BABIES HEALTH STARTS BEFORE CONCEPTION

There's now overwhelming evidence that a child's future health is influenced by more than just their parents' genetic material, and that children born of unhealthy parents will already be pre-programmed for greater risk of poor health, according to University of Adelaide researchers.

In  a feature paper called "Parenting from before conception" published in the journal Science, researchers at the University's Robinson Research Institute say environmental factors prior to conception have more influence on the child's future than previously thought.

"This really is a new frontier for reproductive and developmental research," says corresponding author and Director of the University's Robinson Research Institute, Professor Sarah Robertson.

"It's only been in the last 10 years that the science community has been seriously discussing these issues, and only in the last five years that we've begun to understand the mechanisms of how this is happening -- with much of the work conducted right here at the University of Adelaide."

The paper concludes that parental influences on a child begin before conception, because stored environmental factors in the egg and sperm are contributing more than just genetic material to the child.

"Many things we do in the lead up to conceiving is having an impact on the future development of the child -- from the age of the parents, to poor diet, obesity, smoking and many other factors, all of which influence environmental signals transmitted into the embryo," Professor Robertson says.

"People used to think that it didn't matter, because a child represented a new beginning, with a fresh start. The reality is, we can now say with great certainty that the child doesn't quite start from scratch -- they already carry over a legacy of factors from their parents' experiences that can shape development in the fetus and after birth. Depending on the situation, we can give our children a burden before they've even started life."

This includes a higher risk of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The likelihood of conditions like anxiety and immune dysfunction can also be affected.

Professor Robertson says current research is also showing that the fathers have a much greater role to play in this than previously thought.

Professor Robertson says this news is not all doom and gloom for would-be parents. "A few lifestyle changes by potential parents and improvements in the right direction, especially in the months leading up to conception, could have a lasting, positive benefit for the future of their child," she says.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy is a commonly known relaxation treatment that uses essential oils extracted from flowers, seeds, barks, herbs and roots. It helps in improving our health, mood and mind.

Here are some health benefits of aromatherapy:

Eases Insomnia

Aromatherapy helps in treating insomnia which causes acute health problems and huge disruption in our life. The relaxing effect of essential oils, and even massages, can help you relieve stress and get to sleep.

Reduces stress

Aromatherapy is populary known for reducing stress. Essential oils known as relaxants helps to soothe your mind and eliminate anxiety. The best essential oils for stress relief are lemon oil, lavender, bergamot, peppermint, vetiver and ylang ylang.

Depression

The citrus and vibrant aromas tend to reduce the effects of depression. A massage with essential oils will help you get out from depression.

Relief pain

One of the best benefits of aromatherapy is that it relieves pain. The clary sage, a great natural scent, is used for the reduction of pain. It is most commonly known for its success for relieving menstrual pains.

Improves blood pressure

Aromatherapy helps to lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension. It relaxes enough to get your blood pressure levels closer to a healthy range.

DRINKING ALCOHOL NO HEALTH BENEFITS

Reducing the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may improve cardiovascular health, including a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, lower body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure, according to a new multi-center study published in The BMJ and co-led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The latest findings call into question previous studies which suggest that consuming light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol (0.6-0.8 fluid ounces/day) may have a protective effect on cardiovascular health.

The new research reviewed evidence from more than 50 studies that linked drinking habits and cardiovascular health for over 260,000 people. Researchers found that individuals who carry a specific gene which typically leads to lower alcohol consumption over time have, on average, superior cardiovascular health records. Specifically, the results show that individuals who consume 17 percent less alcohol per week have on average a 10 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease, lower blood pressure and a lower Body Mass Index.

"These new results are critically important to our understanding of how alcohol affects heart disease. Contrary to what earlier reports have shown, it now appears that any exposure to alcohol has a negative impact upon heart health," says co-lead author Michael Holmes, MD, PhD, research assistant professor in the department of Transplant Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "For some time, observational studies have suggested that only heavy drinking was detrimental to cardiovascular health, and that light consumption may actually be beneficial. This has led some people to drink moderately based on the belief that it would lower their risk of heart disease. However, what we're seeing with this new study, which uses an investigative approach similar to a randomized clinical trial, is that reduced consumption of alcohol, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may lead to improved cardiovascular health."

In the new study, researchers examined the cardiovascular health of individuals who carry a genetic variant of the 'alcohol dehydrogenase 1B' gene, which is known to breakdown alcohol at a quicker pace. This rapid breakdown causes unpleasant symptoms including nausea and facial flushing, and has been found to lead to lower levels of alcohol consumption over time. By using this genetic marker as an indicator of lower alcohol consumption, the research team was able to identify links between these individuals and improved cardiovascular health.

The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council, and was an international collaboration that included 155 investigators from the UK, continental Europe, North America, and Australia.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms, though classified as vegetables in the food world, are not technically plants. They belong to the fungi kingdom and although they are not vegetables, mushrooms provide several important nutrients.

It's common knowledge that the key to getting enough vitamins  and minerals in the diet is to eat a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables - the more color, the better. However, this philosophy tends to leave mushrooms in the dark. In many cases, if a food lacks color, it also in turn lacks necessary nutrients. However, mushrooms - which are commonly white - prove quite the contrary.

Mushrooms are naturally low in sodium, fat, cholesterol, and calories and have often been referred to as "functional foods." In addition to providing basic nutrition, they help prevent chronic disease due to the presence of antioxidants and beneficial dietary fibers such as chitin and beta-glucans.

One cup of chopped or sliced raw white mushrooms contains 15 calories, 0 grams of fat, 2.2 grams of protein, 2.3 grams of  carbohydrate  (including 0.7 grams of fiber and 1.4 grams of sugar). Although there are a large variety of mushrooms available, most provide the same amount of the same nutrients per serving, regardless of their shape or size.

Mushrooms are rich in B vitamins such as riboflavin, folate, thiamine, pantothenic acid, and niacin. They are also the only vegan, non-fortified dietary source of vitamin D . Mushrooms also provide several minerals that may be difficult to obtain in the diet, such as selenium, potassium, copper, iron, and phosphorus.

Beta-glucans are a type of fiber that is found in the cell walls of many types of mushrooms. Recently, beta-glucans have been the subject of extensive studies that have examined their role in improving insulin resistance and blood cholesterol  levels, lowering the risk of  obesity  and providing an immunity boost.

Mushrooms also contain choline; an important nutrient found that helps with sleep, muscle movement, learning and memory. Choline assists in maintaining the structure of cellular membranes, aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, supports proper fat absorption and reduces chronic inflammation  

HEALTH BENEFITS

Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions. Countless studies have suggested that increasing consumption of naturally-grown foods like mushrooms decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality, diabetes, heart disease   and promotes a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy, and overall lower weight.

Cancer: Mushrooms contain just as high an antioxidant capacity as carrots, tomatoes, green and red peppers, pumpkins, green beans, and zucchini.

Selenium is a mineral that is not present in most fruits and vegetables but can be found in mushrooms. It plays a role in liver enzyme function, and helps detoxify some cancer-causing compounds in the body. Additionally, selenium prevents inflammation and also decrease tumor  growth rates.

The vitamin D in mushrooms has also been shown to inhibit the growth of  cancer  cells by contributing to the regulation of the cell growth cycle. The folate in mushrooms plays an important role in DNA synthesis and repair, thus preventing the formation of cancer cells from mutations in the DNA.

Diabetes: Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One cup of grilled portabella mushrooms and one cup of stir-fried shiitake mushrooms both provide about 3 grams of fiber.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 21-25 g/day for women and 30-38 g/day for men

Heart health: The fiber, potassium and vitamin C content in mushrooms all contribute to cardiovascular health. Potassium and sodium work together in the body to help regulate blood pressure . Consuming mushrooms, which are high in potassium and low in sodium helps to lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of hypertyension  and cardiovascular diseases.

Additionally, an intake of 3 grams of beta-glucans per day can lower blood cholesterol levels by 5%.

Immunity: Selenium has also been found to improve immune response to infection by stimulating production of killer T-cells. The beta-glucan fibers found in the cell walls of mushrooms stimulate the immune system to fight cancer cells and prevent tumors from forming

Weight management and satiety: Dietary fiber plays an important role in weight management by functioning as a "bulking agent" in the digestive system. Mushrooms contain two types of dietary fibers in their cell walls: beta-glucans and chitin which increase satiety and reduce appetite, making you feel fuller longer and thereby lowering your overall calorie intake.

Blueberries Health Benefits

New studies make it clear that we can freeze blueberries without having done damage to their delicate anthocyanin antioxidants. There is no doubt about the delicate nature of several antioxidant nutrients found in blueberries. These antioxidants include different styles of anthocyanins, the colorful pigments that provide many foods their wonderful shades of blue, purple, and red. After freezing blueberries at temperatures of 0°F (-17°C) or lower for amounts of time between 3-6 months, scientific study has discovered no significant lowering of overall antioxidant capacity or anthocyanin concentrations. Anthocyanins studied have included malvidins, delphinidins, pelargonidins, cyanidins, and peonidins. These findings are great news for anybody who grows, buys, or picks fresh berries in season and wants to enjoy them all year round. They are also great news if you has restricted usage of fresh blueberries but sometimes find them in the freezer part of the market.


Among the few fruits indigenous to North America, blueberries are actually enjoyed by Native Americans for hundreds of years. They have also enjoyed great popularity worldwide in cuisines from Asia on the Mediterranean. For more about the Healthiest Way of Preparing Blueberries, see below.

What's New and Beneficial Facts Blueberries

After many years of research on blueberry antioxidants along with their potential benefits for the central nervous system and for brain health, there is exciting new evidence that blueberries can improve memory. In a very study involving older adults (with an average ages of 76 years), 12 weeks of daily blueberry consumption was enough to further improve scores on two different tests of cognitive function including memory. While participants inside study consumed blueberries in the form of juice, three-quarters of a pound of blueberries were utilised to make each cup of juice. As participants consumed between 2 to 2-1/2 cups every day, the participants actually received a really plentiful amount of berries. The authors of the study were encouraged from the results and suggested that blueberries might come to be beneficial not only for improvement of memory, but for slowing down or postponing the start other cognitive problems frequently connected with aging.

In terms of U.S. fruit consumption, blueberries rank only second to strawberries in availability of berries. Blueberries are not only seen popular, but also repeatedly ranked inside the U.S. diet as having one of several highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits, vegetables, spices and seasonings. Antioxidants are necessary to optimizing health by helping combat the free-radicals that can damage cellular structures along with DNA. We recommend enjoying raw blueberries - rather than relying upon blueberries utilized in baked desserts - because, like other fruits, raw blueberries provide you with the best flavor and the greatest nutritional benefits.

Berries generally are considered low in terms of their glycemic index (GI). GI is a very common way of identifying the possible impact of a food on our blood sugar level once we've consumed and digested that food. In general, foods using a GI of 50 or listed here are considered "low" in terms of their list value.

When compared to other berries, blueberries aren't particularly low in regards to their GI. Research shows the GI for blueberries as falling somewhere inside range of 40-53, with berries like blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries repeatedly scoring closer to 30 than to 40. However, legally to have that included blueberries as a low-GI fruit has found that blueberries, along with other berries, clearly possess a favorable impact on blood sugar regulation in persons already clinically determined to have type 2 diabetes. Participants inside study who consumed eventually 3 servings of low-GI fruits every day (including blueberries) saw significant improvement inside their regulation of blood sugar over a three-month time period. (Their blood degrees of glycosylated hemoglobin, or HgA1C were used because standard of measurement in this study.) It's great to find out blueberries providing these clear health benefits for blood sugar regulation!

Patients Health Affected By Cuts In Neuropathy Diagnosis Funds

Today's post from mmnforum.com (see link below) looks at the results of the current financial cuts in services for patients around the world. In the case of neuropathy, cuts in the USA have meant that standard diagnostic tools such as EMGs and nerve conduction studies have become too expensive for organisations such as medicare to reimburse, leading to complete lack of diagnosis in some cases. If your doctor or specialist is alert, he or she will immediately recognise the symptoms of many forms of neuropathy but certain specialised forms may not be diagnosed, leading to the wrong treatment and unnecessary suffering for the patient. It's hardly credible that a patient should be the victim of financial mismanagement on a national scale but that's the reality facing many neuropathy sufferers across the world.

Neuropathy Diagnosis Obstacles Damaging to Patients' Health
May 16, 2013

For National Neuropathy Awareness Week (May 13-17), The Neuropathy Association and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation Call Attention to the Diagnostic Challenges Hurting Millions of Neuropathy Patients.

Continued lack of peripheral neuropathy awareness combined with Medicare reimbursement cuts for diagnostic tools are causing major impediments to neuropathy epidemic prevention, patient care, and treatments according to The Neuropathy Association and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation. The two organizations are using national Neuropathy Awareness Week (May 13-17) to highlight the diagnostic challenges facing patients with all forms of peripheral neuropathy, which have no disease-modifying treatments or cures. Early and appropriate neuropathy diagnosis is key to prevention and providing symptom management to restore quality of life and stem neuropathy's progression.

"Without appropriate diagnostic tools,
neuropathy patients face years of
misdiagnosis and possible
mistreatment while irreparable
nerve damage continues."

Peripheral neuropathy, or “peripheral nerve damage,” impacts well over 20 million Americans (at least 1 in 15), making it one of the most common chronic diseases and a leading cause of adult disability. Neuropathy disrupts the body’s ability to communicate with its muscles, organs, and tissues. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), a hereditary group of neurodegenerative conditions degrading the nerves in the hands, arms, feet, and legs with crippling results, usually begins in childhood and impacts over 150,000 Americans.

Of the over 100 known types of neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy represents over a third of all neuropathies, making diabetes the leading cause. A third of neuropathies are “idiopathic” (unknown cause). Other neuropathies include hereditary, autoimmune-related, cancer or chemotherapy-related, entrapment or trauma-related, and neuropathies due to causes such as toxin-induced, nutritional deficiencies, gastro-intestinal disorders, metabolic diseases, or infectious diseases (including Lyme and HIV/AIDS).

Despite neuropathy’s prevalence, lack of awareness and a greater understanding of neuropathy’s complexities by the public as well as health care practitioners cause most patients to encounter time delays and a high probability of misdiagnosis and mistreatment before reaching a confirmed neuropathy diagnosis. A 2012 poll by The Neuropathy Association showed patients face a timeline between symptom onset and actual diagnosis lasting five or more years for almost a third (29.4.5%) of patients polled, a period of time during which irreparable nerve damage continued and access to appropriate care was impeded.

Because there are no cures, accurate diagnosis guides treatment path by assessing causes and nerve involvement; early diagnosis may be preventative. Needle electromyography tests (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) are neuropathy’s primary diagnostic tools, which can lead to genetic testing especially in cases of CMT. However, beginning January 1, 2013, Medicare reimbursement payments to physicians for EMGs and nerve conduction studies (NCS) were severely reduced by 30%-70%.

“This current diagnostic environment is a crisis unlike any we have ever known before—and is about to get worse,” shares Tina Tockarshewsky, president and CEO of The Neuropathy Association. “Neuromuscular physicians are specialists who are trained in diseases like the peripheral neuropathies. As a result of the recent Medicare cuts, The Neuropathy Association is hearing that neuromuscular physicians—specialists who work with neuropathy patients—are facing difficulties in practicing neuromuscular medicine, and have begun to stop seeing Medicare patients”

“Without increasing awareness and removing impediments to care, early diagnoses will be reduced and misdiagnoses will increase,” concurs Allison Moore, CEO of the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation. “Most health care practitioners do not have a basic understanding of the scope of the neuropathies, the diagnostic tools available, and the treatment protocols dependent on the type of neuropathy. Although it took years for me to get the diagnosis of CMT, once I did, it changed my own path of care—and, it enabled me to get appropriate testing done early for my own children to promote their health and well-being.”

May 13 - 17 is the ninth annual Neuropathy Awareness Week, an event launched by The Neuropathy Association to promote greater attention to and prevention of this growing national epidemic. With early diagnosis, neuropathy can often be controlled and quality of life restored. If ignored, symptoms can intensify to loss of sensation, weakness, unremitting pain, and/or disability.

About The Neuropathy Association

Founded in 1995, The Neuropathy Association is the leading national nonprofit organization providing neuropathy patient support, education, advocacy, and the promotion of research into the causes of and cures for all forms of peripheral neuropathy through its nationwide network of members, regional chapters, 15 medical Centers of Excellence, and 150 patient support groups. For more information, visit http://www.neuropathy.org.

About the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation

Founded in 2001, the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation is the leading national organization dedicated to finding treatments that will halt, reverse and cure Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) through their Therapeutic Research in Accelerated Discovery (TRIAD) program, an innovative model that brings together academia, government, and industry. The collaborative translational model ensures the sharing of information among hand-picked partners that have one goal in mind: cure CMT. For more information, visit http://www.hnf-cure.org or our Facebook page.

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