Body Weekly - April 2011 Archives

Mouth as the gateway to your body (4/30/2011)

A persistent and abundant bacterium in the mouth is not only a threat to teeth and gums, but can disrupt pregnancies and has been found in lung, liver, spleen, blood, abdominal, and obstetrical and gynecological abscesses and infections. Yiping W. Han, a professor of periodontics at Case Western Reserve University, describes the findings in a chapter of an upcoming book. ...> Full Article

Men's and women's immune systems respond differently to PTSD (4/29/2011)

Men and women had starkly different immune system responses to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, with men showing no response and women showing a strong response, in two studies by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco. ...> Full Article

Reasonable quantities of red pepper may help curb appetite (4/28/2011)

Spicing up your daily diet with some red pepper can curb appetite, especially for those who don't normally eat the popular spice, according to research from Purdue University. ...> Full Article

Protein inhibitor may bring a topical treatment for HPV (4/27/2011)

Patients infected with cancer-causing HPV may someday have an alternative to surgical and harsh chemical treatments, thanks to research being done at Tufts University School of Medicine. In a study published online in the FASEB Journal, researchers report on the development of a protein-based inhibitor that could provide a topical treatment for HPV. ...> Full Article

Are dietary supplements working against you? (4/26/2011)

Do you belong to the one-half of the population that frequently uses dietary supplements with the hope that it might be good for you? ...> Full Article

Compound offers new hope for treatment of painful adult shingles (4/25/2011)

Researchers at the University of Georgia and Yale University have discovered a compound with the potential to be more effective than existing agents in treating the very painful blisters known as shingles -- a condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans, mostly elderly, and for which no specific treatment exists. ...> Full Article

What's your gut type? (4/24/2011)

Humans have three different gut types, scientists at EMBL Heidelberg and collaborators in the international MetaHIT consortium have found. The study, published today in Nature, also uncovers microbial genetic markers that are related to traits like age, gender and body-mass index. The findings could help diagnose and predict outcomes for diseases like colorectal cancer, and inform treatment. ...> Full Article

Drinking energy beverages mixed with alcohol may be riskier than drinking alcohol alone (4/22/2011)

A new laboratory study compares the effects of alcohol alone versus alcohol mixed with an energy drink on a cognitive task, as well as participants' reports of feelings of intoxication. Results show that energy drinks can enhance the feeling of stimulation that occurs when drinking alcohol. ...> Full Article

Study finds diet plus exercise is more effective for weight loss than either method alone (4/21/2011)

A new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that when it comes to losing weight and body fat, diet and exercise are most effective when done together as compared to either strategy alone. ...> Full Article

Preparing for a cool life -- seasonal changes in lipid composition (4/20/2011)

We are all encouraged to eat polyunsaturated fatty acids, as these are "good for us". The (relative) levels of particular classes of polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with a plethora of human illnesses. The latest findings of Walter Arnold and his group at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna suggest that changes in fatty acid concentration of inner organs might be largely independent from diet composition. The work is published in PLoS ONE. ...> Full Article

Aerobic exercise may improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (4/19/2011)

Walking on a treadmill for one hour a day may slow the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese people with prediabetes by jump-starting their metabolism and slowing the oxidative damage wrought by the condition, say researchers at the Cleveland Clinic. ...> Full Article

Vegetarians may be at lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke (4/18/2011)

Vegetarians experience a 36 percent lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than non-vegetarians, suggests new research from Loma Linda University published in the journal Diabetes Care. Because metabolic syndrome can be a precursor to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, the findings indicate vegetarians may be at lower risk of developing these conditions. ...> Full Article

Stress wrecks intestinal bacteria, could keep immune system on idle (4/17/2011)

Stress not only sends the human immune system into overdrive -- it can also wreak havoc on the trillions of bacteria that work and thrive inside our digestive system. New research suggests that this may be important because those bacteria play a significant role in triggering the innate immune system to stay slightly active, and thereby prepared to quickly spring into action in the face of an infection. ...> Full Article

Bitterness induces nausea, swallowing not required (4/16/2011)

The mere taste of something extremely bitter -- even if you don't swallow it at all -- is enough to cause that dreaded feeling of nausea and to set your stomach churning, according to a new study reported in the April 12 issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. ...> Full Article

Blueberries may inhibit development of fat cells (4/15/2011)

The benefits of blueberry consumption have been demonstrated in several nutrition studies, more specifically the cardio-protective benefits derived from their high polyphenol content. Blueberries have shown potential to have a positive effect on everything from aging to metabolic syndrome. Recently, a researcher from Texas Woman's University in Denton, Tex., examined whether blueberries could play a role in reducing one of the world's greatest health challenges: obesity. ...> Full Article

'Apple a day' advice rooted in science (4/14/2011)

Daily apple consumption shows long-term cardioprotective effects in postmenopausal women. ...> Full Article

3 new studies link eating red to a healthy heart (4/13/2011)

Tart cherries have a unique combination of powerful antioxidants that may help reduce risk factors for heart disease, according to new research presented at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in Washington, D.C. ...> Full Article

Recurring genital problems could be herpes (4/12/2011)

A study of patients attending sexual health clinics in Gothenburg found that just four out of ten patients with genital herpes actually knew that they had the disorder. However, a third of those who did not realize that they had been infected reported typical symptoms at a follow-up visit, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. ...> Full Article

Exercise may prevent stress on telomeres, a measure of cell health (4/8/2011)

UCSF scientists are reporting several studies showing that psychological stress leads to shorter telomeres -- the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that are a measure of cell age and, thus, health. The findings also suggest that exercise may prevent this damage. ...> Full Article

Study finds routine periodic fasting is good for your health, and your heart (4/7/2011)

New evidence from cardiac researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Utah demonstrates that routine periodic fasting is also good for your health, and your heart. The study found that fasting not only lowers one's risk of coronary artery disease and diabetes, but also causes significant changes in a person's blood cholesterol levels. ...> Full Article

Frequency of fat talk associated with increased body dissatisfaction, regardless of waistline (4/6/2011)

College women who engage in "fat talk" (women speaking negatively about the size and shape of their bodies) face greater dissatisfaction with their bodies and are more likely to have internalized an ultra-thin body ideal than those who engage in fat talk less frequently, according to a review article from Psychology of Women Quarterly (published by SAGE). ...> Full Article

Got a craving for fast food? Skip the coffee, study says (4/5/2011)

A University of Guelph study has revealed not only that a healthy person's blood sugar levels spike after eating a high-fat meal, but that the spike doubles after having both a fatty meal and caffeinated coffee -- jumping to levels similar to those of people at risk for diabetes. Ultimately, saturated fat and fat combined with caffeinated coffee hinder the body's ability to clear sugar from the blood and having high blood sugar levels can take a toll on our body's organs. ...> Full Article

Having trouble achieving work-life balance? Knowing your strategies is key (4/4/2011)

Essays are being written, final exams are looming and classes are reaching their busy conclusion. With conflicting demands from work, home and the classroom, this hectic time of year can be filled with stress. But according to new research from the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), a little self-reflection could do us all a world of good. ...> Full Article

Older and stronger: Progressive resistance training can build muscle, increase strength as we age (4/3/2011)

It's often thought that older adults must tolerate the strength and muscle loss that come with age. But analyses of current research by University of Michigan scientists reveal that not only can we fight the battle of strength and muscle loss as we age, we can even build muscle and strength well into our golden years. ...> Full Article

Assessing the value of treatments to increase height (4/2/2011)

In a New England Journal of Medicine editorial, Drs. Leona Cuttler of UH Rainbow and Babies Children's Hospital and Dr. Robert L. Rosenfield of the University of Chicago write, "Since growth hormone is well entrenched in the management of Turner's syndrome, the current findings support this aspect of practice but are not likely to change it. Yet the results underscore the need for a measured approach, which includes avoiding unrealistic expectations, when families embark on growth hormone therapy." ...> Full Article

Adding protein, like lean pork, may help dieters curb late-night munchies (4/1/2011)

According to new research published in this month's journal, Obesity, researchers found that including protein such as lean pork, in three daily meals could reduce late-night desires to eat, increase feelings of fullness, and decrease distracting thoughts about food. These are key findings that could ultimately reduce calorie intake, and affect weight loss success. ...> Full Article