutritional, industrial uses of hemp seeds

Nutritional, industrial uses of hemp seeds: "No other single plant source provides complete protein in such an easily digestible form, nor has the oils essential to life in as perfect a ratio for human health and vitality, says N C Shah in the concluding part of the article

N.C. Shah, Express Pharma Pulse



MUMBAI, India Now-a-days, in the USA, Canada and European countries etc hemp seed and its oil is being used for nutritional rather than its medicinal or narcotic values.

Seed: Osburn (1992) states that in hemp seeds protein is about 65 per cent globulin, edestin plus quantities of albumin (present in all seeds) so it is easily digestible, further, protein is readily available in a form quite similar to that found in blood plasma. Not only this, it contains all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary to maintain healthy human life.



No other single plant source provides complete protein in such an easily digestible form, nor has the oils essential to life in as perfect a ratio for human health and vitality. Pioneers in the field of biochemistry and human nutrition now believe cardiovascular disease (CVD) and most cancers are really diseases of fatty degeneration caused by the continued over-consumption of saturated fats and refined vegetable oils."

More about → Nutritional, industrial uses of hemp seeds

ASA Rule Atkins not healthier

Natural Products Magazine



The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has upheld a complaint against an advertisement claiming that the Atkins diet helps people “enjoy a healthier lifestyle”. The ASA has subsequently told the advertiser, Atkins Nutritionals, to withdraw the advertisement.



The ASA acted after receiving a complaint that the Atkins diet had been criticised by doctors as being unhealthy. Atkins Nutritionals argued that the Atkins diet was a scientifically validated strategy for weight control based on controlling carbohydrate intake. The company also submitted 44 scientific studies which it believed supported its claim.



However, the ASA considered that the short-term nature of evidence supplied by the advertiser did not support the long-term claim being made. It noted that one of the scientific studies had taken place over just 22 weeks; three had taken place over a year; and the rest had taken place over a few weeks or months. The studies, concluded the ASA, were also limited in their scope, sometimes looking at weight loss only.



The authority also noted that the diet plan conflicted with current government advice on achieving a balanced diet. This states that starchy foods should make up about one-third of a person’s diet.

More about → ASA Rule Atkins not healthier

Soy better for cholesterol levels

Soy meal replacements better for cholesterol levels: "Reductions in serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol values at six weeks were significantly greater in the soy group, report the authors in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (vol 24, no 3, pp210-216).

Those consuming soy had a 15.2 per cent reduction in cholesterol and 17.4 per cent drop in LDL cholesterol. The milk group had a 7.7 per cent change in LDL cholesterol. "

More about → Soy better for cholesterol levels

More Milk = More Weight

Study of 12 829 US children, aged 9 to 14 years shows the more low fat milk kids drink the higher the incidence of weight gain (measured by BMI).



Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med -- Abstract: Milk, Dairy Fat, Dietary Calcium, and Weight Gain: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescents, June 2005, Berkey et al. 159 (6): 543: "Results Children who drank more than 3 servings a day of milk gained more in BMI than those who drank smaller amounts



Quantities of 1% milk (boys) and skim milk (girls) were significantly associated with BMI gain, as was total dietary calcium intake. Multivariate analyses of milk, dairy fat, calcium, and total energy intake suggested that energy was the most important predictor of weight gain. Analyses of year-to-year changes in milk, calcium, dairy fat, and total energy intakes provided generally similar conclusions; an increase in energy intake from the prior year predicted BMI gain in boys (P = .003) and girls (P = .03).



Conclusions Children who drank the most milk gained more weight.

More about → More Milk = More Weight

Study to compare weight & obesity in vegans and vegetarians

Risk of overweight and obesity among semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women -- Newby et al. 81 (6): 1267 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: "Results: The prevalence of overweight or obesity (BMI 25) was 40% among omnivores, 29% among both semivegetarians and vegans, and 25% among lactovegetarians. In multivariate, adjusted logistic regression analyses, self-identified vegans had a significantly lower risk of overweight or obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.69] than did omnivores, as did lactovegetarians (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.85) and semivegetarians (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.62). Risk of overweight or obesity remained significantly lower among lactovegetarians classified on the basis of the food-frequency questionnaire (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.30, 0.78).

Conclusions: Even if vegetarians consume some animal products, our results suggest that self-identified semivegetarian, lactovegetarian, and vegan women have a lower risk of overweight and obesity than do omnivorous women. The advice to consume more plant foods and less animal products may help individuals control their weight. "

More about → Study to compare weight & obesity in vegans and vegetarians