Flaxseed and ginseng, two popular “alternative” cancer therapies, may provide some benefit to patients, according to new research from the US. Researchers at Duke Medical Center found that men who consumed 30 grams of omega-3-rich flaxseed on a daily basis were able to significantly slow down the growth of their prostate tumors. At the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota researchers found that about a quarter of cancer patients who took doses of at least 1000 mg of American ginseng per day experienced less fatigue.
Researchers from both studies stated that more large-scale research should be done on these promising cancer treatments.
Learn more: Cancer Treatments From the Kitchen
Published May 2nd, 2007
in Diabetes, Cancer Help and Healthy Foods.
Drinking fresh-brewed coffee may help prevent diabetes and certain cancers, according to a group of experts at a Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC. They looked at the results of several hundred studies and found that the antioxidant-rich beverage may provide some protection against colon, rectal, and liver cancers while preventing the development of type 2 diabetes in some people.
However, if you don’t drink coffee now, you probably shouldn’t start just for the potential health benefits. Also, there is some evidence that drinking coffee can increase the risk of stomach cancer and leukemia. Certain people — especially children and pregnant women — should avoid it.
According to Dr. Rob van Dam of the Harvard School of Public Health:
“…it’s not like we’re promoting coffee as the new health food and asking people who don’t like coffee to drink coffee for their health.”
If you’re looking for a truly healthy caffeinated drink, try green tea!
Continue reading ‘Experts: Coffee may help prevent diabetes and cancer… but it’s not a “health” food’
Children who eat a Mediterranean-style diet — rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts — may experience fewer respiratory problems such as allergies and asthma, according to a new study conducted on the Greek island of Crete. Researchers said this may explain why, on the island, skin allergies are as common as anywhere else but respiratory problems marked by wheezing and sneezing are more rare in children.
Interestingly, children on the island who eat the most fresh fruits and nuts are the least likely to suffer from breathing allergies while children who eat the most margarine tend to have the most allergies. According to the researchers, 80% of children on Crete eat fresh fruit (mainly grapes, oranges, apples and fresh tomatoes) at least twice a day. In their report, they also state that:
“A high consumption of nuts was found to be inversely associated with wheezing, whereas margarine increased the risk of both wheeze and allergic rhinitis (sneezing and runny nose)… Diet may explain the relative lack of allergic symptoms in this population.”
Learn more: Mediterranean diet wards off allergies
Published March 23rd, 2007
in Exercise, Weight Loss and Health Studies.
Eating fewer calories and exercising in order to burn more calories are equally effective methods of losing weight, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Results from the study also showed that there is no way to selectively remove fat (AKA “spot reduce”) from any specific area of the body.
In other words, you can’t get slimmer thighs or burn “belly fat” without reducing your overall body fat levels. According to researcher Dr. Eric Ravussin:
“It’s all about the calories… So long as the energy deficit is the same, body weight, fat weight, and abdominal fat will all decrease in the same way.”
Despite these results, it’s important to remember that regular exercise is extremely important for good overall health. It provides an array of health benefits beyond weight loss. And, of course, the best — and easiest — solution for long-term weight loss is regular exercise combined with a healthy, lower-calorie diet.
Related:
Diet, exercise take off equal pounds, study finds
Which is Best For Fat Loss: Diet or Exercise?
Published March 23rd, 2007
in Pain Relief, Brain Health and Health Studies.
People who suffer from the debilitating pain of cluster headaches may be able to get relief through electrical brain stimulation, according to new research from Britain and the US. Researchers found that stimulating certain nerves in the brain with implanted electrodes provided significant relief from pain associated with cluster headaches in the majority of patients.
According to Peter Goadsby of University College London in Britain:
“Occipital nerve stimulation in cluster headache seems to offer a safe, effective treatment option that could begin a new era of neurostimulation therapy for primary headache symptoms.”
Learn more:
Brain stimulation may ease headaches, studies find