Bonnie's Blog With Bonnie & Steve Minsky

Allergic children often bullied

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:27:00 +0000

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/in-bullies-hands-nuts-or-milk-may-be-a-weapon/?ref=health

Teen's lack of sleep worsens mood, emotional control

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:48:00 +0000

http://www.newsdaily.com/health/9bed04fd3889b8e2fca2b68231eee96e/teens-lack-of-sleep-worsens-their-mood-emotional-control

Summer Allergies or a Cold?

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:23:00 +0000

Seasonal allergies don't only strike in the spring and fall months. Allergies are also common in the summer and can last year-round for some sufferers.

The most common allergy triggers during the summer months are grass pollens and mold spores. In fact, mold can be more bothersome than pollen. Mold spores are everywhere and commonly outnumber pollen grains in the air even when the pollen season is at its worst.

Adults that have never before had allergies can fall victim this summer. This sudden case of adult-onset allergies can be easy to mistake for a cold.

Although allergies are most common in childhood, they can strike at any age in life. Sometimes allergies go away, but can return several years later. Allergies tend to run in families which can make some people more susceptible than others.

Cold and allergy symptoms can often mirror one another. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, you can help rule out cold or allergies by asking yourself the following questions:

Symptoms for two weeks? If you answered yes, you more likely have allergies. While colds might seem to linger forever, they are not as persistent as allergies.
Escalating symptoms? If your symptoms evolve you might have a summer cold. Colds evolve, usually starting with a stuffy nose, throat irritation and low grade fever. Next comes the sneezing and a runny nose, with thickening mucus.
Green or clear? Colored mucus probably isn't the most pleasant symptom you want to think about. Mucus that turns yellow or green if often thought to indicate an infection, but could also be seen with allergies. Clear mucus can be with either the common cold or allergies.
Have an itch or wheezing? Itchy eyes, throat, and nose, along with sneezing, usually mean allergy. If you also have asthma, you might be more likely to have an allergy. An estimated 75 to 80 percent of asthmatics also have an allergy.

If symptoms are persistent, you should see a board-certified allergist for proper testing and diagnosis. Once diagnosed, there are numerous steps you can take to minimize the symptoms.

Demand more for childhood cancer survivors.

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:06:00 +0000

Not only do childhood cancer survivors have to go through debilitating treatment just to survive, but their lives going forward are often riddled with more pain. After enduring exposure to such toxicity at a young age, it is not surprising that a new JAMA study found that by age 45, almost 80% of survivors have a life-threatening, disabling, or serious health condition.

We must demand better for these children. For a century, the American Cancer Society has been received billions in donations for research and have failed miserably.

Putting more resources into prevention should be priority number one. For example, public health messages and education protocols should be mandatory for young men and women who are in the prime of their child-bearing years. As we now know, how these young people treat their bodies does not just affect them, but several generations in the future. A few simple lifestyle choices made as little as six months before a couple tries to conceive can make all the difference in producing healthier offspring.

In our culture of instant gratification, it would be a monumental task to convince young people to think several generations ahead. But we must try. In the current paradigm, childhood cancer survival rates are much higher, but at what cost to their quality of life? For what they went through, they deserve better than a life of pain.

Is Alopecia a barometer for more significant disease?

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:53:00 +0000

According to a new study in JAMA Dermatology, patients with Alopecia Areata exhibit an increase in comorbid conditions that include autoimmune diagnoses (thyroid disease in 14.6%, diabetes mellitus in 11.1%, inflammatory bowel disease in 6.3%, systemic lupus erythematosus in 4.3%, rheumatoid arthritis in 3.9%, and psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in 2.0%), atopy (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and/or eczema in 38.2% and contact dermatitis and other eczema in 35.9%), and mental health problems (depression or anxiety in 25.5%).

Researchers also found high prevalences of hyperlipidemia (24.5%), hypertension (21.9%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (17.3%). This profile was different from that seen in a comparison psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis group.

Alopecia areata occurs in people who are apparently healthy and have no skin disorder. Initial presentation most commonly occurs in the late teenage years, early childhood, or young adulthood, but can happen with people of all ages. Patients also tend to have a slightly higher incidence of conditions related to the immune system: asthma, allergies, atopic dermal ailments, and hypothyroidism.

Physicians caring for patients with Alopecia Areata should consider screening for comorbid conditions such as the aforementioned as well.

The Secret to Tomato Sauce's Power

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:39:00 +0000

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323844804578531313972915362.html

Diet Changes in ADHD Kids. Scientists buy in 30 years too late.

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:40:00 +0000

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-22/health/sc-health-0522-food-dyes-behavior-20130522_1_adhd-artificial-food-colors-feingold-diet

Brown Fat: Vital Human Organ?

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Steve: Many of you would be surprised to know that brown adipose tissue, or simply brown fat, plays a key role in endocrine function. While white fat is relatively benign, it is brown fat that has the ability to signal other processes in the body to act in a positive or negative fashion. When brown fat cells become too numerous -- creating an overweight or obese state -- endocrine function suffers. Researchers have been zeroing in on brown fat's integral role in regulating cholesterol, glucose metabolism, and aging.

The main culprit in accumulating more brown fat than is necessary? Simply overfeeding.

Our bodies still utilize genetic information from generations past when we had to house excess calories to stave off starvation. We certainly do not require this feature in the modern world, but our genes do not know that. Hence, the way we house extra calories is to turn them into brown fat cells. The more fat cells we produce, the more weight we gain. The more weight we gain, the more dangerous we allow this organ to function adversely.

In this case of the vital organ brown fat, the philosophy of "eat to live," not "live to eat," is paramount.

Support bill to include dietary supplements in HSA, FSA plans

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:04:00 +0000

http://www.anh-usa.org/bill-supplements-hsas/

Fighting words for the next phase in allergy prevention

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:54:00 +0000

A direct quote from a study on preschool children in this month's Expert Review of Clinical Immunology has put American Allergists who are not providing SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) on notice:

"It has been demonstrated that SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy) is the only therapy that can modify the natural history of atopic diseases, causing a permanent desensitization towards the responsible allergen and modifying the immune system of the atopic patients, even if until now there is no evidence on a possible prevention role of the same therapy. Its efficacy and safety has been widely demonstrated both in adults and in children, even if the studies on preschool children are still limited. Nevertheless, the demonstration of its safety in the reported studies on preschool children is confirmatory to the already ongoing use in clinical practice, particularly if we think that its efficacy is higher when started at a younger age. It is important to remember, however, that in very young children, a detailed diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergy made by a specialist is mandatory to justify the risk:benefit ratio. Further studies on its efficacy in preschool age children should be encouraged."

Fructose or glucose: Which is better?

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:45:00 +0000

This author's viewpoint in JAMA shows that most of us are missing the point. It is not really about fructose or glucose. It is much more about processed versus naturally occurring. I think he explains it well. Skip to the conclusion if you do not want to read the entire piece.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1693739&utm_source=Silverchair%20Information%20Systems&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JAMA%3AOnlineFirst06%2F03%2F2013

Much cheaper alternative for cervical cancer prevention

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:14:00 +0000

http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASCO/39544

Hep A Alert: Costco Organic Frozen Berries Sickens Dozens

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:12:00 +0000

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/31/frozen-berries-hepatitis-a-outbreak/2378139/

FDA official goes out on limb against BP drugs

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:59:00 +0000

Steve: How long will it be before this official is relieved of his duties. When 7.6 billion is in the balance, look out. Bottom line: where there is smoke, there is fire with these class of meds.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324682204578515172395384146.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

One Size Nutrition Profession Does Not Fit All

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:48:00 +0000

Bonnie: If you ever wanted to know why I never joined the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and chose the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists, look no further than this piece from renowned nutritional researcher Jeffrey Bland.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-bland/nutrition-advice-providers_b_3295511.html

Prevent unwanted side effects from antibiotics

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:47:00 +0000

Steve: For our clients at least, this is the old news. However, it is always nice to see in prestigious research journals.

Scientists at the Cochrane Collaboration say taking probiotic supplements could prevent diarrhea - a common side-effect of many antibiotics. They looked specifically at cases of diarrhea caused by the potentially dangerous Clostridium difficile bug.

Antibiotics disturb the ecosystem of organisms normally present in the digestive system, allowing bacteria such as C. difficile to overwhelm the gut. And people infected with the bug can suffer from diarrhea.

Researchers found 2% of patients given probiotics developed C. difficile-associated diarrhea compared with 6% of patients who were taking placebos. People taking probiotics had fewer unwanted side-effects than those on placebos, including stomach cramps, nausea and taste disturbances.

Does your prenatal have iodine?

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:53:00 +0000

Even a mild level of iodine deficiency during pregnancy is associated with adverse effects on the resulting child's cognitive development, according to a study in the May issue of The Lancet.

Iodine, linked to the production of thyroid hormones, is known to be essential for a healthy fetal brain and neurological development, and the World Health Organization (WHO) in fact refers to its deficiency as "the single most important preventable cause of brain damage worldwide."

While the WHO warning refers largely to severe deficiency, the new study shows that even mild iodine deficiency in utero is linked to lower IQ and suboptimal reading ability in children

First Trimester Is Key Stage for Adequate Iodine Intake
Based on WHO guidelines on recommended concentrations of iodine during pregnancy, the researchers classified iodine/creatinine ratios of less than 150 µg/g as being iodine deficient and a ratio of 150 µg/g or more as iodine sufficient.

The researchers found women with iodine/creatinine ratios of less than 150 µg/g were more likely to have children with scores in the lowest quartile for verbal IQ, reading accuracy, and reading comprehension, compared with children of mothers with ratios of 150 µg/g or more.

The children's scores worsened when the deficient group (less than 150 µg/g) was further subdivided into 50 to 150 µg/g and less than 50 µg/g.

According to WHO guidelines, pregnant and breast-feeding women are recommended an intake of 250 µg of iodine per day, compared with the recommendation of 150 µg for adults who are not pregnant.

Ibuprofen raises heart disease risk at high doses

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:40:00 +0000

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-29/ibuprofen-at-high-dose-raises-heart-disease-risk-review-shows.html

Magnesium for chronic low back pain

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 29 May 2013 19:52:00 +0000

According to a recent study in Anaesthesia, magnesium supplementation may reduce pain and improve mobility in people who have chronic lower back and nerve pain.

Researchers evaluated subjects who all received traditional treatments such as physical therapy, antidepressants, and pain relievers. In addition, half of the participants received magnesium through an intravenous (IV) infusion for two weeks and magnesium capsules taken by mouth for four weeks, while the other half received a placebo during those six weeks.

Subjects that received the magnesium IV and supplements reported significantly reduced pain and significant improvement in spine range of motion compared with the placebo group.

Beneficial bacteria afftects brain positively

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 29 May 2013 19:29:00 +0000

UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

The study appears in the June edition of the journal Gastroenterology.

The discovery that changing the bacterial environment, or microbiota, in the gut can affect the brain carries significant implications for future research that could point the way toward dietary or drug interventions to improve brain function, the researchers said.

Researchers have known that the brain sends signals to the gut, which is why stress and other emotions can contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms. This study shows what has been suspected but until now had been proved only in animal studies: that signals travel the opposite way as well.

The study shows that the gut-brain connection is a two-way street.

The researchers found that, compared with the women who didn't consume the probiotic yogurt, those who did showed a decrease in activity in both the insula -- which processes and integrates internal body sensations, like those form the gut -- and the somatosensory cortex during the emotional reactivity task.

Further, in response to the task, these women had a decrease in the engagement of a widespread network in the brain that includes emotion-, cognition- and sensory-related areas. The women in the other two groups showed a stable or increased activity in this network.

During the resting brain scan, the women consuming probiotics showed greater connectivity between a key brainstem region known as the periaqueductal grey and cognition-associated areas of the prefrontal cortex. The women who ate no product at all, on the other hand, showed greater connectivity of the periaqueductal grey to emotion- and sensation-related regions, while the group consuming the non-probiotic dairy product showed results in between.

Diet Soda Severely Damages Teeth

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 29 May 2013 19:26:00 +0000

Addicted to soda? You may be shocked to learn that drinking large quantities of your favorite carbonated soda could be as damaging to your teeth as methamphetamine and crack cocaine use. The consumption of illegal drugs and abusive intake of soda can cause similar damage to your mouth through the process of tooth erosion, according to a case study published in the March/April 2013 issue of General Dentistry.

Tooth erosion occurs when acid wears away tooth enamel, which is the glossy, protective outside layer of the tooth. Without the protection of enamel, teeth are more susceptible to developing cavities, as well as becoming sensitive, cracked, and discolored.

The General Dentistry case study compared the damage in mouths -- admitted users of methamphetamine, cocaine, and excessive diet soda drinkers. Each participant admitted to having poor oral hygiene and not visiting a dentist on a regular basis. Researchers found the same type and severity of damage from tooth erosion in each participant's mouth.

GSK flu shot caused narcolepsy in adults: study

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:57:00 +0000

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/23/us-gsk-vaccine-narcolepsy-idUSBRE94M0FJ20130523

Who Owns Organic? Corporate structure may surprise you.

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:51:00 +0000

http://www.cornucopia.org/wp-content/themes/Cornucopia/downloads/Organic2013.pdf

FDA a milt toast stance on GMO food

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:15:00 +0000

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htm?source=govdelivery

Fever reducers do not enhance child's recovery

noreply@blogger.com (nutrocon@aol.com) — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:34:00 +0000

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-fever-childrensbre94g0wg-20130517,0,5480927.story