Friday, July 18, 2008

Carotid artery distension predicts coronary events (Reuters)

Reuters - Ultrasound imaging is a simple, noninvasive way to detect distension of the carotid arteries - the arteries that pass through the neck to supply the brain with oxygen -- which is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the elderly, French researchers report in the current buy pure l-arginine hcl powder of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

After many years in which scientists suspected that omega 3 fatty acids play an important role in bone development and protection, a team of medical researches from Cambridge University has discovered that indeed, these essential fats have a beneficial effect over our bones.

Moreover, the omega 3 fatty acids obtained from plants are the most efficient in protecting bone cells. Omega 3 fats have been known for years to have anti-inflammatory properties and elderly people had been prescribed supplements to ameliorate their cardiovascular and inflammations. However, compared to omega 3 supplements obtained from marine sources, the omega 3 fats obtained directly by the human body from plants proved to have an increased efficiency in protecting the bones. The richest plants in omega 3 essential fats are soybean, canola oil, walnuts and flaxseed.

The medical research mentioned above had been conducted on 23 people, 20 men and three women. The test lasted for 6 weeks and they had been split in three groups, each having a certain diet. After the test has ended, medical tests performed on the test group that had a richer diet in omega 3 rich plant showed an increased level of all blood markers indicating bone health. Two main markers have substantially increased, one that indicates bone formation and another that indicates bone resorption or breakdown. Our bones have a hard time to stay together once the body grows older, two types of cells affecting them: osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Because of this process, special chemicals are released that can be traced in blood tests. In very severe cases, osteoporosis can occur, a medical condition in which bone and joint integrity is compromised. If the amount of bone cells that are being absorbed is lower than the number of bone cells being created, the bones will remain healthy. This is the purpose of any bone care medication, but until now, medics had a very hard time trying to determine the most efficient way of protecting bones against osteoporosis.

The indication that essential omega 3 fatty acids help increase the amount of bone cells produced and lowers the number of bone cells destroyed is very important for the medical community, as until now little treatment was known for osteoporosis. Medics used to treat people of bone conditions rather than prescribing protective medication and these latest discoveries may help people understand that an omega 3 rich diet can help them fight a lot of age related medical problems.

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Freeze-Dried Formula May Block HIV Virus in Breast Milk (HealthDay)

HealthDay - THURSDAY, July 2 (HealthDay News) -- In developing countrieswhere breast-feeding is a necessity, and HIV is rampant, the risk ofdisease transmission through breast milk might be reduced if infants werefirst fed a freeze-dried formula full of good bacteria that could captureand potentially destroy the deadly virus.

If you begin to practice eating clean, you'll see what seems like miraculous changes in your body fat %.

When I refer to eating clean, I mean you consistently eat high quality foods that are basically free of all unnatural additives. Clean foods are those without man-made sugars, hydrogenated fats, trans-fats and other unnecessary ingredients. Although at first glance eating clean might sound boring, if you're creative and pretty good with spices, you'll be surprised at all the clean food you can eat & create that taste really good.

The reason eating clean is so crucial to having a lean body and good health can be explained if you think of your body on a cellular level. Although we don't recognize it with our five senses, every properly functioning cell works together to collectively perform all the large scale functions of a healthy body. You don't feel outward physical effects from eating one unhealthy meal. But that doesn't mean the unhealthy meal is calcium supplements affecting some of your cells. And the effects add up if you continue to fuel your cells with poor quality nutrients over long periods of time (like your entire life).

As more and more cells function without the fuel they need you'll notice various clues showing up in how you feel overall, you might experience symptoms or warning signs such as a headache, a cold, or the flu. More serious conditions that are becoming prevalent in America are things like atherosclerosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. These conditions are obviously very serious and even life threatening, the sad thing is they are common in the health of many Americans....You know what else is common, the good old "American Diet"

In stark contrast to "clean eating" is the "American Diet". Fast food, doughnuts, ho-ho's, greasy hot dogs, white bread with no substance, all of these things have little to no actually nutritional value. There is a substantial body of research indicating that the fast food, deep fried, sugary snack staples we Americans know and love are the cause of the downward trends in our nations health. Is it natural for more than half of an entire country to routinely develop these conditions? I feel the reason these conditions occur is because of prolonged depravation of appropriate nutrients to the cells in our body. The symptoms, both minor and major are signs that your cells aren't able to do their job. Undoubtedly, genetic dispositions and abnormalities can cause disease, but the most common diseases in America today are directly related to obesity that develops from poor lifestyle choices, including poor nutrition (the "American Diet")

Of course, numerous medical studies site diet, exercise, and a healthy body weight as preventative measures for a myriad of degenerative diseases. Scientific studies prove that clean eating will build healthy cells and therefore a healthy body. Plus when you eat right, you will feel better! Pretend your body is an ultra performance sports car, and the food you eat is the gasoline, oil, and all that other important stuff that fuels the car. What type of fuel do you put into a Lamborghini or Bentley....I'm guessing it's not going to be unleaded 86 octane. The car won't perform well unless you fill it with the highest-grade gasoline. Well, your body works the same way and it won't function effectively or look good if you feed it inferior quality foods.

The basics of eating clean are using a few simple rules for most of your meals each day, all day, every day. If you simple follow the rule of consuming a portion of lean protein (cold water fish, white meat poultry, etc.) in combination with complex carbohydrates (yams, whole wheat bread, etc.) at each meal you'll notice a significant change in how you feel and how you look. In addition, adding fresh fruits and vegetables to each meal will leave you feeling full & healthy! Clean snacks include the apples, fruit & nuts, or chopped veggies with hummus (one of my favorites) the fiber in these snacks satiates hunger pangs; plus fruits and veggies are loaded with beneficial vitamins and nutrients.

Meals or snacks should be eaten at regular two or three hour intervals throughout the day if you are interested in really getting lean. If you are really interested in staying trim, eat more high quality foods regularly throughout the day, this will result in increased overall metabolism, fat loss, and retaining your lean muscle.

Eating clean to stay lean does not mean eating less. In fact, you'll probably eat more than you were before. But now, you will be eating lots of healthy, superior foods that rev up your metabolism and fill you with lots of energy. Tips for eating clean include: preparing healthy foods in advance, having extra chicken breasts, tuna salad and chopped vegetables packed into a Tupperware containers for quick access.

If you have the discipline to eat clean even 80% (90% is best) of the time, you will notice your body becoming lean and tone. You can literally transform your body composition by eating clean. Eating regular, high quality meals supports your metabolic rate and your cells, by providing just the right combination of nutrients to empower your body to perform at the highest level. If you want to look your best & feel your best, you must eat clean!

Jessica Dawn is a fitness professional who has been studying health & fitness for over 10 years. In addition to actively participating in fitness, Jessica has a degree in Kinesiology (exercise science) which allows her to understand both the scientific and behavioral aspects of weight loss and fitness. If you would like to receive a free 5 day fitness eCourse from Jessica, visit http://www.visfitness.com/

Jessica Dawn has been studying health & fitness for over 10 years. She received a bachelors degree in Kinesiology (exercise science) and is passionate about sharing the benefits of fitness with everyone she knows. Jessica is a health & fitness expert who shares her passion for wellness through online writing and teaching. For a free 5 Day Fitness Mastery Course, visit: http://www.visfitness.com In this course, Jessica will show you how to develop a lifestyle of health, vitality, and fitness. She answers the quesions you have about life-long weight control and resolves the roadblocks you may have faced in the past. Jessica's information eliminates the depressing cycle of yo-yo dieting and empowers you to stay fit for life, develop a healthy body and life-long weight control.