The Plain Truth's: Your Health Today ONLINE: August 2012

Another reason why breast is best: Mother's milk promotes a healthier gut

English: Breastfeeding an infant Português: Um recém-nascido em aleitamento (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The benefits of breast milk have long been appreciated, but now scientists have found yet another reason why mother's should try and use their own milk rather than formula.

A team at Duke University Medical Center found newborns fed breast milk develop a healthier gut compared to those on infant formula.

This is because lab tests revealed a mother's milk fosters unique colonies of microbiotic flora that aid nutrient absorption and boost immune system development.

Study leader Dr William Parker, said: 'This study is the first we know of that examines the effects of infant nutrition on the way that bacteria grow, providing insight to the mechanisms underlying the benefits of breast feeding over formula feeding for newborns.

'Only breast milk appears to promote a healthy colonization of beneficial biofilms, and these insights suggest there may be potential approaches for developing substitutes that more closely mimic those benefits in cases where breast milk cannot be provided.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2194613/Another-reason-breast-best.html#ixzz24s8zcK7N

Researchers Find Mysterious New AIDS-Like Disease

English: HIV attachment process Legend: Attachment from the gp120 loop to the CD4+ receptor Attachment of a variable from the gp120 to a co-receptor (CCR5 or CXCR4) and fixation of the gp41 to the cellular membrane Invading of a HIV viron into the cell Српски / Srpski: Prišvršćivanje virusa HIV za T-limfocit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Researchers have identified a mysterious new disease that has left scores of people in Asia and some in the United States with AIDS-like symptoms even though they are not infected with HIV.
The patients’ immune systems become damaged, leaving them unable to fend off germs as healthy people do. What triggers this isn’t known, but the disease does not seem to be contagious.
This is another kind of acquired immune deficiency that is not inherited and occurs in adults, but doesn’t spread the way AIDS does through a virus, said Dr. Sarah Browne, a scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. More>>>>>>>>>>

Do Energy-Saving Bulbs Cause Skin Cancer?

Energy Saving Light Bulb taken by C Ford, 29 June 2004. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the United States bakes under the summer sun, dermatologists often warn of cancer risks posed by ultraviolet (UV) sunlight. But research now points to a new and ubiquitous indoor source of these harmful rays: eco-friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Scientists say they found widespread chipping or cracking in the phosphor surface coating of nearly all the compact fluorescent bulbs they examined, allowing UV rays to escape.

Most of the bulbs "have cracks in the phosphor coating, probably due to the fact that the coating is brittle and has trouble making the tight bends required to make these bulbs compact," explained study lead author Miriam Rafailovich, a professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y. "As a result, we observed, by eye, defects in nearly all the bulbs that we studied."

Read more: Do Energy-Saving Bulbs Cause Skin Cancer?
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

Colonoscopy Update: Doctors unveil four pills that do the same job as liquid laxatives in the cancer screening prep

Pills as effective as patients drinking litres of liquid laxatives before undergoing virtual colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans

Doctors advise those aged 50 and order undergo regular screenings

Gone may soon be the days when litres of unpleasant liquid laxatives are the unwelcoming first step before a virtual colonoscopy, and researchers hope colorectal cancer too.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona have unveiled four small pills they say have the same bowel-cleansing effect of the previously prescribed self-cleansing liquid required before the cancer screening.

The unpleasant process of drinking several litres of the liquid laxatives has been linked to patients delaying or skipping the cancer's recommending screening all together, according to the doctors.

Revelation: Researchers have unveiled a new pill shown where four taken have the same bowel-cleansing effect of previously prescribed liquid laxatives needed for colonoscopies

That effect has added to colorectal cancer being the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans, the Mayo Clinic reports.

'Some become so anxious about drinking so much liquid that they avoid the entire procedure, putting them at risk of undiagnosed cancer,' the clinic states.

More Proof: Mediterranean Diet Best for Heart Health

English: Olives in olive oil. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Once again, eating a diet based on fish, legumes, vegetables, and moderate amounts of alcohol is linked to lower chances of dying from a heart attack, stroke, or other vascular "events," according to a new study of New York City residents.

The mostly Hispanic and black study participants did not necessarily eat traditional foods from Mediterranean countries, but the closer their diets were to the spirit of Mediterranean eating — with plenty of fish, healthy fats like olive oil, whole grains, and vegetables — the lower their risk of death from vascular problems including heart attacks.

"While it's not the Mediterranean diet, it is comparing a healthier diet to a less-healthy diet, and there was some improvement," said Teresa Fung, a professor at Simmons College in Boston who was not involved in the study.

Read more: More Proof: Mediterranean Diet Best for Heart Health
Important: At Risk For A Heart Attack? Find Out Now.

7 Surprising Benefits of Drinking Alcohol

First of all, if you’re not sure what the word “moderation” means, we can wait while you look it up in a dictionary. OK, got it? Great. So here we go: believe it or not, drinking alcohol in moderation has genuine, medically researched health benefits. If you’re an alcoholic, you need to find some other way to help fight cholesterol or boost your brainpower. But if you are an adult and enjoy having an evening glass of pinot noir, check out these seven surprising benefits of drinking alcohol.

Lowers bad cholesterol:

Nutritionists, physicians, and Americans who love pastries have all pondered why there is a low level of coronary heart disease in France, even though the French diet is high in saturated fats. Aside from the fact that the French take vacations while Americans run themselves into the ground, research indicates the antioxidants in red wine, a staple of French meals, promote good cholesterol while reducing bad cholesterol, which helps to prevent clogged arteries. To enjoy this benefit, women should have just one glass of wine a day, while men can have two. (And everyone should take more time off!)
Reduces the risk of diabetes:

Physicians want people to keep in mind that you can get the same health benefits that come with moderate alcohol consumption from other food items. That said, a recent study indicates that with women, alcohol may stimulate the body to release insulin and other substances, preventing sudden increases in blood sugar which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Previous research made this same connection, but more detailed studies need to be done to determine more precisely how alcohol helps to control spikes in blood sugar.
Builds brain power:

Wine creates good cholesterol, which in turn improves blood flow to the brain. Researchers believe that moderate drinking may also dilate vessels in your brain, creating cerebral blood flow, and fight against toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. It’s also believed that alcohol creates a manageable amount of stress on brain cells, which helps them to cope with more significant stress that can lead to dementia.
Prevents gallstones:

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