The Institute for Vibrant Living

A new study carried out by scientists from the Universities of London and Oxford may provide clues as to why the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) is influenced by month of birth - it seems that vitamin D levels and immune system development vary according to month of birth in newborn babies.

MS is a disabling neurological condition which happens when the body's own immune system attacks and damages the central nervous system. This interferes with the transmission of electrical messages between the brain and the rest of the body - leading to problems with vision, muscle control, hearing and memory.

Previous population studies already indicate that month of birth can influence risk of getting MS. This effect is particularly evident in England, where MS risk peaks in individuals born in May and drops in those born in November. As vitamin D is formed by the skin when it is exposed to sunlight, this effect may support a prenatal role for vitamin D in MS risk.

In this new study, blood was extracted from the umbilical cord of 50 newborn babies and analyzed to measure levels of vitamin D and autoreactive T-cells. Autoreactive T-cells are specialized immune cells whose role is to identify and destroy infectious agents such as viruses.

However, for some reason, some of these T-cells start attacking the body's own cells, triggering autoimmune diseases such as MS. Normally such self-harming T-cells should be eliminated by the immune system during its development by the thymus, a specialized organ in the immune system.

Study results showed that babies born in May had significantly lower vitamin D levels (around 20% lower than those born in November), along with nearly double the number of autoreactive T-cells compared to November babies.

In other words, lower levels of vitamin D in May babies are associated with twice the levels of autoreactive T-cells, which naturally increase the risk of damage to the central nervous system.

In the future, long-term studies are needed to understand whether vitamin D supplementation in pregnant women can impact immune system development and lower risk of MS and other autoimmune diseases.

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According to new research, microwave imaging can be used to successfully monitor the progress of breast cancer treatment. Not only that, microwave tomography can distinguish between breast cancer, benign growths and normal tissue.

Breast cancer affects many women and early detection usually means fast and effective treatment. X-ray mammography is currently the most effective imaging approach used by clinicians for detecting breast cancer. However, despite significant progress over the past few years, this technique still results in many false positives and false negative prognoses.

On the other hand microwave imaging can be used to detect tumors at an early, curable stage. Malignant breast cancer tissues have a higher water content compared to normal tissues - so when they are exposed to microwaves, they cause more microwave ‘scattering’ than the normal fatty breast tissues do, which have low water content.

In this study, eight women with breast cancer were treated with chemotherapy until surgery, as part of their normal therapy. During treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was supplemented with microwave tomography.

The study authors found regions of high conductivity which corresponded to tumors while low conductivity meant normal tissues. Unlike other imaging techniques, body mass index or BMI which indicates the amount of body fat, age or breast density did not affect the results.

What’s more, this imaging technique is relatively inexpensive and can be repeated many times during treatment. By recalling patients for scans as their treatment progresses, the study authors could actually see tumors shrinking in women who responded to chemotherapy.

At the same time, microwave tomography can also be used to identify women who don’t respond to initial therapy, so that their treatment can be modified appropriately at an early stage.

In other words, microwave tomographic imaging can show up differences between normal and cancerous breast tissues based on their water content - suggesting that it may be a very useful tool for early stage breast cancer detection.

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New research shows that the number of cigarettes smoked in a day and the number of years of smoking both increase risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in elderly women.

This risk goes down after they give up smoking but, compared to women who have never smoked, it is still high up to 15 years later.

RA is an autoimmune disease that manifests as a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting multiple tissues and organs. It mainly attacks flexible joints and is a disabling and painful condition that can lead to a significant loss of functioning and mobility if not properly treated.

RA destroys cartilage and causes joint fusion. Although its underlying causes are still unknown to health experts - based on a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms, physical exam, X-rays and lab tests, it is clearly an autoimmune disease.

In the present study, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden analyzed data from the Swedish Mammography Cohort with 34,000 women aged between 54 and 89 - of these, 219 women had RA.

According to this study, even light smoking means a greater risk of RA - while smoking 1-7 cigarettes every day more than doubled this risk. When women who had never smoked were compared to those who smoked for up to 25 years, RA risk was also found to rise with smoking duration.

Stopping smoking decreased chances of getting RA, especially over time. For instance, 15 years after giving up smoking RA risk had gone down by a third. However, compared to women who had never smoked, this risk remained significantly high even up to 15 years later.

Stopping smoking is important for many health reasons. Higher risk of developing RA, even many years after giving up smoking, is one more strong reason to stop smoking as soon as possible - and important enough to persuade women not to start smoking at all.

A new review has concluded that natural biological mechanisms can successfully eliminate excess levels of vitamin E from our bodies, making it almost impossible to ingest harmful amounts.

In other words - dietary levels of vitamin E or from normal use of supplements should never be a concern, according to experts from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. They believe that past studies which allege adverse consequences from vitamin E may have misinterpreted their data.

In fact the real concern might be that more than 90% of Americans appear to have inadequate levels of vitamin E in their diet.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and a very important nutrient, necessary for the proper functioning of many organs, nerves and muscles. It is also an anticoagulant that can reduce blood clotting. It is found naturally in oils, meat and other foods - but it is often consumed at inadequate levels - especially with the increasing emphasis on low-fat diets.

Researchers have found that two major systems in the liver work to control the level of vitamin E in the body and routinely get rid of any excess amounts. Very high intakes achieved with supplementation only doubled tissue levels of vitamin E, which is not considered harmful.

So according to the study authors, it is simply not possible to have toxic levels of vitamin E in our bodies. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A and D, vitamin E is apparently unable to accumulate to toxic levels in the liver or other tissues.

One potential health issue is that vitamin E, because of its ability to interact with vitamin K, can cause bleeding. But the study researchers firmly believe that this poses no health risk at all.

On the other hand, vitamin E safeguards our health by protecting polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxidizing, along with protecting other essential lipids and having beneficial actions in many degenerative diseases.

Higher than normal intake levels of vitamin E may be necessary for people who have specific health problems. For instance, smoking has been shown to deplete vitamin E levels so smokers may be best advised to take supplements.

In general, health experts recommend taking a daily multivitamin that has the full recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin E, along with regularly consuming a healthy and balanced diet.

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What are the best brain foods and dietary supplements that can help sharpen your powers of concentration - even enhance your memory, attention span and brain function?

There’s increasing evidence to suggest you can maintain a healthy brain by adding ‘smart’ foods and beverages to your diet.

For instance, caffeine is a popular stimulant that energizes your brain and helps you to focus and concentrate. Found in coffee, chocolate, energy drinks, and some medications, caffeine gives you an unmistakable buzz - although its effects only last a short while. Not only that, overdoing caffeine can make you jittery and uncomfortable.

Glucose metabolized from sugars and carbs in your diet is your brain's preferred fuel source - which is why a glass of something sweet can stimulate memory, thought processes and mental ability. But go easy on the sugar so it doesn’t pack on the pounds.

Studies show that eating breakfast regularly instead of skipping it improves short-term memory and attention - especially if it contains high-fiber whole grains, dairy and fruits.

Fish is a great protein source that’s also rich in omega 3 fatty acids, essential for brain function and development. Higher levels of dietary omega 3 fatty acids are linked to lower dementia and stroke risks, a slower rate of mental decline and enhanced memory, especially with age. To boost both brain and heart health, consume two servings of fish weekly.

Nuts and seeds are great sources of the antioxidant vitamin E, believed to slow down age-related cognitive decline. Dark chocolate also has powerful antioxidant properties and contains natural stimulants like caffeine, which boost concentration. Up to an ounce a day of nuts and dark chocolate will easily give you all the mental benefits you need without excess calories, fat or sugar.

A diet high in whole grains and fruits like avocados can reduce the risk of heart disease, lower bad cholesterol and reduce risk of plaque buildup - while also enhancing blood flow to the brain. Whole grains also contribute dietary fiber and vitamin E. Not only that, the fat in avocados is the good monounsaturated fat that contributes to healthy blood flow.

Research in animals shows that blueberries protect the brain from damage caused by free radicals, reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Diets rich in blueberries significantly improved both learning and muscle function of aging rats, making them mentally equivalent to much younger rats.

Lack of essential nutrients can decrease your ability to concentrate. Similarly, eating too much or too little can also interfere with your ability to focus. To fully benefit your brain, always consume a well-balanced diet full of a wide variety of healthy, wholesome foods.

While initial reports on the brain-boosting power of supplements like vitamins B, C, E, beta-carotene and magnesium are promising, supplements are really only useful to people whose diet is lacking in specific nutrients. In this respect, health experts are cautiously optimistic about ginseng, ginkgo, and vitamin, mineral and herb combinations.

To boost your powers of concentration, start your day with a meal of 100% fruit juice, whole-grain bread or bagel with salmon and a cup of coffee.

Along with eating a well-balanced meal, experts also suggest the following brain-boosting tips:

• Getting a good night's sleep;
• Staying well hydrated;
• Exercising regularly to sharpen thinking processes;
• Meditation for clear thinking and relaxed productivity.

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A new study strengthens existing evidence to suggest that regular consumption of a Mediterranean-style diet is linked to preserving memory and thinking ability with aging in healthy people.

Such diets are rich in foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids - including fish, walnuts, almonds, beans and leafy vegetables - and contain very little saturated fats, meat or dairy foods.

Omega-3 fats are essential dietary fats which our body cannot make but need to consume for proper health. Made mainly by cold water algae, they also occur in cold water oily fish such as sardines, wild salmon, herring, mackerel and tuna that feed on these plants. These are our best dietary sources of these essential fats.

Since there are no definitive treatments for most dementias, diet and lifestyle approaches are usually the most effective way of tackling them.

The data for this study was obtained from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, which enrolled 30,239 people ages 45 and older and still continues to follow them to observe health changes.

Dietary information from 17,478 study participants was reviewed to see how closely they adhered to a Mediterranean diet. Participants also underwent tests that measured memory and thinking abilities over an average of four years. Roughly 17 percent of participants had diabetes.

Interestingly, in healthy people, those who closely followed the Mediterranean diet were 19% less likely to develop thinking and memory problems. However, this diet did not lower the risk of developing thinking and memory problems in diabetic patients.

Clearly, diet can preserve cognitive functioning in late life. However, it is only one of several important lifestyle activities that play a role. Exercise, avoiding obesity, not smoking cigarettes and taking medications regularly for conditions like diabetes and hypertension are also important to protect against onset of dementias and other age-related cognitive decline.

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More Omega-3 Fats, Less Meat and Dairy Linked to Preserving Memory with Aging

Many traditional cultures have long used turmeric in their cooking and medicine - and it’s amazing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer benefits are no secret to them.

On the other hand, Western cultures are only now beginning to learn about turmeric’s incredible healing powers. And as more scientific evidence emerges, this unique spice is beginning to be recognized as a fountain of youth, with near-miraculous potential in modern medicine.

Many recent scientific studies show that consuming turmeric regularly can lengthen lifespan and improve overall quality of life.

For instance a study done on roundworms found that small amounts of curcumin, the primary active ingredient in turmeric, increased lifespan by about 39 percent. Turmeric lowered levels of reactive oxygen species, reducing the extent of cellular damage that normally occurs during aging. Curcumin also improved resistance to heat stress compared to roundworms not taking the spice.

A similar study on fruit flies revealed a 25 percent increase in their lifespan - and here curcumin increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant that protects cells from harmful oxidative damage.

Given its long and established history as a spice and herbal medicine, its medicinal potential, and its safety, curcumin promises to have a great future in preventing and/or delaying age-related diseases.

Some health experts are reluctant to recommend taking turmeric in medicinal doses until human clinical trials have been conducted. But unlike pharmaceutical drugs, taking turmeric is not dangerous for health - as entire civilizations have shown, having consumed large amounts in their normal diets for centuries.

For instance, the average Asian person consumes up to 1,000 milligrams of turmeric a day, which is equal to about 90 milligrams of active curcuminoids per day. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University (OSU) has compiled a thorough list of turmeric's benefits with detailed information about the doses used to achieve such benefits.

Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have figured out how to measure an infant's risk of developing autism at birth - by looking for abnormalities in the placenta. In the future this may allow earlier diagnosis and treatment of this developmental disorder.

One out of 50 children in the US are diagnosed with autism every year, but the diagnosis is usually made when these children are 3-4 years of age or older. Unfortunately by then the best opportunities for intervention have already been lost because the brain is typically the most responsive to treatment in the first year of life.

The authors of this groundbreaking new study have found abnormal placental folds and abnormal cell growths called trophoblast inclusions that help to identify newborns at high risk for autism.

The research team examined 117 placentas from infants of at-risk families - those with one or more previous children with autism. These at-risk placentas were then compared to 100 control placentas collected from the same geographic area.

They found that the at-risk placentas had as many as 15 trophoblast inclusions, while none of the control placentas had more than two trophoblast inclusions. A placenta with four or more trophoblast inclusions means an infant with a 96.7% probability of risk for autism.

Currently, the best early marker of autism risk is family history. Couples with an autistic child are nine times more likely to have another child with autism.

In the past couples without known genetic susceptibility had to rely on identification of early signs that may not manifest until the child's second or third year of life. But now thanks to this new finding, at-risk families can employ early intervention strategies to improve outcomes.

The study authors hope that diagnosing risk of developing autism by examining the placenta at birth will become routine, so that the children with increased numbers of trophoblast inclusions can have earlier, successful interventions and an improved quality of life.

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Hair loss can take a devastating toll on a person’s self-esteem. And while many causes can be traced to genetics and unbalanced hormone levels, research shows that stress is, more often than not, the culprit.

A 1998 study from Psychology Report fund that women under high stress are 11 times more likely to experience hair loss. A 1994 study from Skin Pharmacology showed that so-called “androgenic” hair loss in women is actually more strongly linked to elevated cortisol levels than androgen levels, and the severity of their hair loss was directly related to the severity and duration of the stress.

Then, of course, there’s the stress=hair loss=stress catch-22. According to a 2004 study from the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, thinning hair is a significant stress in and of itself, and as such, contributes to a vicious cycle of continued hair loss.

By taking the edge off of your stress, you can help to put the halt on thinning hair, and possibly start to restore your lock. A great place to start is with adaptogens, natural metabolic regulators that help "normalize" your body's reaction to stress.

Some of the best include ashwagandha root (200 mg), Rhodiola rosea (200 mg), eleuthero root (150 mg), and holy basi (150 mg).

Did you know that up to a staggering 80 percent of American adults are vitamin D deficient?

That’s a very disturbing statistic, considering that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, mental impairment in older adults and cancer.

In fact, many studies suggest that vitamin D plays a role in prevention and treatment of a number of disease conditions - including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance and multiple sclerosis.

And now a new study reveals that insufficient vitamin D may also be linked to severity of asthma symptoms in children.

It shows that higher intake of vitamin D by pregnant women reduces asthma risk in their children by as much as 40 percent. At the same time, pregnant women who were vitamin D deficient had a greater chance of having a child who suffered from asthma and other allergies.

Not only that, children with vitamin D deficiency were more likely to be hospitalized for asthma symptoms relative to those who had enough vitamin D in their bloodstream. They were also more likely to be hyperactive and experience allergies and sensitivities.

Vitamin D is made in skin cells in response to UV rays from the sun. Getting enough exposure to sunlight is a straightforward, surefire way to elevate your vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D deficiency can occur for a number of reasons:

• Not consuming recommended levels over time - this can happen if you follow a strict vegetarian diet because most natural sources of vitamin D are animal-based, including fish and fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, fortified milk and beef liver.
• Limited exposure to sunlight - your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight. You may be at risk of deficiency if you are homebound, live in northern latitudes, wear long robes or head coverings for religious reasons or have an occupation that prevents sun exposure.
• Dark skin - the pigment melanin reduces your skin's ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. Studies show that older adults with darker skin are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency.
• Loss of kidney function - as people age, their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form.
• Poor absorption - certain medical problems, including Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease can affect the intestine's ability to absorb vitamin D from your diet.
• Obesity - vitamin D is extracted from blood by fat cells, altering its release into circulation. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater often have lower than normal blood levels of vitamin D.

The good news is, a vitamin D supplement can reduce your risk of asthma symptoms. In fact, if you have 60 ng/ml levels of vitamin D in your bloodstream, you’re unlikely to experience symptoms of asthma at all.

Breathe better - simply by getting more vitamin D!

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Green tea and coffee may lower risk of stroke, especially when both are regularly consumed, according to research published by researchers at Japan's National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

The study authors asked 83,269 Japanese adults about their green tea and coffee drinking habits, following them for an average of 13 years. The participants were 45 to 74 years old, almost evenly male and female, without any reported cancer or heart disease.

The researchers saw that the more green tea or coffee people consumed, the lower their risk of stroke. In other words, this relatively minor lifestyle change lowered risk of stroke substantially.

In this study, people who drank at least one cup of coffee daily had about a 20 percent lower risk of stroke compared to those who rarely drank it.

Similarly, those who drank two to three cups of green tea daily had a 14 percent lower risk of stroke and those who had at least four cups had a 20 percent lower risk, compared to those who rarely drank it.

People who drank at least one cup of coffee or two cups of green tea daily had a 32 percent lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, compared to those who rarely drank either beverage. (Intracerebral hemorrhage is when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds inside the brain. About 13 percent of all strokes are hemorrhagic.)

During the 13 years of follow-up period, researchers reviewed participants' hospital medical records and death certificates and collected data about heart disease, strokes and causes of death. Next, they adjusted their findings to account for age, sex and lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, weight, diet and exercise.

They found that green tea drinkers in the study were more likely to exercise compared to non-drinkers.

It's not completely clear how green tea affects stroke risk. Compounds in green tea known as catechins - which have antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties, along with increasing plasma antioxidant capacity and anti-thrombogenic actions - may offer protection from stroke.

Chemicals in coffee beneficial for health include chlorogenic acid, which is believed to lower stroke risk by reducing the development of type 2 diabetes.

Previous research has shown an association between green tea and lower stroke risk; while other studies have only shown inconsistent links between coffee and stroke risk.

Clearly, further research is needed to understand exactly how coffee and green tea interact with each other to affect the risk for stroke.

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We’ve all seen them at point or another—those unsightly, purple, often bulging veins that can plague a woman’s legs. But varicose veins are more than just a vanity isuee…they are a sign that circulation to the legs has deteriorated, often leading to pain, heaviness, and even discoloration of the skin around the veins and ulcers.

Fortunately, two common nutrients have been found to help increase the tone and strength of your veins and improved their appearance: horse chestnut and bromelain. Horse chestnut contain a compound called aescin that has been shown to seal off the small pores in your veins, thereby strengthening and toning the entire vein and reducing leakage into surrounding tissues. Aim for 50 mg of aescin (from horse chestnut) twice a day, before you eat.

Often, people with varicose veins have a decreased ability to break down fibrin—a naturally occurring protein that is essential for proper blood clotting. An enzyme called plasminogen activator breaks down fibrin. When you have varicose veins, your levels of this enzyme decrease, causing fibrin to then build up in the veins. Enter bromelain.

This digestive enzyme has been shown to mimic plasminogen activator and, when taken in large doses, works to bread down fibrin. Aim for 350-450 mg of bromelain twice a day, taken on an empty stomach. This allows it to work on your veins, not your food!

You may already have heard of resveratrol, the powerful antioxidant and anti-aging compound found in wine, fruits like pomegranate, some nuts and cocoa and how it promises remarkable health benefits.

Typically associated with grapes and red wine, some health experts believe resveratrol may be the solution to the puzzling ‘French Paradox’ - the observation that the French enjoy excellent heart health even though they eat rich, fattening food, smoke a lot and love to drink red wine.

Indeed, studies have shown that resveratrol protects the body from damaging molecules that trigger harmful inflammation.

Normally, inflammation is the body’s natural response to invading bacteria and viruses. However, an improper diet and environmental toxins can lead to a harmful condition known as chronic inflammation, which in turn leads to chronic diseases including heart disease.

Unlike most antioxidants, reservatrol can cross the blood-brain barrier to protect the brain and nervous system - helping the body fight off free radical damage, high BP, heart and blood vessel damage, Alzheimer’s disease onset and much more.

Interestingly, low doses of resveratrol were seen to mimic the effects of a restricted calorie diet (defined as 20-30 percent fewer calories than normal) in mice. Restricted calorie diets have previously been shown to increase longevity in laboratory conditions.

Red grapes produce resveratrol as a defense against fungi.  Grapes with extra thick skins and numerous seeds make the most, which is why red wine has a lot of resveratrol…and why enjoying a glass or two is actually good for your health. Just remember that red wine is only beneficial for your health when consumed in moderation.

If you’re not a big red wine drinker, resveratrol is also found in cocoa, dark chocolate, green teas and peanuts.

Resveratrol is also available in supplement form. However, it’s important to remember that not all nutritional supplements are created equally, so you need to be careful when choosing one.

Finally, taking supplements should never be a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. But when it comes to protecting your health, resveratrol is clearly an important nutritional anti-aging asset you can’t afford to do without.

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The world of cosmetic can be pretty treacherous to navigate when it comes to health. Case in point? Lipstick.

In a study published in 2012, FDA researchers examined 400 lipsticks sold in the U.S. market and tested them for lead levels. And the results are nothing short of terrifying.

While the average lead concentration was 1.11 mg of lead per kilogram (mg Pb/kg), 13 of the 400 had levels that exceeded 3.06 mg Pb/kg, with one coming in at an astounding 7.1 mg Pb/kg!

Several government agencies have enacted restrictions on the amount of lead they consider to be “acceptable.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, public water supplies should contain less than 15 ppm (or mg Pb/kg) of lead. For food, the FDA sets a limit of less than 5 ppm for bottled drinking water and 0.1 ppm for candy.

Pretty shocking when you consider that most of these lipstick contained well over the allowed amount in candy…and for something you often apply several times a day!

The answer? Whatever you put on your skin deserves the same scrutiny as what you put in your mouth. Check the safecosmetics.org website for a list of cosmetic companies that offer lead-free lipstick.

A new study published by researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden suggests that mouth and intestinal bacteria can influence the outcome of atherosclerosis - the first, necessary step for heart disease to occur.

While the causes of atherosclerosis have recently become clearer, health experts are still unsure as to why atherosclerotic plaque in arteries rupture, contributing to clot formation. They know that inflammation increases the risk of plaque rupture in arteries, but they are not quite sure why and how.

Recent research has shown that our gut flora changes during obesity, which can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease. Poor dental health and periodontitis have also been linked to atherosclerosis - indicating that mouth or gut bacteria could be responsible.

First, the study authors found that the number of bacteria in atherosclerotic plaques corresponded to the number of white blood cells - which is a typical measure of inflammation.

Next they examined the composition of the bacteria in the mouth, gut and arterial plaque of 15 patients, as well as in the mouth and gut of 15 healthy control subjects. They found several bacteria in atherosclerotic plaques as well as in the mouth and gut - for example, the bacteria Pseudomonas luteola and Chlamydia pneumoniae were present in all plaques.

These results suggest that these and perhaps other bacteria can enter the body through the mouth and gut and end up in atherosclerotic plaques in arteries - perhaps contributing to inflammation and plaque rupture.

In fact, some of the mouth and gut bacteria found in this study had previously been associated with cardiovascular disease.

The finding that the same bacteria exist in atherosclerotic plaques as well as in the mouth and gut of the same individuals paves the way for new diagnosis and treatment strategies - although larger studies are needed to establish a direct causal relationship between the bacteria, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

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As you likely know, free radical damage and sun damage go hand-in-hand. Sunlight has been shown to slowly destroy the skin’s dermis, causing it to lose its resilience and become thing and weak, thus creating sags, creases, and wrinkles.

Research has shown that antioxidants provide you with added protection beyond sunscreen to prevent UV light-induced inflammation, dryness, and damage to your skin. A study from the International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery looked at the effects of alpha lipoic acid (ALA), vitamins C and E, and lutein on women with sun damage.

Participants took 5 mg of ALA, 10 mg of vitamin E, 90 mg of vitamin C, and 6 mg of lutein or placebo. After two months, those women who took the antioxidants had lower levels of free radicals in their blood, as well as better skin hydration than women who took the placebo.

The key to the effectiveness of this study may have been the ALA. ALA is a universal antioxidant, as it works in both water- and fat-soluble parts of your cells. It recycles other antioxidants in your body and scavenges more types of free radicals than any other known antioxidant.

You can take ALA alone (25 mg/day), or in combination with other antioxidants, such as those used in the study above.

Roughly one in 13 American kids under the age of 18 typically suffers from at least one food allergy - and nearly 40% of these youngsters have experienced a severe allergic reaction after consuming a food, along with having higher rates of asthma, skin and respiratory allergies.

Some allergists believe that much of what is called a ‘food allergy’ may simply be food intolerance or a non-allergic issue.

However, a real food allergy can be serious, even life threatening.

For a child to become allergic to a particular food, it must have either consumed the food at least once before or been exposed to it through breast milk - so that its immune system makes antibodies to ‘antigenic’ proteins in that particular food.

The most common food allergies in children are caused by peanuts, cow’s milk, eggs, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish and wheat. While allergies caused by peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish usually last a lifetime, kids often outgrow their early allergies to wheat, eggs, soy and cow’s milk.

An allergic reaction to a food usually occurs within minutes to an hour after consumption and can include:

• Skin symptoms such as hives, itching, rash, swelling of the lips, tongue, face
• Digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
• Respiratory symptoms including wheezing, congestion, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing due to swelling of the throat
• Cardiovascular symptoms such as a sudden drop in BP, dizziness, lightheadedness

The most severe allergic response - known as anaphylaxis - is a medical emergency. In this condition, throat swelling interferes with normal breathing and swallowing, while the heart rate rises and BP drops suddenly.

To identify a food allergy, an allergist will have to consider the complete list of foods the child has consumed before the reaction - along with the signs, symptoms, severity and length of the reaction.

A skin test can help determine which foods cause a child to react. In this test, a small amount of food extract is applied to the skin of the child’s arm or back. The appearance of a red, itchy bump (or wheal) within 15 minutes suggests an allergy.

Blood tests may also help to identify an allergy, although a positive test can be wrong as much as 90% of the time.

An oral food challenge is the only definitive way to diagnose food allergy. It is usually done in the allergist’s office, and that too only if the risk of anaphylaxis is low.

There is no cure for food allergies. The only treatment is avoiding foods that cause reactions.

Raising a child with food allergies safe can be very challenging and stressful for its parents, who must search food labels for ingredients that can cause reactions; notify family, friends, schools, and restaurants of their child’s allergy; and always be prepared for an emergency.

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An international team of scientists led by the University of Leicester has uncovered evidence that links faster 'biological' aging to a higher risk of developing age-related diseases such as heart disease, multiple sclerosis and various cancers.

The study team examined a particular feature of chromosomes called telomeres. Telomeres sit on the end of chromosomes and shorten a little each time one of our cells divides to make new cells. When they reach a critical short length, our cells enter an inactive state and then die.

Telomeres shorten as we get older, but individuals are born with different telomere lengths and the rate at which they shorten can also vary. In fact, the speed with which telomeres wear down is believed to be a measure of 'biological aging'.

Although heart disease and cancers become more common as we get older, not everyone gets them - while others may even get them at an earlier age than normal. This new data suggests that the occurrence of these diseases may be related to some people ‘biologically’ aging more quickly than others.

The research team measured telomere lengths in over 48,000 individuals and identified seven genetic variants in their DNA related to telomere length. They further found that these variants were linked to a higher than average risk of several types of cancers including colorectal cancer as well as multiple sclerosis and celiac disease. Most interestingly, the seven variants together were also associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

Previous evidence had already suggested that shorter telomere lengths were associated with increased heart disease risk. Now this new evidence strongly suggests that biological aging plays an important role in causing coronary artery disease, the most common cause of death in the entire world. It also partly explains why some patients develop it early and others don't develop it at all, even if they carry other risk factors.

Finally, these findings suggest that manipulating our telomere length could have many exciting health benefits. Indeed, experimental data has shown that lengthening telomere length can slow down - and in some cases even reverse - age-related changes in organs.

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A new study indicates that regular exposure to sunlight - specifically ultraviolet B (UVB) - may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

But this effect was only evident among older women - perhaps because younger women, being more aware of the hazards of sunlight, tend to cover themselves up with sun block.

The study authors base examined the effects of UVB on participants in two phases of the US Nurses' Health Study (NHS). In the first phase they tracked the health of more than 120,000 nurses between the ages of 30 and 55, while in the second (NHSII) they tracked the health of a further 115,500 nurses between the ages of 25 and 42.

The researchers used a sensitive assessment known as UV-B flux - which is an estimate of UVB radiation based on latitude, altitude and cloud cover - and is measured in R-B units. Exposure was seen to range from an annual average of 93 in Alaska and Oregon to 196 in Hawaii and Arizona.

1314 women developed rheumatoid arthritis over the study period. Among nurses enlisted in the first phase, higher exposure to UVB meant a reduced risk of developing the disease. Significantly, those with the highest levels of exposure were 21% less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those with the least levels of exposure.

Previous studies have already shown a link between geography and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis along with other autoimmune conditions - including type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis.

No such association for UVB exposure was found among women in the second phase. However, these women were younger and may have been more careful about acquiring a tan.

The study does not reveal at what stage of life UVB’s protective effect happens, but adds to the growing evidence that exposure to UVB light means a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

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Did you know that many asthmatics are deficient in magnesium, or that this powerful mineral has been used quite successfully to prevent asthma attacks since the 1930’s—thanks in large part to its antihistamine properties, and ability to promote relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle.

When your body has a magnesium deficiency, your cells release more histamine, which causes constriction in your lungs. Many studies have reinforced this fact, including one that found that of 50 people suffering from mild, moderate, or severe asthma, 2/3 had dramatic magnesium depletion.

Luckily, combining a healthy lifestyle—such as avoiding pollutants and known food triggers—with large doses of supplemental magnesium can significantly reduce your asthma symptoms. Most experts agree that if you have asthma, you should take 1,000-1,500 mg of magnesium a day.

One caution: Magnesium can act like a laxative, so be sure to spread out your dosage over the course of a day and take it with meals. Another option is to look for slow-release, enteric-coated magnesium tablets.