Archive for December 2007
Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea
Posted on Monday, December 31, 2007 at 6:57 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
The best Longjing Tea is made in the week before April 5, or the Pure Brightness Festival (Qingming). Known as Mingqian (before Qingming), such Longjing tea is "green in hue, strong in fragrance, mellow in taste and pretty in appearance".
"My tea is always booked out by regular customers who don't trust unknown shops outside. There are many fake West Lake Longjing tea products in the market," he said.
"My customers won't drink the tea themselves. They keep it as a top-grade gift," Wang added.
Every year, Wang keeps no more than 10 kilograms of Longjing tea for himself. He sips three cups of tea a day, a habit he believes has kept him in good health. At Hefang Street, a popular tourism spot in Hangzhou, the Taiji Teahouse has drawn a lot of attention this spring with a new kind of tea that is more affordable.
Manager Zheng Xiaochun said no teahouse in Hangzhou is offering West Lake Longjing tea made this year, as the cost, about 100 yuan (12.9 U.S. dollars) per cup, is beyond the reach of ordinary customers.
The teahouse offers Qiantang Longjing tea, which is grown outside Hangzhou and priced at 600 to 1,600 yuan (77-207 U.S. dollars) per kilogram. Zheng, 31, said West Lake Longjing will be widely available in the teahouses by the end of April, when the price drops to 1,000 yuan (129 U.S. dollars) per kilogram.
Edited on: Monday, December 31, 2007 7:01 AMPosted in Nutrition
FDA Warns of Botulism Potential in "GFS Fancy" Green Beans
Posted on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 8:44 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers about a potential Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) contamination of canned cut green beans manufactured by New Era Canning Company, New Era, Mich., and labeled as "GFS Fancy Blue Lake Cut Green Beans." C. botulinum is the bacterium that causes botulism.
The bacterium produces a toxin that can result in a life-threatening illness or death.
Edited on: Friday, December 28, 2007 8:45 AMPosted in News
Broccoli Contains Natural Protection Against Cancer and Skin Disorder
Posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 at 8:51 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
The compound sulforaphane whose natural precursors are found at high
levels in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables has been hailed for
its chemopreventive powers against cancer.
Now sulforaphane has demonstrated new skills in treating a genetic skin blistering disorder called epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), Pierre Coulombe and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore report at the American Society for Cell Biology 47th Annual Meeting.
Edited on: Friday, March 14, 2008 10:48 AMPosted in Cancer , Immune System , Nutrition
Fibromyalgia - A Real Diagnosis
Posted on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 8:54 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
Fibromyalgia, a chronic, widespread pain in muscles and soft tissues accompanied by fatigue, is a fairly common condition that does not manifest any structural damage in an organ. Twenty-five years ago, Muhammad B. Yunus, MD, and colleagues published the first controlled study of the clinical characteristics of fibromyalgia syndrome. That seminal article, published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, led directly to formal recognition of this disease by the medical community. In the June 2007 issue of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, Dr. Yunus once again makes an enormous contribution to the field of chronic pain and fatigue by meticulously synthesizing and interpreting the extensive body of scientific literature on fibromyalgia and his own insights into the concept of central sensitivity syndromes (CSS).
Fibromyalgia, affecting approximately 2% of the US population, is an example of a class of maladies called CSS. These diseases are based on neurochemical abnormalities and include irritable bowel syndrome, migraine and restless legs syndrome.
Incorporating a critical review of over 225 publications and the author's broad experience in fibromyalgia and related diseases, Dr. Yunus describes 13 separate conditions that are related to central sensitization (CS), where the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) becomes extremely sensitized on certain parts of the body, so that even mild pressure or touch would cause much pain. Such hypersensitivity may also be associated with other symptoms such as poor sleep and fatigue.
According to Dr. Yunus, "CSS are the most common diseases that are based on real neurochemical pathology and cause real pain and suffering. In some patients stress and depression may contribute to the symptoms but they are all based on objective changes in the central nervous system." Dr. Norman L. Gottlieb, Editor of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, believes that this article "advances our understanding of fibromyalgia, unifies and advances concepts, and suggests that this and several other common disorders have much in common in terms of their biopsychosocial development. This, hopefully, will expand both clinical and research interest in this group of diseases and lead to advances in therapy for many of them."
In an accompanying editorial John B. Winfield, MD, comments, "Without question, Muhammad Yunus is the father of our modern view of fibromyalgia". Yunus, who took a rather more biological approach to fibromyalgia in the past, now emphasizes a biopsychosocial perspective. "In my view, this is tremendously important because it is the only way to synthesize the disparate contributions of such variables as genes and adverse childhood experiences, life stress and distress, posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, self-efficacy for pain control, catastrophizing, coping style, and social support into the evolving picture of central nervous system dysfunction vis-a-vis chronic pain and fatigue ".Science and medicine now have a rational scaffolding for understanding and treating chronic pain syndromes previously considered to be 'functional' or 'unexplained.' Neuroscience research will continue to reveal the mechanisms of CS, but only if informed through a biopsychosocial perspective and with the interdisciplinary collaboration of basic scientists, psychologists, sociologists, epidemiologists, and clinicians."
Dr. Yunus concludes that CSS is an important new concept that embraces the biopsychosocial model of disease. He advocates further critical studies to fully test this concept which seems to have important significance for new directions for research and patient care involving physician and patient education. "Each patient, irrespective of diagnosis," says Dr. Yunus, "should be treated as an individual, considering both the biological and psychosocial contributions to his or her symptoms and suffering."
Posted in Pain
Fortify Your Immune System During The Cold & Flu Season
Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 at 10:49 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
When cold and flu season comes around, many people head to their medicine cabinets in search of relief. But a trip to the kitchen may be the smarter move. The nutrients that lend fruits and vegetables their colors serve as antioxidants that promote immune function.
"Nutrition plays an important part in maintaining immune function," explains George L. Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D., associate director of the division of nutrition at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. "Insufficiency in one or more essential nutrients may prevent the immune system from functioning at its peak."
The immune system consists of a finely orchestrated, complex collection
of tissues and cells that protect your body from allergens, bacteria,
viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms, collectively known as
antigens. Skin and the membranes that line entrances to the body --
nasal passages, eyes, and respiratory and digestive tracts -- are the
first line of defense, providing a physical barrier against invaders.
Internally, specialized white blood cells fight antigens that make it
past the skin: T-lymphocytes continuously patrol the body in search of
antigens; B-lymphocytes manufacture antibodies, special blood proteins
that neutralize or destroy germs; and neutrophils and macrophages
scavenge antigens from the blood for delivery to the lymphatic system,
which disposes of them. To work smoothly, these cells depend on you
keeping your body in top shape.
"There's no question the immune system fundamentally is influenced by overall health -- and a balanced diet is key," says David Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Yale Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Connecticut. "Not only are essential nutrients critical for the production and maintenance of key germ-fighting cells in the immune system, but a balanced diet also has a strong effect on vascular function, and the immune system is dependent on blood flow," Katz says. The bloodstream is the route along which infection-fighting cells travel throughout the body to where they're needed.
Given the complexity of the immune system, there isn't one specific food that will magically make you repel cold germs and flu viruses. Instead, eating a healthful, balanced diet is your best investment in immunity.CookingLight.com: How nutritional remedies can help manage cold symptoms
Fill your plate with fruits and vegetables
The vitamins (especially A and C) and the phytochemicals that lend fruits and vegetables their colors serve as antioxidants that promote immune function, says Charles Stephensen, Ph.D., a research scientist with the usda's Western Human Nutrition Research Center at the University of California, Davis. "These nutrients help ensure that lymphocytes can divide and reproduce properly in response to a virus and that the neutrophils and macrophages that engulf and kill invading bacteria can do their job," Stephensen says.
What to do: Eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. To maximize the variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, aim to consume two different colors of vegetables and fruits with each meal, Blackburn suggests. "Cover two-thirds of your plate with vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and beans, and one-third with lean protein," he says.
Choose lean protein sources
The amino acids that are found in protein form the building blocks of all the body's cells -- including the cells that power your immune system. If you don't consume enough protein, you'll manufacture fewer white blood cells to combat antigens. "One of the ways immune cells fight against pathogens is by increasing their numbers," says Simin Nikbin Meydani, Ph.D., associate director of the Jean Mayer Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. "To increase immune cell proliferation, you need protein and amino acids."
What to do: Consume 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per kilogram (kg) of your body weight. That means if you weigh 130 pounds, which equals about 59kg, consume at least 47 grams of protein per day. But remember that quality counts: To avoid saturated fat, choose three- to four-ounce portions of lean protein such as fish, seafood, poultry (without the skin), eggs, lentils, beans, and soy products.
Focus on healthful fats
High-fat diets appear to impair the immune system by decreasing the function of T-lymphocytes.
Reducing fat, on the other hand, can boost immune function by enhancing T-lymphocyte function. However, the type of fat you consume is equally important as the amount. Trans fats (found in margarines and many commercial baked goods) can contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation in the body. "The immune system can become tied up dealing with inflammation -- and the damage to cells and tissues that results -- rather than defending the body," Katz says.
What to do: Limit your total fat intake to 30 percent of daily calories, with five to 10 percent from saturated fats. For the remaining 20 to 25 percent, look for sources of unsaturated fats, such as canola oil, olive oil, nuts, avocados, and seeds. And increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids (from fatty fish like salmon, halibut, and sardines), which help fight inflammation and free your immune system to defend against antigens.
Make time for tea
Green tea is a rich source of a type of antioxidant called a catechin, and preliminary research has found that a specific catechin -- epigallocatechin gallate (egcg) -- may give the beverage antigen-fighting abilities. When researchers at the University of Sherbrooke in Canada added green tea to lab samples of the adenovirus (one of many viruses that causes colds), they discovered that egcg inhibited the virus' ability to replicate. Similarly, researchers in South Korea found that egcg can also stop the influenza virus from replicating. While these studies were conducted in petri dishes instead of human subjects, some researchers believe you can reasonably bank on green tea's benefits -- particularly when it's consumed in place of colas or other sugary beverages with little nutritional benefit. "Green tea catechins can improve lymphocyte responses and seem to have anti-inflammatory effects," Stephensen says.
What to do: Trade at least one cup of coffee each day for green tea. To derive the optimal amounts of catechins from your tea, let the bag steep for at least three minutes in hot water.
Maintain a proper energy balance
Eat enough -- yet not too many or too few -- calories per day. "Considerable evidence shows crash dieting, anorexia, or nutrient deficiencies increase a person's susceptibility to infections, but overconsumption of calories can also have harmful effects on cell production in the immune system," Meydani says. "This could be because overconsumption of calories leads to increased production of compounds called prostaglandins, which have a suppressive effect on T-lymphocyte cell production." Fewer T-cells patrolling the body increases the chances of an antigen taking hold.
What to do: To find the proper number of calories for you, go to www.mypyramid.gov, which makes recommendations based on age, gender, and activity level.
Take the one supplement that works
Although the researchers we spoke with panned most supplements, they all agreed that a multivitamin is well worth taking. If you have even a marginal deficiency of certain nutrients --particularly the B vitamins, A, C, E, selenium, iron, and zinc -- your immune system's function could be impaired. "This can happen without seeing any obvious signs of deficiency -- until you become sick with a virus or bacterial infection," Meydani says.
What to do: Choose a multivitamin specifically formulated for your gender or age. For example, multivitamins made for men and post-menopausal women contain less iron than those made for younger women. And always look for the United States Pharmacopeia seal, says Douglas Heimburger, M.D., a professor of nutrition sciences and medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "It tells you that certain pharmaceutical standards have been met and proven," Heimburger says.
CookingLight.com: How to choose the right multivitamin for you:
Consume friendly bacteria
A yogurt or kefir drink per day might help keep infections at bay. That's because these foods contain probiotics, bacteria that stimulate immunity cells in the gastrointestinal tract. "Normal, healthy bacteria that colonize the GI tract help you resist bad bacteria and detoxify harmful substances," explains Susanna Cunningham-Rundles, Ph.D., a professor of immunology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. In addition to their protective effect in the GI tract, probiotics also may help stimulate immune-cell production system-wide. In a recent study of 33 women from the University of Vienna, Austria, those who ate ordinary yogurt daily for two weeks raised their T-lymphocyte cell count by nearly 30 percent.
What to do: Look for yogurt or kefir that contains "live active cultures," indicating helpful bacteria.CookingLight.com: Add live cultures to your diet with these tips and recipes
How Exercise Helps
"The immune system's cells don't function normally when a person is overweight or has high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides," says Gabriel Fernandes, Ph.D., a professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. "Immune cells are not able to recognize bacteria or viruses and destroy them," Fernandes says. Along with diet, exercise is key to shedding extra pounds.
What to do: "Increase your physical activity from 30 minutes a day to 60 to burn more calories," Fernandes says. In a yearlong study of 550 men and women, researchers from the University of South Carolina found those who exercised moderately were 25 percent less likely to develop a cold compared with those who rarely exercised. (The subjects simply walked at a brisk pace.) As with diet, moderation is critical; too much exercise or exercising to the point of exhaustion can boost the body's production of adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that temporarily suppress immune function.
Posted in Immune System
Back Pain Associated with Stress
Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 at 10:38 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
Sixty to 80 percent of the population in North America will suffer from back pain or injuries at some point during their lives, with one to five percent of that group suffering chronic back pain that lasts six months or longer. Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation among those under 45. Although 80 to 90 percent of individuals will recover from back pain within three to six days of their injury, statistics estimate $31 million is spent on office visits to physicians for back pain, but only three percent of that total cost goes to prevention of back pain.
Stress at home and in the workplace most often creates back problems. "Stress manifests itself to cause our muscles to go 'Boing!' and into a spasm to cause us to cry, not get out of bed, worry about coughing, worry about our jobs, and worry about not being able to work again, among other things," said Bracko. "Managing stress, knowing other risk factors and working it all out through exercise is a great way to keep back injuries at bay."
Individual Risk Factors
In addition to controlling stress in one's personal life, activities at home, recreation, exercise and family life can contribute to the potential of a back injury. Other factors include:
-- Lack of sleep/fatigue
-- Emotional instability
-- Family problems
-- Substance abuse
-- Lack of physical activity/too much physical activity
-- Poor muscle endurance and poor trunk muscle stabilization
-- Excessive weight
Occupational Risk Factors
The workplace is a unique contributor to opportunities for back pain and injuries. Truck drivers, nurses and young workers have the highest rates of back injury. In one study, only half of low-back injured workers, off work for six months or longer, returned their regular jobs. Several studies have documented an increased risk of disc herniation for those who perform sedentary jobs characterized by sitting.
Other risk factors include:
-- Heavy physical work
-- Static posture - sitting and standing
-- Repetitive work (bending, twisting, pushing, pulling and lifting)
-- Slipping, tripping or falling
-- Twisting while spine is loaded (carrying something)
-- Vibration while driving
-- Fatigue/poor muscle endurance (excessive overtime, work-to-rest ratio)
-- "Attitude" at work leading to accidents (poor or high-risk attitude)
-- Lack of work satisfaction and lack of motivation
-- Mental fatigue (forgetting to lift properly)
For office workers, Bracko noted the general rule is to be seated in an ergonomically-sound chair with the ankles, knees, hips, and elbows at approximately 90 - 100 degrees.
Exercise for Prevention
A variety of exercises can be performed in an attempt to prevent back injuries, but being active is key to disc health, says Bracko. Exercise is the best method of reducing the negative effects of stress, in addition to improving general health. Bracko specifically recommends training abdominal muscles to help strengthen and support the back.
"People tend to bend at the waist because it is less fatiguing," said Bracko. "But, pay close attention to posture while lifting or stretching. It is important to maintain the natural curves in spine to avoid a back injury."
Women with Fibromyalgia Benefit from Exercise, Walking, Stretching
Posted on Saturday, December 01, 2007 at 5:15 AM by T.Smith, M.S. the site author">T.Smith, M.S.
Posted in Female Topics