It has been well understood that small fragments of cholesterol (not
Nerve cells are known to have higher amounts of this type of cholesterol, as nerve cells do not split and divide like other cells and so need the extra cholesterol to liver longer. One of the very adverse side effects of statin drugs to reduce
But as regards muscles, many mechanisms of statin toxicity have now been implicated. These factors reduce energy, muscle health, fitness, and generally make it harder to be healthy.
This fresh discovery adds a brand new explanation for nerve and muscle related problems from taking statins. Researchers studied the structure of a common and vital neurotransmitter receptor called the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Problems with this receptor's function drastically alter nervetransmission. These difficulties are found in chronic swellings, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and addiction issues (alcohol, nicotine and cocaine).
The new finding is that cholesterol fragments are absolutely important to this receptor working correctly and are part of the protein structure of this receptor. This is a sweeping scientific discovery as regards aging and health. It immediately offers a new explanation as to why statins have so many devastating nerve and muscle side effects. It also adds clarity to the issue as to why low cholestereol causes cancer and early risk for death.
Cholesterol is vital to the healthy function of your body, actually core to survival. You want good levels of
Keep BPA Out of Your Food In 6 (Six) Simple Ways
Fresh Research linking bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in the linings of food and beverage cans, to diabetes and heart disease, you may be wondering what you can do to minimize your exposure. Here are some good rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA:
1. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles, Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA.
2. Shop your tomato sauce in glass jars
Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA, because the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from the lining of the can.
3. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned ones
Moreover, with their BPA-free benefit, fresh produce usually contain more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning.
4. Think in terms of moderation
5. Choose powdered infant formula instead to ready-to-serve liquid
An assessment carried out by the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.
Be a health concious consumer, eating less of those foods that are higher in BPA.
Reference:
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008; 300(11):1303-10
a.. U.S. News & World Report September 17, 2008
a.. Journal of the American Medical Association September 16, 2008; 300(11):1353-5
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It's finally becoming more common knowledge that plastic is not an inert substance, which is what its manufacturers would like you to believe. Plastic contains chemicals like BPA and phthalates, which mimic hormones in your body. Even tiny concentrations can cause problems, and you're likely being exposed from all angles. Aside from canned goods, they're found in reusable food containers, plastic wraps, water bottles, personal care products, you name it. Plastic is used everywhere. The Many Health Hazards of Bisphenol A (BPA)
Plastic is so prevalent that according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study, BPA was detected in the urine of 95 percent of people tested! This is alarming when you consider the problems it's been linked to, including:
a.. Structural damage to your brain
b.. Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning
c.. Increased lipids formation and risk of obesity
d.. Altered immune function
e.. Early puberty, stimulation of mammary gland development, disrupted reproductive cycles, and ovarian dysfunction
f.. Changes in gender-specific behavior, and abnormal sexual behavior
g.. Stimulation of prostate cancer cells
h.. Increased prostate size, and decreased sperm production I've already discussed the dangers of using plastic containers and bottles on several occasions; anytime you eat or drink something out of plastic, you risk exposure. Plastics that are worn out or scratched may leach even more chemicals into your food, as do hot beverages. Just by drinking coffee from a plastic-lined paper cup, you could be exposed to 55 times more BPA than normal.
But what's your risk when you use canned goods?
Independent laboratory tests conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected BPA in over half of 97 cans of name-brand fruit, vegetables, soda, and other commonly eaten canned goods.
There are no government safety standards limiting the amount of BPA in canned food, and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) safety standard is 25 times the dose
But studies in the past decade have shown that low-level exposures to BPA may actually be MORE dangerous than high-level exposures!
Where traditional toxicology asserts that higher doses does greater harm, bisphenol A tests show that low doses can be the most toxic of all, partly because at low levels it can fall below the radar of your body's natural detox mechanism.
For example, one study found that a low dose of BPA produced a 70 percent higher growth rate of prostate cancer cells in lab animals than did higher doses (Wetherill et al. 2002). In another; lower doses of BPA resulted in higher rates of breast cell growth that can precede cancer (Markey et al. 2001).
Perhaps our dependency on plastic plays a larger role than anyone ever imagined in the rise of the big three: cancer, heart disease and rampant diabetes?
BPA and Your Baby - What's the Risk, and What's the Solution?
As usual those most at risk are children and fetuses, which is why it's appalling to think that these chemicals are commonly used in everything from the infant formula, to the bottle it's served in, to the teething rings, and the toys your baby plays with on a daily basis.
Sadly, of all foods tested, infant formula was among the top three foods that had BPA levels of highest concern.
Just one to three servings was found to contain BPA levels that have caused serious adverse effects in animal tests. And, for 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving was found to contain enough BPA to expose an infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government's traditional "safe" level of exposure for industrial chemicals!
Although the article above recommends using powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid varieties to cut down on BPA exposure, I want to remind you that nothing beats breast feeding when it comes to feeding your baby.
Breast milk contains antibodies, immunoglobulins, white blood cells, lactoferrin, lysosomes, bifidus factor (which helps friendly bacteria grow in the intestines to ensure acid environment), vitamin B12 binding protein, and many, many other substances. It also contains essential fatty acids that help bolster your baby's body against the impact of toxic chemicals.
And of course, if a mother follows my dietary recommendations, she will have the best chance of being optimally healthy, and her breast milk will be even more nutritious.
So remember that if you want the very best by far for your babies, breastfeed them if at all possible. But if you are going to use commercial formulas, then using a powdered formula may reduce your baby's exposure to BPA. According to the EWG's calculations, babies fed reconstituted powdered formula likely receive 8 to 20 times less BPA than those fed liquid formula from a metal can.
However, a far better option than commercial formula would be to try the Infant Formula Fortification Protocol developed by Dr. Patricia Kane and myself. In addition, the Weston A. Price Foundation has its own infant feeding recommendations, which are another healthy option.
10 More Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
1. Only use glass baby bottles and dishes for your baby
2. Get rid of your plastic dishes and cups, and replace them with glass varieties
3. Give your baby natural fabric toys instead of plastic ones
4. Store your food and beverages in glass -- NOT plastic --containers
5. IF you choose to use a microwave, don't microwave food in a plastic container
6. Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel travel coffee mugs rather than plastic or Styrofoam coffee cups
7. Avoid using plastic wrap (and never microwave anything covered in it)
8. If you opt to use plastic kitchenware, at least get rid of the older, scratched-up varieties, avoid putting them in the dishwasher, and don't wash them with harsh detergents, as these things can cause more chemicals to leach into your food
9. Avoid using bottled water; filter your own using a reverse osmosis filter instead
10. Before allowing a dental sealant to be applied to your, or your children's, teeth, ask your dentist to verify that it does not contain BPA
In the event that you do opt to use plastic containers for your food or beverages, be sure to avoid those marked on the bottom with the recycling label No. 7, as these varieties may contain BPA.
Containers marked with the recycling labels No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 do not contain BPA (however they may contain other unsavory chemicals that you're best off avoiding by using glass instead). If in doubt, remember this handy saying from The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: "With your food, use 4, 5, 1 and 2. All the rest aren't good for you."
Antioxidants Kills Your Cancer Cells
It has now been discovered About How Antioxidants Attack Cancer Cells
http://www.naturalnews.com/024447.html
by: Russell Johnston
NATURALNEWS has it that. A fresh reason exists, and a big one, to think that we benefit from free-radical-inhibiting antioxidants. We've long thought that by reducing free radicals, antioxidants can help prevent cancer, of course. But a recent experiment at Johns Hopkins and published in the March 14 issue of Science shows how antioxidants may be doing much more: interfering with the growth of cancers that are already established, and potentially, even reversing them once established, by knocking out communications signals between cancer cells that encourage cells to grow and divide. Those communications signals turn out to be... free radicals, which the cancer cells often produce in abundance. Runaway cell division was actually slowed when cancer cells were introduced to the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine, under experimental conditions. This now demonstrates the existence of a mechanism that can allow a simple antioxidant to slow down or reverse a cancer that's already in place.
Genetically altered connective tissue cells expressing the cancerous H-RasV12 gene, together with non-cancerous cells were used in the study. The cancer cells produced an abundance of superoxide, a well-known free-radical. But cells' Ras or Rac1 genes produced proteins that blocked this signal and kept the cell from turning cancerous, as did doses of other protein inhibitors. However, it was considered more significant that antioxidant could also inhibit runaway cell proliferation.
At least in the case of cancers produced by the model H-RasV12 gene, other cells are influenced to become cancerous "at a distance" if free radicals or protein-inhibitors aren't present in sufficient numbers to step in and stop the process.
Kaikobad Irani cautiously summarizes his research by saying that "Control of signaling pathways involving oxidants may explain why some antioxidants appear to prevent development of certain cancers." If you're equally inclined to caution, you may wish to make sure you're getting plenty of antioxidants.
There are plenty of sources of antioxidants in a good diet, of course, but by far the most potent and effective antioxidant known to science is as cheap and available as a long, dark night: that is, melatonin. Turning your light switch to the off position earlier, keeping it off longer, and making sure that you are always sleeping in real darkness are excellent natural ways to boost your melatonin production. Even occasional changes in your routine, staying up for a couple of extra hours, can reduce your melatonin for weeks, just as jet lag does.
About the author
Russell Johnston is a private health researcher and writer with a background in the philosophy and history of science. He began DarknessHeals.com in order to help publicize dramatic recent medical research showing the extraordinary importance sleep and chronobiology have for everyone's health.
VITAMIN D UNTOLD HEALTH BENEFITS
Vitamin D a key player in overall health of several body organs, says
http://www.physorg.com/news142791717.html
UC Riverside biochemist
Essential for life in higher animals, vitamin D, once linked to only bone diseases such as rickets and osteoporosis, is now recognized as a major player in contributing to overall human health, emphasizes UC Riverside's Anthony Norman, an international expert on vitamin D.
In a paper published in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Norman identifies vitamin D's potential for contributions to good health in the adaptive and innate immune systems, the secretion and regulation of insulin by the pancreas, the heart and blood pressure regulation, muscle strength and brain activity. In addition, access to adequate amounts of vitamin D is believed to be beneficial towards reducing the risk of cancer.
Norman also lists 36 organ tissues in the body whose cells respond biologically to vitamin D. The list includes bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and the uterus.
According to Norman, deficiency of vitamin D can impact all 36 organs. Already, vitamin D deficiency is associated with muscle strength decrease, high risk for falls, and increased risk for colorectal, prostate and breast and other major cancers.
"It is becoming increasingly clear to researchers in the field that vitamin D is strongly linked to several diseases," said Norman, a distinguished professor emeritus of biochemistry and of biomedical sciences who has worked on vitamin D for more than 45 years. "Its biological sphere of influence is much broader than we originally thought. The nutritional guidelines for vitamin D intake must be carefully reevaluated to determine the adequate intake, balancing sunlight exposure with dietary intake, to achieve good health by involving all 36 target organs."
Vitamin D is synthesized in the body in a series of steps. First, sunlight's ultraviolet rays act on a precursor compound in skin. When skin is exposed to sunlight, a sterol present in dermal tissue is converted to vitamin D, which, in turn, is metabolized in the liver and kidneys to form a hormone. It was Norman's laboratory that discovered, in 1967, that vitamin D is converted into a steroid hormone by the body.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 200 international units (IU) for people up to 50 years old. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 400 IU for people 51 to 70 years old and 600 IU for people over 70 years old. Norman's recommendation for all adults is to have an average daily intake of at least 2000 IU.
"To optimize good health you must have enough vitamin D," he said. "Vitamin D deficiency is also especially of concern in third world countries that have poor nutritional practices and religious customs that require the body to be covered from head to toe. Ideally, to achieve the widest frequency of good health by population, we need to have 90 percent of the people with adequate amounts of vitamin D."
About half of the elderly in North America and two-thirds of the rest of the world are not getting enough vitamin D to maintain healthy bone density, lower their risks for fracture and improve tooth attachment.
"There needs to be a sea change by various governmental agencies in terms of the advice they present to citizens about how much vitamin D should be taken," Norman said. "The tendencies of people to live in cities where tall buildings block adequate sunlight from reaching the ground, to spend most of their time indoors, to use synthetic sunscreens that block ultraviolet rays, and to live in geographical regions of the world that do not receive adequate sunlight all contribute to the inability of the skin to biosynthesize sufficient amounts of vitamin D."
Found in minute amounts in food, vitamins are organic substances that higher forms of animals need to grow and sustain normal health. Vitamins, however, are not synthesized in sufficient amounts to meet bodily needs. Therefore, the body must acquire them through diet or in the form of supplements. Because it is found in very few foods naturally, milk and other foods (often orange juice) are fortified with vitamin D.
DF GIVES TOTAL PROTECTION AGAINST COLON
DF has being asscociated with the provision of protection against colon and rectal cancers e.g. bran and cellulose fibres. Several mechanisms have been proposed. There is good evidence that skool bulking results in dilution of the colonic contents. This in addition to the more rapid rate of transit gives less time for luminal carcinogen or tumour promoters.
DIET RELATED DISEASES AND THEIR DIETARY REMEDIES
- Hernias: A protrusion/swelling, consisting of an organ or part which has escaped from its natural cavity, and projects through some natural or accidental openings in the walls of the latter: as, hernia of the brain, of the lung, or of the bowels. Hernia of the abdominal viscera in most common. Called also (rupture)
- Appendicitis: Inflammation of the vermiform appendix
- Phlebitis: Inflammation of vein.
