The scientific link between writing and improved health isn’t fully understood, but it’s believed that writing eases stress which improves the immune system. Makes perfect sense to me. I’ve journaled off and on in the past, and recently carried out a commitment to daily journaling (although for five minutes a day only …well, you gotta’ start somewhere). I intend to assess my stress level and see if I notice a difference!

It’s widely known that Americans consume a lot of pop. So much so that some commentators fear we are making a significant and negative public health impact.

Sugar is the main ingredient of pop, of course. So much sugar is being consumed in pop, that it is virtually impossible to counteract it with good dietary habits to achieve a “balanced diet.” According to the April 2007 edition of American Journal of Public Health, a review of published studies shows that a study of higher intake of sugary sodas goes hand-in-hand with a lower intake of milk, calcium and other essential nutrients, a lower intake of fruit and fiber, and a higher intake of carbohydrates. According to Reuters Health, the review also concluded a direct link between sugary pop consumption and an increased risk of obesity AND diabetes!

And then there are the other ingredients. According to Steve Edwards of beachbody.com:

Beyond the simple sugar rush, these acids and phosphates [also found in pop] alter your body’s pH levels and inhibit absorption of other nutrients. Then there are the effects of certain artificial coloring agents. For example, yellow #5, commonly used in soft drinks, has been linked to attention deficit disorder, hives, asthma, and other allergic reactions in some children.

As for diet sodas, a study released last year showed that drinkers of diet soda gained weight, rather than losing it! Edwards says:

[T]he true effects of these ingredients have not been thoroughly studied. Despite their no-calorie status, diet sodas have been linked to assorted illnesses [and] there is little doubt that the pH balance of diet sodas hinders the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

We can each make our own effort to STOP the POP. There are good tasting, summer-appealing alternatives that even hydrate instead of dehydrating (as pop does)! Click here for one that contains no artificial ingredients, provides 67% more muscle fuel than the leading commercial sports drink, is low in sugars, and provides the optimal balance of electrolytes. It comes in orange and lemon-lime flavors…very yummy!

Of course, high blood sugar levels increase the risk of diabetes and even heart disease. And now,Reuters Health reports on a study in the March 2007 issue of Diabetes Care that points specifically to an association between cancer and high blood sugar levels in non-diabetics.

Like I’ve said before, the body is a unit…what ails one part, is naturally prone to ail the rest. So, maybe the news isn’t all that “big” after all. Maybe I should call it exciting! – there is so much we can do to prevent degenerative disease!! Eat right. Get moving. Lose weight, if needed. And, for some additional help, we can even supplement with a natural blend of minerals, botanicals and antioxidants proven to help retain normal blood sugar levels!

I understand why research needs to look at single nutrients and single disease states or health challenges. That’s not, of course, how the body functions, however. A smorgasbord of vitamins, minerals and fats (the good kind!) make up the raw material for the body to do everything it needs to do to maintain health. Which is why I believe so strongly in providing guaranteed sources of that smorgasbord through supplementation to be hyvin (well)!

Think they’re calling for new forms of ventilation? Pumping out infected air? High-tech solutions? Nope…just open the windows.

That’s right! Retuers Health reports that researchers concluded: “Opening windows and doors maximizes natural ventilation so that the risk of airborne contagion is much lower than with costly, maintenance-requiring mechanical ventilation systems.”

Isn’t there some “old wives’ tale” about opening the windows and airing out the house? Seems like those old wives were right (again ).

Of course, the social ramifications of these statistics are horrendous. And then there are the financial consequences. The Reuters Health report of the research cited researchers as saying: “The cost of caring for aging Americans will add 25 percent to the nation’s health care bill by 2030 unless people act now to stay healthy”. An addition we can scarcely afford.

I’m glad to see that researchers are emphasizing healthier lifestyles and prevention as key in dealing with this situation, looking specifically at physical inactivity, poor nutrition, obesity and smoking. They seem like a good place to begin. There have been many studies linking these lifestyle choices to ill health, and more are being released all the time. Consider research in the February 2007 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluding that “Nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease who participate in a moderate exercise program have a significantly slower deterioration than those who receive routine medical care.” (Reuters Health)

These age-related declines are NOT inevitable! But we DO have to be responsible for our own health and wellness. That means making informed decisions about regular exercise, supplementation and healthy eating. Doctors do not make us well. We can often, though, impact our wellness by the choices we make. Yes, it takes time, effort and self-discipline. But isn’t it totally worth it?

Also in the Feb. 2007 edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is a study which found that women between the ages of 72 and 85 with completely intact mental function were less likely to have health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure (Reuters Health).

I certainly want to do all I can to live out my senior years with maximum function, both mental and physical, don’t you?

Seems like a no-brainer to me. It’s good to have the official AHA position. I just wish it included recognition of the non-drug option for a cox-2 inhibitor!

I have to admit, I was surprised to learn that this relationship had been studied in women first. New research in the Feb. 26, 2007 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine concludes that men, like women, who frequently take over-the-counter pain relievers have higher blood pressure than those who don’t. According to the Reuters Health report of the study, researchers urge greater caution in using these drugs, much like we’ve heard before.

Are we listening?

For heart health, for example, begin good habits in infancy, according to this recent report by HealthDay News:

The value of adopting a heart-healthy diet early in life is being demonstrated in an ongoing study in Finland, where researchers in 1990 began following more than 1,000 infants who were 7 months old at the time.

Half of the children were allowed an unrestricted diet, while the parents of the other half were directed to feed their children a diet low in saturated fats — the unhealthy fats that are typically found in foods from animals. Those parents also received dietary and lifestyle counseling twice a year.

The benefits of the low-saturated fat diets and counseling were revealed in tests done when the children were 11. Ultrasound images of the boys’ arteries found that those on the low-saturated fat diets had blood vessels that were better able to widen, allowing blood to flow more freely.

No such difference was seen for the girls, a finding reported for females in some adult studies. “The reason for this is not known, but one explanation could be estrogen,” said study co-investigator Dr. Olli Raitakari, chief physician at the Turku University Central Hospital. Estrogen, the female sex hormone, influences the number of receptors for LDL cholesterol, the “bad” kind that clogs arteries, he said.

Still, the findings for the boys were very encouraging, Raitakari said, and the researchers believe the benefits for girls will eventually prove true. The study will continue until the children turn 20.

We all certainly want to give our children the gift of good health. We truly can start giving that gift right now!