More Good News About Fish Oil

Eating fatty fish (this is about the only time we advocate eating ‘fatty’ anything!) may reduce your odds of getting kidney cancer.

Swedish researchers report in the J of the American Medical Association that a study of over 60,000 Swedish women showed that eating fatty fish at least once a week developed significantly fewer renal cell carcinomas than women who didn’t eat the fish. The study took place over 15 years.

Add comment September 20th, 2006

Weight Loss is THE Most Effective Diabetes Prevention

We have long known the connection between obesity and diabetes.  Now fresh research points to healthy weight loss as the key to diabetes prevention.

This result is one of the first findings of the Diabetes Prevention Project.  Dr. Richard Hamman reports that participants who met weight loss goals reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58% over three years.  While we never have absolutely conclusive evidence in the complex field of human health, it is almost certain that the “intensive lifestyle intervention” kinds of activities are your surest path to long term health.

Check out the abstract from the September issue of Diabetes Care.

Add comment September 18th, 2006

Childhood Obesity #1 Public Health Problem

The prestigious Institute of Medicine recently issued a report indicating that childhood obesity will continue to rise sharply unless dramatic steps are taken.  Jeffery Koplan, Chairman of the report committee, calls this one of the 21st century’s “most critical public health issues.”

Obviously, these children will grow up–will they be healthy adults?  Or, will they strain our already over-burdened health care system?  These are questions parents will care about.
Read a review of this research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the research.

-from Bob Wright

Add comment September 15th, 2006

Overweight Children Found to Have Weaker Bones

A recent study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine found that obese children and teenagers may have reduced bone density and that a multi-pronged intervention including physical activity and diet helped to lower weight and improve bone strength. Click here for more information

Add comment September 15th, 2006

More Reasons to Take Fish Oil Supplements

Roger and Bob at H3I (bios here) have been telling us to take fish oil supplements for years.  The cardiovascular benefits have seemed very compelling.

Now, Reuters Health reports a simulation from Regions Hospital in Minnesota that says fish oil might be more effective in preventing sudden cardiac arrest than those automated external defribrillators that are showing up in more and more places.  The simulation doesn’t replace hard research on this issue, but that is now going on in two large studies in Italy and England.

No more excuses.  Take your fishoil.

Add comment September 14th, 2006

Whole-grain Foods Linked to Lower Blood Pressure

Researchers from the US Department of Agriculture looked at the effect of whole-grain diet on blood pressure.  In general, they found that “increasing whole-grain foods, whether high in soluble or insoluble fiber, can reduce blood pressure and may help control weight.” Click here for the Reuters Health summary.

Add comment September 13th, 2006