Portrait on the Mantel

Physicians have been recommending that heart and stroke patients take an aspirin a day to reduce their risk. At risk individuals are those with high blood pressure, over the age of 50 and type 2 diabetes. Evidence for prevention suggest that benefits and harms of aspirin are equally balanced. Recent studies into risk and benefits of an aspirin regiment has found that heart benefits were minimal and far outweighed by the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. The risk of serious bleeding outweighs the potential preventative benefits of taking aspirin. Also the best way to reduce risk is to avoid smoking, reduce saturated fats in the diet and increase fruits and veggies, increase exercise.

This study was published in the Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin.

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Avoiding the summer heat could cause more health problems, than sweating it out in the sun, this from a Beijing Hospital study. Accordingly, spending all day in air conditioned comfort will keep you cool, but could harm the immune system. Sweat is a natural process of the body due to hot weather. However excessive sweat without rehydrating is not good for you, but not sweating at all is worse. Its also interesting to note that going from hot to cold or cold to hot regularly can put undue strain on one’s health.

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Consumers Report is reporting that most brand name protein powders and drinks contain arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Many dietitians report that most people in the U.S. receive more than enough protein in their diets. There are some level of toxicity that can be received from consuming too much metal or protein in the diet.

Requirement for protein by most experts range from a minimum of .45 grams of protein per kilo of ideal body weight to .8 grams per kilo. Proteins are broken down by the body into amino acids, which use these aminos in our cells and tissues.

Protein deficiency is not common in the U.S., lead and metal contamination is another story. These metals are very difficult for the brain, heart and kidney to eliminate. Especially, children are exceptionally vulnerable to metal poisoning. The signs of metal toxicity is like many other symptoms fatigue, nausea, depression, lowered thyroid levels and maybe seizures.

Stay tuned as this issue is teased out even more. Protein powder consumption is big business in the U.S.. I would expect companies to begin advertising metal free powders very soon, this is one of those things I would expect as the word circulates among users that companies will be forced to make corrections.

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Too much meat in your diet may be contributing to your weight gain, according to a study out of Europe. Those who eat meat are likely heavier in weight than those who do not eat meat, even if they consume the same amount calories. It will come to no ones surprise that processed meats are the worst types of meats.

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According to research from California Institute of Technology and Cedars Sinai Medical Center, a brain in a state of relaxation are better able to remember new information. Although previous research have demonstrated the same things, this is the 1st piece of research which demonstrates a specific effect on memory. In other words human behavior is effected by the state of the brain.

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A study conducted by the University of Calgary, demonstrated that foods advertised for the consumption by kids and toddlers are extremely high in sugars. The study examined cereal bars, fruit snacks, cookies and found over 1/2 of their calories come from sugars.

These sugars are listed in the ingredients on the label names such as glucose, fructose, galactose, hone, corn syrup and dextose. These products which are advertised for kids and toddlers are actually geared in taste for adults. Which encourage kids taste buds to begin recognizing flavors that their taste buds are not mature enough to handle. Many of these foods had a poorer quality than those advertised for adults.

Most parents believe or assume that the standards and guidelines for foods produced for babies are produced under higher standards. Something that need to be understood is that there are no recommended guidelines for infants and toddlers as it relate to the consumption of sugar.

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According to reports from the Chicago Tribune, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner is important. If you get hungry at other times during the day, you should be eating smaller meals (snacks) spaced throughout the day. Making breakfast the largest meal and dinner the smallest of the day, and drinking plenty water.

Much of the above has been heard, but one small tip is brushing your teeth after each meal helps to curb your appetite, as well as the psychological attitude of if you keep your teeth clean you may be less likely to over eat between meals because you’re less likely to want to stain your teeth.

Staying mentally or physically active keeps your mind off of eating; boredom is a big cause of people eating later in the day.

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Research has found that swishing your carb drink in your mouth triggers a boost in performance and energy. This boost occurs even if the person does not swallow the drink. Researchers began to study how fast  the absorption rate occurs after consuming a carb beverage during exercise. studies have shown over time that the body is unable to process carb drinks fast enough to provide the quick boost of energy from consumption.

These researchers believe the brain cue the body that carbs are on the imminent, which prompts the body that it is ok to begin working harder. It does not seem to matter if the drink is sweet or not just the presence of carbs seem to be enough to provide an extra boost. Although swishing does provide an energy pick up, exercisers perform better when they consume calories during exercise.

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Antioxidants help arteries stay healthy. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells against the effects of free radicals molecules produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to environmental toxins and radiation. Free radicals are believed to play a role in heart disease, cancer and other disorders.

Antioxidants supplementation significantly increase large and small artery elasticity in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. This beneficial vascular effect was associated with an improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as significant decrease in blood pressure.

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There are several reasons why you should switch from regular tale salt to unrefined sea salt. Sea salt is contains less sodium, table salt is highly refined and the refining process leaves basically pure sodium chloride. Also the refining process strips beneficial naturally occurring minerals.

Some have expressed concern over the lack of iodine which is an additive to table salt. Table salt began adding this necessary nutrient several decades ago when a significant part of the population began developing goiters due to an iodine deficiency.

Iodine is a naturally occurring nutrient in sea salt as in most seafood. If you eat any where near a balance diet you consume enough iodine in your diet. Sea salt also contains minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and bromide.

We should still be concerned with eating too much salt, although sea salt is preferrential to table salt, sodium is still sodium. Excess sodium consumption can lead to high blood pressure, water retention and irregular heart beat.

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