Green Tea Significantly Reduces LDL (Bad Cholesterol)
July 31, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer Prevention, Catechins, HDL, LDL, Nutrition, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Statin Drugs, Statins, Tea, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, death, diet, green tea, health, heart attack, heart disease, mortality, stroke
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Dietary Fiber Significantly Reduces Risk of Death
July 5, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Dietary Fiber, Hypertension, Infection, Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrition, Respiratory Disease, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, death, diabetes, diet, health, heart disease, mortality, whole grains
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Vitamin D Decreases Diabetes Risk
June 1, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Metformin, Nutrition, UV, Vitamin D, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, diet, health, heart disease, hyperglycemia, obesity
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Mammograms Predict Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
February 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Mammograms, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, health, heart disease, stroke
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Beer May Prevent Heart and Arterial Disease (Atherosclerosis)
January 17, 2011 by admin
Filed under Atherosclerosis, Beer, Nutrition, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Weekly Health Update, alcohol, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, diet, flavonoids, health, heart disease, polyphenols, stroke
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Dietary Salt (Sodium) Increases Stomach Cancer Risk
January 9, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Hypertension, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, diet, health, salt, sodium, stomach cancer, stroke
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Hesperidin in Orange Juice Improves Hypertension and Arterial Function
December 25, 2010 by admin
Filed under Arterial Function, Hesperidin, Hypertension, Isoflavones, Nutrition, Soy, Tea, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, diet, flavonoids, green tea, health, heart disease, polyphenols
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Metformin, Diabetes and Death
December 13, 2010 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Kidney Disease, Metformin, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, death, diabetes, health, mortality
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
METFORMIN, DIABETES AND DEATH Metformin is a diabetes medication that is of great interest to me, and to other cancer specialists, because of intriguing research data suggesting that it may reduce the risk of cancer occurrence and cancer recurrence in people with diabetes. (Diabetes is, itself, a risk factor for certain types of cancer, including one of the most lethal of all cancers, pancreatic cancer.) Metformin has been shown to be particularly beneficial in reducing the risk of death due to the complications of diabetes in overweight and obese patients, who are especially prone to developing diabetes. However, there has been some concern regarding the potential safety of metformin in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, and so this first-line diabetes medication has not been extensively prescribed to diabetic patients with these diseases. (Somewhat ironically, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease are, themselves, known complications of diabetes.) For this reason, the clinical research study that I will be discussing in today’s column is especially important to the estimated 24 million patients in the United States, alone, who have diabetes, and to the hundreds of thousands of diabetic patients who have already developed cardiovascular disease and kidney disease in the US. This newly published study, which appears in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, reports on the results of the massive Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH) Study, which included 19,691 patients with documented diabetes. (The researchers involved in the REACH Study have been following this huge number of patient volunteers since they enlisted in the study between December 2003 and December 2004.) The findings of this very large prospective public health study validate the findings of smaller prior clinical studies. In this study, diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease were significantly less likely to die during the course of this study if they took metformin instead of other diabetes medications (or no diabetes medication at all). The patients in this study who took metformin were 24 percent less likely to die when compared to the diabetic patients who did not take metformin. Among patients with congestive heart failure, which has until recently has been considered a contraindication to taking metformin, the use of metformin was associated with a 31 percent reduction in death due to all causes. Moreover, patients with other health conditions that have previously thought to preclude diabetes treatment with metformin also appeared to benefit from metformin in this study. Diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease who were older than 65 years were 23 percent less likely to die if they took metformin, while patients with decreased kidney function (estimated creatinine clearance of 30 to 60 ml/minute) experienced a whopping 36 percent decrease in the risk of death if they took metformin. As this was an observational study (i.e., there were no randomized groups of patients, and there was no placebo-control group), it should be urgently followed with a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research study to confirm these highly important clinical findings. Taken together, however, the findings of this pivotal public health study are certain to eventually expand the number of patients with diabetes who will be considered eligible to receive metformin!
For a complete discussion of metformin as a potential cancer prevention agent, as well as other important evidence-based approaches to cancer prevention, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, now! For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today!
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GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com Top 100 Bestseller’s List for Kindle e-books! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (As of 9/16/2010, more than 1,000,000 health-conscious people have logged onto Weekly Health Update so far this year!) As always, I enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Vitamin D, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Death
October 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Nutrition, Vitamin D, Weekly Health Update, diet, fractures, health, heart disease
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers” VITAMIN D, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, CANCER AND DEATH Among all of the vitamins, only Vitamin D appears to have clinically significant health benefits in reducing the risk of death associated with cardiovascular disease, fractures, and cancer, based upon numerous recent clinical research study findings (for a comprehensive update on the role of Vitamin D as part of a cancer prevention lifestyle, please see my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, which is now available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble). A newly-published clinical research study, which appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, prospectively evaluated 1,194 elderly men (average age was 71 years) over a period of nearly 13 years. Blood levels of Vitamin D were measured in these elderly male men, and the results of these blood tests were then correlated with subsequent health outcomes. In this prospective public health study, with extensive long-term follow-up, very low and very high blood levels of Vitamin D were associated with a significantly increased risk of death. In fact, a whopping 50 percent increase in the risk of death was associated with both very low (<46 nmol/L) and very high (>98 nmol/L) concentrations of Vitamin D in the blood. Death due to cancer was two times more common with very low Vitamin D levels, while very high levels of Vitamin D increased the risk of death due to cancer by almost three-fold. At the same time, death due to cardiovascular disease was nearly twice as likely in elderly men with very low Vitamin D levels, but not in men with very high levels of this hormone-like vitamin. The findings of this prospective public health study add to the enormous volume of previously published clinical research data on the health effects of Vitamin D. As this study suggests, there may be an optimal concentration of Vitamin D in the blood that is associated with a decreased risk of death from both cardiovascular disease and cancer. Meanwhile, a healthy diet that emphasizes fresh fruits, brightly-colored fresh vegetables, whole grains, and fatty fish (and minimal red meat and other animal-based foods) is your best bet for a long and healthy life!
For a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the importance of Vitamin D and diet in a cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new landmark book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, from Amazon or Barnes & Noble!
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (As of 9/16/2010, more than 1,000,000 health-conscious people have logged onto Weekly Health Update so far this year!) As always, I enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Low-Carb Diet and Risk of Death
September 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Atkins diet, Weekly Health Update, diet, health, heart disease
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
LOW-CARB DIET AND RISK OF DEATH The debate regarding the potential health benefits of low-carbohydrate diets has gone on for over four decades now. During this period, the pendulum has swung, repeatedly, back and forth between “low-carb” and “high-carb” diets, combined with controversies regarding low-fat versus high-fat diets, as various diet and health gurus have weighed in with their recommendations. (Witness one of the more popular and enduring of these “have it your way” dietary fads, the now discredited Atkins Diet, which advocated a reduction in carbohydrate intake combined with a free pass on meat consumption, and other animal-based sources of fat and protein.) Currently, there is really no meaningful controversy regarding the linkage between meat consumption and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, the impact of dietary carbohydrate intake on health continues to be the subject of some debate. Unfortunately, as is often the case regarding debates about lifestyle- and diet-related health factors, there is very little high-level clinical research data evidence available to support the more ambitious claims made by “experts” at either spectrum of the carbohydrate debate. Now, a newly published study, which appears in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, offers a fresh, evidence-based assessment of the impact of carbohydrate and meat intake on the risk of early death. In this prospectively conducted cohort study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the results of two very large prospective public health studies were combined. More than 85,000 women who participated in the vast Nurses’ Health Study, and nearly 46,000 male physicians who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, were included in this analysis. These healthy female and male volunteers were without clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer when they entered into these studies. An almost unprecedented duration of clinical follow-up was available for these two enormous groups of research volunteers, which makes this combined cohort study extremely powerful. On average, the male study volunteers have already been followed for 20 years, while the women volunteers have been followed for an average of 26 years. All of these 129,716 men and women completed multiple validated diet questionnaires at various time points in these two clinical studies, and the data collected from these questionnaires was then used to analyze the impact of diet on mortality (death) risk among this huge group of nurses and physicians. Two sub-groups of volunteers were assessed, based upon their dietary preferences, and these two sub-groups of men and women were then compared with the remaining study volunteers. The first dietary preference sub-group consisted of men and women who preferred a low-carbohydrate diet associated with the frequent intake of meat and other animal-based foods (along the lines of the Atkins Diet), while the second sub-group consisted of men and women who routinely consumed a low-carbohydrate diet that emphasized vegetable and fruit sources of protein (instead of animal sources of protein). Over the very long duration of the two combined studies, 12,555 deaths occurred among the women (including 2,458 deaths due to cardiovascular disease). Among the men, there were 8,678 deaths (including 2,746 deaths due to cardiovascular disease). In the group of men and women who favored an Atkins-like diet, emphasizing a low carbohydrate intake but liberal meat consumption (and other animal-based foods, as well), the risk of premature death from any cause (when compared to a low-carb, low-meat diet) was elevated by 23 percent. This same dietary preference was also associated with a 14 percent increase in the risk of death due to, specifically, cardiovascular disease. In contrast, the men and women who consumed a diet low in both carbohydrates and animal products appeared to significantly reduce their risk of death due to all causes, as well as their mortality due to cardiovascular disease, specifically. In this group of research volunteers, mortality due to any cause was reduced by 20 percent, while death due to cardiovascular disease, specifically, was reduced by 23 percent. The findings of this very large prospective public health study, with its extremely long duration of clinical follow-up, confirms the findings of other recent (and less powerful) small clinical studies that a diet rich in vegetables, but low in both carbohydrates and animal-derived foods, confers a very significant benefit in terms of the overall risk of death, and the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, in particular. Excessive carbohydrate intake has been previously shown to increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other serious illnesses. At the same time, increased meat intake has also been clearly shown to raise the risk of many of these same life-threatening illnesses, as well. From this huge prospective cohort clinical study, we can see highly significant health benefits associated with long-term adherence to a healthy diet rich in vegetables and low in carbohydrates and animal-derived foods. (And there are not many health benefits that can trump a significant reduction in your risk of premature death!)
For an evidence-based review of the critical importance of diet in a cancer prevention lifestyle, watch for the publication of my new landmark book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” later this month.
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit our premier global health information website every month. As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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