Diet and regular soft drinks linked to increase in risk factors for heart disease

Diet and regular soft drinks linked to increase in risk factors for heart disease

Published on Wednesday, August 01, 2007
by Healthy News Service

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DALLAS, July 24 — Drinking more than one soft drink daily — whether it’s regular or diet — may be associated with an increase in the risk factors for heart disease, Framingham researchers reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

“We were struck by the fact that it didn’t matter whether it was a diet or regular soda that participants consumed, the association with increased risk was present,” said Ramachandran Vasan, M.D., senior author of the Framingham Heart Study and professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. “In those who drink one or more soft drinks daily, there was an association of an increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.”

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors including excess waist circumference, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL “good” cholesterol) and high fasting glucose levels. The presence of three or more of the factors increases a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Prior studies linked soft drink consumption to multiple risk factors for heart disease. However, this study showed that association not only included drinking regular calorie-laden soft drinks, but artificially sweetened diet sodas as well, researchers said.

“Moderation in anything is the key,” said Ravi Dhingra, M.D., lead author of the study and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School. “If you are drinking one or more soft drinks a day, you may be increasing your risk of developing metabolic risk factors for heart disease.”

The Framingham study included nearly 9,000 person observations made in middle-aged men and women over four years at three different times.

In a “snapshot in time” at baseline, the researchers found that individuals consuming one or more soft drinks a day had a 48 percent increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome compared to those consuming less than one soft drink daily.

In a longitudinal study of participants who were free of metabolic syndrome at baseline (6,039 person observations), consumption of one or more soft drinks a day was associated with a 44 percent higher risk of developing new-onset metabolic syndrome during a follow-up period of four years.

The researchers also observed that compared to participants who drank less than one soft drink daily, those who drank one or more soft drinks a day had a:

• 31 percent greater risk of developing new-onset obesity (defined as a body mass index [BMI] of 30 kilograms/meter² or more);
• 30 percent increased risk of developing increased waist circumference;
• 25 percent increased risk of developing high blood triglycerides or high fasting blood glucose;
• 32 percent higher risk of having low HDL levels.
• A trend towards an increased risk of developing high blood pressure that was not statistically significant.

Researchers then analyzed a smaller sample of participants on whom data on regular and diet soft drink consumption was available from food frequency questionnaires. Participants who consumed one or more drinks of diet or regular soda per day had a 50 to 60 percent increased risk for developing new-onset metabolic syndrome, said Dhingra, who is also an attending physician at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in New Hampshire. “It didn’t matter whether it was a diet or regular soft drink.”

“Results also don’t appear to be driven by the dietary pattern of soft drink users, i.e, by other food items that are typically consumed along with soft drinks,” Vasan said. “We adjusted in our analyses for saturated fat and trans fat intake, dietary fiber consumption, total caloric intake, smoking and physical activity, and still observed a significant association of soft drink consumption and risk of developing the metabolic syndrome and multiple metabolic risk factors.”

One explanation is that the fructose corn syrup in regular soft drinks causes weight gain, and can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes, Vasan said. “But then you would expect to see an association with regular soft drinks, but not diet soft drinks. Our findings suggest that this is not the case.”

Another possible explanation is that consuming more liquids is associated with a lesser degree of dietary compensation. Usually if you eat a large meal, then you’re inclined to eat a smaller amount at the next meal, Vasan said. But liquids don’t have the same degree of compensation as solids. If you drink a large amount of liquids at a meal, you are more likely to eat a larger amount at the next meal (compared to what you would eat had you consumed more solids at the prior meal).

Other theories are that the high sweetness of diet and regular soft drinks makes a person more prone to eat sweet items, or the caramel content in soft drinks may promote development of advanced glycation end products, complexes of sugars that can result in insulin resistance and can cause inflammation in experimental studies.

“These are all theories, and experts debate their importance,” Dhingra said. “Our study was observational, and so right now all we demonstrate is an association. We have not proven causality.”

Dhingra and Vasan called for further studies to replicate the results and to understand the mechanisms driving this association before recommendations can be made.

Other researchers included Thomas J. Wang, M.D.; Caroline S. Fox, M.D.; Lisa Sullivan, Ph.D.; Ralph B. D’Agostino, Ph.D.; James B. Meigs, M.D., M.P.H.; J. Michael Gaziano, M.D., M.P.H. and Paul F. Jacques, Ph.D.

Editor’s Note: For a free brochure about the American Heart Association’s diet and nutrition recommendations called “Making Healthy Food and Lifestyle Choices: Our Guide for American Adults,” call 1-800-AHA-USA1.

Statements and conclusions of study authors that are published in the American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The American Heart Association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.

Cardiovascular Disease: Citrus Pectin Helps Unclog Your Arteries

Cardiovascular Disease: Citrus Pectin Helps Unclog Your Arteries

Cardiovascular disease can be deadly. Heart Disease is one of the top killers in the U.S.

Heart disease develops over time and most people are only aware of it once they start having problems. Behind the scenes, the arteries, veins and blood vessels have been clogging up. Once clogged up, it can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

Did you know that there is an easy, inexpensive way to aid heart health and help unclog your arteries? You may have heard of Chelation, but this is not Chelation. This is a supplement that almost any one can take.

Dr. James Cerda of the University of Florida developed a white Fruit based powder, which is used to unclog your arteries. He started research way back in 1973. Dr. Cerda found that grapefruit pectin, Which can be found just inside the peel, was just as effective as taking the leading prescription medicine of the time.

The natural compounds in the pectin unclog the obstructions in the blood vessels that can trigger the stroke or heart attack.

Don't confuse citrus pectin with modified citrus pectin such as
GNC Natural Brand Modified Citrus Pectin. When modified, It is being used as a nutritional supplement in the diet of some with cancer.

You may want to consider adding citrus pectin to your diet for heart health. Suggested usage on the bottle is one teaspoon daily. Since I do muscle testing, (applied kinesiology) I find that people need more than that suggested amount. I test that one tablespoon twice a day for three months will help most people with their artery health and provide more of the fiber we all need each day.

Start fighting Cardiovascular disease naturally. Grapefruit pectin can be found at most health food stores.

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© 2001 by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac, EFT-CC. She publishes Healthy Living newsletter. Get your health tips started today.

Depression help the natural way

Depression help the natural way

A Natural Answer To The Global Epidemic Of Depression

A World Health Organization report in 2001 identified depression as the No.1 cause of disability in the US and the third biggest, behind heart disease and strokes, in Europe.

Have you ever had the two or more of the following feelings for more than a couple of weeks?

• Bad mood for most of the day, more days than not
• poor appetite or overeating
• insomnia or sleeping too much
• low energy or fatigue
• low self-esteem
• poor concentration or difficulty making decisions
• feelings of hopelessness, helplessness
• feel hollow or empty

Two or more of these symptoms together could be an indicator of depression.

Although our own feelings and beliefs about things can cause depression, depression can also be caused by an imbalance in brain chemistry.

Today let us talk about an inbalanced chemistry caused by nutritional deficiencies.

Depression Help And The Food Connection

Sometimes something as simple as changing the diet can help with depression. Here is an easy way to see if a change of diet can assist an imbalance in Brain chemistry, which can be the cause of depression. Agree with yourself to do this for a month:

Water can make a difference

For the next month, drink plenty of water and leave out all soft drinks, diet drinks, colored and flavored drinks from your diet. These have chemicals that can adversely affect your brain chemistry. Out of balance brain chemistry can lead to depression.

I suggest drinking one quart of water for every 50 pounds of weight. So if you weigh 150 pounds, that would be three quarts of water a day.

The brain needs to be hydrated to work at optimal level. As a health consultant I see people who only have a glass or so of water a day. Your body and your brain cannot function very well with dehydration going on. Your nervous system is a conductor of electricity and nerve impulses. Water is an electrical conductor. Drinking enough water can help with depression.

Cut way back on Chemicals and Preservatives

Most snack food contains a tremendous amount of chemicals and preservatives. Things such as Nitrites, Nitrates, MSG, and sulfites.Also Splenda®,also known as Sucralose. These can cause their own chemical reactions in the brain, which can be far less than beneficial. Cut the chemicals out of your diet. Depression can often be helped with kicking the chemicals in your diet.

To cut out the chemicals and preservatives means going back to food in its natural state. Skip the pre-packaged and pre-prepared foods as much as possible.

Eat more Vegetables and Fruit To Help With Depression

When I do Nutritional Counseling, I run into a good number of people now who eat very little vegetables or fruit. These are your prime source for minerals and vitamins. Minerals are extremely important for nerve and brain balance.

Fruits and vegetables contain the minerals, vitamins, enzymes and phytochemicals that our body needs everyday to create health. I can tell you for sure that you will not be healthy without eating your vegetables. Mom was right!

You will get the most minerals, vitamins and enzymes out of your raw foods. Cooking always diminishes these. Increase your vegetable consumption to about half of your meal in vegetables. If you are concerned about weight, do not eat many starchy vegetables. (those grown below ground).

In addition, a super food powder is often a good choice in a vitamin mineral supplement that will give you a good source of nutrition.

Depression Help - Start Eating Fish

Oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel, trout, tuna and salmon, contain Omega-3 fatty acids, vital for a healthy brain and nervous system. Eat fish often.

A survey commissioned by the British Trout Association, showed that one-fifth of the population eat no oily fish, rising to one-third of those aged 15 to 24. Most people eat half the amount they would have eaten 50 years ago.

Your brain cannot run at peak efficiency when it does not have the fatty acids it requires. So what to do if you do not eat much fish? Take a fish oil supplement. These can be found in capsules or flavored liquid at the health food store. I generally suggest fish oils be taken at a meal.

Don't Continue To Suffer With Depression!

The world is in the grip of a global epidemic of depression. Something as simple as deleting a few things from the diet and adding a few healthy foods, a couple supplements and water could make a world of difference.

Isn’t it worth it to have a healthy style of eating for a few weeks and see what it will do for you, helping your depression? If you see improvement in how you feel whether emotionally or physically then stick with it! . You will be happy that you did.

Please realize that whether you felt a lessoning of depression or not, you assisted your body in becoming healthier. If you do not see improvement, you may need additional detox and rebuilding strategies, which I will need to take up in an additional article.

Click Here To Learn About A Safe, Natural Program That Can Help You Conquer Stress, Depression And Anxiety ONCE AND FOR ALL

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Article written by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac. Jeannie shares health answers that work, tips, nutrition suggestions and research. Get your health newsletter started today.

Consuming Sodas Causes Osteoporosis in Teenagers

Consuming Sodas Causes Osteoporosis in Teenagers

Teenagers who drink a lot of soda have now been documented as being more prone to bone fractures and osteoporosis than those who do not drink much soda pop.

A questionnaire was given to 460 girls in the 9th and 10th grades, asking them about their diet and exercise habits, along with any history of fractures. The study results showed that girls who drank soft drinks were more than three times more likely to have a bone fracture. And physically active girls who drank Cola were nearly five times more likely to have had a bone fracture.

Studies have linked mineral loss before to Cola consumption, but finally some one thought to check out teenager's consumption and how it might affect them. The conclusion was that drinking soda pop causes osteoporosis in teenagers.

Between 40% to 60% of peak bone mass is built during the teenage years. Consumption of soft drinks affects both boys and girls. The acidic nature of the phosphoric acid in the drink causes the body to pull minerals such as calcium out of the bones to buffer the acid.

Many teens are very active in sports. Note how much more likely drinkers of the soft drinks were likely to have a bone fracture? Thirty to fifty percent!! Is your teenager in sports and drinking soft drinks? Colas?

I offer Nutritional work ups and mineral assays, using hair analysis. Teenagers I see in my practice today, more than ever before, are not eating many fruits and vegetables. These are needed to provide the minerals to build strong bones. Add to this the consumption of soda pop and these teenagers are setting themselves up for conditions such as osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones have become more porous and therefore more fragile and prone to breaking. It is thought to be a problem for older people, however this study shows that teenagers may be the newest group to suffer.

How does your teen score in soda consumption? How does (s)he score in eating plenty of green vegetables? Or other food choices such as yogurt, small amounts of cheese, Beans, Salmon and other things with high calcium/mineral content?

And how much water is (s)he drinking? Your teenager may not like water after drinking all the flavored and sugared soft drinks. However water consumption is vitally important for health and electical conductivity of the body.

As a health practioner, I suggest one quart of water for every 50 pounds of weight. So if your teenager weighs one hundred pounds, (s)he would need to drink two quarts of water a day. As an added incentive, tell them it will help clear up the bad skin problems.

Educate yourself and more importantly your teenager about the use of soft drinks and the consequences. Educate them about a better diet. This concept of how to eat better will last them a lifetime and build better health, wich they will notice more, the older they get.
Go here to learn more about healthier eating.

Remember, Prevention is the best measure! Help them to understand the importance of eating their fruits and vegetables and drinking purified water. This way, they may avoid osteoporisis.
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©Revised 2005

Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac. has worked with both people and pet's nutrition Learn more about what to do with health challenges today. Solutions, Tips, Research, Nutrition and products discussed in the Newsletter Healthy Living. To Subscribe visit her alternative health site.

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

Cancer Update from John Hopkins

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Please circulate to all you know; Cancer update

John Hopkins - Cancer News from John Hopkins

No plastic containers in micro

No water bottles in freezer.

No plastic wrap in microwave...

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers...

This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body...

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons...

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.

Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Magnets Can Strengthen Your Mind

Magnets Can Strengthen Your Mind

Tests in mice have shown that stimulating the brain with a magnetic coil appears to promote the growth of new neurons in areas associated with learning and memory.

If there is a similar effect in humans, it could lead to new ways of treating age-related memory decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) refers to the use of a magnetic coil to induce electric fields in the brain tissue, which activates or deactivates groups of neurons.

It's thought that this process, called long-term potentiation (LTP), may help to strengthen brain circuits, thereby aiding learning and memory. It has previously been used experimentally to treat a range of brain disorders, including depression and schizophrenia, and to rehabilitate people after a stroke.

In the latest experiment, mice were given TMS for five days, after which their brains were analyzed for evidence of cell proliferation. Proliferation was enhanced in all areas of the brain tested, and there were large increases in the proliferation of stem cells in the dentate gyrus hippocampus. These cells are believed to play a crucial role in memory and mood regulation.

NewScientist.com May 24, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Magnet therapy is very exciting, and I have been intrigued with it for some time. While it rarely treats the cause of the problem, it certainly is far less dangerous than using drugs and, used wisely, is typically without side effects.

This is one type of therapy I would encourage you to consider and be sensitive to what future studies show that further document its efficacy and indications.

But beware because FDA regulations render it illegal to market any magnet therapy product that claims to treat any "significant" condition such as cancer, HIV, AIDS, asthma, arthritis, or rheumatism. So you will have to add the pieces together yourself because anyone who seeks to sell them to you will be clamped down by the FDA, as we all know that the primary purpose of the FDA is to "protect you."

Nevertheless, I've previously written about magnets to help with depression and even recently to avoid shark attacks, but now researchers have uncovered another potential: warding off Alzheimer's disease and age-related mental decline.

As the population continues to age, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease is expected to increase some 70 percent.

We are in the midst of an Alzheimer's epidemic. About 4.5 million people are affected today, and it is estimated that this number will increase to 7.7 million by 2030. Experts are calling this great increase in Alzheimer's cases a "looming public health disaster" that could potentially turn into an unmanageable health care crisis. So any potential cure deserves attention.

However, while this type of magnet therapy sounds promising, the best option when it comes to Alzheimer's and mental decline is to avoid it entirely. Mental decline is NOT a normal part of aging, and you can help protect your brain and mind by:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising
• Challenging yourself
• Avoiding toxins like mercury and aluminum

Related Articles:

Depressed? Magnets Might Help

Vitamin D and Brain Development (PDF)

Antidepressants Promote Brain Cell Growth

Drink Soda and Damage Your DNA

Drink Soda and Damage Your DNA

Research from a British university suggests that sodium benzoate, a common preservative found in many soft drinks, has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.

This could eventually lead to diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson's.

When a UK professor of molecular biology and biotechnology tested the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells, he discovered that it was damaging important DNA in the cells' mitochondria.

Mitochondria serve as the "power stations" for cells, and damage to them can lead to serious cell malfunctions associated with aging and age-related disease. The damage caused by sodium benzoate was great enough to cause the mitochondria to stop functioning.

Sodium benzoate occurs naturally in berries in small amounts, but is used in large quantities to prevent mold in soft drinks such as Sprite, Diet Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dr Pepper. It is also added to pickles and sauces.

The Independent May 27, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I am still shocked every time I reflect on the fact that the number one source of calories in America comes from soda. To me it is an absolutely mind-boggling fact. Of course, all I have to do to knock my senses back to reality is go to a standard grocery store on a busy weekend and see what people are stuffing in their shopping carts.

We clearly have a long way to go to share even the most fundamental, basic nutrition concepts to the typical highly deceived and manipulated consumer. This new danger from sodium benzoate is simply one among many, as sodas are among the worst possible "foods" you can consume.

Professor Peter Piper, the UK expert who discovered the problem, says that the soft drink preservative can "totally inactivate" and "knock out" cells' mitochondria. The end result is an increased risk of a slew of diseases.

Sodium benzoate has previously also come under fire because, when combined with the vitamin C in many soft drinks, it forms benzene, a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia. In one study, at least five brands of soft drinks were found to contain excessive benzene levels.

Sodium benzoate is used freely in the United States and the UK. Fortunately, you can protect your health from this dangerous substance by not drinking soda (and not allowing your kids to either).

This is one of the easiest -- and most significant -- things you can do for your health; and aside from the good news that you won't have to worry about damaging your DNA, giving up soda (if you drink it) can reduce your risk of diabetes, obesity, and cancer. If you struggle with an addiction to soda, I strongly recommend you consider Turbo Tapping as a simple yet highly effective tool to help you stop this health-sucking habit.

So put down the can of soda, and pick up a glass of clean water instead.

Related Articles:

The Amazing Statistics and Dangers of Soda Pop

Soda Causing Nutritional Deficiencies in Children

One Soda a Day Increases Diabetes Risk 85 Percent