It turns out that along with all of the many benefits of consuming omega-3 fats, new research shows that it can help you live longer too.

Cardiologists from the University of California, San Francisco, and other hospitals measured telomere length over five years in 608 patients who had coronary-artery blockage and previous heart attacks. Researchers found that people with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their white blood cells experienced significantly less shortening of telomeres over five years, as compared with patients with lower omega-3 levels.

Telomeres are the part of your DNA that has been thought to indicate longevity.  Generally as people age their telomeres decrease in length.  The thinking, therefore is that if taking omega-3′s can be shown to decrease the decline of the telomeres, then they decrease the decline associated with aging as well.

For more info you can follow this link:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748703837004575013393566949312-lMyQjAxMTAwMDEwOTExNDkyWj.html

Related posts

• Can eating sugar really make you age faster? (15)
• Words to Live by from a 97 year old doctor (1)
• The 4 Habits of Highly Healthy People (1)
• Rolling the Dice with Vegetarianism (5)
• In Search of Perfect Health (3)
• How Bad Feelings Can Harm Your Health (0)
• Exercise your brain. Proven research for improving your memory and cognitive function. (6)

Think again about keeping little ones so squeaky clean

Research suggests that everyday germs may prevent diseases in adulthood

EVANSTON, Ill. — A new Northwestern University study suggests that American parents should ease up on antibacterial soap and perhaps allow their little ones a romp or two in the mud — or at least a much better acquaintance with everyday germs.

The study is the first to look at how microbial exposures early in life affect inflammatory processes related to diseases associated with aging in adulthood.

Most provocatively, the Northwestern study suggests that exposure to infectious microbes early in life may actually protect individuals from cardiovascular diseases that can lead to death as an adult.

“Contrary to assumptions related to earlier studies, our research suggests that ultra-clean, ultra-hygienic environments early in life may contribute to higher levels of inflammation as an adult, which in turn increases risks for a wide range of diseases,” said Thomas McDade, lead author of the study, associate professor of anthropology in Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and a faculty fellow at the Institute for Policy Research.

Relatively speaking, humans only recently have lived in such hyper-hygienic environments, he stressed.

The research suggests that inflammatory systems may need a higher level of exposure to common everyday bacteria and microbes to guide their development. “In other words, inflammatory networks may need the same type of microbial exposures early in life that have been part of the human environment for all of our evolutionary history to function optimally in adulthood,” said McDade, also a member of Northwestern’s Cells to Society (C2S).

The Northwestern study is the first research on microbial effects on inflammatory systems in infancy that relate in later life to diseases associated with aging. Advancing the scientific literature on the developmental origins of disease, the study arguably is the most significant research on long-term effects of early environments on human physiological function and health in adulthood.

The research took advantage of a longitudinal study of Filipinos, following participants in utero through 22 years of age, to get a better understanding of how environments early in life affect production of C-reactive protein (CRP) production in adulthood.

Levels of the protein rise in the blood due to inflammation, an integral part of the immune system’s fight against infection. CRP research mostly has centered on the protein as a predictor of heart disease, independent of lipids, cholesterol and blood pressure, though researchers still dispute that association. Researchers have been looking at excess body fat as a primary source of pro-inflammatory cytokines that produce CRP and behavioral factors related to diet, exercise and smoking. And the CRP research largely has been conducted in relatively affluent settings, such as in the United States, with low levels of infectious diseases.

The Northwestern researchers were interested in what CRP production looks like in the Philippines, a population with a high level of infectious diseases in early childhood compared to Western countries. Relative to Western countries, the Philippines also has relatively low rates of obesity and cardiovascular diseases, consistent with the Northwestern research findings.

Blood tests showed that C-reactive protein was at least 80 percent lower for study participants in the Philippines when they reached young adulthood, relative to their American counterparts, though the Filipinos suffered from many more infectious diseases as infants and toddlers. Filipino participants in their early 20s had average CRP concentrations of .2 milligrams per liter — five to seven times lower than average CRP levels for Americans. CRP concentrations for Americans in their early 20s were on average around 1 to 1.5 milligram per liter.

“Early Origins of Inflammation: Microbial Exposures in Infancy Predict Lower Levels of C-reactive Protein in Adulthood,” will be published online December 9 in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Besides Northwestern’s McDade, the co-authors are Julienne Rutherford, University of Illinois at Chicago; Linda Adair, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and Christopher Kuzawa, associate professor of anthropology in Weinberg at Northwestern.

The Northwestern study drew its data from a longitudinal study that began in the early 1980s with 3,327 Filipino mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy. The mothers were interviewed for behaviors related to care giving, and breast feedings were recorded. The household environment was assessed in terms of socioeconomic resources, hygiene (whether domestic animals, such as pigs and dogs, roamed freely) and density of inhabitants.

Researchers visited with the mothers at the delivery of their infants and subsequently every two months for the first two years of the children’s lives. Thereafter, the researchers followed up with the children every four or five years until they reached their early 20s. The records they kept on the children include data on infectious diseases, growth in height and weight.

“In the U.S we have this idea that we need to protect infants and children from microbes and pathogens at all possible costs,” McDade concluded.

“But we may be depriving developing immune networks of important environmental input needed to guide their function throughout childhood and into adulthood. Without this input, our research suggests, inflammation may be more likely to be poorly regulated and result in inflammatory responses that are overblown or more difficult to turn off once things get started.”

Related posts

• Words to Live by from a 97 year old doctor (1)
• The Raw Milk Ninja (0)
• The 4 Habits of Highly Healthy People (1)
• Rolling the Dice with Vegetarianism (5)
• On the path to real wellness (0)
• Omega-3′s can make you live longer (6)
• In Search of Perfect Health (3)

According the recent numbers released by the CDC, about 47 million people had the swine (H1N1) flu and about 9,820 people died from it.  My math suggests that the chance of dying from this terrible disease stands at about 1 in 4786, or 0.002% chance of dying if you caught the flu.  Keep in mind that they stopped testing for the H1N1 in the summer, so these stats are unreliable guesses, but based on the official numbers I would call this a mild disease.  So much for the panic.  Also did you see the news about Tamiflu and how it has no benefit in keeping people out of the hospital for flu complications.

Related posts

• Would you take the swine flu vaccine if your doctor or nurse wouldn’t? (7)
• Prevent the Flu, Naturally (6)
• Does the H1N1 Vaccine Matter? (9)
• Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure (1)
• THE FLU!!! (H1N1, swine flu, bird flu, killer flu) (13)
• Parents not forcing kids to have swine flu shot (2)
• How Dangerous is the Swine Flu Vaccine? (1)

A little publicized fact; the above stats are very similar to most every flu season in the past several years, meaning that the swine flu pandemic of 2009 is no more deadly or dangerous than the normal flu season of 2008 or 2007 or 2006.

Related posts

• Does the H1N1 Vaccine Matter? (9)
• Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure (1)
• THE FLU!!! (H1N1, swine flu, bird flu, killer flu) (13)
• Parents not forcing kids to have swine flu shot (2)
• Healthcare workers refuse the Swine Flu vaccine even if they’ll be fired for it (0)
• Would you take the swine flu vaccine if your doctor or nurse wouldn’t? (7)
• Swine Flu does NOT mutate into “Superbug” in a lab study (1)

Hoping to keep the flu at bay? A strong immune system helps. Enjoying the bounty of colorful fruits and vegetables available right now can be an important step toward supporting your family’s immune system this cold/flu season.

In addition to vitamins, minerals and fiber, fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients, believed to come from the com-pounds that give these foods their vibrant colors. These phytonutrients provide a wide range of health benefits, including supporting a healthy immune system.

A new study, America’s Phytonutrient Report, found eight in 10 Americans are missing out on the health benefits of a diet rich in colorful fruits and veggies, resulting in a phytonutrient gap. The report looked at fruit and vegetable consumption in five color categories, specifically green, red, white, blue/purple and yellow/orange, and the phytonutrients found in each color category.

Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is one way to help keep you and your family healthy. Foods in the red category are especially helpful to our immune systems, in addition to supporting heart health. Tomatoes, pomegranate, red cabbage, cranberries, even pink grapefruit provide the phytonutrients lycopene and ellagic acid.

The health benefits of foods in the yellow/orange category support a health immune function too…along with vision and heart health. And they help maintain skin hydration—important as we head into these cold, dry months. These foods pro-vide beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, quercetin and other phytonutrients that can be converted into Vitamin A. Deli-cious and nutritious yellow/orange fruits and vegetables available now include: carrots, squash, sweet potatoes and pi-neapple.

For optimal health, aim to eat two foods from each of the 5 color categories – green, red, white, blue/purple and orange/yellow – for a total of 10 servings each day. A few of Amy Hendel’s favorite tips to help fill phytonutrient gaps:

1. Instead of tossing out fruits or veggies that look a bit wilted or bruised, use them. Add chopped vegetables to canned soup. Bake cored apples with a bit of cinnamon, a sprinkle of raisins and lemon zest. Or, perk up a muf-fin recipe with by adding an over-riped banana.
2. When baking omega-3 rich fish, top with tomatoes, onions and other veggies, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes and rosemary. Herbs and spices are packed with antioxidants too.
3. Pureed fruit added to baking recipes gives moisture AND phytonutrients, while cutting fat. Try pureed plums in brownies and mashed cherries in meatloaf or hamburgers.
4. Finally, while eating whole fruits and vegetables is the goal, a natural, plant-based supplement like those made by Nutrilite can help fill phytonutrient gaps in your diet.

###

More information about phytonutrients and the phytonutrient gap , including America’s Phytonutrient Report and simple tips for coloring up your diet, can be found at http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2009/nutrilite90921nmr/index.html

Interviews available with health/wellness expert Amy Hendel, registered physician assistant

Hendel has more than 20 years experience providing nutrition and fitness therapy, counseling, education and consulting services to patients. She is certified in nutrition and exercise physiology and has a family lifestyle therapy practice. As a health contributor on NBC’s Today Show and as a featured blogger/expert on healthcentral.com, Amy has become a leading voice on the topic of lifestyle habits for families. She is a medical and lifestyle reporter, and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show and The Early Show.

For more information, or to book an interview, please contact Lisa Winternitz, at (312) 988-2146 or email at lwinternitz@webershandwick.com

 SOURCE: EurekAlert!

Related posts

• How Deadly is the Swine Flu (H1N1)? (0)
• Would you take the swine flu vaccine if your doctor or nurse wouldn’t? (7)
• The Organic vs. Conventional non-debate (6)
• THE FLU!!! (H1N1, swine flu, bird flu, killer flu) (13)
• How Dangerous is the Swine Flu Vaccine? (1)
• Does the H1N1 Vaccine Matter? (9)
• Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure (1)

From: http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/ (also read the entire article, lots of good info)

How to treat someone who has had toxic vaccine exposure.  (this is anyone who’s had a vaccine)

Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure

1.Place a cold compress on the site of the injection immediately after the injection and continue this for at least two days. If symptoms of fever, irritability, fatigue or flu-like symptoms reoccur—continue the cold compresses until they abate. A cold shower or bath will also help.

2.Take fish oils—I recommend the Norwegian fish oil made by Carlson Labs—it has the correct balance of EPA and DHA to reduce the cytokine storm. The dose is one tablespoon a day—if severe symptoms develop—two tablespoons a day until well and then switch to one tablespoon a day. Children—one teaspoon a day.

3.Curcumin, quercetin, ferulic acid and ellagic acid as a mixture—the first two must be mixed with extravirgin olive in one teaspoon. Take the mix three times a day (500 mg of each)

4.Vitamin E (natural form) 400 IU a day (high in gamma-E)

5.Vitamin C 1000 mg four times a day

6.Astaxanthin 4 mg a day

7.Zinc 20 mg a day for one week then 5 mg a day

8.Avoid all immune stimulating supplements (mushroom extracts, whey protein) except beta-glucan—it has been shown to reduce inflammation, microglial activation and has a reduced risk of aggravating autoimmunity, while increasing antiviral cellular immunity. 

9.Take a multivitamin/mineral daily (one without iron—Extend Core)

10.Magnesium citrate/malate 500 mg of elemental magnesium two capsules three times a day

11.Vitamin D3:

1.All Children—5000 IU a day for two weeks after vaccine then 2000 IU a day thereafter

2.Adults—20,000 IU a day after vaccine for two weeks then 10,000 IU a day thereafter

3.Take 500 mg to 1000 mg of calcium citrate a day for adults and 250 mg a day for children under age 12 years.

12.Avoid all mercury-containing seafood

13.Avoid omega-6 oils (corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean, canola and peanut oils)

14.Blenderize parsley and celery and drink 8 ounces twice a day

15.Take Jatoba tea extract (add 20 drops in on cup of tea) one day before the vaccine and the twice a day thereafter. (you can get it at http://www.iherb.com/Amazon-Therapeutics-Jatoba-1-oz-30-ml/14429?at=0) It is inexpensive.

Related posts

• Does the H1N1 Vaccine Matter? (9)
• Swine Flu does NOT mutate into “Superbug” in a lab study (1)
• Parents not forcing kids to have swine flu shot (2)
• How Dangerous is the Swine Flu Vaccine? (1)
• Healthcare workers refuse the Swine Flu vaccine even if they’ll be fired for it (0)
• Would you take the swine flu vaccine if your doctor or nurse wouldn’t? (7)
• THE FLU!!! (H1N1, swine flu, bird flu, killer flu) (13)

“Does the Vaccine Matter?” 

This is the headline of a recent article from the Atlantic.  The article is well written and has many good points about the controversy surrounding the swine flu vaccine.  I won’t try to summarize the whole thing because I think everyone should read it in its entirety.  However I do want to highlight a point or two here.

The article calls into question the assertions about the effectiveness if the seasonal flu vaccine.  There are estimates of 50 percent mortality reduction based on “cohort studies,” which compare death rates in large groups, or cohorts, of people who choose to be vaccinated, against death rates in groups who don’t.  The issue here is that people who choose to be vaccinated may differ in many ways from those who don’t and this can have a huge influence on the chance of death during the flu season.  For example, many elderly people that don’t get the flu shot are bed ridden due to some other health issues and don’t go out to the doctor or pharmacy to get the shot.  Income, lifestyle, education and geography can all come into play and many cohort studies are found to be biased as such.

Lisa Jackson, a physician and senior investigator with the Group Health Research Center, in Seattle, set out to factor out the cohort bias and look closely at the effectiveness if the flu vaccine.  What she found was that outside of flu season, the baseline risk of death among people who did not get vaccinated was approximately 60 percent higher than among those who did, lending support to the hypothesis that on average, healthy people chose to get the vaccine, while the “frail elderly” didn’t or couldn’t. In fact, the healthy-user effect explained the entire benefit that other researchers were attributing to flu vaccine, suggesting that the vaccine itself might not reduce mortality at all. Jackson’s papers “are beautiful,” says Lone Simonsen, who is a professor of global health at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C., and an internationally recognized expert in influenza and vaccine epidemiology. “They are classic studies in epidemiology, they are so carefully done.”

The general gold standard in medicine research is the double blind study.  This format is supposed to limit the ever important bias from results.  However there has never been a double blind research study performed on the flu vaccine, and when the results of the cohort studies are put under scrutiny they fall apart. 

This is the science leading our national plan to combat a flu pandemic.  Nowhere do we hear mention of eating more fruits and vegetables, getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine, exercising, reducing our total stress, spending time with loved ones, and getting our spine adjusted so our bodies own inborn healing potential can function at 100%.  Why not integrate some practices that have been proven to improve our own defenses against disease rather than rely on some outside chemical that may not even work and definitely has the potential for harmful side-effects.

Related posts

• Treatment for Toxic Vaccine Exposure (1)
• Parents not forcing kids to have swine flu shot (2)
• How Dangerous is the Swine Flu Vaccine? (1)
• Healthcare workers refuse the Swine Flu vaccine even if they’ll be fired for it (0)
• Would you take the swine flu vaccine if your doctor or nurse wouldn’t? (7)
• THE FLU!!! (H1N1, swine flu, bird flu, killer flu) (13)
• Swine Flu does NOT mutate into “Superbug” in a lab study (1)