Health News (from The Week magazine)

[JoGee]

SMOKING DAMAGES THE BRAIN

For smokers looking for one more reason to quit: A new study has found that smoking shrinks the brain. In the largest study of its kind, researchers analyzed brain scans of more than 500 smokers, non-smokers, and former smokers, with an average age of 73. They found that smoking may cause thinning of the cortex, the outer layer of the brain essential for memory, language, and perception. This effect is CUMULATIVE --- the more people smoke, the thinner their brain's cortex. Even after smokers quit, the researchers found, the cognitive decline and memory problems can persist for decades. Thinning of the cortex has also been linked to Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Lead author Dr, Sherif Karama, from McGill University, said that although quitting cannot reverse the damage entirely, "subjects who stopped smoking seem who stopped smoking seem to partially recover their cortical thickness for each year without smoking."

[JoGee]

DRINK WINE, BURN FAT

The possible health benefits of red wine may not be limited to the heart. New research has found that a chemical in dark red muscadine grapes --- commonly grown in Southern states and used in wine, jelly and preserves --- may help overweight people burn fat. For the study, researchers from Oregon State University exposed human liver and fat cells to extracts of four natural chemicals found in the grapes. One of these chemicals , a natural antioxidant called ell agin acid, accelerated the burning of fat, and dramatically slowed both the growth of existing fat cells, and the creation of new ones. Myheee findings complement a previous study in whic h mice that were given Pinot Noir grape extracts saw reductions in their stored liver fat and blood sugar levels. The research suggests that drinking a moderate amount of wine could reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver, but study author Dr. Neil Shay of Oregon State University says that "we didn't find that these compounds improved body weight".

[JoGee]

COFFEE MAY CUT CANCER RISK

Most people drink coffee for an energy boost. But women who consume three to four cups a day may also be reducing their risk of endometrial cancer. A team at Imperial College London examined the dietary habits of 2,800 women with cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, and compared them with data from women who didn't have the disease. They found that those who drank four cups of coffee daily had an 18 percent lower risk of developing the cancer than those who drank less than one a day. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that a coffee habit could have significant health benefits, but it remains unclear exactly how the hot beverage helps reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. One theory is that coffee reduces estrogen levels; an imbalance of estrogen heightens the risk of endometrial cancer. Another is that the oxidants in coffee may help slow or prevent cell damage. "Further studies are needed," says research leader Dr. Melissa Merritt, "to isolate the components of coffee that may be responsible."

[JoGee]

RETHINKING FAT & CHOLESTEROL

For decades, health experts have issued stark warnings that food high in fat and cholesterol cause heart disease and other illnesses. But new research has determined that these guidelines, which prompted millions to shun red meat and eggs, we're not supported by good evidence and were, in fact, in error. In the late 1970's Americans were encouraged to reduce their fat intake to about 30% of their daily calories. But after reviewing the research available at that time, a team of British scientists has concluded there was never any evidence that eating less fat would help reduce the risk of heart disease. When Americans were told to avoid meat, dairy, and fat, they increased their consumption of simple carbs such as sugar, white bread, pasta, and processed foods---the real drivers of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
"The obesity epidemic basically began with the first dietary guidelines," points out Nina Teicholz, who has written a book on that topic. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is no longer classifying cholesterol as a "nutrient of concern". The decision, which reverses four decades of government advice, reflects recent research suggesting that eating foods high in cholesterol does not raise cholesterol levels in the blood or increase the risk of heart disease.

Genetics, it turns out, has a much greater effect on cholesterol levels than diet.

[JoGee]

MEDITATION DELAYS AGING

Meditation doesn't just improve mental and physical health in the present. It also slows down the aging process, and can help meditators stay mentally sharp in their old age,a new study has found.
Once people reach their mid-20's, their brains begin to lose volume and weight, which can eventually result in the loss of some functional ability. But when researchers from UCLA compared brain scans of 50 people who meditated for at least four years with scans of 50 people who didn't,they found that those who engaged in the practice had smaller reductions in gray matter --- the neuron-containing tissue responsible for processing information. "What we expected was to see this in just a few small regions," Dr. Florian Kuth, the study's co-author, said. "But what we saw was almost the entire brain. That was a big surprise."
The findings do not prove causality---meditators may have other healthy habits that contribute to brain health---but the researchers said that meditation would appear to be a powerful tool for reducing the risks for age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.