EATING FISH MAY PREVENT KIDNEY DECLINE IN DIABETICS
Eating fish at least twice a week seems to reduce the incidence of kidney disease in patients with diabetes, according to findings from a large British study.
Although diabetics are advised to limit dietary protein to delay the progression of kidney disease, recent observations suggest that the benefit to the kidneys may have to do with "the protein source rather than quantity," the investigators note in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Despite research linking fish to improved outcomes in diabetics, they add, epidemiological evidence of this benefit is scarce.
Dr. Amanda I. Adler, at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge, and fellow researchers therefore conducted a population-based cross-sectional analysis of 22,000 subjects.
Among the 517 subjects with diabetes, the prevalence of albumin (protein) in the urine (macroalbuminuria), an indication of kidney disease, was 8.3 percent.
According to food questionnaire responses, 18 percent of diabetics who ate fish less than once a week had macroalbuminuria, versus 4 percent of those who included fish in their diet more than twice a week.
After adjusting the data for clinical, social, demographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors, regular fish consumption remained a significant predictor of freedom from macroalbuminuria among diabetics.
Adler's group suggests that "the unique nutrient composition of fish" may prevent kidney damage by enhancing blood sugar control or improving lipid profiles.
They suggest that these findings set the stage for nutritional intervention trials to determine the optimal types of fish, modes of preparation, and dietary frequency to best protect the kidneys of patients with diabetes.
STRESSES OUT: WOMEN MORE LIKELY TO FEEL ECONOMIC PANGS
By Terri Coles
Stocks are tumbling, the U.S. economy may be in recession, and don't even look at your 401K. It's little wonder some people are stressed out, but women may be bearing the brunt of it.
In a recent survey, women expressed more fear about the economic situation than men and reported more physical and psychological effects because of related stress.
"Women are sometimes more aware of the stress they are feeling," said Stephanie Smith, a psychologist and public education coordinator for the American Psychological Association (APA).
"They are often more willing to talk about it and admit to the struggles they are having," she said in a statement.
The survey, conducted by the APA, showed that 84 percent of women expressed fear about where the economy is going, compared with 75 percent of men.
One reason could be the primary caretaker role many women hold in their families, Smith suggested. A financial crisis can become even more worrying if you are responsible for caring for children and older relatives than if you are just taking care of yourself. As well, although surveys have shown a shift toward a splitting of chores between genders, women still carry a heavier burden in maintaining the home.
"As much as things have changed over the years, women still tend to do more of the household work," Smith said. "Taken together, these things often lead to more stress in women because they just have more things to be stressed about."
Stress is considered a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease, bowel illnesses like Irritable Bowel Syndrome and mental illness. It causes biochemical changes in the body that can compromise the immune system, and makes it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar.
A recent study found that some types of stress, such as that caused by financial debt, can increase the risk of preterm delivery, and another showed that people who are chronically stressed are three to four times more likely to suffer heart problems. They also have a 53 percent increased risk of high blood pressure or stroke. A long-term study out of Finland discovered that uncertainty about your role in your workplace can up the risk of a heart attack over time.
The first key to reducing stress is recognizing its symptoms, which include irritability, sadness, changes in sleep patterns, weight gain or loss, difficulty concentrating and restlessness.
Most people likely already have the tools to cope with stress, said Smith. "One of things we often do is abandon our good coping strategies," she said. "The first and easiest coping mechanism is to keep up your good habits." That means trying to stick to your existing schedule for social activities and taking some time during the day to focus on yourself.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also suggests making an effort to get adequate sleep. A lack of sleep could make stress worse and lead to other health problems like weight gain and reduced immune function. Exercise and a good diet will help you stay healthy, and talking to friends and loved ones about your worries can also help you work through your anxiety.
If stress is affecting your quality of life, the American Heart Association recommends speaking to your doctor to find ways to cope and reduce your risk of stress-related health problems down the road.
5 THINGS TO DO WHILE YOU'RE PREGNANT
FOOD – While you’re feasting on fresh fruits and veggies, make sure you’re not also overloading on pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. By consistently choosing organic food, you keep your meals – and junior’s – healthy. If you eat meat, choose lean meat that is hormone and antibiotic free.
WATER – Filter your drinking water and drink from glass, not plastic, as much as possible. Here's Positively Green's list of great water filters. Don’t reuse plastic water bottles. When they degrade, either from heat or cold, they leach chemicals that you never get from drinking from a glass.
BEAUTY PRODUCTS – When you’re pregnant, it’s best to avoid nail polish and nail polish remover, as well as products with alphahydroxy. Choose make-up with more organic ingredients. For a list of good organic lines, see Positively Green page 9. Also, if you color your hair, a weave is a better choice as the color never touches your scalp. Always avoid hair colors with coal tar.
CLEANING PRODUCTS – Replace your non-organic products with ones that don’t contain bleach, ammonia and other harmful chemicals. By choosing biodegradable products that avoid these harsh chemicals you keep the indoor air quality of your home as clean as possible while waiting for baby’s arrival. Some eco-friendly brands are Method (available at Target) and Bene Life Green (available at www.benelifegreen.com). Even better, hire a housekeeper to clean occasionally (using your new eco-friendly products) and you can take a load off your feet.
SHOWERING – Your skin is porous. The same pores that emit sweat also absorb liquids that are on your skin. Most municipal water contains chlorine. In addition to drying your skin and hair, chlorine also vaporizes with hot water so it is inhaled into the lungs while you shower. By installing a filter in your shower head, you can keep the water that cleans you free of chlorine and other additives. Check out the Premium Shower Filter at www.watersavers.com. The filter is easily installed and it costs $49.99. You can purchase recyclable replacement cartridges for $24.99.
Also, if you have a shower curtain, replace it with one that is free of PVC. Ikea sells a great PVC free shower curtain.
GREEN TEA PROTECTS FROM ALZHEIMER'S
Photo Credit: Kanko
Source: treehugger
Research with green tea and Alzheimer's continues to show that the antioxidant properties in green tea (Camellia Sinensis) may in fact have the ability to decrease production of beta-amyloid, which is the protein which forms plaques in those affected by the disease.
What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's is a terrible disease to watch a loved one deal with and there are over 13 million cases throughout the world currently. The disease causes the brains nerve cells to cease to function, most likely due to a plaque which builds up between their delicate connections, making it difficult for them to communicate or transfer needed substance for their survival.
Combine this with the fact that there are millions more of us who contain the very same genetic pathway which may one day lead to the disease itself, and this type of research becomes rather significant. The non-medical public used to say that Alzheimer's sometimes skips a generation, which gave some people a false sense of security. In truth, they have no real grasp of the disease, other than it does tend to fall under a heredity passed down disease at least 10 to 20 percent of the time. It can happen to anyone at any time regardless of race, gender, or health level.
Current Treatments for the Disease
There is no real reliable way to diagnose this disease in an individual who may be years away from exhibiting symptoms. While they are currently making headway on new drugs which are currently doing wonders for current sufferers, many people with a background to the disease would prefer to be a little more proactive than just hoping for an eventual cure.
Prevention of Alzheimer's may be only a Cup of Tea Away
While there is no guarantees, the most recent research suggests that the antioxidant properties in green tea may give some folks a fighting chance at staving off Alzheimer's. Studies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles suggests that the tea has the effect of reducing plaque in the brain of genetically engineered mice by up to 90 percent, which is truly amazing. This research is currently being taken to human subjects with hopes that the tea will have the same effect on them.
Green tea is a rather inexpensive herb which can be purchased and easily digested daily in the form of various drinks or foods. It has also been shown that green tea may help fight against certain forms of cancer and sun damage from UV rays. The amount of green tea recommended for maximum benefit is generally thought to be four to five cups, however some researchers recommend as much as 10, or as little as two.
How is Green Tea considered Green?
There has been growing evidence that many of the prescription drugs people ingest and expel in the form of waste fluids, as well as the pills themselves which end up in waste water, are entering our natural waterways in the form of toxins. Currently, most sewage treatment plants around the world are not equipped to detect or remove such drugs. This puts the possibility of using homeopathic therapies as preventative measures, rather than waiting for the disease to take hold thereby bringing the necessity to use prescription drugs, as one of our best environmental health options to date.
Not Much Harm in this Preventative Measure
While green tea may in fact be given too much credit as a cure-all for such conditions as obesity, high cholesterol, and rheumatoid arthritis, the truth of the matter is there is some conclusive evidence suggesting that it may indeed have some very helpful prospects to the future. As long as you are not allergic, pregnant, or sensitive to caffeine, and if you have any family history of Alzheimer's, it might not be such a bad idea to put yourself on a moderate diet of green tea... at least until the studies have dealt their final conclusions!
HEALTH IN THE NEWS
TIPS AND BITS
MORE IN HEALTH