Category: Research (Page 55 of 93)

      The Brain Benefits of Exercise

      December 2, 2011 /

      Recent studies show the ways in which exercise benefits the brain.

      Levels of a protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, which is known to promote the health of nerve cells is the measure of the effect exercise on the brain.

      For some time, scientists have believed that BDNF helps explain why mental functioning appears to improve with exercise. However, they haven’t fully understood which parts of the brain are affected or how those effects influence thinking. The Irish study suggests that the increases in BDNF prompted by exercise may play a particular role in improving memory and recall.

      So, it is not just vanity that will get you into the gym but the benefits to mind and body that will carry you into old age on your own two feet.

      Research, Wellness

      Early Detection is Still the Best Defense Against Breast Cancer

      December 2, 2011 /

      New information backing mammogram screening for women in their 40’s while still confusing focuses on the importance of early detection.

      Here’s what they found:
      * 373 of those cancers were detected by mammogram
      * Of those, 61 percent of women had no family history of breast cancer
      * Among women with no family history, 63.2 percent of the cancers were invasive
      The percentage of women with invasive disease (63.2 percent) was literally identical to the numbers among women with a family history (64 percent).

      So with all the conflicting data the best advice is to work out a plan with your doctor and decide what is best for your individual case.

      Quality Control, Research

      Is It Aging, Alzheimer’s or B12 Deficiency?

      December 2, 2011 /

      Loved ones exhibiting the early signs of dementia may simply be lacking in a vital dietary nutrient.

      The question you might need to ask is, “Old age or low B12?”

      B12 is an essential vitamin with roles throughout the body. It is needed for the development and maintenance of a healthy nervous system, the production of DNA and formation of red blood cells.

      A severe B12 deficiency results in anemia, which can be picked up by an ordinary blood test. But the less dramatic symptoms of a B12 deficiency may include muscle weakness, fatigue, shakiness, unsteady gait, incontinence, low blood pressure, depression and other mood disorders, and cognitive problems like poor memory.

      Nutrition, Research, Wellness

      Are Smokers More Addicted Now Than They Were in the Past?

      December 1, 2011 /

      Are todays smokers more addicted than smokers of the past?

      Although today there are fewer smokers it is more difficult for them to quit smoking.

      The authors suggest that current policies to reduce smoking — like heavy tobacco taxes and bans on public smoking— might not work as well as they have in the past, because they tend to treat smoking as a choice rather than an addiction. These public-health efforts “may be effective in prodding social smokers with genetic resilience to quit, but may do less to help genetically vulnerable smokers quit,” said Pampel. The research team recommended emphasizing therapeutic quit-smoking approaches instead, like nicotine-replacement therapy and counseling.

      Health Care Policy, Quality Control, Research, Wellness

      What Role Does Sodium Really Play in Heart Disease?

      December 1, 2011 /

      Less salt doesn’t necessarily lessen the risk for heart disease.

      An evaluation of your nutritional needs, activity level as well as your individual health issues will help to determine how much sodium your body needs.

      Nutritionists recommend a daily intake of 1.5 grams of salt for people with heart problems, a level that in this study increased the risk for cardiovascular death by 37 percent.

      “It’s still important to avoid consuming too much salt,” said Andrew Mente, an author of the study and an assistant professor of epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. “But people who are consuming moderate amounts may not have to decrease their intake further.”

      Quality Control, Research, Wellness

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