Statins Raise Risk of Postoperative Delirium

The use of statins is associated with a 28% increased risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients, found University of Toronto professor Dr. Donald Redelmeier and colleagues in a retrospective cohort analysis involving more than 280 000 patients.

Ontario's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) looked at elderly patients who underwent elective surgery in Ontario and who had received 2 or more prescriptions for statins in the year before surgery, including at least one prescription in the 90 days preceding surgery. Many patients took multiple medications, underwent abdominal, musculoskeletal or urogenital surgery which had a mean duration of about 115 minutes.

Delirium, in addition to causing anxiety in patients and families, contributes to longer hospital stays, a prolonged need for intensive care, and can disrupt and delay care.

They found that 1 in 14 elderly patients were taking statins before surgery and 1 in 90 experienced delirium. Longer surgeries and age over 70 years increased the risk of delirium.

"Our results suggest that this association was more than a coincidence, particularly among patients who received higher doses of statins and had longer duration noncardiac surgeries," state Dr. Redelmeier and colleagues. "The association between statins and risk of delirium was distinct and was not observed with other lipid-lowering medications, cardiovascular medications or common drugs that reflect underlying chronic diseases but have no major effects on the cardiovascular system."

The researchers suggest patients temporarily stop taking statins before surgery to lower their risk. If needed, restarting statins after surgery might provide their heart protecting benefits without the risk of delirium.

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Doctor's Orders.... Not Always Followed for many reasons!

Moral: Listen to your doctor!

Five Home Remedies That Really Wo

Mom always had her favorite home remedies – did anyone’s mom not believe in the power of chicken soup over a cold? – and scientists have actually proven that some of mom’s favorite home remedies are as helpful as she believed. These traditional remedies, passed from mom to mom for generations, have held up to scientific scrutiny:

• Honey for coughs. Not only has honey been proven a good cough suppressant, a 2007 study indicated that honey worked better than over-the-counter cough medicines at relieving the coughs of children with upper respiratory infections.

• Cranberries for urinary problems. American Indians first discovered the ability of cranberries to fight infections and passed the remedy along to early settlers. Modern scientists have found that cranberries are unique in their ability to keep bacteria from sticking to bladder walls. A daily glass of cranberry juice or cranberry capsules reduces bladder infections, especially in women who have them often.

• Saltwater for the nose. Nasal saline irrigation, in which salt water is used to rinse the nasal passages, has long been a remedy to relieve the misery of a stuffy nose. Twenty-first century medicine has scientifically proven it to be a cheap, safe and effective remedy for clogged noses caused by sinusitis, allergies and other maladies.

• Staying warm to ward off colds. Mom always told us to bundle up in winter, but scientists always chuckled. They’ve stopped laughing since a 2005 study indicated that being cold might actually lead to developing a cold. Researchers believe that when a person’s extremities are chilled, the blood vessels in the nose narrow, limiting the amount of disease-fighting white blood cells in the nose, the body’s first defense against viruses.

• Chicken soup for colds. Mom was right on target; chicken soup really does fight the common cold. Studies show that mom’s favorite home remedy may be slightly anti-inflammatory, helping fight the worst of a cold’s symptoms. Steam from the hot soup also helps drain sinuses, prevent dehydration and calm sore throats.

source www.Newsmax.com

Trans Fatty Acids Linked to Fetal Death

Trans fatty acids, the much maligned 'solid' fats implicated as artery-clogging contributors to cardiovascular disease, may also increase the risk of fetal death during pregnancy, study findings suggest.

Dr. Charles J. Glueck, of Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and colleagues found a higher percentage of fetal loss among women who consumed higher levels of trans fatty acids. ..more....

Regular Acetaminophen Use Triples Asthma Risk

By: Sylvia Booth Hubbard

People who regularly use acetaminophen triple their risk for developing asthma. A study by the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network asked 521 people with asthma and 507 without about their use of painkillers. They found that those who use paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the U.S. and sold under brand names such as Tylenol) on a regular basis triple their risk of asthma. Researchers suggest that acetaminophen reduces levels of glutathione in the lungs, a chemical necessary to protect airways from the damage of air and smoke pollution. “Epidemiological evidence is growing that shows a link between paracetamol and asthma,” study author Dr. Seif Shaheen told London’s Telegraph. “Since 2000, several publications have reported this association in the UK and the USA. We have also shown that asthma prevalence is higher in children and adults in countries with higher paracetamol sales.” The use of acetaminophen only once a week increased the risk of developing asthma. Other painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen had no effect. © 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Egg Carton 101

Now they can be cage free and free range, vegetarian and omega-3 fortified, organic, “certified humane” or “American humane certified.” The incredible, edible egg is becoming unintelligible.

Some claims on egg cartons are regulated by the federal government, some by the states and some not at all. Some affect consumers’ health, some touch upon ethics and some are meaningless.

All purport to describe how the hens were raised, or what they were fed, or what extra benefits their eggs might provide. more..

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Food Makers Skimp on Ingredients in an Effort to Fatten Their Profits

Major food makers have been quietly altering the recipes for their products. For candy, dairy products, and a variety of other food products, fillers have been added and cheaper ingredients are being used as substitutes in order to cut costs.

Hershey’s, as one example, is using vegetable oil for a portion of the cocoa butter traditionally used in some of its chocolates, a move which has led to some complaints.

Spice maker McCormick & Co. is now supplying food companies with cheaper spices. They are providing Mexican oregano instead of the pricier Mediterranean variety, and garlic concentrate instead of garlic cloves, which are heavier and costlier to ship.

 

Feeling the pain from rising gas prices, more and more U.S. consumers are taking steps to compensate for the price of their commutes. According to recent research from The Nielsen Company, 63 percent of consumers are now reducing their spending on other consumer goods, including food. Their research also found that 78 percent of consumers are combining shopping trips; 52 percent are now eating out less, and 51 percent stay home more often than before. 

But consumers aren’t the only ones trying to squeeze more out of each dollar.

Not only has gas been “watered-down” with 10 percent ethanol without showing a noticeable decrease in price, but food manufacturers have also adopted new ways of reducing their spending and increasing profits. 

Honey, They Shrunk Our Groceries

You may not have realized this, but many  food products are mysteriously shrinking in content – some while increasing the size of the package at the same time! – in an effort to trick you into believing prices have remained the same, or worse; that you’re actually getting a better deal than before.

 It’s a phenomenon that consumerist.com has dubbed "the grocery shrink ray.”

 Mouseprint.org, a web site devoted to "exposing the strings and catches buried in the fine print," has also caught on, listing examples of products that are now smaller than previously, while price remains the same (or higher).

Rather than raising prices, many companies opt for the less obvious route of reducing content. But you’re still spending more money for what you’re getting.

Oftentimes these changes are small enough that you won’t notice them unless you actually read the labels. A quick glance at mayonnaise jars, for example, may not immediately reveal a size difference, but some are now sold in 30-ounce jars, slightly less than the standard 32-ounce containers without being visibly smaller.

Fill ‘Er Up!

In September of 2007 I ran a story about the industry campaign to allow vegetable oil to be substituted for cocoa butter and still be called chocolate. About a dozen food industry groups pushed to change the long standing federal standards to allow cocoa butter to be replaced with up to five percent of another vegetable fat, which can save chocolate manufacturers millions of dollars. (The European Union has already used a five percent vegetable oil ceiling in their chocolate since 2003.)

America’s largest candy maker, Hershey’s, known for their Hershey’s chocolate bars, bite-sized Kisses, and Reese’s peanut butter cups are now substituting a portion of their cocoa butter with vegetable oil. But they’re also raising wholesale prices by 11 percent, their second increase this year.

Hershey’s claims the increases are necessary to offset the rise in cost of raw materials like sugar, cocoa and peanuts, which have risen as much as 45 percent since the beginning of the year.

Other cheap fillers finding their way into more and more of your packaged foods include soy protein and rice bran.

According to Michael Considine, an executive at the Minnesota grain company CHS Inc., their company has increased the volume of soy protein sales to major food companies by 10 percent just in the last two years.

And another ingredient supplier, NutraCea Inc., has reported an increased demand from food makers for its rice bran. Rice bran is a rice-milling byproduct that, until about 20 years ago, was considered fit only for animal consumption.

Despite the increased use of inexpensive filler materials, most of your processed foods still cost the same, if not more. In fact, data from AC Nielsen show that food companies raised prices across 35 key product categories by 7.3 percent over the 12-week period ending Aug. 9. 

Restaurants, too, are fiddling with the ingredients of their dishes. Sysco Corp., America’s largest food-service company by sales, has been working with restaurants to make cost-saving changes like replacing butter with oil/butter blends.

A Cheap Steak By Any Other Name is Still a Cheap Steak

Other companies are dressing up their lower-end products to make them seem more appetizing. For example, Cargill Inc. introduced cheaper cuts of meat with fancy-sounding names to supermarkets in July; with names like Maranada steak (flank steak), Marbello steak (skirt steak) and Cordelico sirloin (flap meat), these less tender cuts suddenly have a gourmet flair.  

How to Avoid Being Deceived in the Supermarket 

Most of these alterations can only be spotted in the fine print of the package's ingredient’s list, so as I’ve said on many occasions, you simply must read the labels of the products you buy.  

Your best bet however, is to avoid most all processed foods entirely. They’re mostly devoid of nutrients, and loaded with fillers and artificial ingredients. In the end, they end up costing you more, not just in grocery bills, but in future medical expenses as well as they will inevitably destroy your health.  

For more information on where and how to purchase truly healthy foods, how to plan healthy meals and save money in the process, please review my Related Articles below.

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Plastic Packaging Linked to Diabetes and Other Health Problems

"Widespread and continuous exposure to BPA, primarily through food but also through drinking water and oher sources, is evident from the presence of detectable levels of BPA in more than 90 percent of the U.S. population," says a JAMA study.

18 September 2008

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This press release is an announcement submitted by the Journal of the American Medical Association, and was not written by Diabetes Health.

Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr. McGuire: Plastics.
Benjamin: Just how do you mean that, sir?

- The Graduate

Higher urinary levels of the commonly used chemical, BPA, are linked with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Higher levels of urinary bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound commonly used in plastic packaging for food and beverages, is associated with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities, according to a study in the September 17 issue of JAMA. This study is being released early to coincide with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hearing on BPA.

BPA is one of the world's highest production-volume chemicals, with more than two million metric tons produced worldwide in 2003 and annual increase in demand of 6 percent to 10 percent annually, according to background information in the article. It is used in plastics in many consumer products. "Widespread and continuous exposureto BPA, primarily through food but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts, is evident from the presence of detectable levels of BPA in more than 90 percent of the U.S. population," the authors write. 

Evidence of adverse effects in animals has created concern over low-level chronic exposures in humans, but there are few data of sufficient statistical power to detect low-dose effects. This is the first study of associations with BPA levels in a large population, and it explores "normal" levels of BPA exposure.

David Melzer, MB, PhD, of Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, U.K., and colleagues examined associations between urinary BPA concentrations and the health status of adults, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2004. The survey included 1,455 adults, ages 18 through 74 years, with measured urinary BPA concentrations.

The researchers found that average BPA concentrations, adjusted for age and sex, appeared higher in those who reported diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in BPA concentration was associated with a 39 percent increased odds of cardiovascular disease (angina, coronary heart disease, or heart attack combined) and diabetes.

When dividing BPA concentrations into quartiles, participants in the highest BPA concentration quartile had nearly three times the odds of cardiovascular disease compared with those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, those in the highest BPA concentration quartile had 2.4 times the odds of diabetes compared with those in the lowest quartile.

In addition, higher BPA concentrations were associated with clinically abnormal concentrations for three liver enzymes. No associations with other diagnoses were observed.

"Using data representative of the adult U.S. population, we found that higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities. These findings add to the evidence suggesting adverse effects of low-dose BPA in animals. Independent replication and follow-up studies are needed to confirm these findings and to provide evidence on whether the associations are causal," the authors conclude. "Given the substantial negative effects on adult health that may be associated with increased BPA concentrations andalso given the potential for reducing human exposure, our findings deserve scientific follow-up."

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

In an accompanying editorial, Frederick S. vom Saal, PhD, of the University of Missouri, Columbia, and John Peterson Myers, PhD, of Environmental Health Sciences, Charlottesville, Va., comment on the findings regarding BPA.

"Since worldwide BPA production has now reached approximately 7 billion pounds per year, eliminating direct exposures from its use in food and beverage containers will prove far easier than finding solutions for the massive worldwide contamination by this chemical due its to disposal in landfills and the dumping into aquatic ecosystems of myriad other products containing BPA, which Canada has already declared to be a major environmental contaminant."

"The good news is that government action to reduce exposures may offer an effective intervention for improving health and reducing the burden of some of the most consequential human health problems. Thus, even while awaiting confirmation of the findings of Lang et al., decreasing exposure to BPA and developing alternatives to its use are the logical next steps to minimize risk to public health."

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

Officials Call Off Controversial Autism Study

WASHINGTON - Health officials have called off plans for a study examining a controversial type of treatment that some autism activists have touted as alternative medical therapy for children with the condition. .more...

Healthy Living Halves Premature Death Risk

Women who heed common sense health messages about smoking, diet and exercise can cut their risk of premature death in half, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Many studies look at the impact of just one lifestyle change on overall health, but researchers at Harvard University wanted to see the total impact of a healthy diet, regular exercise, a healthy weight and a lifetime without smoking. ..more...

Virtual Colonoscopy Vs. Traditional Colonoscopy

A new study showed that virtual colonoscopy was able to detect 90% of precancerous polyps larger than 10 millimetres, giving the patients a less expensive alternative to standard colonoscopy, which had the same accuracy. These non-invasive tests are as effective as old-fashioned colonoscopies and ready to be widely used for cancer screening, said Dr. C. Daniel Johnson, lead author of the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the third most common type of cancer. More that 56,000 people lose the battle with cancer each year. The American Cancer Society estimates almost 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer for 2008 in the U.S. Screening for polyps is recommended at age 50, but people avoid standard procedures because they are unpleasant. They involve inserting a long and flexible tube in a patient’s large intestine (rectum and colon). A small video camera is attached to the colonoscope so that your doctor can take pictures or video of the large colon. The test helps find ulcers, polyps, tumors and areas of inflammation or bleeding. In some cases during colonoscopy, if a polyp or abnormal tissue is found, your doctor may remove it at that time. During the procedure, a tissue sample (biopsy) of the polyp may be taken for lab analysis to determine whether subsequent surgical removal of the tissue is needed.

The report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which was the largest of this kind, involved 2,600 men and women tested at 15 medical centers. All participants were over the age of 50 and had no known significant risk factors for colon cancer. All patients received both a virtual and a traditional colonoscopy. Researchers found that the virtual technique detected 90% of precancerous polyps 10 millimetres or larger. The virtual version of the test is done mainly outside the body and uses an X-ray computed tomography or CT scanner.

Virtual colonoscopy, also known as CT colonography or CTC, which costs $600 to $1,200 – the standard colonoscopy is much more expensive – is effective and is lessinvasive compared with traditional colonoscopy, the study authors said.

C. Daniel Johnson, MD, professor of radiology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz, who led the study, and colleagues also found that CT colonography could detect 78% of polyps as small as 6 millimeters in diameter. The procedure failed to detect about one in ten of the largest lesions. Previous studies showed that standard colonoscopies also failed to spot about 5 percent to 10 percent of the lesions.

Both techniques require preparations, which are the patients’ biggest complaint. For the procedures to be accurate, the colon must be well prepared. It must be clear of stool and fluids that obscure the view of the colon and rectal lining.

The National Cancer Institute and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network funded the research.

A second study published in the same journal involved nearly 2,500 people with an average risk of colon cancer. All participants had an initial colonoscopy and patients who had no signs of precancerous polyps on an initial test had an extremely low risk of developing colon cancer in the next five years.  “We found no colon cancer after five years, and the risk of advanced precancerous polyps was very low,”said the study’s lead author, Dr. Thomas F. Imperiale, a professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute in Indianapolis.

Both studies move the field of colon cancer screening forward, wrote Robert Fletcher, professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School in Boston, in an editorial accompanying the studies.

© 2007 - 2008 - eFluxMedia

Common Plastics Chemical Linked to Heart Problems

A major study links a chemical widely used in plastic products, including baby bottles, to health problems in humans like heart disease and diabetes, but U.S. regulators said on Tuesday they still believe it is safe.

The chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, is commonly used in plastic food and beverage containers and in the coating of food cans.

Until now, environmental and consumer activists who have questioned the safety of BPA have relied on animal studies. ..more...

Blood Pressure Drug Combo Reduces Heart Deaths

Thousands of patients with high blood pressure could benefit from changing their drug treatment regimen to reduce their risk of cardiac death. The current U.S. hypertension treatment guidelines recommend using a thiazide diuretic – a drug that increases the volume of urine – alone as the initial drug therapy for high blood pressure. But a failure of diuretic drugs to decrease deaths from heart attacks, an important consequence of hypertension, prompted Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers to analyze data from existing clinical trials of diuretic drugs. They found that combining a thiazide diuretic with a “potassium-sparing” drug to treat hypertension reduced both sudden cardiac death and total coronary mortality by 40 percent. The findings call into question the current treatment guidelines. “The recommendations can now be re-examined in light of these new findings,” said John Oates, M.D., senior author of the study published in the September/October issue of the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension. The Joint National Committee, under the direction of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, publishes clinical practice guidelines for hypertension – new guidelines are expected in 2009. Thiazide diuretics successfully reduce blood pressure for many patients, but they are also known to deplete potassium, said Oates, a professor of Medicine and hypertension specialist. This potassium “wasting” has sparked concern over the years with studies suggesting a link between potassium loss and sudden cardiac death. Oates and colleagues examined data from controlled clinical trials that compared a thiazide diuretic/potassium-sparing (ENaC inhibitor) drug combination to placebo. They generated new, previously unpublished data on sudden death in these trials, and then analyzed the results of the trials in a meta-analysis – a statistical evaluation of data combined from multiple trials. They found a 40 percent reduction in total cardiac mortality and in sudden cardiac death in elderly patients with hypertension taking the drug combination, compared with those receiving placebo. “It was very striking,” Oates said. The investigators also performed a new meta-analysis of the clinical trials of thiazides given without a potassium-sparing drug, adding new trials to the mix. They found no benefit in coronary mortality and a 26 percent increase in sudden death. Even though the increase was not statistically significant, it was “going in the direction in which you didn’t want to go,” Oates said. Observational studies previously had found an increase in sudden cardiac death in patients taking a thiazide diuretic alone, and one showed that sudden death was greater at higher doses of thiazides, he said. Studies in animal models of heart attacks also have demonstrated that low potassium levels (caused by thiazide diuretics) can spark the abnormal heart rhythms that lead to sudden death. Do thiazide diuretics given alone have an adverse effect of increasing the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with high blood pressure? It’s possible. “There’s biologic plausibility for an adverse effect of the thiazides,” Oates said. “If it’s true, it’s probably the largest adverse effect in the history of modern pharmacology. The number of individuals affected over the last 50 years would be staggering.” And since the current U.S. clinical practice guidelines for hypertension recommend a thiazide diuretic without a potassium-sparing drug, millions of patients may be at increased risk of coronary death, Oates pointed out. Oates acknowledges that potassium-sparing drugs may reduce coronary mortality through a mechanism unrelated to their prevention of potassium loss. As studies proceed to determine how these drugs reduce death risk, he said, it’s time to add them to thiazides as recommended first-line treatment for high blood pressure in the elderly.

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Related Links: Doctor: Keep Your Heart Healthy! Find Out How Special: High Blood Pressure Kills, Cure It. Make Your Heart 20 Years Younger — Reduce Inflammation.

Your Car is a Germ-Mobile

By: Sylvia Booth Hubbard

“People would be horrified at the thought of eating off their toilet seat,” says British researcher Anthony Hilton. “But few realize eating off their car dashboard is just as likely to make them sick.” Hilton was the leader of a new British study by Aston University in Birmingham which shows the typical vehicle harbors over 280 different bacteria per square centimeter. The study, conducted for a U.K. insurance company, showed some spots are nastier than others—the gearshift, for example, usually crawls with over 350 different varieties. The worst place is the trunk, where about 850 bacteria typically hitch a ride. Scientists even found evidence of excrement in one Germ-Mobile’s trunk, which is where many people put their grocery bags. They also found that cars used to transport kids and pets are the germiest. “Whilst most of the bacteria we’ve found are unlikely to cause serious health problems, some cars, particularly those which regularly carry children and animals, play host to potentially harmful germs,” Hilton said. And you may want to think twice before turning on the heater or air conditioner—when the fan comes on, it blows even more germs and fungi around the interior, probably because few people regularly replace the vehicle’s interior air filter. Most of the people whose vehicles were used for study owned up to being slobs with their cars, and half said they would never allow their homes to get in the condition their cars were in. .

© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved

Healthy Lifestyle Increases Anti-Aging Enzyme

Sweeping lifestyle changes including a better diet and more exercise can raise the body's levels of an enzyme closely involved in controlling the aging process, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

The small study involved 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who underwent three months of lifestyle changes. They had blood levels of the enzyme telomerase 29 percent higher after these three months than when they began.

Telomerase fixes and lengthens parts of chromosomes known as telomeres that control longevity and are also important for maintenance of immune-system cells.

The research in the journal Lancet Oncology was led by Dr. Dean Ornish, head of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, and a well-known author advocating lifestyle changes to improve health.

The lifestyle changes included a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

"This is the first study showing that anything can increase telomerase. If it were a new drug that had been shown to do this, it would be a billion-dollar drug. But this is something that people can do for free," Ornish said in a telephone interview.

Shortening of telomeres is seen as an indicator of disease risk and premature death in some types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colon and lung cancer.

Previously published findings from the same group of men showed they experienced dramatic changes at the genetic level.

As expected, they lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and saw other health improvements.

They also had changes in activity in about 500 genes. The activity of disease-preventing genes increasing while some disease-promoting genes, including those involved in prostate cancer and breast cancer, shut down, the researchers said.

Basil Fights Aging

In a “What’s old is new” medical moment, Indian researchers discovered that holy basil, a native Indian herb long believed to promote health, really does promote health—and it has anti-aging properties in the bargain.

Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), also known as “Tulsi,” is a relative of the herb used in Western cooking. It differs from culinary basil in that it is more clove-like, and its leaves are commonly used in India to brew a tea valued for its healing powers.

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Stress May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

The results of a new study support an interaction between severe life events, psychological distress, and breast cancer. The findings appear in the online BioMed Central journal BMC Cancer.

"Young women who are exposed to severe life events more than once should be considered as a risk group for breast cancer and treated accordingly," first author Dr. Ronit Peled said in a telephone interview with Reuters Health.

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Air Pollution Can Interfere With Heart's Function

Monday, September 15, 2008 9:47 AM By: Sylvia Booth Hubbard

Recent research found that air pollution may cause heart disease, and a new study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association indicates that it may be especially harmful for those who already have heart disease. Researchers in Boston, Massachusetts, studied 48 patients who had serious coronary artery disease and had been hospitalized for heart-related problems. They periodically monitored electrical impulses in their hearts at three-month intervals with a 24-hour monitoring device, and then measured the air pollution in the area where patients lived. They discovered that microscopic particles in polluted air affected the heart’s ability to send electrical signals. Their research adds to a growing body of knowledge that indicates air pollution is linked to an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. “Our study provides additional rationale to avoid or reduce heavy traffic exposure after discharge, even for those without a heart attack, since traffic exposure involves pollution exposure as well as stress,” said Dr. Diane Gold, senior author of the study. Other experts recommend that people with heart disease who live in polluted cities limit the time they spend outdoors. © 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Veggie Diet May Actually Shrink Your Brain!

It seems to have happened to Hollywood!
MELBOURNE: Scientists have discovered that going veggie could be bad for your brain-with those on a meat-free diet six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage... more....

Home Depot: Do the Right Thing and Dump Monsanto!

Monsanto's top retail product is RoundUp, a broad-spectrum herbicide. Millions of pounds of RoundUp are used every year on U.S. gardens, lawns and farms.

Home Depot is a major vendor of RoundUp.

RoundUp has been linked to numerous environmental and human health problems, including:

• Increased risks of the cancer non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Miscarriages
• Attention deficit disorder
• Reduced production of sex hormones
• Genetic damage and damage to the immune system in fish, and genetic damage and abnormal development in frogs

To sign a petition asking Home Depot to dump RoundUp from its inventory, click the link below.

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More U.S. Drinking Water Affected by Drugs

Testing prompted by an Associated Press story that revealed trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies has shown that more Americans are affected by the problem than previously thought — at least 46 million.more..

Mediterranean Diet Lowers Chronic Disease Deaths

Sticking to a full Mediterranean diet provides substantial protection against major chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published on bmj.com today. A 'score' based on adherence to the Mediterranean diet could be used as an effective preventive tool for reducing the risk of premature death in the general population, say the authors. The Mediterranean diet from populations bordering the Mediterranean Sea has a reputation for being a model of healthy eating and contributing to better health and quality of life. It is rich in olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish, but low in meat, dairy products and alcohol. Previous research on the Mediterranean diet suggests that it has a protective role in cardiovascular disease and cancer, but no study has reviewed all the available data for a possible association between sticking to the Mediterranean diet, premature death, and the occurrence of chronic diseases in the general population. A team of researchers from the University of Florence assessed 12 international studies, which collectively included more than 1.5 million participants whose dietary habits and health were tracked for follow-up periods ranging from three to 18 years. All the studies examined the concept of using a numerical score to estimate how much people stuck to the diet, called an 'adherence score'. The researchers found that people who stuck strictly to a Mediterranean diet had significant improvements in their health, including a 9% drop in overall mortality, a 9% drop in mortality from cardiovascular disease, a 13% reduction in incidence of Parkinson and Alzheimer's disease, and a 6% reduction in cancer. The researchers suggestthat keeping an 'adherence score' based on "a theoretically defined Mediterranean diet could be an effective preventive tool for reducing the risk of mortality and morbidity in the general population." The results of this study have important implications for public health, particularly for reducing the risk of premature death in the general population, conclude the authors. The findings confirm the current guidelines and recommendations from all major scientific institutions that encourage a Mediterranean-like dietary pattern for the prevention of major chronic diseases.

Flax: Is it healthy?

Posted: Sep 10th 2008 4:26PM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: Food and Nutrition

(Click the photo for 5 Common Foods That Can Cause Cancer)

Flax is something we hear about often, and it's always praise -- in fact, health food nuts just can't get enough of it. So when one of my favourite bloggers asked the question Is Flax Bad? I was a little baffled. Bad? It's considered a superfood because of all those healthy Omega 3s! How can it be bad?

Here's the thing: Flax was recently linked to prostate cancer. It has nothing to do with Omega-3s; rather, it has to do with ALA, an organic compound in some vegetable oils that has been linked to cancer.

So what does this mean for you? Research is just in the preliminary stages, but nonethless, you might want to consider a different source of Omega-3s, such as fish oil. This goes for both men and women. For more information, head over to Mark's Daily Apple.

Gallery: Foods that fight cancer

Health Buzz: 9/11 Health Effects and Other Health News

Posted September 11, 2008

Asthma, PTSD, and Other Health Effects of 9/11

An analysis of the health of 71,437 people enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry shows that many of them may have developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Included in the registry—which was started in 2003 to track mental and physical health effects of 9/11—are rescue and recovery workers, commuters, area workers, Lower Manhattan residents, and passersby. Two to three years after 9/11, 3 percent of adults enrolled in the registry reported new onset of asthma since the attacks, 16 percent had likely experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, and 8 percent endured severe psychological distress. Rescue and recovery workers experienced the highest rate of asthma, and post-traumatic stress disorder was more common among those who were injured and in Hispanics and low-income registry participants. Overall, women, minorities, and low-income participants had higher rates of physical and mental problems.more....

Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers: Men Die More

Sept. 9, 2008 -- Researchers looking into lung cancers in nonsmokers have found that men seem to die from the disease more than women.

The reasons for this are not clear from the study results.

Researchers led by the American Cancer Society's Michael Thun, MD, looked at data to try to better understand how lung cancer affects men and women in different cultures and from different time periods.

They pooled information on lung cancer rates and deaths from 13 large groups representing about 2 million people around the world.

Researchers also abstracted data for women from 22 cancer registries and 10 countries in places where few women smoked.

All the participants were self-described nonsmokers.

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Study: Blood-sugar control lowers diabetics' risks

Diabetics who tightly control their blood sugar -- even if only for the first decade after their condition is diagnosed -- have lower risks of heart attack, death and other complications 10 or more years later, a large follow-up study has found.

Tight glucose control, even for the first decade after diagnosis, can carry strong benefits, a study shows." Tight glucose control, even for the first decade after diagnosis, can carry strong benefits, a study shows.

The discovery of this "legacy effect" may put new emphasis on rigorous treatment when people first learn they have Type 2 diabetes, the most common form and the type linked to obesity.

Doctors warn that people should not let their blood sugar spin out of control -- that could have serious health consequences.

"What you don't want is for people to think that they had a period of good glucose control and then they allow their blood glucose to go high -- that would be disadvantageous," said Dr. Stephen Davis, head of Vanderbilt University's diabetes and endocrinology division, who had no role in the study.

Results were published online Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine and were being presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Rome.

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Vitamin B12 Tied to Brain Shrinkage

WASHINGTON (Sept. 9) - Having higher vitamin B12 levels may protect against brain shrinkage in elderly people, according to a study published on Monday.

The researchers called their findings striking, but said more information is needed before recommending that people take vitamin B12 supplements to guard against the loss of brain volume and possibly prevent declines in thinking and memory.

Foods Rich in Vitamin B-12

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Beef Feeding Research Studies Pasture Vs. Grain

 Blacksburg, Va. – Does it make a difference whether beef cattle are pasture or grain fed?

Early research results at Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences indicate that pasture-fed beef has less fat and higher conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), indicating that it may be a healthier choice. CLA is a combination of different types of fatty acids.. Animals change the chemical structure of these acids that are found in plants, in their digestive system. Studies are continuing on the value of CLA in human health.

Research into pasture- vs. grain-fed beef is in preliminary stages. The goal is to develop innovative concepts and practices to enhance the efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of grassland-based beef production systems in the Appalachian Region, said Joseph P. Fontenot, the emeritus John W. Hancock Jr. Professor of animal science at Virginia Tech. The project, which includes eight Virginia Tech faculty members among 25 scientists, is in its fourth year of a 10-year study. It is partially supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service along with funding from the universities involved, West Virginia University, the University of Georgia, and Virginia Tech.

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Red Bull Can Give You a Stroke

Just one can of the popular stimulant energy drink Red Bull can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. The effect was seen even in young people.

The caffeine-loaded beverage causes blood to become sticky, a pre-cursor to cardiovascular problems such as stroke.

One hour after drinking Red Bull, your blood system becomes abnormal, as might be expected from a patient with cardiovascular disease.

Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health risks.

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FDA Post list of Problem Drugs

If you have a drug on this list, you should call your Doctor to discuss.
List of medications with potential safety problems

The list of drugs under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, what they are used for and the potential problem.

—R-Gene 10, a growth hormone, pediatric overdose due to labeling/packaging confusion.
—Suprane, an anesthetic, cardiac arrest.
—Cymbalta, for depression and other conditions, urinary retention.
—Intelence, an HIV medication, bleeding into joints.
—Carac and Kuric, creams for skin conditions and fungal infections, name confusion.
—Heparin, a blood-thinner, serious allergic reactions.
—Extraneal, used in kidney dialysis, low blood sugars.
—Humilin R, for diabetes, dosing confusion.
—Stromectol and Warfarin, an anti-parasite drug and a blood thinner, drug interaction.
—Tykerb, for advanced breast cancer, liver damage.
—Revlimid, for multiple myeloma, severe skin blistering and bleeding.
—Tysabri, for multiple sclerosis, skin melanomas.
—Nitrostat, for angina, overdose due to labeling confusion.
—Sandostatin LAR, for abnormal bone growth, bowel obstruction.
—Oxycontin, a pain killer, drug misuse, abuse and overdose.
—Definity, used in cardiac imaging, cardiopulmonary reactions.
—Dilantin injection, for epileptic seizures, serious skin reaction.
—Seroquel, for bipolar disorder, overdose due to sample pack labeling confusion.
—Tyzeka, for chronic hepatitis B, nerve damage.
—Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers, for juvenile arthritis, cancers in children and young adults.

Heavy teens run risk of severe liver damage

Although disease is becoming more common in obese kids, few are tested
TRENTON, N.J. - In a new and disturbing twist on the obesity epidemic, some overweight teenagers have severe liver damage caused by too much body fat, and a handful have needed liver transplants.

Many more may need a new liver by their 30s or 40s, say experts warning that pediatricians need to be more vigilant. The condition, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure or liver cancer, is being seen in kids in the United States, Europe, Australia and even some developing countries, according to a surge of recent medical studies and doctors interviewed by The Associated Press.

The American Liver Foundation and other experts estimate 2 percent to 5 percent of American children over age 5, nearly all of them obese or overweight, have the condition, called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.more..,.

Taking Organic to the Extreme

Ever dream of owning your own farm? Some shoppers are cutting out the middleman and buying a share of the...
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Take a hint from squirrels; eat nuts daily

BY LISA DONOVAN ldonovan@suntimes.com

This time of year, squirrels and passers-by without manners load up on the black walnuts from our neighbor's tree.

For the squirrels, the process of cracking open the nuts involves dropping the deep-green, tennis-ball shaped goodies from the treetops. Smashed, the ball reveals its contents: A black-shelled walnut.

The more civilized thieves simply slice their way to the nut, cracking it open with a V-shaped nutcracker.

That's a tough way to get the handful -- or 1/3 cup to be precise -- of tree nuts that dietitians recommend humans eat each day. In addition to walnuts, almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and macadamias all grow in trees.

Studies show that scant amount, eaten five or more times weekly, may reduce the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease, says Maureen Ternus, executive director of the California-based International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation.

Ternus, a dietitian, says a recent survey showed 34 percent of Americans ate nuts, but only about half of the 1.5 ounces recommended daily.

Even so, U.S. Department of Agriculture figure show more Americans are turning to tree nuts. Consumption has jumped 45 percent in the last decade.

Ternus says the nuts provide the trifecta of protein, good fats and fiber. Combined, you get that full feeling from just a little bit.

But for years, the nut industry has had to battle the bad p.r. that nuts are too high in calories and fat.

As with everything, portion control is important, Ternus says. She likes the slogan "it's a handful, not a canful." A 1.5-ounce serving of almonds and cashews is 240 calories, while the meaty and heavier macadamias and pecans are 300 calories. Contrast that to a one-ounce bag of most pretzels, which has 110 calories and 1 gram of dietary fiber -- something many dietitians say should be a guide for those looking to eat healthy. Many dietitians suggest that 3 to 4 grams per serving should be the minimum, and almonds and pecans deliver there, with just over 4 grams per serving.

Despite the presence of our neighbor's black walnut-producing tree, with its gorgeous fern-like leaves, most of the nuts Americans eat come from farms in the United States. California grows pistachios, almonds and walnuts, while Oregon grows most of the hazelnuts we eat. Pecans come from the South, particularly Georgia. Hawaii and Australia provide most of the macadamia nuts we consume. Obviously Brazil nuts are imported as are cashews, which come from India.

Curious about an unusual edible or kitchen tool? Want to share some mysteries in your own cabinets? E-mail the Food Detective at ldonovan@suntimes.com.

Daily Ibuprofen May Raise Heart Risks for Elderly

Ibuprofen may raise the risk of heart attacks and other fatal and serious problems when elderly people take it daily for arthritis, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.

They said the popular over-the-counter pain reliever was the only drug in the class that includes aspirin and other analgesics to raise the risk of serious heart disease -- along with the now-withdrawn COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx.

Merck and Co. Inc pulled Vioxx, known generically as rofecoxib, off the market in 2004 because studies showed it raised the risk of heart attack and stroke.more..

20 Diseases And Conditions Directly Attributed To Being Overweight

Carrying around excess weight to the point of being obese is becoming an epidemic in North America. While one of the initial concerns with obesity is usually all about how you look and how you feel about yourself as a person, the longer the problem exists for you the more medical problems are going to arise, some of which can be fatal.

Obesity is a growing concern especially because overweight rates have doubled among children and tripled among adolescents. This increases the number of years that they are exposing themselves to dangerous health risks associated with obesity. While it is difficult to truly predict the future impact of obesity, there is strong scientific agreement that obesity significantly increases the risk of serious chronic diseases and contributes to overall mortality.

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How to Tell When Leftovers Go Bad

Scientists Answer the Age-Old Question of When It's Time to Toss That Food

By LAUREN COX
ABC News Medical Unit
Aug. 12, 2008

To toss or not to toss: Exactly when leftovers become trash has fueled arguments of couples, roommates and co-workers since the dawn of the refrigeration.

Rotting Butter on a Plate in a Fridge

(Jonathan Kitchen/Digital Vision/Getty Images)

Does moldy bread go in the trash, or just get a trim around the green spot? Can Sunday's leftovers be Friday's meal? What about that day-old ground beef?

While scientists have developed methods to detect spoilage -- for example, sensors that go off when milk changes consistency or a polymer to detect bacteria growth in meat -- until these are available on a mass scale, food science and safety experts have some tips.

Deadly and Invisible

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Researchers Say Vitamin D Might Prevent Disorders, Including Multiple Sclerosis

 

Linda Young - AHN Editor

Newark, NJ (AHN) - Researchers say that people who get plenty of the sunshine Vitamin D may end up preventing certain diseases.

Having more of the vitamin that serves as the principal regulator of calcium in the body, may also protect against specific autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS) according to Sylvia Christakos, PhD, of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.

In addition, having more Vitamin D in the body might prevent the production of malignant cells, such as breast and prostate cancer in their bodies, Christakos found.

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Why Purchasing Meat at Whole Foods May be a Risky Proposition

August 15th, 2008 admin Posted in Natural health |

The request of connector cows at Whole Foods Market has drop a newborn prominence on Nebraska Beef of Omaha, digit of the country’s maximal meatpackers. Seven grouping in Massachusetts, from ages 3 to 60, were sickened by E. coli from cows bought at Whole Foods stores. The aforementioned lineage has sickened 31 grouping in 12 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.
The Whole Foods connector cows was among 1.2 meg pounds of Nebraska Beef recalled on Friday. The processor also recalled 5 meg pounds produced in May and June after its cows was blamed for added E. coli occurrence in heptad states.
Sanitation violations over the time sextet eld at Nebraska Beef, include:

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Flu Shot Doesn't Reduce Death Risk

The widely-held perception that the influenza vaccination reduces overall mortality risk in the elderly does not withstand careful scrutiny, according to researchers in Alberta. The vaccine does confer protection against specific strains of influenza, but its overall benefit appears to have been exaggerated by a number of observational studies that found a very large reduction in all-cause mortality among elderly patients who had been vaccinated. Read More

Stress May Raise Breast Cancer Risk

Young women who experience more than one stressful life event are at greater risk of developing breast cancer, but a general feeling of happiness and optimism may help guard against the disease, Israeli researchers report. Read More

Some Diabetes Drugs Carry Big Heart Risks

A class of oral drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes may make heart failure worse, according to an editorial published online in Heart Wednesday by two Wake Forest University School of Medicine faculty members.

“We strongly recommend restrictions in the use of thiazolidinediones (the class of drugs) and question the rationale for leaving rosiglitazone on the market,” write Sonal Singh, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of internal medicine, and Curt D. Furberg, M.D., Ph.D., professor of public health sciences. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone are the two major thiazolidinediones.Read More

How Light Deprivation Causes Depression

How Sunlight Can Improve Your Mental Health

The association between darkness and depression is well known. Now a new study reveals the profound changes that light deprivation causes in your brain. Neuroscientists kept rats in the dark for six weeks. The animals not only exhibited depressive behavior but also suffered damage in brain regions known to be underactive in humans during depression. Further, neurons that produce norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, which are common neurotransmitters involved in emotion, pleasure and cognition, were observed in the process of dying. This neuronal death may be the mechanism underlying the darkness-related blues of seasonal affective disorder. The dark-induced effects may stem from a disruption of the body’s clock. When an organism’s circadian system is not receiving normal light, that in turn might lead to changes in brain systems that regulate mood, the lead researcher said.

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Is Your Organic Food Really Organic?

The USDA has announced that they are putting 15 out of 30 federally accredited organic certifiers they audited on probation, allowing them 12 months to make corrections or lose their accreditation. At the heart of the problems were imported foods and ingredients from other countries, including China. Chinese imports have made headlines for contaminated pet food, toxic toys, and recently, certified organic ginger contaminated with levels of a pesticide called aldicarb that can cause nausea, headaches and blurred vision. The ginger, sold under the 365 label at Whole Foods Market, contained a level of aldicarb not even permissible for conventional ginger, let alone organics. The Chinese government does not allow foreigners to inspect Chinese farms, and even if a Chinese inspector notices illegal pesticide use, he or she might feel pressured to stay silent.

Imported foods found with unacceptable pesticide levels have drawn attention to the USDA's shoddy certification process.

When you buy food with a "USDA organic" label, do you know what you're getting? Now is a good time to ask such a question, as the USDA just announced Monday it was putting 15 out of 30 federally accredited organic certifiers they audited on probation, allowing them 12 months to make corrections or lose their accreditation. At the heart of the audit for several certifiers were imported foods and ingredients from other countries, including China.

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European agency warns of possible Botox side effects

View larger image

Months after US authorities sounded the alarm, European officials are warning of dangerous possible side effects from the wrinkle-smoothing injection Botox, according to a German news report. The London-based European Medicines Agency had by August 2007 recorded more than 600 cases of negative effects potentially linked to the popular cosmetic treatment, Focus news weekly reported in its issue to be released Monday. In 28 cases Botox users died. In Germany the Federal Institute for Medication and Medical Products has received 210 reports with a suspected link to Botox, which is used by millions around the world to iron out wrinkles. Five cases were lethal, Focus said. Botulinum toxins including Botox are approved in the United States and Europe to treat a variety of conditions including spasms of the eyelids or neck, the easing of facial lines or excessive sweating. Read More

Learn what God Says about your diet.....

Clean and Unclean

God's Dietary Laws:

Abolished in the New Testament?

READERS: The purpose of this article is not to condemn or insult those who hold to the standard Christian teaching that God�s dietary laws are abolished under the New Covenant. The purpose of the article is to examine the New Testament passages which are commonly quoted in support of this teaching, and to show that these passages do not really teach what most Christians think they teach.

  The Bible tells us that there was a distinction between clean and unclean animals for at least a thousand years before the Torah was given to Moses. This distinction between clean and unclean animals is mentioned in Gen. 7:2 and 8:20, in the account of Noah�s Flood. Genesis does not tell us which animals were clean and which were unclean, but it is obvious that Noah knew the difference.

About a thousand years later, when the Torah was given to Moses, God went into great detail and listed which animals were clean (kosher; fit for human consumption) and which were unclean (non kosher; not fit for human consumption). The entire 11th chapter of Leviticus is devoted to this subject. A shorter version of the list is repeated in Deuteronomy 14.

Orthodox Jews take these commandments literally, and do not eat pork, shellfish, or any of the other forbidden meats. Christians, on the other hand, feel that there is nothing wrong with eating these things. Many Christians (and doctors and nutritionists, too) will admit that people would be a lot healthier if they followed God�s dietary laws, and a small number of Christians actually do make an effort to avoid meat from unclean animals. But the great majority of Christians do not view the dietary laws as Divine commandments which ought to be obeyed.

A number of arguments have been put forth to support the standard Christian position. Probably the oldest argument is drawn from the Second Century Epistle of Barnabas. The writer spiritualizes the dietary laws, and says that the various unclean animals represent different types of behavior in which a Christian should not engage. While there may be alegitimate analogy here (Christians shouldn�t behave like pigs, etc.), the analogy fails to prove that God does not want His people to take the commandments literally and abstain from these meats.

Of course the most common argument against the validity of the dietary laws is the claim that God abolished them in the New Testament. This claim is often coupled with the idea that God originally gave the dietary laws because people didn�t have refrigeration in Old Testament times. I�ve got news for you. People didn�t have refrigeration in New Testament times, either. If God�s dietary commandments had anything at all to do with the absence of refrigeration, He wouldn�t have "abolished" them until about a hundred years ago, when refrigeration was invented.

There are six New Testament passages which can give the impression that God did, indeed, abolish the dietary commandments which He established in the Old Testament. However, a close look at these passages reveals that they really prove no such thing. The only way a person can use any of these passages to "prove" the nullifying of the dietary laws is to: 1) ignore the context of the passage; 2) ignore the historical background of the passage; 3) ignore what the rest of the Bible says about the subject; 4) ignore the implications and logical conclusions of this theological position.

Before we look at the six New Testament passages, let us consider two important questions:

1) Were the dietary laws, as written in the Bible, man-made traditions, or were they commandments of God? Bible-believers must admit that these were commandments which God expected His people to obey;

2) Did the Son of God teach His disciples to disobey the commandments of God? Some might think this is a ridiculous question, yet this is exactly what some Christians actually believe Jesus did in Matt. 15, the first passage we will look at.More

 

Realted:

A List of Clean Fish (Edible according to God)

PAUL AND UNCLEAN MEATS

Despite Frustrations, Americans Are Pretty Darned Happy

The World Values Survey (WVS) is the work of a global network of social scientists who perform periodic surveys addressing a number of issues. The latest surveys, taken in the United States and in several developing countries, showed increased happiness from 1981 to 2007 in 45 of 52 countries for which substantial time series data was available.

Researchers responsible for the analysis, from the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research (ISR) in Ann Arbor, say the overall rise in reported happiness is due to greater economic growth, democratization and social tolerance.

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Just in Time for Labor Day

Steven Raichlen's 10 Grilling Commandments

1. BE ORGANIZED. Have everything you need for grilling -- the food, marinade, basting sauce, seasonings, and equipment -- on hand and at grillside before you start grilling.

2. GAUGE YOUR FUEL. There’s nothing worse than running out of charcoal or gas in the middle of grilling. When using charcoal, light enough to form a bed of glowing coals 3 inches larger on all sides than the surface area of the food you’re planning to cook. (A 22 1/2-inch grill needs one chimney’s worth of coals.) When cooking on a gas grill, make sure the tank is at least one-third full.

3. PREHEAT THE GRILL TO THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE. Remember: Grilling is a high-heat cooking method. In order to achieve the seared crust, charcoal flavor, and handsome grill marks associated with masterpiece grillmanship, you must cook over a high heat. How high? At least 500°F. Although I detail this elsewhere, it is worth repeating: When using charcoal, let it burn until it is covered with a thin coat of gray ash. Hold your hand about 6 inches above the grate. After 3 seconds, the force of the heat should force you to snatch your hand away. When using a gas grill, preheat to high (at least 500°F); this takes 10 to 15 minutes. When indirect grilling, preheat the grill to 350°F.

4. KEEP IT CLEAN. There’s nothing less appetizing than grilling on dirty old burnt bits of food stuck to the grate. Besides, the food will stick to a dirty grate. Clean the grate twice: once after you’ve preheated the grill and again when you’ve finished cooking. The first cleaning will remove any bits of food you may have missed after your last grilling session. Use the edge of a metal spatula to scrape off large bits of food, a stiff wire brush to finish scrubbing the grate.

5. KEEP IT LUBRICATED. Oil the grate just before placing the food on top, if necessary (some foods don’t require that the grates be oiled). Spray it with oil (away from the flames), use a folded paper towel soaked in oil, or rub it with a piece of fatty bacon, beef fat, or chicken skin.

6. TURN, DON’T STAB. The proper way to turn meat on a grill is with tongs or a spatula. Never stab the meat with a carving fork -- unless you want to drain the flavor-rich juices onto the coals.

7. KNOW WHEN TO BASTE. Oil-and-vinegar-, citrus-, and yogurt-based bastes and marinades can be brushed on the meat throughout the cooking time. (If you baste with a marinade that you used for raw meat or seafood, do not apply it during the last 3 minutes of cooking.) When using a sugar-based barbecue sauce, apply it toward the end of the cooking time. The sugar in these sauces burns easily and should not be exposed to prolonged heat.

8. KEEP IT COVERED. When cooking larger cuts of meat and poultry, such as a whole chicken, leg of lamb, or prime rib, use the indirect method of grilling or barbecuing. Keep the grill tightly covered and resist the temptation to peek. Every time you lift the lid, you add 5 to 10 minutes to the cooking time.

9. GIVE IT A REST. Beef, steak, chicken -- almost anything you grill-will taste better if you let it stand on the cutting board for a few minutes before serving. This allows the meat juices, which have been driven to the center of a roast or steak by the searing heat, to return to the surface. The result is a juicier, tastier piece of meat.

10. NEVER DESERT YOUR POST. Grilling is an easy cooking method, but it demands constant attention. Once you put something on the grill (especially when using the direct method), stay with it until it’s cooked. This is not the time to answer the phone, make the salad dressing, or mix up a batch of your famous mojitos. Above all, have fun. Remember that grilling isn’t brain surgery. And that’s the gospel!

Excerpted from 'The Barbecue Bible'



Read more of Steven Raichlen's tips at his Expert Grilling Guide.

Vitamin D

This is the Most important Website You will visit this week!

Understanding Vitamin D Cholecalciferol

The high rate of natural production of vitamin D3 cholecalciferol in the skin is the single most important fact every person should know about vitamin D because it has such profound implications for the natural human condition.

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone precursor that has recently been found to play a role in a wide variety of diseases. Current research indicates vitamin D deficiency plays a role in causing seventeen varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, and periodontal disease.

This does not mean that vitamin D deficiency is the only cause of these diseases, or that you will not get them if you take vitamin D. What it does mean is that vitamin D, and the many ways in which it affects a person's health, can no longer be overlooked by the health care industry nor by individuals striving to achieve and maintain a greater state of health. More.........

If trends continue, we’ll all be fat in 40 years

Researchers: By 2048, every American could be at least slightly overweight

NEW YORK - If the trends of the past three decades continue, it’s possible that every American adult could be overweight 40 years from now, a government-funded study projects.

The figure might sound alarming, or impossible, but researchers say that even if the actual rate never reaches the 100-percent mark, any upward movement is worrying; two-thirds of the population is already overweight.

“Genetically and physiologically, it should be impossible” for all U.S. adults to become overweight, said Dr. Lan Liang of the federal government’s Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, one of the researchers on the study.

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