Heartburn Medications: Worth the Risk?

Drugs to control heartburn are among the pharmaceutical industry's biggest sellers, with millions of people taking both over-the-counter and prescription medications to fight acid reflux. But these drugs, called proton pump inhibitors or PPIs, come with a cost, according to national wellness expert Dr. Erika Schwartz.

Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium have been linked to various side effects, including an increased risk of bone fracture, diarrhea, and reduced absorption of nutrients, but do the benefits of PPIs outweigh the risks? "I don't think that the people who have broken bones because they have taken them are going to agree with the idea that the benefits outweigh the risks," Dr. Schwartz tells Newsmax Health.

"Actually, diet is a better way," she said.

Read more: Heartburn Medications: Worth the Risk?

Statin Use Linked to Cataracts

The millions of adults who currently use prescription statins to control their cholesterol levels may be inadvertently increasing their risk for developing age-related cataracts, new research suggests.

The bump in cataract risk linked to statin use appears comparable to the elevated risk already known to exist among people with type 2 diabetes, the study team observed. 

That said, the study authors cautioned that more research is needed before being able to definitively say there is a cause-and-effect relationship between statins and cataract risk.

Read more: Statin Use Linked to Cataracts

Red Wine Improves Mobility in Seniors

Resveratrol, the "miracle molecule" found in the skins of grapes used to make red wine, may help improve mobility in seniors and prevent life-threatening falls, says a new study that was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. Researchers hope their findings could lead to the development of natural products that would help older Americans lead safer and more productive lives.

Previous studies have shown that resveratrol — an antioxidant found in red wine and dark-skinned fruits — might help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, slash the risk of heart disease and certain cancers and, perhaps, have some anti-aging effects in the body. Resveratrol is available as a dietary supplement and is abundant in foods such as red grapes, blueberries and nuts.

Read more: Red Wine Improves Mobility in Seniors

Scientists Find ‘Miracle Molecule’ In Red Wine, Blueberries

By Suzanne Monaghan and Dr. Brian McDonough
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – There may be another health benefit drinking red wine.
Scientists report a so-called “miracle molecule” found in red wine might help improve mobility and prevent falls among older adults. The ingredient is called ‘resveratrol.’ Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Duquesne University Jane Cavanaugh says they tested the effect on laboratory mice.

 Resveratrol is also found in grapes, blueberries and other dark-skinned fruits.

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Blind Mice Given Sight After Device Cracks Retinal Code

Blind mice had their vision restored with a device that helped diseased retinas send signals to the brain, according to a study that may lead to new prosthetic technology for millions of sight-impaired people.

In research described today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists cracked the code the retina uses to communicate with the brain. 

Read more

Foods That Fight Pain

Take a handful of steamed and cooled vegetables — preferably cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts — and toss them in a blender. Throw in some fruit to sweeten things up, like apples or blueberries, and blend well. Enjoy once or twice a day.

Read more: Foods That Fight Pain

Daily Aspirin May Reduce Cancer Mortality Rate

A new observational study has found more evidence to link daily aspirin intake and reduced risk of cancer mortality. The study by American Cancer Society researchers led by Eric J. Jacobs, Ph.D. although claims benefits of aspirin use in reducing mortality from cancer, it also questions the size of the potential benefit.

The study has found approximately 37 percent mortality rate reduction among those who used aspirin for five years or more.

Read more at http://www.counselheal.com/articles/2496/20120811/daily-aspirin-may-reduce-cancer-mortality-rate.htm#pxlOKPqr3kTSGeTv.99

Heart Doctor: Lose the Wheat, Gain Your Health

Heart Doctor: Lose the Wheat, Gain Your Health

Friday, August 10, 2012 7:48 AM

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Give up wheat and gain good health. 

That’s the message from Dr. William Davis, a Wisconsin cardiologist and author of the best-seller, “Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health.” He tells Newsmax Health that if we banish wheat from our diet, we’ll also lose weight, lower our blood sugar, relieve intestinal problems, reduce dangerous inflammation, gain energy, and just plain feel better. 

Why? Davis maintains that today’s wheat products are made from genetically modified plants that contain harmful compounds that contribute to weight gain and other serious health woes. One of those substances is gliadin protein, which acts as an appetite stimulant. When it was introduced in the mid-1980s, calorie consumption skyrocketed by an average of 440 calories per day, per person, he says. 

“This gliadin acts as an opiate, but this opiate … does not cause pain relief; it only causes addiction and stimulation of appetite,” he says. 

"This is one of the reasons why wheat, and not fat, gluttony, or a sedentary lifestyle, is to blame for soaring rates of obesity and diabetes, he says. 

Amylopectin A is another culprit. This complex carbohydrate is unique to wheat, more easily digestible than amylopectin B and C found in rice and beans, and can send blood sugar sky high, higher than sugar and candy can, he explains. 

“So two slices of whole wheat bread that people often regard as healthy raise blood sugar higher than six teaspoons of table sugar,” he says. “Is it any wonder we have a world full of diabetes?”

Bill O'Reilly: This Book Helped Me Drop My Cholesterol Big Time - Get "Wheat Belly" for ONLY $4.95

Wheat germ agglutinin, another wheat protein, causes intestinal destruction when given to rats in a purified form. Humans eat much smaller amounts of the non-purified substance but that also hurts intestinal health, contributing to acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and the worsening of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, he says. 

Davis was compelled to write his book after realizing that 80 percent of his patients suffered from heart disease, diabetes, or a pre-diabetes — and whole wheat bread was a big part of their diets. He wondered what would happen if they stopped eating it. 

“The benefits are much larger than you ever anticipate,” he says. 

It’s common for many people to drop 18 to 20 pounds during their first wheat-free month, he says. Blood sugar and appetite drop, and waistlines decrease by two to three inches during the first four to six weeks. 

“Because if you lose this gliadin opiate, your appetite shrinks,” he explains. “You don’t have to eat breakfast at 7, have a snack at 9, snack at 11, lunch at 12, snack at 2, hungry after dinner. All that goes away.” 

What’s more, joint pain gets better and acid reflux and other intestinal symptoms improve. Most organ systems benefit from going wheat free, he says. 

Considering the many food products that contain wheat, opting for a simplified diet is key to going wheat free. 

“We become wheat free very simply by eating real, single-ingredient foods. We eat meats and fish and chicken and cheese and vegetables,” he says. “We return to real foods least distorted by the shenanigans of agribusiness.” 

Davis is quick to dismiss the idea that the popularity of his book and the idea of going wheat free may be nothing more than a fad. The interest stems from a growing desire of consumers to have more control over what they eat, he maintains. 

“This is really a response to what has been going on in genetics research and agribusiness,” he says. “…I think if anything this not a fad; it’s going to be part of a broad movement to take back control over our health and diets, and to insist that we understand what is being done to our food.” 

Bill O'Reilly: This Book Helped Me Drop My Cholesterol Big Time - Get "Wheat Belly" for ONLY $4.95

© 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

Read more: Heart Doctor: Lose the Wheat, Gain Your Health

Beer Improves Your Health in 5 Ways

Beer also contains vitamins and antioxidants, and drinking beer regularly can reduce some of the risks associated with aging.

• Beer  has positive effects on the heart. Studies show that beer raises HDL or good cholesterol, 
• Alcohol thins the blood, it helps hinder the prevention of artery-clogging blood clots
• Beer, due to its high silicone content, may help prevent bone loss and even help rebuild bones in younger men and women
• Lower  risk of dementia
• Moderate drinkers were 65 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes

Read more: Beer Improves Your Health in 5 Ways

Lifting weights may protect men against Type 2 diabetes

The analysis showed that lifting weights reduced men's diabetes risk by 12 percent, 25 percent and 34 percent respectively in the three groups, suggesting the more times a person worked out, the better the diabetes protection. Not surprisingly, the researchers found aerobic exercise also reduced diabetes risk by 7 percent, 31 percent and 52 percent in the three groups.

Study co-atuhor Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health said the increased muscle mass may improve the body's insulin sensitivity, to cause this effect.
"I think the benefits of weight training are real," Hu told Reuters. "Any type of exercise is beneficial for diabetes prevention, but weight training can be incorporated with aerobic exercise to get the best results."

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Surprising Places Germs Hide

Think about this: Cellphones carry 500 times more bacteria than toilet seats!

Your Toothbrush.

Kitchen Sponges. 

Shoes.

Lemon wedges

Menus. 

Grocery carts.

Doctors’ offices

Here is the number of germs per square inch on various surfaces:

• Cellphone: 25,000

• Desktop: 21,000

• Computer keyboard: 3,300

• Toilet seat: 50

Read more: Surprising Places Germs Hide

Use honey to calm coughing in kids

Honey may be the perfect remedy, according to a study published in Monday’s issue of the journal Pediatrics. Israeli researchers compared three different honey products against a placebo containing date extract on 300 children ages 1 to 5 with colds and found that giving two teaspoons of honey just before bedtime relieved the frequency and severity of coughing better than the placebo.

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