Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
CNN - Can The Cell Phones We Use Everyday Cause Cancerous Brain Tumors?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has stated that cell phone use might cause a type of brain cancer called glioma. It also stated that additional research is needed to determine the exact risk. So, cell phones may be carcinogenic to humans. Children are most at risk.
The highest risk comes from using your cell phone for voice calls. If you text or use hands free devices, you reduce your radiation exposure 10 fold.
Charles
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Risk of Dementia And Being Overweight
By being overweight or obese, you not only increase your risk of dementia's, but also increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This study shows the importance of controlling your weight with diet and exercise. Studies conducted by Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas have shown that eating a Mediterranean type of diet and staying physically active can reduce your risks of developing Alzheimer's disease by 60%.
You can calculate your BMI here.
Scan Health News Headlines
Charles
Thursday, May 5, 2011
What is Fatty Liver Disease?
Fatty liver is the initial phase of NAFLD and typically does not involve liver inflammation or liver scarring. Patients can have fatty liver for many years or even decades without serious medical implications. However, if left untreated, fatty liver can develop into a more serious phase of this disease.
Some patients with NAFLD develop the second phase of this disease known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis of NASH. NASH is the accumulation of fat in liver cells along with liver inflammation. Again, if left untreated, this phase can cause liver scarring. Eventually, it can lead to irreversible scarring known as cirrhosis of the liver. When this occurs, your liver can no longer function properly and can develop into liver failure, liver cancer or liver related death.
However, if you undergo yearly physicals, your doctor can detect NAFLD in its early stages. Patients typically experience no symptoms in the early stages of this disease, and may be surprised to learn that they have NAFLD. But if patients do experience symptoms, they may have a dull ache just below their ribcage on their right side. Other symptoms that they may have are:
- Nausea
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- And an enlarged liver.
Research indicates that a change in diet and exercise routine can reverse this disease in its early stages.
Losing weight is will also help stop and reverse fat accumulation in your liver. However, the weight loss must be gradual. Sudden and rapid weight loss can actually make NAFLD worse by causing liver inflammation. Patients should target a weight loss goal of just 1 or 2 pounds a week.
Guidelines for improving your liver health include:
- Not abusing alcohol
- Not abusing medications and drugs
- Not eating food high in saturated fats
- Not eating foods high in sugar content
- Staying away from highly processed foods like bleached flour, white bread and white rice
- You should exercise regularly and stay physically active
- Don't smoke
- Eat whole grains and brown rice
- And get adequate amounts of choline in your diet to help prevent fat accumulation
Stay fit and trim, stay physically active and eat properly, and follow your doctor's instructions for insulin resistance and diabetes, and you will not have to worry about fatty liver disease.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Best Way To Lose Weight And Keep Your Weight Off
What is the best way to lose weight and keep your weight off. We can get good weight loss tips from those that have achieved their weight loss goals. A good place to look is the National Weight Control Registry. This registry includes people who have lost more than 30 pounds and kept their weight off for at least a year. Another source of good information is research results.
The first lesson is that you don't want to lose your weight too quickly. Research has shown that those who slowly decrease their weight by 1 or 2 pounds each week, and keep it off for at least 2 years are most likely to keep their slim figure for the rest of their life. Also, according to the American Family Physician:
- 98% of adults who successfully maintain their weight loss have modified their eating habits.
- 94% have increased their level of physical activity, especially walking.
- 78% eat a healthy breakfast every day.
- 75% weigh themselves weekly.
- 62% watch less than 10 hours of television per week.
We find similar results from the National Weight Control Registry. Their secrets include:
- Exercise - These people burn about 400 Calories per day. This is equivalent to 60 minutes of brisk walking or 35 minutes of jogging. I personally recommend 20 minutes of an interval training routine.
- Eat fewer calories - they consume about 1400 calories each day.
- Watch less TV
- Limit fast food usage, cut back on sweets and sugar and eat more fruits and vegetables.
A Mediterranean type of diet appears to work best as far as diet is concerned. The Mediterranean type of diet includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and fish. Studies have shown that those on a low-fat diet gain weight, while those on a Mediterranean diet lose weight. In addition, only 20 percent on the low fat diet stay on that diet, while half on the Mediterranean diet remain on that diet plan.
Additional Weight Loss Tips
Lose Weight Slowly and Set Realistic Goals - If you cut your intake by just 100 calories each day, which is equivalent to an apple, and exercise for 20 to 30 minutes each day, you can weigh 20 pounds less in one year. Remember that those who lose slowly over a long period of time are most likely to keep their weight off.
Be More Physically Active and Watch Less TV
Keep Track of Your Weight - According to PsychCentral, those that keep track of their weight most often are also those most likely to keep their weight off.
Stay Away From Foods That Spike Your Blood Sugar And Insulin - Foods that spike your blood sugar and insulin quickly, and then crash to low levels contribute to weight gain. Stay away from white bread, white rice, and other processed grain products. Instead eat whole grains, brown rice, steel-cut oats, hulled barley, whole grain breads and pasta, beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables.
Eat Foods With Good Fats - Foods like seeds and nuts contain essential fatty acids that are not only healthy, but help to make you fell full. Also use extra virgin olive oil and canola oils.
Drink More Water - Water helps your to feel full and it has no calories.
Reference: How To Get To Your Healthy Weight
Charles
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Vitamin B12 May Keep Your Brain From Shrinking
None of the people in the study had vitamin B12 deficiency. However, the study showed that people with the highest levels of B12 in there blood were 6 times less likely to experience brain shrinkage compared to people with low levels of B12.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is rare, but some of the symptoms are:
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- Sore tongue or bleeding gums
- Loss of weight
- Diarrhea
- Numbness or tingling in fingers and toes
- Poor sense of balance
- Depression
- Dementia
Good food sources are mollusks, and organs (especially liver and kidneys) of lamb and beef. For a list of foods with the highest levels of B12 click NutitionData. Milk, cheese and eggs are also good sources of B12. If you are a vegan, eat foods fortified with vitamin B12, and take vitamin pills.
Another benefits of B12 in conjunction with folic acid and B6, is that these vitamins keep homocystein from building up in your bloodstream. High levels of homocystein can lead to a higher risks of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.
Charles
