FOLIC acid, the vitamin linked to the prevention of birth defects, may also prevent and help treat depression.

In two trials, around 1,000 people are being given a daily dose of folic acid, the synthetic form of the vitamin folate.

In one new trial, at the University of Oxford, researchers are looking at whether it can prevent new episodes of depression in young people.

In the second trial, at Bangor University, North Wales, researchers are treating adults with moderate to severe depression.

Research shows that up to a third of people with depression have low levels of folate. Studies have also shown that the greater the folate deficiency, the more severe the depression symptoms.

People with low levels also have a poorer response to antidepressants.

Posted June 11, 2010
© 2010 Daily Mail. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company

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A Kansas State University researcher is exploring the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies that are common for type-2 diabetics.

Dingbo “Daniel” Lin, K-State research assistant professor of human nutrition, is studying wolfberries and their potential to improve damage to the retina. His findings show that the fruit can lower the oxidative stress that the eye undergoes as a result of type-2 diabetes.

“I would not say that wolfberries are a medicine, but they can be used as a dietary supplement to traditional treatments to improve vision,” Lin said. “Wolfberries have high antioxidant activity and are very beneficial to protect against oxidative stress caused by environmental stimuli and genetic mutations.”

Lin has experience in biochemistry and eye research, and he wanted to bridge his current work in nutrition with vision. In a conversation about the eye and phytochemicals Lin had with his father, a traditional medical doctor in China, Lin decided to explore the use of wolfberries for vision improvement.

“In our culture’s history, we have traditional medicine literature that describes things like the wolfberry and its functions,” Lin said.

Wolfberries are bright orange-red, oblong-shaped and grown in China. Lin said the fruit is known to help rebalance homeostasis, boost the immune system, nourish the liver and kidneys and improve vision. He wanted to understand the mechanisms of the wolfberry’s effects on vision and started the project in July 2008. Read more…

Posted April 8, 2010
©1994-2010 M2 Communications

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During March, the American Dietetic Association encourages people to be informed on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

“Not everybody thinks about it (nutrition) every single day. So actually, to have a whole month dedicated to it and get the word out there, I think is the main focus,” said Chelsey Olivier, a registered dietitian at Mercy Medical Center. Olivier said National Nutrition Month is a way to bring much needed awareness to nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

“Some people just don’t know. A lot of people I see, they think they’re doing everything right and when you actually sit down and look at it, there are different areas that they can change. People skip meals because they think that’s the way that they need to lose weight or different fad diets that people follow,” said Olivier. “Really it’s just about balanced eating and a healthy lifestyle.” Read More…

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An interesting article about the cancer preventing benefits of green tea.

Posted Mar 8, 2010

Taipei (dpa) – A study published recently in Taiwan showed that drinking green tea is effective in preventing cancer caused by smoking.

Lin Yi-hsin, a student from the Graduate School of Public Hygiene at Taiwan’s Chung Shan Medical University, said many studies have shown that drinking green tea is effective in preventing cancer, but her study focused on green tea’s effectiveness in preventing cancer caused by smoking.

Lin recruited 500 people, including 170 lung cancer patients, for her study.

“I analyzed their lifestyles and habits of smoking, eating and drinking tea,” she told a news conference at her university in Taichung, central Taiwan.

The study found that those who do not drink green tea are five times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who do. And those who do not drink green tea but smoke have 13 times the risk of getting the disease compared with people who drink at least one cup of green tea each day.

This is because tea polyphenols are an antioxidant which can inhibit the formation of lung cancer cells, she said.

Professor Wong Jui-hung, who supervised Lin’s research, said: “This study has shown that drinking green tea can check the growth of insulin-like growth factor, which is a hormone that stimulates the growth of cancerous cells.

“Lung cancer is common in Taiwan but rare in Japan because the Japanese like to drink green tea,” he said at the news conference.

Date: Feb 1, 2010
Copyright 2010 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH

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Posted Feb 23, 2010

Nobody’s perfect and that’s especially true when it comes to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Diet modification experts say you have to plan for occasional splurges as part of the long-term plan. Atlanta personal fitness trainer Beth Lewis offers empowering psychological advice to her clients who need a boost: “Don’t mistake setbacks with failure.” So, here are a few ways “cheating” on your diet can actually be a refreshing and powerful strategy to support successful weight control. Read More…

Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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It’s common knowledge that a healthful diet is an important part of an healthful lifestyle, but most people have trouble figuring out what to do when planning a complete diet overhaul. During National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association reminds everyone that an easy way to focus on eating better is to start with the basics: build your nutritional health from the ground up.

“By starting slowly and giving yourself a good foundation, you can work towards a healthier life,” says registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Toby Smithson. “Change doesn’t have to be dramatic to make a difference.”

Smithson suggests ways to improve your nutrition from the ground up:

1.Focus on fruits and veggies: “Take a good look at your current diet you’ll probably realize you’re not eating enough fruits or vegetables,” says Smithson. “Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.”
2.Look locally: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area. “This can be a great way to eat well and support your community at the same time,” Smithson says.
3.Make calories count: “Too often, people think of foods as good or bad and that only those on the ‘good foods’ list are okay to eat,” says Smithson. “When you’re choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.” To figure out how many calories you need to achieve a healthy weight, visit www.mypyramid.gov.
4.Test your taste buds: A healthy eating plan emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy and includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts. “Those are the basics, but within this wide range there are always opportunities to try new things and find new favorites,” Smithson says. “Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new healthy favorites to add to your regular grocery list.”
5.Trick yourself with treats: “A healthful diet doesn’t mean deprivation,” says Smithson. “If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts. There is no reason to go hungry just because you’re making healthful changes.”

Copyright © 2009 American Dietetic Association (ADA)

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The knowledge that psoriasis is a disease of the immune system has led to the development of newer treatment options, like ENBREL, that work at the level of the immune system. These treatment options reduce inflammation and help keep skin clearer. Because ENBREL suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections.

Learn more about Psoriasis and prescription treatment options such as Enbrel and Vectical at Familymeds.com

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. You usually get them on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of your body. A problem with your immune system causes psoriasis. In a process called cell turnover, skin cells that grow deep in your skin rise to the surface. Normally, this takes a month. In psoriasis, it happens in just days because your cells rise too fast.

Learn More about Psoriasis at Familymeds.com/Psoriasis
Learn more about Enbrel and Vectical, two prescription treatment options for Psoriasis.

Recent studies have shown that the risk of osteoporosis is lower for people who are active, and especially those who do load-bearing, or weight-bearing activities at least three times a week.

How can exercise prevent osteoporosis? Muscle pulling on bone builds bone, so weight-bearing exercise builds denser, stronger bones. The more bone mass you build before age 25 or 30, the better off you will be during the years of gradual bone loss. Exercise can also help you maintain bone density later in life.
The best exercises for building bone are weight- or load-bearing exercises. These include weight-lifting, jogging, hiking, stair-climbing, step aerobics, dancing, racquet sports, and other activities that require your muscles to work against gravity. Swimming and simply walking, although good for cardiovascular fitness, are not the best exercises for building bone. Thirty minutes of weight-bearing exercise daily benefits not only your bones, but improves heart health, muscle strength, coordination, and balance. Those 30 minutes don’t need to be done all at once; it’s just as good for you to do 10 minutes at a time.

If you already have osteoporosis, you might wonder whether you should exercise at all. The answer for most people is YES. You should speak to your doctor to learn what types of exercises you can safely do to preserve bone and to strengthen your back and hips. Keep in mind, however, that exercise alone can’t prevent or cure osteoporosis.

Exercise Tips:

• Even if you do not have osteoporosis, you should check with your health care provider before you start an exercise program.
• Remember to warm up before starting and cool down at the end of each exercise session.
• For the best benefit to your bone health, combine several different weight-bearing exercises.
• As you build strength, increase resistance, or weights, rather than repetitions.
• Remember to drink plenty of water whenever exercising, especially here in Arizona.
• Vary the types of exercise that you do each week.
• Combine weight bearing and resistance exercise with aerobic exercises to help improve your overall health.
• Bring your friend along to help you keep going or better yet, bring your family and encourage them to be healthy.
• Add more physical activity to your day; take the stairs vs. the elevator, park further way, and walk to your co-worker’s office rather than emailing.

Learn more about Osteoporosis here.

Osteoporosis, which means “porous bone,” is a disease in which the bones gradually become weak and brittle. That often results in fractures — especially of the hip, wrist, and spine — even from simple activities like lifting a chair or bending over. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, while another 18 million have low bone mass and are at an increased risk for the disease. Osteoporosis is common among the elderly, but the disease can strike at any age. Although it is more common in older women, men can also have the disease.

Learn more about Osteoporosis including diagnosis and treatment options to lower your risk. Visit Familymeds.com/Osteoporosis to learn more.