Published March 13th, 2009
in Men's Health.
Worried about developing gout? Then take lots of vitamin C! According to new research from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver men who get more vitamin C from food or supplements have a significantly lower risk of developing the painful arthritic condition that causes inflamed joints. According to researchers, the healthy (and very low-cost) vitamin appears to lower levels of uric acid in the blood, therefore preventing the development of gout.
Learn more: Vitamin C may protect against gout
Published March 13th, 2009
in Children's Health.
Low levels of vitamin D can make teenagers much more likely to develop serious health problems early in life, according to a new study. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that teen with very low levels of the “sunshine” vitamin are twice as likely to have high blood pressure and high blood sugar. They’re also 4 times more likely to have “metabolic syndrome” conditions that cause heart disease and diabetes. These include more abdominal fat and high cholesterol.
This research backs up other recent studies that link low levels of vitamin D with higher risk of death and disease in adults.
Obviously, if you want to keep your teen healthy and happy, you should take steps to make sure that he or she is eating a healthy diet and spending some time outdoors in the sun every day!
Learn more: Lack of vitamin D tied to teen health problems
Published December 15th, 2008
in Cancer Help and Healthy Foods.
Indole-3-carbinol, a powerful compound found in broccoli and cabbage, appears to help fight late-stage cancer in the body. Researchers from UC Berkeley found that the compound works by reducing the activity of an enzyme associated with rapidly progressing cancer.
Indole-3-carbinol is already being studied in other labs because it’s been found to stop the growth of breast and prostate cancers in mice.
This is yet another reason to include the “powerfoods” broccoli and cabbage in your diet!
Learn more:
Broccoli compound targets key enzyme in late-stage cancer
Published December 3rd, 2008
in Children's Health.
A new report confirms what many parents have long known: too much exposure to television (and media in general) can significantly harm a child’s long-term health. Researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and California Pacific Medical Center found a “strong correlation between media exposure and long-term negative health effects to children”… especially obesity.
The bottom line: Don’t let your kids develop a TV or computer habit. Get them involved in positive and productive activities!
Learn more: Report Ties Children’s Use of Media to Their Health
(via Eco Child’s Play)
Published October 7th, 2008
in Health Studies and Children's Health.
Using a fan to circulate the air in the room where your baby sleeps may help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death in infants during the first 12 months of life. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California found that circulating air using a fan significantly decreased (by 72 percent) the risk of SIDS in a study of about 500 infants.
According to researcher Dr. De-Kun Li:
“The baby’s sleeping environment really matters… his seems to suggest that by improving room ventilation we can further reduce [SIDS] risk.”
Other things experts recommend for preventing SIDS include:
- placing your baby on his or her back to sleep
- having a firm mattress
- removing toys, pillows, and other objects from the crib
- keeping the infant from getting too warm
The bottom line: make sure that your baby is able to get enough air into his or her lungs during sleep.
Learn more:
Fan use linked to lower risk of sudden baby death