High fructose corn syrup, which some studies have linked to obesity, may also be harmful to the liver, according to Duke University Medical Center research.
"We found that increased consumption of high fructose corn syrup was associated with scarring in the liver, or fibrosis, among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)," said Manal Abdelmalek, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Duke University Medical Center.
Her team of researchers at Duke, one of eight clinical centers in the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network, looked at 427 adults enrolled in the network. They analyzed dietary questionnaires collected within three months of the adults' liver biopsies to determine their high fructose corn syrup intake and its association with liver scarring.
Health & Wellness
© Denise Applewhite/Princeton University
A Princeton University research team, including (from left) undergraduate Elyse Powell, psychology professor Bart Hoebel, visiting research associate Nicole Avena and graduate student Miriam Bocarsly, has demonstrated that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup -- a sweetener found in many popular sodas -- gain significantly more weight than those with access to water sweetened with table sugar, even when they consume the same number of calories. The work may have important implications for understanding obesity trends in the United States.
A Princeton University research team, including (from left) undergraduate Elyse Powell, psychology professor Bart Hoebel, visiting research associate Nicole Avena and graduate student Miriam Bocarsly, has demonstrated that rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup -- a sweetener found in many popular sodas -- gain significantly more weight than those with access to water sweetened with table sugar, even when they consume the same number of calories. The work may have important implications for understanding obesity trends in the United States.
In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides. The researchers say the work sheds light on the factors contributing to obesity trends in the United States.
"Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different than other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn't true, at least under the conditions of our tests," said psychology professor Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neuroscience of appetite, weight and sugar addiction. "When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they're becoming obese -- every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don't see this; they don't all gain extra weight."
Taking antibiotics during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects, according to a study conducted by researchers from the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Although approximately 30 percent of women take at least one antibiotic between three months before conception and the date of delivery, many of the drugs have not been extensively tested for their safety on developing infants.
Researchers used data from the ongoing National Birth Defects Prevention Study to analyze antibiotic use in more than 13,000 women who had given birth to children with at least one defect and nearly 5,000 who had given birth to children without birth defects.
Although approximately 30 percent of women take at least one antibiotic between three months before conception and the date of delivery, many of the drugs have not been extensively tested for their safety on developing infants.
Researchers used data from the ongoing National Birth Defects Prevention Study to analyze antibiotic use in more than 13,000 women who had given birth to children with at least one defect and nearly 5,000 who had given birth to children without birth defects.
A British study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives has found that people with high levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in their blood also have higher rates of thyroid disease. PFOA is a chemical used in the production of many industrial and consumer products including non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpet coatings, and fabric waterproofing treatments.
Nearly 4,000 American adults over the age of 20 were tested for PFOA between 1999 and 2006 and evaluated based on thyroid function. Researchers found that those with the highest blood serum levels of PFOA, above 5.7 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml), were twice as likely to have thyroid disease than those with the lowest levels below 4.0 ng/ml.
Despite the fact that thyroid disease is typically more common in women rather than in men, researchers found that the link between PFOA and thyroid disease is as just as prevalent in men as it is in women.
Nearly 4,000 American adults over the age of 20 were tested for PFOA between 1999 and 2006 and evaluated based on thyroid function. Researchers found that those with the highest blood serum levels of PFOA, above 5.7 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml), were twice as likely to have thyroid disease than those with the lowest levels below 4.0 ng/ml.
Despite the fact that thyroid disease is typically more common in women rather than in men, researchers found that the link between PFOA and thyroid disease is as just as prevalent in men as it is in women.
A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has studied food prices over 20 years' time and compared those to average caloric intake to find an association between food prices, dietary intake, and weight assessments. The study concluded that adding a tax to increase the price of soda or pizza by 10% would produce a weight loss of -7.12% (an average of 5 pounds) per year. In other words, by adding a "sin tax" to foods considered "junk," the average American would be forced to lose 5 pounds of body fat in a year's time. The problem here is that the study completely ignores what makes most North Americans obese (cheap, highly processed, bad-for-you food) and why it's so cheap. Subsidies.
The United States Government subsidizes crops grown by American farmers to the tune of $10-$30 billion per year, depending on market prices for crops and disaster payments for lost crops. About 35% of those subsidies go towards corn, 14% to wheat, and 7% to soybeans. This means that 56% of all federal subsidies go towards crops that are used as the base for nearly every kind of junk food you can name.
Corn is made into high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and is the second ingredient in most sodas after water. Corn is also used to artificially fatten beef and other livestock before slaughter (with questionable nutritional outcomes) while wheat and soybeans are the base for thousands of breads and filler items.
The United States Government subsidizes crops grown by American farmers to the tune of $10-$30 billion per year, depending on market prices for crops and disaster payments for lost crops. About 35% of those subsidies go towards corn, 14% to wheat, and 7% to soybeans. This means that 56% of all federal subsidies go towards crops that are used as the base for nearly every kind of junk food you can name.
Corn is made into high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and is the second ingredient in most sodas after water. Corn is also used to artificially fatten beef and other livestock before slaughter (with questionable nutritional outcomes) while wheat and soybeans are the base for thousands of breads and filler items.
It seems that the medical establishment, along with the pharmaceutical industry, may have a new excuse to put a LOT more people on blood pressure medications. Of course, you can imagine the billions of profit dollars this could generate; so many pharmaceutical companies may be jumping for joy at this news.
What is the news? Well, new research is suggesting that people with consistently high blood pressure aren't the only ones that need to be on medications. The findings are showing that people with variable blood pressure readings may need to be on them as well, because of a substantial risk of stroke.
This could mean that millions more people would be prescribed various medications to regulate their blood pressure on an ongoing basis. The goal is that these deadly spikes, or blips, in blood pressure would be minimized. It also means that the pharmaceutical industry would see profits for their related drugs skyrocket, and patients would be on even more medications. As if America isn't already over medicated!
What is the news? Well, new research is suggesting that people with consistently high blood pressure aren't the only ones that need to be on medications. The findings are showing that people with variable blood pressure readings may need to be on them as well, because of a substantial risk of stroke.
This could mean that millions more people would be prescribed various medications to regulate their blood pressure on an ongoing basis. The goal is that these deadly spikes, or blips, in blood pressure would be minimized. It also means that the pharmaceutical industry would see profits for their related drugs skyrocket, and patients would be on even more medications. As if America isn't already over medicated!
It's amazing that the day before the health care "reform" bill is passed in America, the FDA announces that one of the most popular statin drugs sold in America causes so much kidney damage that it might kill you. And then the day after this health care bill passes, the FDA announces that a popular rotovirus vaccine made by Merck is being halted because it is contaminated with a mysterious DNA sequence from a pig virus called porcine circovirus type 1 or PCV-1.
The reason this is important is because cholesterol drugs and vaccines represent what conventional American medicine is all about: Drugs and injections. It's not about health and prevention; it's about drugs and injections (and surgery too, of course).
And the legislation that was just passed is focused entirely on how to expand the failed system of drugs and injections so that it causes harm to everyone rather than just those who voluntarily choose to be suckered into it. This is the medical equivalent of a wartime draft that forces soldiers into battle against their will. Except this isn't a war against some foreign enemy -- it's a war being waged against your body by the pharmaceutical industry, the cancer industry, the surgery pushers and all the corporations that prey upon the public for their sick-care profits.
The reason this is important is because cholesterol drugs and vaccines represent what conventional American medicine is all about: Drugs and injections. It's not about health and prevention; it's about drugs and injections (and surgery too, of course).
And the legislation that was just passed is focused entirely on how to expand the failed system of drugs and injections so that it causes harm to everyone rather than just those who voluntarily choose to be suckered into it. This is the medical equivalent of a wartime draft that forces soldiers into battle against their will. Except this isn't a war against some foreign enemy -- it's a war being waged against your body by the pharmaceutical industry, the cancer industry, the surgery pushers and all the corporations that prey upon the public for their sick-care profits.
There was a mumps outbreak in the New York area late 2009 through early 2010 that surprised many because virtually all those infected had been vaccinated for mumps. Approximately 80% of the almost 2000 afflicted had received the required two shots of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) three in one vaccines. So what are regional health authorities recommending as a solution? A third dangerous MMR shot!
Even a CDC reviewed site admits that mumps in children is a mild disease, and once you've had the mumps, you won't get it again. You've been immunized by having it! Mumps and measles used to occur mostly with children well before puberty.
What's weird about this outbreak is that the average age for the afflicted is 15! In some communities years ago, parents would intentionally expose their kids to children with measles, mumps, or chickenpox to confer future immunity, successfully. So what's with all these vaccinations?
Even a CDC reviewed site admits that mumps in children is a mild disease, and once you've had the mumps, you won't get it again. You've been immunized by having it! Mumps and measles used to occur mostly with children well before puberty.
What's weird about this outbreak is that the average age for the afflicted is 15! In some communities years ago, parents would intentionally expose their kids to children with measles, mumps, or chickenpox to confer future immunity, successfully. So what's with all these vaccinations?
As little as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times per week can reduce the risk of early heart-disease-related death by 60 percent, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Department of Cardiology in New Orleans and published in the American Journal of Medicine.
"This study proves once again that exercise has both psychological and physical benefits for patients with heart disease," the British Heart Foundation said. "Health authorities must ensure that all suitable heart patients are offered cardiac rehabilitation. Structured, well-resourced programs have been shown to improve physical and psychological well-being and reduce mortality."
Researchers offered 522 heart disease patients a 12-week exercise class, which included three weekly sessions consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise, and a 10-minute wind-down stretch. Aerobic exercises included walking, jogging, rowing and cycling. All exercise program participants were advised to exercise a further one to three times per week, and were given diet and lifestyle advice.
"This study proves once again that exercise has both psychological and physical benefits for patients with heart disease," the British Heart Foundation said. "Health authorities must ensure that all suitable heart patients are offered cardiac rehabilitation. Structured, well-resourced programs have been shown to improve physical and psychological well-being and reduce mortality."
Researchers offered 522 heart disease patients a 12-week exercise class, which included three weekly sessions consisting of a 10-minute warm-up, 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise, and a 10-minute wind-down stretch. Aerobic exercises included walking, jogging, rowing and cycling. All exercise program participants were advised to exercise a further one to three times per week, and were given diet and lifestyle advice.
© Center for Advanced Military Science
Old defense approach: the military fails to address social stress.
Old defense approach: the military fails to address social stress.
The paper describes the concept of a "Prevention Wing of the Military," a group of military personnel that practices the advanced TM-Sidhi program twice daily as a group. A group that reaches a critical threshold in size has been scientifically shown to reduce collective societal stress.
