Getting more teens to say ’no’ to cigs

Over half a million middle school students and three million high school students smoke, announced U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin while presenting the office’s first report on youth smoking since 1994. Nine in 10 smokers pick up the habit before their 18th birthday, thus prompting Dr. Benjamin to declare youth smoking an “epidemic” that requires a renewed effort to prevent teens from smoking.
 
Smoking leads to 1,200 deaths daily, and nearly 99 percent of all first-time tobacco use occurs before the age of 26; these young people become vulnerable to the long-term health effects of smoking, including lung cancer and heart disease, since after starting to smoke, quitting later on is extremely difficult. Part of the problem, the latest report says, is that tobacco companies are specifically advertising cigarettes to youth, with ads appearing in retail stores or online. But as ACSH’s Dr. Gilbert Ross points out, “Many laws are in place that specifically ban these manufacturers from marketing to young people.” He adds, “These companies are already prohibited from placing ads in magazines that cater to a younger demographic, and they’re strictly controlled on where they can advertise their products. That being said, however, we do understand that cigarette makers need new ‘recruits’ to replace older smokers who quit, or die, and there are probably some clever ways to get around these restrictions to seduce young audiences.”
 
Concerns about smoking, unlike the pervasive and baseless fears of many safe and useful chemicals, are grounded in science — smoking is a real public health threat, and ACSH has long supported smoking prevention and effective cessation policies, especially among teens. “We need to find more effective means to dissuade young people from taking up smoking, “ says ACSH’s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. “Eighty percent of high school smokers will continue to smoke as adults,” she adds, “so we need to make teen smoking prevention a serious priority.”

To combat smoking, some advocates ignore common sense

E-cigarette use among U.S. adults increased more than three-fold from 2009 to 2010 (0.6 percent vs. 2.7 percent), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And although ACSH staffers were delighted to hear that these effective tobacco harm reduction products are catching on, many anti-smoking groups are still fighting to limit their accessibility, arguing that too little is known about the product’s health effects.
 
E-cigarettes, which rely on battery power, do not contain any tobacco; instead, they convert nicotine-infused liquid into vapor that is then inhaled and exhaled as a mist by the user. Although the FDA originally regulated e-cigarettes as medical devices, the agency reported in April that it would regulate them as tobacco products instead — although it could be months or years before the FDA issues any concrete criteria.
 
In the meantime, however, state and local legislatures are taking it upon themselves to speed the regulatory process by proposing their own e-cigarette legislation. For instance, lawmakers in over half a dozen states have introduced bills that would prohibit e-cigarette sales to minors. ACSH, of course, is strongly opposed to any tobacco or nicotine product sales to minors. Yet that being said, ACSH’s president, Dr. Elizabeth Whelan, expresses concern that some of these measures are mere pretext for more stringent, but counterproductive, restrictions on e-cigarettes.

“Some lawmakers have proposed increased taxes on these products, ostensibly to keep them away from minors,” Dr. Whelan says. “But sales to minors are already illegal, and the higher prices resulting from increased taxation would quite likely discourage smokers from trying these much safer devices that can help them quit,” she notes. “Furthermore, there is no reason, based on science or health, to bar them from public spaces as though they were actual cigarettes.”

On the other hand, even though e-cigarettes pose no known adverse health effects and generate no secondhand smoke, ACSH’s Cheryl Martin still believes that there may be a rationale for not allowing the use of e-cigarettes in public areas. “If the point of e-cigarettes is to provide a safer alternative to smoking, but smokers are already prevented from lighting up in most public places, then it could be logical to extend such a ban to e-cigarettes — if only to prevent confusion — since they would not, in that instance, be serving as a replacement.”
 
Indeed, some anti-smoking groups also point out that, because e-cigarettes look quite similar to traditional cigarettes, “vaping” in non-smoking places could create confusion. “I would rather err on the side of caution,” said state Rep. Susan Westrom, who sponsored a bill in Kentucky to ban e-cigarette use in public areas.
 
Such a statement left ACSH's Dr. Josh Bloom perplexed. “Err on the side of caution?” he asks. “Does that mean Rep. Westrom is actually suggesting that just having people continue to smoke cigarettes is being more ‘cautious’? This is not a logical argument.”

Caveat emptor: Supplements can be harmful...or deadly

The dangers of unregulated supplements have attracted renewed attention following the recent deaths of two U.S. soldiers who were reportedly taking an amphetamine-like substance that is marketed as a dietary supplement. Yet as ACSH’s Dr. Gilbert Ross and Medpage Today editor Dr. George Lundberg point out in their joint statement, the soldiers’ story is just the tip of a multi-billion-dollar industry whose ingredients go largely unregulated, and whose dangers go largely unnoticed and unreported.

Vitamin D for young bones

What do healthy bones need? Calcium is most likely the first thing to come to mind. But a new study reinforces the evidence that vitamin D also plays an essential role in bone health. Researchers from the Children’s Hospital Boston report that a higher level of vitamin D intake may protect girls against stress fractures.

The study, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, assessed the dairy, calcium, and vitamin D intake of over 6,700 girls aged nine to 15. Researchers followed the participants for seven years, tracking the occurrence of stress fractures, which often result from sports activities. About 4 percent of the girls developed a stress fracture over the course of the study, but those girls who had the highest level of vitamin D intake were 50 percent less likely to have a stress fracture than girls with the lowest vitamin D consumption. Contrary to what one might expect, higher calcium intake was actually linked to an increase in stress fracture risk: Those girls with the highest intake were twice as likely to develop such a fracture, a finding unexplained by the authors.

ACSH’s Dr. Ruth Kava notes that this study reminds us of the importance of vitamin D to bone health. “It doesn’t matter how much calcium you consume,” she says, “If you don’t have enough vitamin D, your body won’t be able to absorb it.” Aside from sunshine, fortified dairy products and breakfast cereals, some fish, and supplements are also good sources of vitamin D.

Making a diff against C diff

Even as the public is becoming more aware of the risks of hospital-acquired infections, and health providers are working to improve sanitary practices to prevent disease transmission, there is still a worrying trend: Infections with C. difficile (Clostridium difficile) are actually on the rise. C. difficile is a bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea and even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, over the past 10 years, the number of Americans who have been hospitalized for C. difficile infections has tripled. Even worse, over this same time period, the number of people dying from the infection has quadrupled. Currently, about 14,000 Americans die every year from C. difficile infection.

Although it had been thought that most C. difficile infections are contracted in the hospital setting, in fact about half of those who harbor C. difficile were already infected before they arrived at the hospital. Patients who are taking antibiotics long-term or in combination are particularly susceptible to this infection — the antibiotics kill off beneficial bacteria, which allows the C. difficile to proliferate.

Yet hospitals are still a key location to target in reducing the toll of C. difficile. Health care providers, whether they work in a hospital, a nursing home, or a clinic, need to work to end the transmission of C. difficile, says the CDC. Important measures include reducing the overprescription of antibiotics, isolating patients who have been diagnosed with C. difficile infection, sterilizing all surfaces a patient comes into contact with, and being sure that health workers wear gloves and gowns and wash their hands regularly. “Unfortunately,” adds ACSH's Dr. Josh Bloom, “it will take a new family of antibiotics to further get a handle on C. difficile infections and deaths, but the amount of ongoing research in this area is woefully inadequate.”

RID (the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths), founded and led by Dr. Betsy McCaughey, an ACSH trustee, works to encourage modifications in health care settings and in policy that help to reduce hospital-acquired infections, such as C. difficile.

Foods to eat that help reduce belly fat

Knowing what to eat

To eat generously does not have to mean to eat irresponsibly. The important thing to remember is to eat natural and nutrient-dense foods as well as whole foods that the body understands how to use to properly. Below are some examples:

1. Apples - There is wisdom to the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. In a Brazilian weight study, subjects who ate three apples a day while dieting lost more weight than those who didn't. This fruit contains pectin, a compound that is known to inhibit colon cancer. Apples are packed with nutrients and are a rich source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, dietary fiber, phytosterol, flavonoids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

2. Watermelons - In a study conducted by the University of Kentucky, watermelon was found to have a significant effect on artery plaque deposition because it altered blood lipids and lowered the risk of developing belly fat. The researchers in the study observed that animal subjects in the experiment who had diet-induced high cholesterol were given a supplement of watermelon juice while another group was given a typical diet with water. Eight weeks later, the animals given watermelon juice had lower body weight than those who were just given water. It appeared that there was no decrease in muscle mass and the weight loss was due to abdominal fat loss.

3. Tomatoes - A large tomato contains only around 33 calories. Moreover, a recent study identified a compound extracted specifically from the fruit called 9-oxo-octadecadienoic (9-oxo-ODA) which was shown to influence the amount of blood lipids in circulation.
According to Dr. Teruo Kawada, the study leader, "finding a compound which helps the prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases in food stuff is a great advantage to tackling these diseases, and tomato allows people to manage the onset of dyslipedemia through their daily diet." According to Wikipedia, Dyslipedemia is a condition where there is too much lipid in the blood. This normally caused by diet and lifestyle.

4. Bananas - This is a fruit you can enjoy as a nutritious snack without ever worrying about gaining weight. Like apples, it contains a fiber called pectin that is known to inhibit colon cancer. It also contains vitamin A, C, E, B6 as well as potassium, calcium and magnesium. Bananas, depending upon the size, contain calories between 75 calories to 135 calories only.

5. Seafood - Seafood, when included in the diet, could result in a slimmer waist and better health. For those enjoying excellent health and ideal body weight, having seafood on a regular basis may even prevent possible future poor health and weight gain. Studies have shown that seafood has been found to contain monounsaturated fat (MUFA). Studies have also shown that having a regular diet with foods containing MUFA can prevent belly fat.

6. Lamb - Lamb contains vitamin B, protein, zinc and trytophan. This is certainly a better option to processed or canned meat, and is a healthy source of protein. Lamb contains conjugated linoleic acid. According to Dr. James Howenstine, author of "A Physician's Guide to Natural Health Products That Work," low levels of conjugated linoleic acid in the body can lead to obesity since dietary fat cannot be used as energy and is moved into cells resulting in fat storage. Editor's note: I cannot condone eating lamb due to humanitarian reasons. Lambs are mammals, and it would be far less damaging to living beings if you chose to eat a simpler lifeform instead, such as fish.

7. Tart cherries - In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, it was found that a diet containing tart cherries may help lower symptoms of heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a term used to refer to a group of symptoms which increase the risk of a host of heart diseases, diabetes and belly fat. In the study, the animal subjects had reduced cholesterol levels and a fat content of only 54 percent compared to the non-cherry fed group of 63 percent belly fat. Tart cherries have also been identified to have antioxidant properties.

8. Celery - Celery is a negative calorie food containing only eight calories. It is high in vitamin C, calcium and is best enjoyed raw. Enjoying fresh celery juice before a meal can even help you lose weight. It contains apigenin, an active compound that slashes the risk of ovarian cancer.

9. Avocados - This fruit has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It contains the amino acid lecithin - which helps in preventing liver overload - and aids the memory and helps balance weight. In one study, it was discovered that people who ate a considerable amount of avocados showed clear improvement in health. It balances cholesterol levels and prevents heart attacks and strokes.

10. Kelp noodles - According to NaturalNews.com, kelp noodles are a good alternative for those who love traditional noodles. They are made from seaweed and contain only six calories. They are raw and mineral rich and can be used like any regular noodles.

It's time to reconsider the low-calorie dieting theory and recognize that only natural foods can properly nourish the body and help it rebuild itself. Food can actually help us in attaining good health and proper weight management. When coupled with exercise, it can help us achieve sustainable weight loss, avoid obesity, prevent a host of other chronic diseases and increase health benefits that directly improve our quality of life.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035170_foods_burning_belly_fat.html#ixzz1odLbGemw

Fitness can counter fatness, to an extent

Losing weight is an extremely difficult task. But a new study provides some good news for individuals struggling to lose excess weight but trying to reduce their cardiovascular risk: Keeping fit, even in the absence of losing weight, still benefits cardiovascular health.

Researchers led by a University of South Carolina scientist analyzed data obtained from over 3,100 adults seen at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas. These patients were mostly in their 40s and did not have cardiovascular risk factors at the start of the study. Participants were tested for factors relevant to cardiovascular health, including cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat percentage, abdominal girth, and aerobic fitness (measured by treadmill tests). The patients then returned for two follow-up checkups over the course of at least six years.

The results, published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, demonstrated that most patients gained body fat over the course of the follow-up period. Yet many had also improved their cardiovascular fitness at the same time. Those participants who had both increased body fat and decreased fitness over the course of the study were 71 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndrome (a combination of cardiovascular risk factors) than those who had lost fat. But even if patients were unable to lose fat, if they managed to increase their fitness while gaining weight they were still at a 22 percent lower risk than those who gained weight and had lowered fitness.

“So much attention gets focused on weight reduction, but reducing body fat is very difficult for most people,” lead author Dr. Duck-Chul Lee comments. But this study demonstrates that for cardiovascular health, “maintaining your fitness over your lifetime is just as important, and for most people is probably more achievable.”

“This is a promising result for people with excess weight,” notes ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross. “Many people will find it easier to exercise regularly and keep fit than to lose weight.”

ACSH's Dr. Ruth Kava agrees, and adds, “While it is encouraging that improving fitness, independent of body fat or weight increases, can improve or at least maintain cardiovascular health, it’s important to note that decreasing body fat adds to the decrease in risk. Both are involved.”