Type-2 diabetes accounts for up to 95% of all diabetes cases in the world. Previous studies have suggested that people who drink four or more cups of coffee daily have a 50% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. And every additional cup of coffee brings another decrease in risk of almost 7%.  B. Cheng, from Tongji School of Pharmacy (China), and colleagues have identified two categories of compounds in coffee that significantly inhibit the misfolding of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), posited to be a primary contributor to the onset of  Type-2 diabetes.   Specifically, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid present in coffee were observed to exert protective effects on islet cells. The study authors conclude that: “the beneficial effects of coffee consumption on [Type-2 diabetes] may be partly due to the ability of the major coffee components and metabolites to inhibit the toxic aggregation of [human islet amyloid polypeptide].”

Drinking red wine in moderation may reduce one of the risk factors for breast cancer, providing a natural weapon to combat a major cause of death among American women.  Chrisandra Shufelt, from Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute (California, USA), and colleagues studied 36 women  who were randomized to drink either Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay daily for almost a month, then switched to the other type of wine. Blood was collected twice each month to measure hormone levels. Researchers sought to determine whether red wine mimics the effects of aromatase inhibitors, which play a key role in managing estrogen levels. Aromatase inhibitors are currently used to treat breast cancer.  The team found that chemicals in the skins and seeds of red grapes slightly lowered estrogen levels while elevating testosterone among premenopausal women who drank eight ounces of red wine nightly for about a month.  Concluding that: “These data suggest that red wine is a nutritional [aromatase inhibitor] and may explain the observation that red wine does not appear to increase breast cancer risk,” the study authors submit that this data challenges the widely-held belief that all types of alcohol consumption heighten the risk of developing breast cancer.

A diet rich in key vitamins and healthy fats may help older men and women to stay cognitively sharp, as well as reduce brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.  Conversely, a “junk food” diet (characterized by high trans fat intake) predicts lower cognitive scores, as well as reduced total cerebral brain volume.  G.L. Bowman, from Oregon Health and Science University (or guide, USA), and colleagues completed a study that specifically measured a wide range of blood nutrient levels and correlated them to performance on mental acuity tests.  The researchers enrolled 104 people, average age 87 years, none of whom experienced special risk factors for memory or mental acuity. The team tested 30 different nutrient biomarkers in their blood, and 42 participants also had MRI scans to measure their brain volume. The most favorable cognitive outcomes and brain size measurements were associated with two dietary patterns – high levels of marine fatty acids, and high levels of vitamins B, C, D and E. In contrast, consistently worse cognitive performance was associated with a higher intake of the type of trans-fats found in baked and fried foods, margarine, fast food and other less-healthy dietary choices. The researchers conclude that:  “Distinct nutrient biomarker patterns detected in plasma are interwpretable and account for a significant degree of variance in both cognitive function and brain volume.”

A number of previous studies conducted in developed countries show a relationship between higher levels of physical activity and lower risks of cardiovascular disease.  In a case-control study of 10,043 cases of first myocardial infarction (heart attack) and 14,217 controls who did not report previous angina or physical disability, Claes Held, from Uppsala University (Sweden), and colleagues assessed leisure-time and occupational physical activity.   Study subjects who had a heart attack were more likely to be sedentary during leisure time and work, as compared to controls. For leisure-time activity the odds of a heart attack were lower with as little as mild-exertion exercise, with beneficial effects seen in as little as 30 minutes of exercise per week. For occupational activity, both light and moderate physical activity associated with lower odds of heart attack, as compared to being sedentary; strenuous work activity was not related to an increased risk of heart attack, in large part because such activity did not involve extended aerobic exertion. The team also explored various markers of sedentary behavior. They found that owning a car, radio or stereo, and a home was significantly associated with the risk of heart attack. Owning a television was of borderline significance.  Observing that: “”Leisure-time [physical activity] and mild-to-moderate occupational [physical activity], but not heavy physical labour, were associated with a reduced risk,” the study authors warn that: “ownership of a car and TV was associated with an increased risk of [myocardial infarction] across all economic regions.”

A study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism indicates that being overweight greatly increases the risk of lumbar spine disc degeneration.

The study had about 2600 subjects of which 73 percent had lumbar disc degeneration.  Out of those with back trouble seven percent were underweight, 48 percent were in the normal weight range, 36 percent were overweight and 9 percent were obese, the investigators reported.

“Our research confirms that with elevated BMI there is a significant increase in the extent and global severity of disc degeneration. In fact, end-stage disc degeneration with narrowing of the disc space was more pronounced in obese individuals,” Dr. Dino Samartzis, of the University of Hong Kong, said in a journal news release.

The researchers postulated that when people gain excess weight, disc degeneration accelerates as a result of the increased workload on the disc.  Additionally, the abundance of fat cells can aggravate it because they can cause systemic inflammation throughout the whole body.

If you want to avoid or reduce back discomfort this study gives you a solid reason to consider making sure that you are not overweight.

Dr. Richard Vahl,

It was great to speak with you today.  Here is some of the latest info on energy from Thorium.

Energy from Thorium is a form of nuclear energy.  It is an important element that’s decay gives earth its hot molten core.  It was formed in a super nova 5 billion years ago.  It has enough energy density and is present in amounts plentiful enough to solve humanity’s energy problems permanently or at least until we figure out a workable fusion reactor.

This technology has been prototyped and proven.  Thorium is nearly free since is a waste product that is produced during the mining of valuable rare earth elements.

This was an incredible discovery made by Alvin Weinberg and his team over 40 years ago.  He holds the patent on the current Light Water Reactor but thought of it as temporary and was key in developing the LFTR thorium reactor which he preferred.  A technology that was developed at Oak Ridge National Labs in the 1960s and has been sitting idle for 43 years.

What is Thorium?                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vzotsvvkw 

How about an energy source that will last for 10,000 years and is plentiful domestically so we do not need to conduct foreign wars to control production?  An energy production method that is inherently safe (no high pressure reactor) and does not create pollution.  Something that consumes spent uranium from existing nuclear reactors and produces only useful fission products needed by the medical industry and for space exploration.  A source of energy that is more affordable and abundant that coal with a million times the energy density. A resource that solves the major US economic problems that are caused by high energy prices.  A source of energy that can be used to efficiently produce abundant fresh water by desalination and create liquid fuels for transportation by recapturing green house gasses.    Welcome to www.EnergyfromThorium.com and the LFTR reactor.

If not for extremely poor political decisions based on nuclear weapons production we could have had this energy since the 1970’s.  Thorium clean energy costs approximately $.03/kw vs coal at $.054/kw

Wouldn’t it be great if the US had a strong energy policy that could solve our economic problems?  What is wrong with our Dept of Energy?

Where is Thorium?  We have a huge amount in the US!!  We are like the Saudi Arabia of Thorium.  It is even plentiful on the moon and Mars, just waiting to power our first settlements.  There is no water required to run the LFTR thorium reactor.

Who is already working on a thorium reactor?  China, France, Czechs, Russia, India.  Where is our Dept of Energy?

Our current nuclear reactors are from a design from the 50’s.  Could you imagine driving cars, flying planes, or carrying telephones from the 50’s?

These are speakers from Thorium Energy Alliance last year http://www.thoriumenergyalliance.com/ThoriumSite/TEAC3.html

I am giving a paper this May.  The 5^th speaker, Raluca is my vote for the top representative for nuclear scientists, “the next generation”

Here are some interesting videos on Thorium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZR0UKxNPh8 Google

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9M__yYbsZ4  Thorium 2hr

Eric,

Rheumatoid arthritis can make even the simplest tasks difficult. Take the supermarket, for example. Walking down long aisles can hurt already swollen knee joints, and just reaching for a box of cereal on a shelf can seem nearly impossible. Then there’s all the bending and lifting to move your groceries from the cart onto the checkout counter and then into your car. Your joints may just scream, “Please, no more.”

Samantha Heller, a New York-based dietitian, and Kelly Rouba, an advisory board member of the Arthritis National Research Foundation and author of Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide, offer advice about how to ease your rheumatoid arthritis pain and make the most out of your trips to the grocery store.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Shopping Guide to Healthy Foods

• Buy trimmed and pre-cut foods. Heller recommends reviewing healthy foods at your market thoroughly and taking advantage of work that has already been done for you. Most produce sections at large supermarkets have bags of pre-cut carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and other crunchy vegetables. Raw chicken breasts can often be bought in thin slices for a stir-fry, for instance; look for lean beef available in cubes for stews.
• Shop for pre-washed produce. Healthy foods and convenience can both be found at the salad bar. “Salad bars are a great place to shop,” Heller says. “The vegetables are not only pre-cut, but pre-washed and ready to go.” Salad bar vegetables may be a bit more expensive than other veggies, but the convenience may be worth the extra cost.
• Choose smaller packaging. If you can’t get someone to come with you to the store, think about ways you can make your job there easier. “Small packages don’t put the stress on your arms and joints that larger ones do,” Heller notes. Though buying in bulk may be more economical, repeatedly lifting heavy objects can aggravate rheumatoid arthritis pain.
• Make more frequent trips. Buying smaller quantities at a time may mean more trips to the store, but this can help you remember to take it easy, Heller says. Likewise, if you drive to the grocery store, don’t be tempted to unload the car all in one go. Make several trips to the car or get a cart to help you maneuver groceries into the house.
• Bring your own bag. Paper or plastic? Neither. Rouba says reusable, environmentally friendly shopping bags are good for more than just reducing waste. “These bags have longer handles so that you can hang them on a wheelchair or on a walker,” says Rouba. “And for people with wrist issues, you can carry them in the middle of your arm where your bone is strongest.”
• Take a friend. “If you can wangle some assistance when you go, that can be a great help,” Heller says. “Another person can pick up the heavy stuff, like potatoes and grains.”
• Ask for a personal shopper. Then next best thing to a friend coming with you is a personal shopper, which some grocery stores provide free to their customers. Rouba says her friend Rich, who had muscular dystrophy, used personal shoppers. “They weren’t supposed to accept tips. That’s great for people living with rheumatoid arthritis who are on a limited income,” notes Rouba. “You want to tip people who help you out, but it can add up.”
• Seek additional assistance. Even stores that aren’t able to spare a staff person to help you shop are usually able to provide some assistance, whether it’s helping customers reach items on the tallest shelves or loading the groceries into the car. “Almost any grocery store is able to send someone from customer service to help you, if you just ask,” Rouba says. Investigate if any of your local supermarkets offer motorized shopping carts you can use instead of walking the aisles. Or use online services that let you place your order on their Web site and have it delivered to your home or brought out to your car if you pick up.
• Take advantage of local social services. Heller suggests using local services like Meals on Wheels once a week to give yourself a break from buying and cooking food. Many communities also offer transportation programs for people who are disabled and can’t drive to and from the grocery store.
• Listen to your body. The bottom line is to tune into what your body is saying. “If you have rheumatoid arthritis, chances are you know what you can and can’t do,” says Heller. Do what you can and ask for help with everything else.

A study conducted by the Neuroscience Institute at the University of California suggests that it’s possible to lower the level of a protein in the brain that’s linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers say that in the United States more than 5 million people have Alzheimer’s disease.  It is also now the sixth-leading cause of death in the country.  There is also currently no cure for it. So, researchers are aggressively seeking ways to help prevent it’s onset.

There is a protein, beta amyloid which while researchers can’t say for certain is a cause of Alzheimer’s disease has been associated with it in multiple studies.

In this study the researchers wanted to see if cognitive brain activity could help lower the amyloid levels.

For the study, the researchers used a special imaging technique called positron emission tomography, which is able to see beta amyloid plaque in the brain, plus neuropsychological tests to see what effect cognitive stimulation might have on Alzheimer’s risk.

The researchers studied 65 healthy subjects with an average age of 76 and an additional 10 patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers found that people who engaged in brain-stimulating activities like reading, doing puzzles, etc., had the least amount of beta amyloid.

“Staying cognitively active over the lifetime may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by preventing the accumulation of Alzheimer’s-related pathology,” said study author Susan Landau, a research scientist at the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley.

The researchers believe that this study suggests that cognitive activity can actually affect the pathological process of Alzheimer’s development.

If you’re concerned about doing all you can to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease you might want to make a regular regimen of using your mind part of your lifestyle.