Empower Your Children
Helping your kids get and stay healthy isn’t always easy. It’s hard for them to resist the unhealthy snacks, sodas and fast food that seem to be all around them. It’s also tough to get them away from the television and computer screens and find places for them to play and exercise.
But we can’t ignore the serious health consequences of kids eating badly and not moving enough. By empowering your children to make better choices now, you can have a huge impact on their health and quality of life in the future.
To learn more about the risks of childhood obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, click here.
You Can Do It
The good news is that small changes often make a huge difference. Focus on a few areas for improvement and you’ll run into less resistance from your children, but still have a positive impact on their health.
Help Children Make the Right Choices
The best way to make your children healthier is to help THEM take charge of their own health. You can influence what they eat, where they eat, and encourage them to play an d exercise more. You may not be able to control everything, but by making healthy choices when and where you can, you’ll gradually see some positive changes.
Set a Good Example
You can also help by setting a good example. Have your child set a goal that both of you can aim for together. For example, if he or she wants to try to eat more vegetables, make sure you’re eating those veggies too.
We have created a cool sticker chart for you to help encourage and track healthy behaviors with your children. Click here to download the chart.
To learn more about the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge that inspires kids to take charge of their health and lead their own "Go Healthy" movement, click here
Alliance for a Healthier Generation Kids' Site
A special site, created by the Alliance, that's just for kids. It features games, videos, and fun ways for kids to get involved in creating a healthier generation. Learn More.
We Are Here to Help You
Parents are so important in the fight against childhood obesity. That’s why the Alliance for a Healthier Generation has the following tools and resources for parents to use on the front lines--when eating out, at home, at school, and at the doctor's.
The Alliance for A Healthier Generation
A subsidiary of the American Heart Association.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Cholesterol not the only heart risk
Reducing inflammation in the body can be as protective against heart
disease as lowering cholesterol, two studies have found, sparking new
debate over strategies to monitor and prevent cardiovascular disease.
The results of the studies, published in the New England Journal of
Medicine, add weight to the argument that doctors should consider
routinely monitoring inflammation in the same way they test
cholesterol.
Inflammation, which is usually a positive reaction that occurs when the
body is fighting infection or healing an injury, can be reduced in the
same way as cholesterol is lowered - eating well, exercising, losing
weight and quitting smoking, experts said.
Researchers are now looking at new drugs to target inflammation, which
produces a C-reactive protein (CRP).
"For the first time we have hard clinical evidence that lowering
inflammation lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke and
cardiovascular disease," said Paul Ridker, a cardiologist at Brigham
and Women's Hospital in Boston, who led one of the studies.
"The magnitude of the benefit is at least as large as the magnitude of
the benefit from cholesterol reduction. This is a radical change in our
thinking about heart disease prevention."
Peter Thompson, a member of the Heart Foundation of Australia's
clinical issues committee and a cardiologist at Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital in Western Australia, and said it was now time to consider
whether testing for inflammation should be recommended to all patients
at risk of heart trouble.
"Debate will now turn ... to taking a closer look at CRP, should we be
measuring it, and if someone is found to have high cholesterol and
[high] CRP then should they be given more aggressive treatment?" he
said.
Doctors have long thought heart disease occurred when high cholesterol
caused fatty build-up in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The
arteries eventually narrowed and blocked, causing a heart attack.
But in recent years there has been mounting evidence that inflammation,
which can occur in those who are overweight, have high cholesterol or
suffer from a chronic low-level infection, may damage the lining of
artery walls and contribute to the formation and rupture of fatty
plaques.
"CRP is a very important marker of increased risk of heart disease," Dr
Thompson said. "This is the first time that any one has demonstrated
that lowering the CRP makes a difference."
But while there is a well-established laboratory test for CRP that has
been available in Australia for the past 15 years, Dr Thompson
cautioned that some fine-tuning was needed before it was "sufficiently
reliable to be used".
The findings also open up a whole new area of research into treatments
for elevated CRP levels, or inflammation.
"You can't simply prescribe one of the known anti-inflammatory drugs
for it," he said, pointing to recent debate around the safety of this
class of drug, while the use of cholesterol lowering statins needed
further investigation.
In the first study, Dr Ridker gave 3745 patients who had already
suffered a heart attack or severe chest pain normal doses of the statin
Pravachol or high doses of another statin, Lipitor, and measured their
CRP levels.
The statins appeared to reduce inflammation, leading scientists to
speculate that at least some of their benefit stems from their
anti-inflammatory powers. Those whose CRP levels dropped to the lowest
points were the least likely to suffer or die from another heart
attack, the researchers found.
The second study, led by Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at the Cleveland
Clinic, also found a strong relationship between the degree in
reduction in CRP and the degree of disease progression.
But Mark Pepys of the Royal Free & University College Medical School in
London said there was "no good evidence" that lowering CRP would lower
the risk of heart attack.
Additionally, there are natural ways and supplemental means to reduce systemic inflammation. A few supplements you could include in your regiment are CoQ10, organic multiple vitamin, Calcium/magnesium, fish oil and alpha lipoic acid to name a few.
Furthermore, dietary means of reducing inflammation may consist of consuming dark shaded berries, first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, turmeric and ginger.
A vigilant practice of eating well is a great defense in combination with a life style consciousness in action.
disease as lowering cholesterol, two studies have found, sparking new
debate over strategies to monitor and prevent cardiovascular disease.
The results of the studies, published in the New England Journal of
Medicine, add weight to the argument that doctors should consider
routinely monitoring inflammation in the same way they test
cholesterol.
Inflammation, which is usually a positive reaction that occurs when the
body is fighting infection or healing an injury, can be reduced in the
same way as cholesterol is lowered - eating well, exercising, losing
weight and quitting smoking, experts said.
Researchers are now looking at new drugs to target inflammation, which
produces a C-reactive protein (CRP).
"For the first time we have hard clinical evidence that lowering
inflammation lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke and
cardiovascular disease," said Paul Ridker, a cardiologist at Brigham
and Women's Hospital in Boston, who led one of the studies.
"The magnitude of the benefit is at least as large as the magnitude of
the benefit from cholesterol reduction. This is a radical change in our
thinking about heart disease prevention."
Peter Thompson, a member of the Heart Foundation of Australia's
clinical issues committee and a cardiologist at Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital in Western Australia, and said it was now time to consider
whether testing for inflammation should be recommended to all patients
at risk of heart trouble.
"Debate will now turn ... to taking a closer look at CRP, should we be
measuring it, and if someone is found to have high cholesterol and
[high] CRP then should they be given more aggressive treatment?" he
said.
Doctors have long thought heart disease occurred when high cholesterol
caused fatty build-up in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. The
arteries eventually narrowed and blocked, causing a heart attack.
But in recent years there has been mounting evidence that inflammation,
which can occur in those who are overweight, have high cholesterol or
suffer from a chronic low-level infection, may damage the lining of
artery walls and contribute to the formation and rupture of fatty
plaques.
"CRP is a very important marker of increased risk of heart disease," Dr
Thompson said. "This is the first time that any one has demonstrated
that lowering the CRP makes a difference."
But while there is a well-established laboratory test for CRP that has
been available in Australia for the past 15 years, Dr Thompson
cautioned that some fine-tuning was needed before it was "sufficiently
reliable to be used".
The findings also open up a whole new area of research into treatments
for elevated CRP levels, or inflammation.
"You can't simply prescribe one of the known anti-inflammatory drugs
for it," he said, pointing to recent debate around the safety of this
class of drug, while the use of cholesterol lowering statins needed
further investigation.
In the first study, Dr Ridker gave 3745 patients who had already
suffered a heart attack or severe chest pain normal doses of the statin
Pravachol or high doses of another statin, Lipitor, and measured their
CRP levels.
The statins appeared to reduce inflammation, leading scientists to
speculate that at least some of their benefit stems from their
anti-inflammatory powers. Those whose CRP levels dropped to the lowest
points were the least likely to suffer or die from another heart
attack, the researchers found.
The second study, led by Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at the Cleveland
Clinic, also found a strong relationship between the degree in
reduction in CRP and the degree of disease progression.
But Mark Pepys of the Royal Free & University College Medical School in
London said there was "no good evidence" that lowering CRP would lower
the risk of heart attack.
Additionally, there are natural ways and supplemental means to reduce systemic inflammation. A few supplements you could include in your regiment are CoQ10, organic multiple vitamin, Calcium/magnesium, fish oil and alpha lipoic acid to name a few.
Furthermore, dietary means of reducing inflammation may consist of consuming dark shaded berries, first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, turmeric and ginger.
A vigilant practice of eating well is a great defense in combination with a life style consciousness in action.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Exercising with High blood pressure
Over 60 million adults in this country suffer from high blood pressure.
This number is risen a dramatic percent over the 50 million from ten years ago.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is now at epidemic proportions. The concern is the risk for many systemic problems including kidney failure, stroke and heart attack.
Overcome HBP through prevention
With obesity at an all time high, there is still not enough focus on lifestyle and the positive effects of prevention. Additional research provides insight that even patients who take medicine for severe hypertension, can benefit from mild to moderate - intensity exercise.
Hypertension and Health Risks
Ideal blood circulation is measured at 120/80 mmHg. A diagnosis of hypertension would be given to patient with a steady reading at 140/90 mmHg. Sedentary life styles, aging, hormonal irregularities, poor dietary habits, and stress can all play a role in having a predilection to hypertension.
The asset of Exercise
Although exercise initially increases heart rate and blood pressure, working out routinely will create a resting blood pressure that is lower, as it gets use to supplying the supplying the body more efficiently with oxygenated blood.
4 Points to Safe Exercise with HBP
1. No Isometric Exercise.
This type of exercise creates constriction in vessels and pressure build up. Excessive pressure increases should be avoided to allow for full relaxation of the involved muscle or muscle group.
2. Remember to Breath
When the breath is held during periods of exercise, vascular pressure increases.
A relaxed rhythm of breeding is most important.
3. No Muscle Failure on Final Repetition
Blood pressure shows to be greatest during the last repetitions of a set. This is because the muscles tire and require more effort.
To prevent the increased pressure, moderate resistance is recommended, avoiding muscle failure.
4. The Necessity of Rest
This last recommendation of keeping blood pressure moderately elevated during workouts for HBP patients is to have spurts of exercise interlaced with periods of rest, allowing time for breathing and relaxation.
Medication Consideration
When medicine has been prescribed for HBP, some become apprehensive in the decision to exercise. Evidence suggests that exercise is beneficial for those taking blood pressure medication. However, before starting any exercise program, always consult the prescribing physician.
If you are not currently exercising and have not seen your doctor lately, take some time and invest in your health. If you had time to stand in line to vote, you can take the time to wait for your doctor. It won’t be as long or as painful.
If you have been exercising, but are not sure about your blood pressure, get it checked out soon.
Objects in motion stay in motion – Issac Newton
By Dr. Jeffrey A. Sklar Chiropractor
References
1. Fagard RH. Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of hypertension in the obese. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31(11Suppl): S624-630
2. Kokkinos PF, Papademetriou V. Exercise and hypertension. Coron Artery Dis 2000;11(2):99-102.
3. Fountaine T. Resistance training for patients with hypertension. Strength and Conditioning 1997;19:5-7.
4. Miller ER 3rd, Erlinger TP et al. Results of the diet, exercise and weight loss intervention trial(DEW-IT). Hypertension 2002;40 (5):612-618.
5. Hendrick A Resistance training with older populations: justifications, benefits and protocol. Strength and Conditioning 1998;20:32-39
6. Christensen K 4 Keys to exercise safely with high blood pressure. Chiro Well 2004(Vol 4)10: 16-18
This number is risen a dramatic percent over the 50 million from ten years ago.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is now at epidemic proportions. The concern is the risk for many systemic problems including kidney failure, stroke and heart attack.
Overcome HBP through prevention
With obesity at an all time high, there is still not enough focus on lifestyle and the positive effects of prevention. Additional research provides insight that even patients who take medicine for severe hypertension, can benefit from mild to moderate - intensity exercise.
Hypertension and Health Risks
Ideal blood circulation is measured at 120/80 mmHg. A diagnosis of hypertension would be given to patient with a steady reading at 140/90 mmHg. Sedentary life styles, aging, hormonal irregularities, poor dietary habits, and stress can all play a role in having a predilection to hypertension.
The asset of Exercise
Although exercise initially increases heart rate and blood pressure, working out routinely will create a resting blood pressure that is lower, as it gets use to supplying the supplying the body more efficiently with oxygenated blood.
4 Points to Safe Exercise with HBP
1. No Isometric Exercise.
This type of exercise creates constriction in vessels and pressure build up. Excessive pressure increases should be avoided to allow for full relaxation of the involved muscle or muscle group.
2. Remember to Breath
When the breath is held during periods of exercise, vascular pressure increases.
A relaxed rhythm of breeding is most important.
3. No Muscle Failure on Final Repetition
Blood pressure shows to be greatest during the last repetitions of a set. This is because the muscles tire and require more effort.
To prevent the increased pressure, moderate resistance is recommended, avoiding muscle failure.
4. The Necessity of Rest
This last recommendation of keeping blood pressure moderately elevated during workouts for HBP patients is to have spurts of exercise interlaced with periods of rest, allowing time for breathing and relaxation.
Medication Consideration
When medicine has been prescribed for HBP, some become apprehensive in the decision to exercise. Evidence suggests that exercise is beneficial for those taking blood pressure medication. However, before starting any exercise program, always consult the prescribing physician.
If you are not currently exercising and have not seen your doctor lately, take some time and invest in your health. If you had time to stand in line to vote, you can take the time to wait for your doctor. It won’t be as long or as painful.
If you have been exercising, but are not sure about your blood pressure, get it checked out soon.
Objects in motion stay in motion – Issac Newton
By Dr. Jeffrey A. Sklar Chiropractor
References
1. Fagard RH. Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of hypertension in the obese. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31(11Suppl): S624-630
2. Kokkinos PF, Papademetriou V. Exercise and hypertension. Coron Artery Dis 2000;11(2):99-102.
3. Fountaine T. Resistance training for patients with hypertension. Strength and Conditioning 1997;19:5-7.
4. Miller ER 3rd, Erlinger TP et al. Results of the diet, exercise and weight loss intervention trial(DEW-IT). Hypertension 2002;40 (5):612-618.
5. Hendrick A Resistance training with older populations: justifications, benefits and protocol. Strength and Conditioning 1998;20:32-39
6. Christensen K 4 Keys to exercise safely with high blood pressure. Chiro Well 2004(Vol 4)10: 16-18
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Helmet Safety-Protect YOur Kids and Yourself
Skateboard Helmets
The Two Minute Summary
· You always need a helmet when you board. You will crash eventually.
· Even a low-speed fall can scramble your brains.
· Laws in some states and skateboard parks require helmets.
· Buy a skateboard helmet for skateboarding, not a bicycle helmet. You will get better coverage and protection built for skateboarding.
· Skateboard helmets should meet the ASTM F1492 skateboard helmet standard.
If you have six minutes, please read on!
Six Minutes More
Your brain is probably worth reading this!
Need One?
What did you expect us to say? You need your brain to work so you can skateboard, and don't just lie in bed and slobber the rest of your life. You don't know how hard pavement is until your head really hits it. If you do a wrist or an arm or a collarbone it heals, but the brain is different. Besides that, helmets may be the law in your area, and you can't use most skate parks without one.
What to Look For
A skateboard helmet softens the impact when the foam inside crushes or slowly deforms.
The hard shell on board helmets holds up un-der multi impacts. Bike helmets use thin plastic that breaks immediately the first time you hit hard.
The best interior foam for skateboard is probably Expanded PolyPropylene (EPP). It looks like bike helmet foam, but feels a little bit rubbery. Unlike bike helmet EPS foam, EPP recovers and is good for the next hit.
The helmet must stay on your head. It's not a hat, just sitting there. It will fly off while you are flying through the air. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong buckle. And you need to remember to fasten it.
Skateboard helmets are usually black. If you want to be seen on the street, get a bright color. Most boarders don't.
Standards
A sticker inside the helmet tells what standard it meets. True skateboard helmets meet ASTM F1492. Some "skate-style" helmets only meet the CPSC bicycle helmet standard. Those are bike helmets, not skateboard helmets, even if there is a skateboard on the box.
How to Buy
Some of the best skateboard helmets are "dual-certified" to both the ASTM and CPSC standards. That includes Bell Faction, Mirra, Rage and Wicked, Free Agent, Kryptonics Signature, Limited and Kore Series, Pro-Tec Classic, Arc Freestyle Signature and B-2, and the W Helmets Ripper 2 in small and medium sizes only. Check our Dual Certified Helmets page at http://www.helmets.org/dualcert.htm for the latest list. Those helmets are designed for skateboarding and bicycling.
When to Replace a Helmet?
If you really have a skateboard helmet that meets the ASTM F1492 standard you don't need to replace it every time you crash, but someday you will. Replace the buckle if it cracks or a piece breaks off.
Skate Helmets for Biking?
Do not use a skate helmet for bicycling unless it has a CPSC bicycle helmet standard sticker in-side!
Consumer Reports Article
Consumer Reports published an article in July 2004 rating a few skate helmets. You can read the article at your local library or buy it at www.consumer.org
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
BHSI is the helmet advocacy program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Our volunteers provide helmet information and work on the ASTM national helmet standard committee. In 1983 we published in Bicycling Magazine the first bicycle helmet article including actual lab test results (based on testing done for us by the Snell Foundation). We are funded by small consumer donations of about $12,000 a year. We do not accept funds from manufacturers or anyone involved in helmet sales.
BHSI is located at 4611 Seventh Street South, Arlington, VA 22204-1419, tel. 703-486-0100 . Our Web server where you found this page is at www.helmets.org. Our email address is info@helmets.org.
Our parent organization (WABA) is a local non-profit founded in 1972 to improve bicycling conditions in the Washington, DC area and encourage the use of bicycles for transportation. BHSI is an outgrowth of the WABA Helmet Committee, which began ride testing helmets in 1974. WABA has a Web page at www.waba.org.
This pamphlet was produced with donations from those who read it earlier. We welcome your tax-deductible donation to make it available to the next rider or parent who will need it. Checks can be made payable to WABA/BHSI. Thanks!
Copyright 2006 by the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
A program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Links to this page are encouraged. We update frequently, so if you put this page on your own server it will be quickly outdated!
This pamphlet is available here as a Word file or a .pdf format file. You can save it to disk, print it out in Word, another word processor or any Acrobat reader and photocopy it for non-profit use. The Word file name is skate.doc and it was originally formatted for our HP Laserjet 4000 at 1200x1200 dpi. If it refuses to format correctly for your printer contact us at info@helmets.org or at the postal address above and give us the postal mailing address where we can send you a paper copy to reproduce. We can't mail it on paper to your email address!
The Two Minute Summary
· You always need a helmet when you board. You will crash eventually.
· Even a low-speed fall can scramble your brains.
· Laws in some states and skateboard parks require helmets.
· Buy a skateboard helmet for skateboarding, not a bicycle helmet. You will get better coverage and protection built for skateboarding.
· Skateboard helmets should meet the ASTM F1492 skateboard helmet standard.
If you have six minutes, please read on!
Six Minutes More
Your brain is probably worth reading this!
Need One?
What did you expect us to say? You need your brain to work so you can skateboard, and don't just lie in bed and slobber the rest of your life. You don't know how hard pavement is until your head really hits it. If you do a wrist or an arm or a collarbone it heals, but the brain is different. Besides that, helmets may be the law in your area, and you can't use most skate parks without one.
What to Look For
A skateboard helmet softens the impact when the foam inside crushes or slowly deforms.
The hard shell on board helmets holds up un-der multi impacts. Bike helmets use thin plastic that breaks immediately the first time you hit hard.
The best interior foam for skateboard is probably Expanded PolyPropylene (EPP). It looks like bike helmet foam, but feels a little bit rubbery. Unlike bike helmet EPS foam, EPP recovers and is good for the next hit.
The helmet must stay on your head. It's not a hat, just sitting there. It will fly off while you are flying through the air. So it needs a strong strap and an equally strong buckle. And you need to remember to fasten it.
Skateboard helmets are usually black. If you want to be seen on the street, get a bright color. Most boarders don't.
Standards
A sticker inside the helmet tells what standard it meets. True skateboard helmets meet ASTM F1492. Some "skate-style" helmets only meet the CPSC bicycle helmet standard. Those are bike helmets, not skateboard helmets, even if there is a skateboard on the box.
How to Buy
Some of the best skateboard helmets are "dual-certified" to both the ASTM and CPSC standards. That includes Bell Faction, Mirra, Rage and Wicked, Free Agent, Kryptonics Signature, Limited and Kore Series, Pro-Tec Classic, Arc Freestyle Signature and B-2, and the W Helmets Ripper 2 in small and medium sizes only. Check our Dual Certified Helmets page at http://www.helmets.org/dualcert.htm for the latest list. Those helmets are designed for skateboarding and bicycling.
When to Replace a Helmet?
If you really have a skateboard helmet that meets the ASTM F1492 standard you don't need to replace it every time you crash, but someday you will. Replace the buckle if it cracks or a piece breaks off.
Skate Helmets for Biking?
Do not use a skate helmet for bicycling unless it has a CPSC bicycle helmet standard sticker in-side!
Consumer Reports Article
Consumer Reports published an article in July 2004 rating a few skate helmets. You can read the article at your local library or buy it at www.consumer.org
The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
BHSI is the helmet advocacy program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Our volunteers provide helmet information and work on the ASTM national helmet standard committee. In 1983 we published in Bicycling Magazine the first bicycle helmet article including actual lab test results (based on testing done for us by the Snell Foundation). We are funded by small consumer donations of about $12,000 a year. We do not accept funds from manufacturers or anyone involved in helmet sales.
BHSI is located at 4611 Seventh Street South, Arlington, VA 22204-1419, tel. 703-486-0100 . Our Web server where you found this page is at www.helmets.org. Our email address is info@helmets.org.
Our parent organization (WABA) is a local non-profit founded in 1972 to improve bicycling conditions in the Washington, DC area and encourage the use of bicycles for transportation. BHSI is an outgrowth of the WABA Helmet Committee, which began ride testing helmets in 1974. WABA has a Web page at www.waba.org.
This pamphlet was produced with donations from those who read it earlier. We welcome your tax-deductible donation to make it available to the next rider or parent who will need it. Checks can be made payable to WABA/BHSI. Thanks!
Copyright 2006 by the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
A program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Links to this page are encouraged. We update frequently, so if you put this page on your own server it will be quickly outdated!
This pamphlet is available here as a Word file or a .pdf format file. You can save it to disk, print it out in Word, another word processor or any Acrobat reader and photocopy it for non-profit use. The Word file name is skate.doc and it was originally formatted for our HP Laserjet 4000 at 1200x1200 dpi. If it refuses to format correctly for your printer contact us at info@helmets.org or at the postal address above and give us the postal mailing address where we can send you a paper copy to reproduce. We can't mail it on paper to your email address!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Vitamin C and Stomach Cancer
Evidence shows that vitamin C intake and fruit consumption may be linked to reduced risk of stomach cancer.
The study also shows that lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, could have a protective effect against the cancer although the researchers caution that this needs further research.
The team from the US National Cancer Institute and National Public Health Institute of Finland assessed the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of stomach cancer in approximately 29,000 male smoker participants, aged 50 to 69, of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene (ATBC) cancer prevention study in Finland.
This trial, initiated to test the effect of vitamin supplementation on the prevention of lung and other cancers, ended in 1993 but ongoing follow-up of the participants continues, offering new insights into the causes and prevention of multiple diseases.
Speaking yesterday at this year’s Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference (abstract 173), the US and Finnish scientists said they had found fruit and vitamin C intake, but not vegetable consumption, reduced risk of non-cardia cancer approximately 45 per cent.
Non-cardia cancer is the major form of stomach cancer in most parts of the world. Stomach cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with an estimated 776,000 deaths in 1996, and the fourth most common cancer. In the UK stomach cancer is the sixth most common cancer with 10,000 new cases each year.
"Since our findings are similar to the results found in several other studies, fruit and vitamin C intake are likely to be useful for the prevention of stomach cancer," said Farin Kamangar of the Cancer Prevention Studies Branch at the National Cancer Institute, and one of the lead investigators of the study.
Last year researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center found that the lower the level of vitamin C in the blood the more likely a person will become infected by Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that can cause peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. Although it was not clear whether the presence of the bacteria lowered blood levels of the vitamin, or whether vitamin C levels could protect against it, other studies have also seen low blood levels of vitamin C in people with the cancer.
In Japan, where rates of the cancer are much higher than in the west, researchers have linked a diet of highly salted food containing little vitamin C, with a twofold risk of the cancer.
Another component of fruit, lycopene, which is already associated with reduction of breast and prostate cancer risk, also appeared to lower chances of stomach cancer by 34 per cent.
But the effect of lycopene on gastric cancer “needs further studies”, warned Dr Kamangar.
Recent research suggests that lycopene may reduce risk of cancer by activating special cancer preventive enzymes, rather than through its antioxidant effect.
When looking at cardia cancer (another part of the stomach), consumption of retinol, a form of vitamin A, was associated with a reduced risk, but the vitamin E forms alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol seemed to be associated with an increased risk, reported the researchers.
The study also shows that lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, could have a protective effect against the cancer although the researchers caution that this needs further research.
The team from the US National Cancer Institute and National Public Health Institute of Finland assessed the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of stomach cancer in approximately 29,000 male smoker participants, aged 50 to 69, of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene (ATBC) cancer prevention study in Finland.
This trial, initiated to test the effect of vitamin supplementation on the prevention of lung and other cancers, ended in 1993 but ongoing follow-up of the participants continues, offering new insights into the causes and prevention of multiple diseases.
Speaking yesterday at this year’s Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference (abstract 173), the US and Finnish scientists said they had found fruit and vitamin C intake, but not vegetable consumption, reduced risk of non-cardia cancer approximately 45 per cent.
Non-cardia cancer is the major form of stomach cancer in most parts of the world. Stomach cancer is the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with an estimated 776,000 deaths in 1996, and the fourth most common cancer. In the UK stomach cancer is the sixth most common cancer with 10,000 new cases each year.
"Since our findings are similar to the results found in several other studies, fruit and vitamin C intake are likely to be useful for the prevention of stomach cancer," said Farin Kamangar of the Cancer Prevention Studies Branch at the National Cancer Institute, and one of the lead investigators of the study.
Last year researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center found that the lower the level of vitamin C in the blood the more likely a person will become infected by Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that can cause peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. Although it was not clear whether the presence of the bacteria lowered blood levels of the vitamin, or whether vitamin C levels could protect against it, other studies have also seen low blood levels of vitamin C in people with the cancer.
In Japan, where rates of the cancer are much higher than in the west, researchers have linked a diet of highly salted food containing little vitamin C, with a twofold risk of the cancer.
Another component of fruit, lycopene, which is already associated with reduction of breast and prostate cancer risk, also appeared to lower chances of stomach cancer by 34 per cent.
But the effect of lycopene on gastric cancer “needs further studies”, warned Dr Kamangar.
Recent research suggests that lycopene may reduce risk of cancer by activating special cancer preventive enzymes, rather than through its antioxidant effect.
When looking at cardia cancer (another part of the stomach), consumption of retinol, a form of vitamin A, was associated with a reduced risk, but the vitamin E forms alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol seemed to be associated with an increased risk, reported the researchers.
Friday, January 25, 2008
The New Lifestyle: Chiropractic, Exercise, Nutrition & Wellness
by Dr. Mark Sanna
Physical Activity and Good Nutrition
It’s a sad fact that chronic disease accounts for seven of every ten U.S. deaths, and for more than 60% of medical care expenditures. The prolonged illness and disability associated with many chronic diseases decrease quality of life for millions of Americans.
The chiropractic profession long has taken the stance that, with proper intervention and education, most chronic diseases are preventable. Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating contribute to obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Together, they are responsible for at least 300,000 deaths each year. Only tobacco use causes more preventable deaths in the United States. Chiropractors, with a wellness orientation, teach their patients to avoid the behaviors that increase their risk for chronic diseases so that they can live healthier and longer lives.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States where over 45 million adults are classified as obese. A disturbing trend shows that this epidemic is not limited to adults. The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than doubled in the last twenty years! 10%-to-15% of Americans ages six-to-seventeen years—about eight million young people—are considered overweight.
More and more patients are seeking the trusted advice of their doctors of chiropractic in matters of nutrition. It’s a fact that chiropractors receive significantly more hours of education in the subject of nutrition than their medical colleagues. Chiropractors must take an active role in promoting regular exercise and healthy eating.
Lack of Exercise
Exercise substantially reduces the risk of dying of coronary heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death. It has also been shown to decreases the risk of colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Exercise also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls among the elderly; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, and use of medications.
Exercise does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial. People of all ages benefit from moderate physical activity, such as thirty minutes of brisk walking, five or more times a week. However, despite the proven benefits of physical activity, more than 60% of American adults do not get enough exercise to provide health benefits. More than 25% are not active at all in their leisure time.
As with obesity, insufficient exercise is not limited to adults. More than a third of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous exercise. Daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42% in 1991 to 29% in 1999.
Healthy Eating
Although Americans are gradually adopting healthier diets, a large gap remains between recommended dietary patterns and what Americans actually eat. Only about one-fourth of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Poor eating habits are often established during childhood. More than 60% of young people eat too much fat, and less than 20% eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Vegetables without Vitamins
Even when your patients do consume the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables, often what they eat is devoid of nutritional value. When a nutritionist recently went to check out the latest US Department of Agriculture food tables, he found that some vegetables had extraordinarily low levels of vitamins. The explanation he received was that the nutrient drain should be put in context. It was explained that the 78% decrease in calcium content of corn was not significant because no one eats corn for calcium! Furthermore, he was told, the problem may not even exist at all. The apparent nutrient dips result from the testing procedures. For example, changes in the public’s perception of what the edible portion is may determine what parts have been analyzed over time. In other words, back when the old food tables were made up, people may have been eating the corncob, too, so they got more nutrients. So now you know why people need their vitamins!
Nutritional Supplements
Many chiropractors are contemplating whether or not they should offer vitamin and nutritional supplements to their patients. One thing is clear, whatever doctors think of it, your patients have already made up their minds!
Nutritional supplements are big business, and a significant proportion of the population is taking them. It’s estimated that about half of all Americans regularly use nutritional supplements not prescribed by their doctors. A quick trip to the local health food store will reveal tablets with every imaginable combination of nutrients, vitamins, herbs, homeopathic remedies, whole food products, neutraceuticals, and more, in countless doses and formulations. And it’s not just the health food store. These days, the local pharmacist and even the supermarket offer much the same spectacle. Vitamin companies spend millions of dollars in advertising hoping to convince the consumers to buy their brand. Catchy phrases and fancy buzzwords are used to entice, stimulate and often mislead the general public.
More doctors are selling health-related products and, for this reason, it is important that you select reputable nutritional supplement companies. Chose companies that use an FDA approved laboratory, conduct regular ingredient assays, and those that manufacture nutritional supplement formulas that make sense. A word of caution: Prior to dispensing nutritional supplements to your patients, you should check the scope of chiropractic practice in your state. The scope of practice varies from state to state when it comes to dispensing supplements. The chiropractic scope of practice in the state of New Jersey, for example, does not allow chiropractors to “sell, dispense or derive any financial benefit form the sale of vitamins, food products or nutritional supplements.” By contrast, the chiropractic scope of practice of the state of New York allows chiropractors to perform “nutritional counseling, including the dispensing of food concentrates, food extracts, vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements.”
When prescribing supplements to your patients, be sure to perform a thorough drug and dietary history. Many supplements can produce unwanted side effects when taken in combination with prescription and over-the-counter drugs. For example, one popular herbal remedy, Saint John’s Wort, is now known to interfere with the action of a wide variety of prescription medications. To help keep you up to date about the nutritional supplement market, the publishers of the Physicians’ Desk Reference recently released the PDR for Nutritional Supplements, which provides scientific analyses of the health benefits—or lack of—for hundreds of over-the-counter products ranging from vitamins to shark cartilage.
A good relationship with the supplement company’s sales representatives can also be very helpful. An effective sales representative will keep you informed of the latest advances in their product line and will also provide you with useful patient education materials. Some nutritional supplement companies provide physicians with nutritional surveys and assessments that are helpful in determining the supplementation needs of your patients. Others provide seminars with credentialed experts on a variety of nutrition-oriented topics. Those doctors who are considering adding nutritional supplements to their practice would do well to sharpen their clinical skills with continuing education courses on the subject. Those chiropractors who become passionate about the possibilities of nutrition can also complete a 300-hour course of studies toward a Diplomate through the American Board of Chiropractic Nutrition.
Chiropractic care does not exist in a vacuum. Good nutrition plays an integral role in the maintenance of optimal health. When properly researched, and effectively managed, advising your patients to include nutrition as part of their overall approach to wellness makes good sense. TAC
Dr. Mark Sanna is the CEO of Breakthrough Coaching, LLC, the leading resource for personal coaching to chiropractic and multidisciplinary practices throughout the country.
Physical Activity and Good Nutrition
It’s a sad fact that chronic disease accounts for seven of every ten U.S. deaths, and for more than 60% of medical care expenditures. The prolonged illness and disability associated with many chronic diseases decrease quality of life for millions of Americans.
The chiropractic profession long has taken the stance that, with proper intervention and education, most chronic diseases are preventable. Physical inactivity and unhealthy eating contribute to obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Together, they are responsible for at least 300,000 deaths each year. Only tobacco use causes more preventable deaths in the United States. Chiropractors, with a wellness orientation, teach their patients to avoid the behaviors that increase their risk for chronic diseases so that they can live healthier and longer lives.
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States where over 45 million adults are classified as obese. A disturbing trend shows that this epidemic is not limited to adults. The percentage of young people who are overweight has more than doubled in the last twenty years! 10%-to-15% of Americans ages six-to-seventeen years—about eight million young people—are considered overweight.
More and more patients are seeking the trusted advice of their doctors of chiropractic in matters of nutrition. It’s a fact that chiropractors receive significantly more hours of education in the subject of nutrition than their medical colleagues. Chiropractors must take an active role in promoting regular exercise and healthy eating.
Lack of Exercise
Exercise substantially reduces the risk of dying of coronary heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death. It has also been shown to decreases the risk of colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Exercise also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; reduces falls among the elderly; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits, and use of medications.
Exercise does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial. People of all ages benefit from moderate physical activity, such as thirty minutes of brisk walking, five or more times a week. However, despite the proven benefits of physical activity, more than 60% of American adults do not get enough exercise to provide health benefits. More than 25% are not active at all in their leisure time.
As with obesity, insufficient exercise is not limited to adults. More than a third of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous exercise. Daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42% in 1991 to 29% in 1999.
Healthy Eating
Although Americans are gradually adopting healthier diets, a large gap remains between recommended dietary patterns and what Americans actually eat. Only about one-fourth of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Poor eating habits are often established during childhood. More than 60% of young people eat too much fat, and less than 20% eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Vegetables without Vitamins
Even when your patients do consume the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables, often what they eat is devoid of nutritional value. When a nutritionist recently went to check out the latest US Department of Agriculture food tables, he found that some vegetables had extraordinarily low levels of vitamins. The explanation he received was that the nutrient drain should be put in context. It was explained that the 78% decrease in calcium content of corn was not significant because no one eats corn for calcium! Furthermore, he was told, the problem may not even exist at all. The apparent nutrient dips result from the testing procedures. For example, changes in the public’s perception of what the edible portion is may determine what parts have been analyzed over time. In other words, back when the old food tables were made up, people may have been eating the corncob, too, so they got more nutrients. So now you know why people need their vitamins!
Nutritional Supplements
Many chiropractors are contemplating whether or not they should offer vitamin and nutritional supplements to their patients. One thing is clear, whatever doctors think of it, your patients have already made up their minds!
Nutritional supplements are big business, and a significant proportion of the population is taking them. It’s estimated that about half of all Americans regularly use nutritional supplements not prescribed by their doctors. A quick trip to the local health food store will reveal tablets with every imaginable combination of nutrients, vitamins, herbs, homeopathic remedies, whole food products, neutraceuticals, and more, in countless doses and formulations. And it’s not just the health food store. These days, the local pharmacist and even the supermarket offer much the same spectacle. Vitamin companies spend millions of dollars in advertising hoping to convince the consumers to buy their brand. Catchy phrases and fancy buzzwords are used to entice, stimulate and often mislead the general public.
More doctors are selling health-related products and, for this reason, it is important that you select reputable nutritional supplement companies. Chose companies that use an FDA approved laboratory, conduct regular ingredient assays, and those that manufacture nutritional supplement formulas that make sense. A word of caution: Prior to dispensing nutritional supplements to your patients, you should check the scope of chiropractic practice in your state. The scope of practice varies from state to state when it comes to dispensing supplements. The chiropractic scope of practice in the state of New Jersey, for example, does not allow chiropractors to “sell, dispense or derive any financial benefit form the sale of vitamins, food products or nutritional supplements.” By contrast, the chiropractic scope of practice of the state of New York allows chiropractors to perform “nutritional counseling, including the dispensing of food concentrates, food extracts, vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements.”
When prescribing supplements to your patients, be sure to perform a thorough drug and dietary history. Many supplements can produce unwanted side effects when taken in combination with prescription and over-the-counter drugs. For example, one popular herbal remedy, Saint John’s Wort, is now known to interfere with the action of a wide variety of prescription medications. To help keep you up to date about the nutritional supplement market, the publishers of the Physicians’ Desk Reference recently released the PDR for Nutritional Supplements, which provides scientific analyses of the health benefits—or lack of—for hundreds of over-the-counter products ranging from vitamins to shark cartilage.
A good relationship with the supplement company’s sales representatives can also be very helpful. An effective sales representative will keep you informed of the latest advances in their product line and will also provide you with useful patient education materials. Some nutritional supplement companies provide physicians with nutritional surveys and assessments that are helpful in determining the supplementation needs of your patients. Others provide seminars with credentialed experts on a variety of nutrition-oriented topics. Those doctors who are considering adding nutritional supplements to their practice would do well to sharpen their clinical skills with continuing education courses on the subject. Those chiropractors who become passionate about the possibilities of nutrition can also complete a 300-hour course of studies toward a Diplomate through the American Board of Chiropractic Nutrition.
Chiropractic care does not exist in a vacuum. Good nutrition plays an integral role in the maintenance of optimal health. When properly researched, and effectively managed, advising your patients to include nutrition as part of their overall approach to wellness makes good sense. TAC
Dr. Mark Sanna is the CEO of Breakthrough Coaching, LLC, the leading resource for personal coaching to chiropractic and multidisciplinary practices throughout the country.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
BREATHING EXERCISES
A 20% reduction in oxygen blood levels may be caused by the aging process and normal breathing habits. Poor breathing robs energy and negatively affects mental alertness. Unless breathing is exercised, aging affects the respiratory system as follows:
Stiffness: The rib cage and surrounding muscles get stiff causing inhalation to become more difficult. Less elasticity and weak muscles leave stale air in the tissues of the lungs and prevents fresh oxygen from reaching the blood stream.
Rapid, Shallow Breathing: This type of breathing, often caused by poor posture and weak or stiff muscles, leads to poor oxygen supply, respiratory disease, sluggishness, or heart disease.
BELLY BREATH EXERCISES
The following exercises are simple ways to deepen breathing and to cleanse the lungs. These exercises will also increase energy and decrease tension.
Lie flat on your back to get a proper sense of deep breathing. (Have some small pillows available to reduce strain by tucking them under the neck and knees. The natural course of breathing in that position will create a slight rise in the stomach upon inhaling and a slight fall upon exhaling.)
Place your hands palm down on your stomach at the base of the rib cage. (The lungs go that far down. What fills them deeper is the pushing down of the diaphragm. The diaphragm creates a suction which draws air into the lungs. the air is then expelled when the diaphragm pushes up. In this process, the life-giving oxygen fills the lungs and gets into the blood stream for distribution to the cells. Carbon dioxide is expelled from the blood into the about-to-be exhaled breath, thus cleansing the body and blood of waste products.) Lay the palms of your hands on your stomach just below the rib cage, middle fingers barely touching each other, and take a slow deep breath. (As the diaphragm pushes down, the stomach will slightly expand causing the fingertips to separate somewhat.
This movement indicates full use of the lungs, resulting in a truly deep breath rather than the "puffed chest" breath experienced by many as the greatest lung capacity. Chest breathing fills the middle and upper parts of the lungs. Belly breathing is the most efficient method. Infants and small children use only this method until the chest matures. The yoga breath or roll breathing combines belly and chest breathing.
FOR BEST RESULTS, PRACTICE THIS EXERCISE FOR 5 MINUTES.
COMPLETE BREATH EXERCISES
1. Sit up straight. Exhale.
2. Inhale and, at the same time, relax the belly muscles. Feel as though the belly is filling with air.
3. After filling the belly, keep inhaling. Fill up the middle of your chest. Feel your chest and rib cage expand.
4. Hold the breath in for a moment, then begin to exhale as slowly as possible.
5. As the air is slowly let out, relax your chest and rib cage. Begin to pull your belly in to force out the remaining breath.
6. Close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing.
7. Relax your face and mind.
8. Let everything go.
9. Practice about 5 minutes.
HUMMING BREATH EXERCISES
Follow the instructions for inhaling the COMPLETE BREATH (Steps 1-3 above). Now, as you begin to slowly exhale, make a HUM sound. Keep making that humming sound as long as possible. Pull your stomach muscles in, squeezing out a few more seconds of humming. Then relax. Practice for 2 to 3 minutes.
CHINESE BREATH EXERCISES
A very fine, short (though not shallow) breath exercise comes from the Chinese Tai Chi Chuan. Three short inhales are done through the nose without exhaling. On the first inhale, the arms are lifted from the sides straight out in front at shoulder height. On the second, the arms are opened out straight to the sides while still at shoulder height. And on the third, the arms
are lifted straight over the head. Then, on the exhale through the mouth, the arms are moved in an arc back down to the sides. Usually, ten or twelve breaths are sufficient and will not cause light headedness. If light headedness should occur, simply stop the exercise. This exercise also has the effect of really opening up people physically. In subtle ways, this exercise uses the body in leading the mind and spirit to greater openness with each other and the environment.
CAUTION !! Especially for older people: Never do panting or shallow breathing except while seated. Hyperventilation may occur. As long as one is seated, hyperventilation will not be a problem because, even if a brief blackout should occur, the body's automatic breathing apparatus will immediately take over.
Stiffness: The rib cage and surrounding muscles get stiff causing inhalation to become more difficult. Less elasticity and weak muscles leave stale air in the tissues of the lungs and prevents fresh oxygen from reaching the blood stream.
Rapid, Shallow Breathing: This type of breathing, often caused by poor posture and weak or stiff muscles, leads to poor oxygen supply, respiratory disease, sluggishness, or heart disease.
BELLY BREATH EXERCISES
The following exercises are simple ways to deepen breathing and to cleanse the lungs. These exercises will also increase energy and decrease tension.
Lie flat on your back to get a proper sense of deep breathing. (Have some small pillows available to reduce strain by tucking them under the neck and knees. The natural course of breathing in that position will create a slight rise in the stomach upon inhaling and a slight fall upon exhaling.)
Place your hands palm down on your stomach at the base of the rib cage. (The lungs go that far down. What fills them deeper is the pushing down of the diaphragm. The diaphragm creates a suction which draws air into the lungs. the air is then expelled when the diaphragm pushes up. In this process, the life-giving oxygen fills the lungs and gets into the blood stream for distribution to the cells. Carbon dioxide is expelled from the blood into the about-to-be exhaled breath, thus cleansing the body and blood of waste products.) Lay the palms of your hands on your stomach just below the rib cage, middle fingers barely touching each other, and take a slow deep breath. (As the diaphragm pushes down, the stomach will slightly expand causing the fingertips to separate somewhat.
This movement indicates full use of the lungs, resulting in a truly deep breath rather than the "puffed chest" breath experienced by many as the greatest lung capacity. Chest breathing fills the middle and upper parts of the lungs. Belly breathing is the most efficient method. Infants and small children use only this method until the chest matures. The yoga breath or roll breathing combines belly and chest breathing.
FOR BEST RESULTS, PRACTICE THIS EXERCISE FOR 5 MINUTES.
COMPLETE BREATH EXERCISES
1. Sit up straight. Exhale.
2. Inhale and, at the same time, relax the belly muscles. Feel as though the belly is filling with air.
3. After filling the belly, keep inhaling. Fill up the middle of your chest. Feel your chest and rib cage expand.
4. Hold the breath in for a moment, then begin to exhale as slowly as possible.
5. As the air is slowly let out, relax your chest and rib cage. Begin to pull your belly in to force out the remaining breath.
6. Close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing.
7. Relax your face and mind.
8. Let everything go.
9. Practice about 5 minutes.
HUMMING BREATH EXERCISES
Follow the instructions for inhaling the COMPLETE BREATH (Steps 1-3 above). Now, as you begin to slowly exhale, make a HUM sound. Keep making that humming sound as long as possible. Pull your stomach muscles in, squeezing out a few more seconds of humming. Then relax. Practice for 2 to 3 minutes.
CHINESE BREATH EXERCISES
A very fine, short (though not shallow) breath exercise comes from the Chinese Tai Chi Chuan. Three short inhales are done through the nose without exhaling. On the first inhale, the arms are lifted from the sides straight out in front at shoulder height. On the second, the arms are opened out straight to the sides while still at shoulder height. And on the third, the arms
are lifted straight over the head. Then, on the exhale through the mouth, the arms are moved in an arc back down to the sides. Usually, ten or twelve breaths are sufficient and will not cause light headedness. If light headedness should occur, simply stop the exercise. This exercise also has the effect of really opening up people physically. In subtle ways, this exercise uses the body in leading the mind and spirit to greater openness with each other and the environment.
CAUTION !! Especially for older people: Never do panting or shallow breathing except while seated. Hyperventilation may occur. As long as one is seated, hyperventilation will not be a problem because, even if a brief blackout should occur, the body's automatic breathing apparatus will immediately take over.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
