Athletes can be vulnerable to infection .
Probiotic supplements reduce the number and length of infections suffered by long-distance runners, Australian research has found.
Strenuous training can affect the immune system and make athletes vulnerable to coughs and colds.
British Journal of Sports Medicine study found taking probiotics more than halved the days they had symptoms...
Blood tests taken from the athletes found doubled levels of interferon gamma, a chemical involved in the body's immune system, suggesting that the probiotics might somehow be helping the body to protect itself.
The researchers said that the reason behind the study was to find ways to maximise the benefits to athletes getting ready for major events.
"An improvement in resistance to common illnesses constitutes an important benefit to elite athletes undertaking high-level training in preparation for national and international competitions," they wrote.
However, they said that it would be worth investigating the potential of probiotics to help everyone else...
Click Here To Read The Full Article At BBC News...
Saturday, April 12, 2008
BREAST FEEDING REDUCES RISK OF DEVELOPING DIABETES
Breast-fed babies appear to be less likely to develop type 2 diabetes when they reach adolescence, according to findings published in the medical journal Diabetes Care.
"Dramatic increases in childhood obesity and the emergence of type 2 diabetes in youth motivate research to identify lifestyle approaches to primary prevention of both conditions," write Dr. Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and colleagues…
The breast-feeding rate was lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes compared with the control subjects, at 20 versus 27 percent in African Americans; 50 versus 84 percent for Hispanics; and 39 percent versus 78 percent for non-Hispanic whites, respectively.
Regardless of ethnic group, further analysis indicated that the protective effect of breast feeding against type 2 diabetes was in large part attributable to its effect in moderating current childhood weight.
Nonetheless, breast-feeding in itself had a protective effect, Mayer-Davis and colleagues found. "Given other well-established reasons for breast-feeding," the researchers conclude, "renewed efforts to encourage breast-feeding in populations at high risk for type 2 diabetes may be useful."
Click Here To Read The Full Article At Reuters...
"Dramatic increases in childhood obesity and the emergence of type 2 diabetes in youth motivate research to identify lifestyle approaches to primary prevention of both conditions," write Dr. Elizabeth J. Mayer-Davis of the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and colleagues…
The breast-feeding rate was lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes compared with the control subjects, at 20 versus 27 percent in African Americans; 50 versus 84 percent for Hispanics; and 39 percent versus 78 percent for non-Hispanic whites, respectively.
Regardless of ethnic group, further analysis indicated that the protective effect of breast feeding against type 2 diabetes was in large part attributable to its effect in moderating current childhood weight.
Nonetheless, breast-feeding in itself had a protective effect, Mayer-Davis and colleagues found. "Given other well-established reasons for breast-feeding," the researchers conclude, "renewed efforts to encourage breast-feeding in populations at high risk for type 2 diabetes may be useful."
Click Here To Read The Full Article At Reuters...
ABNORMAL GUT BACTERIA MIX IN BABIES PREDICTS OBESITY
The mix of bacteria in a baby's gut may predict whether that infant will become overweight or obese later in life, a new study suggests.
Babies with high numbers of bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus may be protected from excess weight gain…
The researchers suggested their findings may help explain why breast-fed babies are at lower risk for later obesity, since bifidobacteria are prevalent in the guts of breast-fed babies.
Other studies repeatedly have found that being breast-fed is associated with a reduced risk of excess weight or obesity in childhood, with the risk lowered from 13 percent to 22 percent.
In the new study, researchers evaluated children who had been part of a long-term study to evaluate the effect of probiotics on allergic disease. Probiotics are potentially beneficial bacteria found in foods such as yogurt and in dietary supplements…
When they looked at the fecal samples, the average bacterial counts of bifidobacteria when taken at 6 months and 12 months were twice as high in those who were a healthy weight as in those who got heavy.
Those who stayed at a healthy weight also had lower fecal S. aureus levels at 6 months and 12 months than did those who got heavy…
In other research, gut bacteria in adults have been found to be altered in obese adults who lost weight. Someday, the Finnish researchers speculated, tinkering with gut flora may help prevent or treat obesity…
"The exact role that bacteria in the intestine play in development of obesity is still the subject of much research," she said, "but the benefits of breast-feeding are clear. Breast-feeding provides not only the proper nutrition for your infant, but it provides benefits that may impact long-term health and weight issues as well."..
Click Here To Read The Full Article At The Washington Post...
Babies with high numbers of bifidobacteria and low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus may be protected from excess weight gain…
The researchers suggested their findings may help explain why breast-fed babies are at lower risk for later obesity, since bifidobacteria are prevalent in the guts of breast-fed babies.
Other studies repeatedly have found that being breast-fed is associated with a reduced risk of excess weight or obesity in childhood, with the risk lowered from 13 percent to 22 percent.
In the new study, researchers evaluated children who had been part of a long-term study to evaluate the effect of probiotics on allergic disease. Probiotics are potentially beneficial bacteria found in foods such as yogurt and in dietary supplements…
When they looked at the fecal samples, the average bacterial counts of bifidobacteria when taken at 6 months and 12 months were twice as high in those who were a healthy weight as in those who got heavy.
Those who stayed at a healthy weight also had lower fecal S. aureus levels at 6 months and 12 months than did those who got heavy…
In other research, gut bacteria in adults have been found to be altered in obese adults who lost weight. Someday, the Finnish researchers speculated, tinkering with gut flora may help prevent or treat obesity…
"The exact role that bacteria in the intestine play in development of obesity is still the subject of much research," she said, "but the benefits of breast-feeding are clear. Breast-feeding provides not only the proper nutrition for your infant, but it provides benefits that may impact long-term health and weight issues as well."..
Click Here To Read The Full Article At The Washington Post...
TEENAGERS SKIPPING BREAKFAST LINKED TO OBESITY
Teenagers who skip breakfast are more likely to be obese than those who eat a morning meal, according to a finding that researchers say may be linked to rising obesity among adolescents.
Teens that skipped the meal were five pounds heavier on average, ate less healthy during the day and exercised less frequently than those who ate breakfast, researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics. The study is the largest to follow the breakfast habits of teens over years and track whether they've become obese, researchers said.
The obesity rate for adolescents has tripled over the past 20 years, according to a 2007 report by the U.S. Surgeon General's Office...
“There's been a growing body of scientific evidence that breakfast habits might be related to obesity and other health outcomes,” said Mark Pereira, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a study author. Skipping the meal may mean “you're more likely to eat the fast food or the vending machine food.”..
Teenagers who came from low-income homes and were nonwhite were more likely to skip breakfast, the study showed. The researchers said some teenagers may have refrained from eating the morning meal to lose weight.
Obesity means a person has too much body fat, while being overweight means a person's weight is more than what is viewed as healthy given his or her height, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers said earlier studies have found 12 to 34 percent of children and teens ages 6 to 19 regularly skip breakfast.
Click Here To Read The Full Article At Bloomberg...
Teens that skipped the meal were five pounds heavier on average, ate less healthy during the day and exercised less frequently than those who ate breakfast, researchers reported in the journal Pediatrics. The study is the largest to follow the breakfast habits of teens over years and track whether they've become obese, researchers said.
The obesity rate for adolescents has tripled over the past 20 years, according to a 2007 report by the U.S. Surgeon General's Office...
“There's been a growing body of scientific evidence that breakfast habits might be related to obesity and other health outcomes,” said Mark Pereira, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a study author. Skipping the meal may mean “you're more likely to eat the fast food or the vending machine food.”..
Teenagers who came from low-income homes and were nonwhite were more likely to skip breakfast, the study showed. The researchers said some teenagers may have refrained from eating the morning meal to lose weight.
Obesity means a person has too much body fat, while being overweight means a person's weight is more than what is viewed as healthy given his or her height, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers said earlier studies have found 12 to 34 percent of children and teens ages 6 to 19 regularly skip breakfast.
Click Here To Read The Full Article At Bloomberg...
EXPERTS LOBBY GOVERNMENT OVER GM CROP FEARS
It is now legal to plant genetically modified (GM) canola in much of Australia, but a large group of concerned scientists, nutritionists and doctors is trying to convince the Federal Government to stop the seeds from ever being sown.
About 700 people have signed a letter to the Prime Minister, reminding him of Labor's election statement that safe and beneficial standards for GM products must be established beyond reasonable doubt.
They want the Federal Government to override decisions in Victoria and New South Wales allowing GM canola to be grown, and start from scratch, with a complete review of GM safety.
The planting season is only weeks away, but Adelaide businessman Peter Fenwick is hoping his letter to the Federal Government can stop it...
The letter says the previous federal government set up a biased regulatory regime for GM products.
Epidemiologist and biochemist Judy Carman says there was no thorough testing of the safety of GM canola before it was approved...
Dr Carman says no one can say for sure if genetically modified DNA is safe if ingested by humans.
"We don't know, because the safety assessments have not been done properly," she said.
"There have not been any human health studies done on GM crops.
"There have been very few, ultimately, animal studies done on GM crops, and this is one of the problems - our food regulator does not require any animal studies to be done on GM crops."
Click Here To Read the Full Article At ABC News and Listen To The Audio...
Click Here To Download The Letter Submitted To The Government...
Click Here If You Would Like To Email Your Endorsement For This Letter...
About 700 people have signed a letter to the Prime Minister, reminding him of Labor's election statement that safe and beneficial standards for GM products must be established beyond reasonable doubt.
They want the Federal Government to override decisions in Victoria and New South Wales allowing GM canola to be grown, and start from scratch, with a complete review of GM safety.
The planting season is only weeks away, but Adelaide businessman Peter Fenwick is hoping his letter to the Federal Government can stop it...
The letter says the previous federal government set up a biased regulatory regime for GM products.
Epidemiologist and biochemist Judy Carman says there was no thorough testing of the safety of GM canola before it was approved...
Dr Carman says no one can say for sure if genetically modified DNA is safe if ingested by humans.
"We don't know, because the safety assessments have not been done properly," she said.
"There have not been any human health studies done on GM crops.
"There have been very few, ultimately, animal studies done on GM crops, and this is one of the problems - our food regulator does not require any animal studies to be done on GM crops."
Click Here To Read the Full Article At ABC News and Listen To The Audio...
Click Here To Download The Letter Submitted To The Government...
Click Here If You Would Like To Email Your Endorsement For This Letter...
BLIND MAN SUDDENLY SEES AGAIN
Doctors aren't quite sure how it happened, but a Dubuque man can see clearly after being blind in one eye for more than a decade.
It happened after a trip to the chiropractor.
Twelve years ago Doug Harkey's left eye suddenly stopped working. "I woke up one day and I didn't have vision in one eye."
And as quickly as he lost sight, he got it back.
Harkey said, "he just did his normal adjustment and, voila! After a routine visit to Chiropractor Tim Stackis, Harkey says a miracle happened.
"My blind eye starting watering after I left there and it watered for 45 minutes straight. It started making my good eye water. I went to wipe my right eye and I could see out my left again."
Doctor Stackis said the bones in the Harkey's neck were out of alignment. Stackis said, "That interferes with the messages and energy the brain sends down to the rest of the body."
Harkey now has the depth perception he'd been missing, just what he needs as he's about to walk down the aisle with his fiancée next month.
Click Here To Read The Full Article At KCRG TV9 News...
It happened after a trip to the chiropractor.
Twelve years ago Doug Harkey's left eye suddenly stopped working. "I woke up one day and I didn't have vision in one eye."
And as quickly as he lost sight, he got it back.
Harkey said, "he just did his normal adjustment and, voila! After a routine visit to Chiropractor Tim Stackis, Harkey says a miracle happened.
"My blind eye starting watering after I left there and it watered for 45 minutes straight. It started making my good eye water. I went to wipe my right eye and I could see out my left again."
Doctor Stackis said the bones in the Harkey's neck were out of alignment. Stackis said, "That interferes with the messages and energy the brain sends down to the rest of the body."
Harkey now has the depth perception he'd been missing, just what he needs as he's about to walk down the aisle with his fiancée next month.
Click Here To Read The Full Article At KCRG TV9 News...
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO SPINAL MANIPULATION
Just in case you think that the last historical feature on chiropractic care and mental ailments is historically interesting, but currently irrelevant - Here's some more recent evidence for the role for chiropractic in mental state... A systematic review of psychological outcomes in randomised controlled trials.
The most important risk factors for back and neck pain are psychosocial. Nevertheless, systematic reviews of spinal manipulation have concentrated on pain and spine related disability, and ignored psychological outcomes.
This review assessed whether spinal manipulation was effective in improving psychological outcome... There was some evidence that spinal manipulation improved psychological outcomes compared with verbal interventions.
Read The Full Abstract At Find Health Articles...
The most important risk factors for back and neck pain are psychosocial. Nevertheless, systematic reviews of spinal manipulation have concentrated on pain and spine related disability, and ignored psychological outcomes.
This review assessed whether spinal manipulation was effective in improving psychological outcome... There was some evidence that spinal manipulation improved psychological outcomes compared with verbal interventions.
Read The Full Abstract At Find Health Articles...
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