A Cloudy DayHere it is-the end of June. Before we head off for the fireworks, it’s time for a review of the top headlines in holistic health, wellness, nutrition, and (functional, naturopathic, conventional, and integrative) medicine.

Here a skim of the headlines. If you’re an information junkie, the full sources and summaries are also included below.

 

HEALTH TOPICS INCLUDE:

1. The link between inactivity and cancer risk

2. More on Bugs…new research on how stress triggers microbes to increase the risk heart disease.

3. The link between emotions and lung disease

4. How getting dirty young in life leads to less allergies

5. Weight loss supplements under scrutiny by government

6. Breakfast- a small study states that it may be an important meal of the day, but maybe not?

7. Sleep helps symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

8. The addicted gambler’s brain

9. The e-cig controversy

10. Cancer headline updates on my saratoga.com blog:

  • Why (artificial) lights out is good for the immune system
  • The link between breast cancer and leptin levels
  • Fasting for preventing chemo side effects
  • Viagra and risk of skin cancer

 

NUTRIGENOMICS TOPICS INCLUDE:

1. Brain focus: can brain regeneration occur with diet, supplements, and herbs?

2. The seeds of wisdom to reduce blood pressure (sesame and flax seeds)

3. Tomatoes and the heart (no, I’m not talking about an Italian vacation)

4. Speaking of Italian…is your olive oil the real deal?

5. Vitamin D updates

6. Magnesium and metabolic syndrome

 

DRUG & MEDICATION UPDATES

1. New drugs on FDA watch list

2. Dis-heartening results for aspirin in preventing stroke

3. Acne products linked to rash

4. Natural immunity effective for HPV

5. High blood pressure medications and eye health

6. Chinese Herb as effective as drug for arthritis

7. Drug-nutrient interactions

8. Drugs that increase Statin toxicity

Now, for the summaries of the studies and articles…

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HEALTH

Inactivity Linked to Greater Risk of Lung, Endometrial, and Colon Cancer

According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, lower levels of physical activity were linked to higher risk for three types of cancer—colon, endometrial, and lung. Moreover, the risk increased with each 2-hour increase in sitting time. (Inactivity Linked to Colon, Lung, Endometrial Cancer. Today’s Practitioner. June 18, 2014)

Bugs Linked to Heart Disease

Bacteria live in our bellies and some make their way from our gut, skin, and mouth to make a home as plaque in our arteries. It is stress that may contribute to the bacteria spread which will cause them to release enzymes that create unstable plaques and create antibiotic resistance. (Bacteria in Arteries May Be Ticking Time Bombs. Livescience.com. June 23, 2014)

Depression and Anxiety Linked to Quality of Life in Lung Disease

A recent meta-analysis analyzed 2 measures of psychiatric health in relation to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with COPD and found a strong positive link between tests for depression and subsequent impairment of HRQoL. (An Important Comorbidity in COPD.Medscape Pulmonary Medicine. Medscape.com. June 10, 2014)

Early Exposures Linked to Less Allergic Response to Children

Exposure to high levels of certain allergens and bacteria early in life may prevent wheezing and allergic diseases. A study reported that children in the first year of life in inner-city environments who had the highest exposure to specific allergens and bacteria were least likely to have allergic symptoms. (Effects of early-life exposure to allergens and bacteria on recurrent wheeze and atopy in urban children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2014 & Newborns exposed to dirt, dander, germs may have lower allergy, asthma risk. ScienceDaily. June 6, 2014)

FTC Cracks Down on Weight Loss Supplements

Senator Claire McCaskill, chair of the Senate’s Consumer Protection panel, led a testimony from Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of the Dr. Oz Show, to examine deceptive advertising of weight-loss products and to determine what can be done for consumer protection. (Dr. Oz to Join McCaskill For Hearing on Weight – Loss Scams. McCaskill.com. June 10, 2014)

To Eat or Not to Eat (Breakfast)…That is the Question

A study comparing people who had eaten breakfast to those who hadn’t showed the breakfast eaters were more active than those who had not. This was despite waking and going to sleep at approximately the same times. The study found no evidence of change of resting metabolism between the breakfast and fasting groups.

Note: The processed food used for comparison may have biased results. (Why You Should Eat Breakfast: People Who Eat It Burn More Calories, Study Finds. HuffingtonPost.co.uk. June 6, 2014)

Light and Alzheimer’s

A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that exposing people with Alzheimer’s disease to light treatment to enhance the circadian cycle improved sleep quality, efficiency and duration. Furthermore, this four week light exposure also lowered the rate of depression and agitation. (Tailored Light Treatment Improves Sleep and Behavior in Patients With Alzheimer’s. Science World Report. June 5, 2014)

Know When to Hold ‘Em

University of Cambridge research published a study that revealed that brain damage affecting the insula — an area with a key role in emotions — disrupts errors of thinking linked to gambling addiction and may explain why gamblers continue to play after losses. (Part of brain linked to gambling addiction identified by researchers. ScienceDaily. April 7, 2014)

The Danger of E-Cigs?

E-cigarettes may contain lead, benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. One teaspoon of the liquid may be enough to kill a child. (Poisonings from E-Cigarettes and Synthetic Pot Are Surging. mercola.com. May 28, 2014)

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NUTRIGENOMICS

Brain Focus, Naturally

1. Recent studies demonstrate that two nutraceutical compound, Rg3, a constituent found in Panax Ginseng, and nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3, may assist with accelerating nerve cell regeneration and prevent their degeneration. (Is Neuro-Regeneration a Reality? Holistic Upshots. May 25, 2014)

2. A preliminary review demonstrated that a combination of B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12) probably improves cognitive impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). As far as other supplements, those with MCI are also likely to benefit from omega-3-fatty acids and flavonoids (such as those in berries). Furthermore, the Mediterranean diet may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease and may decrease the risk for cognitive issues for all. Diets with low carbohydrates and ketosis also show potential for cognitive issues. (More Data on Diet and Dementia. Medscape Neurology. June 04, 2014)

3. Ginger shows promise for Alzheimer’s according to a new study published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. It works through various molecular targets through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and acting to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (an enzyme which decreases a neurotransmitter involved with memory). (Research: Ginger Could Be The Next Alzheimer’s Curative. GreenMedinfo.com. June 26, 2014 & Alzheimer’s disease drug discovery from herbs: neuroprotectivity from beta-amyloid (1-42) insult. J Altern Complement Med. 2007 Apr ;13(3):333-40. PMID: 17480132)

The Seeds of Heart Health

1. Ground flaxseeds given every day for six months to 110 peripheral artery disease patients was shown to reduce levels of oxylipins, which are linked to artery damage, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart disease. (Flaxseed Reduces Blood Pressure and Decreases Oxylipin Levels. greenmedinfo.com. May 16, 2014 &Flaxseed Consumption Reduces Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension by Altering Circulating Oxylipins via an ?-Linolenic Acid-Induced Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase. Hypertension. April24, 2014)

2. Black sesame seeds were also found to decrease blood pressure in 30 subjects with prehypertension. The black sesame seed group in the study also had decreased levels of malondialdehyde, an indicator of oxidization of lipids, which causes damage to the blood vessel walls and had increases in their blood vitamin E levels. (Black Sesame Seeds Reduce Blood Pressure. GreenMedInfo. June 20, 2014 & Antihypertensive and antioxidant effects of dietary black sesame meal in pre-hypertensive humans. Nutr J. 2011 Aug 9;10:82. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-10-82)

Lycopene from Tomatoes Boost Cardiovascular Health

In a 2 month intervention trial, Cambridge researchers found that 7mg of lycopene improved the widening of the blood vessels by over a half (53%) compared to their levels prior to taking it. Wider blood vessels translate to a lower chance of cardiovascular complications. This improvement was comparable to other studies using 20 mg of the drug simvastatin in high cholesterol patients. (Lycopene Matches Statins in Improving Blood Vessel Function. GreenMedInfo.com. June 24, 2014 & Effects of Oral Lycopene Supplementation on Vascular Function in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Healthy Volunteers: A Randomised Controlled Trial. PLOS One. June 09, 2014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099070)

Will the Real Olive Please Stand Up?

Adulterated olive oil is rampant. Tom Mueller, the journalist who brought attention to the fraud, has a website where he rates olive oil quality and provides a list of brands to buy and which to avoid.

Vitamin D Plea

1. Testing both forms of vitamin D (1,25 OH and 25 OH vitamin D) is important because those who are inflamed or have autoimmune disease may have the high active form of vitamin D and are at risk for overdose. Supplementation for vitamin D may be best to wait until after the inflammation is lowered. (How to Balance Melanoma Risk With Need for Vitamin D. Epoch Times. May 26, 2014)

2. A vitamin D systematic review linked higher levels to lower mortality rates. The study included 73 cohort studies (849, 412 participants) and 22 randomized trials (30, 716 participants). (Vitamin D and risk of cause specific death: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort and randomised intervention studies. BMJ. 2014 Apr 1;348:g1903. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g1903)

Magnesium Prevents Metabolic Syndrome in Small Trial of “Skinny Fat” Sample Population

A study of demonstrated that oral magnesium supplementation improved the metabolic profile and blood pressure within 47 metabolically obese, normal-weight (MONW) subjects. (Oral Magnesium Supplementation Improves the Metabolic Profile of Metabolically Obese, Normal-weight Individuals: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial.Arch Med Res. 2014 May 12. pii: S0188-4409(14)00078-2. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2014.05.003)

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DRUG & MEDICATION UPDATES

New Drugs on Watch List

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed testosterone products, most antidepressants, and the cancer drug brentuximab vedotin on its latest watch list due to concern over serious side effects. (More Drugs Added to FDA Watch List. Medscape Medical News. June 20, 2014)

Aspirin Not Found Useful for Stroke Prevention for Those with AFib, Study

A retrospective study that took place between 2005-2009 on patients with atrial fibrillation aimed to determine the efficacy of aspirin in preventing stroke in this population who suffer from an irregular heart beat. The study included 115 185 patients with atrial fibrillation, of whom 58 671 were treated with aspirin and 56 514 were without any antithrombotic treatment at baseline. Aspirin was associated with higher risk of strokes and embolisms compared with no treatment. (Atrial Fibrillation Patients Do Not Benefit From Acetylsalicylic Acid. Europace. 2014;16(5):631-638. Reprinted on Medscape.com. Accessed June 3,2014)

Warning for Acne OTCs

Popular over-the-counter acne products such as Proactiv and Neutrogena can cause rare but serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions, according to the FDA. (FDA Warns of Serious Allergic Reactions with Acne Products. Philly.com. June 26, 2014)

New Study Shows Natural Immunity to HPV 16 Effective in Cervical Cancer Prevention

The risk of newly detected HPV (human papilloma virus) infection and cervical abnormalities in relation to HPV-16/18 antibody levels at enrollment in PATRICIA (PApilloma TRIal against Cancer In young Adults) was examined. It was found that naturally-acquired antibodies to HPV-16 and HPV-18 were associated with some reduced risk of another infection and cervical abnormalities associated with the same HPV type. (Risk of newly detected infections and cervical abnormalities in women seropositive for naturally-acquired HPV-16/18 antibodies: analysis of the control arm of PATRICIA . J Infect Dis. (2014) doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu139)

High Blood Pressure Medicine and Eye Health

In a population based study, researchers found that, after adjusting for age, sex and other factors, using any vasodilator such as Apresoline and Loniten, which open the blood vessels,there was  an associated 72 percent greater risk of developing macular degeneration. Furthermore, the researchers also found beta blockers, such as Tenormin and Lopressor, werre also associated with a 71 percent increase in a more advanced and vision-threatening form of the macular degeneration of the eye. (Some high blood pressure drugs may be associated with increased risk of vision-threatening disease. EurekAlert.com.May 28, 2014)

Small Trial Shows Chinese Herb Effective for RA, More Effective Than Drug Alone

In a trial to compare the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) with methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it was found that TwHF was not inferior to MTX, and MTX+TwHF was better than, MTX monotherapy in controlling disease activity in patients with active RA. (Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F with methotrexate in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (TRIFRA): a randomised, controlled clinical trial (abstract). Ann Rheum Dis doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204807)

Drug Muggers: Drugs that Rob Nutrients

Some common nutrient-drug interactions:

Diuretics: magnesium, potassium, CoQ10, and zinc.

Diabetic medication: magnesium

Statin drugs: CoQ10

Mitochondrial toxins: acetaminophen, NSAIDS, tobacco, cocaine, alcohol, minocycline, propranolol, L-dopa, and statin drugs also deplete magnesium, B-complex, L-Carnitine and Lipoic acid

(Using nutrients (nutraceuticals) to complement drug treatments. North Island Mid Week. June 9, 2014)

Drugs that increase the risk for statin toxicity, including rhabdomyolysis, include:

  • Fibrates: gemfibrozil especially
  • Azole antifungals
  • Amiodarone: more likely to interact with simvastatin and lovastatin.
  • Macrolide antibiotics: most likely with erythromycin and clarithromycin.
  • Protease inhibitors: especially ritonavir.
  • Calcium-channel blockers:

(Statins and Antibiotics: Which Combination Is Safest? Medscape Internal Medicine. Medscape.com. June 12, 2014)

 

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Essential Oils and Mood Effects

Essential oils have a major impact on our emotional and physical health at the same time. This means that not only are the odors of Young Living Essential Oils calming and relaxing, but they also contain powerful constituents that independently modulate our physical health as they impact our mood and brain health.

Below are just a few references that demonstrate the power of essential oils for positive effects on mood:

Results that were based on 16 randomized controlled trials indicated positive effects of aromatherapy to quell anxiety. No adverse events were reported. (J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Feb;17(2):101-8. doi: 10.1089/acm.2009.0277 &
Lavender odor was associated with reduced mental stress and increased arousal rate across three groups of comparison. Percept Mot Skills. 2001 Dec;93(3):713-82. PMID:11806592)

A study was done with 17 cancer hospice patients to assess various physical and emotional measures in response to humidified essential lavender oil aromatherapy. “Results reflected a positive, yet small, change in blood pressure and pulse, pain, anxiety, depression, and sense of well-being after both the humidified water treatment and the lavender treatment.(Am J Hosp PalliatCare. 2002 Nov-Dec;19(6):381-6. PMID:1244297)

Lavender oil administered in an aroma stream shows modest efficacy in the treatment of agitated behavior in patients with severe dementia.” (Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002 Apr;17(4):305-84)

Learn to enjoy a healthier lifestyle with essential oils.

Listen to my latest Essential Oils Teleseminars here.

Disclaimer: This information is applicable ONLY for therapeutic, Grade A essential oils. This information DOES NOT apply to essential oils that have not been AFNOR and ISO standardized. There is no quality control in the United States and oils labeled as “100% pure” need only contain 5% of the actual oil. The rest of the bottle can be filled with fillers and sometimes toxic ingredients that can irritate the skin.
This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness.
Images courtesy of istockphotos: istockphoto.com