Older people who are physically active are apt to live longer than their couch-potato peers, and are more likely to maintain their independence, new research from Israel shows. The great news is that people who had been sedentary but became active -- even those who started when they were well into their 80s -- cut their risk of dying and lengthened the amount of time they were able to live on their own, Dr. Jeremy M.

The health hazards caused by chronic periodontitis (gum disease) extend way beyond the mouth. For years people have been warned that persistent periodontitis can cause heart disease. Now a new study suggests that gum disease may also be a risk factor for cancers of the head and neck.

Background information; A contrast dye is used with an X-ray or CT scan to accentuate a specific organs structure. For instance a contrast dye can be injected into your blood vessels to show the vessels or it can be swallowed to show the upper digestive tract. The contrast dye is radioactive and is excreted through the kidneys.

Using a Stinging Nettle Extract (Urtica dioica) on immune cells it was found that it inhibits key haywire immune system reactions that trigger the inflammation and symptoms in allergic reactions in people with pollen allergies. Nettle blocks the receptor site for histamine and the enzyme known as mast cell tryptase that allows the white blood cells to release its granules that are bundled with histamine and bradykinin and a host of other inflammation causing immune system mediators that cause the symptoms of hay fever. The nettle extract also inhibits prostaglandin formation through inhibition of Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and Hematopoietic Prostaglandin D(2) synthase (HPGDS), central enzymes in pro-inflammatory pathways.

Fifty obese subjects were assigned to a coated Green Tea Extract tablet plus a low calorie diet while 50 other obese subjects followed the same low calorie diet only. After 90 days those on the green Tea extract plus low calorie diet lost 30.8 pounds while those on diet alone lost 11 pounds. Besides the weight the following improved in both groups; LDL- and total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and cortisol, while protective HDL-cholesterol went up.