Category: Research (Page 37 of 93)

Test Tube Burgers?

February 20, 2012 / Staff

Stem cells used to grow hamburger in a laboratory may be served at a restaurant near you.

With a current price tag of $330,000 it will about 20 years before meat grown from stem cells will be available to meet the protein needs of the world.

The growing taste for meat in the developing world, especially in China and the limited arable land and water resources, have led scientists on a search for alternative ways of producing meat.

But there are concerns:

Many of the medical crises we’re seeing in the world today are partly due to some of the unnatural ways we’re manufacturing food – from the chemicals to preserve the taste, to the hormones to increase the size of produce, to the pesticides to control production. At the end of the day, all of these factors are taking a toll on our society.

Research, Resources

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When Being “In The Dark” Is A Good Thing

February 18, 2012 / Staff

Light affects our biology and that includes artificial light, as well.

From regulating sleep cycles and menstrual cycles in addition to combating tumors, our bodies rely on natural cycles of light and dark to manage our hormones which govern a variety of necessary functions in the human body.

It seems our bodies have yet to adjust to the luminous 24-hour cityscape many of us know today. Considering that artificial light stimulates non-visual systems like hormones, fertility and the sleep-wake cycle, it might be worth it to cut your exposure to TVs and computers a few hours before bed-time and enjoy your shut-eye in total darkness. A happy pineal gland pays off for your body, mind and soul.

Research, Wellness

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Super-Sized In A Kid Sized World

February 16, 2012 / Staff

Obese children are having trouble fitting into their child-sized world.

“That is an obesity trend reflected in the furniture,” said Tom Brennan, president of School Outfitters, which sells school furniture. “For perspective, when we look at import product from China, you can tell the difference from the China market and the U.S. market. The buckets are generally not wide enough. They have to be designed specifically for the U.S.”

School furniture and kid’s clothes are all undergoing size adjustments to accommodate larger children who are not only more hefty but taller as well.

Quality Control, Research, Wellness

childhood obesity children's health obesity

Mediterranean Diet May Help Protect The Brain As Well As The Heart

February 16, 2012 / Staff

The Mediterranean diet is not only good for your heart but for your brain, as well, study shows.

All those beautiful fresh, colorful foods might be able to help to boost brain health.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts and fish are the staples of the diet credited with improving health and wellness.

Dr. Wright cautioned that the study doesn’t prove that a Mediterranean-style diet causes less brain damage and said more study is needed. But he said it indicates that the diet might be protective of small blood vessels in the brain.

Nutrition, Quality Control, Research, Wellness

benefits of Mediterranean diet fish Mediterranean diet olive oil

Stem Cells May Be The Answer to Fixing Broken Hearts

February 15, 2012 / Staff

The potential success of this research could hold a lot of promise for the millions of Americans who suffer from heart disease each and every year, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

In a ground-breaking study that may change how heart attacks are treated, Dr. Eduardo Marban and his team used stem cells to re-grow damaged heart muscle. In the 17 patients who received the therapy, Marban measured an average 50 percent reduction in the size of the scar tissue
“One of the holy grails in medicine has been the use of medicine to achieve regeneration,” Marban said. “Patients that were treated not only experienced shrinkage of their scars, but also new growth of their heart muscle, which is very exciting.”