Kurriosity

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Bottle-Feeding May Raise Risk

Infants who are bottle-fed face a higher risk of developing a serious intestinal condition that can lead to surgery, Danish researchers report.

With pyloric stenosis, the lower part of the baby's stomach narrows and restricts the amount of food the infant gets, and results in forceful vomiting, dehydration and salt and fluid imbalances. The reason it develops is unknown, but bottle-feeding has been suggested as a possible risk factor, the study authors noted.

"Bottle-feeding is a rather strong risk factor for pyloric stenosis, and this adds to the evidence supporting the advantage of exclusive breast-feeding in the first months of life," said lead researcher Dr. Camilla Krogh, from the department of epidemiology research at the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen.

Pyloric stenosis is a severe and potentially fatal condition, Krogh added. "It is the most common cause of gastrointestinal obstruction in early childhood, and the most common condition requiring surgery in the first months of life," she explained.

"Although treatment of pyloric stenosis has been known for almost 100 years, its etiology [cause] remains unclear. The results of this study contributes with new insight into the etiology of pyloric stenosis and brings us closer to solving the enigma of pyloric stenosis development," Krogh added.

The report was published online Sept. 3 and in the October print issue of Pediatrics.

To look at the connection between bottle-feeding and pyloric stenosis, Krogh's group used data on more than 70,000 infants to identify 65 who had to have surgery for pyloric stenosis. Of these infants, 29 had been bottle-fed.

The researchers found bottle-feeding increased the odds of developing pyloric stenosis 4.6-fold.

Moreover, the risk was seen even when the baby was breast-fed before being bottle-fed and it started within 30 days after bottle-feeding began, they noted.

Commenting on the study, Dr. Jesse Reeves-Garcia, director of pediatric gastroenterology at Miami Children's Hospital, said that "there is a lot not known about this disease."

Although this finding only shows an association between bottle-feeding and pyloric stenosis, and not a cause-and-effect link, it suggests that breast milk is protective against this disease, he added.

"Breast-feeding is really best for the kids," Reeves-Garcia said. "Breast milk has a lot of things formula doesn't have."

More information

For more information on pyloric stenosis, visit the Nemours Foundation.

Balding Men's Other Problems

Study lead author Dr. Tomohide Yamada, of the department of diabetes and metabolic diseases at the University of Tokyo‘s Graduate School of Medicine, in Japan, reported his findings in the current issue of the journal BMJ Open and called for more research on the topic. Although the research review found an association between baldness and heart disease risk, it did not prove a cause-and-effect link.

New research out of Japan shows a potential link between male baldness and an increased risk for coronary heart disease.

But it only affects men who are balding on top. Those with a receding hairline are not at risk, the researchers reported. The findings stem from an analysis of six published studies on hair loss and heart health that involved approximately 37,000 men. And although the researchers admitted the small study size was a limitation, they reported that men whose baldness affected the crown on their head faced a 32 percent to 84 percent increase in the risk of developing heart disease compared to men with a full head of hair or a receding hairline.

Male pattern baldness (technically referred to as "androgenetic alopecia") affects up to 40 percent of adult men and is the most common type of hair loss, the researchers reported. By age 80, about four in five men will experience this form of baldness.

To explore the link to heart disease, the researchers analyzed databases covering the period 1950 through 2012. Out of 850 related investigations, they selected six studies, all published between 1993 and 2008 in the United States, Denmark or Croatia.

In the three studies that tracked patients for a minimum of 11 years, the research showed that, overall, balding men face a 33 percent greater risk for heart disease than other men, and those between 55 and 60 years old faced an even higher risk (44 percent).

The other three studies, comparing the cardiac health of balding men to non-balding men, showed a 70 percent bump in heart disease risk among the balding group, and an 84 percent risk for younger balding men.

What‘s more, a balding man‘s heart disease risk appeared to be dependent on the severity of his hair loss, with more severe loss translating into greater risk, the studies showed.

Yamada‘s team said the driving mechanism behind the connection is unknown, but they theorized that baldness could be a marker for insulin resistance, chronic inflammation or an increased sensitivity to testosterone, all of which are factors in the onset of heart disease.

Regardless, Yamada said, balding men should do what all men should do when it comes to controlling heart disease risk. "I recommend adapting a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes a low-fat diet, exercise and less stress [in order to mitigate against] classical coronary risk factors," such as age, high blood pressure, blood lipid disruption and a history of smoking, he said.

Cardiologist Dr. Gregg Fonarow, of the University of California, Los Angeles, agreed that the tried-and-true approach to heart health stands -- regardless of your hairline.

"Clearly, wearing a toupee or a hat is not going to lower the risk," he said with a chuckle. "But what is true is that well-established means of maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising, and watching blood pressure and cholesterol levels can all lower your risk for heart disease."

Dr. Christopher Cannon, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women‘s Hospital in Boston, agreed.

"Unfortunately, this is bad news for me personally," he said. "But if you are at a higher risk for heart disease, as I myself would appear to be, then you have to try and reduce that risk by doing the things that have long been shown to help. And stay tuned for future research that may help us understand what is underlying this."

More information

For more on male pattern baldness, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Vegfest

As I say in my talks, if you’ve adopted the plant-based lifestyle, you’re all certified to go out like me and be the broccoli rep. “Because who else is?” I plead with my audiences.

Many people become vegan for a variety of reasons, often a combination. When I worked in TV newsrooms, PETA wasn’t taken very seriously. The only time PETA or any of the fur store or circus protestors got media coverage was when someone in a protest removed part of their clothing.

“Growing up” in that shadow, I always thought that approaching animal rights from the health and economics angle might appeal to a broader audience. It didn’t mean I loved animals less. In fact, in my reporting career, I covered some of the most gruesome animal abuse cases of our times. The video my photographer and I shot of the improper disposal of euthanized pets at the Miami animal control shelter got more phone calls and responses than any story I’ve ever done.

I learned early in my TV career that in order to avoid the frustrating stories of murders and fires, I had to do “enterprise reporting.” That meant coming up with my own ideas for stories that I felt would really make a difference.

I was once interviewed for a network correspondent’s job. “What’s your proudest accomplishment?” I was asked. “Seeing change happen as a result of stories I do. It’s a measure of how well I’ve done my job.” I immediately quipped. “But wait,” the network exec said. “You’re not supposed to have an opinion of how the story ends. You’re just supposed to be reporting.” How things have changed. The line between entertainment and journalism has become very fuzzy.

In my socially responsible investing work, I found that corporations didn’t care so much about the environment. But show them how recycling their own company’s cans as well as other company’s cans would generate even more of a profit, then all of a sudden, they could say they were socially responsible and cared about the environment. I always believed that if you could show people exactly how much money they could save not only at the store, but the savings created by avoiding disease, then consumers would not care so much about what they were eating, but more about how much they were saving. I was adamant that every recipe in my book have an estimated price associated with it. It took me years to get published. When I started, no other book like it had been written. The original title was “Eat Well on $3 a Day.” That gives you an idea of just how long it took.

I want to shout my running performances running to the heavens and to all the people I see needlessly suffering. This IS the best-kept secret in the world, though that is changing too! My parents were so sick and diseased by the time I had kids, they couldn't lift them, let alone baby-sit. Entire generations are losing each other and don't even know it. My mom, aunt and BOTH sisters had breast cancer. I was the only healthy person, by a long shot. It’s got to change. Running and eating vegan is a magical combo.

Forgive my boasting, but I don’t know any other way than to lead by example. I keep racing to show that you can get plenty of protein, calcium or fill-in-the-blanks eating a plant-based diet. When I run with the high school girls, the reaction I get most often is, “No way you’re the age of my grandmother! AND you’re vegan!” I just love to defy myths, such as that it’s expensive to eat vegan, or that vegans aren’t strong.

I always say, “Blood tests never lie.” Before you begin, get a baseline. Keep your annual medical test records so you can track your great results over decades. The only real race that matters is against time to save the environment, animals and ourselves. The clock is ticking.

Ellen Jaffe Jones is a certified personal trainer (AFAA), running coach (RRCA) and accomplished endurance and sprint runner. Her best-selling book, “Eat Vegan on $4 a Day,” inspired her publisher to sign her for more 2 more books, including soon-to-be-released, “Kitchen Divided.” Ellen spent 18 years in television news as a consumer/investigative reporter and morning anchor, won 2 Emmys and the National Press Club Award for Consumer Journalism. She spent 5 years at Smith Barney where she was the #1 market performer in her branch. She is currently 3^rd in State (FL) in the 200, 400 and 1500 meters, and 4^th in the 100 meters. She has placed in her age group in 44 5K or longer races since 2006. Great Vegan Athletes honored her as one of a few female runners. When not on book tour, Ellen loves to volunteer coach high school girls cross-country and track.

Energy Foods

Take a look at some of the foods that act like fuel for your body! Great for everyone from kids to adult! We know how long some of those days can be so take a look below:

Raw Nuts – This healthy snack is high in magnesium, a mineral known to help convert sugar into energy. When you snack on these raw nuts you will keep you energized for longer periods of time, avoiding the sugar crash. The best nuts for your body are cashews, almonds and hazelnuts.
Lean Meats – Choose from lean chicken, turkey or beef as a great source of protein. These foods contain tyrosine, which is an amino acid that assists in brain activity and can also enhance your mood. These foods are also known as a good source of B12, which also help to energize and can even fight insomnia and depression.
Eggs – These are yet another protein food that also enhances energy levels. This is due to being a great source of minerals like zinc, phosphorous and chromium. Not only are these a great breakfast item but would be a perfect accompaniment to a salad or as a snack.
Dark Chocolate – A few squares of dark chocolate can increase energy and mood. This affect is a result of both caffeine and theobromine. Yes, finally a sweet treat that is actually good for you!
Leafy Greens – These vegetables all contain a large amount of folate, which has been linked to decreasing depression. In fact these greens help to boost your energy and your mind. So keep these front and center in your salad or at your dinner table.
Fruits – Choosing fruits, mainly bananas, apricots and kiwi, are a great way to naturally boost your energy. These are high in potassium which maintains normal nerve and muscle function, as well as fructose for ready to use sugars and antioxidants.
Oats – Old fashioned oats not only make a warm and satisfying breakfast, but with their complex carbohydrates and b vitamins, they are a rich source of energy. So serve up a batch to get your day started or a great pick me up at work!
Salmon – This fish boosts loads of protein, as well as energy boosting B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. No wonder this food not only satisfies taste, but energizes you for a long time. Feed your body well with this delicious food.

New Bra That Detects Cancer?

First Warning Systems, Inc.(NEW YORK) -- Most women expect their bras to give them a little extra lift. Now, there’s one that not only lifts, it separates -- the healthy breast tissue from the unhealthy breast tissue, that is.

The makers of the First Warning Systems bra claim it can detect cancer in its earliest stages by continually monitoring the breasts for temperature changes associated with growing tumors. When a series of sensors embedded in the cups detect abnormal heat patterns, they send a signal to alert doctors to the possible presence of cancer cells.

In three separate clinical trials involving 650 women, the makers said the bra was able to identify the presence of tumors six years before traditional breast imaging did. It also scored a 92 percent level of accuracy in correctly classifying breast tissue as normal, benign, suspected for abnormalities, or probable for abnormalities. Routine mammograms have an accuracy rate of only 70 percent.

If this works as advertised, this is very exciting news for women who prefer to avoid the radiation associated with mammography, especially women with lumpy breasts or a family history of breast cancer. These women typically submit to mammography screenings more often than average and many are troubled by the health risks. And, since mammography isn’t very good at picking up breast cancer in women under 40, this could be a better option for them too.

But the word from Dr. Deanna J. Attai, a spokeswoman for the American Society of Breast Surgeons, leaves hopes sagging.

“The technology is promising but I’m a long way off from recommending it,” she said. “We need a lot more comparison to other screening technologies, and we need follow women over a much longer period of time to determine if this actually a reliable test.”

Attai said she has more questions than answers about thermography, the type of imaging related to the technology the bra uses. In a perfect world, the scan for breast hot spots would correlate with the results of mammogram, MRI and ultrasound tests. This is often not the case.

Attai said she has seen thermograms come back normal or showing marginal changes to breast tissue when a woman was then diagnosed with cancer through other means. She’s seen a lot of false positives too, and she worries this can lead to a lot of unnecessary stress and expense.

“Even if we get an abnormal reading from thermal scanning, what do we do? If it’s not giving you a clear enough picture and you’re going to do all the other follow up tests anyway, I’m not sure I see the value,” she said.

Matt Benardis, First Warning’s chief of operations, countered that the bra is a vast improvement over standard thermography because it takes repeated snapshots of heat changes over time rather than in a single instance. The idea is to start taking scans at around the age of 18 and then track differences in breast tissue over time.

“It’s a dynamic look at what is taking place in the breast tissue. We can identify the disruptions in the breast tissue in a non-invasive way years before tumor presentation,” he said, though he was quick to point out that it is an early detection system rather than a diagnostic tool.

Only 1 in 5 Americans Gets Enough Exercise

Most Americans are falling short when it comes to exercise, a new government report shows.

Overall, only 20 percent of U.S. adults get the recommended amounts of both of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The news was less disappointing for aerobic exercise, with 51.6 percent of adults getting the recommended amount, than it was for muscle-strengthening activities, with only 29.3 percent getting the recommended amount.

The overall exercise rates also varied widely by state, ranging from 13 percent in Tennessee and West Virginia to 27 percent in Colorado.

The researchers put a positive spin on the results.

"While only about 30 percent of adults meet the muscle-strengthening guidelines, we find it very encouraging that half of U.S. adults are meeting the aerobic guidelines," said report author Carmen Harris, a CDC epidemiologist.

The report was published in the May 3 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a CDC publication.

One expert also thinks the findings are good news.

"It is great that more people are participating in regular exercise," said exercise physiologist Samantha Heller.

"Exercise not only helps with weight management, it helps reduce anxiety and depression; boosts energy, immunity and brain power; and significantly lowers the risk for chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease," she said.

According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get at least two and a half hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as walking, or an hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as jogging.

In addition, adults should do muscle-strengthening activities, such as push-ups, sit-ups or activities using resistance bands or weights. These exercises should be done two or more days a week and work all major muscle groups, the guidelines suggested.

The highest proportion of adults meeting those guidelines were in the West (24 percent) and the Northeast (21 percent).

Women, Hispanics and older and obese adults were less likely to meet the guidelines, they added.

"Exercise is essential for the aging population to maintain their independence and quality of life," Heller said. "The results of this report indicate that certain states and populations need to be targeted with programs that encourage regular physical activity while taking into account their cultural and economic needs. Local YMCAs, senior centers and other organizations often offer low-cost or free fitness classes."

"Simple steps to start moving include: enlisting a friend or family member to join you; taking a walk every evening after dinner; getting up and marching in place at every TV commercial; limiting TV and computer time; [and] scheduling your time to exercise in your daily calendar," Heller said.

These data are based on information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which is a yearly phone survey of adults aged 18 and over.

More information

For more recommendations on physical activity, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Trainer Defends Claim Moms Use Pregnancy as Excuse to Gain Weight

David Livingston/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson has raised the bar for the celebrity “momshell” in the race to lose weight after giving birth, and has recently come under scrutiny for her claim that women use pregnancy as an excuse to pack on the pounds.

“A lot of women use pregnancy as an excuse to let their bodies go, and that’s the worst thing,” Anderson told DuJour magazine for its September issue. “I’ve seen so many women who come to me right after [having children] with disaster bodies that have gone through hell, or they come to me years later and say, ‘Oh, my body is like this because I had three kids.’”

Anderson, who has famously whipped Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow into shape, revealed to the magazine that she has lost nearly all her baby weight six weeks after giving birth to daughter Penelope in May.

She spoke with ABC's Lara Spencer Wednesday morning to clear the air on her remarks that have sparked conversation among mothers.

“What I mean is that pregnancy is difficult,” Anderson said on Good Morning America. “And every pregnancy is completely unique. We crave a lot, and I think in today’s society women have all this pressure to look a certain way or they feel as if they have to look a certain way. I think that they turn to diet a lot because that’s what works for them, because fitness routines usually let them down.”

The former dancer said she put on a healthy 30 pounds during pregnancy by avoiding overeating and working out during her pregnancy.

“We do have to be conscious of it,” she said. “Our instinct is the most important thing, though. We as women have to listen to our own bodies, have to listen to our cravings. Our bodies will tell us what we need for sure. And I exercised very conservatively through my pregnancy.”

Anderson’s quick rebound only highlights the pressure many moms feel reading about Hollywood mothers or “momshells” (mother-as-bombshell) who seem to jump right back into their busy Hollywood careers looking svelte and stylish with no signs of baby weight.

More magazine editor-in-chief Lesley Jane Seymour told Good Morning America last week that ordinary women need to remember that celebrities aren’t just like us.

“Nobody can live to that standard,” Seymour said. “[Celebrities] have $40,000 exercising gurus. You’re not being paid for that. That is not your job. They have to get in shape in two weeks because they’ve got to go on the set. That is not the normal human being.”

Few Doctors Discuss Exercise With Cancer Patients

Even though research has shown that exercise offers significant benefits in cancer care and recovery, many patients are reluctant to exercise and few discuss it with their oncologists, according to a new study.

Exercise can improve cancer patients' mobility, which enables them to enjoy activities and prevents them from becoming isolated in their homes. It can contribute to overall feelings of strength and physical safety, ease cancer-related fatigue and improve sleep, notes a Mayo Clinic news release.

And, regular exercise in patients who have gone through breast or colon cancer treatment has been found to reduce cancer recurrence by up to 50 percent, the release noted.

"As doctors, we often tell patients that exercise is important, but to this point, nobody had studied what patients know about exercise, how they feel about it and what tends to get in the way," study lead author Dr. Andrea Cheville, of the Mayo Clinic's department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, said in the news release.

She and her colleagues found that patients who exercised regularly before their cancer diagnosis were more likely to exercise after treatment. They also found that many patients considered daily activities, such as gardening, to be sufficient exercise and didn't realize that these activities tend to require minimal effort.

"Most were not aware that inactivity can contribute to weakening of the body and greater vulnerability to problems, including symptoms of cancer," Cheville said.

Cancer patients took exercise advice most seriously when it came directly from an oncologist, but none of the patients in the study said their oncologist had discussed exercise with them.

"Generally, patients are not being given concrete advice about exercise to help them maintain functionality and to improve their outcomes," Cheville said in the news release.

The study was recently published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

More information

The American Cancer Society offers healthy living guidelines for cancer survivors.

BBQ Shrimp

This book wouldn’t be complete without a barbecue shrimp recipe. I played around in the kitchen to insure the recipe included tons of sauce to dip the French bread, as that is the best part. Serve with French bread and angel hair pasta.

Makes 4–6 servings

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fat-free Italian or creamy onion dressing

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon paprika

2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

2 pounds large shrimp (not peeled)

1/3 cup light beer

1/2 cup clam juice or fat-free chicken broth

1. In large nonstick skillet, combine oil, Italian dressing, garlic, onion powder, cayenne, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper over medium heat until sauce begins to boil.

2. Add shrimp, cook 5 minutes. Add beer and broth, cook another 5–7 minutes or until shrimp are done.

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories 207, Calories from fat (%) 44, Fat (g) 10, Saturated Fat (g) 2, Cholesterol (mg) 196, Sodium (mg) 614, Carbohydrate (g) 6, Dietary Fiber (g) 1, Sugars (g) 2, Protein (g) 22, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 carbohydrate, 3 lean meat

Terrific Tidbit: Peeled shrimp may be used in the recipe if desired, but peeling the shrimp is tons of fun, just have plenty of paper towels.

from Holly Clegg’s trim&TERRIFIC° Gulf Coast Favorites: 30 Minute recipes from my Louisiana Kitchen: