Fatty foods may cause cocaine-like addiction - CNN.com

Fatty foods may cause cocaine-like addiction - CNN.com:

"A new study in rats suggests that high-fat, high-calorie foods affect the brain in much the same way as cocaine and heroin. When rats consume these foods in great enough quantities, it leads to compulsive eating habits that resemble drug addiction, the study found.

Doing drugs such as cocaine and eating too much junk food both gradually overload the so-called pleasure centers in the brain, according to Paul J. Kenny, Ph.D., an associate professor of molecular therapeutics at the Scripps Research Institute, in Jupiter, Florida."

BBC News - 'Good fat' cuts heart risk by a fifth, study shows

BBC News - 'Good fat' cuts heart risk by a fifth, study shows:

"The Harvard Medical School reports adds weight to the growing evidence about polyunsaturated fats, found in some fish and vegetable oils.

The team analysed the findings from eight previous studies, covering more than 13,000 people, in their research.

Experts said cutting down on saturated fats, found in butter and meat, was just one part of a healthy diet.

It is recommended that adults get no more than 11% of their energy from saturated fats."

Low Levels Of Vitamin D Linked To Muscle Fat, Decreased Strength In Young People

Low Levels Of Vitamin D Linked To Muscle Fat, Decreased Strength In Young People:

"A ground-breaking study published in the March 2010 Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found an astonishing 59 per cent of study subjects had too little Vitamin D in their blood. Nearly a quarter of the group had serious deficiencies (less than 20 ng/ml) of this important vitamin. Since Vitamin D insufficiency is linked to increased body fat, decreased muscle strength and a range of disorders....."

Vitamin D is relatively hard to get from food. Here are some sources.

Vitamins stored in bathrooms, kitchens may become less effective

Vitamins stored in bathrooms, kitchens may become less effective:

"High humidity present in bathrooms and kitchens could be degrading the vitamins and health supplements stored in those rooms, even if the lids are on tight, a Purdue University study shows."

Observations: Another reason vitamin D is important: It gets T cells going

Given that most are Vit D deficient, this one has big implications:

Observations: Another reason vitamin D is important: It gets T cells going:

"Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a rapidly expanding inventory of ailments—including heart disease, cancer and the common cold. A new discovery demonstrates how the vitamin plays a major role in keeping the body healthy in the first place, by allowing the immune system's T cells to start doing their jobs."

Letterman to Challenge 2010 NGA Best Bagger Champion on ‘Late Night’

Letterman to Challenge 2010 NGA Best Bagger Champion on ‘Late Night’:

"The Best Bagger National Championship, sponsored by Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra Foods, Inc., is a yearlong, nationwide program in which the best-of-the-best grocery baggers in the country compete for prizes and the title of “America’s Best Bagger.” Contestants are judged on speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, and style, attitude and appearance. As the winner, Perry took home “bagging rights” as well as the $10,000 grand prize, the “Golden Grocery Bag' trophy, and additionally won the Pan-Oston “Best Bagger Golden Lane” for his organization.

This year’s competition also made a change in the type of bags used within competition: for the first time, reusable bags were used instead of paper and plastic. This change was in response to the increase in consumer popularity of reusable bags around the country."

Medical News: Happy People May Have Better Heart Health - in Cardiovascular, Atherosclerosis from MedPage Today

Medical News: Happy People May Have Better Heart Health - in Cardiovascular, Atherosclerosis from MedPage Today:

"Individuals who find joy, excitement, and contentment in their daily lives may be protected from cardiovascular disease, researchers found.

Higher levels of positive affect, a measure of happiness, were associated with a significantly lower risk of having a cardiovascular event over a 10-year period (P=0.02), according to Karina Davidson, PhD, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, and colleagues."

Area counties get low rankings in health study : Home: The Buffalo News

Area counties get low rankings in health study : Home: The Buffalo News:

"The results placed Niagara, Cattaraugus, Erie and Allegany counties among the bottom 11 counties. Ontario ranked fifth. Putnam County was first, and the Bronx was last.

The report also combined a set of 23 factors that affect health. These included smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol use, access to health care, employment, income, air quality and number of liquor stores."

Aspirin boosts breast cancer survival rate

From Physorg: Aspirin boosts breast cancer survival rate:

"An observational study of 4,164 women diagnosed with breast cancer showed those taking aspirin in the period after diagnosis had a much lower rate of recurrence, and a much higher survival rate than those who did not."

Gee, what won't aspirin do?

Soft Drinks Could Boost Pancreatic Cancer Risk - US News and World Report

Soft Drinks Could Boost Pancreatic Cancer Risk - US News and World Report:

"'Soft drinks are linked with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer,' said Noel Mueller, lead author of a study appearing in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 'We can't speculate too much on the mechanism because this is an observational study, but the increased risk may be working through effects of the hormone insulin.'

Still, the report should not cause undue alarm, some say.

'The study was well designed but smaller than some previous studies that did not find a link between sugar-sweetened soft drinks and pancreatic cancer,' noted Eric Jacobs, strategic director of pharmacoepidemiology at the American Cancer Society. 'Direct evidence linking sugar-sweetened soft drinks to pancreatic cancer remains limited.'"

Soup Therapy: Detoxify, Lose Weight, and Boost Immunity on Yahoo! Health

Soup Therapy: Detoxify, Lose Weight, and Boost Immunity on Yahoo! Health:

"A healing soup can be your first step in maintaining your health and preventing illness. The therapeutic value of soup comes from the ease with which your body can assimilate the nutrients from the ingredients, which have been broken down by simmering."

Study: Cutting Salt Intake Would Boost Nation’s Health - Health News - Health.com

Study: Cutting Salt Intake Would Boost Nation’s Health - Health News - Health.com:

"The number of heart attacks in the U.S. could decline by up to 13% if adults could just slash their daily salt intake by 3 grams, or about 1,200 milligrams of sodium, according to the study, which was published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. New cases of heart disease and the number of strokes could also be expected to decline, by up to 11% and 8%, respectively.

To achieve a similar reduction in heart attacks and other heart-related problems, the researchers estimate, nationwide tobacco use would need to be halved. Alternatively, obese adults would need to reduce their body mass index by 5%,"

Friendly bacteria love the humble apple

Friendly bacteria love the humble apple:

"'In our study we found that rats eating a diet high in pectin, a component of dietary fiber in apples, had increased amounts of certain bacteria that may improve intestinal health,' said co-researcher Andrea Wilcks. 'It seems that when apples are eaten regularly and over a prolonged period of time, these bacteria help produce short-chain fatty acids that provide ideal pH conditions for ensuring a beneficial balance of microorganisms. They also produce a chemical called butyrate, which is an important fuel for the cells of the intestinal wall.'"

Candied yams or Candied Sweet Potatoes? « Inside Adams

From the Library of Congress no less:
Candied yams or Candied Sweet Potatoes? « Inside Adams:

"What we call a yam in the United States (e.g., garnet yam or jewel yam) is in fact a softer variety of sweet potatoes. True yams, native to African and Asia, are drier and starchier than sweet potatoes.

To supplement this culinary history, I needed to understand the botanical relationships between the two. Botanically, a sweet potato and a yam are both flowering plants, but that is where the similarity ends. Yams are closely related to lilies and grasses, while sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family."

Eating for Longevity: Foods for a Long, Healthy Life

Eating for Longevity: Foods for a Long, Healthy Life:

"A growing body of findings suggests that diet is one of the important contributors to longevity and a healthy life. WebMD examined the research and talked to the experts. Here’s what’s on the menu of people who enjoy long and healthy lives."

The entire article is here.

All the normal things on the list: fruits and vegetables, nuts, berries, etc. Good advice!

Calorie culprit might be home cooking

Calorie culprit might be home cooking:

"The study looked at 18 recipes that have stayed basically the same over the past 70 years. Among the recipes were holiday staples like apple pie and sugar cookies. Calories increased for all but one of those recipes - chili con carne. Some of the recipes called for more fat and sugar than the 1936 originals, but in almost all cases, calories increased simply because the serving sizes were larger."

Taste, do not gorge. Or as the saying goes "a polite bite".

Jeff Galloway's Blog

Jeff Galloway's Blog:

"It's possible to keep your training on track, even with holiday distractions. Here are some tips that have helped many runners maintain conditioning even with holiday temptations. You'd be surprised, but even very short workouts on maintenance days can maintain your fitness, relieve stress, inject more energy and allow you to feel better during holiday festivities."

Alcohol consumption increases risk of breast cancer recurrence, study finds

Alcohol consumption increases risk of breast cancer recurrence, study finds:

"Moderate to heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages (at least three to four drinks per week) is associated with a 1.3-fold increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.... Drinking less than three drinks per week was not associated with an increased risk...Previous research has shown that consumption of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, but there are limited studies to date about alcohol's role in patient prognosis and survival among those already diagnosed with breast cancer.."

Diet Myth or Truth: Fasting Is Effective for Weight Loss

Diet Myth or Truth: Fasting Is Effective for Weight Loss:

"It's true that fasting -- that is, eating little to no food -- will result in weight loss, at least in the short term. But the risks far outweigh any benefits, and ultimately, fasting can cause more harm than good."

Health Benefits of Mushrooms

As I sit eating Portabella mushrooms I decided I should probably see if there is any news on mushrooms. And hat do you know, they seem to be good for you!

Health Benefits of Mushrooms:

"Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps lower elevated blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke. One medium portabella mushroom has even more potassium than a banana or a glass of orange juice. One serving of mushrooms also provides about 20 to 40 percent of the daily value of copper, a mineral that has cardioprotective properties.

Mushrooms are a rich source of riboflavin, niacin, and selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E to protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Male health professionals who consumed twice the recommended daily intake of selenium cut their risk of prostate cancer by 65 percent."