Fructose May Raise Blood Pressure
Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin in Santa Barbara Chiropractor
By — Randy Dotinga
Drinking more than two sweetened sodas a day boosts risk of hypertension, study finds
FRIDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) — Here’s a new reason to put down that sugary soft drink: Research suggests that a diet high in fructose, a common sweetener, boosts the risk of high blood pressure.
High-fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods and beverages. Americans consume 30 percent more fructose now than 20 years ago, and researchers have linked higher fructose consumption to the growing obesity epidemic. But scientists weren’t sure if a connection existed between fructose consumption and high blood pressure.
In a new study, Dr. Diana Jalal, of the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center, and colleagues studied 4,528 adults without a history of high blood pressure. They examined their fructose intake and found that those who consumed more than 74 grams of fructose per day — that’s the equivalent of the amount in 2.5 sweetened soft drinks — boosted their risk of high blood pressure by 28 percent to 87 percent, depending on the level of hypertension.
“These results indicate that high fructose intake in the form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with higher blood pressure levels in the U.S. adult population with no previous history of hypertension,” the study authors wrote, adding that future research is needed to determine if lowering fructose intake will also lower blood pressure.
The study findings were scheduled to be presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual meeting, held Oct. 27 to Nov. 1 in San Diego.
More information
Learn about high blood pressure from the American Heart Association.
SOURCE: American Society of Nephrology, news release, Oct. 29, 2009
Pumpkin May Fight Yeast Infections
Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin in Santa Barbara Chiropractor
Posted on 10/30/2009, 14:00
By –Randy Dotinga
Age-old folk remedy may lead to new antibiotic therapy, study finds
FRIDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) — As you carve your Halloween jack-o-lantern, consider this new finding: That pumpkin holds potential as a treatment for yeast infections in adults and babies.
Korean researchers, reporting online recently in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, examined whether proteins extracted from pumpkin rinds might stop yeast-infection fungus from growing.
Pumpkins have long been used as folk medicine in some regions of the world, and researchers have suggested they might have antibiotic powers.
In the laboratory, one of the proteins stopped the growth of a fungus called Candida albicans that causes vaginal yeast infections, diaper rash and other conditions. No side effects were evident.
The researchers report that the protein found in pumpkins could hold promise as a treatment for people and also help fight fungus that attacks crops.
More information
Learn more about yeast infections from kidshealth.org.
SOURCE: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, news release, Oct. 29, 2009
Educating Older Patients About Good Health
Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin in Santa Barbara Chiropractor
How can we chiropractors reach out to the middle-aged population and explain how chiropractic care can help them continue to lead active, healthy lives as …
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Why Public Health Matters
Posted on 31. Oct, 2009 by admin in Santa Barbara Chiropractor
Did you ever wonder why chiropractic students have to take board exams in public health? Does public health ever matter to chiropractic practice? …
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"Missing the Mark" But Still Winning in the Long Run?
Posted on 13. Oct, 2009 by admin in exercise
“Nearly” isn’t generally a word we associate with achievement. In fact, very little in life, it seems, counts much at all if you don’t “hit a grand slam.” Luckily for some, this may not be entirely the case when it comes to longevity. As a chiropractor in Santa Barbara, who has many senior patients and who is also a firm believer in the advantages of exercise at every age, I was very happy to read about the results of the following study.
Researchers found that of the “least-fit” versus the “slightly more fit” in a recent study of nearly 4,400 healthy U.S. adults, roughly 20 percent with the lowest physical fitness levels were twice as likely to die over the nine years of the study as the 20 percent with the next-lowest fitness levels. (In other words, those 20 percent who were nearly at the lowest fitness levels.) This is the proverbial “bad news/good news” type of result. It is obviously bad news if you are a resolute couch potato. But, it is definitely good news for those who haven’t entirely embraced a sedentary lifestyle but are not, by any stretch of the imagination, “exertive.” Apparently, those individuals who stay even moderately fit as they grow older may have a longer lifespan than those who are entirely out-of-shape, the study suggests.
Between 1986 and 2006, researchers evaluated the fitness levels of 4,384 middle-aged and senior adults during exercise treatmill tests. The researchers then observed their progress for approximately nine years. Such factors as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure were considered in the study. This, in and of itself, highlights the value of physical fitness itself. In an email to Reuters Health, lead researcher, Dr. Sandra Mandic of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, stated: “Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain the two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit individuals.”
Nearly two-thirds of the participants at the least-fit level failed to get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, five or more days a week, which was the minimum recommended amount of exercise. “These results emphasize the importance of improving and maintaining high fitness levels by engaging in regular physical activity,” Mandic said, “particularly in poorly-fit individuals.”
Dividing the study group participants by fitness levels, the researchers found that 25 percent of the least-fit men and women had died during the study period, as opposed to 13 percent of those who were slightly more in shape. Among adults in the most-fit group (the ones who “hit a grand slam”, so to speak) only 6 percent died during the follow-up period.
The five fitness-level groups showed little variance, overall, in their reported exercise habits during most of their adult lives, but conspicuously, they varied in activity levels only in recent years. “Since it is recent physical activity that offers protection,” Mandic said, “it is important to maintain regular physical activity throughout life.”
And, naturally, just think of the health advantages we could all derive if we sought to achieve the higher levels of fitness.
SOURCE: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, August 2009.
It’s easy being green
Posted on 10. Oct, 2009 by admin in Santa Barbara Chiropractor
What comes to mind when you hear “leafy green vegetables”? Kale? Bok choy? Or, does iceberg lettuce count? Any which way you cut it, leafy greens are lacking in the American diet. Sure, they can be a bit intimidating at first, but once you learn how to prepare and cook them, you’ll find it easier to incorporate them into your daily meals.
Greens are high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and vitamins A, C, E and K. They’re great sources of fiber and filled with folic acid, chlorophyll and other nutrients to keep our bodies healthy and strong. Looking to boost your immunity for cold and flu season? Greens strengthen our circulatory and respiratory system. You can improve your body’s resistance naturally by piling your plate with greens.
The next time you’re in your local farmer’s market or the produce section of your grocery store, pick out a new green for the week. Mix spinach or arugula into salads, toss some collards or cabbage into soups, steam kale or broccoli for a tasty side-dish and add bok choy to your favorite stir-fry.
Here are some tips for making your green veggies more exciting and flavorful.
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After cooking, add 1 tablespoon olive oil or toasted sesame oil to every 2 cups of veggies
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Add 2 bay leaves or 1 teaspoon cumin seeds to the cooking water
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Sprinkle cooked veggies with toasted pumpkin, sesame, flax or sunflower seeds
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Sprinkled greens with fresh herbs: mint, dill, basil, parsley, cilantro or scallion
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Use tamari soy sauce or umeboshi vinegar to add extra flavor
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Squeeze fresh lemon juice over steamed veggies
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Stir-fry veggies with a pinch of sea salt, olive oil and garlic
What green will you try this week? Need help getting started? Check out this week’s recipe on Facebook.
Drinking Plenty of Water Is Crucial to Your Good Health
Posted on 03. Oct, 2009 by admin in Chiropractic Santa Barbara, wellness
Chiropractors, like your Santa Barbara Chiropractor, are determined to educate their patients about the importance of drinking a sufficient amount of water daily. The chant is “Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!” Water is second only to air when it comes to human survival. Survival instincts, then, would seem to assure that we would drink enough water as habitually as we breathe in air. (Most individuals are not breathing enough either, but let’s talk about why staying well-hydrated is so important.) Your good health is based on your drinking water, and lots of it. Every cell, tissue, organ and system in your body depends on the water you drink to function properly. Water is the base for saliva and the fluids surrounding the joints. Your blood is kept circulating and your body temperature and metabolism are regulated by water. Drinking plenty of water daily has been shown to improve nutrient absorption and toxin removal, and to reduce heartburn, hypertension, exhaustion, and headaches.
When it comes to conditions created by dehydration, athletes are especially at risk. “Physiologically, their core body temperature could be higher than it should have been if they were hydrated. Their heart rate will be higher, and they’re going to perceive that they’re working harder than they actually are,” said Susan Yeargin, assistant professor of athletic training in Indiana State’s College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services. A high percentage of collegiate and professional athletes begin the season dehydrated, putting their health at risk even before they begin strenuous workouts, according to researchers at Indiana State University. In fact, eighty percent of football players displayed symptoms of dehydration during pre-season physical examinations.
Confused about how much water is enough water? Chiropractors, like most health care professionals, advise no less than eight, 8-ounce glasses of water daily for most patients, however for our athletic patients, or for patients who carry around excess weight or exercise or work where it’s hot, we advise even more. How can you be sure if you, personally, are drinking a sufficient amount of water? The color of your urine is a good gauge. You’re well-hydrated if it is a light, pale yellow!
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