Article Content:
–>
One of the highlights of the 2012 Nutrition Conference in Boston, Mass., was the wide array of healthy and delicious food choices for lunch.

 




———————

Article Content:
The more you eat daily once you reach the age of 70, the higher your risk for memory problems, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. Investigators at the Mayo Clinic came to this conclusion after analyzing data on more than 1,200 seniors in Olmstead County, Minnesota. They found double the risk of memory impairment among the participants who consumed between 2,143 and 6,000 calories per day compared to those whose calorie consumption was lowest - between 600 and 1,525 per day. A third group of participants consumed between 1,526 and 2,142 daily calories and had no added risk of Alzheimer’s. The higher risk of memory deficits among the big eaters doesn’t prove that overeating causes memory problems but may mean that cutting back on calories could be good for the brain. The study is to be presented in April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

My take? Consistent overeating can lead to obesity, which is clearly associated with many health problems. This new study suggests that it can also have an adverse effect on brain health. As far as the type of food eaten is concerned, we know that people with high levels of a toxic amino acid known as homocysteine have twice the usual risk of developing Alzheimer’s, and that these levels tend to be higher in those who eat a lot of animal protein. A diet that includes plenty of fruits and leafy green vegetables provides folic acid and other B vitamins that help the body reduce homocysteine levels. In addition to prudent portions, cutting back on animal protein and eating more plant foods is a good idea for general health, and may help to prevent Alzheimer’s, too.


———————

Article Content:
–>
What is gluten intolerance? Why has it become so common? Dr. Weil takes a look.

Want new videos from Dr. Weil? Subscribe to his YouTube channel for weekly videos!

———————

Article Content:
Two separate studies have identified additional risks for Alzheimer’s disease. Preliminary results from an investigation performed at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., suggest that disrupted sleep may be linked to Alzheimer’s. After monitoring the sleep patterns of 100 men and women between the ages of 45 and 80, half of whom had a family history of Alzheimer’s, the researchers found that those who awakened more than five times per hour were more likely to have the accumulations of amyloid plaque characteristic of the disease, than those who had fewer sleep disruptions. The results will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in April. Another study, published in the February 13, 2012 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, found a faster, long-term decline in thinking and memory skills in women living in highly polluted areas although some of these geographic locations were considered “generally safe” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The researchers compared the results of cognitive tests given to nearly 20,000 women, most of them in their seventies, and estimated air pollution around the women’s homes through the EPA monitoring system.


———————

Article Content:
A recent Q&A discussed the possibility of what a woman eats around the time of conception affects a baby’s sex: Does Diet Determine a Baby’s Sex? Check out the article and let us know how many children you have!

How many children do you have?

———————

Article Content:
Lead levels in lipsticks aren’t typically very high, but they have edged up since the FDA began tracking them in 2007. A new report issued by the agency in December 2011 after testing 400 lipsticks, found amounts of lead ranging from 0.026 parts per million (ppm) to 7.19 ppm. The highest level in 2007 was 3.06 ppm. You can check the lead content in your lipstick on the FDA’s website and look through the list for lipsticks with lower levels. While the agency does not now limit the amount of lead in cosmetics, it reportedly is considering whether to set an upper level for lead in lipstick. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has been pushing for this change and has noted that the highest lead levels of the lipsticks the FDA tested were more than 275 times the level found in the lipsticks with the lowest levels. Concerns about lead in lipstick are especially relevant to pregnant women because lead can cross the placenta and enter the fetal brain where it can interfere with normal development.

Learn more: Six Tips For Healthy Hair & Skin


———————

Article Content:
Eating oranges and grapefruit daily seem to help lower the risk of stroke among women, thanks to compounds called flavones they contain. This news comes from reviewing 14 years of follow-up data gathered from 70,000 women participating in the U.S. Nurses’ Health Study, a landmark trial that has been on-going since 1976 and is still recruiting volunteers. The stroke findings were published online February 23 in the journal Stroke. Flavones are a subclass of flavonoids, antioxidant compounds found naturally in fruits, vegetables, red wine, dark chocolate, coffee and tea. The researchers, from England’s Norwich Medical School, found that women whose diets included the most flavones had a 19 percent lower risk of stroke linked to blood clots than those whose diets were lowest in flavones. They reported that most of the flavones came from citrus fruits, and recommended that women choose whole fruits rather than juice to increase their flavones intake. A typical serving of citrus fruit contains 45 to 50 mg of flavones. The women with the highest intake consumed more than 470 mg per day. The researchers noted that the women whose diets included the most flavones also ate more fiber, took in less caffeine and alcohol, smoked less and exercised more than the women with the lowest flavones intake.

My take? In order to help lower the risk of stroke, I have long recommended eating an abundance of vegetables and fruit, particularly purple fruits and berries (and red wine if you drink alcohol), all of which contain protective compounds called proanthocyanidins. This study adds new and valuable information to what we already knew about effective dietary changes to maintain cardiovascular health. In addition, I recommend omega-3 fatty acids in the form of wild, cold-water fish or fish-oil supplements, freshly ground flaxseeds and walnuts to help reduce the inflammatory reactions that can raise the risk of stroke. Other measures to help cut stroke risk include getting plenty of garlic in your diet, since it can act as a blood thinner, and drinking green tea on a regular basis for its antioxidant effects. Be sure to get regular exercise and take measures to reduce stress in your life.


———————

Article Content:
–>
Flowers have always captivated me on every level - as a botanist, as a physician who understands their healing power, and simply as a human being who appreciates beauty. So I was delighted to fulfill a lifelong dream to visit The Netherlands in late April - full-bloom season. Highly recommended!

 




———————

Article Content:
If you live in California, chances are you sleep better than the folks in the deep south, the U.S. region where residents report the most sleep disturbances and daytime fatigue according to a recent investigation. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania analyzed data collected nationally by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to come up with the new “sleeplessness” map. In addition to California, the map shows that Alaska, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Minnesota are states where you’re most likely to get a good night’s sleep. The states with the most sleeping problems are Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Perhaps not coincidentally, these states also tend to report the highest rates of obesity. The researchers examined and considered factors such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income employment, depression, overall physical health, smoking and alcohol intake in making their projections from rates of self-reported sleep problems from individuals in 36 states and territories. They also determined that the factors that best explain the regional disparities in sleep patterns are differences in mental health, race/ethnicity and access to medical care.


———————

Article Content:
Growing fresh herbs at home is a great way to incorporate healthy flavors into your cooking and diet. Listen to Dr. Weil discuss growing herbs and his take on using hydroponic gardens at home.

Want new videos from Dr. Weil? Subscribe to his YouTube channel for weekly videos!

–>

———————