Alcohol 'protects men's hearts'

Drinking alcohol every day cuts the risk of heart disease in men by more than a third, a major study suggests.

alcohol

The Spanish research involving more than 15,500 men and 26,000 women found large quantities of alcohol could be even more beneficial for men.

Female drinkers did not benefit to the same extent, the study in Heart found.

Experts are critical, warning heavy drinking can increase the risk of other diseases, with alcohol responsible for 1.8 million deaths globally per year.

The study was conducted in Spain, a country with relatively high rates of alcohol consumption and low rates of coronary heart disease.

The research involved men and women aged between 29 and 69, who were asked to document their lifetime drinking habits and followed for 10 years.

Crucially the research team claim to have eliminated the "sick abstainers" risk by differentiating between those who had never drunk and those whom ill-health had forced to quit. This has been used in the past to explain fewer heart-related deaths among drinkers on the basis that those who are unhealthy to start with are less likely to drink.

Good cholesterol

The researchers from centres across Spain placed the participants into six categories - from never having drunk to drinking more than 90g of alcohol each day. This would be the equivalent of consuming about eight bottles of wine a week, or 28 pints of lager.

For those drinking little - less than a shot of vodka a day for instance - the risk was reduced by 35%. And for those who drank anything from three shots to more than 11 shots each day, the risk worked out an average of 50% less.

The same benefits were not seen in women, who suffer fewer heart problems than men to start with. Researchers speculated this difference could be down to the fact that women process alcohol differently, and that female hormones protect against the disease in younger age groups.

The type of alcohol drunk did not seem to make a difference, but protection was greater for those drinking moderate to high amounts of varied drinks.

The exact mechanisms are as yet unclear, but it is known that alcohol helps to raise high-density lipoproteins, sometimes known as good cholesterol, which helps stop so-called bad cholesterol from building up in the arteries.

'Binge-drinking'

UK experts said the findings should be treated with caution because they do not take into account ill-health from a range of other diseases caused by excess drinking.

"Whilst moderate alcohol intake can lower the risk of having a heart attack, coronary heart disease is just one type of heart disease. Cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, is associated with high alcohol intake and can lead to a poor quality of life and premature death," said the British Heart Foundation's senior cardiac nurse, Cathy Ross.

"The heart is just one of many organs in the body. While alcohol could offer limited protection to one organ, abuse of it can damage the heart and other organs such as the liver, pancreas and brain."

The Stroke Association meanwhile noted that overall, evidence indicated that people who regularly consumed a large amount of alcohol had a three-fold increased risk of stroke.

"Six units within six hours is considered 'binge-drinking' and anyone indulging in regular 'binge-drinking' increases their risk of stroke greatly," said research officer Joanne Murphy.

Public health specialists warned no-one should be encouraged to drink more as a result of this study.

"The relationship between alcohol and heart disease remains controversial," said Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

"While there is good evidence that moderate consumption is protective in people who are at substantial risk of heart disease - which excludes most people under the age of 40 - we also know that most people underestimate how much they drink. This paper adds to the existing literature but should not be considered as definitive. "

In the UK, the recommendation is no more than two to three units of alcohol a day for women - the equivalent of one standard glass of wine - and three to four units for men.

Reference:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8367141.stm

Meditation 'eases heart disease'

Heart disease patients who practise Transcendental Meditation have reduced death rates, US researchers have said.


Woman meditating

At a meeting of the American Heart Association they said they randomly assigned 201 African Americans to meditate or to make lifestyle changes.

After nine years, the meditation group had a 47% reduction in deaths, heart attacks and strokes.

The research was carried out by the Medical College in Wisconsin with the Maharishi University in Iowa.

It was funded by a £2.3m grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

'Significant benefits'

The African American men and women had an average age of 59 years and narrowing of the arteries in their hearts.

The meditation group practised for 20 minutes twice a day.

The lifestyle change group received education classes in traditional risk factors, including dietary modification and exercise.

As well as the reductions in death, heart attacks and strokes in the meditating group, there was a clinically significant drop (5mm Hg) in blood pressure.

And a significant reduction in psychological stress in some participants.

Robert Schneider, lead author and director of the Centre for Natural Medicine and Prevention at the Maharishi University in Iowa, said other studies had shown the benefits of Transcendental Meditation on blood pressure and stress, irrespective of ethnicity.

"This is the first controlled clinical trial to show that long-term practise of this particular stress reduction programme reduces the incidence of clinical cardiovascular events, that is heart attacks, strokes and mortality," he said.

Dr Schneider said that the effect of Transcendental Meditation in the trial was like adding a class of newly discovered drugs for the prevention of heart disease.

He said: "In this case, the new medications are derived from the body's own internal pharmacy stimulated by the Transcendental Meditation practice."

Ingrid Collins, a consultant educational psychologist at the London Medical Centre, said: "I'm not at all surprised that a change of behaviour like this can have enormous benefits both emotionally and physically.

"Physical and emotional energy is on a continuum and whatever happens to us physically can effect our emotions and vice versa."


Reference:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8363302.stm

Plastic chemicals 'feminise boys'

Chemicals in plastics alter the brains of baby boys, making them "more feminine", say US researchers.



boy playing

Males exposed to high doses in the womb went on to be less likely to play with boys' toys like cars or to join in rough and tumble games, they found.

The University of Rochester team's latest work adds to concerns about the safety of phthalates, found in vinyl flooring and PVC shower curtains.

The findings are reported in the International Journal of Andrology.

Plastic furniture

Phthalates have the ability to disrupt hormones, and have been banned in toys in the EU for some years.

However, they are still widely used in many different household items, including plastic furniture and packaging.

There are many different types and some mimic the female hormone oestrogen.

The same researchers have already shown that this can mean boys are born with genital abnormalities.

Now they say certain phthalates also impact on the developing brain, by knocking out the action of the male hormone testosterone.

Dr Shanna Swan and her team tested urine samples from mothers over midway through pregnancy for traces of phthalates.

The women, who gave birth to 74 boys and 71 girls, were followed up when their children were aged four to seven and asked about the toys the youngsters played with and the games they enjoyed.

Girls' play

They found that two phthalates DEHP and DBP can affect play behaviour.

Boys exposed to high levels of these in the womb were less likely than other boys to play with cars, trains and guns or engage in "rougher" games like playfighting.

Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the chemicals campaign group CHEM Trust, said the results were worrying.

"We now know that phthalates, to which we are all constantly exposed, are extremely worrying from a health perspective, leading to disruption of male reproduction health and, it appears, male behaviour too.

"This feminising capacity of phthalates makes them true 'gender benders'."

She acknowledged that the boys who have been studied were still young, but she said reduced masculine play at this age might lead to other feminised developments in later life.

But Tim Edgar, of the European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates, said: "We need to get some scientific experts to look at this study in more detail before we can make a proper judgement."

He said there were many different phthalates in use and the study concerned two of the less commonly used types that were on the EU candidate list as potentially hazardous and needing authorisation for use.

DBP has been banned from use in cosmetics, such as nail varnish, since 2005 in the EU.

The British Plastics Federation said: "Chemical safety is of paramount importance to the plastics industry which has invested heavily in researching the substances it uses.

"Moreover, the new European Chemical Regulation, REACH, will ensure further rigorous evaluation and testing or chemical substances and their uses."


Reference:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8361863.stm

Health Food ... or Health Fraud?

Beware of packaging propaganda: Food-industry health claims can be misleading, say researchers at the University of California, Davis. Case in point: Recently, Dannon settled a false advertising lawsuit—that will pay out up to $35 million—for claims made on the labels of Activia and DanActive yogurts. The suit alleged, among other things, that the company charged a premium for products that haven’t been shown to provide additional health benefits for already healthy people, as claimed. Dannon denies any wrongdoing, but agreed to make several changes to their packaging.


http://www.healthspablog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/vegetables_healthy_food.jpg

You see, your supermarket’s shelves are packed with overhyped health claims. And while many of these claims may be factual, they may also be giving you the wrong impression about just how healthful a product really is. That’s because marketers highlight what they want you to notice. “Even if a food is fat free, it could be loaded with sugar,” says study author Clare Hasler, Ph.D. “Or a product that’s ‘made with whole grains’ may also contain a high amount of refined flour.” Your best strategy: Use this guide to learn the science behind the sales pitch. Call it the Eat This, Not That crib sheet for helping you to beat Big Food at its own game—and eat healthier for life.

The product: Franken Berry

The claim: “With Whole Grain”

What you should know: If it’s really “100% whole grain,” it’ll say so on the package. Even in a “whole grain” product, some of the flour can come from refined grains—and probably does. Check the ingredient list: Any flour that doesn’t start with the word “whole” isn’t. And remember, ingredients are listed in descending order of the amount used by weight. Another example: Reese’s Puffs touts “with whole grain” on the label. Of course, the label doesn’t boast that a three-quarter cup serving of the cereal also contains 3 teaspoons of sugar.

Bonus tip: For even more examples of how you’re being tricked by the food industry, check out 30 “healthy” foods that aren’t.

The product: Kellogg's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pop-Tarts

The claim: "Good source of 7 vitamins and minerals"

What you should know: Federal regulations require that enriched flour—the first ingredient in this product and the same stuff white bread is made from—contain five of the seven vitamins and minerals the package so proudly touts. That’s right: Load a product with refined flour, and you can distract consumers from the fact that it’s not made with whole grains by simply bragging that it contains all kinds of vitamins and minerals.

The product: Cheetos Puffs

The claim: “0 Grams Trans Fat”

What you should know: To claim “0 grams of trans fat” a product must contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving—so it’s not necessarily trans fat free. The dead giveaway? The words “partially hydrogenated” on the ingredient list. Granted, half a gram is a tiny amount, but don’t assume the product is healthy even it doesn’t contain any trans fat. After all, it could still be packed with an overload of sugar, fat, sodium or additives. Remember, marketers are masters of misdirection.

Bonus tip: If you dare, find out the truth about your food—it could be the most important health story you read this year.

The product: Welch's 100% Grape Juice

The claims:

  • “No sugar added—ever!”
  • “Helps support a healthy heart, mind & immune system.”

What you should know: While an 8-ounce serving of this beverage is loaded with healthful antioxidants, it also contains more sugar than a 12-ounce soda. That’s something to keep in mind, since research shows that high-sugar drinks don’t seem to reduce your hunger compared to solid food. As a result, the calories they provide can become excess calories if you’re not careful.

The product: Twizzlers Strawberry Twists

The claim: “As always: a low-fat candy.”

What you should know: Of course Twizzlers are low in fat—more than 90 percent of their calories come from sugar and processed carbs. What’s more, you’ll find “fat free” claims on the labels of such sugar-packed products as Swedish Fish, Mike and Ike, and Good & Plenty. It seems that food manufacturers think you’re stupid. In fact, their marketing strategies rely on that belief. For instance, the makers of the aforementioned candies may be hoping you’ll equate “fat free” with “healthy” or “nonfattening,” so you’ll forget about all the sugar their products contain.

Bonus tip: Losing weight isn’t the only secret to looking younger; find more in this excerpt from Your Best Body at 40-Plus.

The product: Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar

The claim: An American Heart Association logo displayed on the product’s box, with fine print below the logo that reads that the food meets the AHA’s “food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol.”

What you should know: It contains more sugar than a bowl of Froot Loops. Fact is, it could contain a pound of sugar and still meet the AHA’s qualifications. But guess what? Froot Loops meets the AHA’s criteria, too, only no logo is displayed. That’s because companies must pay to be an American Heart Association–certified food. That’s why the AHA checkmark might appear on one product but not on another, even when both meet the guidelines.

The product: Nabisco Honey Teddy Grahams

The claim: “A good source of: calcium, iron, zinc”

What you should know: For a food to be considered a good source of a specific vitamin or mineral, a serving must contain 10 percent of the recommended daily value for that nutrient. In this case, you’d have to eat 10 servings of Teddy Grahams—more than the entire box—to hit the amount of calcium you need for the day. Now think about it: Is that really a good source?

The product: SnackWell's Devil's Food Cookie Cakes

The claim: "Sensible snacking: fat-free, no cholesterol, low sodium"

What you should know: The first four ingredients are sugar, enriched flour, high-fructose corn syrup and corn syrup. Is that really sensible snacking? Of course not. Follow these seven snack-smart strategies instead.

The product: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes

The claim: There’s a “Diabetes Friendly” logo on the box’s side panel.

What you need to know: Australian researchers have shown that corn flakes raise blood glucose faster and to a greater extent than straight table sugar. (High blood glucose is the primary indicator of diabetes.) Below the logo, the cereal maker does provide a link to its Web site, where general nutrition recommendations are provided for people with diabetes. But these recommendations are authored by Kellogg’s nutritionists—and simply “based on” the guidelines of the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association.

The product: Kellogg’s Smart Start Strong Heart Toasted Oat

The claim: That its content of whole grain oats, antioxidants and potassium, along with the fact that it’s low in sodium, can help lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

What you need to know: Yes, this cereal has plenty of healthful ingredients. However, one serving contains more sugar—17 grams—than a serving of Froot Loops (12 grams). Hey, Froot Loops is an easy target! So before you think you've found the ultimate cereal—"It's healthy and it tastes like candy!"—consider all the nutrition facts, not just the ones they tout on the front of the box.

Skinny-Food Myths

It's hard enough trying to eat healthy without all of the noise from diet books, the grocery aisle and the news media about what's good for you--and what isn't. Carbs are making you fat. Actually, it's all that sugar. Never mind. It's fat that's making you fat.

In the quest to figure out the magic formula for weight loss, many dieters obsess about what to eat and leave out one critical component. "The boring message of the day when it comes to food is that there are only two variables: what you are eating and how much," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and the author of The Flexitarian Diet.

An average adult woman should consume about 1,600 calories a day, says Deanna Hoelscher, director of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for the Advancement of Healthy Living and a professor at the University of Texas, Austin, School of Public Health. But the focus on calories is not simply a numbers game. Eating a variety of foods in proper portions will also help you maintain a healthy weight.

One easy way to think about what and how much you are eating is, ironically, to picture a plate: One quarter should be lean protein (such as chicken or fish), another quarter should be grains (including whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice) and the last half should be fruits and vegetables.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has long promoted these types of paint-by-number rules for balanced eating in healthy portions. But quick fixes like banning one type of food--carbs in the Atkins Diet, for instance--can seem like a simpler and more attractive option.

The Healthy Halo

Prohibiting--and thus demonizing--some foods like fat or sodium has caused other foods to acquire what Blatner calls a "healthy halo." When a food is labeled as "healthy," many dieters decide to eat as much as they want, and don't look at calories. Chicken is a food many turn to as a lean protein and alternative to beef. Problems arise, however, when it is consumed as though it were calorie-free. Six ounces of chicken has 280 calories. (As a reference point, 3/4 cup of whole wheat pasta is 130 calories.) "If people [on a diet] are going to overeat something, it's not pasta or bread, it's chicken," says Blatner.

A good-for-you reputation can also cover up the calories. "Salads are taken as wholesale by consumers as a reliable way to order," says Matt Goulding, food and nutrition editor at Men's Health and co-author of Eat This, Not That! Restaurants don't even have to market them as healthy. Even a salad with a wholesome (and exotic) name like California Pizza Kitchen's Thai Crunch Salad with grilled chicken breast, carrots and cabbage--not to mention fried wontons and peanut dressing--has over 2,000 calories, or the equivalent of eight slices of the restaurant's pizza.

Not All Good, Not All Bad

Similarly, when we find out that a food is healthy in one way, we might assume it is good in all ways. Olive oil is a legitimately heart-healthy food because it contains monounsaturated fat. The Food and Drug Administration says two tablespoons a day can reduce the risk of heart disease. But before liberally pouring it in the pan, calorie counters should know that one tablespoon of olive oil still has 120 calories--the same amount found in peanut, canola and coconut oils.

On the other side of things, some foods that have a bad rap are often banned entirely. The food with the worst public image? Fat, says Goulding. "It happens to be named the same thing that hangs off our bodies," he says. People think, "Fat in me equals fat on me." In fact, foods with good fats, such as avocados, walnuts and salmon, can be beneficial and help stave off hunger without clogging your arteries.

Read the Labels

If fat is banned, why not just eat the reduced-fat version? Very often, when one thing is taken out, something else is substituted in. Yogurt with fruit that is labeled low-fat, for instance, can have more sugar than two scoops of ice cream, according to Goulding.

But this isn't entirely a food industry conspiracy. Nutrition labels reveal more information than ever before. Consumers just have to look. Additionally, food marketers are not always the ones plotting diet trends, or putting the fork in your mouth, says John Stanton, chair of department of food marketing at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. "If a diet book comes out, sells millions and says 'no carbs,' you'll see 'no carbs' on the packaging," he says. It is the consumer who then decides, "This is low in something so I can eat a ton of it."

This is even true for foods that have portioned calories as part of the marketing. A 2008 study from Arizona State University and the University of Kentucky showed that dieters will actually eat more if the portions are presented in small packages because the reduced sizes are perceived to be diet food.

A magic bullet for weight loss--whether it's pre-packaged portions, low-carb, reduced-fat or sugar-free--might work. Sometimes. And then there's the proven method: Eat less, exercise more. "It's almost like we haven't moved on from Ponce de Leon, and we are still searching for that thing that is going to solve all our problems--keep us thin, keep us young," says Stanton. "It's not cutting out snacking or cutting out fat." So what is the solution? "Cut out food," he says.