Hyvin
A Natural Health and Wellness Blog

A new Australian study suggests that expectant moms who eat a low glycemic index diet give birth to healthier babies, while the infants of those who eat a moderate to high glycemic index diet are heavy for their gestational age. According to the Reuters Health report of the study, researchers suggest that there may be longer term risks of chronic disease or obesity at play in the heavier infants. The study appeared in the October 2006 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Considering the all around benefits of eating foods with a low glycemic index, it would seem a good idea for moms-to-be.

In a large European project involving half a million people in 10 countries, the impact of exercise, diet and other habits on health and longevity has been examined. The Reuters Health report on some of the study findings relays that it only takes a little to live longer. Any increase in physical activity is beneficial and consuming just one additional serving of healthy food a day can make a difference.

“If you cumulatively take a lot of these behaviors such as increasing fruit and vegetable intake, increasing physical activity very modestly and stopping smoking cumulatively they are associated with something like a 12-year difference in terms of chronological age and life expectancy,” said [ Dr Kay-Tee ] Khaw [of the University of Cambridge.]

What a significant endorsement for the natural health and wellness lifestyle!

The July 2006 edition of Health magazine touted the health benefits of a zippy little fruit…the blueberry. What’s in blueberries that make them a health food? Antioxidants – those phytonutrients known to fight off free radical cell damage that is at the root of many health challenges (including cancer, arthritis, macular degeneration and many more). According to the Health article, “Wild blueberries rank Number One in antioxidants for fruit, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with a score of more than 13,000 for total antioxidant capacity per. Cultivated blueberries are the second highest, with about 9,000 (for comparison, Gala apples score around 3,900).”

I like blueberries, but as with many food sources of nutrients, I wonder if it’s possible to consume enough to really have a health impact on my body. Would you like to have a convenient, easy way to regularly get the equivalent of 31 servings of blueberries (along with hundreds of other fruits and veggies)? It’s a whole new level of antioxidant protection!

Allergy sufferers know the common triggers: ragweed, grass, and pollens, right? Well, add fruits and veggies to the list!

Yep, you read that right. Believe it or not, proteins found in parts of some fruits and veggies like bananas, cucumbers, melon and zucchini are similar to pollen proteins that are targeted by allergy antibodies. This can cause symptoms such as itchy mouth and throat with mild swelling when these foods are eaten fresh, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) (that’s quite a mouthful, pun intended ).

The HealthDay report of this statement by the AAAAI states that the kinds of fruits and veggies on the trigger list vary in relation to the type of pollen allergy.

What a drag that must be. My vote is to strengthen the immune system as much as possible to avoid the allergic response in the first place! It really is possible.

Everyday fatigue is a common complaint in our fast-paced society, ranking among the top five health problems reported by adults in 1998. Four out of 10 adults across all age groups experience fatigue, and it affects women far more than men.

Interestingly, less than half of people who feel stressed and exhausted consider this to be a health problem! Of those who admit they may need help, only half have tried any treatment.

Yet an astonishing four out of five Americans consume caffeine every day, causing the Center for Science in the Public Interest to label caffeine “the world’s most popular stimulant,” and the “drug” most frequently and casually consumed.

And our national caffeine consumption may be higher than reported. Sales of “energy pills” are on the rise, yet a look at the ingredient list of many popular products often reveals guarana, mate, bissy nut, or cola nut, which are all simply herbal sources of caffeine. Ma huang and Chinese ephedra are herbal sources of ephedrine, another central nervous system stimulant.

The effects of caffeine in the body are linked to our “hardwired” biological stress-response mechanisms. Because life has always presented hazards, the human body is designed to react quickly and decisively to dangerous situations. When triggered by “watch out!” signals such as loud noises, rapid movement, strong odors, and more, the body automatically produces both physical and chemical responses. Surges of adrenaline heighten your mental awareness and sensitivity and prime your muscles for demanding movement such as jumping or running. Your pupils dilate, your breathing quickens, and eventually your natural cooling system kicks in and you start to sweat.

A single 250-milligram serving of caffeine (the equivalent of about 2.5 six-ounce cups of coffee) has been shown to increase levels of adrenaline by more than 200 percent! Caffeine also stimulates the production of norepinephrine, another stress chemical that acts directly on the brain and nervous system. With daily use, caffeine can elevate levels of another stress chemical known as cortisol. Together, these biochemicals can increase heart rate and blood pressure and produce that “emergency” feeling.

In a real-life emergency, all these survival mechanisms would help you get out of the way of a charging elephant or the 5:05 commuter train. But what happens to the body when you are triggering a full-blown “fight or flight” response at regular intervals throughout the day, every day?

The fact is that caffeine doesn’t produce energy. It stimulates your nervous system and adrenals, which is actually a form of stress on the body. Caffeine intake has been linked to increased blood pressure. Research shows that people who consume more than 250 milligrams of caffeine per day (remember, that’s what you’d get in 15 ounces of coffee) tend to have poor sleep quality. One study showed that 250 milligrams of caffeine decreased whole-brain cerebral blood flow by 30 percent. Other studies have found that caffeine reduces the oxygen level of brain tissue.

Research also shows that caffeine may be more damaging to women, producing adverse effects at lower intake levels. Women eliminate caffeine from their bodies more slowly than men, and this rate also changes significantly with the menstrual cycle.

So, are there any options if we want the pick-me-up we experience with caffeine, but DON’T want the negative health consequences of this “drug”? YES! Cordyceps, Panax Ginseng and Green Tea are all traditional Asian ingredients used for centuries for sustained enduring energy. Based on this experience, clinical use in Europe and recent scientific studies, an optimum combination of these three ingredients for energy and sustained vitality has been developed into tablet form by Shaklee. For more detailed information about this product and how it works, click here.

A review, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, of fifteen studies concludes that eating processed meats increases the risk of stomach cancer.

The Reuters Health report of this research review quoted the Swedish Karolinska Institute as saying that:

[P]rocessed meats were often salted or smoked, or had nitrates added to them, in order to extend their shelf-life, which could be connected to the increased risk of stomach cancer, the fourth most common type of cancer.

We don’t eat the bacon, the sausage, the smoked ham very often, but it can be so tasty once in awhile.

Did you know that Vitamin C is believed to help neutralize the free radical cell damage caused by nitrates? So, at least pop an extra sustained release Vitamin C when you indulge!

Talk about your odoriferous foods… I always know when my husband has eaten onions, whether I saw him eat them or not. And although I don’t eat a lot of curry, it’s another of those foods I’d rate as particularly aromatic.

Well, this recent Reuters Health update doesn’t say whether it’s the smelly components that provide the benefit, but it cites the August 2006 edition of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology which reports that consuming curcumin, a compound in the curry spice tumeric, and quercetin, an antioxidant found in onions, helped to shrink pre-cancerous colon polyps.

Go figure… onion breath is good for you .

We know that processing of any kind impairs the nutritional content of food.

However, a new study reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that even refrigeration qualifies as “processing”!

The Yahoo News report of the study concludes that:

[I]ce-cold watermelon may be refreshing, but it can be less nutritious than watermelon served at room temperature.

Personally, I’ve always preferred room temperature fruit. Maybe I was onto something without even knowing it .

Changing the type of fat given to babies and young children who must have prolonged feeding via IV has been shown to avoid the serious liver damage that can be triggered by the practice. According to a Yahoo news account the July issue of Pediatrics reports that the typical IV solution is high in omega-6 fatty acids and when researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston used another solution high in omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, the often fatal liver damage of two infants was reversed!

There have been many reports of late of the various health benefits of essential omega-3’s. The post on AMD prevention and omega-3’s earlier this week is yet another example. We can get the omega-3 fatty acids from fish, flaxseed oil and canola oil. And if we don’t get enough in the diet, ultra pure, potent, uncontaminated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil capsules are available.

So, change the fat!

Here’s another “eye” (aye) for omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil: Studies just published in the Archives of Opthamology suggest that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurred less often in those who ate fish once or twice a week. And this was true even for smokers (who have a much higher risk of AMD).

According to the Yahoo news account of these studies:

Researchers don’t yet know why eating fish seems to protect the eyes. Omega-3 fatty acids may neutralize free radicals in the eye, preventing the formation of new blood vessels, reducing inflammation or all three, [National Eye Institute's Dr. Emily] Chew said.

You may want to consider omega-3 fatty acid capsules to maximize chances of AMD prevention. Be sure to get pure fish oil that is contaminant-free.