A new study has linked the consumption of energy drinks to risky and aggressive "toxic jock" behavior amongst young adults. Kathleen Miller, the principle investigator at the University of Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions, published a report on the link between energy drinks, athletics and risky behavior, which appeared in the March issue of The Journal of American College Health. She found that those who regularly consumed energy drinks were more likely to indulge in substance abuse, violence, and unprotected sex.
Miller doesn't necessarily blame the hazardous habits on the energy drinks, which often contain high quantities of caffeine, taurine and other stimulants, but says they may serve as a predicator for such behavior. "It appears the kids who are heavily into drinking energy drinks are more likely to be the ones who are inclined toward taking risks," Miller said.
Two of the energy drink brand leaders are Red Bull and Rockstar, which both market heavily to young people at extreme sports and music events. An 250 ml serving of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine and 1000 mg of taurine, alongside assorted sugars and sweetners, a carbohydrate compound, and some B group vitamins. Rockstar contains similar quantities of caffeine and taurine mixed with what the manufacturers describe as a "the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle."
Though the drinks themselves contain levels of caffeine that are comparable to those found in a cup of coffee, they can be drunk much faster since they are served cold and therefore provide a more concentrated caffeine hit. The combination of caffeine and tourine, an amino-like acid which was originally isolated from ox bile but is now synthetically produced, is also thought to make the drinks more potent. The subjects of one study, conducted by James Kalus of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, exhibited an 11% increase in resting heart rate after consuming just two cans of energy drink per day for a week. Such potentially detrimental effects, have kept this class of beverages off the shelves in countries such as Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
When combined with alcohol, energy drinks have been found to serve up an even riskier cocktail. A study conducted by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina found that "college students who drink alcohol mixed with so-called "energy" drinks are at dramatically higher risk for injury and other alcohol-related consequences, compared to students who drink alcohol without energy drinks." Lead researcher, Mary Claire O'Brien, notes when under the influence of super-charged cocktails, "you're every bit as drunk, you're just an awake drunk."
But the stimulants in the drinks, and their effects when mixed with alcohol, aren't the only things encouraging risky behavior. On Red Bull's website, the manufacturers claims the drink improves performance, increases concentration and reaction speed, increases endurance, and stimulates metabolism. Meanwhile the makers of Rockstar, invite fans of their drink to "party like a Rockstar," the phrase being the brand's tag line alongside the words, "Bigger. Better. Faster. Stronger." Could it be young people are falling victim to a false sense of invincibility induced by juiced-up sugared water, and some highly seductive marketing?
Scientists from the University of Florence in Italy report that listening to classical, Celtic or Indian music for just 30 minutes a day for a month can significantly reduce blood pressure. The researchers presented their findings last week at the American Society of Hypertension's 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans.
"Listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient-reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure," noted Dr. Pietro A. Modesti. "But for the first time, today's results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ambulatory blood pressure."
"We are excited about the positive implications for both patients and physicians, who can now confidently explore music listening as a safe, effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to therapy," Modesti added.
The study involved a small group of 48 patients between the ages of 45 and 70 who were taking medication for mild hypertension. 28 of the patients were given a CD of down-tempo, "rhythmically homogenous" music, and were asked to listen to it for 30 minutes once a day for a month while practicing controlled breathing exercises. The 20 remaining participants made no lifestyle changes, and served as a control group. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring after the first and fourth weeks revealed a marked reduction in blood pressure among the patients who'd been asked to listen to music.
Similar previous studies have closely related blood pressure to music tempo, noting corresponding blood pressure increases when subjects were exposed to more aggressive, up-tempo music, indicating that the speed and genre of music is key to music's heart-calming potential.
"Sadly, despite the global focus on prevention, it predicted that 56 billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by 2025," said Modesti. "In light of these devastating statistics, it is reassuring to consider that something as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing, may help people naturally lower their blood pressure."
Could it be that a little of what you fancy really does you good? I can't help noticing the connection between two recent health stories in the news: one about the positive effects of chocolate, the other about the health benefits of being bootylicious.
The first report talks about how a little fat on your booty actually may be good for you. A study undertaken by the Harvard Medical School and published in the Cell Metabolism medical journal (catchy title) found that there are good and bad types of fat. And while abdominal visceral fat, which wraps itself around organs, raised the risk of poor health, subcutaneous fat, which is found under the skin particularly around the buttocks, appeared to boost metabolism and help regulate the body's insulin levels, and may protect against type 2 diabetes. (By the looks of recent paparazzi photos, at least that's one thing Mischa Barton won't have to worry about).
This study follows hot on the heels of research conducted by a team from the University of East Anglia in England which found that eating chocolate can reduce health risks in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. The scientists involved in this study are now testing the theory that the flavonoid compounds found in chocolate may provide protection against cardiovascular disease (it should be noted that the chocolate researchers used was especially formulated with raised evels of flavonoids).
Of course, as Mischa Barton can tell you, every square of chocolate a girl eats goes straight to her behind, so we're happy to hear there's an upside to your jeans being a little tight around the rear end (though muffin-top is not a good sign, since that's the wrong kind of fat). I guess next time a woman asks that leading question 'does my bum look big in this?' the correct response may be a resounding, heart-healthy, diabetes aware, 'yes.'
Today (May 7) is the seventh annual Great American Grump Out, during which no grumping, frowning, grousing, or complaining is allowed. If being happy for the hell of it for a full 24 hours sounds like too much to bear, consider this: according to Harvard's Men's Health Watch, "optimists enjoy better health than pessimists."
Analyzing data from a series of studies, researchers found that:
Optimistic coronary bypass patients were only half as likely as pessimists to require re-hospitalization.
Highly pessimistic men were three times more likely to develop hypertension.
People with positive emotions had lower blood pressures.
In one study, the most pessimistic men were more than twice as likely to develop heart disease compared with the most optimistic.
Concerned about which came first, the chicken or the egg, or in this case optimism or good health, researchers adjusted their results to take into account pre-existing conditions, but still found that an optimistic outlook had significant positive health benefits.
So give a glass half-full outlook a try, at least for the rest of the day. You might find you like it!
Researchers have found yet another good reason to stop smoking and reduce pollution. They've discovered that airborne toxins may be a contributing factor for the onset of male pattern baldness.
Scientists from the University of London studied hair follicles from balding men and found that the process of hair growth was impaired by oxidative stress.
"We think any pollutant that can get into the bloodstream or into the skin and into the hair follicle could cause some stress to it and impair the ability of the hair to make a fiber," says Mike Philpott, one of the researchers involved in the study.
"There are a whole host of carcinogens and toxins in the environment that could trigger this. It suggests that if you stop smoking or live in an area with less air pollution, you may be less predisposed to hair loss."
The team are now planning further tests to discover which compounds are most likely to interfere with the hair growth process.
Our favorite camellia sinensis-pusher Dr. Tea explains how the three magic compounds found in tea (caffeine, L-theanin and EGCG) work together to promote health, beauty and weight loss (click HERE to view video).
Check out this video post from our favorite camellia sinensis-pusher Dr. Tea, on the pros and cons of common tea additives such as milk and sugar. Personally we think that if you have to add something to make it taste better, you're not drinking the right tea. But for those who can’t drink a cup of the the brown stuff without a little milk and sugar, this is well worth a view.
Dr. Tea reveals that adding dairy to your tea may interfere with its antioxidant properties, and suggests using soy or almond milk instead. And those that need a spoonful of sugar to make their tea go down should steer clear of the addictive white powder, and its various artificial substitutes. A healthier option is agave syrup. The honey-like substance, which is derived naturally from the succulent agave plant, sweetens without the deadly sugar high (and subsequent low).
Dr. Neal Barnard MD is to vegetarianism what Al Gore is to environmentalism. His lectures on the benefits of a plant based diet are smart, entertaining, down to earth, and offer hope rather than peddling despondency.
The son of a cattle rancher, Barnard trained is psychiatry, but has spent much of his life focusing on the impact of diet on human health. He had a job at McDonald's while at high school, but, while working as an assistant at a morgue during a year out before medical school, experienced first hand exactly what a modern Western diet does to the insides of those laid out on the morticians slab. He now serves as PETA's medical adviser, and is a committed, and evangelical, vegetarian. But don't let that put you off. Whether you're a carnivore or a herbivore, we can all benefit (and indeed have) from the good doctor's wit and wisdom.
As the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (an organization which Bernard founded in 1985), he took the government to task for their fudged dietary guidelines.
"Of the 11 members on the committee, six of them had ties to the dairy industry, meat industry or egg industry," says Bernard. After he prevailed in court, the government issued radically revised guidelines in January 2005 (though as we mentioned in our previous story, these guidelines still massively underestimate the servings of fruit and veg needed for a healthy diet).
Barnard believes that much of the illness we experience today is a result of what we eat, and that much of what we eat is addictive, and pushed on us by food corporations whose major concern is the size of their own bottom lines, rather than the size of our bottoms.
In his book, Breaking The Food Seduction, Barnard writes about the opiate effects of foods, and gives advice on how to kick our bad food habits. He reveals that sugar works like heroin, and dairy like morphine, so it's not surprising that the food industry has us right where they want us, craving our next chocolate fix.
For those in need of a dietary intervention, he suggests that you familiarize yourself with the four new food groups (grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit) and give them a three-week trial period (which will give your body, and your taste buds, enough time to adapt). For those ready to cut the beef and go cold turkey, he offers these seven basic tips:
1. Start with a healthy breakfast (you'll snack less the rest of the day).
2. Use foods (such as beans and pasta) to hold blood sugar steady.
3. Dieters: Use the rule of ten for minimum calorie intake.
(For example, if your ideal body weight is 150 Ibs, your minimum intake should be no less than 1,500 calories per day.)
4. Break craving cycles.
(Resisting the bad stuff today, will make it easier tomorrow, and the day after that.)
5. Have regular exercise and rest.
(It's easier to make the correct food choices if you're well rested.)
6. Use social support. Don't do it alone.
(Go to the Betty Ford Cheese Clinic with a friend.)
7. Take advantage of other motivators.
(Bernard tells young males that they'll be less likely to be impotent when they're old if they eat well today, and reminds animal lovers of the million animals per hour that die so Americans can have the privilege of eating badly).
A study done by the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare advisory body, has found that vitamins may not deliver all that they promise and may actually decrease life expectancy rather than increase it. Their review of data from 67 trials found "no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention." Alarmingly they also found that the intake of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E supplements "may increase mortality."
In light of these recent findings, The Daily Mantra decided to go back to school to find out how we could increase our nutrient intake without resorting to pills from a bottle. Bottom line, there's no faking a healthy diet.
Our nutritionist recommended that we eat between 9 and 11 cups of fruit and vegetables a day. This is much higher than the 2 1/2 cups of veg and 2 cups of fruit that the USDA recommends for someone requiring a 2,000 calorie a day diet. Indeed the fruit and veg goals set by the government organization were deliberately dumbed down from those recommended by their scientists due to fears that the public might be deterred if the bar was set at a level that some might perceive as being unattainably high.
When setting out to prepare a balanced meal, as a basic guide our nutritionist suggested we fill at least half our plate with veg. Portions of protein (tofu/fish/meat) and carbohydrates (rice/potatoes etc..) should take up no more than a quarter of the plate each.
We were shown how to make our fruit and veg more appealing by using simple techniques such as roasting and stir frying, which can seriously rev up the flavor factor. A little garlic and chili can seriously spice things up. Adding balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, honey, maple syrup, a handful almonds or pine nuts also makes the good stuff more exciting. A teaspoon of maple syrup may contain around 70 calories, but they're calories well spent if it means you're more likely to actually eat your veg.
We were also given tips on how to introduce fruit and veg into our diet by stealth. Chopped spinach can be added to almost any pasta sauce to give it an instant nutritional bump. Adding pineapple fruit and juice to rice at the end of cooking will give the grain a similar vitamin, and flavor, boost.
Research has shown that vegetarians, and those who eat moderate amounts of white meat and fish, on average, live longer (with some studies showing an increase in life expectancy of up to a staggering ten years). And as the Cochrane Collaboration research indicated, it's becoming increasingly apparent that antioxidants need to be consumed in their natural form, since we're only beginning to understand the complex role that individual compounds such as lycopene have in the bigger picture.
Make sure the fruit and veg you eat is as fresh as possible. Buy it from your local farmer, or farmers' market if you can. Also be sure to wash it well, to get rid of residual pesticides on the surface that can build up in your body over time. If you need some inspiration, try paying a visit to the Mayo Clinic website which has loads of yummy, and healthy, recipes, and lots of other info on healthy food choices.
While those who meditate may focus on the ethereal, scientists are getting to grips with the tangible physical effects that meditation has been proven to produce. And armed with this new empirical evidence, the men and ladies in white coats are hitting the lotus position alongside those who may have previously been dismissed as kooks and hippies.
Dr. Sara Lazar, a mediation researcher from Massachusetts General Hospital, used MRI scans to compare the brains of experienced meditation practitioners against the gray matter of those that have never practiced the ancient Buddhist technique. She found marked differences in the thickness of certain areas of the brain's cortex, including the area associated with emotion, and hypothesizes that meditation had caused the physical changes.
In another study, Harvard Psychology and Psychiatry professor Dr. Richard Davidson, a longtime friend of the Dalai Lama who has been working with the spiritual leader in his quest to validate Buddhism with science, observed the brains of a test group of office workers. He found that after a course of meditation and stress reduction techniques the participants' brains appeared to have changed the way in which they functioned, and showed increased activity on the left side, which is associated with happiness and enthusiasm.
Numerous other studies have found mediation helpful in warding off stress-related illness such as heart disease, high blood pressure and digestive disorders. But while the physiological effects and benefits of meditation are easier for scientists to track, the emotional empowerment meditative practices bring should not be overlooked.
The thought-controlling discipline is a powerful tool in psychiatry's box. A treatment known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which is heavily based on meditation techniques, is even available to British citizens on the nation's National Health plan.
As we master physical conditions, those of the mind are increasingly coming into focus, especially as populations in the West age, and quality as well as quantity of life becomes a priority. Indeed, one recent study found that those with a history of depression are two and a half times more likely to develop Alzheimer's in old age, so a holistic approach to peace of mind, happiness and mental illness also appears to be a pragmatic one.
For many, depression can be a downward spiral that starts with issues of low self-esteem, fear of judgment and failure. Such thoughts can start a cycle where the negative becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy, and depression ensues. But meditation can help control such thoughts, and arrest the cycle.
"It teaches a way of looking at problems, observing them clearly but not necessarily trying to fix them or solve them," says Professor Mark Williams of Oxford University, who is a pioneer in the field of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. "It suggests to people that they begin to see all their thoughts as just thoughts, whether they are positive, negative or neutral."
Professor Davidson concurs, "All of these things are just thoughts. And, they will come up in meditation, and learning to recognize what they are as thoughts, and let them go, can be enormously empowering for anybody."
Dr. Lazar, who practices and is a strong advocate of both yoga and meditation, hopes that "by providing concrete evidence of meditation's benefits, more people will at least try it and see if it is beneficial for them."
Scientists have developed a computer game that students of the Law of Attraction may find helpful. The Mind Habits game trains players' brains to focus on the positive rather than the negative, and has been proven to reduce stress in trials.
During his research, Professor Mark Baldwin, a specialist in social cognition from McGill University in Montreal, found that our attention tends to be grabbed by social threats. This makes sense from an evolutionary point of view, since being able to quickly identify threats is a key survival skill, but it does mean we're predisposed to focus on the negative rather than the positive, which has an adverse affect on our stress levels and overall mental health.
Baldwin and his team therefore set out to create a computer game to retrain the brain. In one Mind Habits exercise, players are asked to find the single smiling/approving face hidden amongst a crown of fifteen curmudgeons. Baldwin hypothesizes that, "by doing this repeatedly and as quickly as possible, this trains an automatic response of looking for acceptance and ignoring rejection."
Baldwin and his colleagues tested their game on a team of telemarketers, whom they figured had high levels of stress and disapproval (how many times have you slammed the phone down on a telemarketer?). Before the shift they had one group play the game with faces for five minutes, while a control group played a modified version that required them to find a five-petalled flower in a field of seven-petalled flowers. After their shift, the group that was asked to search for the smiling faces was found to have higher levels self-esteem. Furthermore, blood tests showed this group had lowered their level of the stress hormone cortisol by 17% when compared to the control group. "Just 5 minutes of game-play per day had a significant effect," said Balwin in an interview with New Scientist.
If you'd like to retrain your brain, go to the Mind Habits website to play a free demo of the game. You can also download a free trial version from the site, or buy the full version, which features 100 game levels, for just $19.99.
The CO2-busting website CarbonRally.com has laid out its latest challenge for eco-gamers entitled Right Now Less Cow. Those that choose to accept the new mission are being asked to give up meat for at least two days this week. The site estimates the two-day meat moratorium will, on average, reduce a participant's carbon footprint by 13.2 lbs.
The Daily Mantra invites its readers to join our CarbonRally team. There's never been a better time to lose the beef, given that the specter of mad cow disease has raised its ugly head again with downed cattle (a euphemism for animals suspected of having the disease) having entered the food chain, this time thanks to corrupt managers and employees at a California slaughterhouse.
After the scandal was exposed by the Humane Society, who's investigators compiled secret video evidence, the Hallmark Meat Packing Co., of Chino, was shut down by the USDA. The slaughterhouse supplied meat to several major grocery store chains, and to America's School Lunch Program, and a massive meat recall is in effect.
Many news sites have been reassuring worried consumers by reporting that "there is no evidence that the company's meat posed a health risk." This is misleading however, since Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, an incurable degenerative neurological disorder which humans can contract by eating infected meat, is difficult to diagnose, and the onset of symptoms is often delayed by years, if not decades.
So on that cheery note, we suggest you CLICK HERE to join our team, and spread our new mantra, Right Now Less Cow, to those you care about. You'll help save the planet, and you may just save yourself in the process.
When I first came to Los Angeles over a decade ago, the city's love for psychiatrists was already a longstanding joke. And when Prozac and its ilk first arrived on the scene they were hailed as miracle pills that would bring instant happiness to the metropolis' two-hundred buck an hour couch surfers. But when it comes to depression, as a new study has shown, there are no quick fixes, though promisingly it seems the blues may actually serve a purpose, and indeed have the potential to make us happier in the long run.
While at my first job at a record label here in L.A. I struck up a friendship with a young girl who worked on reception. She'd just moved to the entertainment capital and this was her first job out of school. Lonely and vulnerable, she'd stumbled into a relationship with a much older, and very married man. After the initial excitement of the illicit affair had worn off, depression set in and she began to see a psychiatrist who soon prescribed Prozac for her troubles.
At the time, this struck me as beyond wrong. As a young girl alone in a big city, away from her family for the first time, it was only natural for her to feel a little home sick and down. Add a lousy relationship with a love rat into the mix and any sane person would have been depressed in her situation. It seemed to me that giving her happy pills to make her life more bearable was counterproductive. She needed to feel depressed. She needed to feel bad enough to be driven to make positive change in her life. In short, she needed to ditch the cheating dude, and learn to cope with life alone, rather than popping a pill to make life with him more livable.
And it seems that scientific studies are now supporting my inexpert observations. One new study, which for the first time combined all results from clinical drug trials, including those that had previously been withheld by the pharmaceutical companies but had become accessible under new FDA freedom of information rules, found that, "the new-generation antidepressants do not produce clinically significant improvements in depression in patients who initially have moderate or even very severe depression, but show significant effects only in the most severely depressed patients."
The research, which was published in the Public Library of Science medical journal, drew information from trials of four popular drugs: fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Seroxat), venlafaxine (Effexor) and nefazodone (Serzone). Given these results, Prof Irving Kirsch and his team concluded that, "there is little reason to prescribe new-generation antidepressant medications to any but the most severely depressed patients unless alternative treatments have been ineffective."
Furthermore, Dr Paul Keedwell, of the Institute of Psychiatry, argues that depression serves an evolutionary purpose, and may in the long term actually be good for us. "There are benefits and that's why it has persisted. It's a tough message to hear while you are in depression but I think that there's a life afterwards," said Keedwell in an interview with the BBC. "I have received e-mails from ex-sufferers saying in retrospect it probably did help them because they changed direction, a new career for example, and as a result they're more content day-to-day than before the depression."
So it seems, at least where depression is concerned, what doesn't kill you really can make you stronger. Depression can serve as a useful mechanism that lets us know we need to make profound change in our lives. And if you can work your way through your troubles, rather than reaching for possibly ineffective pills, you'll be better equipped to deal with obstacles down the road. But try telling that to someone who's depressed.
We all know that diet food can make you fat. With increased sugar often replacing fat in so-called "diet" foods, dieters often don't get enough of the satisfying fat their body needs to tell them they're full, so they inadvertently end up eating more high sugar foods, putting on weight instead of taking it off. Now it seems that diet drink may have a similar effect.
In a recently published study, scientists found a link between low calorie soda and metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of medical disorders (high blood pressure, obesity, and abnormal cholesterol levels) that leads to an increased risk of heart disease, stokes and diabetes.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health and the University of North Carolina's Department of Nutrition gave a 66-item food frequency questionnaire to 9514 participants aged between 45 and 64 years old. After nine years of follow up, 3782 cases of metabolic syndrome were identified among those studied.
While dairy consumption proved to be beneficial, the study found that meat and fried food were adversely associated with metabolic syndrome. What they found surprising was that there also seemed to be a correlation between drinking diet soda and metabolic syndrome. The risk of developing metabolic syndrome was 34 percent higher among those who consumed one or more cans of diet soda each day when compared with those who drank none.
It seems there's one less short cut on the road to good health. The Daily Mantra recommends you give up your diet soda, and drink water, fruit juice or tea instead.
Mark "Dr. Tea" Ukra owns West Hollywood's Tea Garden emporium. His family has been in the tea business for over 200 years, and the good doctor has traveled the world in search of the rarest and tastiest examples of the elixir. The boundless energy the drink gave him lead to positive lifestyle changes and health benefits, the secrets to which he passed along to regulars at his store, and to readers of his enlightening new book, The Ultimate Tea Diet (see review). We persuaded him to share a handful of his top tips with the Daily Mantra, so put the kettle on, reach for some tea leaves and a cup, and read on.
1. Choose A Little Teapot
Choosing the proper cookware can influence the way your meal turns out. The same goes for tea. The teapot you use can impact the flavor of your tea. If you prepare tea in a metal pot, the pot will absorb the flavor of the tea. So if you brew a pot of black tea in a metal pot and then brew white tea in the same pot, the white tea will take on some of the black tea notes. Personally I like to use a giant glass teapot. Glass does not absorb the flavor of tea as it is being brewed; neither do china or ceramic pots. So you can brew any kind of tea and the next pot won't be infused with the flavor of the one before.
2. I Need My Morning Coffee
There is only one plant in the world (besides an obscure mushroom) that contains L-theanine, and that plant is, you guessed it, Camellia Sinensis (aka tea). L-theanine is a non-protein based amino acid that constitutes between 1 and 2 percent of the dry weight of tea leaves. Several minutes after the caffeine has entered your system, the L-theanine is secreted from the small intestine into the blood system and into the brain where it stimulates alpha brain waves, which produce a state of relaxed effortless alertness, thus canceling out the harmful effects of caffeine. If you really must drink coffee in the morning, as soon as possible after you have your coffee, drink a cup of tea. That way, you're introducing L-theanine into your system, which will counteract the harmful effects of coffee.
3. Like Red Meat? Have Some Tea
Did you know that powerful mutagens (compounds known to cause cancer) form when you broil or fry meat? Scientists believe these mutagens increase the risk of both breast and colon cancer. So do you have to give up your favorite protein? No way! A study published in the journal Mutation Research in 2002 showed that the application of green tea and black tea to both surfaces of beef before cooking inhibits the formation of mutagens. The more tea you rub on, the fewer cancer causing agents in your beef. And, oh yes - the tastier your beef!
4. Tea and Alcohol
I'm not encouraging anyone to drink alcohol. But if you do, I am encouraging you to drink tea before and after. That's because several animal studies have shown that the antioxidants in tea protect against liver and brain damage caused by alcohol. In a study published in the January 2004 issue of the journal Alcohol, in which laboratory animals (okay, rats) were chronically intoxicated with alcohol for four weeks, green tea prevented damage to their livers. And other studies have shown that tea protects brain tissue against free radical damage cause by alcohol consumption.
5. Don't Be Afraid To Drink Tea At Night
I thought I could not drink tea at night because of the caffeine. So what I learned was not to drink a fresh cup of tea before going to bed. I instead made my tea and then threw out the liquid of that first pot. Then I added additional water and prepared the next pot and drank that one. What we have done is called "rinsing," a way to remove just about all of the small amounts of caffeine in your first cup or pot of tea because caffeine is very soluble.
Starbucks has announced it will stop offering organic milk. As of February 26th you'll no longer be able to get a tall non-fat organic latte, at least not at Starbucks anyway. What does this mean for coffee addicts? Well, if the primary reason you're committed to drinking organic milk is in order to avoid recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), which is given to dairy cows in order to increase the amount of milk they produce, Starbucks is now claiming that their regular dairy supply is 100% free of the controversial drug. However, if your reasons for going organic go beyond the issue of rBGH, you may need to go elsewhere for your coffee fix.
According to a press statement, Starbucks say they only began offering organic milk in 2001 "as an interim solution" for customers who wanted milk that was produced without the use of rBGH, which is banned in many countries. At the time the Seatle-based company experienced difficulty sourcing enough rBGH-free milk to supply all their US coffee shops. However, the company now claim that as of the beginning of January their entire dairy supply (milk, half & half, and whipping cream) comes from suppliers that do not use rBGH.
This however doesn't address the concerns of those who go organic because they're worried about the use of other hormones and antibiotics, pesticides in the animals' food supply, or those who care about the general treatment of dairy herds. Nor will it satisfy those seeking the increased nutritional benefits organic milk has been shown to offer. But since the benefits of organic milk go beyond the issue of one specific growth hormone why did Starbucks make the decision to eliminate organic milk from their menu completely? Michelle Gass, the company's senior vice president of global strategy, said that "drinks with organic milk account for less than 1% of Starbucks' beverage sales," and "far and away, the No. 1 reason people are purchasing organic milk is because [it lacks] the growth hormone."
If the reason for Starbucks' about face on organic milk is due to the fact that they do not have the consumer support, in terms of paying an increased cost at the till, this can be a lesson for all of us who talk about supporting organics but don't actually purchase organic products. In a capitalist society, the most powerful way the masses can be heard is through their spending patterns. We can talk about democracy solving all our problems, but the truth is that the almighty dollar reigns supreme, and that is what we need to be voting with on a daily basis. When we buy organic milk, even if it is more expensive, we support the existence and growth of progressive organic farms who need our dollars more than they need our words of praise.
This combination may bring some odd ideas to mind, but don't worry, you won't be asked to bare your breasts next time you hit the dentist's chair. It seems that scientists at The University of Texas Dental Branch have noticed a difference in marker proteins found in saliva that indicates the presence of certain cancers and are developing a simple test for these proteins. The benefit of this is that many people visit the dentist more regularly than the doctor, and since you will already be opening your mouth, you might as well get all the health information you can. "Maybe one day it will be feasible to go to the dentist to be screened for a variety of disorders in the body, including breast cancer, " said Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser at the British Dental Association in an interview with the BBC.
If you were to get the news that breast or another cancer was detected, The University of Manchester in England offers some hope. They've made a breakthrough in understanding how cancer makes its way through the body. Speaking to England's Daily Mail, researcher Dr Chris Ward said, "Understanding how cancer cells spread is tremendously important for cancer research. It is the ability of tumors to invade other tissues and spread around the body that makes them so dangerous." It's hoped this information will help create a new generation of targeted drugs. "Potentially, our findings can be applied to the most common form of cancer, carcinoma, found in the breast, lung and gut for example, which makes up 80 to 90 per cent of all cancers."
One of the most ancient and universal symbols is the circle. With no beginning and no end, it represents the sun, completeness, eternity and the soul. With movement, circles become spirals, a shape that is seen everywhere in nature. In the symbol of the spiral we can see how incremental change is possible with the return of repeating cycles. If you look closely, you may see something similar happening in your relationships and work - we do the same things over and over, but eventually we end up somewhere completely different and unexpected. This is the magic of spirals in effect.
A growing group of people all over the world are taking this symbolic form and using it as a tool of artistic expression, meditation, fitness and unadulterated fun. They call themselves hoopers or hoop dancers, and have an online bible at Hooping.org. They can be found swirling their hips lazily in the sun at summer festivals, dancing with passion and precision in nightclubs and parties, and working up a sweat in fitness classes.
Hula hoops were once the playthings of children, but new, larger hoops are now made just for adults; their added weight and circumference makes it easier to keep the hoop spinning around the body. This means that even if you think you won't be able to hoop, chances are good that you'll catch on quickly with one of these new-style hoops.
Like yoga, there is a meditative mental space that can be discovered within the circle spiraling around you. Hooping also tones the core, hips and pelvic floor muscles, increases cardiovascular strength, and is practically guaranteed to put a grin on your face. Want to give hooping a whirl? Check online for a hooping group near you at hooping.tribe.net, order an instructional DVD and premade hoop from Hoopnotica.com, or gather a few basic materials and make your own hoop (see instructions). Hooping is low impact and irresistibly enjoyable, so set your inhibitions aside and step into the spiral.
One of the most important roles a woman may choose to take on is motherhood. Those who don't adopt face the milestone of giving birth; a major and miraculous event with physical, emotional and spiritual components. While families and friends may be present and willing, not everyone is knowledgeable, experienced or even very good at care-giving when facing their own family-related issues. And that is where a doula can help.
The word doula means "woman's servant" in Greek and in ancient times referred to one of a team of knowledgeable women offering back rubs and constant emotional support during labor. It brings to mind scenes from the book The Red Tent or maybe even Wonder Woman's island. According to the organization DONA International (www.dona.org), today's doulas, "like their historical counterparts... know how to help a woman in labor feel better." Unlike a midwife or a doctor, they are not there to deliver or worry about the baby as much as they are there to support the mother as she embarks on a somewhat overwhelming experience. Rhonda Crehan, a doula from Waldorf, Maryland explains, "in addition to what you've described, I use a soothing voice to redirect any pain and to provide the mother with the peace of mind and emotional understanding she needs."
Doulas are not medical staff, but they are liaisons to the doctors and nurses, there to help make sure that the mother's wishes are known if she's not in a place to convey or enforce them. They do not replace a partner's role in the birth, but instead facilitate it with their knowledge and experience. Even after birth, postpartum doulas are there to help a woman navigate her way through the changes in her body and home that may make her feel like a stranger to herself. Having such support throughout the process can ease the stress on all family members as well as giving the newborn an easier and hopefully more enjoyable entrance into the world.
A $25 million study, funded by the European Union, has found that organic food really is better for you. Lead by Newcastle University’s ecological agriculture professor Carlo Leifert (who has also spoken out against genetically modified or GM food), researches grew fruit and vegetables, and reared cows using both organic and non-organic methods on adjacent sites over a four-year period. They found that the organic produce contained more antioxidants and less fatty acids that their non-organic counterparts.
Levels of antioxidants in organic milk were between 50% and 80 % higher, with levels reaching a peak during the summer months when the organic cattle stock grazed on fresh grass. Levels of vitamin E were also found to be higher in organic milk, which produced cheese with twice a many nutrients. Organic vegetables such as wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, onions and lettuce had between 20% and 40% more nutrients.
For those taking their first step towards a healthier organic lifestyle, Organic Rx's Dr. Geene lists the top five organic food essentials in an interview published by the New York Times. He lists organic foods in order of priority, based on nutritional value, pesticide contamination, and environmental considerations, as well as the average intake of a specific food, since it makes sense to go organic on the foods we eat the most of to maximize their impact.
Milk – According to the New York Times, “one recent United States Department of Agriculture survey found certain pesticides in about 30 percent of conventional milk samples and low levels in only one organic sample.”
Potatoes – They make up 30% of our overall vegetable intake, and are one of the most contaminated foods. “A 2006 U.S.D.A. test found 81 percent of potatoes tested still contained pesticides after being washed and peeled, and the potato has one of the highest pesticide contents of 43 fruits and vegetables tested, according to the Environmental Working Group.”
Peanut Butter – “More acres are devoted to growing peanuts than any other fruits, vegetable or nut, according to the U.S.D.A. More than 99 percent of peanut farms use conventional farming practices, including the use of fungicide to treat mold, a common problem in peanut crops.”
Ketchup – “About 75 percent of tomato consumption is in the form of processed tomatoes…Recent research has shown organic ketchup has about double the antioxidants of conventional ketchup.”
Apples – “Apples are the second most commonly eaten fresh fruit” and are also “one of the most pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables.”
While America is still deciding whether girls should routinely get HPV vaccinations, an expert from Cancer Research UK is calling for boys to be vaccinated too. “It is a bad public health message to be giving out that you should only vaccinate girls and not boys against a sexually transmitted disease,' said Dr Anne Szarewski, a clinical consultant for Britain’s leading cancer charity, in an interview with GP Magazine.
In trials Gardasil, an HPV vaccination manufactured by Merk & Co., was found to be 100% effective against the four most common strains of HPV, which cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. The drug received FDA approval in June of last year, but states are still struggling to implement vaccination programs because of pressure from the conservative right who are concerned that vaccinating young girls against HPV will somehow encourage promiscuity (which is akin to saying seat belts encourage road accidents).
The issue of vaccinating boys is all the more relevant since many states are including opt out clauses in their HPV vaccination legislation; In a country where religious convictions prevent so many girls from getting the lifesaving vaccination, it becomes all the more important to vaccinate as many potential carriers as possible, with males being described as a ‘hidden reservoir’ for the disease. In addition, studies with rubella found that it was only when males were vaccinated too that a herd immunity developed.
It is estimated that men and women have an 80% lifetime risk of contracting HPV. As well as protecting against cervical cancer and genital warts, the HPV vaccine can also prevent both anal and penile cancers. And a recent John Hopkins study found that HPV infection via oral sex was the leading cause of throat cancer, which affects 11,000 Americans each year, adding further weight behind the argument to approve the vaccination for use in males, and include young men in public HPV vaccination programs.
A link between tumors and early exposure to DDT, a promising new use for an old drug, and a high tech cancer-detecting bra are just some of the recent breast cancer breakthroughs being reported in news:
A new study, reported in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times, has found a cohesive link between breast cancer and childhood exposure to the pesticide DDT. The small study of bay area women conducted by researches from UC Berkeley, found that it wasn’t just exposure, but the age that exposure occurred that was critical. Previous studies have failed to find a link, but these generally measured the levels of DDT in women when cancer was found, which was often decades after exposure occurred, since the pesticide was banned in 1972. What makes this UC Berkeley study unique is that fact that they were able to test blood originally collected between 1959 and 1967, when the women featured in the study gave birth at Oakland area Kaiser Permanente hospitals. This study found that the top third of women whose blood contained the most DDT were five times more likely to develop cancer. None of the women lived on farms, so their exposure came through an urban lifestyle similar to the majority of Americans.
Meanwhile scientists from the University of Manchester in England have found that a drug first used on Alzheimer’s patients offers promise for breast cancer sufferers. The drug, a gamma secretase inhibitor, has been found to attack the Notch gene, which is known to stimulate growth in a wide range of cancers, including leukemia and breast tumors. The team hopes that the drug will be used to prevent cancer from reoccurring, which happens in up to a third of women who initially appear to have been treated successfully.
Also in England, a group at The University of Bolton's Centre for Research and Innovation (CMRI) have developed a Smart Bra that can detect breast cancer in its early stages before a tumor has had a chance to develop and spread. The bra works by using a microwave antenna system, which picks up abnormal changes in the temperature of breast tissue, which occurs as a result pre-cancerous and cancerous growth due to a corresponding increase in metabolic and vascular activity. Data collected is then transmitted to a controller unit, which sets off an alarm if a problem is detected. In addition, it is also hoped the device will be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment for those already suffering from the disease. The lifesaving bra is expected to go into production within the next two years and will cost between $40 and $60 more than more low tech apparel.
Prevention is always better than a cure however, with experts from Cancer Research UK claiming that one in ten cases of breast cancer could be prevented by adopting a cancer-smart lifestyle, which includes keeping fit, staying trim, drinking less, reducing long-term use of hormone replacement therapy drugs and increasing breast feeding rates.
And after a study at Keel University found that aluminum salts used in many antiperspirants can leach into breast tissue,” Professor Robert Thomas suggests women think twice before routinely using under-arm deodorants in an article he wrote in September for the UK’s Daily Mail. This follows an earlier study by the University of Reading, which found that the aluminum compounds mimic oestrogen in the body, and that preservatives used in deodorants were also found in many breast cancers. Though he admits the evidence is not yet conclusive, Thomas suggests that: “giving up using deodorant could be as effective in reducing cancer risk as a diet rich in disease-preventing antioxidants. This might sound surprising,” he continues, “as we know fruit and vegetables can help keep cancer at bay. But the irony is that women, who are particularly diligent about eating enough fruit and veg, then cover their armpits every day with chemicals that mimic oestrogen, the cancer-promoting hormone.” For those worried about the whiff, Thomas suggests at the very least cutting down use, alternating brands to limit exposure to any one combination of chemicals, and using a natural or crystal alternative.
A new study has linked the consumption of energy drinks to risky and aggressive "toxic jock" behavior amongst young adults. 
Scientists from the University of Florence in Italy report that listening to classical, Celtic or Indian music for just 30 minutes a day for a month can significantly reduce blood pressure. The researchers presented their findings last week at the 
Could it be that a little of what you fancy really does you good? I can't help noticing the connection between two recent health stories in the news: one about the positive effects of chocolate, the other about the health benefits of being 
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Today (May 7) is the seventh annual 
Researchers have found yet another good reason to stop smoking and reduce pollution. They've discovered that airborne toxins may be a contributing factor for the onset of male pattern baldness.
A study done by the prestigious 
While those who meditate may focus on the ethereal, scientists are getting to grips with the tangible physical effects that meditation has been proven to produce. And armed with this new empirical evidence, the men and ladies in white coats are hitting the lotus position alongside those who may have previously been dismissed as kooks and hippies.
Scientists have developed a computer game that students of the 
The CO2-busting website 
We all know that diet food can make you fat. With increased sugar often replacing fat in so-called "diet" foods, dieters often don't get enough of the satisfying fat their body needs to tell them they're full, so they inadvertently end up eating more high sugar foods, putting on weight instead of taking it off. Now it seems that diet drink may have a similar effect.
Starbucks has 
This combination may bring some odd ideas to mind, but don't worry, you won't be asked to bare your breasts next time you hit the dentist's chair. It seems that scientists at The University of Texas Dental Branch have noticed a difference in marker proteins found in saliva that indicates the presence of certain cancers and are developing a simple test for these proteins. The benefit of this is that many people visit the dentist more regularly than the doctor, and since you will already be opening your mouth, you might as well get all the health information you can. "Maybe one day it will be feasible to go to the dentist to be screened for a variety of disorders in the body, including breast cancer, " said Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser at the British Dental Association in an interview with the 
One of the most important roles a woman may choose to take on is motherhood. Those who don't adopt face the milestone of giving birth; a major and miraculous event with physical, emotional and spiritual components. While families and friends may be present and willing, not everyone is knowledgeable, experienced or even very good at care-giving when facing their own family-related issues. And that is where a doula can help.
A $25 million 
While America is still deciding whether girls should routinely get HPV vaccinations, an expert from Cancer Research UK is calling for boys to be vaccinated too. “It is a bad public health message to be giving out that you should only vaccinate girls and not boys against a sexually transmitted disease,' said Dr Anne Szarewski, a clinical consultant for Britain’s leading cancer charity, in an interview with 
A link between tumors and early exposure to DDT, a promising new use for an old drug, and a high tech cancer-detecting bra are just some of the recent breast cancer breakthroughs being reported in news: