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Category: healthy living

Published on Leave a comment on Farting Is Perfectly Normal
Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The topic of farts is rarely discussed in adult conversations. This is because passing gas or farting can be embarrassing to the person farting, especially when occurring in a public setting. One wonders: Is farting (flatulence) normal? How many farts per day is normal?

Research shows that releasing intestinal gas through the rectum (farting) is part of normal and healthy digestion. On the other hand, "excessive farting" could be a sign of some sort of intestinal problem. Two recent studies examined "normal farting" and came up with different results. An Australian study found that overall people reported 5 farts per day using a "Chart your fart" app, but a Maryland study had participants wear special "smart" underwear that measured any passing of gas and came up with 32 farts per day!

From Medscape: Flatus Status: How Many Farts a Day Is Normal?

Researchers Emily Brindal and Danielle Baird developed the “Chart Your Fart” app as a citizen-science initiative.

The app allows people to log their emissions in real time, and to (optionally) rate them in terms of stench, loudness, duration, and — critically — detectability. Which is obviously necessary to determine whether he who smelt it actually dealt it. ...continue reading "Farting Is Perfectly Normal"

Published on Leave a comment on Research Finds Vitamin D3 to Be Beneficial, But Not Vitamin D2

Vitamin D supplements are available in both D2 and D3 form. Research has long supported that it's vitamin D3 that has health benefits, and that vitamin D2 doesn't do anything. Well... a recent study found that vitamin D2 actually has a negative effect - that it lowers how much vitamin D3 the body absorbs.

Ingesting vitamin D2 supplements results in lower levels of vitamin D3 in the blood - measured as  serum vitamin 25(OH)D3 concentrations.  Note that Vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D synthesized in human and animals skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight. Thus, vitamin D3 is the form of vitamin D that our body naturally produces from sunlight and then use.

All the more reason to avoid vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol), and instead only take vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Read the ingredients list on the bottle!

From Science Daily: Scientists warn popular vitamin D supplement may have a “previously unknown” downside

Taking vitamin D2 might lower the body's levels of the more efficient form of vitamin D, vitamin D3, according to new research from the University of Surrey, John Innes Centre and Quadram Institute Bioscience. Many people take vitamin D supplements to support their bone and immune health and meet the UK government recommendation of 10 micrograms (µg) each day, especially during the winter months. ...continue reading "Research Finds Vitamin D3 to Be Beneficial, But Not Vitamin D2"

Published on Leave a comment on New Technique Being Developed For Vision Correction
Human eye Credit: Wikipedia

Scientists are now working on a treatment for vision problems that would avoid the need for lasers or surgery (e.g., LASIK). This would be an amazing development.

The new technique called electromechanical reshaping (EMR) is still experimental, but very promising. Instead of carving away tissue, which is done in LASIK, the new method temporarily softens the cornea so it can be gently molded into a new shape.

But studies need to be done in animals (only rabbit eyeballs tested so far), and only then can it be tested in humans. Stay tuned...

From Science Daily: Forget LASIK: Safer, cheaper vision correction without lasers or surgery

Millions of Americans live with blurry vision, nearsightedness, or more severe sight problems. While glasses and contact lenses help many people, millions have turned to corrective procedures such as LASIK to sharpen their eyesight. But scientists are now exploring a very different approach that could someday reshape the eye without lasers, cutting, or invasive surgery. ...continue reading "New Technique Being Developed For Vision Correction"

Published on Leave a comment on Humans May Be Able To Grow New Teeth In A Few Years
Human teeth Credit: Wikipedia

The idea of regrowing lost teeth is fabulous. A study focusing on a tooth regeneration treatment came out last year, but I just read about the study in Popular Mechanics and Dentistry Today.

The Japanese scientists pointed out that humans already have a third set of teeth available in their mouths as buds, and these have the potential to grow as needed. Some people with hyperdontia can already grow more than one full set of teeth (about 1% of the population). The scientists are now working on how to promote tooth regrowth by using an experimental drug.

Human trials are now ongoing. They hope to have a tooth-growing treatment available for general use by 2030. Stay tuned...

From Popular mechanics: Grow New Teeth Within Just 4 Years

    • While bones can regrow themselves when they break, teeth aren’t so lucky, and that leads to millions of people worldwide suffering from some form of edentulism, a.k.a. toothlessness.
    • Now, Japanese researchers are moving a promising, tooth-regrowing medicine into human trials.
    • If the trial is successful, the researchers hope the drug will become available for all forms of toothlessness sometime around 2030.

...continue reading "Humans May Be Able To Grow New Teeth In A Few Years"

Published on Leave a comment on Egg Consumption Is Beneficial For Brain Health

Remember when health advice was to limit egg consumption, that they had too much cholesterol, and to only eat egg whites? Well.... studies in the last decade have proven that advice as being 100% wrong for a number of reasons. It turns out that eggs are a great source of a number of nutrients (e.g., choline) needed for brain health and memory function.

A recent study found that frequent egg consumption by persons (mean age 59 years at the start of the study) lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The researchers found that there was a 27% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease among persons who ate at least 5 eggs a week, but even eating fewer eggs was beneficial. The participants were followed for 15 years.

Other studies have also found a decreased risk of AD in persons eating eggs frequently - with one study finding that more than one egg consumed per week reduced the risk of developing AD up to 47%.

Some key nutrients necessary for brain health that are provided by eggs are: choline, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, tryptophan, phospholipids, and an omega-3 fat known as DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The researchers viewed the nutrients in eggs as being "neuroprotective" (protecting neurological function).

From Medical Xpress: Egg consumption associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease

Consumption of eggs is associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease for those 65 years and older, according to researchers at Loma Linda University Health. Eating one egg per day for at least five days a week reduces the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 27%, researchers found. ...continue reading "Egg Consumption Is Beneficial For Brain Health"

Published on Leave a comment on Common Knee Operation May Be Unnecessary
Human knees Credit: Wikipedia

It is incredibly hard to change routine medical practice, even when new evidence says that it does not help, and may even harm. A new study shows that a commonly done surgery called partial meniscectomy for knee cartilage damage (meniscal tears) actually does not help and may harm long-term.

The research (just published in the New England Journal of Medicine) found that people with knee meniscal tears who underwent surgery had more symptoms, poorer knee function, and worse osteoarthritis after 10 years, when compared to those who did not have the surgery. The study (146 patients followed for 10 years, 5 hospitals participating) was well done - the control group actually had "sham surgery", but did not actually get the procedure.

The actual surgery group did not appear to benefit and scored worse on a range of measures designed to measure knee function, pain, and progression of symptoms.

The results (and other studies having similar results) should result in a medical reversal regarding how frequently the procedure is done. But it is very hard for the medical establishment to change course, and also all that lucrative $$ from doing the procedure.

From Medical Xpress: One of the world's most common knee surgeries does not help and may even be harmful

Partial meniscectomy does not improve patient symptoms or function, reveals a 10-year follow-up of the FIDELITY, a placebo-surgery controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. ...continue reading "Common Knee Operation May Be Unnecessary"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Popular Anti-Aging Supplement Could Also Fuel Cancer Growth

Many people load up on all sorts of supplements thinking it'll give them better health and perhaps even extend their life span. But researchers found that one popular anti-aging supplement (known as spermidine) thought to extend the life-span could also be fueling the growth of cancer. How can this be?

The researchers found that the effects of polyamines (including spermidine), which are in all living cells, can either promote healthy aging or can fuel cancer growth. The difference was in which protein they influenced, and whether the cells were healthy to start with. In healthy cells they support cellular maintenance and energy production but in cancer cells they help drive rapid growth.

From Science Daily:  Scientists reveal why a popular anti-aging compound may also fuel cancer

Polyamines are naturally produced molecules present in all living cells. They play a vital role in basic biological functions, including cell growth and specialization. In recent years, scientists have focused on these compounds, especially spermidine, for their potential to support healthy aging. Often described as 'geroprotectors,' they have been shown to stimulate autophagy, a cellular recycling process that clears out damaged components. This benefit largely depends on a protein called eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A1).

At the same time, researchers have repeatedly observed high levels of polyamines in many types of cancer, where they are linked to aggressive tumor growth. This contrast has created a scientific puzzle. How can the same molecules that appear to promote longevity also be associated with cancer?
...continue reading "Study Finds Popular Anti-Aging Supplement Could Also Fuel Cancer Growth"

Published on Leave a comment on Babies Are Exposed to Forever Chemicals Before Birth

Pregnancy is a time when the developing baby is exposed to whatever the mother is exposed to. It turns out that this means pesticides (whether on food or in the yard or home) and "forever chemicals". Recent research found that newborns are born already exposed to many more "forever chemicals" (PFAS or per- and polyfluorinated substances) than previously believed.

In the study, the researchers identified 42 different PFAS in cord blood from 120 babies. So far other research has found some long-term effects from PFAS exposure before birth, such as lower birth weight, preterm birth, altered immune responses to vaccines, and metabolic changes.

PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) are commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their buildup and persistence in people and the environment. They are of great concern because they are endocrine disruptors, have harmful health effects (e.g., cancer, kidney disease, fertility problems), and unfortunately are found in many products that people use daily.

There are thousands of these chemicals in use today. For example, they are found in any product using Teflon, in nonstick pots and pans, nonstick finishes, anti-stain finishes (e.g., in rugs and fabrics), some make-up (waterproof products), some dental floss, food packaging, fir-fighting foam, etc.

Bottom line: We can't avoid all exposures to environmental toxins, but we can lower our exposures, for example, by avoiding nonstick cookware (use stainless steel cookware or glass instead). [More tips on avoiding harmful chemicals.] This is especially important during pregnancy.

From Medical Xpress: Babies are exposed to more 'forever chemicals' before birth than previously known, new study finds

Babies born between 2003 and 2006 were exposed to many more "forever chemicals" before birth than scientists previously understood, according to new research published in Environmental Science & Technology. ...continue reading "Babies Are Exposed to Forever Chemicals Before Birth"

Published on Leave a comment on A Daily Glass of Wine Is Associated With A Slower Rate of Aging

Several studies have recently been published that push back at the idea that all alcohol intake has negative health effects. Actual results are more nuanced. High alcohol intake is always harmful, but low to moderate intake appears to be protective for a number of health conditions. In fact, low to moderate intake appears to be better for health than totally abstaining from alcohol.

Similar to research reported in the last post, another recent study looking at alcohol consumption found that low to moderate alcohol consumption has beneficial health effects (is protective). Again, a J curve finding that low to moderate intake best delays biological aging (as measured by biomarker measurements), then alcohol never or rarely consumed, and finally that high intake was harmful - it canceled any alcohol protective effects. In other words, low to moderate alcohol consumption slows down aging.

The most beneficial effects were at 1 to 2 glasses of wine per day. These associations were predominantly in men, and these effects went hand in hand with eating a Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, and olive oil. The researchers thought that compounds such as polyphenols in wine could play a role in why low to moderate alcohol consumption was beneficial.

From Medical Life Sciences News: Moderate wine intake tied to slower biological aging in men

A large Italian cohort study suggests that moderate wine intake, as defined within a traditional Mediterranean diet, may be associated with slightly slower biological aging in men, whereas total alcohol intake showed a different, less favorable pattern. ...continue reading "A Daily Glass of Wine Is Associated With A Slower Rate of Aging"

Published on Leave a comment on Some Wine With Dinner Can Have Health Benefits

It seems that in the last few years all alcohol intake has been demonized, with warnings that any alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. What is not typically mentioned are the studies finding health benefits from consuming low to moderate levels of alcohol. Especially wine consumed with a meal.

Studies for years have found a J curve in health effects - with low to moderate levels of alcohol consumed best for health, and no alcohol or rarely consumed a little worse,  and high levels of alcohol consumption having the most negative health effects. In other words, low to moderate alcohol consumption (e.g., 1 glass wine daily) can be protective for certain health conditions.

The following study found that consuming low to moderate levels of wine is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, in older adults (mean age 68 years). Best was consuming between half a glass and one glass per day of wine - a 50% lower chance of cardiovascular events.

From Science Daily: New evidence on the relationship between moderate wine consumption and cardiovascular health

Light and moderate consumption of wine is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular complications, according to a multicenter study. The study is based on the analysis of a biomarker of wine intake -- specifically, tartaric acid, present in grapes. It was carried out in 1,232 participants in the PREDIMED project, a major scientific epidemiological study in nutrition on the effects of the Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular health. ...continue reading "Some Wine With Dinner Can Have Health Benefits"