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Does Sugar Make You Stupid?

2012-05-16T15:52:45Z

If you can’t get through the day without a can of fizz, two sugars in your tea or a junk food binge, you are not only ruining your waistline - you could be dumbing down your brain, too.

A team of scientists from the University of California discovered that the brains of people who eat large amounts of sugar for as little as six weeks, could experience a sharp decline in learning and memory ability as a result.

Researchers came to this conclusion after giving lab rats a high-fructose corn syrup solution in place of drinking water for six weeks.

Fructose corn syrup is commonly found in fizzy drinks and processed junk foods and is an artificial type of fructose found naturally in fruit.

Prior to the study, the rats were fed a standard diet and trained to complete complex mazes twice a day for five days. After six weeks of being fed the high-fructose solution, researchers noticed a significant reduction in the rats’ ability to navigate through the maze.

"Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think," lead researcher Fernando Gomez-Pinilla said in a statement. "Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information.”

Gomez-Pinilla believes that insulin - the hormone that is central to regulating carbohydrates and fat metabolism in the body - is key to these findings.

"Insulin is important in the body for controlling blood sugar, but it may play a different role in the brain, where insulin appears to disturb memory and learning," explains Gomez-Pinilla.

"Our study shows that a high-fructose diet harms the brain as well as the body. This is something new."

In contrast, another group of lab rats were fed a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which help protect against damage to the brain’s synapses (the structure that allows neurons to communicate with the brain).

Researchers discovered these rats navigated their way through the mazes much faster than those on a high-fructose diet.

SEE ALSO: Is Sugar Toxic? Scientist Claims Fructose Is Just As Dangerous As Poison

"The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity. Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats' ability to think clearly and recall the route they'd learned six weeks earlier,” explained Gomez-Pinilla.

In short, researchers believe that if you have a high-sugar diet, derived mainly from processed food – the damage can be reversed if you swap fructose with foods high in omega-3.

"Our findings suggest that consuming DHA regularly protects the brain against fructose's harmful effects," said Gomez-Pinilla. "It's like saving money in the bank. You want to build a reserve for your brain to tap when it requires extra fuel to fight off future diseases."

Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, walnuts, sardines, tuna, tofu and soybeans.

Brush Up Your Work

2012-05-16T13:59:53Z

Swedish people might be good girls and boys who brush their teeth each day, but according to new research, only one in 10 are doing it in a way that effectively prevents tooth decay.

In two separate studies, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg recently discovered that Swedes need to brush up on their technique.

Most Swedes regularly brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. But only a few know the best brushing technique, how the toothpaste should be used and that fluoride prevents tooth decay, reported Pia Gabre and her colleagues.

After studying the toothbrushing habits of 2013 Swedes aged between 15 and 80, the team determined there were fundamental flaws in brushing times, regularity and the amount of fluoride toothpaste used.

"Swedes generally do brush their teeth, but mostly because of social norms and to feel fresh rather than to prevent tooth decay," said Gabre in a statement.

Scroll Down To Find Out How To Brush Your Teeth Properly

Swedes could improve their oral health considerably by learning how to maximise the effect of fluoride toothpaste, according to Gabre.

Yet the study shows that 80% of volunteers were generally happy with how they take care of their teeth.

"Most of the interviewed subjects learned to brush their teeth as children, by their parents. Even if they have been informed about more effective techniques later in life, they continue to brush their teeth like they always have," said Gabre.

Yesterday, the British Dental Health Foundation launched the UK's largest annual oral health campaign - National Smile Month to help combat similar issues.

Dr Uchenna Okoye, Oral-B dental director, told Huffpost Lifestyle: ‘‘In Britain, we have seen dramatic improvements in the state of our teeth, but research shows that as a nation we still have poor brushing habits. It is hard to break bad habits and people don’t like to change the way they brush.”

Despite ongoing education in Britain, new research by Oral-B has exposed the nation’s bad brushing habits.

Over 75% of Brits are currently not using the right brushing technique, which may result in plaque build-up and tooth and gum decay. And according to their research, 35 to 44-year-olds are the worst offenders when it comes to brushing.

Dr Carter of National Smile Month said: "Getting people to talk and think about their teeth and dental habits is vital to our goal of improving the state of oral health not only in the UK but worldwide.

"The impact of poor oral hygiene is often underestimated and someone's poor oral health can be a pre-cursor to a number of serious health issues such as stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes and low birth weight babies.

“National Smile Month is about encouraging people to take better care of their smile and ultimately their general health.”

Do Educated People Live Longer?

2012-05-16T13:10:08Z

If you struggle to lose yourself in your studies, this might help motivate you – people who are more educated ‘live longer’ claim a team of Swedish researchers.

According to scientists from the Centre of Health Equity Studies and the Swedish Institute for Social Research, people who are educated for at least nine years have a lower mortality rate after the age of 40 than those who study for eight years or less.

The research, based on the study results of 1.2 million Swedish people, found a link between education and life expectancy. They discovered that those exposed to an additional year of education adopted a more positive outlook on life during their ninth year of education, meaning they were more likely to look after their health and wellbeing.

“If your life is a little better, you take a little better care of yourself,” explains lead researcher Anton Lager in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, as reported by HealthDay.

“If you make a little more income, have a job with a little more flexibility, more control of time, then maybe you use less tobacco and alcohol," says Lager.

The researchers looked at data from 1949 to 2007, and discovered that people who received nine years of education as opposed to eight years and under, were less likely to die from all types of cancer (particularly lung cancer) and accidents.

Women with nine years of education behind them were less likely to die from heart disease.

Can Lizard Saliva Combat Junk Food Cravings?

2012-05-16T11:41:18Z

If you find yourself irresistibly drawn to the vending machine after daydreaming about that bar of chocolate, you may soon be able to pop a pill that’ll make your junk food craving disappear – the only downside is it could contain lizard spit.

A team of researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg discovered that reptile saliva from the Gila monster lizard could help combat food cravings in humans, after testing its power during a series of taste tests on rats.

Scientists created a drug called Exenatide, which contains a natural compound called exendin-4 that is found in the saliva of the scaly Gila lizard.

The lab rats showed a reduction in food cravings after being given the pill, which could be due to the exendin-4 in saliva affecting the reward and motivation regions of the brain, says assistant professor Karolina Skibicka.

It's also believed that it is able to control blood sugar levels, too.

"This is both unknown and quite unexpected effect," professor Skibicka said in statement. “Our decision to eat is linked to the same mechanisms in the brain which control addictive behaviours.”

SEE ALSO
The Psychology Behind Your Junk Food Cravings

Does Eating Too Fast Trigger Diabetes?

Are You A Pleasure Eater?

Researchers are hopeful that this drug could help treat those with eating disorders, type 2 diabetes and even alcohol cravings.

"It is the same brain regions which are involved in food cravings and alcohol cravings, so it would be very interesting to test whether exendin-4 also reduces the cravings for alcohol," adds professor Skibicka.

Doreen Virtue, author of Constant Craving added that this pill could help keep people on track with their diet.

"Overwhelming food cravings are the culprit behind every broken diet and dietary-related disease," Virtue told HuffPost Lifestyle.

If you don't fancy popping a lizard saliva pill, find out other ways you can battle the food cravings...

Want to see the Gila monster lizard up close? Watch this...

Cycling Is Not Good For Your Lady Parts

2012-05-16T11:12:24Z

Cycling may be good for a woman’s health – but it is less so for her sex life. Women who spend a lot of time in the saddle can experience decreased genital sensation, a study by Yale has found.

Published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, the paper found women whose handlebars are lower than the saddle were especially at risk, as the position results in increased pressure on the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the genitalia.

“Modifying bicycle setup may help alleviate neuropathies (nerve damage) in females,” the authors recommended.

The study involved 48 cyclists who rode at least 10 miles a week and measured genital sensation, perineal and total saddle pressures using specialised equipment.

Participants were asked to ride their own cycles whilst mounted on a stand, the New York Daily News reported. They were then asked if they had experience “soreness, tingling and other sensations” in their pelvic regions.

It builds on previous research by Yale published in 2006 that found female cyclists had less genital sensation than female runners.

In 2009 a paper published by Professor Diana Vaamonde, from the University of Cordoba Medical School, Spain, said male triathletes who did the most cycling training had the worst sperm morphology.

As Medical Daily points out, cycling has also been linked to numbness of genitalia and erectile dysfunction in males, especially if the handlebars to the bike are parallel or higher than the saddle

Nice U-turn On Life-Extending Prostate Cancer Pill

2012-05-16T08:42:50Z

A drug to treat advanced prostate cancer should be given to patients on the NHS, a health watchdog has said.

Abirateron, marketed as Zytiga, can extend the lives of late-stage cancer sufferers by more than three months.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) revised its recommendations after fresh information from manufacturer Janssen, and the new draft guidance was welcomed by experts.

Professor Alan Ashworth, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, said: "We are delighted by today's decision to allow patients with advanced prostate cancer to receive abiraterone on the NHS.

"This drug was discovered at the Institute of Cancer Research and is the result of more than two decades of dedicated work by our scientists and collaborators.

"In clinical trials of men with advanced prostate cancer who have already tried chemotherapy, it has been shown to extend life by an average of four months and improve quality of life."

Each year around 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 10,000 die from the disease. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in men, accounting for 13%.

See Also
Record Low Number Of 50-Year-Olds Dying Of Cancer

10-Year-Old Girl Has 3kg Tumour Removed

Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice, said: "During the consultation on the draft guidance Janssen, the manufacturer of the drug, submitted further information for the committee to consider.

"This included a revised patient access scheme which involves providing the drug to the NHS at a discounted price, further information on which patients would benefit most and clarification on how many patients could receive the drug.

"These factors enabled the committee to revise its preliminary recommendation and now recommend the drug for use on the NHS.

"We are very pleased that Janssen's submission to our consultation means that we are able to produce draft guidance recommending abiraterone - it is an effective treatment, potentially extending life by more than three months, and it also allows patients to be treated at home as it can be taken orally."

As Nice has not issued final guidance there is a chance the decision could be appealed against, and NHS bodies should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments.

Nice recommended the use of abiraterone in combination with prednisone or prednisolone for the treatment of castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer that has progressed after one docetaxel-containing therapy.

The Prostate Cancer Charity also welcomed the recommendation, but called for the guidance to be issued across the whole of the UK - including Scotland - because Nice covers just England and Wales.

Owen Sharp, chief executive of the charity said: "This announcement represents a resounding triumph for each of the thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer in England and Wales who know just how much the prospect of precious extra time with their loved ones really means.

"We are delighted that Nice has overturned its earlier decision after reviewing the evidence. We are also pleased that the manufacturer responded to our call to deliver a further reduction in price.

"Although today marks a very welcome advancement, it has to be remembered that abiraterone remains out of reach to men in Scotland on the NHS.

"We need to see every man who needs this drug receive it on the NHS, regardless of where they live in the UK."

Slap 'Fat Tax' On Junk Food, Say Experts

2012-05-15T16:06:00Z

Britain would need to put a 20% "fat tax" on unhealthy food and drink to improve the numbers of people suffering diet-related conditions such as obesity and heart disease, medical experts warn.

Such a move should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables, say experts on bmj.com today.

Dr Oliver Mytton and colleagues at the University of Oxford released their findings ahead of the 65th World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 21 to May 26, where prevention and control of non-communicable diseases will be key issues for discussion.

The group said evidence suggests taxing a wide range of unhealthy foods is likely to result in greater health benefits than "narrow taxes" - although the strongest evidence related to taxing sugary drinks.

They said one American study found a 35% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in a canteen led to a 26% decline in sales.

Studies extending VAT on unhealthy foods in the UK could cut up to 2,700 heart disease deaths a year, the researchers said.

Why Make-up Could Affect A Man's Sperm Count

2012-05-15T15:51:23Z

Men's sperm count could be reduced by exposure to chemicals in the environment, according to research.

A rise in IVF treatments could be down to the effect of chemicals such as cosmetics, detergents and pollutants.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with academics in Edinburgh, the James Hutton Institute, the University of Aberdeen and INRA in France, think the chemicals affect a certain subset of men.

The researchers looked at the testicles of sheep that had been exposed to a range of chemicals that humans encounter in everyday life. They found abnormalities that could result in low sperm counts in the testicles of 42% of the animals.

The changes were not the same in all affected individuals and they were not obvious from the size of the testicles or from the concentration of male hormones in the blood.

The year-long experiment saw 12 sheep grazed on land that had solid human waste applied to it. The animals' mothers were also grazed there, meaning the sheep were exposed throughout their life cycle.

The treatment was at a low concentration and in line with regulations.

Twelve control sheep also took part in the experiment.

The animals were then euthanised and their testicles examined.

Three sheep had smaller testes than normal, with a reduction in the number of sperm-producing germ cells found in the tissue of the testes. Two other sheep's testes looked normal but also showed the same reduced germ cells.

Professor Neil Evans, from the University of Glasgow, said it was unclear why five of the sheep were affected and the others were not. He said it could be because of genetic factors or because of the way they had been exposed to the chemicals.

He said: "These findings emphasise that even when the concentration of single chemicals in the environment may be very low, it is hard to predict what the health effects are when an individual is exposed to a mixture of chemicals.

"This finding adds to previous work conducted by this group that has shown effects on male and female reproductive organs, and some of the systems within the body that regulate reproduction, in young animals born to mothers exposed to this environmentally relevant mixture of chemicals."

The results could suggest that a rise in the need for in-vitro fertilisation in humans is due to exposure to chemicals in our environment, the team said.

Figures released last year showed a 5.9% rise in IVF treatments between 2009 and 2010, with 45,264 women being treated with either IVF or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The research, published in the International Journal of Andrology, was funded by University of Aberdeen-coordinated grants from the Wellcome Trust and the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme.

Jessica Alba Felt 'Objectified' As A Sex Symbol

2012-05-15T15:35:54Z

Jessica Alba has posed in plenty of glamorous photo shoots, but the movie star has stunned fans by revealing that she felt "objectified" earlier in her career.

The 31-year-old U.S actress, who’s appeared in blockbusters such as Sin City and Fantastic Four, told Marie Claire: “I had a show [Fox’s Dark Angel] that premiered when I was 19. And right away, everyone formed a strong opinion about me because of the way I was marketed.

“I was supposed to be sexy, this tough action girl. That’s what people expected…I felt like I was being objectified, and it made me uncomfortable. I wanted to be chic and elegant!”

The movie star said that these days she dresses for herself

These days, she’s much more content to blend in.

She told the magazine: “I like to get positive attention. But if I have a choice between someone noticing in a negative way what I’m wearing and going, What was she thinking? or someone not noticing what I’m wearing, I would rather not make a statement at all and just have a good conversation instead.”

When Ms Alba does dress up, she explained that she does it for herself, not any male admirers.

Jessica Alba has said she used to feel objectified

She added: “Now that I’m older, I’ve learned how to own it, but I’m still not very overt. There are some women who dress for men. I dress for myself.

"It took me some time to get here. Being a mom and feeling grown-up have helped. Now if I’m going to wear something short, it has to have a high neck or a little sci-fi toughness to it, an edge.”

Jessica Alba appears on the cover of the June issue of Marie Claire, which hits newsstands on Tuesday, May 22nd.

People 'Assume' Behaviours Of Fictional Characters, Say Experts

2012-05-15T14:28:43Z

After reading a few pages of Jane Austen, I often find myself craving cups of tea, making a mental note to enquire about my neighbour's health and worrying about the women I know who aren't married.

And that’s because I'm experiencing what a team of psychologists at Ohio State University call ‘experience taking’ - brought on by reading.

In their study, researchers found that readers of literature (particularly first-person) begin spontaneously assuming the thoughts, behaviours, goal and traits of fictional characters, as if they are their own.

Days before the 2008 presidential election in the United Stares, 82 student were asked to read one of four versions of a short story about a person trying to vote and enduring a number of obstacles (such as rain, queues, or car breakdowns), reports Wired.

Some versions were written in the first-person, others in the third-person, and occasionally the voter was also attending the same university as the participants in the study. After finishing the story, the readers were asked to complete a questionnaire.

As Medical Daily reported, the results showed that participants who read a story told in first-person, about a student at their own university, had the highest level of ‘experience-taking’.

Days later, the volunteers were polled on their election day activity.

Almost two thirds (65%) of those who read a story about a student at their own university voted, in comparison to 29% who read the alternate version.

The research also highlighted how ‘experience taking’ could influence social attitudes.

In stories where the central character identified themselves as gay early on, readers were less likely to identify with them.

As lead researcher, Geoff Kaufman, explained to Wired: "If people identified with the character before they knew he was gay, if they went through experience-taking, they had more positive views - the readers accepted that this character was like them."

"Experience-taking changes us by allowing us to merge our own lives with those of the characters we read about, which can lead to good outcomes."

The findings, Wired suggest, could be used to increase election turnout and even address homophobia and racism.

Olympics 2012: 'Thick Of It' Style Video To Help Commuters

2012-05-15T12:32:04Z

"Re-mode, reduce and re-time". That's the catchy phrase used by Transport Secretary Justine Greening to describe how we need to change our commuter behaviour ahead of the Olympics - aka Operation Step Change.

And as The Spectator nicely points out the Department Of Transport video has a 'The Thick Of It' quality.

Particularly when Francis Maude MP suggests, vaguely, that... erm... civil servants could work 'a bit more at home sometimes'. A ringing endorsement for the progressive working arrangements at Westminister already in place?

10-Year-Old Girl Has Football-Sized Tumour Removed

2012-05-15T11:52:30Z

When Tara Mann took her daughter Eliana, now 10 years old, to her local GP, the young girl was promptly sent to have further tests, which revealed a massive benign tumour in her stomach, reports the BBC.

Three years ago, Eliana's parents were concerned their daughter was not growing properly (her feet had not grown for a couple of years), not eating well and tired all the time. In addition, her dad, Paul, had noticed her tummy felt quite hard.

In BBC2 documentary series Great Ormond Street, airing on Tuesday, May 15 at 9pm, the parents describe how Eliana's life has since been transformed by an operation to remove a tumour that was "absolutely enormous" and "took up 50% of her abdomen".

Mum, Tara, told the BBC that if the young girl hadn't had the tumour removed it would have continued to grow, and killed her daughter "just by its size".

"We didn't really have much option - it was a life-saving operation," she explained.

Although Eliana's like a "new girl" now, according to her mum, the operation was a real risk - as there was a one in 10 chance of surgeons not being able to remove the tumour.

During the nine hour-operation, several pieces of tumour were removed - including one that weighed in at more than 3kg and was the size of a small football.

Luckily, the operation was a success, but Eliana - who has since put on weight and gained energy - still needs scans every three months to see if the tumour has returned.

Academies Making Money Out Of Selling Banned Junk Food To Students

2012-05-15T11:23:13Z

Academies are making money out of selling junk food which the government has banned in other schools, it has been claimed.

An independent study published by the School Food Trust (SFT) charity reveals a quarter of academies are selling crisps and savoury snacks while one in six is selling confectionary. One third of the academies described school catering as a "burden", according the SFT.

The academies selling the junk food are making as much as £15,000 a year, while state-maintained schools were given a blanket ban on offering children the food in 2006.

According to Department for Education legislation, academies and free schools do not have to follow the national school meal standards education.

The SFT said its research showed a "mixed picture" for food in academies - something which will no doubt come as an embarrassment to Michael Gove, who has been accused of "forcing" schools to convert to academy status.

Public health nutritionist Dr Michael Nelson, said: "What concerns me here is the inconsistency. On the one hand we still have some academies doing a great job; on the other we have some academies telling us that they are selling confectionary and crisps – which don’t provide any nutritional benefit to children and are ruled out under the national school food standards – and that they are choosing not to follow the standards."

Foods banned under the national school meal standards legislation include:

Burgers and sausages
Sweets including chewing gum, toffees and mints
Chocolate and chocolate biscuits
Snacks such as crisps, chips, onion rings and rice crackers

More than half of the 100 academies questioned admitted selling cereal bars - which are banned due to the high sugar content, while more than 75% are selling soft drinks or squash.

SFT chairman Rob Rees, said: "If we want schools to be places where children’s minds and bodies are nourished; if we want children to be fuelled to meet their potential in class and to grow into healthier adults, the standards should be the minimum we expect for food in all schools. Otherwise, we’re failing today’s generation and the next on one of the real basics for giving them the best start we can."

A spokesperson for the DfE dodged the claims, saying: "We trust teachers to do what is best for their pupils. Many academies go over and above the minimum requirements and are offering their pupils high quality, nutritional food.

"The School Food Trust's own research on all secondary school food shows that even with food standards in place, many maintained schools – far from being paragons of nutrition – are not meeting all the standards and are still offering cakes, biscuits, confectionery and noncompliant drinks to their pupils. Clearly there is room for improvement in all schools – maintained schools as well as academies."

Should People With ‘Grief’ Be Prescribed Prozac?

2012-05-15T10:46:33Z

Symptoms of grief could be diagnosed as depression, rather than as normal reactions, states an article on The Lancet.

In the past, the American Psychiatric Association has recommended the need to consider, and usually exclude, bereavement before diagnosis of a major depressive disorder - but in its forthcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there is no such exclusion for bereavement.

Deep sadness, loss, sleeplessness, crying inability to concentrate, tiredness and a loss of appetite, which continue for more than two weeks after the death of a loved one, are all symptoms that could be diagnosed as depression, rather than as normal reactions to grief, writes The Lancet.

The medical journal states: "Medicalising grief, so that treatment is legitimised routinely with antidepressants, for example, is not only dangerously simplistic, but also flawed. The evidence base for treating recently bereaved people with standard antidepressant regimens is absent. In many people, grief may be a necessary response to bereavement that should not be suppressed or eliminated."

Obama Makes Maternity Cover Central To Election Campaign

2012-05-15T09:49:18Z

President Obama’s announcement that ‘health plans will be required to cover maternity care’ during the first National Women’s Health Week in America is a positive step for millions of US women.

Until Obama’s Affordable Care Act, signed into law two years ago, many women were also forced to pay extra for access to recommended preventive services such as mammograms, cervical cancer screenings and contraception.

Women's health has emerged as such a major theme of the 2012 elections that President Barack Obama has dedicated a week-long celebration to it. The president proclaimed on Monday that May 13 through May 19, 2012, will now be known as National Women's Health Week, reports The Huffington Post.

See Also

Parenting: The Most Important Job You'll Ever Have

Gay Marriage Strengthens Families, Says Obama

In a statement, President Obama said: I have made advancing gender equality in health care a top priority. Through the historic Affordable Care Act, we are reversing many of the worst abuses of the health insurance industry."

From 2014, insurers will no longer be allowed to charge women higher premiums simply because of their gender, he states. It will also be illegal for most insurance companies to deny coverage to women because they have a pre-existing condition, including cancer or pregnancy.