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By admin, February 28, 2010 9:29 am

It can be hard knowing whether or not statins will help you survive the flu season and we are going to clarify what can help you through this flu season.

Avoid the flu season now

At a recent meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, researchers in Oregon made a surprising announcement: Among patients hospitalized with the flu, those who take cholesterol-lowering drugs are less likely to die than those who don’t take them. To me that sounded like a bit of a non sequitur… so I decided to learn more.

Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew Rubman, ND, told me he wasn’t surprised to hear about the results of the study — but that no one should interpret this as a reason to take a statin drug. He pointed out that since profits are plunging for pharmaceutical companies as statin after statin goes off patent, they would love to find a new revenue generator amidst this particular family of drugs. As we well know, these potent medications have equally potent and worrisome side effects. Dr. Rubman told me that there are far better ways to achieve the same immune-bolstering effect.

Anti-Inflammatory? Yes. Safe? No.

In the study at the Oregon Public Health Division in Portland, scientists analyzed data on 2,800 flu patients as part of the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program. They found that during the 2007-2008 flu season, of 801 hospitalized patients who had been taking statins to lower cholesterol, 17 (2.1%) died in the hospital or within the next 30 days. Of the 1,999 patients who had not been taking statins, 64 (3.2%) died.

This makes sense, says Dr. Rubman, since statins have an anti-inflammatory impact which may help destroy flu-infected cells. The problem is, many people on statins also experience troubling side effects, such as muscle pain and weakness, nerve damage, fatigue and memory loss. The longer you take these drugs, the higher the risk of these side effects. Additionally, as even the researchers themselves noted, there were some serious shortcomings in the Oregon study. It was observational rather than randomized and controlled… it did not distinguish among different statin drugs and dosages… and results were presented at a conference rather than published in a more rigorous peer-reviewed journal.

A Better Way

By lowering inflammation, statins may incidentally strengthen your ability to resist the flu, yet there are smarter ways to do this. Dr. Rubman recommends that you enhance immunity, calm inflammation and stave off the flu the safe and natural way — follow a healthful diet, exercise regularly and get as close to eight hours of sleep each night as you possibly can. He also suggests the following…

• Use omega-3 fatty acid supplements. These strengthen immune function and guard against inflammation in your mucous membranes, where flu germs initially take hold. Doses of one gram daily of the combined omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid may be clinically effective.
• Go fish. Two to three times a week, feast on fatty fish from the ocean, such as wild salmon, herring, sardines and sablefish. These are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low in contaminants, such as mercury and PCBs. Other good dietary sources of omega-3s are walnuts, flaxseed and canola oil.
• See your doctor. Your best bet is a physician who has training in and experience with supplements, and who can prescribe an anti-flu program to fit your individual needs. Supplements Dr. Rubman typically prescribes include vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants, zinc, elderberry, echinacea, goldenseal and NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine).

Whatever you do, don’t let drug companies scare you into taking powerful drugs with powerful side effects when safer alternatives exist. There are better ways to stay healthy this flu season and beyond.

Source(s):

Andrew Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. www.naturopath.org.

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By admin, February 27, 2010 2:19 pm

Anxiety is not something anyone enjoys dealing with and when you always seem to be affected by it finding a way to help may be necessary. There are many ways you can soothe your anxiety and now probiotics are becoming a good option for this.

Soothe anxiety easily now

You already know that chocolate can do wonders for a dark mood — but…yogurt? If you buy the kind that contains active probiotics, it may indeed brighten your spirits. A new study from Canada demonstrated that probiotics can help modulate anxiety.

The study involved 35 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who experienced a host of gastrointestinal problems, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation. Participants were divided randomly into two groups, one taking a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LaS), and the other taking a placebo that was identical in taste and appearance but had no probiotics. Results: After two months, the probiotic group had a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms, while the placebo group did not. The probiotic group also showed a significant increase inBifidobacteria, which are beneficial for gastrointestinal health, compared with the placebo group.

Intestinal Flora and Your Brain

A. Venketeshwer Rao, MSc, PhD, the study author and professor emeritus of nutritional science at University of Toronto, says that there has been skepticism in the medical world about the role intestinal flora plays in the system of gut-brain communication (the enteric nervous system, often called “the second brain”). He said that this study provides evidence that through their metabolism in the gut, probiotic bacteria can boost levels of the mood-elevating chemicals tryptophan (an amino acid) and serotonin (a neurotransmitter). He added that the regions of the brain affected by CFS also house anxiety and depression. “These parts of the brain seem to respond to changes in the microflora, and most of our behavior patterns are controlled by these areas,” he says.

Dr. Rao says there still is much to learn about the role of gut flora. But many, if not most people, could improve their health by taking probiotics. The study used a probiotic drink, but Dr. Rao says that probiotic supplements may be even more effective, depending on what types and how many of the live microbes they contain. He advises looking for a product that contains Lactobacillus Shirota and Bifidobacteria, with 100 to 120 billion live probiotic bacteria.

Source(s):

A. Venketeshwer Rao, MSc, PhD, professor emeritus of nutritional science, University of Toronto.

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By admin, February 26, 2010 3:11 pm

Your brain and heart are very important parts of your body, but what happens if one is not working as good as the other. Heart surgery has been shown to hurt the brain. Let’s see why…

Avoid hurting your brain now

When arteries become blocked, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery often is the treatment of choice. Since its introduction in the 1950s, the number of patients undergoing the procedure has grown, and today it is one of the most common surgical procedures in the US, with about a half million procedures performed yearly.

CABG surgery can improve quality of life and, in many cases, it’s necessary for survival — but it is not without risk. A recent report in the online journalMedLink Neurology focused on one of the most common neurological complications of heart surgery — cognitive impairment, which includes disturbances in learning, memory, attention, concentration and speed of mental responses. “Recovering cognition may take six weeks or more,” says Harlan Krumholz, MD, professor of medicine and epidemiology and public health (cardiology) at Yale University School of Medicine. He emphasizes that many patients do ultimately recover completely.

Understanding the Risks

Even so, there is a high risk for cognitive decline during the five years after CABG surgery. While much of the variance depends on the patient’s condition before surgery, by and large, most such problems have been attributed to use of the bypass pump, which diverts blood from the heart and creates turbulence in the blood during the course of the surgery. This can result in emboli (blood clots or bubbles or plaque) and/or cause preexisting ones to dislodge. These may then flow up the carotid artery and into the blood vessels in the brain, potentially causing stroke. Some studies suggest this risk is reduced with off-pump CABG surgery, but according to Dr. Krumholz, the data is unclear on this issue.

Emboli can be especially dangerous at particular times. Most preexisting emboli are dislodged into the bloodstream immediately after releasing the aortic clamp at the end of surgery, when the force of blood coursing through the aorta can be likened to water flowing full-force through a garden hose. Emboli can also be formed as a result of arrhythmia(disruption in the normal heart rhythm), which can occur during or after surgery.

Another potential cause of cognitive problems, unrelated to emboli, is the chemical residue of anesthesia, of which the body must clear itself after surgery, Dr. Krumholz said. Having impaired circulation, which of course is common in heart patients, means that this isn’t likely to be done efficiently or easily, and the longer the anesthesia chemicals and their by-products remain in the blood, the more likely they are to cross the blood-brain barrier and impair cognition. According to Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, “when anesthesia is incompletely processed, it’s more likely to affect the central nervous system over the longer term.”

Who is at Risk?

Reiterating that many of the people who require heart surgery have vascular disease, Dr. Krumholz told me that it can be tough to tease out whether subsequent cognitive impairment is a result of the preexisting condition or the surgery. He said that even though age increases risk for post-op neurological problems, the reality is that CABG is often performed on patients who are quite old and quite sick. Vascular disease — including high blood pressure, diabetes, a blocked carotid artery, significant plaque in the aorta, kidney problems, a clot in the heart or prior strokes — boosts risk as well, exponentially. Other factors, including the length of time that a patient is on a bypass pump and whether or not a particular kind (an intra-aortic balloon pump, which is the most widely used mechanical circulatory support) is used contributes to risk for cognitive deficit as well.

Natural Therapies Can Help

“There are several ways that you can help your body to be less affected by the challenges of the surgery,” says Dr. Rubman, noting that “the more prepared you are, the less likely that you’ll develop either short- or long-term cognitive deficiency.”

To prepare for CABG, Dr. Rubman suggests starting as soon as possible to take…

• Omega -3 fatty acids, found in the oils of fatty fish, such as salmon, or as a supplement, for their anti-inflammatory effects.
• Vitamin E supplements to prevent emboli formation.
• L-carnitine, an amino acid in capsule form, to help the heart and brain burn fat as a fuel. This allows the brain to function better should oxygen levels be reduced due to the surgical process or complications. Optimally, this should be started at least three days before surgery.
• Neprinol, a product that breaks down fibrin, thereby reducing the likelihood clots will develop. Start a few weeks before surgery.

Dr. Rubman emphasizes that dosages and timing for these supplements must be individualized and should be done with expert oversight. It is best if your treatment team includes a naturopathic physician who specializes in diet, nutrition and supplement therapy.

For people who have already had CABG: If you weren’t able to take these supplements before surgery, it’s not too late to improve your outcome, Dr. Rubman says. Start right away, and remember that it is absolutely vital that your cardiologist and surgeon be involved, as these interventions are not only not appropriate for all patients, but may be harmful to some.

The Good News

According to Dr. Krumholz, technological advances in CABG surgery have been “huge” and surgeons are also now able to utilize strategies to reduce the risk of stroke, including filters that prevent emboli from recirculating in the blood. “CABG surgery can be accomplished with excellent results, but the expertise of the surgical team is critical, and the institution you choose should have extensive experience with this type of surgery,” he said.

Source(s):

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, professor of medicine and epidemiology and public health (cardiology), section of cardiovascular medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Andrew L. Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. www.naturopath.org.

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By admin, February 25, 2010 12:05 pm

Ginger has long been recognized as a natural antidote to nausea, and now a new study affirms its value in soothing nausea for those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

Have ginger help you with your chemo

The Study

The study, from the University of Rochester Medical Center, involved 644 patients nationwide in various cancer centers who had undergone chemotherapy that had made them nauseous and who were scheduled to have at least three additional chemo treatments. Patients were separated into four groups — three took varying dosages of ginger (0.5 gram, 1 gram or 1.5 grams per day) while the fourth took placebo capsules, all in addition to standard antinausea medication (e.g., Zofran, Kyrtil). Unlike in other trials, these patients started taking the ginger (or placebo) three days before chemo began, as well as on the day of chemo, and for two days after chemo, for a total of six days.

Results: All those taking ginger reported improvement in nausea on their first day of chemotherapy (as much as 40% less than in their previous treatments). Those taking the lowest (0.5 gram daily) and middle-range (1 gram daily) doses had a greater reduction in nausea than those in the high-dose (1.5 grams daily) group. Patients in the placebo group did not experience any reduction of symptoms.

I spoke with Julie Ryan, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in dermatology and radiation oncology, who was the study leader. She attributed the effectiveness of the smaller dosage to the fact that one gram of ginger is the maximum the stomach can absorb, adding that it probably works because ginger has an antispasmodic effect on the stomach lining. (Note:Excessive amounts can be irritating to some individuals.)

What to Do

Dr. Ryan suggests that chemo patients can ease their nausea by taking between 0.5 gram and 1.0 gram (500 mg to 1,000 mg) daily of purified gingerroot, starting at least two days before the first day of chemo and continuing for at least a day afterward. Ginger-flavored sodas, cookies and other foods aren’t potent enough to be of use.

The capsules used in the study contained a purified gingerroot liquid extract which is equivalent to 250 mg of fresh or dried gingerroot. Ginger tea made with this amount of gingerroot may be helpful as well. Note: Ginger has not been shown to inhibit the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, but in extremely large doses it does have blood-thinning properties. It is generally regarded as safe, and there is no evidence of danger with long-term use, but check with your oncologist whether it might be appropriate for you.

Source(s):

Julie Ryan, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in dermatology and radiation oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center.

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By admin, February 24, 2010 6:56 pm

People will do everything they can to avoid cancer so why not find all the preventions possible. Can garlic actually help you prevent cancer? Find out now…

Preventing cancer with garlic... does it work?

Traditional healers and modern scientists often see things differently, but when it comes to garlic, there has seemed to be consensus about its health-promoting properties. So what are we to make of a new meta-analysis of 19 published studies that found no credible evidence of a link between garlic intake and reduced risk for a wide number of cancers? While it did acknowledge “very limited” evidence linking garlic intake to reduced risk for colon, prostate and ovarian cancer, that’s faint praise indeed.

When I spoke with Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew Rubman, ND, about this surprising finding, he pointed out that an issue with meta-analyses — studies that evaluate data from numerous others to reach a conclusion — is that researchers are able to pick and choose among previous studies to skew their findings in a particular direction. This is a particular issue with single-factor studies, when researchers look at a variable in isolation. Dr. Rubman is not saying this is necessarily the case here, but to evaluate how worthy its findings are would require careful investigation of the studies used. It is possible, he says, that the studies showing no discernable effects of garlic used products that were relatively weak or garlic processed at high temperatures, which would diminish its healthful properties.

Dr. Rubman continues to support garlic as one among many cancer-prevention tools when it is part of a healthy diet. He told me that preliminary human studies, evaluated by Natural Standard (http://www.naturalstandard.com/), a clinical database that evaluates evidence-based natural therapies, suggest that regular consumption of garlic, particularly unprocessed, may reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer, including gastric and colorectal. “More studies are necessary to better evaluate preventative or curative capacity,” he said.

Dr. Rubman noted that it is best to crush raw garlic to release its health-benefitting enzymes and then let it rest for 10 or so minutes to “bloom.” Most people start a dish by heating garlic in oil, which is fine, but Dr. Rubman advises adding some at the end of the cooking process as well to ensure that you’ll get the full health value, since some of its healthful properties are reduced — even destroyed — by heat. Another possible solution is to take capsules of cold-pressed extraction of garlic (he recommends those made by a Japanese company called Kyolic,http://www.kyolic.com/). However, with such excellent garlic in markets today, Dr. Rubman says he sees no reason not to consume it fresh in your favorite dishes.

Source(s):

Andrew Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, CT. www.naturopath.org.

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By admin, February 23, 2010 12:58 pm

Sugar or HFCS? Which is worse...

Pick your poison, as they say. Whether you eat sweet treats made with sugar or with cheap and ever-present high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the result remains the same — it’s unhealthy. This was confirmed for me when I asked for expert guidance on the relative merits of “natural” sugar versus “unnatural” HFCS, having noticed the barrage of ads and commercials that now position real sugar as a health food.

I called Patricia Crawford, DrPH, RD, director of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health at the University of California, Berkeley, to discuss the issue. She said flat out that there is no redeeming quality to sugar — and there is even less to like in HFCS.

HFCS is Everywhere

The problem with HFCS is that it is in many, if not most, processed foods — you can quickly verify this by checking the label of frozen foods, packaged foods, condiments such as ketchup, and many other seemingly unsweetened foods. Crawford told me that HFCS is ubiquitous because it is so inexpensive, and its development coincided with the introduction of new kinds of processed foods.

A particular concern with HFCS is that research has established that it is not only high in calories, but it doesn’t make you feel full or satisfied — for instance, when it is added to beverages. It’s why you can load up on a 64-ounce HFCS-sweetened regular cola and still feel hungry. The HFCS does not signal the body that it just drank a bucketful of calories, so you still feel like you need a full dinner, too. Unfortunately, the calories do matter — too many calories mean obesity is on the way. Interestingly, the increase in HFCS in our food supply parallels the alarming increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes in the population.

Smart food scientists and marketers are catching on to the bad press about HFCS, which is why careful label-readers may have noticed that cane sugar (in cereals, for instance) is making a comeback. Don’t be fooled. Though this form of sugar may satisfy a sweet tooth, it doesn’t make foods better for you… even when they’re found in health-promoting supermarkets, such as Whole Foods. In the end, according to Dr. Crawford, all simple sugars (even the raw ones) send blood sugar on a roller-coaster ride. These sugar calories add no nutrients and all too often end up replacing healthier foods.

Sweet Solution

Many scientists believe our sweet tooth is innate. In fact, our first food — breast milk — has a sweet taste. Also, sugar seems to enhance mood, and there is some evidence that low serotonin levels even trigger cravings for sweets. Nonetheless, eating too much sugar or HFCS — or worse, both — will take a toll on your health. Limit yourself to a nibble here and there, and balance it with plenty of healthful food and exercise.

Source(s):

Patricia Crawford, DrPH, RD, codirector of the Center for Weight and Health at the University of California, Berkeley.

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By admin, February 22, 2010 12:49 pm

This year, there’s even more fretting than usual about how best to fight flu, thanks to the questions and concerns surrounding H1N1. But there’s one time-tested approach that seems to be overlooked… a sure-fire flu-fighting strategy that has long been embraced by both the natural and mainstream medical communities as an effective immune booster.

Vitamin C... the ultimate flu fighter...

It’s safe and inexpensive and even tastes good enough that children don’t object. What is it? Good old vitamin C. I asked Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew Rubman, ND, to tell us why this simple and classic strategy can be so effective at fighting off flu.

Strengthen Immunity the Natural Way

In understanding how flu spreads, it’s critical to remember that most people will be exposed to a flu virus this season, observes Dr. Rubman. Whether or not you succumb depends in large part on the integrity of your immune system. If you are in robust health — if you eat well, get a proper balance of rest and exercise, manage stress in a positive fashion and practice good hygiene — the odds are better that you will successfully stave off microbial invaders.

Where does vitamin C fit in? It provides some extra-strength protection, particularly important this worrisome season. According to Dr. Rubman, this nutrient is one of the most important for human function, and it’s also one of the most thoroughly studied. He believes it protects the body from cold and flu viruses more effectively than other supplements and medications because of its ability to build immunity, attack disease-causing organisms, reduce congestion, and strengthen cells and tissue. It does all this by fortifying two particular functions…

• Collagen construction and maintenance. Vitamin C supports collagen, a vital protein that strengthens the cell walls of the body’s circulatory system. Intact collagen protects the resiliency of tissue in the respiratory and digestive tract, repelling infiltration by dangerous germs. Healthier tissue is less likely to be vulnerable to infection.
• Antioxidant protection. Vitamin C also is a powerful antioxidant that quenches reactive oxygen species and prevents cell damage from free radical molecules. Vitamin C renders mucous membranes and underlying tissue less vulnerable to penetration and replication of the virus. Some research suggests that it reduces the duration and severity of colds.

How Much to Take?

Generally speaking, the more debilitated you are, the more vitamin C you need, notes Dr. Rubman. Cautioning that this should never be done without a physician’s oversight, he told me that he sometimes prescribes 3,500 mg to 4,000 mg vitamin C daily to his patients for prevention. (Ask your health care provider about the most effective course for you.)

For those who already have chills, aches, fever or other telltale signs of the flu, a physician trained in the use of nutritional supplements may go even further, and prescribe doses as high as 7,000 mg to 8,000 mg a day until symptoms abate. Be aware though that doses over 2,000 mg/day can cause stomach upset, diarrhea or other acute symptoms. Dr. Rubman says this is one of the reasons it is so important to take this and other supplements under medical supervision. Also if you are taking large doses, ask your doctor whether it’s best to taper off gradually when you feel better, rather than stop all at once.

Make Your Own Vitamin Water

To make it easy to get your vitamin C, Dr. Rubman suggests that you make your own “vitamin water.” What you make at home is far superior to most products available commercially, which are often adulterated with sugar or other additives. Buy vitamin C as ascorbic acid (not mineral ascorbate or ester C) in bulk powder form, which is as effective as, but less expensive than, tablets.

Depending on whether your objective is prevention or treatment, dissolve the appropriate amount of vitamin C in one quart of a 50/50 juice/water mix. This will retain its potency a week or more if refrigerated. Dr. Rubman told me that his favorite recipe is to use four teaspoons per quart of Eclectic Institute’s Nutrigenomic Berry Powder. That, he says, “sweetens and strengthens the value of the vitamin C.” If you like, you can make it sweeter yet by drizzling in honey or maple syrup to taste. Vitamin C tends to neutralize stomach acid, so it’s best to drink this in divided doses away from mealtime — for instance, take a few swigs of your vitamin water every hour or so between meals.

While many experts consider vitamin C nothing less than miraculous, Dr. Rubman warns that it’s not magical. It won’t undo poor health habits, nor will it be helpful if you pair it with a poor diet. Instead, eat lots of flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables (citrus fruits, strawberries, cabbage, turnip greens, etc.), which help the body absorb and utilize vitamin C more efficiently. Also, consider taking vitamin C with synergistic supplements that support its use while adding in their own healing benefits. For example, pair vitamin C (which protects the watery parts of cells) with vitamin E (which defends their fatty parts). Vitamin D, selenium and zinc are likewise beneficial.

Source(s):

Andrew Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. www.naturopath.org.

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By admin, February 21, 2010 12:39 pm

Each and every day, our local weathermen report on current air pollution, with “particulates” almost always at the top of the list. Most people know that air pollution is bad, but a new study puts it in a whole different light.

Air pollution is becoming killer.

The study from the University of Milan investigated 63 healthy subjects who worked in a nearby foundry that has high levels of particulate matter (PM), which is a mixture of extremely small bits and liquid droplets — including acids, organic chemicals, metals, soil and dust — suspended in the air. Those particles pass through the nose and throat and enter the lungs. Researchers took blood DNA samples on the morning of the first day of a workweek and again three days later, and found significant changes in four genes associated with tumor suppression.

In other words, just three days of breathing particulate-laden air caused the workers’ genes to reprogram in a way that could be associated with disease. (These changes were caused by a chemical transformation called methylation, which has also been found in blood and tissues of lung-cancer patients.) The research report noted that the PM in the foundry is similar to what’s found in ambient air pollution.

I contacted the lead author, Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, to get more information about this troubling study. He told me that while the genetic changes were moderate, and indeed reversed themselves after workers had several days off, the study showed “that even short-term exposure to particulate matter may modify the function of genes at the core of the system that keeps our cells from transforming into cancer.”

Fortunately, there is some evidence that the body may be able to adapt to changes induced by environmental exposures. In fact, Dr. Baccarelli says that one of the group’s ongoing research objectives is to find mechanisms that the body uses to make these adaptations in order to develop new ways to limit toxic exposure damage.

In research he published last year, he reported that people who have higher intake of vitamins B6, B12 and methionine had some protection against the cardiovascular effects of air pollution. His group is now trying to assess whether these nutrients might prevent DNA-methylation alterations caused by air pollution.

The harm is done at the molecular level, Dr. Baccarelli said, where the damage caused by environmental particulates combines with that caused by other unhealthy lifestyle effects. He said that this supports the belief that health risks are cumulative. This means the best personal defense against the dangers of pollution is to minimize the negative factors by following a healthy lifestyle, including a nutritious diet rich in folate-containing foods, such as calves’ liver, romaine lettuce, spinach, turnip greens, lentils and asparagus. On a broader level, he stresses the importance of continuing efforts to reduce PM emissions into the air through personal choices — such as by buying smaller, less polluting vehicles and driving less — and by supporting governmental initiatives to regulate environmental standards.

Source(s):

Andrea Baccarelli, MD, PhD, senior researcher, department of occupational and environmental health, University of Milan.

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By admin, February 20, 2010 5:30 pm

Which is better, walnuts or fish oil? Actually, the answer is both, according to new research. In a clinical trial to compare the two types of omega-3s, researchers at Loma Linda University in California found that plant-derived omega-3 oil in walnuts offers different heart-health benefits than the marine-derived omega-3 in salmon.

Are walnuts the better Omega 3?

Their study, published recently in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that the omega-3 fats in walnuts significantly lowered total and LDL (bad) cholesterol more than the omega-3 fats in fatty fish, whereas fish lowered triglyceride levels more than walnuts. Interestingly, walnuts had no impact on triglyceride levels, compared with the control (no walnuts or fish) diet, while fatty fish raised HDL (good) and LDL cholesterol. I talked with the study’s lead author, Sujatha Rajaram, PhD, associate professor of nutrition at Loma Linda, to learn more about the findings.

The Study

The researchers recruited 25 healthy men and women, aged 23 to 65, whose heart lipid levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) were within normal range and who agreed to eat only food prepared by the university for the entire study period. Beginning with a one-week standard diet (30% total fat, 10% of which was saturated fat), the study participants each went through three four-week cycles of different diets — a control diet with no fish or walnuts… a walnut diet with the FDA-recommended amount of 1.5 ounces of walnuts a day but no marine sources of omega-3… and a fish diet with a four-ounce serving of cooked salmon twice a week but no walnuts nor any other plant source of omega-3. Blood samples were drawn at the end of each four-week cycle.

Walnuts were chosen as the plant source of omega-3 fatty acids because the FDA advises a daily intake of 1.5 ounces (about 14 whole walnuts) as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol, calorie-stable diet for people who want to reduce their risk for heart disease. Salmon was chosen as the fish source because it is seen as a particularly rich source of marine omega-3, and the American Heart Association advises consumption of two servings of fatty fish per week for prevention of heart disease.

Note: The study was underwritten by the California Walnut Growers Association.

The Results

The results, said Dr. Rajaram, are quite convincing. “We expected that diets following current recommendations would offer good results — but we were amazed at the impact of those serving sizes.” Here’s how it played out…

Nuts decrease LDL: After four weeks of eating walnuts, the volunteers had a noteworthy 9% drop in LDL compared with the control group. Every 1% decrease in LDL results in a 2% decrease in risk for coronary heart disease, Dr. Rajaram told me, noting that this means an overall reduction in heart disease risk of 18% for this group.

Fish decreases triglycerides: Four weeks of eating salmon brought an 11% drop in triglycerides, which also lowers the risk for heart disease. The fish diet also brought about a slight (4%) rise in both LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol — the rise in LDL while eating fish was more pronounced in those whose blood cholesterol was already on the high side.

What This Means

The real take-home advice here is that there is no either/or when it comes to omega-3s. For optimal heart health, you need to include both plant and marine sources in your diet. Unfortunately, a number of fatty fish contain mercury and so do some of the over-the-counter supplements made from them. Dr. Rajaram suggests that those concerned about this consider taking microalgae-oil supplements and/or using eggs enriched with omega-3, both of which may be helpful in meeting your health needs.

Source(s):

Sujatha Rajaram, PhD, assistant professor, department of nutrition, Loma Linda University, School of Public Health.

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By admin, February 19, 2010 3:22 pm

A cursory reading of headlines makes it seem that taking aspirin regularly is a great way to stay healthy. It helps prevent heart disease in men, stroke in women and, according to new studies, colon cancer, too. All that’s true — but it is not all that simple.

Does aspirin help prevent colon cancer?

We’re already quite familiar with both the benefits and associated risks of using aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular problems, but its effectiveness for keeping colon cancer away is newsworthy… or is it? I’d heard some caveats about this finding so I called one of the country’s leading investigators on the matter, Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, to get the whole story.

Does Aspirin Prevent Colon Cancer?

Dr. Chan has led extensive research on aspirin and colon cancer, and has found that long-term aspirin use — taking at least 325 mg (the adult dose) daily for six or more years — significantly reduces risk in both men and women.

As we know, aspirin has many different mechanisms. According to Dr. Chan, in the case of cancer its efficacy relates to the drug’s ability to block passages of certain enzymes important in the inflammatory process — in particular cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). High levels of COX-2 can be found in most colorectal tumors, but not in colon tissue. COX-2 seems to promote cancer by supporting blood vessels in tumors and may also help tumors spread to surrounding tissues. Aspirin blocks growth pathways.

However colon cancer is a slow-growing disease, generally starting five to 10 years before diagnosis. Dr. Chan’s study found that when people stop the daily aspirin therapy, within just four years their risk reverts to its original level. Therefore, Dr. Chan says that for most people, taking aspirin to prevent colon cancer is not a recommendation — you’d need to take a lot in order to decrease your cancer risk, and large doses of aspirin carry a risk for internal bleeding. Furthermore, says Dr. Chan, there are plenty of other things you can do to prevent colon cancer, leading him to conclude that “there are few patients for whom it makes sense to take aspirin as the only means of prevention.”

Going Natural

Researchers are always on the hunt for natural ways to decrease risk. A group at the Rowett Research Institute of Nutrition and Health in Aberdeen (Scotland) found in 2006 that a particular curry in India is rich in salicylic acid (the chemical from which aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, is made), a fact that might help explain low rates of colon cancer in that country. Dr. Chan observes that since aspirin is from a natural product (willow bark), it isn’t surprising to find similar compounds and properties in foods. But relying on foods as a source of salicylic acid makes it impossible to know if the amount you’re ingesting is too little, too much or just right. In the future, though, he says we may find dietary sources that offer “a little bit of a boost without aspirin’s troubling side effect.”

A good strategy, says Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew Rubman, ND, is to limit intake of processed and broiled meats and trans fats, all of which have been linked to increased risk for colon cancer. Dr. Rubman also suggests increasing intake of wheat-bran fiber and fruits and vegetables and taking fish oil, which seems to blunt COX-2 activity and the production of cancer-promoting hormones.

In summary, aspirin therapy isn’t for everyone. It can cause internal bleeding that may be dangerous, even lethal. Its preventive properties differ depending on your gender and there are important caveats that apply to its value in holding back colon cancer. If you heard about the benefits but didn’t pick up on the risks in the media reports, you may have missed the most important parts of the story.

Source(s):

Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Boston.

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