Why You Need This Vitamin Now

By Health.com

You may already know that vitamin D can help build strong teeth and bones, but wait until you hear what else it can do for the rest of your body. D can keep you trim, boost your mood, ward off sniffles, drastically cut your risk of cancer, and more. "We could prevent 150,000 cases of cancer annually if we could just increase vitamin D to optimal levels," says Cedric Garland, a doctor of public health, a leading vitamin D researcher, and a professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
That's great news, right? Yes, except for one huge problem: A startling report found that more than a third of all women fail to get enough D for healthy bones -- and more than 75 percent of us lack the higher amounts needed for the vitamin to do its disease-fighting best.

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Downing a daily glass of milk is a smart way to get more D. But the most significant source is sunlight, and that's where the trouble lies. Our bodies produce D with exposure to ultraviolet radiation, but as we've gotten smarter about dodging skin cancer -- staying out of the sun and slathering ourselves with mega-SPF sunblock -- our vitamin D levels have plummeted. Fortunately, there are smart and safe ways to boost your intake while you enjoy all the benefits that vitamin D can deliver.

Lower Your Risk of Cancer
Vitamin D may substantially cut the risk of breast, colon, prostate, and ovarian cancers, according to a growing body of research. In fact, Dr. Garland found that women with D blood levels that were more than double the current national average of 25 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) had a 50 percent lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest blood levels. Scientists believe that D helps regulate genes in a way that protects healthy cells and stops the growth of cancerous ones.

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There are receptors for vitamin D in virtually all of the body's cells, and to "feed" them you need an adequate blood level of the vitamin. That depends not only on how much time you spend outside and what you eat but also on where you live. People living at higher latitudes, for example, soak up fewer UVB rays from November through March, which means they're more likely to have low blood levels of vitamin D and a higher risk of cancer. In fact, studies have shown twice as many colon cancer deaths and 50 percent more breast cancer deaths in the far North compared with the sunnier South, Dr. Garland says. So how much sun is enough to lower the risk of cancer without upping your risk of skin damage?

Fight Off Winter Weight Gain
Cold weather may seem a long way off right now, but more indoor time and fewer hours of sunlight can lead to a decrease in D production for many women. Researchers think that may explain why some women bulk up a bit when the temps fall: Low levels of D can cause a dip in leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite. When this happens, your brain may not send the signal that you're full and should stop eating.

Overweight women are especially at risk because excess fat can absorb vitamin D, making it unavailable to the body.
Health.com: The Natural Way to Ward Off Winter Weight Gain

Safeguard Your Healthy Heart  
Vitamin D is thought to help lower blood pressure and regulate hormones that affect blood vessels and the muscles of the heart. Studies suggest that people with the highest D levels may have up to a 50 percent lower risk of heart disease. And researchers from Harvard Medical School reported a 62 percent increased risk of heart attacks or strokes among adults with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D, compared with those who have the highest levels of D. "We've also noticed that deaths from cardiovascular events are highest in the winter months, when vitamin D is generally at its lowest," Dr. Garland says.

Say Good-bye to Seasonal Blues
Low vitamin D levels may be linked to yet another winter bummer: seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that is more common in northern states. Researchers believe that vitamin D helps keep the brain flush with the "happy hormone," serotonin, which plays a critical role in regulating mood.

The nutrient also seems to offer a lifetime of brain-health benefits, from aiding development in infants to keeping adults sharp in their later years. "Vitamin D receptors in the brain seem to turn on several genes that are important for normal neurological function,"  says Bruce Hollis, PhD, a vitamin D researcher and professor of molecular biology at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Health.com: 7 Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Boost Your Defenses Against Colds and Flu
Research shows that colds and the flu are worst when vitamin D levels decline, and they tend to hit hardest in countries at higher latitudes, where D levels tend to be lowest. So should we pitch out the C and hail the "sunshine vitamin" as the cure for the common cold? Experts aren't making that claim just yet, but there's compelling evidence that keeping your D level high may slash your chances of picking up the bug that's going around the office. In one study, women who took 800 IU of vitamin D daily were three times less likely to develop colds or the flu -- and those who popped 2,000 IU reported even fewer symptoms. Small wonder some scientists have started calling D the "antibiotic vitamin."
Health.com: 9 Ways to Stay Sniffle-Free

Prevent Autoimmune Disorders  
Vitamin D seems to interact in a protective way with genes that raise the risk for diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating nerve illness that strikes mostly young women. In one Harvard University study, researchers found a 40 percent lower risk of MS in women who took a daily supplement of at least 400 IU of vitamin D. In fact, some studies suggest that vitamin D may help prevent many other autoimmune disorders -- including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and Crohn's disease. Even in healthy women, low levels of vitamin D may lead to increased inflammation, a negative response of the immune system.

Health.com: Can Vitamin D Ease Fibromyalgia Pain?

Build Stronger Bones
The work that D does with calcium to keep bones healthy may be old news, but it's no less important, especially for women. Osteoporosis and fractures due to bone weakness strike up to half of all females, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and loading up on calcium-rich foods may not help much if you're D-deficient. The nutrient helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, minerals that enhance bone strength. A supplement can help: A recent study found that, regardless of their calcium intake, women who added 482 to 770 IU of vitamn D slashed their risk of fractures by up to 20 percent.

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Learn How to Detox with a Coconut Oil Cleanse

Written by Elizabeth Walling, citizen journalist

(NaturalNews) With fad detox methods around every corner, it's hard to know which one can provide a healthy cleanse without unpleasant side effects. A coconut oil detox is an excellent way to cleanse without using complicated formulas or living off nothing but water for days on end. Coconut oil is a powerful cleansing food that also provides plenty of natural energy during a detox.

Coconut oil is largely comprised of medium-chain fatty acids, which are sent directly to the liver for energy rather than storage. This type of fat is ideal for a cleanse, since it can provide the energy needed at a time when less food is being consumed.

These same medium-chain fatty acids play a crucial role in cleansing the body from toxins. Coconut oil is heralded as a natural health food, and a coconut oil detox simply speeds up healing results by thoroughly flushing the entire body of toxins in a short time. Here are just four types of conditions coconut oil can combat during a detox:

- Candida. In modern society, candida overgrowth is almost an epidemic. More people are experiencing systemic candida, when the problem spreads throughout the body and causes a myriad of unpleasant side effects. A coconut oil detox is completely void of sugar and other carbohydrates, which effectively starves off all candida in the system. People who suffer from candida will notice many conditions improve or disappear after a coconut oil detox, including sugar cravings, fatigue, eczema, acne, repeat sinus infections and poor concentration.

- Fungal infections. Often connected with candida, repeat fungal infections like ringworm and jock itch are linked to an imbalance of bacteria and fungal organisms in the body. The lauric acid and caprylic acid in coconut oil are antifungal, so a coconut oil detox is an effective way to cleanse the entire system of fungal growth. Many people with fungal conditions report a complete recovery within the cleansing period.

- Digestive conditions. A coconut oil detox can help banish digestive conditions like irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut syndrome by restoring health and balance to the digestive system.

- Viruses. Lauric acid, which is found in abundance in coconut oil, is converted into monolaurin in the body, which has strong antiviral properties that can protect against and even destroy lipid-coated viruses like herpes and influenza.
How to Detox with Coconut Oil
A coconut oil cleanse is a very simple detoxification method that replaces regular food with coconut oil, usually for about 3-7 days. Start your day with two tablespoons of coconut oil and take 1-2 tablespoons throughout the day as necessary for up to 14 tablespoons total each day.

Take the coconut oil plain if you enjoy it that way, but those who can't tolerate swallowing the oil straight can mix it with warm lemon water or plain organic yogurt if necessary. You can use stevia if you'd like to sweeten the lemon water or yogurt, but no sugar should be consumed during the cleanse. In his book Coconut Cures, Dr. Bruce Fife adds that you can eat up to four ounces of fresh coconut meat daily while on the detox if needed.

The best kind of coconut oil to use to detoxify is organic, raw extra virgin coconut oil. This type of oil should be completely unrefined, expeller- or cold-pressed, unbleached and not deodorized. This ensures you are getting the maximum natural benefits from your coconut oil.

If you have never taken coconut oil before, then you'll want to let your body adjust by slowly incorporating it into your diet before trying a coconut oil detox. Start with 1/2-1 teaspoon three times per day. Gradually work your way up to 1-2 tablespoons three times daily. It may take two weeks to work up to the full amount. When you feel comfortable taking this much coconut oil, then you should be ready to start a coconut oil detox.

Some people will experience "die-off" symptoms when they begin a coconut oil detox. These symptoms are often flu-like, including headaches, joint stiffness, dizziness and foggy-thinking. It may not feel so good, but it's a sign that your body is ridding itself of harmful toxins like fungal organisms. Die-off symptoms usually only last for 3-5 days, but you can ease them by gradually introducing coconut oil to your diet before doing a detox.

During a coconut oil detox, it's important to drink plenty of filtered water to nourish the body and facilitate cleansing benefits. Here is a recipe for a delicious drink that can replenish you during a cleanse:
1 cup pure lemon juice
6 cups filtered water
1 teaspoon sea salt
The lemon juice has cleansing properties, and the sea salt replaces minerals that may be lost during a cleanse. Add stevia for a sweeter taste, but do not sweeten with any kind of sugar.

Remember, if you have medical conditions or if you are on prescription medications, it's important to talk with your physician before trying a coconut oil cleanse.
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Bios Life Slim: 4-4-12, Cheryl Straub

Common blood test could detect heart disease

11 December 2010

WASHINGTON - An improved version of a common emergency room blood test could be used to detect heart disease in apparently healthy patients, according to a US study.

A less sensitive test for the protein, called cardiac troponin T (cTnT), is already used by ER doctors who want to test whether a patient who is complaining of chest pains is actually experiencing a heart attack.

The new, more sensitized version was able to detect the protein in about 25 percent of samples provided by more than 3,500 middle-aged people.

“This test is among the most powerful predictors of death in the general population we’ve seen so far,” said James de Lemos, associate professor of internal medicine at University of Texas Southwestern and lead author of the study.

“It appears that the higher your troponin T, the more likely you are to have problems with your heart, and the worse you’re going to do, regardless of your other risk factors.”

The new test “can detect circulating cTnT levels in almost everyone with chronic heart failure and chronic coronary artery disease,” said the study.

“People with detectable levels of troponin T were nearly seven times more likely to die within six years from heart disease,” added the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The research followed more than 3,500 people, whose ages ranged from 30 to 65, from 2000 to 2007. Subjects gave blood samples and submitted to multiple body scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (sectional imaging) to examine the heart and other organs.

“This study was designed to be representative of urban communities throughout the United States where there is a high prevalence of obesity, untreated hypertension and diabetes — just as there is in Dallas,” de Lemos said.

The most elevated levels of cTnT were detected among older adults, men, African-Americans and people who suffered “abnormal thickening or weakness of the heart muscles.”

De Lemos said he hoped “in the future to be able to use it to prevent some death and disability from heart failure and other cardiac diseases.”

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control, which said last year that 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack.

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F.D.A.: Diet Pill Works, but Has Risks

December 3, 2010, 2:57 pm

 

By ANDREW POLLACK

A new diet pill from Orexigen Therapeutics narrowly meets the requirements for effectiveness but poses potential cardiovascular risks, reviewers from the Food and Drug Administration said Friday

The agency’s review of the drug was posted on the F.D.A. Web site in advance of a meeting Tuesday in which an advisory committee will be asked whether the drug, known as Contrave, should be approved as a treatment for obesity.

Contrave is the last of a trio of new weight-loss drugs to come before the F.D.A. this year. The first two, Qnexa from Vivus and lorcaserin from Arena Pharmaceuticals, failed to win committee endorsements, and were subsequently not approved by the F.D.A. In both cases, safety concerns were the major issues.
Now the question is whether the third time will be the charm, or whether it will be three strikes, you’re out.

In its review the F.D.A. said that patients treated with Contrave in clinical trials lost 4.2 percentage points more of their weight than those getting the placebo after a year. That falls short of the standard that a drug should produce at least 5 percentage points more of weight loss than a placebo.

But Contrave generally met a second standard — that about twice as many patients on the drug as on placebo lose at least 5 percent of their weight. Meeting one of the two criteria is enough for approval under F.D.A. guidelines.
The major safety concern was that patients who took Contrave had a small but statistically significant increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
The drug “attenuates or eliminates the blood pressure and pulse reduction that are normally seen with weight loss,’’ the F.D.A. reviewers wrote. “It is not known how these vital sign changes in the overweight and obese population would impact cardiovascular risk over the long term.’’

Orexigen’s trials were too short and small to evaluate long-term cardiovascular risks, and only 1 percent of the participants had a history of heart disease, heart attack or stroke.
The F.D.A. said a dedicated study would be needed to determine if the drug raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It will ask the advisory committee to vote on whether such a study should be conducted, and if so whether it should be done before the drug is approved – which would delay approval for years — or if it could be done afterward.

The situation is somewhat reminiscent of the obesity drug Meridia, approved in 1997, which also caused a small increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
A large cardiovascular safety study eventually found that the drug did increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Under pressure from the F.D.A., Abbott Laboratories removed the drug from the market in October.

“We believe a key goal for Orexigen at the panel will be to convince the members that a controlled trial in CV risk need only be conducted post-marketing,’’ Phil Nadeau, an analyst at Cowen & Company, wrote in a note Friday morning. He added that “the hint of Meridia-like CV effects and near-complete absence of safety data in high CV risk patients will weigh heavily in the assessment of Contrave risk-benefit.’’

But Mr. Nadeau and some other analysts said the F.D.A. review was about as expected and was even in its tone, not leaning toward approval or against it. At noon, Orexigen shares were trading at $4.99, down about 9 percent.

Contrave is a combination of two existing drugs that help quell food cravings. One of them, bupropion, is an anti-depressant also known by the brand name Wellbutrin that is also sold under the name Zyban to help people quit smoking. The other, naltrexone, is approved to treat alcohol and drug addiction.

Some side effects of the two component drugs – particularly the risk of seizures from bupropion – were also of concern to the F.D.A. reviewers of Contrave.

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/f-d-a-diet-pill-works-but-has-risks/?ref=health

Panel Votes to Expand Surgery for Less Obese

December 3, 2010

By ANDREW POLLACK

“I see this as the first step in the march toward changing the standard of care,” E. Francine Stokes McElveen, the consumer representative on the committee, said during the meeting in Gaithersburg, Md.

A federal advisory panel Friday endorsed an expansion of the use of Allergan’s Lap-Band stomach-restricting device to patients who are less than severely obese. The vote could pave the way to double the number of Americans who qualify for weight-loss surgery. And it could eventually lead to making other types of weight-loss surgery available to those who are not quite as heavy.

The advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration voted 8 to 2 that the benefits of Lap-Band surgery exceeded the risks for patients in the lower range of obesity. It voted 8 to 2 that the device was safe, and 8 to 1, with one abstention, that the device was effective.

The F.D.A. usually agrees with its advisory committees, but it was not clear when a decision would be made.
Current guidelines say weight-loss surgery is appropriate for people who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise and have a body mass index of 40 and above — or 35 and above if they have diabetes, hypertension or another severe health problem associated with diabetes.
Allergan wants to lower the threshold to a B.M.I. of 35 for people without health complications, and to 30 for people with health problems, which also would no longer have to be severe.

A person who is 5 feet, 5 inches with hypertension must weigh at least 210 pounds to qualify for surgery now. Under the proposal endorsed by the committee, that person would have to weigh only 180 pounds.
An Allergan executive said at the meeting that 27 million Americans had a B.M.I. between 30 and 35 and at least one associated health condition.
The panel’s endorsement coincided with the release of a new report by F.D.A. staff members on a diet pill, Contrave, that another panel plans to consider next week. The report said the drug seemed to be effective, but might pose potential cardiovascular risks.
Other new diet pills have been rejected by the F.D.A. in recent months, leaving few options for overweight Americans.

About one-third of American adults are obese, defined as a B.M.I. of 30 or more. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week showed that women with a B.M.I. of 30 to 35 had a 44 percent higher risk of death than women of normal weight, which is a B.M.I. under 25.
The Lap-Band is an inflatable silicone ring that is placed around the upper part of the stomach. It restricts how much a person can eat and makes one feel full more quickly.
Allergan submitted a study to the F.D.A. in which 149 people in the new proposed weight range received the device. Those patients lost an average of about 18 percent of their weight after a year, an amount considered enough to have positive effects on their health.

But some committee members said the study was too small and too short, especially since people might have the band inside them for decades. Some wanted more evidence that the operation resolved diabetes or other health problems. Most panel members said the study included too few men, blacks and Hispanics.
Still, most of the committee, which included several bariatric surgeons, said that Allergan could do longer, larger studies after approval and there was enough evidence, including from other studies in the literature, that the band was safe and effective.

Two participants in Allergan’s study, whose transportation to the meeting was paid for by the company, testified that the surgery had changed their lives. “I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs or even take a shower without taking a rest,” said one of them, Brandi Jirka of Nashville, who did not specify how much weight she lost. “Now I can run and play with my children, I do yoga and can shop at regular stores in the mall. I’ve even been snorkeling while wearing a bikini.”

In her testimony, Diana Zuckerman of the National Research Center for Women and Families urged the committee to vote against approval, saying there was not enough long-term data. “We need that information before approval is expanded to include such a very large number of adults,” she said.
Some forms of weight-loss surgery, like gastric bypass, are considered medical procedures, not devices, so are not regulated by the F.D.A. But all types of bariatric surgery are covered by federal guidelines from 1991, 10 years before the Lap-Band was approved.

There are now efforts to revise those guidelines to lower the weight threshold. Some members of the committee said that the advent of minimally invasive surgery had made bariatric surgery much safer than it was in 1991. Some also said that B.M.I. was too crude a measure of how much a person needs surgery.
“The B.M.I. criterion is so seriously flawed,” said Dr. John G. Kral, professor of surgery and medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. “Removing this barrier of this idiotic number in itself would be an important step.”

Allergan, which is known mostly for Botox, hopes that expanding use of the Lap-Band to less obese adults — and also eventually to teenagers — will spur sales. Sales of its obesity products, mostly Lap-Band, fell 4 percent to $182.4 million in the first nine months of this year, a decline the company attributed to the weak economy. But obesity products make up only 5 percent of Allergan’s overall product sales.
Shares of Allergan rose 52 cents, to $68.80 in regular trading Friday. The shares rose 3 percent, to $70.89 in after-hours trading, following the panel’s vote.

A version of this article appeared in print on December 4, 2010, on page B1 of the New York edition.