Since more and more children are getting obese due to the modern lifestyle we're leading, it is necessary to fight obesity even during childhood. Read on:
Childhood obesity is quickly becoming a national epidemic, having tripled over the past three decades. This is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.
“We are trying to teach kids to eat healthy,” said Bernadette McDowell, the school nurse at Winman Junior High School in Warwick.
One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habits of the entire family. If children are allowed to eat anything they want at home, namely fast food and meals lacking vegetable components, they are not going to make healthy choices on their own.
“Who thinks they have the healthiest lunch?” University of Rhode Island nursing student Nikki Manningham asked a group of Winman students.
They quickly sprung to their feet, raising their hands and shouting, “I have an apple, I have carrots.”
As part of Manningham’s community nursing rotation, she has created a project aimed at teaching the students about the food pyramid and encouraging healthy eating.
“Even since the first day I came here they know I have a box of presents so it encourages them to eat better,” said Manningham.
Manningham carries around a box of bracelets with food pyramid flash cards. One card has a shrimp on it; one has bread and another broccoli. The students then have to identify which food group each item falls into. If they get at least three out of the five questions correct, they get a bracelet.
“I have to do a project that would better the children,” said Manningham.
Manningham says the purpose of the project is to help the students gain a better understanding of healthy eating. She hopes that having her in the cafeteria once a week repetitively asking questions, the students will pick some of that information up and carry it on with them.
“I’m surprised at how many people are bringing carrots and celery now,” said McDowell.
Manningham is also encouraging the students to ask their parents for healthy choices when they go shopping.
“The parents get what the kids want, so if they asks for fruits and vegetables that’s what they’ll buy,” said Manningham.
McDowell believes that if the students have healthy choices then they will make them. The state of Rhode Island agrees.
Beginning in September of 2009, the School Meals Initiative (SMI) Review Process will incorporate the Rhode Island Nutrition Requirements 2009 (RINR 2009). These requirements include more whole grains, more fruits and vegetables, and less sodium. Federally reimbursable meals and snacks provided through the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the After School Snack Program will have to meet all current federal meal requirements and these more stringent requirements.
Rhode Island is the only state in the country that has adopted such stringent mandates on their school meals.
“The state is piloting this program. The students must have three sides, with one fresh green or orange vegetable. All grains are whole wheat,” said Donna Walker, a supervisor with Sodexo.
Sodexo is one of the largest school food service providers in the country. They provide the school foods to 13 school districts in the state, including Warwick, Cranston and West Warwick.
As part of his ongoing effort to improve the quality of meals in schools, Senator Jack Reed visited Wakefield School in West Warwick on Tuesday to see the changes Sodexo and the school staff has taken to do just that.
“If children have a good healthy balanced meal, they will do better in school,” said Reed.
In August, Reed helped pass a child nutrition bill – the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act – in the Senate. This legislation will increase funding for school meal programs so that more kids will have access to a stable source of nutritious food. The bill has yet to be voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives, but action is expected shortly after Thanksgiving. First Lady Michelle Obama has made passing this legislation the centerpiece of her “Let's Move!” campaign.
“The bill passed unanimously in the Senate so I would hope they [Congress] would pass it as well. This is an issue that affects every community and every child,” said Reed.
If the bill passes, it could mean an additional $3 million per year in federal money to help local schools throughout the state serve healthier meals.
“The cost of school lunch here is $1.60 and we provide students with a square meal that not only meets nutritional guidelines but also tastes good. I personally sample the school lunch every day and am committed to ensuring that all of our students have access to high-quality meals so they can learn and thrive,” said Wakefield Hills Elementary School Principal Keith Remillard.
Each year, Rhode Island receives $29 million in federal funding to help nearly 24,000 children participate in the School Breakfast Program and 79,000 children participate in the National School Lunch Program each day.
Rhode Island has been a leader when it comes to nutrition standards for school meals and this bill will provide additional resources for school breakfast and lunch programs, and could significantly expand innovative after school meal programs too.
“During difficult economic times, this program will provide important stability to thousands of children who have trouble getting a nutritious meal at home. This will help ensure that more children are well-nourished and prepared to learn,” Reed said.
If this legislation passes, more Rhode Island schools will be able to participate in farm-to-school programs to educate kids about food and add fresh, local produce to cafeteria menus.
Sodexo participates in the Farm Fresh program, which ensures that there is at least one item on the menu every day that is from a local farm. They get apples from Pippin Orchard and squash from Confreda Farms, both in Cranston.
“Good food is something that will be a lifelong value. This is just a win, win situation,” said Reed.
Read more: Warwick Beacon - Schools fight childhood obesity
More from here: http://www.warwickonline.com/view/full_story_news/10442493/article-Schools-fight-childhood-obesity?instance=lead_story_left_column
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Apples Keep Away Colorectal Cancer
This is an interesting article on another benefit we can get from apples. Take note of the apple skin's rich nutrients. Read on:
The apple has long been considered a super fruit for its health benefits. Recent research claims that eating an apple daily may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Research has shown that the risk of all cancers can be reduced by between 30 to 40 per cent by making simple lifestyle changes, such as eating more fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise and watching our weight. Earlier studies have also claimed that apple is a wealthy resource of falconoid and polyphones, both dominant antioxidants, which help reduce cholesterol and fight free radicals. They also help combat premature ageing and protect against skin diseases.
Researchers compared 592 patients suffering from colorectal cancer - also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer - with 765 patients without the disease at the same hospital. Those with cancer had eaten 9.5 servings of fruit a week, compared to those without the disease, who had 11 servings a week.
After a certain period, the researchers found a reduced risk of developing the disease among those who ate one apple a day, with the odds at 0.65, while eating more than one apple a day reduced the risk by about half. Eating other fruit or vegetables did not have the same effects on the risk of colorectal cancer.
According to the researchers, the protective properties of apples may be as a result of their high content of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants, and are concentrated in the skin of apples, preventing molecules or free radicals from inflicting damage on tissues and can inhibit cancer onset and cell proliferation. Antioxidants were five times more prevalent in the apple skin than the actual flesh - so wash, but do not peel before you eat them.
Read more at: http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/4828/Apples_keep_away_colorectal_cancer.html
The apple has long been considered a super fruit for its health benefits. Recent research claims that eating an apple daily may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Research has shown that the risk of all cancers can be reduced by between 30 to 40 per cent by making simple lifestyle changes, such as eating more fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise and watching our weight. Earlier studies have also claimed that apple is a wealthy resource of falconoid and polyphones, both dominant antioxidants, which help reduce cholesterol and fight free radicals. They also help combat premature ageing and protect against skin diseases.
Researchers compared 592 patients suffering from colorectal cancer - also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer - with 765 patients without the disease at the same hospital. Those with cancer had eaten 9.5 servings of fruit a week, compared to those without the disease, who had 11 servings a week.
After a certain period, the researchers found a reduced risk of developing the disease among those who ate one apple a day, with the odds at 0.65, while eating more than one apple a day reduced the risk by about half. Eating other fruit or vegetables did not have the same effects on the risk of colorectal cancer.
According to the researchers, the protective properties of apples may be as a result of their high content of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants, and are concentrated in the skin of apples, preventing molecules or free radicals from inflicting damage on tissues and can inhibit cancer onset and cell proliferation. Antioxidants were five times more prevalent in the apple skin than the actual flesh - so wash, but do not peel before you eat them.
Read more at: http://doctor.ndtv.com/storypage/ndtv/id/4828/Apples_keep_away_colorectal_cancer.html
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Cholesterol Lowering Statin Drugs Safe For Liver Disease Patients
Since I'm taking statins, this article somehow consoles me that my liver is safe. Read on:
Paris – The fight against cholesterol via statins has raised many controversies over the past years, however, according to recent studies statin drugs are not so invasive as it was initially assumed mainly for patients who were diagnosed with a liver problem. So far, physicians avoided to prescribe cholesterol lowering statin drugs whose action is based on blocking a liver enzyme. The risk associated with this blockage usually referred to heart issues.
Recently, the threat assigned to cholesterol lowering statin drugs has lost of its previous intensity due to the fact that an impressive study comprising 437 participants whose investigation lasted over three years. The patients who enrolled in this complex investigation program had a moderate form of liver disease and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fat liver disease).
The research group from Greece has divided the participants and throughout the three-year duration 227 patients underwent a therapy based on cholesterol lowering statins drugs, whereas the rest of 210 patients were not treated.
At the end of the investigation period, results show that 10 percent of the group that was under statin-based therapy had a heart issue, such as strokes or heart attacks, whereas the other group that lacked statin drugs therapy had a rate of similar event of 20 percent. Based upon comparative results, cholesterol lowering statins proved to be beneficial for the group who received statin-based treatment for over three years reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular issues.
The study that was published last week and run by doctors in Greece, seems to destroy a deeply-rooted medical assumption saying that statin drugs are risky for liver disease patients.
http://www.staho.com/cholesterol-lowering-statin-drugs-safe-for-liver-disease-patients/208036/
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Office fruit apples ‘help fight bad cholesterol’
Here are more reasons to take apple in our daily diet:
Office fruit apples have multiple health benefits, from boosting vision due to their vitamin A content, to helping slow ageing-related problems.
The office fruit basket treat is also rich in pectin, which acts as an antioxidant that helps reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
This could be particularly important as a new study has further highlighted that cutting cholesterol can dramatically reduce the risk of having a heart attack.
Cholesterol is a major contributory factor for heart disease therefore reducing levels can make you less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.
The new research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and the Lancet, looked at the effects of increasing the dosage of statins, which reduce cholesterol, on a person.
Researchers found that a bigger drop in cholesterol – from more intensive treatment with statins – cut risks even more.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the foundation, said the new research may help GPs as it could give them "another tool for helping people keep their hearts healthy".
more from here: http://www.fruitfuloffice.com/office-fruit-news-health/office-fruit-apples-help-fight-bad-cholesterol/1603
Office fruit apples have multiple health benefits, from boosting vision due to their vitamin A content, to helping slow ageing-related problems.
The office fruit basket treat is also rich in pectin, which acts as an antioxidant that helps reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
This could be particularly important as a new study has further highlighted that cutting cholesterol can dramatically reduce the risk of having a heart attack.
Cholesterol is a major contributory factor for heart disease therefore reducing levels can make you less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke.
The new research, funded by the British Heart Foundation and the Lancet, looked at the effects of increasing the dosage of statins, which reduce cholesterol, on a person.
Researchers found that a bigger drop in cholesterol – from more intensive treatment with statins – cut risks even more.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the foundation, said the new research may help GPs as it could give them "another tool for helping people keep their hearts healthy".
more from here: http://www.fruitfuloffice.com/office-fruit-news-health/office-fruit-apples-help-fight-bad-cholesterol/1603
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Professor Loses 27 Pounds on 'Junk Food Diet'
Take a look at this unusual diet program using junk foods for diet. Read on:
A professor of human nutrition is trying a controversial new method of losing weight — the junk food diet — but some experts think it could take years off your life.
Mark Haub, who teaches at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., told FoxNews.com he has lost 27 pounds in two months eating approximately 1,800 calories a day – and those calories came from foods like snack cakes, candy bars and even potato chips – basically anything he could get from a vending machine.
Haub said before the diet, he was eating up to 3,000 calories a day and weighed 201 pounds.
“I did it as a class exercise – to allow the students to discuss the extreme outcomes of weight loss, and the public has been discussing those same issues: Are the outcomes more important than how we get there? That’s up for debate,” he said. “Some people, like health care professionals, are saying my weight loss is unhealthy.”
We talked to Tanya Zuckerbrot, a New York City-based dietitian and author of “The F-Factor Diet,” to get her take on this non-traditional diet.
“This diet is based on refined, processed foods that lack essential vitamins and nutrients, as well as antioxidants and fiber,” she said. “Antioxidants fight cancer, and fiber lowers cholesterol and controls sugar levels, reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Good health is not just about getting skinny; it also is about increasing chances for longevity. This junk food diet may help you shed a few pounds, but ultimately can reduce your chances for longevity.”
Haub said the weight loss wasn’t his initial concern – he wanted to focus on issues like cardiovascular markers, but he is pleased with the results.
Haub drinks coffee or milk with his food – he’s only had soda twice during the experiment - and also takes a multi-vitamin every day. He said he does not exercise much – “maybe 10 minutes a day, because I didn’t want it to be a factor.”
Zuckerbrot said it doesn’t matter if you’re eating Twinkies or Brussels sprouts – it’s all about your caloric intake.
“The laws of thermodynamics dictate that if you consume fewer calories than your body burns, you will create a caloric deficit resulting in weight loss,” she added.
Haub said he does not recommend the diet to other people, and he will stop ‘dieting’ the day before Thanksgiving.
more from here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/11/09/professor-loses-pounds-junk-food-diet/
A professor of human nutrition is trying a controversial new method of losing weight — the junk food diet — but some experts think it could take years off your life.
Mark Haub, who teaches at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., told FoxNews.com he has lost 27 pounds in two months eating approximately 1,800 calories a day – and those calories came from foods like snack cakes, candy bars and even potato chips – basically anything he could get from a vending machine.
Haub said before the diet, he was eating up to 3,000 calories a day and weighed 201 pounds.
“I did it as a class exercise – to allow the students to discuss the extreme outcomes of weight loss, and the public has been discussing those same issues: Are the outcomes more important than how we get there? That’s up for debate,” he said. “Some people, like health care professionals, are saying my weight loss is unhealthy.”
We talked to Tanya Zuckerbrot, a New York City-based dietitian and author of “The F-Factor Diet,” to get her take on this non-traditional diet.
“This diet is based on refined, processed foods that lack essential vitamins and nutrients, as well as antioxidants and fiber,” she said. “Antioxidants fight cancer, and fiber lowers cholesterol and controls sugar levels, reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Good health is not just about getting skinny; it also is about increasing chances for longevity. This junk food diet may help you shed a few pounds, but ultimately can reduce your chances for longevity.”
Haub said the weight loss wasn’t his initial concern – he wanted to focus on issues like cardiovascular markers, but he is pleased with the results.
Haub drinks coffee or milk with his food – he’s only had soda twice during the experiment - and also takes a multi-vitamin every day. He said he does not exercise much – “maybe 10 minutes a day, because I didn’t want it to be a factor.”
Zuckerbrot said it doesn’t matter if you’re eating Twinkies or Brussels sprouts – it’s all about your caloric intake.
“The laws of thermodynamics dictate that if you consume fewer calories than your body burns, you will create a caloric deficit resulting in weight loss,” she added.
Haub said he does not recommend the diet to other people, and he will stop ‘dieting’ the day before Thanksgiving.
more from here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/11/09/professor-loses-pounds-junk-food-diet/
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Parents must be role models to fight child obesity
Parents, please take note of this article. As we know, we as parents can make or break our child's bad habits specially on diet. Read on this article by Nanci Hellmich:
Obesity is proving to be a heavy burden for the nation's kids and teens.
Experts have known for years that hauling around extra pounds takes a huge toll on children's health. It puts them at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and other health problems.
A study in 2005 found that children today may lead shorter lives by two to five years than their parents because of obesity.
About a third of children and adolescents in the United States weigh too much. With so many overweight children, some experts worry that the majority of this generation will be overweight or obese as adults.
Now, a study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association finds that heavy teens often gain a lot more weight in their 20s. Half of obese adolescent girls and a third of obese teen boys become morbidly obese (80 to 100 pounds overweight) by their early 30s, the research shows.
"This new study should be a call to action to parents to look in their pantry and clean out all the junk food," says Keith Ayoob, a registered dietitian who works with overweight children and their families at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Families need to eat better, he says. "If kids aren't eating fruits and vegetables daily, they aren't eating a healthy diet. Period."
He says he never sees children who have better eating habits than their parents.
Parents may think they can get away with making unhealthy choices, but the kids are watching, says Bethany Thayer of the American Dietetic Association. "If parents are being good role models, that can have a huge impact on what a child does."
Getting healthier should be a family affair, says Elizabeth Ward, a registered dietitian in Reading, Mass. Parents shouldn't single out overweight children and tell them they are too heavy and need to change their ways, but the entire family should work at eating better and being more physically active, she says.
Ward, the mother of three girls and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feeding Your Baby and Toddler, recommends that parents:
•Eat meals as a family as often as possible. Families that eat together tend to have healthier diets than those who don't, Ward says. And meals made at home tend to be higher in fiber, fruits, vegetables and lower-fat dairy products than restaurant meals, she says.
•Encourage children to find healthful recipes. Have them search magazines, cookbooks and online for recipes, she says. You want them to get involved so the changes stick, she says. "You won't get far with an overweight child or teenager if you don't engage them in the process."
•Don't keep soda in the house. Drinking soda decreases the consumption of low-fat and non-fat milk, which contain important nutrients children don't get enough of, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium, Ward says.
•Don't keep a smorgasbord of snacks at home. Just keep one or two so nobody feels deprived, she says. "I buy 100-calorie fudge bars. No child needs more than about 100 calories for a treat. Treats are extras, not foods to grow on."
"If you have a variety of chips, three kinds of ice cream and three types of cookies at home, it's going to be harder to resist your child's request for those foods. There are going to be way too many opportunities to overeat."
•Become more physically active as a family. Go walking, biking, hiking or skating, Ward says. Some overweight kids are self-conscious about being physically active on their own, but they may be more comfortable with their parents. "It shows the child you care about his fitness, but you also care about your fitness and you value physical activity."
more from here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/11/09/professor-loses-pounds-junk-food-diet/
Obesity is proving to be a heavy burden for the nation's kids and teens.
Experts have known for years that hauling around extra pounds takes a huge toll on children's health. It puts them at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and other health problems.
A study in 2005 found that children today may lead shorter lives by two to five years than their parents because of obesity.
About a third of children and adolescents in the United States weigh too much. With so many overweight children, some experts worry that the majority of this generation will be overweight or obese as adults.
Now, a study in today's Journal of the American Medical Association finds that heavy teens often gain a lot more weight in their 20s. Half of obese adolescent girls and a third of obese teen boys become morbidly obese (80 to 100 pounds overweight) by their early 30s, the research shows.
"This new study should be a call to action to parents to look in their pantry and clean out all the junk food," says Keith Ayoob, a registered dietitian who works with overweight children and their families at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Families need to eat better, he says. "If kids aren't eating fruits and vegetables daily, they aren't eating a healthy diet. Period."
He says he never sees children who have better eating habits than their parents.
Parents may think they can get away with making unhealthy choices, but the kids are watching, says Bethany Thayer of the American Dietetic Association. "If parents are being good role models, that can have a huge impact on what a child does."
Getting healthier should be a family affair, says Elizabeth Ward, a registered dietitian in Reading, Mass. Parents shouldn't single out overweight children and tell them they are too heavy and need to change their ways, but the entire family should work at eating better and being more physically active, she says.
Ward, the mother of three girls and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feeding Your Baby and Toddler, recommends that parents:
•Eat meals as a family as often as possible. Families that eat together tend to have healthier diets than those who don't, Ward says. And meals made at home tend to be higher in fiber, fruits, vegetables and lower-fat dairy products than restaurant meals, she says.
•Encourage children to find healthful recipes. Have them search magazines, cookbooks and online for recipes, she says. You want them to get involved so the changes stick, she says. "You won't get far with an overweight child or teenager if you don't engage them in the process."
•Don't keep soda in the house. Drinking soda decreases the consumption of low-fat and non-fat milk, which contain important nutrients children don't get enough of, including calcium, vitamin D and potassium, Ward says.
•Don't keep a smorgasbord of snacks at home. Just keep one or two so nobody feels deprived, she says. "I buy 100-calorie fudge bars. No child needs more than about 100 calories for a treat. Treats are extras, not foods to grow on."
"If you have a variety of chips, three kinds of ice cream and three types of cookies at home, it's going to be harder to resist your child's request for those foods. There are going to be way too many opportunities to overeat."
•Become more physically active as a family. Go walking, biking, hiking or skating, Ward says. Some overweight kids are self-conscious about being physically active on their own, but they may be more comfortable with their parents. "It shows the child you care about his fitness, but you also care about your fitness and you value physical activity."
more from here: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/11/09/professor-loses-pounds-junk-food-diet/
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Can plant sterols help drop our cholesterol numbers?
Another article about plant sterols to help us control our cholesterol. Read on:
There is a new product in our grocery aisles that can help us fight against our elevated cholesterol values. We need all the help we can get since it's estimated that almost 50 per cent of Canadian adults have elevated LDL-cholesterol and heart disease is our number one killer.
LDL cholesterol is the damaging form of cholesterol that can quickly and silently lead to blockages and stiffening of our arteries.
When you look further, it is estimated that 90 per cent of Canadian adults have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease whether it is elevated cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal waist circumference, smoking, alcohol to stressful lifestyle and physical inactivity. All you need is some bad luck and one risk factor to land in the cardiac care unit.
Plant sterols work by be impeding the absorption of cholesterol through our bowel. If the cholesterol cannot be absorbed, then it simply gets flushed through the bowel. Our body naturally uses cholesterol to produce hormones, bile acids and cell membranes, so if there is less absorbed then there is physically less to spill over into our arteries.
Plant sterols are naturally found in fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds but we can't seem to get enough naturally to make a significant impact. The typical diet only offers our body approximately 0.2 mg while researchers encourage 10 times that level. There is a significant body of evidence that suggest two to three grams of plant sterols may drop our LDL-cholesterol by six to 15 per cent within three weeks.
Although we would much prefer to get these plant sterols naturally through our diet, we simply can't reach the two-gram mark. To reach that level, you would have to be devouring over 400 tomatoes a day or almost 70 slices of whole grain bread. Food fortification is the only realistic avenue.
The good news is that it appears to have no impact on our HDL-cholesterol (the good one) and doesn't conflict with cholesterol-lowering medication. Sadly it doesn't appear to have any impact on lowering triglyceride levels which are another risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Plant sterols also appear to work better in individuals with significantly elevated LDL-cholesterol values than those with only a moderate elevation.
Timing is also relevant. Since it acts as a blocker in the bowel, it is more effective to spread the two to three grams of plant sterols throughout the day rather than consume them all at once.
While you won't find the quantity of plant sterols listed on the nutrition facts panel, Health Canada has allowed products that have been fortified to carry a statement "one serving provides 'x' per cent of the daily amount of plant sterols, shown to help reduce cholesterol in adults."
Plant sterols fortification has been used in various countries throughout the world but Health Canada was slower to introduce them into the marketplace until there were significant clinical trials to prove that it is a safe product for the entire family and it not going to be problematic for children.
Currently regular and light margarines are available on the marketplace, but in order to meet the two grams of plant sterols, one would need two to four tablespoons of margarine daily. Five teaspoons (25 ml) of Becel pro.activ margarine offers two grams of sterols, while you can expect to see many new products following suit.
Every little bit helps in the fight to keep our arteries and veins clear and flexible.
more from here: http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/balance/article/1293856
There is a new product in our grocery aisles that can help us fight against our elevated cholesterol values. We need all the help we can get since it's estimated that almost 50 per cent of Canadian adults have elevated LDL-cholesterol and heart disease is our number one killer.
LDL cholesterol is the damaging form of cholesterol that can quickly and silently lead to blockages and stiffening of our arteries.
When you look further, it is estimated that 90 per cent of Canadian adults have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease whether it is elevated cholesterol, blood pressure, abdominal waist circumference, smoking, alcohol to stressful lifestyle and physical inactivity. All you need is some bad luck and one risk factor to land in the cardiac care unit.
Plant sterols work by be impeding the absorption of cholesterol through our bowel. If the cholesterol cannot be absorbed, then it simply gets flushed through the bowel. Our body naturally uses cholesterol to produce hormones, bile acids and cell membranes, so if there is less absorbed then there is physically less to spill over into our arteries.
Plant sterols are naturally found in fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds but we can't seem to get enough naturally to make a significant impact. The typical diet only offers our body approximately 0.2 mg while researchers encourage 10 times that level. There is a significant body of evidence that suggest two to three grams of plant sterols may drop our LDL-cholesterol by six to 15 per cent within three weeks.
Although we would much prefer to get these plant sterols naturally through our diet, we simply can't reach the two-gram mark. To reach that level, you would have to be devouring over 400 tomatoes a day or almost 70 slices of whole grain bread. Food fortification is the only realistic avenue.
The good news is that it appears to have no impact on our HDL-cholesterol (the good one) and doesn't conflict with cholesterol-lowering medication. Sadly it doesn't appear to have any impact on lowering triglyceride levels which are another risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Plant sterols also appear to work better in individuals with significantly elevated LDL-cholesterol values than those with only a moderate elevation.
Timing is also relevant. Since it acts as a blocker in the bowel, it is more effective to spread the two to three grams of plant sterols throughout the day rather than consume them all at once.
While you won't find the quantity of plant sterols listed on the nutrition facts panel, Health Canada has allowed products that have been fortified to carry a statement "one serving provides 'x' per cent of the daily amount of plant sterols, shown to help reduce cholesterol in adults."
Plant sterols fortification has been used in various countries throughout the world but Health Canada was slower to introduce them into the marketplace until there were significant clinical trials to prove that it is a safe product for the entire family and it not going to be problematic for children.
Currently regular and light margarines are available on the marketplace, but in order to meet the two grams of plant sterols, one would need two to four tablespoons of margarine daily. Five teaspoons (25 ml) of Becel pro.activ margarine offers two grams of sterols, while you can expect to see many new products following suit.
Every little bit helps in the fight to keep our arteries and veins clear and flexible.
more from here: http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/balance/article/1293856
Monday, November 15, 2010
Farmers left with egg on faces after fatty food fight
Read on this news article about egg's cholesterol versus KFC's double down sandwich:
WATCHING the egg versus KFC Double Down Sandwich debate unfold last week was like watching a football game in which the guy with the ball has forgot ten which way to run, and gets tackled by his own team.
In the end, Canada's egg farmers wound up off side.
And three doctors who wanted us to pay more attention to dietary cholesterol wound up vindicating those of us inclined to consume fast-food abomina tions such as the Double Down -- strips of bacon sandwiched between two breaded chicken breasts loaded with cheese and special sauce. Yum.
We can now argue with authority, after all, that such a sandwich is lower in cholesterol than an egg yolk. Never mind that it has 540 calories, 30 grams of fat and 1,740 of sodium (more than the total recommended daily intake) in a few greasy bites.
It started with three University of Western On tario cardiologists out to reverse a growing public perception that dietary cholesterol is benign, a per ception they say is fuelled by a "sustained propaganda campaign from the egg producers' lobby."
While eating eggs isn't so bad if you are not at risk of heart disease, the problem is, there are woe fully few of us in that category these days. "The consequences of high cholesterol intake in those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease who are sedentary and not losing weight -- especially when already consuming relatively high levels of satur ated fat -- give reason for concern," the study said.
In short, the majority of the population would find limiting consumption of cholesterol-rich foods beneficial.
The original study, published in the November Canadian Journal of Cardiol ogy, doesn't even mention the Double Down. It com pared egg yolks to a Har dee's Monster Thickburger, although it reached the same conclusion. It was the university's communica tors that pulled in the KFC Double Down, probably because it had more headline-grabbing cachet.
One egg yolk contains about 195 mg choles terol, five grams of fat and 70 calories. Daily rec ommended cholesterol intake is around 200 mg.
The Hardee Monster contains 210 mg of choles terol while the Double Down contains 150 mg.
Out came the headlines: "Eggs far from sunny up, doctors warn," or "Eggs versus the Double Down: Guess who wins?"
Then the spit hit the pan. Egg producers rose to defend the egg's nutritional reputation -- and their livelihoods -- by tackling the medical pro fessionals.
"With obesity increasing in North America at an alarming rate, medical professionals should be encouraging the consumption of nutrient dense, low-calorie foods, such as eggs, rather than suggesting that high-fat, fast food is better for health," Bonnie Cohen, a registered dietitian with Egg Farmers of Canada, sputtered in a release.
"Comments made by these same researchers that a popular high-fat, high-calorie sandwich is more nutritious than eggs are quite simply ir responsible."
For the record, the journal article didn't say the Double Down was more nutritious. What the researchers said was, egg yolks contain more cholesterol.
And they didn't promote the fast-food concoc tions as healthy.
There is debate in the research community around the relevance of dietary cholesterol. But even if these doctors are dead wrong, egg produ cers still wouldn't have won this fight.
It comes down to the relative scale of cred ibility. Egg farmers have a vested interest in convincing people to eat eggs.
If heart doctors were only looking after their own interests, they'd be telling people to eat all the eggs and Double Downs they could stom ach -- because it might bring more customers through their door.
Had egg producers paused to think this one through a little, they might have realized that they could sit this one out on the sidelines. A scan of the online comments that rolled in after the original story published shows the general public and independent dietitians were quick to pounce on the idiocy of such comparisons.
Egg producers might also have realized that they could have positioned themselves on the same side as the highly credible doctors. They could have seized the opportunity to promote their own Healthy Choices Cholesterol Kit, which is available online and stresses many of the same points the doctors made.
One of Nature's own "fast-foods," eggs -- when consumed in moderation -- are a nifty, low-cal, low-fat nutritional package that complements a healthy lifestyle.
You simply can't make that argument about a Double Down.
That the doctors are questioning egg market ing campaigns should be cause for sober second thought, not sabre rattling.
Instead, Canada's egg farmers went charging into a box-end canyon from which there was no escape.
When this is written up in the food war chron icles, the chapter could aptly be called: Custard's Last Stand.
more from here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/Farmers-left-with-egg-on-faces-after-fatty-food-fight--106819313.html
WATCHING the egg versus KFC Double Down Sandwich debate unfold last week was like watching a football game in which the guy with the ball has forgot ten which way to run, and gets tackled by his own team.
In the end, Canada's egg farmers wound up off side.
And three doctors who wanted us to pay more attention to dietary cholesterol wound up vindicating those of us inclined to consume fast-food abomina tions such as the Double Down -- strips of bacon sandwiched between two breaded chicken breasts loaded with cheese and special sauce. Yum.
We can now argue with authority, after all, that such a sandwich is lower in cholesterol than an egg yolk. Never mind that it has 540 calories, 30 grams of fat and 1,740 of sodium (more than the total recommended daily intake) in a few greasy bites.
It started with three University of Western On tario cardiologists out to reverse a growing public perception that dietary cholesterol is benign, a per ception they say is fuelled by a "sustained propaganda campaign from the egg producers' lobby."
While eating eggs isn't so bad if you are not at risk of heart disease, the problem is, there are woe fully few of us in that category these days. "The consequences of high cholesterol intake in those at increased risk of cardiovascular disease who are sedentary and not losing weight -- especially when already consuming relatively high levels of satur ated fat -- give reason for concern," the study said.
In short, the majority of the population would find limiting consumption of cholesterol-rich foods beneficial.
The original study, published in the November Canadian Journal of Cardiol ogy, doesn't even mention the Double Down. It com pared egg yolks to a Har dee's Monster Thickburger, although it reached the same conclusion. It was the university's communica tors that pulled in the KFC Double Down, probably because it had more headline-grabbing cachet.
One egg yolk contains about 195 mg choles terol, five grams of fat and 70 calories. Daily rec ommended cholesterol intake is around 200 mg.
The Hardee Monster contains 210 mg of choles terol while the Double Down contains 150 mg.
Out came the headlines: "Eggs far from sunny up, doctors warn," or "Eggs versus the Double Down: Guess who wins?"
Then the spit hit the pan. Egg producers rose to defend the egg's nutritional reputation -- and their livelihoods -- by tackling the medical pro fessionals.
"With obesity increasing in North America at an alarming rate, medical professionals should be encouraging the consumption of nutrient dense, low-calorie foods, such as eggs, rather than suggesting that high-fat, fast food is better for health," Bonnie Cohen, a registered dietitian with Egg Farmers of Canada, sputtered in a release.
"Comments made by these same researchers that a popular high-fat, high-calorie sandwich is more nutritious than eggs are quite simply ir responsible."
For the record, the journal article didn't say the Double Down was more nutritious. What the researchers said was, egg yolks contain more cholesterol.
And they didn't promote the fast-food concoc tions as healthy.
There is debate in the research community around the relevance of dietary cholesterol. But even if these doctors are dead wrong, egg produ cers still wouldn't have won this fight.
It comes down to the relative scale of cred ibility. Egg farmers have a vested interest in convincing people to eat eggs.
If heart doctors were only looking after their own interests, they'd be telling people to eat all the eggs and Double Downs they could stom ach -- because it might bring more customers through their door.
Had egg producers paused to think this one through a little, they might have realized that they could sit this one out on the sidelines. A scan of the online comments that rolled in after the original story published shows the general public and independent dietitians were quick to pounce on the idiocy of such comparisons.
Egg producers might also have realized that they could have positioned themselves on the same side as the highly credible doctors. They could have seized the opportunity to promote their own Healthy Choices Cholesterol Kit, which is available online and stresses many of the same points the doctors made.
One of Nature's own "fast-foods," eggs -- when consumed in moderation -- are a nifty, low-cal, low-fat nutritional package that complements a healthy lifestyle.
You simply can't make that argument about a Double Down.
That the doctors are questioning egg market ing campaigns should be cause for sober second thought, not sabre rattling.
Instead, Canada's egg farmers went charging into a box-end canyon from which there was no escape.
When this is written up in the food war chron icles, the chapter could aptly be called: Custard's Last Stand.
more from here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/Farmers-left-with-egg-on-faces-after-fatty-food-fight--106819313.html
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Surprising Supplements
Another great news article on what food supplements we can take that can lower our cholesterol. Read on:
NAPSI)-From better skin to better brain function, there could be more benefits to a daily vitamin than you might expect.
That’s the news from experts who say that fish oil, for instance, may fight free radicals linked to premature aging and possibly cut LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.
The Good Fat
Omega-3 fatty acids are brain-boosting, cholesterol-clearing monounsaturated good fats. They can help joints, skin, vision, brain and heart. Anti-inflammatory, they’re found naturally in walnuts, salmon, tuna, olive oil, avocados and in fish oil supplements.
Fighting Cold and Flu
Vitamin C may help reduce the length of a cold or flu. The vitamin is also necessary to form cartilage and collagen in bones, along with muscle and blood vessels.
Get Energized
B vitamins—and especially B12—have been called “energy vitamins.” They also support the immune and nervous systems and other important body functions.
The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D helps bones, the brain and the immune system and might play a role in reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and cancer.
More from here: http://www.napsnet.com/articles/65122.html
NAPSI)-From better skin to better brain function, there could be more benefits to a daily vitamin than you might expect.
That’s the news from experts who say that fish oil, for instance, may fight free radicals linked to premature aging and possibly cut LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.
The Good Fat
Omega-3 fatty acids are brain-boosting, cholesterol-clearing monounsaturated good fats. They can help joints, skin, vision, brain and heart. Anti-inflammatory, they’re found naturally in walnuts, salmon, tuna, olive oil, avocados and in fish oil supplements.
Fighting Cold and Flu
Vitamin C may help reduce the length of a cold or flu. The vitamin is also necessary to form cartilage and collagen in bones, along with muscle and blood vessels.
Get Energized
B vitamins—and especially B12—have been called “energy vitamins.” They also support the immune and nervous systems and other important body functions.
The Sunshine Vitamin
Vitamin D helps bones, the brain and the immune system and might play a role in reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and cancer.
More from here: http://www.napsnet.com/articles/65122.html
Friday, November 5, 2010
Nature’s perfect snack food
An interesting news article about apples and how it can make our daily snacking diets much healthier. With all the fiber and phenols in this fruit, it's a sure way to lower our cholesterol. So instead of munching your favorite chips when you're at work, try apples. Read on for more details:
Apples come in more than a thousand varieties, each one full of nutrients
Nature’s perfect snack food. Amy Thom gets ready to taste a fresh Ontario apple. Produce bins are brimming with local varieties perfect for eating, baking and preserving. Jennifer Harker photo
MIDLAND – An apple a day might not actually keep the doctor away, but it can play a role in promoting good health.
Packed with Vitamin C, potassium, antioxidant flavonoids, phenols to fight high cholesterol, and a healthy dose of fibre, apples are a convenient on-the-go snack food that comes in its own natural, neat and tidy package.
A medium-sized apple has about 80 calories and, with its natural sugars, can curb candy cravings without the high calories and tooth decay of regular sweets.
What’s more, scientific findings reveal this family favourite can fight neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s with its phytonutrients.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham, meanwhile, recently showed that people who eat five or more apples per week have lower rates of respiratory problems, including asthma.
Consumers have a rainbow of choices when it comes to apples, and produce bins are brimming with a selection of Ontario varieties. Heather Smith from Gianetto’s Fruit Market in Midland said there are more than 1,000 types of apple grown around the world, but the most popular Ontario-grown apples are McIntosh, red and golden delicious, empire, idared, mutsu/crispin, cortland, northern spy, russet, honey crisp and gala.
“Many varieties are crosses between different apples,” Smith explained. “For example, crispin is a cross between golden delicious and the Japanese indo apple.”
Most Ontario apples are available beginning in October and lasting in dry storage until the spring. Taste varies between tart apples such as idared and sweet varieties such as honeycrisp; textures range from soft varieties like red delicious to firm apples like the northern spy.
“Different varieties are used for different purposes,” Smith said. “People will say, ‘What do I use for this?’ or ‘I want a sweet apple. I want a tart apple.’ McIntosh are good for eating and apple sauce, spy for pies and baking, and cortland for salad and fruit plates.
“Most customers are looking for a quick and healthy snack, but we also have many people that buy for baking pies, cobblers, apple sauce and many other types of desserts.”
Smith said they aim to stock local apples at their King Street store whenever possible.
“When available, we carry local McIntosh apples from Elmvale, but most of our varieties are from the Collingwood-Meaford area. At present, we have eight Ontario varieties and continue to carry them as long as they are available.”
More from here: http://www.simcoe.com/community/food/article/898073--nature-s-perfect-snack-food
Apples come in more than a thousand varieties, each one full of nutrients
Nature’s perfect snack food. Amy Thom gets ready to taste a fresh Ontario apple. Produce bins are brimming with local varieties perfect for eating, baking and preserving. Jennifer Harker photo
MIDLAND – An apple a day might not actually keep the doctor away, but it can play a role in promoting good health.
Packed with Vitamin C, potassium, antioxidant flavonoids, phenols to fight high cholesterol, and a healthy dose of fibre, apples are a convenient on-the-go snack food that comes in its own natural, neat and tidy package.
A medium-sized apple has about 80 calories and, with its natural sugars, can curb candy cravings without the high calories and tooth decay of regular sweets.
What’s more, scientific findings reveal this family favourite can fight neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s with its phytonutrients.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham, meanwhile, recently showed that people who eat five or more apples per week have lower rates of respiratory problems, including asthma.
Consumers have a rainbow of choices when it comes to apples, and produce bins are brimming with a selection of Ontario varieties. Heather Smith from Gianetto’s Fruit Market in Midland said there are more than 1,000 types of apple grown around the world, but the most popular Ontario-grown apples are McIntosh, red and golden delicious, empire, idared, mutsu/crispin, cortland, northern spy, russet, honey crisp and gala.
“Many varieties are crosses between different apples,” Smith explained. “For example, crispin is a cross between golden delicious and the Japanese indo apple.”
Most Ontario apples are available beginning in October and lasting in dry storage until the spring. Taste varies between tart apples such as idared and sweet varieties such as honeycrisp; textures range from soft varieties like red delicious to firm apples like the northern spy.
“Different varieties are used for different purposes,” Smith said. “People will say, ‘What do I use for this?’ or ‘I want a sweet apple. I want a tart apple.’ McIntosh are good for eating and apple sauce, spy for pies and baking, and cortland for salad and fruit plates.
“Most customers are looking for a quick and healthy snack, but we also have many people that buy for baking pies, cobblers, apple sauce and many other types of desserts.”
Smith said they aim to stock local apples at their King Street store whenever possible.
“When available, we carry local McIntosh apples from Elmvale, but most of our varieties are from the Collingwood-Meaford area. At present, we have eight Ontario varieties and continue to carry them as long as they are available.”
More from here: http://www.simcoe.com/community/food/article/898073--nature-s-perfect-snack-food
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Waterleaf, star apple, antidote to stroke
Take a look at this interesting study that may prevent stroke. Hope this gives us more options on our healthy diet plans. Read on:
IT’S well known that physical activity is good for heart’s health, as it reduces the risk of stroke. In addition, researchers have hinted that regular consumption of waterleaf may be an adjunct to other measures individuals could adopt to fight stroke.
Vegetables such as waterleaf serve as indispensable constituents of human diet which supplies the body with minerals, vitamins, certain hormone precursors as well as protein and energy. Several vegetable species abound in Nigeria and most West African countries, where they are eaten partly as condiments or spices in human diets.
In a new study that looked at the chemical substances in Talinum triangulare (water leaf), researchers found waterleaf was a rich source of chemical substances (flavonoids, alkanoids and tannins) helpful in the management of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and obesity.
The study entitled “Phytochemical Composition of Talinum triangulare (Waterleaf) ” was carried out by P.M. Aja, A.N.C. Okaka, P.N. Onu, U. Ibiam and A.J. Urako from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
They said in the 2010 Pakistan Journal of Nutrition that “its high levels of flavonoids showed that the vegetable is good for the management of cardiovascular diseases and oxidative stress, since flavonoids are biologic antioxidants.”
Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen, super oxide, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrile. An imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress, leading to damages in the cells of the body.
Oxidative stresses have been linked to cancer, ageing, atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels), inflammation, ischemic injury and neuro-degenerative diseases (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s).
Epidemiological studies have shown that flavonoids and carotenoids intake is inversely related to cases of deaths arising from coronary heart diseases and to the incidence of heart attacks.
A preliminary screening of some plant extracts for molluscidal activity by Professor E. A Sofowora and Professor A. O Adewunmi also mentioned water leaf as medically useful in the management of cardiovascular diseases like stroke and obesity.
Meanwhile, experts have reiterated the importance of lowering blood cholesterol level in the prevention or reduction of cardiovascular diseases, the major ones being coronary heart diseases, stroke and hypertension.
Blighia sapida is a medicinal plant which experts have suggested, could help to significantly reduce the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. This is of clinical importance to individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Blighia sapida is commonly known as Ackee in Nigeria, it is called Gwanja Kusa in Hausa, Isin in Yoruba and Okpu in Igbo. Extracts of Blighia sapida are commonly employed in folk medicine to treat a wide range of disease conditions, especially in developing countries. In folk medicine practice, its pulp and leafy parts are used as eye drop in ophthalmic and conjunctivitis.
In Brazil, repeated small doses of an aqueous extract of its seed have been administered to expel parasites. Pharmacological screenings have shown that it is also useful in the prevention of diarrhoea.
According to a study that set out to investigate the validity or otherwise of the use of the plant extract in atherosclerotic conditions in folk medicine, the researchers found that both its water and methanolic extracts caused a significant reduction in the level of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol levels, while significantly higher values were observed for the HDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups when compared with the control.
The authors of the study attributed the reduction in the level of the bad cholesterol in the blood to the effect of saponin, a chemical substance, which reduced the uptake of cholesterol from the intestine into the blood stream.
According to them, “the observed increase in HDL-cholesterol concentration upon the administration of the extract indicates that the extract doses have HDL-cholesterol boosting effect; this effect is concentration-dependent for aqueous extract.
“This study shows that the plant extract could be useful in the improvement and management of complications associated with patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.”
The researchers involved in this 2010 study entitled “Changes in Lipid Profile of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extract of Blighia sapida in Rats” and published by Asian Journal of Medical Sciences were O.A. Owolabi, D.B. James, A.B. Ibrahim, O.F. Folorunsho, I. Bwalla and F. Akanta from Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria.
In addition, another plant, which experts are suggesting to be helpful in keeping stroke and other cardiovascular problems at bay is Phyllanthus amarus. The medicinal plant, whose whole plant is usually soaked in hot water or cooked in locally brewed alcohol and drank as tea, has attained the status of a miracle plant because of its ability to cure several ailments as claimed by its proponents. For example, it is used for the treatment of malaria, jaundice and diabetes.
In clinical research over the years, experts said in the journal, “Phototherapy Research,” that the plant has demonstrated its usefulness as a liver protector, pain reliever, in the control of high blood pressure and as a good contraceptive.
Another candidate for preventing stroke is Chrysophyllum Albidum, which is often called the white star apple. In South-western Nigeria, the fruit is called “agbalumo” and popularly referred to as “udara” in South-eastern Nigeria.
C. albidum is a popular tropical fruit tree whose roots, barks and leaves have been employed in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. The bark is used for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria, while the leaf is used for the treatment of skin eruption, stomachache and diarrhea.
A study that provided information on the effects of the ethanolic leaf extract on biochemical and haematological parameters in albino Wistar rats and carried out by A. H. Adebayo, A. O. Abolaji, T. K. Opata and I. K. Adegbenro from College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, authenticates that the leaf extract of C. albidum can help to thin the blood (antiplatelet effect) as well as regulate the sugar level in blood sugar.
Platelet activity may play a major role in the development as well as in the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and as a consequence, antiplatelet agents have been used clinically in patients at risk for myocardial ischemia, unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction.
No doubt, findings and appropriation of plants that are clinical and nutritional relevant to prevention of stroke are worth the trial.
More from here: http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/natural-health/13071-waterleaf-star-apple-antidote-to-stroke
IT’S well known that physical activity is good for heart’s health, as it reduces the risk of stroke. In addition, researchers have hinted that regular consumption of waterleaf may be an adjunct to other measures individuals could adopt to fight stroke.
Vegetables such as waterleaf serve as indispensable constituents of human diet which supplies the body with minerals, vitamins, certain hormone precursors as well as protein and energy. Several vegetable species abound in Nigeria and most West African countries, where they are eaten partly as condiments or spices in human diets.
In a new study that looked at the chemical substances in Talinum triangulare (water leaf), researchers found waterleaf was a rich source of chemical substances (flavonoids, alkanoids and tannins) helpful in the management of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and obesity.
The study entitled “Phytochemical Composition of Talinum triangulare (Waterleaf) ” was carried out by P.M. Aja, A.N.C. Okaka, P.N. Onu, U. Ibiam and A.J. Urako from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
They said in the 2010 Pakistan Journal of Nutrition that “its high levels of flavonoids showed that the vegetable is good for the management of cardiovascular diseases and oxidative stress, since flavonoids are biologic antioxidants.”
Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen, super oxide, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrile. An imbalance between antioxidants and reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress, leading to damages in the cells of the body.
Oxidative stresses have been linked to cancer, ageing, atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels), inflammation, ischemic injury and neuro-degenerative diseases (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s).
Epidemiological studies have shown that flavonoids and carotenoids intake is inversely related to cases of deaths arising from coronary heart diseases and to the incidence of heart attacks.
A preliminary screening of some plant extracts for molluscidal activity by Professor E. A Sofowora and Professor A. O Adewunmi also mentioned water leaf as medically useful in the management of cardiovascular diseases like stroke and obesity.
Meanwhile, experts have reiterated the importance of lowering blood cholesterol level in the prevention or reduction of cardiovascular diseases, the major ones being coronary heart diseases, stroke and hypertension.
Blighia sapida is a medicinal plant which experts have suggested, could help to significantly reduce the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. This is of clinical importance to individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Blighia sapida is commonly known as Ackee in Nigeria, it is called Gwanja Kusa in Hausa, Isin in Yoruba and Okpu in Igbo. Extracts of Blighia sapida are commonly employed in folk medicine to treat a wide range of disease conditions, especially in developing countries. In folk medicine practice, its pulp and leafy parts are used as eye drop in ophthalmic and conjunctivitis.
In Brazil, repeated small doses of an aqueous extract of its seed have been administered to expel parasites. Pharmacological screenings have shown that it is also useful in the prevention of diarrhoea.
According to a study that set out to investigate the validity or otherwise of the use of the plant extract in atherosclerotic conditions in folk medicine, the researchers found that both its water and methanolic extracts caused a significant reduction in the level of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol levels, while significantly higher values were observed for the HDL-cholesterol in all the treated groups when compared with the control.
The authors of the study attributed the reduction in the level of the bad cholesterol in the blood to the effect of saponin, a chemical substance, which reduced the uptake of cholesterol from the intestine into the blood stream.
According to them, “the observed increase in HDL-cholesterol concentration upon the administration of the extract indicates that the extract doses have HDL-cholesterol boosting effect; this effect is concentration-dependent for aqueous extract.
“This study shows that the plant extract could be useful in the improvement and management of complications associated with patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.”
The researchers involved in this 2010 study entitled “Changes in Lipid Profile of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extract of Blighia sapida in Rats” and published by Asian Journal of Medical Sciences were O.A. Owolabi, D.B. James, A.B. Ibrahim, O.F. Folorunsho, I. Bwalla and F. Akanta from Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria.
In addition, another plant, which experts are suggesting to be helpful in keeping stroke and other cardiovascular problems at bay is Phyllanthus amarus. The medicinal plant, whose whole plant is usually soaked in hot water or cooked in locally brewed alcohol and drank as tea, has attained the status of a miracle plant because of its ability to cure several ailments as claimed by its proponents. For example, it is used for the treatment of malaria, jaundice and diabetes.
In clinical research over the years, experts said in the journal, “Phototherapy Research,” that the plant has demonstrated its usefulness as a liver protector, pain reliever, in the control of high blood pressure and as a good contraceptive.
Another candidate for preventing stroke is Chrysophyllum Albidum, which is often called the white star apple. In South-western Nigeria, the fruit is called “agbalumo” and popularly referred to as “udara” in South-eastern Nigeria.
C. albidum is a popular tropical fruit tree whose roots, barks and leaves have been employed in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases. The bark is used for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria, while the leaf is used for the treatment of skin eruption, stomachache and diarrhea.
A study that provided information on the effects of the ethanolic leaf extract on biochemical and haematological parameters in albino Wistar rats and carried out by A. H. Adebayo, A. O. Abolaji, T. K. Opata and I. K. Adegbenro from College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, authenticates that the leaf extract of C. albidum can help to thin the blood (antiplatelet effect) as well as regulate the sugar level in blood sugar.
Platelet activity may play a major role in the development as well as in the stability of atherosclerotic plaques and as a consequence, antiplatelet agents have been used clinically in patients at risk for myocardial ischemia, unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction.
No doubt, findings and appropriation of plants that are clinical and nutritional relevant to prevention of stroke are worth the trial.
More from here: http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/natural-health/13071-waterleaf-star-apple-antidote-to-stroke
Saturday, October 30, 2010
More Lipitor Recalled
Here's a breaking news article about Pfizer's recall of Lipitor in the US. If you read on, there are also some alternatives at the bottom part of this news.
Pfizer releases an additional recall of another 38,000 bottles of Lipitor, the medication that aides in the fight of cholesterol. The recall was prompted by reports of odors coming from bottles.
The recall concerns Lipitor 40mg tablets that had been distributed in the United States. The company is claiming that the bottles used came from a third party manufacturer.
Pfizer states that they have thoroughly appraised the core of the cause, which was an sporadic exposure of the bottles to low levels of tribomanisole (TBA) as they are stored or shipped. According to the company the number of compliments was less than three per million of bottles.Pfizer has also recalled greater than 190,000 of Lipitor at the beginning of this year due to compliments of similar odors coming from bottles.
Research shows that a main source of TBA, seems to be 2, 4, 6 tribomanisole(TBP) a chemical used for wood preservatives. Even though TBP usually is used on wood pallets to transport and store an assortment of products, Pfizer bans the use of TBP-treated wood in shipments of their medications.
Pfizer states that a medical evaluation found the risk for health problems in patients to be very small.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports of medication contamination have been associated to mold and musty odors in food and wine products.
The FDA states that current available information shows that serious risk of negative health outcomes have not come from ingestion of medications or foods that were contaminated with the compound levels that were reported.
However, the FDA does take note of another issue which arise from contaminated medications.As noted on the FDA website even though if the health effects are small, they do have concern that patients sensing an unusual odor which is not underling to the product will stop taking their medication.
Pfizer states that they do not foresee a shortage of the product due to the recent recall. Anyone with questions may call 1-888-LIPITOR (1-888-547-4867).Over 106 million adults or one in six have high cholesterol in the United States. This means they have levels of 200mg or higher according to guidelines set by the government.Most conventional healthcare practitioners prescribe medications to lower the levels. The most popular ones include Zocor and Lipitrol.
However, there are alternative treatments to lower high cholesterol besides being dependent on medications which can give side effects the most common ones include headaches, joint and muscle pain, back pain and nausea.If choosing to use alternative treatments and still taking prescribed medications check with your practitioners as some herbs and supplements can cause adverse side effects when used with prescription medications.
Herbal
Garlic: Garlic may just decrease total blood levels of total cholesterol by a couple of percentage points according to studies. Garlic can interfere with certain medications and may extend bleeding and blood clotting time. Do not take prior to having any surgery or if on blood-thinning medications.
Guggulipid: A gum resin from the mukul myrrh tree. It can greatly decrease blood level totals of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Clinical studies in India have substantiated this herb. Further research in the United States is still ongoing to determine safety and effectiveness.
Policosanol: Made from sugar can is found to be effective in decreasing LDL levels in numerous studies.
Alfalfa: Studies have shown that saponins found in alfalfa seeds may block cholesterol absorption. In one small study it found taking 120mg a day had showed a moderate reduction in cholesterol.
Caspicum: Back to those chili peppers once more. In some studies it has been shown to decrease high cholesterol levels.Feenugreek Seeds: Its saponins are considered to stop cholesterol absorption and synthesis. Usual dose to lower cholesterol is three to five grams with each meal or 90gm at one time with a meal. Do not take if pregnant.
Nutrition
Consuming more dietary fiber, soy foods and plant compounds those much like cholesterol can greatly reduce LDL cholesterol.
Fiber: Plant foods like vegetables, fruit and legumes contain fiber. Soulable fiber can be located in foods such as oat bran, barley, apples, lentils, citrus fruits and beans.
Soybeans: By using soybeans or soy protein as a substitute for other types of protein have been proven to prevent coronary heart disease by decreasing LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. Soy protein can be found in things like soy yogurt, soy milk, tofu and other food products made from soy beans.
Phytosterols: These are found in small amounts in foods such as whole grains along with numerous fruits and vegetables. They decrease LDL cholesterol.
more from here: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7183520-more-lipitor-recalled
Pfizer releases an additional recall of another 38,000 bottles of Lipitor, the medication that aides in the fight of cholesterol. The recall was prompted by reports of odors coming from bottles.
The recall concerns Lipitor 40mg tablets that had been distributed in the United States. The company is claiming that the bottles used came from a third party manufacturer.
Pfizer states that they have thoroughly appraised the core of the cause, which was an sporadic exposure of the bottles to low levels of tribomanisole (TBA) as they are stored or shipped. According to the company the number of compliments was less than three per million of bottles.Pfizer has also recalled greater than 190,000 of Lipitor at the beginning of this year due to compliments of similar odors coming from bottles.
Research shows that a main source of TBA, seems to be 2, 4, 6 tribomanisole(TBP) a chemical used for wood preservatives. Even though TBP usually is used on wood pallets to transport and store an assortment of products, Pfizer bans the use of TBP-treated wood in shipments of their medications.
Pfizer states that a medical evaluation found the risk for health problems in patients to be very small.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports of medication contamination have been associated to mold and musty odors in food and wine products.
The FDA states that current available information shows that serious risk of negative health outcomes have not come from ingestion of medications or foods that were contaminated with the compound levels that were reported.
However, the FDA does take note of another issue which arise from contaminated medications.As noted on the FDA website even though if the health effects are small, they do have concern that patients sensing an unusual odor which is not underling to the product will stop taking their medication.
Pfizer states that they do not foresee a shortage of the product due to the recent recall. Anyone with questions may call 1-888-LIPITOR (1-888-547-4867).Over 106 million adults or one in six have high cholesterol in the United States. This means they have levels of 200mg or higher according to guidelines set by the government.Most conventional healthcare practitioners prescribe medications to lower the levels. The most popular ones include Zocor and Lipitrol.
However, there are alternative treatments to lower high cholesterol besides being dependent on medications which can give side effects the most common ones include headaches, joint and muscle pain, back pain and nausea.If choosing to use alternative treatments and still taking prescribed medications check with your practitioners as some herbs and supplements can cause adverse side effects when used with prescription medications.
Herbal
Garlic: Garlic may just decrease total blood levels of total cholesterol by a couple of percentage points according to studies. Garlic can interfere with certain medications and may extend bleeding and blood clotting time. Do not take prior to having any surgery or if on blood-thinning medications.
Guggulipid: A gum resin from the mukul myrrh tree. It can greatly decrease blood level totals of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Clinical studies in India have substantiated this herb. Further research in the United States is still ongoing to determine safety and effectiveness.
Policosanol: Made from sugar can is found to be effective in decreasing LDL levels in numerous studies.
Alfalfa: Studies have shown that saponins found in alfalfa seeds may block cholesterol absorption. In one small study it found taking 120mg a day had showed a moderate reduction in cholesterol.
Caspicum: Back to those chili peppers once more. In some studies it has been shown to decrease high cholesterol levels.Feenugreek Seeds: Its saponins are considered to stop cholesterol absorption and synthesis. Usual dose to lower cholesterol is three to five grams with each meal or 90gm at one time with a meal. Do not take if pregnant.
Nutrition
Consuming more dietary fiber, soy foods and plant compounds those much like cholesterol can greatly reduce LDL cholesterol.
Fiber: Plant foods like vegetables, fruit and legumes contain fiber. Soulable fiber can be located in foods such as oat bran, barley, apples, lentils, citrus fruits and beans.
Soybeans: By using soybeans or soy protein as a substitute for other types of protein have been proven to prevent coronary heart disease by decreasing LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides. Soy protein can be found in things like soy yogurt, soy milk, tofu and other food products made from soy beans.
Phytosterols: These are found in small amounts in foods such as whole grains along with numerous fruits and vegetables. They decrease LDL cholesterol.
more from here: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7183520-more-lipitor-recalled
Friday, October 29, 2010
Oat Extract May Cut Cholesterol
Another study to lower cholesterol. Read on:
A substance found in oats may help keep your cholesterol in check, a new study shows. The study found that oat beta-glucan (a type of carbohydrate compound) helped fight LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
The study included 367 participants with high cholesterol, all of whom ate two servings of a cereal containing either wheat fiber or oat beta-glucan every day for four weeks. Looking at data on the 345 people who completed the study, researchers determined that LDL cholesterol was significantly lower among those assigned to the oat beta-glucan cereal.
Beta-glucan is also found in a number of medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake. Test-tube research shows that beta-glucan may stimulate the immune system and therefore combat cancer. However, little is known about beta-glucan's potential to reduce cancer risk in humans.
A number of other natural substances (including red yeast rice and cinnamon) may also help reduce cholesterol levels, according to past research.
More from here: http://altmedicine.about.com/b/2010/10/28/oat-extract-may-cut-cholesterol.htm
A substance found in oats may help keep your cholesterol in check, a new study shows. The study found that oat beta-glucan (a type of carbohydrate compound) helped fight LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
The study included 367 participants with high cholesterol, all of whom ate two servings of a cereal containing either wheat fiber or oat beta-glucan every day for four weeks. Looking at data on the 345 people who completed the study, researchers determined that LDL cholesterol was significantly lower among those assigned to the oat beta-glucan cereal.
Beta-glucan is also found in a number of medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake and maitake. Test-tube research shows that beta-glucan may stimulate the immune system and therefore combat cancer. However, little is known about beta-glucan's potential to reduce cancer risk in humans.
A number of other natural substances (including red yeast rice and cinnamon) may also help reduce cholesterol levels, according to past research.
More from here: http://altmedicine.about.com/b/2010/10/28/oat-extract-may-cut-cholesterol.htm
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pfizer Makes Headway in the Fight Against Lung Cancer
Checkout this breaking news about the fight against lung cancer from pfizer. Read on:
Pfizer (PFE) is known as the company that brought consumers erectile dysfunction drug Viagra and the best-selling drug in the world, cholesterol fighter Lipitor. This week it also announced it was making headway in the fight against the most common killer cancer -- lung cancer. The news pushed shares of the world's largest pharmaceutical up 1.7% today to $17.57.
Pfizer's cancer drug crizotinib was able to shrink tumors of non-small-cell lung cancer patients whose tumors carried a specific genetic mutation, EML4-ALK, which fuses two genes. The early-stage study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes. In 2006, it accounted for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Just over 200,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, and nearly 160,000 died from lung cancer that year.
"It Is Gratifying"
In the crizotinib trial, 82 patients had the gene mutation. The tumors of 46 patients who took the oral drug shrank by more than 30%. One patient's tumor disappeared entirely. That's 57% of patients who had either a complete or partial response to treatment. Crizotinib stopped tumor growth in 27 of the patients, or 33%. The study authors estimated that for 72% of patients, the disease wouldn't worsen for six months.
"It is gratifying to learn of responses like those seen in our study of crizotinib (PF-02341066), especially when you consider that most patients had already received two or more therapies by the time they entered the trial," said Dr. Eunice Kwak, from Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study.
But, as the study also notes, patients without the specific abnormality didn't have a response to treatment. And unfortunately, only 2% to 7% of people with non-small-cell lung cancer have the mutation. Further, another study published in the NEJM reported a patient who developed resistance to the drug. Still, 5% of lung cancer cases is about 10,000 patients in the U.S.
Sponsored Links
Kwak added that the study highlights the need for more studies on specific gene mutations to create better targeted therapies. Indeed, HealthDay notes that the mutation is also found in other cancers such as sarcoma, childhood brain tumors and some lymphomas, breast and colon cancers. Pfizer hopes crizotinib could prove effective in treating those as well.
"While this is a Phase I study, the high response rates observed in patients with ALK-positive (lung cancer) who received crizotinib suggest that we may be one step closer to the development of 'precision' or 'personalized' cancer treatments that target specific genetic factors that drive certain tumors," said Pfizer's Dr. Mace Rothenberg in a statement.
A Phase III trial of the drug has already begun. And according to Reuters, Pfizer said it planned to start submitting data for approval of the drug to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early next year.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/cGpxSG
Pfizer's cancer drug crizotinib was able to shrink tumors of non-small-cell lung cancer patients whose tumors carried a specific genetic mutation, EML4-ALK, which fuses two genes. The early-stage study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More people die from lung cancer than any other type of cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes. In 2006, it accounted for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer combined. Just over 200,000 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, and nearly 160,000 died from lung cancer that year.
"It Is Gratifying"
In the crizotinib trial, 82 patients had the gene mutation. The tumors of 46 patients who took the oral drug shrank by more than 30%. One patient's tumor disappeared entirely. That's 57% of patients who had either a complete or partial response to treatment. Crizotinib stopped tumor growth in 27 of the patients, or 33%. The study authors estimated that for 72% of patients, the disease wouldn't worsen for six months.
"It is gratifying to learn of responses like those seen in our study of crizotinib (PF-02341066), especially when you consider that most patients had already received two or more therapies by the time they entered the trial," said Dr. Eunice Kwak, from Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study.
But, as the study also notes, patients without the specific abnormality didn't have a response to treatment. And unfortunately, only 2% to 7% of people with non-small-cell lung cancer have the mutation. Further, another study published in the NEJM reported a patient who developed resistance to the drug. Still, 5% of lung cancer cases is about 10,000 patients in the U.S.
Sponsored Links
Kwak added that the study highlights the need for more studies on specific gene mutations to create better targeted therapies. Indeed, HealthDay notes that the mutation is also found in other cancers such as sarcoma, childhood brain tumors and some lymphomas, breast and colon cancers. Pfizer hopes crizotinib could prove effective in treating those as well.
"While this is a Phase I study, the high response rates observed in patients with ALK-positive (lung cancer) who received crizotinib suggest that we may be one step closer to the development of 'precision' or 'personalized' cancer treatments that target specific genetic factors that drive certain tumors," said Pfizer's Dr. Mace Rothenberg in a statement.
A Phase III trial of the drug has already begun. And according to Reuters, Pfizer said it planned to start submitting data for approval of the drug to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early next year.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/cGpxSG
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Judge Credits AstraZeneca's 'Prior Invention' Claim in Patent Fight
Here's one news article about a patent fight for the cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor (which is what I'm taking now). Read on:
A federal judge has dismissed a patent infringement suit brought by Teva Pharmaceuticals after finding that its claims of infringing product formulations in the cholesterol drug Crestor were "conceived of and reduced to practice" by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals prior to Teva's patent.
The decision by U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. in Teva v. AstraZeneca was premised on the century-old axiom in patent law that "a product which would literally infringe if later in time anticipates if earlier."
In other words, a company accused of infringing a patent can win the case by showing that it was the first to invent and use it, and that the other company's patent is therefore invalid because of the prior invention.
AstraZeneca's lawyers decided that was the best litigation strategy when Teva filed suit alleging that the drug Crestor included formulations that infringed on a Teva patent.
In its summary judgment motion, AstraZeneca hypothetically conceded infringement, saying it would agree for argument's sake that the accused formulations in Crestor fell within the scope of the Teva patent.
They then argued that Teva's patent should be declared invalid because of AstraZeneca's "prior invention."
The defense team -- led by Jamie B. Bischoff of Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia and Charles E. Lipsey of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner in Reston, Va. -- argued that the undisputed evidence showed that AstraZeneca invented the formulations first.
Invoking Section 102(g)(2) as an affirmative defense, AstraZeneca argued that it made the same Crestor product formulations that Teva accuses of infringement before December 1999 -- the earliest date by which Teva claims to have conceived of them -- and that AstraZeneca has not "abandoned, suppressed, or concealed" the formulations.
Teva's lawyers -- Jeffrey J. Toney and Darcy L. Jones of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta -- insisted that AstraZeneca fell short of proving its Section 102 defense.
The plaintiff's team argued that even if AstraZeneca had created the exact infringing commercial formulation in mid-1999, AstraZeneca still could not prove conception or reduction to practice of the invention because there was no evidence that AstraZeneca ever "appreciated" critically important aspects of how the formulations promoted chemical stability.
Now, in a 31-page opinion, Yohn has sided with AstraZeneca on every point.
The hypothetical concession of infringement, Yohn said, satisfied the first prong of the Section 102 defense by showing that Crestor's product formulations meet the limits of the Teva patent.
Yohn also rejected Teva's argument that AstraZeneca cannot show that it appreciated the stabilizing effects of its formulations prior to Teva's patent.
"A prior inventor need not always have appreciated every feature recited in a patent claim in order to have conceived of or reduced to practice the claimed invention," Yohn wrote.
The evidence was undisputed, Yohn found, that AstraZeneca set out to produce a stable pharmaceutical composition containing a statin that could be produced commercially.
"AstraZeneca thus appreciated that its creation possessed the relevant inventive feature -- stability -- even if its understanding of how its creation achieved stability was incorrect," Yohn wrote.
As a result, Yohn found that Teva's discovery that the formulation contributes to stability is "the sort of scientific explanation for a prior art composition's functioning that the Federal Circuit has found to be an inherent property of the prior art in other cases."
The discovery of such an inherent property, Yohn said, "does not make the pharmaceutical compositions claimed by Teva -- which AstraZeneca undisputedly made first -- new."
In his final paragraphs, Yohn declared that AstraZeneca was entitled to summary judgment because it "has presented clear, convincing, and undisputed evidence with which a reasonable jury could not disagree that it conceived and reduced to practice an embodiment meeting the limitations of the asserted claims of Teva's 502 patent before Teva did, and that it did not abandon, suppress, or conceal its invention."
Toney, the lead plaintiffs lawyer, declined to comment on the ruling. Bischoff, in a brief interview, said the decision ends the case and that AstraZeneca is pleased with the result.
More from here: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202473973070&Judge_Credits_AstraZenecas_Prior_Invention_Claim_in_Patent_Fight
A federal judge has dismissed a patent infringement suit brought by Teva Pharmaceuticals after finding that its claims of infringing product formulations in the cholesterol drug Crestor were "conceived of and reduced to practice" by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals prior to Teva's patent.
The decision by U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. in Teva v. AstraZeneca was premised on the century-old axiom in patent law that "a product which would literally infringe if later in time anticipates if earlier."
In other words, a company accused of infringing a patent can win the case by showing that it was the first to invent and use it, and that the other company's patent is therefore invalid because of the prior invention.
AstraZeneca's lawyers decided that was the best litigation strategy when Teva filed suit alleging that the drug Crestor included formulations that infringed on a Teva patent.
In its summary judgment motion, AstraZeneca hypothetically conceded infringement, saying it would agree for argument's sake that the accused formulations in Crestor fell within the scope of the Teva patent.
They then argued that Teva's patent should be declared invalid because of AstraZeneca's "prior invention."
The defense team -- led by Jamie B. Bischoff of Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia and Charles E. Lipsey of Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner in Reston, Va. -- argued that the undisputed evidence showed that AstraZeneca invented the formulations first.
Invoking Section 102(g)(2) as an affirmative defense, AstraZeneca argued that it made the same Crestor product formulations that Teva accuses of infringement before December 1999 -- the earliest date by which Teva claims to have conceived of them -- and that AstraZeneca has not "abandoned, suppressed, or concealed" the formulations.
Teva's lawyers -- Jeffrey J. Toney and Darcy L. Jones of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta -- insisted that AstraZeneca fell short of proving its Section 102 defense.
The plaintiff's team argued that even if AstraZeneca had created the exact infringing commercial formulation in mid-1999, AstraZeneca still could not prove conception or reduction to practice of the invention because there was no evidence that AstraZeneca ever "appreciated" critically important aspects of how the formulations promoted chemical stability.
Now, in a 31-page opinion, Yohn has sided with AstraZeneca on every point.
The hypothetical concession of infringement, Yohn said, satisfied the first prong of the Section 102 defense by showing that Crestor's product formulations meet the limits of the Teva patent.
Yohn also rejected Teva's argument that AstraZeneca cannot show that it appreciated the stabilizing effects of its formulations prior to Teva's patent.
"A prior inventor need not always have appreciated every feature recited in a patent claim in order to have conceived of or reduced to practice the claimed invention," Yohn wrote.
The evidence was undisputed, Yohn found, that AstraZeneca set out to produce a stable pharmaceutical composition containing a statin that could be produced commercially.
"AstraZeneca thus appreciated that its creation possessed the relevant inventive feature -- stability -- even if its understanding of how its creation achieved stability was incorrect," Yohn wrote.
As a result, Yohn found that Teva's discovery that the formulation contributes to stability is "the sort of scientific explanation for a prior art composition's functioning that the Federal Circuit has found to be an inherent property of the prior art in other cases."
The discovery of such an inherent property, Yohn said, "does not make the pharmaceutical compositions claimed by Teva -- which AstraZeneca undisputedly made first -- new."
In his final paragraphs, Yohn declared that AstraZeneca was entitled to summary judgment because it "has presented clear, convincing, and undisputed evidence with which a reasonable jury could not disagree that it conceived and reduced to practice an embodiment meeting the limitations of the asserted claims of Teva's 502 patent before Teva did, and that it did not abandon, suppress, or conceal its invention."
Toney, the lead plaintiffs lawyer, declined to comment on the ruling. Bischoff, in a brief interview, said the decision ends the case and that AstraZeneca is pleased with the result.
More from here: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202473973070&Judge_Credits_AstraZenecas_Prior_Invention_Claim_in_Patent_Fight
Eat office fruit as part of a healthy diet
Here's a news article about munching on fruits instead of junk foods during office hours. Read on:
If you're keen to consume a healthier diet, eating snacks from the office fruit basket could help you out.
There are plenty of treats which are packed full of energy-boosting sugars, while still being tasty and low in fat.
Office fruit grapes, for example, are a great source of the antioxidants phyto-chemicals, which help fight cholesterol and boost the immune system.
Eating treats from the office fruit delivery can be a good way to help you towards your five-a-day, which is becoming even more vital as new statistics have revealed one in ten UK adults is now considered to be obese.
Over the past few years, obesity rates in the country have accelerated rapidly, leading to 2.8 million people now falling into the classification, according to data from Diabetes UK.
"Being overweight can put a serious strain on a person's health," said David Ross, chief executive of The Hospital Group.
"Not only does being overweight have a huge impact on your health but it can also impact a person's confidence and self esteem which can cause their social life to suffer too."
More from here: http://www.fruitfuloffice.com/office-fruit-news-health/eat-office-fruit-as-part-of-a-healthy-diet/1517
If you're keen to consume a healthier diet, eating snacks from the office fruit basket could help you out.
There are plenty of treats which are packed full of energy-boosting sugars, while still being tasty and low in fat.
Office fruit grapes, for example, are a great source of the antioxidants phyto-chemicals, which help fight cholesterol and boost the immune system.
Eating treats from the office fruit delivery can be a good way to help you towards your five-a-day, which is becoming even more vital as new statistics have revealed one in ten UK adults is now considered to be obese.
Over the past few years, obesity rates in the country have accelerated rapidly, leading to 2.8 million people now falling into the classification, according to data from Diabetes UK.
"Being overweight can put a serious strain on a person's health," said David Ross, chief executive of The Hospital Group.
"Not only does being overweight have a huge impact on your health but it can also impact a person's confidence and self esteem which can cause their social life to suffer too."
More from here: http://www.fruitfuloffice.com/office-fruit-news-health/eat-office-fruit-as-part-of-a-healthy-diet/1517
Mower Senior Center: Learn more about how to fight diabetes
Here's an interesting news article about diabetes and hypertension. At the end of the article there are tips on improving one's condition. Read on:
Did you know that 21 million older Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes — and 60 percent of people with diabetes also have hypertension? If left untreated, these conditions can increase the risk of heart attack; stroke; angina; coronary artery disease; and kidney, eye, and nerve diseases.
Risk factors include age; being overweight and/or physically inactive; smoking; having high blood sugar, high cholesterol and/or consistently high blood pressure readings; and having a family history of diabetes or heart disease.
Medicare covers a number of screenings and supplies that can help you stay healthy. For example, Medicare Part B preventive benefits include diabetes screenings, eye exams and glaucoma tests, and foot exams. Medicare Part B also covers diabetes self-management training and supplies, medical nutrition therapy services and smoking cessation programs. Medicare Part D plans typically cover insulin, oral therapies for diabetes, and hypertension medications.
If you're diagnosed with pre-diabetes, diabetes or hypertension, you also can take the following steps to manage the condition:
• Become active for 30 minutes a day.
• Eat a healthful diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and exercise portion control.
• Take medication, if prescribed.
• Monitor your glucose levels.
• Quit smoking.
More from here: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=28&a=475946
Did you know that 21 million older Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes — and 60 percent of people with diabetes also have hypertension? If left untreated, these conditions can increase the risk of heart attack; stroke; angina; coronary artery disease; and kidney, eye, and nerve diseases.
Risk factors include age; being overweight and/or physically inactive; smoking; having high blood sugar, high cholesterol and/or consistently high blood pressure readings; and having a family history of diabetes or heart disease.
Medicare covers a number of screenings and supplies that can help you stay healthy. For example, Medicare Part B preventive benefits include diabetes screenings, eye exams and glaucoma tests, and foot exams. Medicare Part B also covers diabetes self-management training and supplies, medical nutrition therapy services and smoking cessation programs. Medicare Part D plans typically cover insulin, oral therapies for diabetes, and hypertension medications.
If you're diagnosed with pre-diabetes, diabetes or hypertension, you also can take the following steps to manage the condition:
• Become active for 30 minutes a day.
• Eat a healthful diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables and exercise portion control.
• Take medication, if prescribed.
• Monitor your glucose levels.
• Quit smoking.
More from here: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=28&a=475946
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sweet Sixteen
When I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with familial dyslipidemia. Searching the web, it's defined as an abnormal amount of lipids (e.g. cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood. Even though I'm on meds now, I still feel lucky as I was able to find out that I have it at the very early stage of my life. Having it discovered on maybe my 30s, it could have been more harmful to my body as I may have cholesterol build up in my arteries and could be on the verge of a heart attack now.
Anyway, 14 years after my diagnosis, I'm still fighting this battle of lowering my cholesterol through drug maintenance, a healthy diet and lots of exercise. Here's a list of the things I do in order to stay alive and healthy:
My goal is to stay close with the normal levels within then next 6 months. Take note that after 14 years of my battle with cholesterol, it's only now that I'm getting closer to the norm.
Stay tuned from more news, tips and stories on how we can stay fit and stay away from the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body.
Anyway, 14 years after my diagnosis, I'm still fighting this battle of lowering my cholesterol through drug maintenance, a healthy diet and lots of exercise. Here's a list of the things I do in order to stay alive and healthy:
- Maintenance Medication, today I'm taking Crestor and Fenoplex as my doctor may have finally gotten the most effective combination to decrease my bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Exercise. I'm lucky to get a high discount on one of the best gym clubs in Manila. I hit the gym and take some cardio classes or do some resistance training maybe at least thrice a week to keep my heart strong.
- Diet. This is one of the hardest to maintain. There are times where I allow myself to indulge on the not so good food but most of the time I stay true to my strict diet of high-fiber carbs and low fat food intake.
- Regular checkups. I undergo a stress test once a year and monitor cholesterol levels at least four times a year. This includes lipid profile plus my liver enzymes as my doctor says that this high cholesterol goes with fatty liver.
Just want to share with you my journey on trying to maintain my cholesterol levels by showing this chart.
My goal is to stay close with the normal levels within then next 6 months. Take note that after 14 years of my battle with cholesterol, it's only now that I'm getting closer to the norm.
Stay tuned from more news, tips and stories on how we can stay fit and stay away from the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body.
Chocolate compounds fight high cholesterol
Everyone loves chocolates right? Well, aside from the happiness and satisfaction we can get from it, here's a news article that says it also help us in lowering our cholesterol levels. Read on:
(NaturalNews) Chocolate has received a lot of attention for being a treasure trove of nutritional goodness. Polyphenols in cacao beans are linked to promoting heart, brain, and liver health, which has sparked renewed interest in chocolate as a medicinal food. And a new study adds to the growing list of benefits, showing that chocolate polyphenols also help to lower bad cholesterol.
Published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, the study tested the effects of polyphenol-rich chocolate in a group of 12 volunteers with type-2 diabetes. After 16 weeks, the researchers from Hull University in the U.K. discovered that the polyphenols helped lower participants' bad cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterol levels.
"Chocolate with a high cocoa content should be included in the diet of individuals with type-2 diabetes as part of a sensible, balanced approach to diet and lifestyle," said professor Steve Akin, author of the study.
Back in August, NaturalNews covered a Swedish study that found similar results (http://www.naturalnews.com/029559_c...). It also showed that high-flavanol chocolate that has been minimally processed is much different than the highly-processed chocolate candy sold in most grocery stores.
Actual cacao beans are rich in vital nutrients, including alkaloid bitters like theobromine (a different substance than the harmful bromine chemical), which stimulates the heart muscle and dilates blood vessels. This compound and others provide demonstrable benefits in lowering high blood pressure and maintaining healthy arteries.
Processed chocolate, however, has been stripped of most or all of these nutrients. Add in the bad fats and refined sugars and you are left with a chocolate product that is actually bad for your health. So when consuming chocolate, be sure to look for unprocessed, superfood varieties like those made by Transition Nutrition (www.TransitionNutrition.com), Empowered Chocolate (www.EmpoweredFoods.com), Sacred Chocolate (http://www.sacredchocolate.com/raw-...), and WildBar (www.WildBar.info).
See more from here: http://www.naturalnews.com/030098_chocolate_cholesterol.html
(NaturalNews) Chocolate has received a lot of attention for being a treasure trove of nutritional goodness. Polyphenols in cacao beans are linked to promoting heart, brain, and liver health, which has sparked renewed interest in chocolate as a medicinal food. And a new study adds to the growing list of benefits, showing that chocolate polyphenols also help to lower bad cholesterol.
Published in the journal Diabetic Medicine, the study tested the effects of polyphenol-rich chocolate in a group of 12 volunteers with type-2 diabetes. After 16 weeks, the researchers from Hull University in the U.K. discovered that the polyphenols helped lower participants' bad cholesterol levels while raising good cholesterol levels.
"Chocolate with a high cocoa content should be included in the diet of individuals with type-2 diabetes as part of a sensible, balanced approach to diet and lifestyle," said professor Steve Akin, author of the study.
Back in August, NaturalNews covered a Swedish study that found similar results (http://www.naturalnews.com/029559_c...). It also showed that high-flavanol chocolate that has been minimally processed is much different than the highly-processed chocolate candy sold in most grocery stores.
Actual cacao beans are rich in vital nutrients, including alkaloid bitters like theobromine (a different substance than the harmful bromine chemical), which stimulates the heart muscle and dilates blood vessels. This compound and others provide demonstrable benefits in lowering high blood pressure and maintaining healthy arteries.
Processed chocolate, however, has been stripped of most or all of these nutrients. Add in the bad fats and refined sugars and you are left with a chocolate product that is actually bad for your health. So when consuming chocolate, be sure to look for unprocessed, superfood varieties like those made by Transition Nutrition (www.TransitionNutrition.com), Empowered Chocolate (www.EmpoweredFoods.com), Sacred Chocolate (http://www.sacredchocolate.com/raw-...), and WildBar (www.WildBar.info).
See more from here: http://www.naturalnews.com/030098_chocolate_cholesterol.html
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog!
I created this blog to increase awareness of all Filipinos worldwide about the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body and what we can do as early as now in order to prevent any diseases related to having high levels of bad cholesterol in our body.
Please take time to subscribe to get the latest news and tips on maintaining bad cholesterol in our body.
I created this blog to increase awareness of all Filipinos worldwide about the harmful effects of bad cholesterol in our body and what we can do as early as now in order to prevent any diseases related to having high levels of bad cholesterol in our body.
Please take time to subscribe to get the latest news and tips on maintaining bad cholesterol in our body.
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