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Sunday, October 06, 2002
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By Darin Ingels, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (October 3 2002)—Those who consume a diet high in linoleic acid, one of the essential fatty acids, may lower their risk of having a stroke, according to a new study in Stroke (2002;33:2086–93). The study suggests that, by making relatively minor changes in the diet, as many as 600,000 people in the United States per year may be able to prevent a stroke.
Stroke is the third leading killer of Americans, behind heart disease and cancer. However, the incidence of stroke has declined in the last decade, possibly due to a reduction in risk factors. There is reasonably good evidence that the banning of leaded gasoline more than two decades ago is a significant contributor to the reduction in stroke incidence. Some scientists believe that reductions in other risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, and alcohol abuse may also be contributing factors to the lower incidence of stroke.
Despite the decline in the number of strokes in the United States, over 160,000 people per year will die as a result of a stroke. While some people may partially or fully recover from a stroke with the aid of drug or physical therapy, many others will have permanent impairment. The type and degree of impairment, which depend on which part of the brain is affected, may include loss of speech, decreased mental function, loss of sensation on the skin, or inability to control specific muscles.
The new study examined the incidence of stroke over a seven-year period in 7,450 Japanese men and women between the ages of 40 and 85; of these participants, 197 had a stroke during the course of the study. Blood samples were collected periodically, to measure levels of several different essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are important nutrients involved in supporting the structure of cells and metabolism.
Those who suffered a stroke were found to have significantly less linoleic acid in their blood than those who did not have a stroke, suggesting that increasing linoleic acid intake may reduce the risk of having a stroke. However, it is possible that the low levels of linoleic acid found in stroke sufferers was due to impaired absorption or increased breakdown of this fatty acid, rather than to a dietary deficiency. Additional studies, in which linoleic acid is given as a supplement, would be needed in order to prove this fatty acid prevents strokes.
Good food sources of linoleic acid include nuts, seeds, whole grains, certain oils (particularly sunflower, safflower, and soybean), and some nutritional supplements (such as evening primrose oil and borage oil). Because linoleic acid and other polyunsaturated fatty acids increase the requirement for vitamin E, many nutritionists recommend that individuals taking linoleic acid also take supplemental vitamin E (such as 100 to 400 IU per day).
Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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10:14:24 PM 
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By Darin Ingels, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (October 3 2002)—People who regularly drink or rinse their mouths with green, oolong, or black tea may have fewer cavities than those who do not, according to a study in Nutrition (2002;18:443–4). This study suggests that the most common infectious disease worldwide may be prevented with habitual use of tea.
Tea is the most popular beverage consumed in the world, second only to water. Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the same plant (Camellia sinensis), differing only in how the plant is processed. Green tea is unfermented, oolong tea is partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented, a process which affects the taste of the tea.
While tea contains several different chemicals that have health-promoting properties, scientists believe that a specific group of compounds called polyphenols are responsible for the cavity-reducing effect. Each of the three tea types contains polyphenols. Tea also contains fluoride, but scientists do not believe that the amount of fluoride is high enough to account for the reduction in cavities.
Several human and animal studies have evaluated the effects of tea on dental cavities. The amount of tea consumed in the human studies was 3 to 5 cups per day. One study in children showed that drinking 1 cup of green tea immediately following a meal significantly reduced the incidence of cavities. Another study showed that rinsing with Chinese green tea while brushing the teeth also reduced plaque formation and cavities. The dental benefits of tea appear to be unrelated to the way in which tea is introduced into the mouth, as either drinking the tea or rinsing with it produced fewer cavities in children and adults.
Tea may have other health benefits in addition to preventing cavities. A study published earlier this year showed that those who drank 3 cups a day of black tea had a 43% reduction in risk of heart attacks. Another study showed that individuals who drank either green, oolong, or black tea had significantly higher bone mineral density than did non-tea drinkers. Bone mineral density increased with increasing duration of tea consumption.
One should be aware that tea naturally contains caffeine, although the amount present in one cup is about one-quarter of that in a regular cup of coffee. Decaffeinated teas are commercially available, but it is unknown if these teas would have the same effect on preventing cavities.
Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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10:13:57 PM
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By Alan R. Gaby, MD
Healthnotes Newswire (October 3, 2002)—Prisoners who took a comprehensive nutritional supplement showed a significant reduction in antisocial behavior, including violent acts, according to a study in the British Journal of Psychiatry (2002;181:22–8). This new report supports earlier evidence that criminal offenders often consume diets low in essential nutrients, and that subtle nutritional deficiencies can adversely affect their behavior.
In the new study, 231 young adult prisoners were randomly assigned to receive a comprehensive, nutritional supplement (providing vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and essential fatty acids) or a placebo for an average of 20 weeks. The supplement provided approximately the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for most known nutrients. During the study, the group receiving the nutritional supplement committed, on average, 26.3% fewer offenses requiring disciplinary action than did the placebo group, a statistically significant difference. The supplement did not cause any adverse effects.
Many teenagers and young adults consume diets that are loaded with refined sugar, white flour, and other low-nutrient, processed foods. Such diets are often deficient in a wide range of nutrients. It has been known for many years that psychological changes (such as anxiety and depression) are among the earliest signs of various nutrient deficiencies. Thus, an inadequate diet, combined in many cases with poor coping skills, might lead a person to engage in violent or otherwise socially unacceptable behavior.
The results of this study have enormous implications for the rehabilitation of prisoners and for the prevention of antisocial behavior in the community. Moreover, the reduction in offenses observed in this study might even be improved upon if each person's nutritional needs were assessed individually. Although the supplement used in the new study contained the RDA for most nutrients, many individuals appear to have a higher-than-normal requirement for one or more nutrients.
Nutrition-oriented doctors have found that large amounts of B vitamins and other nutrients can often be used successfully to treat various psychiatric problems. For example, niacinamide has been used to treat schizophrenia and vitamin B6 and folic acid have shown positive effects in people with depression. Chromium plays a role in blood sugar regulation, and has been shown to prevent abnormal declines in blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Studies have shown that violent offenders often suffer from reactive hypoglycemia, which may be a contributing factor to their aggressive behavior. Although the nutritional treatment of psychiatric illness remains controversial, the topic clearly warrants additional research.
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The Patient’s Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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10:13:28 PM
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Sophocles. "One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love."
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10:03:16 PM
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Tom Stienstra: Where to discover peace and quiet.
The most powerful force in nature is not an earthquake, hurricane or erupting volcano. It is rather the quiet when you sense the power of place. That is because it's how it makes you feel inside, the real stuff, and it transcends the power of everything else. You can experience this phenomenon at hundreds of places in the Bay Area, and there are a special 10 that always do it for me. Everybody should have such a spot, a place you can go in nature where all personal hurricanes are quieted, where just by being there, all the fight is taken out of you. You leave refreshed and clean, as if taking a shower after being coated with dust. [via Scott Loftesness]
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9:53:13 PM
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© Copyright
2002
Rick@Leaders.net.
Last update:
11/1/2002; 12:09:15 PM.
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