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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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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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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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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Researchers at Rutgers and Columbia Universities released their study prior to publication, poor kids are more likely to be given antipsychotic drugs than middle class kids and for less serious conditions.

Previous research showed rates of illness was 2 times higher in families with poor kids, but it doesn’t explain why these kids are prescribed drugs 4 times higher than kids from middle class families. However 1 explanation may be due to doctors prescribe more drugs to Medicaid patients because the public insurer pays less for non drug treatments like counseling than private insurance companies.

The doctors believe this method is easier for patients and doctors, but what’s not clear is what they’re prescribing and for what. The study found that kids on Medicaid were significantly more likely to be prescribed antipsychotic drugs for conduct disorders, hyperactivity, aggression or defiance than middle class kids, who were more likely to be prescribed the drugs for severe mental conditions.

Medicare spends more on antipsychotics than any other drug class, $7.9 billion per year

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According to the Nutrition Journal July’s issue eating eggs do not constrict arteries in people with high cholesterol. Researchers used a test to predict which foods are likely to increase risk for arteriosclerosis. Having arteriosclerosis increase your risk of developing heart attacks and diabetes.

This research showed that people who ate an egg substitute daily for 6 weeks received an even greater reduction in artery constricting substances that those who ate whole eggs. To date multiple studies are showing eating eggs does not increase risk of heart disease.

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Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute demonstrated that over diagnosis of cancer is a problem in the U. S.  The authors of the study concluded that this development needs to be guided based on clinical and research strategies to quantify, recognize and deal with cancer ’s over diagnosis.

The finding revealed that about 25% of breast cancer detected on mammograms, 60% of prostate cancer detected with a PSA test could represent an over diagnosis. Lung cancer diagnosed with chest x-ray and sputum test estimates are that about 50% are over diagnosed. CT colonography also detects abnormalities outside the colon that can lead to miss diagnosis.

The researchers mentioned several ways to address the problem of over diagnosis, educating patients about the risks and benefits involved with early detection. Or raising the threshold at which screening test results are labeled abnormal and treatment is needed.

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According to the Journal of the American Diabetic Association, inaccurate calorie labeling is widespread both in packaging and restaurant meals. The amount is significant about 5% which would add approximately 10 lbs of weight to an individual per year. Some food label did have lower than advertised calories on their labels, most calorie labels tended to be higher than whats on the label.

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Research finds that men eat twice as much processed meat per day than women. Processed meat increase risk of bowel cancer by 20% and only 63% of respondents know that a poor diet can increase cancer risk, while only 60% of overweight men know that it increase risk of cancer.

Guys if you don’t want to cut out processed meats all together at least be advised that reducing your consumption is a very good idea.

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