Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Jon's Health Tips - Latest Health Research

Lots of interesting stuff in the last 3 weeks:

I'm ordering this today from Amazon (really, I am!)

Scientists today reported striking new evidence that green, or unroasted, coffee beans can produce a substantial decrease in body weight in a relatively short period of time. A group of overweight or obese people who consumed a fraction of an ounce of ground green coffee beans each day lost about 10 percent of their body weight. "Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day — while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly — appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," The low dose consisted of 700 mg of the coffee extract, and the high dose was 1,050 mg.

I am really, really trying to fight this:


Standing up more often may reduce your chances of dying within three years, even if you are already physically active, a study of more than 200,000 people published in Archives of Internal Medicine shows. The study found that adults who sat 11 or more hours per day had a 40% increased risk of dying in the next three years compared with those who sat for fewer than four hours a day. This was after taking into account their physical activity, weight and health status.


I need to spice up my diet (and my life):


Past research suggested that spicing food with chilies can lower blood pressure in people with that condition, reduce blood cholesterol and ease the tendency for dangerous blood clots to form. The new research has reinforced and expanded knowledge about how these substances in chilies work in improving heart health. They lower cholesterol levels by reducing accumulation of cholesterol in the body and increasing its breakdown and excretion in the feces. They also block action of a gene that makes arteries contract, restricting the flow of blood to the heart and other organs. The blocking action allows more blood to flow through blood vessels.In addition to reducing total cholesterol levels in the blood, capsaicinoids reduced levels of the so-called "bad" cholesterol (which deposits into blood vessels), but did not affect levels of so-called "good" cholesterol. The team found indications that capsaicinoids may reduce the size of deposits that already have formed in blood vessels, narrowing arteries in ways that can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

Does eating chocolate make you thinner or do only thin people eat chocolate?

More frequently eating chocolate appears related to lower BMI

I started doing this as soon as I read about it:

Do you really want to avoid cavities in your teeth? Try massaging them with a high-fluoride toothpaste after lunch. Rubbing toothpaste onto your teeth increases the fluoride protection by 400.

Another reason to try the above:


Dental plaque bacteria may trigger blood clots

Not too much soy, but I'm good on tea and peanuts:

Eating foods that contain isoflavones – a key compound in soy milk, tofu, green tea and even peanuts – every day may help young adults lower their blood pressure.


I eat raisins almost every day with oatmeal for breakfast, snack on apples, blueberries, strawberries, nuts and/or dark chocolate during the day, but went out and bought 2 bags of low-fat air-popped popcorn after reading the second article below for my evening snacking. (Now you know why I need green coffee bean extract).

Snacking on raisins a heart-healthy way to lower blood pressure

Popcorn's reputation as a snack food that's actually good for health popped up a few notches as scientists reported that it contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables.


Six out of seven isn't bad:

In a study that included a nationally representative sample of nearly 45,000 adults, participants who met more of seven recommended cardiovascular health behaviors or factors had a lower risk of death compared to participants who met fewer factors, although only a low percentage of adults met all seven factors. The metrics are not smoking; being physically active; having normal blood pressure, blood glucose and total cholesterol levels, and weight; and eating a healthy diet. Only 1.2 percent met all 7.

I'm not as careful about this as I should be:

Lyme Disease Surge Predicted for Northeastern US

I need to clear my mind to think about this:

Meditation Strengthens the Brain

I'm in good shape on these:

Another benefit of alcohol, wine, coffee and fish (I'm now 4 for 4)

Sleeping too much or too little can be bad for your heart

White Rice Increases Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Sugar-sweetened drinks= increased risk of heart disease in men

More red meat consumption= increased risk of death

Statins may prevent pneumonia

Statin use appears associated with modest reduction in Parkinson's disease risk

High-Fat Diets Increase Colon Cancer Risk

Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption=lower stroke risk

Moderate wine consumption improves lung function

Healthy Looking Skin Tone Linked To Fruit And Veg Consumption

Eating Berries Benefits the Brain

Exercise and caffeine change your muscle DNA

Vitamin D deficiency linked to higher mortality

Vitamin D may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's

And finally, of no use to me personally: one of the many benefits of exercise:

Study: Exercise can lead to female orgasm, sexual pleasure

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