Meat and Endometriosis

July 21, 2004

In this study women who ate the most servings of green vegetables had a 70% reduction in the risk of developing endometriosis. Eating the most fresh fruit gave a 40% risk reduction. Women who ate the most red meat had a doubling of their risk of developing endometriosis, while eating ham also increased their risk. The study appears in the July 15th issue of Human Reproduction.

Soy Intake Decreases the Risk of Hysterectomy

In a study of 1172 premenopausal women aged 35 to 54 followed for 6 years in Japan, consuming soy decreased the risk of hysterectomy and diagnoses leading to hysterectomy. The study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2001.

Hepatitis C Linked to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hepatitis C infection almost doubled the risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, (cancer of the lymph nodes). Researchers noted high incidences of hepatitis-C among lymphoma patients. The study is published in the August 10th issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Permanent Hair Dyes and Leukemia

People who used permanent hair dyes before 1980, approximately the time the FDA banned certain cancer causing substances in hair dyes, have a slightly higher risk of developing leukemia. The adults used the permanent hair dyes one or more times a year, for 15 years or more. The study is published in the July 1st issue of the American

Green Tea and Cigarette Smoke

Mice exposed to tobacco carcinogens developed significantly fewer lung tumors when given EGCG, green teas major polyphenol. EGCG also prevented free radical damage and inflammation in their lungs. The study appears in Food Chem. and Toxicology, August 2002.

Silent Stroke and Memory

A silent stroke is a stroke that causes real brain damage but lacks the common symptoms of a stroke such as paralysis or weakness on one side of the body, speech problems, or vision changes. Apparently these silent strokes are very common especially in subjects with high blood pressure. Researchers examined 267 individuals between the ages of 65 and 83 who lived at home. After inspecting their brains with MRI it was found that 12.7% had suffered silent stroke(s). The stroke sufferers had weaker mental function, slower mental reaction time, poorer memory, and poorer physical performance than those free of stroke. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, July 2004.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph

Dr. J Saver, a neurologist at the University of California-Los Angeles Stroke Center states that there are 20 silent strokes occurring each year in this country for every stroke with symptoms. Studies show that silent strokes are quite common. The silent stroke usually means that the blockage of blood flow took place in a less important part of the brain in relation to walking and talking. This doesn't mean that it will not contribute to brain damage in the next five years. Protect your brain; eat your fruit and vegetables, exercise, eat fish (see our study on fish - June 25th), treat high blood pressure. L-Theanine aids stress, Vinpocetine aids brain circulation and utilization of energy, GliSODin, L-Carnosine, and Glutathione, Resveratrol, EGCG, Fish Oils, Vitamin C, the complete combination of vitamin E, and Turmeric act as major defenders of healthy brain tissue.

Diet and Physical Activity may help Prevent Alzheimer's

Eating vegetables, especially broccoli and spinach, staying active mentally, staying social, and keeping fit and trim helps prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm followed 776 men and women 75 years of age or older for over six years. Those who kept mentally active (crossword puzzles, reading, etc), and were socially active, (seeing friends, traveling, etc), decreased their risk of developing Alzheimer's by about 30% compared to socially isolated, inactive seniors. A second study at the Karolinska Institute shows that being overweight or obese in your 50's doubles your risk of developing Alzheimer's. If you were obese with high blood pressure and high cholesterol in your fifties you increased your risk by almost 600%. In a study at Harvard Medical School, women who eat more green leafy vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables and spinach slowed the onset of Alzheimer's by about 2 years. The three studies were presented at the 9th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.