Eating lots of chocolate helps people stay thin, study finds

(CBS News) What's the best way to stay thin? A new study finds it's exercising and eating a healthy diet full of - chocolate?

Mindless eating: 8 food goofs that pack on pounds

The study found that people who frequently ate chocolate had a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who didn't.

Is it time to ditch fat-free for fudge?

For the study, published in the March 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers examined more than 1,000 healthy men and women who were free of heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol problems. They were all enrolled in another study that measured the effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, but for this study researchers assigned them questionnaires that gauged how often participants chowed down on chocolate.

The researchers found that the participants - who were an average age of 57 - ate chocolate for an average of twice of week and exercised roughly 3.5 times per week. But the more frequent chocolate-eaters had smaller BMIs, a ratio of height and weight that's used to measure obesity.

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Uncle Sam Updates Food Pyramid links and updates...

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The Food and Nutrition Information Center - a leader in food and human nutrition information dissemination since 1971 - provides credible, accurate, and practical resources for nutrition and health professionals, educators, government personnel and consumers. Learn more about FNIC.

Healthy Diet & Lifestyle, Food Groups, Nutrition Before & During Pregnancy, Child Nutrition, Physical Activity
http://krilloil.com/blog/nutrition-pyramid/

In addition you can find more info below:

The Food and Nutrition Information Center
http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/

Nutritional Values For Common Foods And Products
http://www.nutritionvalue.org/

NutritionData.com: Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels and more
http://nutritiondata.self.com/

Overdosing on Vitamin D: Side Effects, Toxicity, Symptoms, Poisoning

Here are the side effects that I feel aren't well described on the Mayo Clinic list:

1) Irritable lungs. For example, when I breath in alcohol vapors I need to cough. When I drink my coffee in the morning I need to cough (probably a reaction to the caffeine).

2) Sensation in the teeth. I feel my teeth. I can’t decide if this is good or bad. What is definitely bad is that when I switch from warm food to a cool drink I get nasty electric shocks in my teeth. Rarely I have experienced tooth-ache like pain as a result of chilling my teeth with cold air or cold food. This pain lasts for 10 or fifteen minutes.

3) Bone pain in the fourth finger on my left hand. This is very strange. Often within minutes of taking a vitamin D supplement, I notice a slight pain in the fourth finger of my left hand and nowhere else. I first experienced this feeling while taking 4000 IU/day and, at that dose, the pain got quite severe on the last day I took that dose.

4) Nausea with fatigue.

5) Ringing ears.

6) Chest pain and heart sensations. I find this to be the worst and most alarming side effect. It caused me to shun all forms of vitamin D for two months. I went for a full cardiac workout and blood testing. I was informed that I’m in terrific health. Like the bone pain, for me this side effect is more severe from supplements than from sunshine.

7) Insomnia. Vitamin D will make me fatigued during the day while at the same time it sometimes causes me to wake up near 4 am in the morning. I have alot of trouble falling back to sleep and sometimes get up between 5 and 6 instead of between 6:30 and 7:00.

8) A bad mood. Vitamin D is known to have psychological effects. It is supposed to improve mood. I’m really uncomfortable with listing this as a side effect because it is so subjective. The other side effects are sufficient to put me in a bad mood. But my gut tells me it is worse than that and that the excess vitamin D is actually causing a feeling of doom. As time passes, I've become aware of more reports of feelings of doom.

The following side effects have just emerged in April 2009. They are perfectly described on the Mayo Clinic list:

9) Discharge of the eye, eyelid, and lining of the eyelid

10) Increased sensitivity of eyes to light or irritation of eyes
Read the Rest HERE

Weight loss surgery 'HALVES the risk of dying from any cause up to 14 years

Obese people can gain extra years of life after weight-loss surgery – halving their risk of dying early from any cause.

Dramatic new evidence shows bariatric surgery – giving people procedures such as gastric bands – can improve long-term survival for patients from any age group.

Researchers say it works by cutting diabetes and other obesity-related conditions including heart problems.

Weight loss surgery includes gastric band surgery and gastric bypass (the stomach and intestines are pictured before, left, and after, right, the procedure). It can halve the risk of dying early from any cause It has also become safer in recent years, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study found obese people had a 53 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause at five to 14 years after weight-loss surgery.

The study involved 2,500 obese patients and nearly 7,500 matched control receiving care at medical centres in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system.

Study leader Dr David Arterburn, of the Seattle-based Group Health Research Institute, said ‘We have tracked a large group of patients for a long enough time that we can clearly see a strong link between bariatric surgery and long-term survival.

The 'Miracle berry' that makes even Brussels sprouts taste good

If you can’t stomach vegetables there is a surprising - and all natural -solution.

Known as the Miracle Berry, this jellybean-shaped fruit can make sour and bitter foods taste sweet - and the sensation lasts for up to two hours after eating.

The fruit contains a protein called miraculin that binds to the taste buds on the tongue and ‘trips’ flavors to appear sweeter.

Known as the Miracle Berry, this jellybean-shaped fruit (pictured) can make sour and bitter foods taste sweet - and the sensation lasts for up to two hours after eating. It contains a protein called miraculin that binds to the taste buds on the tongue and ‘trips’ all flavours to appear sweetened

Pill tricks the body into thinking it has consumed large number of calories

Could an 'imaginary meal' pill solve the obesity crisis? Drug tricks the body into feeling full - AND lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Fexaramine sends out the same signals that normally happen when you eat a lot of food, so the body starts clearing out space to store it, say the Californian scientists behind the research. The pill tricks the body into thinking it has consumed a large amount of calories - as if you have just eaten a substantial meal.

The dieter's dream, it would allow them to continue to enjoy fatty foods without putting on weight.

The drug, which tricks the body into believing it has eaten, also cuts cholesterol and keeps blood sugar levels under control.

Researcher Ronald Evans said: 'This pill is like an imaginary meal.

'It sends out the same signals that normally happen when you eat a lot of food, so the body starts clearing out space to store it.

'But there are no calories and no change in appetite.'

British doctors described the US breakthrough as potentially of great importance – but cautioned that much more work needs to be done.

Severe Flu Cases on the Rise in U.S.

English: >1500 cases 1001–1500 cases 501–1001 cases 101–500 cases 51–100 cases 11–50 cases 1–10 cases 0 cases Influenza A (H1N1) numbers for confirmed and probable cases by state as reported to the CDC(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This year’s influenza season started earlier than expected and is sending more patients to the hospital, raising concerns this could be a more severe outbreak than in recent years.

Thirty-six states are now experiencing high levels of flu activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, as this year’s flu vaccine may not fully protect against a strain known as influenza A H3N2 that is currently circulating and tends to be more severe.

Fifteen children age 18 and under have died from the flu as of Dec. 20, compared with four such deaths around the same time last year, according to the CDC. A number of hospitals are outpacing previous years, with some restricting visitors to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Our medical director said that in his eight years at the hospital, he had never seen double digits” in the number of patients hospitalized, said Jill Chadwick, a spokeswoman at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. It had a record 25 flu cases admitted as of Monday and two deaths.

Tamiflu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the flu vaccine isn't a good match for this year's strain. So, even more people than ever can expect the fever, chills, aches, nausea, and other symptoms associated with influenaza. What can you do? The CDC recommends taking an antiviral such as Tamiflu or Relenza to reduce the flu's duration.

Not so fast, says holistic physician Dr. David Brownstein. "Forget it," he tells Newsmax Health. "It doesn't work, it's expensive, and it has side effects.

"Tamiflu is the most commonly prescribed antiviral medication for treating the symptoms of the flu," he says.

"You would think that Tamiflu must work well since it's widely prescribed by conventional doctors. However, a Cochrane report stated, 'Treating previously healthy patients with Tamiflu reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by approximately 21 hours.'

"Less than a day?" he asks in amazement. "And that's only when it's given within 48 hours of contracting the flu. Honestly, I can't make this stuff up."

"Tamiflu costs approximately $120 for a full course of treatment," says Dr. Brownstein. "It's a waste of your hard-earned money.

"Not only does Tamiflu fail to treat the flu, it is also associated with a host of adverse effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and abdominal pain.

"Wait a minute," he says. "I thought those were the symptoms of the flu! Tamiflu has also been associated with more severe side effects such as hepatitis, anaphylaxis, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and dangerous neuropsychiatric side effects such as hallucinations and suicide.

"Honestly, do you think all those side effects are worth it to reduce the severity of the flu by 21 hours?"

Dr. Brownstein also sees little benefit of taking....................

Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.NewsmaxHealth.com/Headline/flu-antivirals-symptoms-Tamiflu/2014/12/28/id/615267/#ixzz3NLdMzYkw
Alert: What Is Your Risk for a Heart Attack? Find Out Now

Ibuprofen adds 12 years to life!

Coated 200 mg ibuprofen tablets, CareOne brand, distributed by American Sales Company of Lancaster, New York (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Regular doses of ibuprofen could allow people to live up to 12 years longer.

In tests, the drug appears to hold back the ageing process as well as helping fight disease.

Ibuprofen, which is used every day at home by people to treat inflammation, pain and fever, may be the key to developing a long sought after anti-ageing drug.

Dr Brian Kennedy, president and chief executive of the Buck Institute for Research on Ageing in California, said: “There is a lot to be excited about.

"The research shows that ibuprofen impacts a process not yet implicated in ageing, giving us a new way to study and understand the ageing process.

“Ibuprofen is a relatively safe drug, found in most people’s medicine cabinets.

"There is every reason to believe there are other existing treatments that can impact healthspan and we need to be studying them.”

Lead researcher Professor Michael Polymenis of Texas A&M University agreed.

He said: “It should be possible to find other drugs like ibuprofen with even better ability to extend lifespan, with the aim of adding healthy years of life in people.”

In laboratory tests, ibuprofen was found to extend the lives of worms and flies by the equivalent of about 12 years in human terms. MORE

Scientists invent 'feel full' chemical

The new chemical could make it easier for people to reduce how much they eat. Image Credit: sxc.hu

The new additive could help people lose weight by making them feel fuller more quickly at meal times.

Developed by researchers in the UK, the new chemical, which uses proprionate to make someone feel fuller, must be eaten on a regular basis in order to have the desired effect.

While little more than a foul-tasting powder on its own, scientists have been experimenting with ways to incorporate the chemical in to other foods such as bread loaves and fruit smoothies in order to make it more palatable for consumers.

The most difficult part of the research was to find a way to deliver the proprionate to the colon, a problem that they solved by binding it to a natural carbohydrate called inulin.

Experiments have shown that volunteers eating food containing the new chemical ate 14% less on average than those who dined on foods that didn't contain it.

"We know that adults gain between 0.3kg and 0.8kg a year on average, and there's a real need for new strategies that can prevent this," said study leader Prof Gary Frost.

Source: BBC News

Dunking your bread in olive oil could cut your heart attack risk in just six WEEKS

Dunking your bread in olive oil could cut your heart attack risk in just six weeks, say scientists.

Sophisticated new tests found regular consumption of olive oil dramatically improved chemical signals in the body linked to coronary artery disease.

A study led by Glasgow University confirms the health benefits of a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, especially for those who don’t normally eat olive oil.

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Sophisticated new tests found regular consumption of olive oil dramatically improved chemical signals in the body linked to coronary artery disease

The study added just 20mls a day – about four teaspoons - to the diet of healthy adults, which is the amount used in a salad dressing or mopped up by bread during a meal. But a range of signals for heart disease measured in the urine improved in only six weeks, says a report published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2843469/Dunking-bread-olive-oil-cut-heart-attack-risk-six-weeks.html#ixzz3JjbtCdB7

Brazil nuts can boost a woman's fertility:

Natural antioxidant found in nuts, red meat and seafood improves chances of conceiving

An element found in nuts, red meat and seafood could increase a woman's chance of conceiving.

Scientists found that selenium, a natural antioxidant, plays a crucial role in the early stages of conception - and of all foods, Brazil nuts have the highest level.

Selenium is crucial in the development of healthy ovarian follicles, which are responsible for the production of eggs in women.

Selenium - found in nuts, red meat and seafood - could be crucial in the development of healthy ovarian follicles, which are responsible for the production of eggs in women, research found

Melanie Ceko, from the University of Adelaide, who carried out the research, said: 'Selenium is an essential trace element found in protein-rich foods like red meat, seafood and nuts.'

'It is important for many biological functions, such as immune response, thyroid hormone production, and acts as an antioxidant, helping to detoxify damaging chemicals in the body.

'We've known for some time that selenium is important to men's fertility, but until now no one has researched how this element could be involved in healthy reproduction in women.'

Vision problems. Joint pain. Dementia... Is there anything fish oils can't beat?

They've already been shown to ease arthritic joints and be beneficial to the developing brains of children.

Now research has shown that fish oils can also help smokers kick the habit. Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Current medical advice is to eat two portions of fish a week, including one portion of oily fish such as tuna or mackerel. Omega-3s are also found in leafy vegetables, wholewheat bread and walnuts. So what can they do for you – and is a supplement sometimes better? EVE McGOWAN spoke to the experts to find out…

Current medical advice is to eat two portions of fish a week, including one portion of oily fish such as tuna or mackerel

A boost for brain power

THE CLAIM

Omega-3 supplements for children – the modern-day alternative to cod liver oil – help their developing brains.

THE PROOF

Numerous trials have shown that they can improve the behaviour and learning of children with ADHD and learning disabilities. More recently, Dr Alex Richardson, at Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Intervention, studied underperforming children aged seven to nine. After taking daily supplements for 16 weeks, their behaviour and reading improved.

SUPPLEMENT OR DIET?

Dr Richardson says: ‘Almost all the children failed to eat enough fish so supplements are a reasonable option.’

Preventing a heart attack

THE CLAIM