Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) researchers have found that sleep restriction and circadian disruption impairs glucose regulation and metabolism.
Too little sleep or sleep patterns that are inconsistent with our body's "internal biological clock", such as when performing shift work, may lead to increased risk of diabetes and obesity. Previous research has found the same thing in short-term lab studies and epidemiological studies.
However, unlike epidemiological studies, this new Harvard/BWH study provides support by examining humans in a controlled lab environment over a prolonged period, and altering the timing of sleep, mimicking shift work or recurrent jet lag. The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Health & Wellness
However, your body's immune system has been designed over the course of countless millennia to ward off infection naturally.
Infectious organisms do not so much invade your body, as take advantage of the opportunity provided to them by an already weakened immune system.
Vaccination is an atypical manipulation of the immune system that stimulates an artificial, temporary immunity and can also involve an atypical inflammatory response that leads to permanent immune and brain dysfunction.
© Renjith Krishnan
A very interesting correlation exists between many different types of autoimmune diseases and the incidence of low cholesterol values. It is very common that autoimmune conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes Type I, Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, Sjogren's and others typically feature low serum cholesterol and lipo-protein profiles. A large body of medical research studies support these findings.
Phthalates, found in soaps, lotions and food packaging, may disrupt insulin production, researchers say
High blood levels of chemicals called phthalates, which are found in soaps, lotions, plastics and toys, may double the risk for type 2 diabetes among older adults, Swedish researchers say.
"Our study supports the hypothesis that certain environmental chemicals can contribute to the development of diabetes," said lead researcher Monica Lind, an associate professor of environmental medicine in the section for occupational and environmental medicine at Uppsala University.
"Most people come into daily contact with phthalates as they are used as softening agents in everyday plastics and as carriers of perfumes in cosmetics and self-care products," she added.
The study's implications "must be to cut down on plastics and choose self-care products without perfumes," Lind said.
High blood levels of chemicals called phthalates, which are found in soaps, lotions, plastics and toys, may double the risk for type 2 diabetes among older adults, Swedish researchers say.
"Our study supports the hypothesis that certain environmental chemicals can contribute to the development of diabetes," said lead researcher Monica Lind, an associate professor of environmental medicine in the section for occupational and environmental medicine at Uppsala University.
"Most people come into daily contact with phthalates as they are used as softening agents in everyday plastics and as carriers of perfumes in cosmetics and self-care products," she added.
The study's implications "must be to cut down on plastics and choose self-care products without perfumes," Lind said.
© The New York Times Company
The E.P.A. said that the environmental group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, had not adequately shown that 2,4-D would be harmful under the conditions in which it is used.
"At best, N.R.D.C. is asking E.P.A. to take a revised look at the toxicity of 2,4-D," the E.P.A. said in its decision, which was posted on its Web site.
"Yet the ground for tolerance revocation is a lack of safety."
First approved in the late 1940s, 2,4-D is one of the most widely used weed killers in the world. It is an ingredient of numerous home lawn-care products, and it is used by farmers.
© The Australian
According to US researchers who compared statistics for six cities: Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, San Diego, Atlanta and New Orleans, rising levels of airborne lead dust lead to spikes in the rates of aggravated assault as exposed children grew up.
The findings, reported today in the journal Environment International, have implications for Australian mining communities, claims Mark Taylor, an environmental scientist at Macquarie University.
"There is an ongoing problem of environmental lead exposure from legacy mining and smelting, as well as contemporary production processes, especially in Port Pirie and Mt Isa," Professor Taylor said.
The new data comes from Howard Mielke, a specialist in environment and health with Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and epidemiologist Sammy Zahran, co-director of the Centre for Disaster and Risk Analysis at Colorado State University.
© REUTERS/Eric Thayer
A Department of Toxic Substances Control report determined that the mislabeled nail products have the potential to harm thousands of workers in more than 48,000 nail salons in California, and their customers.
The use of the three chemicals in nail products is legal if properly labeled. But agency officials said the false claims may violate a state law that requires disclosure of harmful chemicals in consumer products. The state attorney general could decide whether the companies will face legal action, which can include fines and an order to attach warning labels.
© Activist Post
In contrast, some stick to the concept that there isn't any association between fluoride and any real negative effects.
Fluoride, however, is indeed a toxic substance, and has been tied with numerous health complications in well-established research. Fluoride can be found in many water supplies, toothpaste, and even food at alarming levels. While it may sound shocking to many, some research is even drawing a close connection between fluoride and an increased cancer risk.
One paper entitled Fluoride - A Modern Toxic Waste says the following:
Yiamouyiannis documents research showing that fluoride increases the tumor growth rate by 25% at only 1 ppm, produces melanotic tumors, transforms normal cells into cancer cells and increases the carcinogenesis of other chemicals. For the original references to these studies, refer to Yiamouyiannis' pamphlet, Lifesavers Guide to Fluoridation.
© thechart.blogs.cnn.com
The beneficial results of antidepressants have been under the spotlight for quite some time in the health world, and the validity of giving them out like candy to patients in need of a quick and easy solution is under question as well; just how useful is medication for depression?
At best, the tangible results felt by patients are comparable to sugar pills. That is to say, the medication itself does virtually nothing to improve the mood of the patient directly. At worst, antidepressants cause decreased mental stability. Wanting to kill yourself or others around you are feelings which antidepressants have been shown to ignite.
© NaturalNews
Now, the FDA is finally -- after years of delays and denials -- calling for new warnings on the labels of male baldness drugs made by Merck. According to the FDA, Propecia and Proscar are now linked to:
- Ejaculation disorders (oops!)
- Libido disorders (not tonight, honey)
- Orgasm disorders (still nothing?)
- Erectile dysfunction (life is hard, but you're not)
- Male infertility (you're firing blanks, dude...)
