Zetia and Zocor...troubling new findings...

A new study found that taking Zetia ( ezetimibe)  likely does not stop significant artery wall thickening, or atherosclerosis, in some patients. Yes it lowers the LDL cholesterol, but it did nothing to halt the disease process. Instead there was a notable progression of disease in persons who added ezetimibe to their pre-existing cholesterol-lowering statin medication therapy. The practice of taking Zetia along with Zocor has become vogue in treatment of blood vessel disease. Doctors may have to rethink their recommendations.


Having more ideal vitamin D levels is linked to less thickening of the carotid intima media...and supporting blood vessel health is a well known benefit of fish oils.


Link to full Newswise article here.

How Americans Lose Weight. Look at the top five...eat more selectively and exercise!

The idea that we have to live on a diet is certainly disproven here. People do not stick with diets. The most reliable way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is to get rid of processed foods especially sugar, and eat real foods that are nutrient dense and fiber rich. (hint: vegetables and fruits) yes! Exercise makes a difference...but combining exercise with eating more plant foods is the best way to get and stay lighter.

Read more about Americans and their diet strategies here.

Great news for coffee lovers...

A new study reported  online May 11 in Breast Cancer Research among almost 6000 Swedish women found that heavy coffee drinkers were far less likely to have an agressive form ( ER-Negative) of breast cancer.  


5,929 Swedish women, aged 50 to 74, about half of whom had breast cancer,

completed questionnaires which were used to assess behavioral and health characteristics. Factors assessed included smoking and drinking patterns, physical activity routines, family history of breast cancer, hormone therapy protocols, nutritional intake, body mass index, education level and coffee consumption habits. In the women who had cancer, tumor status and breast cancer type were also noted.

The findings? Drinking coffee was linked to a "strong reduction" in risk for ER-negative breast cancer. Women who drank five cups of coffee a day had a 33 percent to 57 percent lower risk for ER-negative cancer than did those who drank less than one cup a day.

My brother the artist...

beautiful shot...spot the bug yet?

My brother Chris is a photographer..I think this shot is incredible!


See more of his work here..he is having too much fun! Love you Chris!

Want a flat tummy? Fiber is your friend

Complex carbohydrates help you get and stay slim, without dieting. Unlike the ubiquitous simple carbs –yes I’m talking about cake, chips and cookies -- fruits, vegetables and whole grains are naturally loaded with fiber, a nutrient that supports better digestion and elimination, reduces bloat, and has even been shown to support a healthier body weight in numerous studies. 

Nutrition guidelines recommend women get 25 to 35 grams of fiber a day but surveys show most women fall short of that by about 60-70%.  One big plus...high fiber foods help you eat less calories but still feel full. 

Go for whole foods fiber sources like oatmeal, apples and spinach, Skip the bars and supplements. Remember that study that found that eating apples lowers cholesterol? It is because of the fiber. Try this...the next time you are tempted to grab some of chips, or something sweet, grab a whole apple instead. I promise you won’t be hungry afterward.

Olive oil is a natural pain killer...and the trees are so gorgeous!

Oh how I love this season...my roses are all leafed out and will be insane with blooms in about three weeks. The early lilacs are just starting to bloom and the olive trees are just beginning to set leaves. One of the great things about my porch in June is the fragrance of those olive trees as they flower. It is sweeter than any perfume..if only I could bottle it.

But I digress…I meant to write about olive oil…but thinking of olives had me thinking of the olive trees… OK I admit to being easily distracted by my garden this time of year.

You might wonder why we nutritionists love olive oil so much…well here are a few reasons why.

In 2005, Monell researchers and collaborators announced the discovery that oleocanthal found in virgin olive oil, is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory agent that inhibits activity of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, a pharmacological action shared by ibuprofen. The oil also decreases production of inflammatory chemicals called thromboxanes and leukotrienes The Monell findings were published in the science magazine Nature. But the resultant control of inflammation and pain relief are only two of the benefits attributed to olive oil.

The oil also reduces total cholesterol and delivers increases in the high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), which has a protective effect on blood vessels. And polyphenolic compounds in the oil have antioxidant properties and thus protect the LDL cholesterol from being oxidized..a benefit that reduces the progress of fatty plaques occurring in your blood vessels.

With olive oil we also see improved sensitivity of cells to insulin, which helps to prevent the prediabetic state referred to as metabolic syndrome. Avoiding metabolic syndrome is an important step key to longevity, because the syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Finally compounds in olive oil have also been shown to be antimicrobial against various forms of bacteria.

Scroll down for a recipe for olive oil, lemon and garlic aioli..and enjoy. Food as medicine..what a delicious thought!

Dinner Tonight! Grilled Artichokes..Let's Celebrate Spring!

The Artichokes

• Two medium artichokes
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Clip the leaves of the artichokes to remove the thorn at the tips, and slice off the top ¾ of an inch. Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the artichokes. Boil for about 25 minutes, or until the outer leaves can be easily pulled off. Take out the artichokes, submerge in ice-cold water until cool, and then drain.

Fire up the grill. I love charcoal for the distinct flavor. But a gas grill will deliver a fine feast of these beauties as well.

While the grill is getting hot...cut the artichokes in half and pull out the thistle heart (purple and white leaves in the middle). Using a pastry brush, coat the artichokes with olive oil inside and out. Salt and pepper generously on both sides and place them cut side down on the cool side of a hot grill. The oil will cause a flare of flames if you put them over the fire so placement away from the flame is important.

Turn often until you see a few of the outer leaves begin to brown. Allowing the browning develops a better flavor. Remove to a platter and allow to cool. Serve with aioli, recipe is below....


Remember artichokes are low in calories and healthy, healthy, healthy! They provide cynarin, which supports reduced cholesterol levels, and silymarin which supports a healthy liver.

 The Aioli     

• Juice from one lemon
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 cloves garlic
• ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• salt and pepper, to taste

Add the lemon juice, egg yolk, garlic, mustard and red pepper flakes to the pitcher of a blender or food processor and put the top on. Turn on blender/food processor and remove the safety top.

Slowly pour in about half of the olive oil until the mixture is emulsified.

Turn off the blender and add a pinch or two of salt and one of pepper, or to taste.

Restart the blender and add the remaining olive oil, or enough to make the sauce thick and creamy. Pour into dipping bowls.

What I'm reading....Food Not Lawns!

Food Not Lawns combines practical wisdom on ecological design and community-building with a fresh, green perspective on an age-old subject. Activist and urban gardener Heather Flores shares her nine-step permaculture design to help farmsteaders and city dwellers alike build fertile soil, promote biodiversity, and increase natural habitat in their own "paradise gardens."

But Food Not Lawns doesn't begin and end in the seed bed. This joyful permaculture lifestyle manual inspires readers to apply the principles of the paradise garden—simplicity, resourcefulness, creativity, mindfulness, and community—to all aspects of life. Plant "guerilla gardens" in barren intersections and medians; organize community meals; start a street theater troupe or host a local art swap; free your kitchen from refrigeration and enjoy truly fresh, nourishing foods from your own plot of land; work with children to create garden play spaces.

Flores cares passionately about the damaged state of our environment and the ills of our throwaway society. In Food Not Lawns, she shows us how to reclaim the earth one garden at a time.


Order it from Amazon by clicking here.

Slimming tips...learn to love artichokes!

I am in love with artichokes..are you? 

The great thing an artichoke is that it takes a while to eat, and it is so incredibly low in calories it’s almost impossible to overindulge.  One medium artichoke is only 64 calories and you're getting 10 grams of waistline whittling appetite-reducing fiber. And half a cup of artichoke hearts has 45 calories and seven grams of fiber. Terrific over your favorite pasta for a light springtime main course.

Added benefit?  this springtime veggie also provides cynarin, a substance that naturally reduces cholesterol. Just be careful not to undo all the benefits by dipping the leaves in a super high calorie dip...try a little blend of olive oil, mayo and mustard..with some garlic, sea salt and spices like chives and turmeric added...or grill the steamed artichoke till you have grill marks and sprinkle it with olive oil and coarse sea salt...yum!

Another benefit found for the sunshine vitamin!

As if protecting your bones, your heart, your immune function and longevity were not enough...now we learn that vitamin D reduces risk of age related macular degeneration!

BUFFALO, NY—A study of data collected form the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study (CAREDS) showed high serum vitamin D concentrations may protect against early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in women under the age of 75. Researchers from the University of Buffalo published their findings in the April issue of Archives of Ophthalmology (129(4):481-489).

Tell the EPA: No more methyl Iodide! Comment Deadline is Friday April 29.

Dear Friend,

Methyl iodide is a nasty chemical. It is a known neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor, and scientists in labs handle only small amounts using special protective equipment because it is so toxic. But do you know where else it is used? As a pesticide on strawberries and other food crops.

The battle against methyl iodide is being fought on several fronts. Last summer, Washington state banned the use of the pesticide. Unfortunately, the pendulum swung the other way in California, when despite more than 53,000 public comments submitted by CREDO activists and our allies, the state's Department of Pesticide Regulation approved the chemical for agricultural use last December.

But the ultimate power to regulate pesticides lies with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has just decided to reconsider its approval of methyl iodide — approval that was granted during George W. Bush's administration.

This is our chance to finally ban this toxic chemical from being used as a pesticide on our food. But we must act quickly. Friday April 29, 2011 is the deadline!

Click Here to Submit a Comment

Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Reduce Effectiveness of SSRI Antidepressants.

Scientists at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at The Rockefeller University, led by Paul Greengard, Ph.D., and Jennifer Warner-Schmidt, Ph.D., have shown that anti-inflammatory drugs, which include ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen, reduce the effectiveness of the most widely used class of antidepressant medications, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, taken for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders. This surprising discovery, published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, may explain why so many depressed patients taking SSRIs do not respond to antidepressant treatment and suggests that this lack of effectiveness may be preventable. The study may be especially significant in the case of Alzheimer's disease. Such patients commonly suffer from depression and unless this can be treated successfully, the course of the illness is likely to be more severe. Depression in the elderly is also a risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease and researchers have suggested that treating depression in the elderly might reduce the risk of developing the disease.

This research was supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Aging, both parts of the federal government's National Institutes of Health, and The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation.

Source: Newwise http://www.newswise.com/articles/anti-inflammatory-drugs-reduce-effectiveness-of-ssri-antidepressants

Know the signs of a stroke..and call 911... fast!

Click on image to enlarge

Watch for these signs and symptoms if you think you or someone else may be having a stroke. Note when signs and symptoms begin, because the length of time they have been present may guide treatment decisions.

• Trouble with walking. You may stumble or experience sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.
• Trouble with speaking and understanding. You may experience confusion. You may slur your words or be unable to find the right words to explain what is happening to you (aphasia). Try to repeat a simple sentence. If you can't, you may be having a stroke.
• Paralysis or numbness on one side of your body or face. You may develop sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of your body. Try to raise both your arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke. Similarly, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile.
• Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes. You may suddenly have blurred or blackened vision, or you may see double.
• Headache. A sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate you're having a stroke.

When to see a doctor. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Every minute counts. Don't wait to see if symptoms go away. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. To maximize the effectiveness of evaluation and treatment, it's best that you get to the emergency room within 60 minutes of your first symptoms.

If you're with someone you suspect is having a stroke, watch the person carefully while waiting for emergency assistance. You may need to:

• Begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if the person stops breathing
• Turn the person's head to the side if vomiting occurs, which can prevent choking
• Keep the person from eating or drinking

Love....and the lesson He taught

First Corinthians 13: 


"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (NIV)

Never fear shadows..they simply mean there is a light shining brightly nearby

A salad that can help stabilize your blood sugar.

Grapefruit and Cranberry Salad

Grapefruits are loaded with vitamin C but they also have an antioxidant, naringenin that appears to cut the risk of developing insulin resistance.

Spinach is a great source of magnesium which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and relaxes your muscles.

Ingredients

• 2 red grapefruit
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced scallions
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 8 cups torn butter lettuce
• 6 cups baby spinach
• 1 14 oz can hearts of palm drained and chopped
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts*

12 servings

Remove the skin and the pith from the grapefruit with a sharp knife. Cut the segments from their surrounding membranes. Cut the grapefruit segments in half and place them in a large salad bowl.

Squeeze the membranes and the peel over a small glass bowl to collect at least 2 oz grapefruit juice.  Add to that juice the oil, scallions, vinegar and salt and pepper. Whisk them together to form a grapefruit vinaigrette.

Add the lettuce, spinach and hearts of palm to the salad bowl with the grapefuit segments. Just before serving toss the greens with the vinaigrette until evenly coated and garnish with the cranberries and pine nuts.

*toast the pine nuts in a small skillet over low to medium heat until light golden brown...watch them closely they burn rather easily.

** Caution Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can cause elevated levels of certain medications. If you take prescription medications check to see if you can safely have grapefruit. Cholesterol medications and blood pressure medication cannot be taken with grapefruits or grapefruit juice. Also you must be careful mixing grapefruit with some psychiatric drugs.

Think organic isn't important? Think again!

Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides Associated with IQ Deficits in School-Age Children

Three independent investigations published online April 21 ahead of print in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) have reached similar conclusions, associating prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides with IQ deficits in school-age children. The fact that three research groups reached such similar conclusions independently adds considerable support to the validity of the findings.

The three studies were conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health; the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University; and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. All three involved cohorts of women enrolled during pregnancy. The Berkeley and Mount Sinai investigators measured OP pesticide metabolites in the pregnant women’s urine, while the Columbia investigators measured the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos in umbilical cord blood. Intelligence tests were administered to children of these mothers between ages 6 and 9 years at Mount Sinai and at age 7 years at Berkeley and Columbia.

Although the study findings are not directly comparable, all three investigations found evidence linking prenatal OP pesticide exposures with adverse effects on cognitive function that continued into early childhood.

The whole story is here. http://www.newswise.com/articles/prenatal-exposure-to-organophosphate-pesticides-associated-with-iq-deficits-in-school-age-children 

Upset tummy? Try Peppermint!

University of Adelaide researchers have shown for the first time how peppermint helps to relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which affects up to 20% of the population. The peppermint acts through a specific anti-pain channel called TRPM8 to reduce pain sensing fibres, particularly those activated by mustard and chili. This is potentially the first step in determining a new type of mainstream clinical treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. (IBS)

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-peppermint-respect-mainstream-medicine.html

Feeling Frazzled? Sip some green tea...

This comforting drink naturally revs up the brain’s production of gamma-aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter that ushers in a feeling of calm, even when chaos is the order of the day. L-theanine, an amino acid compound found in green tea, has been studied for its calming effects on the nervous system.

Indeed, research suggests that sipping just three 10-ounce mugs daily can help frazzled people feel more collected in as little as 48 hours.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17013636?ordinalpos=17&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Kimura K, Ozeki M, Juneja LR, Ohira H. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007;74(1):39-45.

Fatty Liver Disease Can Lead to Heart Attack

The liver is connected to the heart? Yes. Because so many Americans are overweight, we expect to see an increase in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is a threat to the liver, of course, increasing risk of cirrhosis and in some cases liver failure. 


Surprisingly the more serious risk is that non-alcoholic fatty liver will lead to coronary artery disease and a heart attack. Most people who have this disorder are more likely to die of a heart attack, than liver failure.
30 million Americans have  Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but many are not diagnosed until liver enzymes are elevated. Yet there are warning signs much earlier. 
Many with this condition suffer from Metabolic Syndrome, a constellation of factors which include a large waist circumference (men greater than 40 inches, women greater than 35 inches), high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and insulin resistance that heighten the risk of heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Best news is... the condition is reversible. Just as with type 2 diabetes, Fatty liver disease can be cured with diet and exercise.” Vigorous exercise, such as weight lifting, swimming, running or aerobics, between 75 and 150 minutes a week with a heart rate of 120 or above will help you reverse this problem. Lose 12 percent of your current weight, no matter how much you weigh, and you will eliminate fat from your liver.


See the news release here: http://www.methodisthealth.com/body.cfm?id=495&action=detail&ref=773


And...Cut the sugars and starches...curbing carbohydrates is more effective than cutting calories for individuals who want to quickly reduce the amount of fat in their liver, report UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers.
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/575768/?sc=dwhr&xy=24786