green tea and prostate cancer

Drinking several cups of green tea every day may help keep prostate cancer from spreading, according to a study funded by the Japanese government.

A study of nearly 50,000 Japanese men aged 40-69 found that those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day reduced their risk of having progressive prostate cancer by half, compared with those who drank a cup or less, according to the Epidemiology and Prevention Division of the National Cancer Center in Tokyo

I've written before about green tea- and it's cousins, black, oolong and white tea- in "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth". Tea's probably the healthiest beverage in the world next to- or maybe even including- water. It may even have weight loss benefits, and many people use the concentrated extract of green tea for just this reason. While it won't melt pounds off, it may help by giving your metabolism a nudge, especially if you're doing all the other good stuff. Some research shows that folks who drink five cups a day or more have a way easier time of maintaining weight. Plus you get all the other striking health benefits as well.

I don't worry as much as a lot of people seem to about the small amount of caffeine. People who drink green tea- and the studies have all been done on the caffeinated kind by the way- don't seem to get the jitters that much. Probably that's because green tea also contains a powerful natural relaxant called theanine, which may negate the small effect of the caffeine, which isn't all that bad for you in that amount anyway.

more on omega 3's and pregnancy

The studies come in on omega-3's and pregnancy almost daily. We already know that kids with almost any behavioral malady you can think of have lower levels of omega-3's. Murderers, for gods sake, have low levels of omega-3's. People with attention issues, vision issues, memory issues, circulation issues, you name it, have low levels of omega-3's. As Robert Crayhon once said, if I could make one change to the diet of America that would have the greatest good for the greatest number, it would be to make sure that every pregnant woman in America takes omega-3's.

The latest study shows that increased intake of the omega-3 DHA during pregnancy could produce improved motor function in the offspring in later life. It's a study done in the Netherlands, where over 300 children were followed for seven years and it was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Added bonus: Mothers are also at lest risk of post partum depression or mood change, and they recover more quickly from the stress of pregnancy, if they consume enough omega-3's.

This study adds to a wealth of research showing that a diet (or supplements) rich in omega-3's-- particularly the 22-carbon fatty acid DHA (docasahexanoic acid)--during pregnancy and breastfeeding is associated with a healthy pregnancies as well as the mental and visual development of infants.

Lipodissolve? You're kidding, right?

Lipodissolve- and other instant fat reduction treatments like it- made headlines a while back when Brittney Spears was seen entering one of their clinics in Las Vegas. It quickly became a hot topic among everyone who wants the latest "miracle breakthrough" in fat loss.

For those who follow these things, here's the latest on "lipodissolve".

From The New York Times:

A national chain of cosmetic medical clinics that popularized antifat injections denounced by medical groups shut its doors last week in the wake of dozens of complaints from consumers asking for their money back.

The chain, Fig., with headquarters in St. Louis, ceased operations on Dec. 7 for economic reasons, according to the company's Web site.

Fig. had operated 15 offices in seven states that promoted a series of injections, at a cost of about $2,000 per body part, to reduce fat deposits on areas like the thighs and abdomen.

The procedure, commonly referred to as lipodissolve, involves injections of drug compounds that have not been approved for cosmetic medical use by the Food and Drug Administration.

Since Fig., originally named Advanced LipoDissolve Center, opened its first office in 2005, its clinics performed more than 100,000 antifat treatments across the nation, the company said in an interview in September.

In the last three years, 145 clients of Fig. have filed complaints to the Better Business Bureau of Greater St. Louis citing lack of results and adverse reactions, including pain and swelling.

In the past week, 150 more consumers complained, said Christopher Thetford, a trade practice consultant at the Better Business Bureau. Mr. Thetford said his group hoped to help customers, who had to pay for the antifat shots up front, obtain refunds.

My comment: Always remember two things:

1) If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

2) If best strongest scientific endorsement for a procedure or a pill is the fact that Brittney Spears uses it, you might want to think twice about signing up.

New study on L-Carnitine

Supplements of L-carnitine improved total muscle mass and boosted cognitive performance among a group of centenarians in Italy, reports a new study.

Sixty-six subjects over 100 years of age took part in the study, published in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which also reports reductions in fat mass and fatigue during the placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, 2-phase study.

"Centenarians are characterised by a general weakness, decreasing mental health, impaired mobility and balance, and poor endurance," wrote the authors, led by Mariano Malaguarnera from the University of Catania.

"Our study indicates that oral administration of levo-carnitine evokes a reduction of total fat mass, increases total muscular mass, and facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity, by reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions."

L-Carnitine plays an important role in the production of cellular energy, and is also necessary for the transport of long-chain fatty acids like the omega-3 fatty acids across the membrane of mitochondria, the cell's power stations.

"Among all the substances whose concentration decreases with age, L-carnitine diminution is fundamentally important, given its function in the production of energy," explained the authors.

In my latest book, "The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth" I talk about L-carnitine as part of the "Awesome Foursome", a term my friend Dr. Stephen Sinatra coined to refer to the combo of carnitine, D-Ribose, CoQ10 and Magnesium. That's truly an awesome combination for heart health and an aid to recovery from any cardiovacular problem. Carnitine and CoQ10 have long been a favorite combination for energy.

One of the most popular products on my website actually combines carnitine and CoQ10 in an elegant formula that delivers both nutrients (plus some vitamin C for good measure) in one single supplement by one of my favorite companies, Pure Encapsulations.

A lot of people swear by L-carnitine for weight loss, but I've found the research not terribly convincing. My friend Robert Crayhon even wrote a book about carnitine called "The Carnitine Miracle"", and Atkins was said to use high dose carnitine for weight loss in his clinics. Even so, I'm not convinced, though it's worth a try. Robert points out that if you're using it for weight loss it's not going to be very effective unless you combine it with a low-carb diet. For me, the jury's still out on whether L-carnitine is a good weight loss supplement. But the jury has long ago returned the verdict on Carnitine for heart health and energy and it's a resounding "Yes!"

more research on mediterranean diet

Eating a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, olive oil and fish, may reduce the risk of dying from cancer and cardiovascular disease, says a new US study.

A study of almost 400,000 people with an age range of 50 to 71 reports that greater adherence to a Med-style diet reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer by 22 and 17 per cent in men, and 12 per cent for women.

"To our knowledge, the present study is the first and largest US cohort to evaluate the Mediterranean dietary pattern and mortality," wrote lead author Panagiota Mitrou in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Translated to English: this is the first study of the Mediterranean diet in a US population.

The key features of the traditional mediterranean diet are fish, nuts, vegetables, and olive oil.

You've always got to remember with these kinds of studies that they are correlation studies- that means they simply show two things are related (in this case the Mediterranean diet and lower mortality). They don't prove one causes the other. But it's hard to ignore the "circumstantial" evidence that the Mediterranean diet has been linked with lower rates of cancer and heart disease and dying in dozens of research studies. Let's not forget, though, other features of the Mediterranean lifestyle that could have a major impact on health- being out in the sun, physical labor, laughing a lot, eating big meals earlier in the day, and napping.

The study adds to an ever-growing list of research supporting the health benefits of consuming a traditional Mediterranean diet (TMD), with evidence linking the diet to lower incidence of heart disease, obesity and certain types of cancers.

my response to the Beverage Association's letter to me

Recently, I sent out a newsletter with the headline "Why Diet Soda Makes You Fat".

Evidentially, the esteemed naturopath Michael Murray, ND, must have written an article with a similar title, which accounts for why the following e mail from the American Beverage Association arrived in both Dr. Murray's and my mailboxes this morning.

I'm reprinting it here together with my response. It should pretty much speak for itself:

Here's the e mail in it's entirety. My response follows.

FROM:

Tracey A. Halliday
Director, Communications
American Beverage Association
1101 Sixteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
phone: 202.463.6718
cell: 202.271.5964

On Dr. Maureen Storey's behalf, below please find a letter in response to your recent e-mail article, "Why 'Diet' Soda Makes You Fat."

Dear Mr. Murray,

I recently read your article ("Why 'Diet' Soda Makes You Fat") and must respond to the erroneous information it contained about our industry's products and ingredients.

First, the Circulation study you referenced did not prove any link between soft drinks and increased risk of heart disease. In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued a statement to make it clear that the report "does not show that soft drinks cause risk factors for heart disease."

While your article references a study from the University of Texas, it is important to note that this study has not been published nor subjected to the peer review process. Other published studies, in fact, have shown that diet drinks can be useful in controlling and managing weight. Further, the American Diabetes Association says that sugar substitutes help those who want to control their weight or have diabetes stick to a healthy meal plan. The American Heart Association also recognizes that diet soft drinks are a good option for those looking to cut calories in their beverages.

Additionally, there is ample evidence from the Monell Institute that humans are born, hence programmed, to like sweet.

Further, the safety of low-calorie sweeteners-- including aspartame-- has been affirmed by government and regulatory authorities worldwide. In fact, an expert panel of some of the world's leading toxicologists recently published the most comprehensive review of aspartame research to date and once again confirmed its safety.

The key to a balanced lifestyle is to consume a variety of foods and beverages in moderation in conjunction with regular physical activity. Quite simply, if you over consume any food or beverage with calories and do not balance it with being physically active, you will gain weight.

All of our industry's beverages-- including regular or diet soft drinks-- can be part of a healthy way of life when consumed in moderation and as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Sincerely,
Maureen L. Storey, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Science Policy
American Beverage Association


And my response:


Dear Ms. Halliday and Dr. Storey,

An interesting spin, but unfortunately not very convincing.

1. Of course no correlation study proves cause. That's true from cholesterol and heart disease to just about every epidemiological study (including the Nurses Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow Up Study and the original Ancel Keyes research on saturated fat). This doesn't mean that correlation studies are useless data. And might I remind you that the American Tobacco Institute used the identical argument against correlation studies on cigarettes and cancer.

2. The American Diabetes Association is hardly a model of forward thinking policy and nutrition information. They- like the American Dietetic Association- remain mired in antiquated notions about diet and supplements. Most forward- thinking researchers think they are irrelevant. Might I remind you that the American Diabetes Association still thinks high carb diets make a lot of sense for diabetics. That alone should make what they say fairly irrelevant.

3. People are indeed programmed to like sweet. But as the early research of N. Tinbergen shows, we- like all animals- also respond to "superstimuli", larger-than-life versions of the stimuli we would normally respond to in our native environment. Highly sweetened (artificial or not) beverages would certainly fall into this category and would be all the more destructive because of the superstimuli phenomena. As David Katz, MD, Director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Center has said, "Whatever sugar does to reinforce a sweet tooth, artificial sweeteners do even more potently". And finally, recent research by Susan Swithers, PhD at the Behavioral Research Center at Purdue (published in the International Journal of Obesity) concluded that artificial sweeteners somehow disrupt the body's ability to discern how many calories we're actually taking in. And the fact that some no-calorie sweeteners produce- in some people- a glucose response (which can be measured by any drugstore test available to diabetics) shows that there is some kind of conditioned response going on that is not physiologically neutral, even if it's exact mechanism hasn't been determined.

4. The fact that aspartame was "cleared" by the FDA and given a clean bill of health is a ludicrous argument. Anyone familiar with the behind the scenes manipulations of G. Searles to get this substance approved in the 70's knows that this has far more to do with politics than anything else. Aspartame is considered an "excitotoxin" by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, MD, remains one of the most complained about ingredients to the FDA (headaches being most common complaint) and- at least in a subsection of the population- may be addictive. It's far from innocuous.

I understand your need to put a favorable spin on this, just as the sugar industry puts a favorable spin on sugar. But might I remind you of the words of Upton Sinclair: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, if his salary depends upon him not understanding it"


Warm regards,

Jonny Bowden

Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS
Board Certified Nutrition Specialist
Author: "The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth" (Fair Winds, 2008)
Author: "150 Healthiest Foods on Earth" (Fair Winds 2007)
Author: "Living the Low Carb Life" (Sterling 2004)
Contributing writer: AOL, Bottom Line Daily Health News
iVillage.com Weight Loss Coach