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Bioflavonoid prevents metabolic syndrome and obesity in mice

Reprinted with permission of Life Extension

In an article published online on July 10, 2009 in the journal Diabetes, researchers in Ontario, Canada report that naringenin, a flavonoid present in citrus fruit, prevents weight gain and components of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes, in a rodent model.

For their study, Murray W. Huff of the Robarts Research Institute at the University of Western Ontario and his associates used low density lipoprotein receptor null mice that exhibit disordered lipids, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and obesity when fed a high fat “Western” diet. The animals were divided to receive regular chow, a high fat diet, or high fat (42 percent of calories) diets containing 1 or 3 percent naringenin for four weeks, after which plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and insulin levels were measured, and other factors, including glucose and insulin tolerance, were assessed.

At the end of the treatment period, mice that received naringenin had lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than with those that received the high fat diet without naringenin. Insulin resistance was prevented

Calorie Restriction

Reprinted with permission of Life Extension

How long we live may not be determined by what we eat so much as how much we eat. Of all the potential antiaging approaches, none have so far shown the promise of caloric restriction. Over the past 75 years, many studies have shown that caloric restriction extends life span in a wide variety of species, from invertebrates to rodents, to mammals.

Stop Doing Sit-Ups: Why Crunches Don’t Work

Everyone knows that the road to flat, tight abs is paved with crunches. Lots and lots and lots of excruciating crunches. Or is it?

As it turns out, the exercises synonymous with strong, attractive abs may not be the best way to train your core—and may be doing damage to your back.

‘Cell Phone Elbow’ — A New Ill for the Wired Age

Published in HealthDay

First came Nintendo thumb. Then, Guitar Hero wrist. Now, for the latest affliction of the wired age, it’s cell phone elbow.

Medically known as cubital tunnel syndrome, cell phone elbow is numbness, tingling and pain in the forearm and hand caused by compression of the ulnar nerve, which passes along the bony bump on the inside of the elbow.

One of the causes of pressure on the ulnar nerve? Too much gabbing, often brought on by those cell phone plans with unlimited minutes, experts say.

Cholesterol-Busting Supplements

If your cholesterol is over 300, you’ll want to add the following vitamins and minerals to your regimen for six months.  Most of these essential nutrients are antioxidants that help lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels.

• Vitamin C: 1, 000 mg three times daily. If this high dose gives you diarrhea, back off the dose until it goes away.
• Magnesium: 300 mg daily
• Calcium: 200 mg daily
• Copper: 2 to 3 mg daily
• Vitamin E: 400 IU (Total 800 IU daily). In one study, ingesting this amount daily caused a 26% reduction in LDL cholesterol production.
• Psyllium: 1 to 2 teaspoons a day. Be sure to drink eight glasses of water a day, too!
• N-acetyl cysteine (NAC): 500 mg three times a day. This will help raise your glutathione levels, which will support your liver so it can more efficiently excrete cholesterol.
• Green tea: The active beneficial ingredients in green tea are called polyphenols, substances that act as antioxidants, neutralize harmful fats and oils, strengthen the liver, and lower LDL cholesterol while raising HDL levels. You can either drink green tea or take it in a concentrated form as a supplement.
• PCOs or proanthocyanidins: PCOs (grapeseed extract, for example) work specifically to stop “bad” cholesterol from forming and sticking to artery walls.
• Cayenne: This spice lowers cholesterol. Take a daily supplement of cayenne in capsules, or use it liberally on your food.
• Curry: Another spice that lowers cholesterol.
• Guggul: Taking this is a new but old way to lower cholesterol. Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient form of healing from India that relies largely on dividing people into body and personality types, and then prescribing a variety of treatmetns that include plant medicines. One of the best known Ayurvedic medicines is called guggul, a plant traditionally used mainly to treat arthritis and obesity. Studies have shown that guggul significantly reduces cholesterol levels without side effects.
• Red Yeast Rice: This is actually an ancient Chinese condiment made from specially fermented rice. The reaction between the rice and the yeasts used for fermentation yields natural statin substances. Red yeast rice has been used safely to strengthen circulation and help digestion in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. Several studies have found that red yeast rices lowers blood cholesterol levels.
• Policosanol: Supplements containing this substance have been found to work well to balance cholesterol counts. It has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels by up to 20%, and it raises HDL by an average of 10% – without the side effects caused by statins. In one study, researchers enlisted 244 menopausal women for whom six weeks on a conventional cholesterol-lowering diet did no good. The women were given either a placebo pill or 5mg of policosanol each day for 12 weeks. The women given policosanol were then given 10mg for 12 more weeks. By the end of the study, the policosanol users had some amazing changes in their cholesterol levels: their LDL fell by 25.2%, their total cholesterol fell by 16.7%, and their ratio of total cholesterol to HDL fell by 27.2%!

From: Prescription Alternatives, Third Edition : Hundreds of Safe, Natural Prescription-Free Remedies to Restore and Maintain Your Health

Swatting Away Tennis Injuries

Originally published in To Your Health

Tracking down a ball on the baseline, lunging at a passing shot, straining to reach a lob ­ almost every aspect of tennis involves a certain amount of risk. Even the repetitive motions of serving and hitting groundstrokes can cause painful injury, turning you from active participant to unhappy spectator.

According to an article in the Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, stretching and strengthening exercises can help minimize your risk of sustaining a tennis-related injury.

The authors present various techniques in a photographic format with text explanations. Included is a review of easy exercises you can perform at home or in the gym, such as:

• torso stretch
• pelvic tilt
• hamstring stretch
• lumbar extension
• side bend
• shoulder rotation
• knee flexion
• hip extension
• scapular retraction

You’re probably familiar with some of these techniques already, but your doctor can give you more specific information and outline an exercise program to maximize health and reduce your risk of injury.

Reference:

Baron SH, Washington KW. Tennis injuries: lower the risk through stretching and strengthening. Journal of Sports Chiropractic & Rehabilitation 1999: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp164-70.

Online Scheduling Tutorial

Are you confused about how the online appointment booking works? Click the link below to see a video that demonstrates how to set up your appointment online!

http://tinyurl.com/kerrscreencast

Antibiotic Use Linked to Asthma

Originally printed in To Your Health

More and more people are suffering from asthma these days, even though research shows that outdoor air pollutants are decreasing. What’s the explanation for this disturbing trend? One possible answer may be just as disturbing.

A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy examined the potential for antibiotic use in childhood to contribute to the development of asthma. A survey mailed to the parents of 612 grade-school students(5-10 years old) asked questions about antibiotic use and history of asthma in their children.

Results showed that children given antibiotics in their first year of life were over four times more likely to develop asthma symptoms than children who had never taken antibiotics. This increased risk was evident even after the researchers accounted for potential variables such as gender, ethnicity, family size, family history of asthma and parents’ smoking habits.

If asthma is linked to antibiotics, then it’s just another of many risk factors associated with antibiotic use. As a parent, you may want to think twice before giving antibiotics to your children, especially if they’re not specifically required. Always find out why your doctor is prescribing a particular medication, and ask if there are acceptable non-pharmacological alternatives available. And get a second opinion — from your chiropractor.

Reference:

Wickens K, Pearce N, Crane J, et al. Antibiotic use in early childhood and the development of asthma. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 1999: Vol. 29, pp766-71.

The Lowdown on Energy Drinks

Originally published in To Your Health

Many energy drinks claim to increase energy and vitality. In making this claim, the manufacturers often load their concoctions with a variety of substances, including but certainly not limited to caffeine, herbs and various amino acids. That brings us to an interesting question: Do these drinks actually have health benefits, or are there hidden health dangers? Here’s the lowdown on energy drinks.

Energy drinks constitute big business these days. While Austrian-based Red Bull claims to own the lion’s share of the market, all signs point to that dominance changing in the near future. Monster, Adrenaline Rush, Venom and 5-Hour Energy are just a few of the estimated thousands of energy drink distributors worldwide, and they’re everywhere: in stores, schools, gyms and all manner of social environments.

Suffice it to say the popularity of these drinks is unquestionable; their health benefits is another story altogether. The big concern with the majority of energy drinks is their caffeine content: up to 80 mg of caffeine. According to Brown University, that’s more than twice the caffeine in a can of Mountain Dew and more than three times the caffeine in a can of Coca Cola Classic. Why is this important? Because too much caffeine can elevate the heart rate, increase blood pressure, and lead to insomnia (Some energy drink manufacturers have now come out with decaffeinated versions, although that hasn’t seemed to particularly impact the popularity of the caffeinated varieties.)

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