Green tea can improve capacity to exercise
December 11, 2007
• A study published in the Journal of the American Physiological Society found that green tea extract improved exercise endurance up to 24 per cent, while also increasing the amount of fat burned. Japanese researchers monitored the time it took for mice swimming in a pool to exhaust themselves and found that those given the extract tired less easily over a 10-week period and had higher rates of fat oxidation.
While more research needs to be done, the study’s lead author, Takatoshi Murase, believes that drinking a few cups of green tea before a workout should have a similar effect in humans.
Soybean can prevent Heart Disease
December 11, 2007
The claim: Soy prevents heart disease
What you need to know : According to a recent study from Johns Hopkins University, soy appears to play a role in lowering cholesterol in postmenopausal women. By mimicking the hormone estrogen, isoflavones (plant compounds in soy that act like weak forms of the hormone) may prevent cholesterol levels from rising in postmenopausal women. But young women produce estrogen on their own, so additional benefits from soy would likely be minimal.
The explanation: “Estrogen keeps cholesterol levels steady; cholesterol tends to increase after women enter menopause and no longer make this hormone,” says study author Jerilyn K. Allen, Sc.D., an associate dean for research at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
The bottom line: Just because your cholesterol levels won’t plummet from eating soy doesn’t mean it won’t help your heart. Soy is a good alternative to meat because it’s lower in cholesterolraising saturated fat. Use soy-based meat substitutes in lasagna or tofu in stir-fries occasionally, and try tofu as a replacement for cheese (also high in saturated fat).
Too much use of Avandia can be dangerous
December 5, 2007
Use of ‘Avandia’, a drug taken by millions of diabetic patients, for a longer period may be dangerous because of its adverse effect on bones, suggests a new study. According to the study, conducted on mice, the drug may increase the chances of osteoporosis — a disease of bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture.
Earlier this year, Avandia and four other diabetes drugs from the same class were given a “black box” warning by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The warning advises users of an increased risk of heart failure while on the drug. The black box message is the FDA’s strongest label warning.
The scientists in the latest study suggest that long-term Avandia (rosiglitazone) usage in the treatment of type II diabetes may cause osteoporosis due to both increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation, reported health portal HealthDay. They, however, did not recommend people to stop their treatment, as Avandia is effective in controlling glucose and restoring the body’s sensitivity to insulin. “You must balance the benefits against the complications,” said study senior author Ron Evans, a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California. “Anyone who is already at risk for osteoporotic fractures should consider an alternative anti-diabetic drug,” the researcher added.
Too much or too little sleep maybe harmful
December 5, 2007
Getting too much or too little sleep could be harmful for health, suggests a new study conducted in Britain. Jane Ferrie of the University College London Medical School here examined 10,308 participants between 35-55 years of age and found that a decrease in sleep duration among participants sleeping only for six, seven or eight hours was associated with a 110 per cent excess risk of cardiovascular mortality.
However, an increase in sleep duration among those sleeping for seven or eight hours was associated with a 110 percent excess risk of non-cardiovascular mortality.
On an average, most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well rested.
“In terms of prevention, our findings also indicate that consistently sleeping seven or eight hours per night is optimal for health,” Ferrie was quoted as saying by the science portal EurekAlert.
The research is the first to show that both a decrease and an increase in sleep duration are associated with an elevated risk of mortality by cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular means, respectively.
Genes that trigger allergy
December 5, 2007
Scientists in Japan have identified the gene that triggers allergic reactions. Some people are allergic to common allergens such as dust and pollen although sensitivities vary from person to person and it is possible to be allergic to just about anything.
Scientists at the RIKEN Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology at Yokohama used specially bred mice and found that they were resistant to stimuli normally capable of provoking severe allergic reactions, reported the online edition of News Australia.
Prior studies have established that allergens cause a build-up of calcium in what are called mast cells, located near the skin, kick starting the process that leads to rashes, sneezing, itching and swelling.
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