By Carolyn Butler
Of all the relationships in my life, by far the most on-again, off-again has been with coffee: From that initial, tentative dalliance in college to a serious commitment during my first real reporting job to breaking up altogether when I got pregnant, only to fail miserably at quitting my daily latte the second time I was expecting. More recently the relationship has turned into full-blown obsession and, ironically, I often fall asleep at night dreaming of the delicious, satisfying cup of joe that awaits, come morning.
While I love the mere ritual of drinking coffee, I have definitely come to rely on the caffeine to make me feel more alert, energetic and often just plain better, every single day. And yet because I don't like feeling dependent on anything, I occasionally wonder whether I should give it up for good, especially when I have a particularly jittery afternoon. Can something that tastes and feels this good not be bad for you?
Rest assured: Not only has current research shown that moderate coffee consumption isn't likely to hurt you, it may actually have significant health benefits. "Coffee is generally associated with a less health-conscious lifestyle -- people who don't sleep much, drink coffee, smoke, drink alcohol," explains Rob van Dam, an assistant professor in the departments of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He points out that early studies failed to account for such issues and thus found a link between drinking coffee and such conditions as heart disease and cancer, a link that has contributed to java's lingering bad rep. "But as more studies have been conducted -- larger and better studies that controlled for healthy lifestyle issues -- the totality of efforts suggests that coffee is a good beverage choice."
Van Dam's research, for example, found no evidence that coffee consumption had any effect on mortality from any cause, including cardiovascular disease or cancer, even for people who drink up to six cups a day. He and his colleagues have also found that drinking coffee is associated with a reduced risk of liver disease and Type 2 diabetes. The latter is backed up by a study published this month in the Archives of Internal Medicine; it suggested that three to four cups of joe a day might reduce chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by roughly 25 percent.
And that's not all. Also this month, Harvard researchers unveiled new data suggesting that drinking coffee might lower men's chances of developing aggressive prostate cancer by up to 60 percent, with the highest benefits for those who down the most java.
Other studies have shown that coffee consumption reduces the risk of a laundry list of ailments: stroke, Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, endometrial cancer, colon cancer and gallstones, for starters.
"The evidence is pretty clear," says Daniel Burnett, a preventive medicine and family physician in Bethesda, who notes that coffee intake can also improve mental performance and mood, decrease depressive symptoms and increase endurance and aerobic performance.
While caffeine is the star ingredient for sleep-deprived students, parents and worker bees, the fact is that in many of these studies, including the research on diabetes and prostate cancer, positive effects are similar for those who drink decaf as well.
"Most of the benefits associated with coffee are not attributed to caffeine," says van Dam, who explains that the beverage also contains antioxidants and quite a few vitamins and minerals. "We tend to focus on coffee as just a vehicle for caffeine, . . . but now we look in more detail, without bias, and see it also has hundreds of compounds that might have beneficial effects, similar to things we see in some vegetables, which makes all the [study results] seem more plausible."
Which is not to say the bean has no downside. Doctors cite risks such as miscarriage, fertility problems, anxiety and sleep issues, and warn that pregnant women and those with blood pressure problems, especially, should cut back or avoid it.
Others are more concerned about the potential for addiction. "My personal opinion on caffeine is that it's the most widely used psychoactive drug in world," says Daniel Evatt, a research fellow in the department of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He notes that many people become tolerant to immediate perks such as alertness and increased energy, and then go through withdrawal, with headaches, low energy and other symptoms, when they try to quit.
In addition, Evatt suggests that some longtime coffee drinkers may actually be immune to benefits and not know it: The tiredness they feel in the morning is really withdrawal-related, he says, and that single or double shot just helps them get back to normal functioning, without providing a real boost. "All these things tell us that this is a substance that people can become dependent on, in the way they become dependent on other drugs."
In particular, researchers worry about children and teenagers who gulp down coffee and such high-calorie cousins as frappuccinos, soda and especially the new wave of energy drinks. "They already have enough ups and downs with emotions as it is; when you add caffeine into the mix, it's a problem -- their bodies aren't as equipped to handle it," says Evatt, who expresses concern that energy drinks are regulated as supplements instead of soft drinks. As a result, there is no limit on how much caffeine they can contain, nor are they required to list stimulant content on their labels, even though it can be 300 milligrams or more in an eight-ounce can, compared with 80 to 100 mg or so in a cup of brewed coffee.
Given some of the downsides of caffeine, even coffee enthusiasts in the research field suggest that people monitor their consumption and recognize how they react to the stimulant, looking for troublesome signs including jitteriness, tremors and difficulty sleeping. (This is particularly important because studies have shown that different people metabolize caffeine in vastly different ways; that's why a Coke or cappuccino can leave one person bouncing off the walls while another can nap straight away.)
But those of us who tolerate our daily brew well can continue to happily caffeinate, within reason. "In terms of health risks, up to around six cups a day or so seems to be fine," says van Dam, noting that "cup" generally means eight to 10 ounces of black coffee -- not a venti mochaccino or the like, with added caffeine, sugar and calories. "I think coffee is on par with tea and water, and can be a healthy choice for most people."
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
New Book - Eat well, Stay well with Parkinson’s Disease
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease" was written by a registered dietitian with a broad base of experience counseling patients with Parkinson's. The manual provides easy to understand explanations and useful tips for managing a number of nutrition-related problems experienced by patients with Parkinson's. Complete with recipes, snack ideas and menus for the "7:1 ratio" eating plan, "Eat well, stay well" is destined to become the "nutrition bible" for patients with Parkinson's." -- Mary Harris, PhD, RD Associate Professor and Dietetic Program Director Colorado State University
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Detox Diets
It is very important to regularly cleanse the body by a fast of some kind, especially in this modern age, when so many people die of cancer and other degenerative disease. These diseases can be cured by different diets which are really types of cleansing diets to help the body eliminate the toxins which are causing the disease.
In the case of treating cancer, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or even conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, cleansing diets are adapted to become maintenance diets. These diets give maximum nutrition to sustain the body and build the immune system so that it can stave off the disease. At the same time, the cleansing diet maximises the elimination process so that toxins are expelled quickly from the body. Enemas are an important part of the treatment if you have a serious disease like cancer. These are also very helpful if you undertake a simple cleansing diet such as one of these given below, especially if your body is in a toxic state and/or you have never folowed a cleansing diet before.
If don’t want to use an enema, you could visit a colonic clinic. They will rinse out the bowel for you. Colonic cleansing by a professional is not cheap, but it is well worth the money to have most of the poisons washed away. It really gives you a new lease on life. If you opt for this, then I recommend going to the clinic on the third day of your fast or cleansing diet.
If cleansing diets are new to you, then it is best that you do your chosen diet for just one day to begin with, especially if you are not going to use an enema. This is because you will be carrying poisons in the body which have been building up over a lifetime. The sudden release of these toxins from the liver and other organs, into the intestines and into the bloodstream, can make you feel sick, and this is why elimination is quickened by the use of an enema in treating disease or even when following a cleansing diet.
Three days is a fairly standard time for a cleansing diet, but you can build up to this by doing your cleanse in steps: Of course, if you have a serious disease, then you will need to follow a maintenance diet over a long period of time until you recover. Details of maintenance diets will follow this post on ‘Detox Diets’. Also look at my posts on ‘Ridding the Body of Cancer’ and ‘Preventing Cancer” for information regarding maintenance diets.
A DETOX DIET-TO START WITH: Follow the chosen method for one day to begin with. This will be, for instance, one day on the grape diet. Then eat fairly normally for two or three days, but omit dairy foods, sugar and wheat including bread. Then do two days in a row on the diet. Then two or three days again on the no-dairy, no-sugar, no-wheat diet. Then do three days at a stretch back on the cleansing diet.
There are numerous different ways in which you can cleanse the body of toxins. Here are a few easy-to-follow cleansing diets with which you can experiment. There are enough to choose from so that you may never get bored by following just one approach. See which one you might find easiest to tackle.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
In the case of treating cancer, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or even conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, cleansing diets are adapted to become maintenance diets. These diets give maximum nutrition to sustain the body and build the immune system so that it can stave off the disease. At the same time, the cleansing diet maximises the elimination process so that toxins are expelled quickly from the body. Enemas are an important part of the treatment if you have a serious disease like cancer. These are also very helpful if you undertake a simple cleansing diet such as one of these given below, especially if your body is in a toxic state and/or you have never folowed a cleansing diet before.
If don’t want to use an enema, you could visit a colonic clinic. They will rinse out the bowel for you. Colonic cleansing by a professional is not cheap, but it is well worth the money to have most of the poisons washed away. It really gives you a new lease on life. If you opt for this, then I recommend going to the clinic on the third day of your fast or cleansing diet.
If cleansing diets are new to you, then it is best that you do your chosen diet for just one day to begin with, especially if you are not going to use an enema. This is because you will be carrying poisons in the body which have been building up over a lifetime. The sudden release of these toxins from the liver and other organs, into the intestines and into the bloodstream, can make you feel sick, and this is why elimination is quickened by the use of an enema in treating disease or even when following a cleansing diet.
Three days is a fairly standard time for a cleansing diet, but you can build up to this by doing your cleanse in steps: Of course, if you have a serious disease, then you will need to follow a maintenance diet over a long period of time until you recover. Details of maintenance diets will follow this post on ‘Detox Diets’. Also look at my posts on ‘Ridding the Body of Cancer’ and ‘Preventing Cancer” for information regarding maintenance diets.
A DETOX DIET-TO START WITH: Follow the chosen method for one day to begin with. This will be, for instance, one day on the grape diet. Then eat fairly normally for two or three days, but omit dairy foods, sugar and wheat including bread. Then do two days in a row on the diet. Then two or three days again on the no-dairy, no-sugar, no-wheat diet. Then do three days at a stretch back on the cleansing diet.
There are numerous different ways in which you can cleanse the body of toxins. Here are a few easy-to-follow cleansing diets with which you can experiment. There are enough to choose from so that you may never get bored by following just one approach. See which one you might find easiest to tackle.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Oral Antioxidant Supplements Improve Health and Prevent Disease
The cellular breakdown and oxidation of cells due to free radical damage can lead to many types of diseases, premature aging, and many other harmful health conditions. Protecting the human body, inside and out, with antioxidants like vitamin E is a pro-active way to combat future cellular damage.
How Vitamin E Helps
Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals in the body that attack cells to cause tissue and cellular damage (Lifeclinic). For optimum benefits to the skin, vitamin E should be applied topically in a lotion or cream. It can absorb effectively into the skin and provide many anti-aging benefits. Internally, vitamin E works best as a supplement or found naturally in foods.
Lots of natural fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin E (Lifeclinic), including:
•wheat germ
•vegetable oil and margarine
•avocado
•whole grain products
•egg yolk
•nuts
•liver
•peanut butter
How Much is Enough
Vitamin E is fat-soluble, which means that it is stored in the fat tissues of the body for a period of several days to six months (Lifeclinic). Too much of a fat-soluble nutrient can become stored in the liver, leading to some health problems, so it's best to regulate how much vitamin E is being taken in. Mega-doses will lead to toxicity.
Only small amounts of vitamin E, like any vitamin, are required to get the job done. "Eating a normal diet of foods rich in (vitamin E) won't cause a problem" (Lifeclinic). Refrigerating fresh produce will help maintain high levels of vitamin E within; vitamin supplements should be stored at room temperature for best effectiveness.
Women need about eight milligrams per day and men need 10 milligrams per day included in their diet.
Benefits to the Body
When taken orally, vitamin E has been shown to increase and regulate the body's levels of vitamin A as well as boosting the immune system. It promotes good blood circulation and can prevent the formation of blood clots, especially in people with diabetes (Healthy Skin).
A daily vitamin E intake has been linked to the following benefits for the body (Healthy Skin):
•menstrual pain
•low sperm count
•inflammation of eye tissues
•cataracts
•restless leg syndrome
•relief from muscle cramps
•Alzheimer's disease
•Parkinson's disease
•rheumatoid arthritis
•asthma
•diabetes complication (possibly treating and preventing diabetes itself)
•cardiovascular disease
•prostate cancer
•breast cancer
Too little vitamin E, though rare, can lead to nausea and digestive tract problems, so it's best to make sure to maintain a healthy diet rich with fruits and vegetables each day.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
How Vitamin E Helps
Vitamin E neutralizes free radicals in the body that attack cells to cause tissue and cellular damage (Lifeclinic). For optimum benefits to the skin, vitamin E should be applied topically in a lotion or cream. It can absorb effectively into the skin and provide many anti-aging benefits. Internally, vitamin E works best as a supplement or found naturally in foods.
Lots of natural fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin E (Lifeclinic), including:
•wheat germ
•vegetable oil and margarine
•avocado
•whole grain products
•egg yolk
•nuts
•liver
•peanut butter
How Much is Enough
Vitamin E is fat-soluble, which means that it is stored in the fat tissues of the body for a period of several days to six months (Lifeclinic). Too much of a fat-soluble nutrient can become stored in the liver, leading to some health problems, so it's best to regulate how much vitamin E is being taken in. Mega-doses will lead to toxicity.
Only small amounts of vitamin E, like any vitamin, are required to get the job done. "Eating a normal diet of foods rich in (vitamin E) won't cause a problem" (Lifeclinic). Refrigerating fresh produce will help maintain high levels of vitamin E within; vitamin supplements should be stored at room temperature for best effectiveness.
Women need about eight milligrams per day and men need 10 milligrams per day included in their diet.
Benefits to the Body
When taken orally, vitamin E has been shown to increase and regulate the body's levels of vitamin A as well as boosting the immune system. It promotes good blood circulation and can prevent the formation of blood clots, especially in people with diabetes (Healthy Skin).
A daily vitamin E intake has been linked to the following benefits for the body (Healthy Skin):
•menstrual pain
•low sperm count
•inflammation of eye tissues
•cataracts
•restless leg syndrome
•relief from muscle cramps
•Alzheimer's disease
•Parkinson's disease
•rheumatoid arthritis
•asthma
•diabetes complication (possibly treating and preventing diabetes itself)
•cardiovascular disease
•prostate cancer
•breast cancer
Too little vitamin E, though rare, can lead to nausea and digestive tract problems, so it's best to make sure to maintain a healthy diet rich with fruits and vegetables each day.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Monday, November 23, 2009
Vitamin D 3: Dynamo Defender of Disease
Vitamin D is a very complex substance. For more than half a century vitamin D was thought only to mineralize bones. But recent studies indicate that it does much more:
•Regulates calcium in all cells (especially brain cells)
•Protects the immune system
•Regulates cell growth and cell death
•Provides antioxidant and antiviral benefits
Since foods contain very little vitamin D, the body’s major source is from that manufactured in the deeper layers of the skin. Food, even fortified milk, is a poor source of vitamin D-3. This leaves sun exposure and vitamin D-3 supplements as the two most important sources. Many forms of commercial vitamin D supplements are not the active form.
When you buy vitamin D supplements, make sure they are vitamin D-3!
Vitamin D-3 and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is another neurodegenerative disease of aging that is strongly related to chronic brain inflammation, but different parts of the brain are involved than in Alzheimer’s disease.
This means that your best protection against developing neurodegenerative diseases is to take vitamin D-3 in higher doses than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) every day to attain maximum protection.
What Are Recommended Doses?
Recommended levels of supplemental vitamin D have recently been shown to be far too low at 200 to 400 IU a day. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that safety concerns with vitamin D toxicity are grossly exaggerated and that the daily dose should be 2,000 IU a day.
Recent reviews by health “experts” have revised the recommended doses for vitamin D from 400 IU to 2,000 IU a day, a dramatic five-fold increase. Daily doses of 10,000 IU or less have been shown to produce no complications. For daily maintenance in otherwise healthy people, 2,000 IU a day appears to be adequate. For those with autoimmune diseases, cancer or viral illnesses, higher doses may be needed — doses as high as 5,000 IU a day.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
•Regulates calcium in all cells (especially brain cells)
•Protects the immune system
•Regulates cell growth and cell death
•Provides antioxidant and antiviral benefits
Since foods contain very little vitamin D, the body’s major source is from that manufactured in the deeper layers of the skin. Food, even fortified milk, is a poor source of vitamin D-3. This leaves sun exposure and vitamin D-3 supplements as the two most important sources. Many forms of commercial vitamin D supplements are not the active form.
When you buy vitamin D supplements, make sure they are vitamin D-3!
Vitamin D-3 and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is another neurodegenerative disease of aging that is strongly related to chronic brain inflammation, but different parts of the brain are involved than in Alzheimer’s disease.
This means that your best protection against developing neurodegenerative diseases is to take vitamin D-3 in higher doses than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) every day to attain maximum protection.
What Are Recommended Doses?
Recommended levels of supplemental vitamin D have recently been shown to be far too low at 200 to 400 IU a day. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that safety concerns with vitamin D toxicity are grossly exaggerated and that the daily dose should be 2,000 IU a day.
Recent reviews by health “experts” have revised the recommended doses for vitamin D from 400 IU to 2,000 IU a day, a dramatic five-fold increase. Daily doses of 10,000 IU or less have been shown to produce no complications. For daily maintenance in otherwise healthy people, 2,000 IU a day appears to be adequate. For those with autoimmune diseases, cancer or viral illnesses, higher doses may be needed — doses as high as 5,000 IU a day.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Friday, November 13, 2009
Coffee Or Tea?
By Audrey Kim
Every fall, school and life seem to pick up speed and overwhelm college students with stress, anxiety and all-nighters. Exhaustion becomes the norm that underlies all activity and it comes to replace the boundless energy we once had in the summer, just a few weeks ago.
Soon enough, our small talk in between classes will be consumed with the depths of exhaustion and its various cures, such as deciding whether to have a jolting cup of java or a cup of tea, pinkie-lifting tranquility.
The benefits of caffeine culture for college students include the ability to combat slumber and ride out the misery of sleep deprivation. As an increasing number of UC Irvine students join the ranks of those relying on caffeine to add some pep to their step, the question is whether they are putting their faith in coffee or tea.
Tessa Zelaya, a third-year social ecology major and Starbucks barista, says, ‘I drink coffee for the taste. Tea is just too watered down. I need caffeine to speed up my day, so I’ll drink around four cups.’
She adds, ‘At Starbucks, I’ve noticed that people are a lot more health conscious from the shift in orders. There are more espresso drinks instead of frappuccinos; especially non-fat lattes.’
‘Tea is healthier and lighter,’ said first-year biological sciences major Kevin Ergina. ‘It helps me urinate and it’s more tasty than coffee. Caffeine is something I try to stay away from.’
People are increasingly realizing that those caffeinated beverages they drink all night to help them finish their assignments are affecting their health, and they need to focus more on the beverage itself and less on the jolt. This critical awareness has sparked the debate over the health benefits that coffee and tea offer and spawned countless research studies.
The Journal of the American Medical Association did a report on a team of Japanese researchers who were able to link green tea consumption with decreased mortality from all causes, including cardiovascular disease. Green tea is high in polyphenols, which are compounds with strong antioxidant activity that in test-tube and animal models show anticancer and heart-protective effects.
The researchers followed 40,530 healthy adults from the ages of 40 to 79 in a region of northeastern Japan, where most people drink green tea. They monitored these adults for up to 11 years. Those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had significantly lower mortality rates than those who drank less than one cup a day. There were also fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease.
But the results showed no such association with deaths from cancer. Nor was consumption of oolong or black tea linked to any decrease in mortality. Those teas are more oxidized in processing, which not only darkens the color of the leaves and changes their flavor but also reduces their polyphenol content.
Habitual tea drinkers’ reduced cancer risk might stem from tea’s high antioxidant capacity. Tea might protect the heart by relaxing blood vessels, inhibiting clots and reducing cholesterol levels. And researchers speculate that the fluoride and estrogen-like substances in tea may bolster bone density.
Coffee is more complicated. It has received both gold stars and black marks in the medical literature. It, too, contains antioxidants, although they have not been studied as well as the polyphenols in tea. However, evidence for the health benefits of coffee is growing.
In the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a group of investigators from Finland, Italy and the Netherlands report that coffee seems to protect against age-related cognitive decline. The scientists studied 676 healthy men born from 1900 to 1920 and followed them for 10 years, using standardized measures of cognitive function.
Their conclusion: the men who consumed coffee had significantly less cognitive impairment than those who didn’t. Three cups a day seemed to provide maximum protection.
Population studies like those help form hypotheses about relationships between dietary habits and long-term health. But scientists still have to test our suppositions in controlled conditions and measure the effects of coffee and tea on various systems of the body.
A joint study by the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham & Young Women’s Hospital has found that there is no long-term link between coffee consumption and increased blood pressure in women.
The BBC Health reports found that coffee has been linked with a number of the risk factors for coronary heart disease, including increased blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels.
However, no relationship has been found between coffee drinkers and the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease. Research has found that coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, kidney stones and colorectal cancer.
A couple of cups of coffee a day is safe, but much more will raise the risk of other problems and side effects, including jittery hands, disruption to the sleep cycle and palpitations, not to mention stained teeth.
Yet it’s difficult to suggest a safe limit for coffee intake because of the huge variation in caffeine content of different brands and an individual’s sensitivity to the drug. People with high blood pressure and pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine consumption.
For the rest of the population, there’s no evidence coffee does any long-term harm. Caffeine does have a mild diuretic effect, however, so try to include plenty of non-caffeinated drinks throughout the day as well.
Caffeinated and decaf coffee each contain antioxidants and other substances that may help regulate blood sugar, which may explain the apparently reduced diabetes risk. Certain compounds in coffee also appear to help prevent bile from crystallizing into gallstones. Also, caffeine may cut the risk of Parkinson’s by boosting supplies of the brain chemical dopamine, at least in men.
Although coffee often seems more ubiquitous due to the Starbucks culture, consumption of tea is quickly growing as well. One may argue the ceremony factor: tea requires patience to make, and the process is more enjoyable than the rush of making coffee.
Kombucha tea has become popular, but there aren’t any clinical findings to verify its health effects. Kombucha mushroom tea, also known as ‘Manchurian tea’ or ‘Kargasok tea,’ is not actually derived from a mushroom, but from the fermentation of various yeasts and bacteria. A starter culture is added to a mixture of black tea and sugar, and the resulting mix is allowed to ferment for a week or more.
However, research can only go so far. Dr. Soheyla D. Gharib of the Center for Wellness and Health Communication at Harvard University Health Services notes the old adage: ‘everything in moderation.’
Most students say research studies are unlikely to change their behavior, though the results may sit in the back of their minds.
‘I’m just annoyed with it all,’ said fifth-year mechanical aerospace engineering major Paul Zelaya. ‘It’s the 21st century, and we figured out how to get to the moon, but we’re still debating about whether or not we should be drinking more coffee or tea.’
Tiffanie Ramos, a second-year psychology major, says, ‘It’s not a religion. It’s just a drink.’
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Every fall, school and life seem to pick up speed and overwhelm college students with stress, anxiety and all-nighters. Exhaustion becomes the norm that underlies all activity and it comes to replace the boundless energy we once had in the summer, just a few weeks ago.
Soon enough, our small talk in between classes will be consumed with the depths of exhaustion and its various cures, such as deciding whether to have a jolting cup of java or a cup of tea, pinkie-lifting tranquility.
The benefits of caffeine culture for college students include the ability to combat slumber and ride out the misery of sleep deprivation. As an increasing number of UC Irvine students join the ranks of those relying on caffeine to add some pep to their step, the question is whether they are putting their faith in coffee or tea.
Tessa Zelaya, a third-year social ecology major and Starbucks barista, says, ‘I drink coffee for the taste. Tea is just too watered down. I need caffeine to speed up my day, so I’ll drink around four cups.’
She adds, ‘At Starbucks, I’ve noticed that people are a lot more health conscious from the shift in orders. There are more espresso drinks instead of frappuccinos; especially non-fat lattes.’
‘Tea is healthier and lighter,’ said first-year biological sciences major Kevin Ergina. ‘It helps me urinate and it’s more tasty than coffee. Caffeine is something I try to stay away from.’
People are increasingly realizing that those caffeinated beverages they drink all night to help them finish their assignments are affecting their health, and they need to focus more on the beverage itself and less on the jolt. This critical awareness has sparked the debate over the health benefits that coffee and tea offer and spawned countless research studies.
The Journal of the American Medical Association did a report on a team of Japanese researchers who were able to link green tea consumption with decreased mortality from all causes, including cardiovascular disease. Green tea is high in polyphenols, which are compounds with strong antioxidant activity that in test-tube and animal models show anticancer and heart-protective effects.
The researchers followed 40,530 healthy adults from the ages of 40 to 79 in a region of northeastern Japan, where most people drink green tea. They monitored these adults for up to 11 years. Those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had significantly lower mortality rates than those who drank less than one cup a day. There were also fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease.
But the results showed no such association with deaths from cancer. Nor was consumption of oolong or black tea linked to any decrease in mortality. Those teas are more oxidized in processing, which not only darkens the color of the leaves and changes their flavor but also reduces their polyphenol content.
Habitual tea drinkers’ reduced cancer risk might stem from tea’s high antioxidant capacity. Tea might protect the heart by relaxing blood vessels, inhibiting clots and reducing cholesterol levels. And researchers speculate that the fluoride and estrogen-like substances in tea may bolster bone density.
Coffee is more complicated. It has received both gold stars and black marks in the medical literature. It, too, contains antioxidants, although they have not been studied as well as the polyphenols in tea. However, evidence for the health benefits of coffee is growing.
In the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a group of investigators from Finland, Italy and the Netherlands report that coffee seems to protect against age-related cognitive decline. The scientists studied 676 healthy men born from 1900 to 1920 and followed them for 10 years, using standardized measures of cognitive function.
Their conclusion: the men who consumed coffee had significantly less cognitive impairment than those who didn’t. Three cups a day seemed to provide maximum protection.
Population studies like those help form hypotheses about relationships between dietary habits and long-term health. But scientists still have to test our suppositions in controlled conditions and measure the effects of coffee and tea on various systems of the body.
A joint study by the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham & Young Women’s Hospital has found that there is no long-term link between coffee consumption and increased blood pressure in women.
The BBC Health reports found that coffee has been linked with a number of the risk factors for coronary heart disease, including increased blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels.
However, no relationship has been found between coffee drinkers and the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease. Research has found that coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, kidney stones and colorectal cancer.
A couple of cups of coffee a day is safe, but much more will raise the risk of other problems and side effects, including jittery hands, disruption to the sleep cycle and palpitations, not to mention stained teeth.
Yet it’s difficult to suggest a safe limit for coffee intake because of the huge variation in caffeine content of different brands and an individual’s sensitivity to the drug. People with high blood pressure and pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine consumption.
For the rest of the population, there’s no evidence coffee does any long-term harm. Caffeine does have a mild diuretic effect, however, so try to include plenty of non-caffeinated drinks throughout the day as well.
Caffeinated and decaf coffee each contain antioxidants and other substances that may help regulate blood sugar, which may explain the apparently reduced diabetes risk. Certain compounds in coffee also appear to help prevent bile from crystallizing into gallstones. Also, caffeine may cut the risk of Parkinson’s by boosting supplies of the brain chemical dopamine, at least in men.
Although coffee often seems more ubiquitous due to the Starbucks culture, consumption of tea is quickly growing as well. One may argue the ceremony factor: tea requires patience to make, and the process is more enjoyable than the rush of making coffee.
Kombucha tea has become popular, but there aren’t any clinical findings to verify its health effects. Kombucha mushroom tea, also known as ‘Manchurian tea’ or ‘Kargasok tea,’ is not actually derived from a mushroom, but from the fermentation of various yeasts and bacteria. A starter culture is added to a mixture of black tea and sugar, and the resulting mix is allowed to ferment for a week or more.
However, research can only go so far. Dr. Soheyla D. Gharib of the Center for Wellness and Health Communication at Harvard University Health Services notes the old adage: ‘everything in moderation.’
Most students say research studies are unlikely to change their behavior, though the results may sit in the back of their minds.
‘I’m just annoyed with it all,’ said fifth-year mechanical aerospace engineering major Paul Zelaya. ‘It’s the 21st century, and we figured out how to get to the moon, but we’re still debating about whether or not we should be drinking more coffee or tea.’
Tiffanie Ramos, a second-year psychology major, says, ‘It’s not a religion. It’s just a drink.’
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Dietary supplement may stall Parkinson’s
An over-the-counter dietary supplement may help slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative neurological disorder marked by tremor, stiffness of the limbs and trunk, impaired balance and coordination, and slowing of movements.
The supplement, called coenzyme Q10, is a vitamin-like compound with powerful antioxidant properties that is vital for the proper function of virtually every cell in the human body.
Although it is produced naturally by the body, levels typically dwindle with age.
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that low levels of coenzyme Q10 play an important role in many age-related diseases.
The results of several recent studies show that individuals with Parkinson’s have lower levels of coenzyme Q10 compared to those without the disorder.
Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 can help boost levels in the body and protect the specific area of the brain damaged by the disease.
In a 16-month clinical trial, researchers evaluated the effects of coenzyme Q10 in 80 individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Reporting in the medical journal Archives of Neurology, the scientists noted the supplement was safe and well tolerated in daily doses ranging from 300 mg to 1,200 mg.
At doses of 1,200 mg per day, individuals with Parkinson’s experienced significantly less functional decline and were better able to carry out activities of daily life, such as feeding and dressing themselves, compared to those treated with a placebo pill.
These findings are particularly important, since few treatment options are available and, to date, no prescription drugs have been found effective in slowing the natural course of the disease.
Coenzyme Q10 may benefit individuals with other neurological disorders. In preliminary trials, the dietary supplement was found to slow the progression of dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
In individuals with migraines, coenzyme Q10 has been shown to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of headaches, especially when taken daily for a period of at least three months.
In a study published in the medical journal Cephalgia, researchers found that daily doses of 150 mg coenzyme Q10 reduced migraine symptoms by half in more than 60 percent of individuals treated.
Coenzyme Q10 appears to be just as beneficial for the cardiovascular system as it is for the brain.
The supplement is often recommended for individuals who have suffered a heart attack and for those diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
The results of several clinical trials have demonstrated that daily doses of 100 mg to 200 mg can improve cardiac function and reduce the risk of future heart attacks in these patients.
For individuals who suffer from heart-related chest pain known as angina pectoris, supplementation appears to improve exercise tolerance and to protect the heart from further damage.
Numerous studies have proven coenzyme Q10 beneficial in the treatment of hypertension. Daily doses of the supplement have been found to produce measurable reductions in blood pressure, similar to the reductions achieved with some prescription medications.
Interest in coenzyme Q10 as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer arose after scientists discovered low blood levels of the substance in individuals suffering from cancers of the breast, lung and pancreas. Preliminary research indicates the supplement may be beneficial in the treatment of these cancers, especially when combined with other therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation.
Use of the supplement also has been found beneficial in the treatment of gum disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, male infertility and age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly.
While aging and poor nutrition are believed to be the most common cause of low blood levels of coenzyme Q10, there is evidence that certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, interfere with the body’s ability to produce the substance.
More research is needed to determine whether coenzyme Q10 supplementation should be routinely recommended for individuals taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs.
It is possible to modestly boost your intake -- and your blood levels -- of coenzyme Q10 without taking a handful of pills.
Good food sources of the substance include meat, poultry and fish, as well as nuts and canola oil.
To obtain a therapeutic dose of coenzyme Q10, you’ll probably need a dietary supplement, which you can get without a prescription at pharmacies and health food stores.
Although most adults can safely take the nutritional supplement, it’s wise to consult your doctor first.
Taking coenzyme Q10 won’t keep you from aging, but it may help protect you from many age-related diseases.
Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including “Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom’s Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim.” Her Web site is www.rallieonhealth.com.
She has also created www.MommyMDGuides.com, which features the advice of mommy MDs from top-notch hospitals, medical centers and universities around the country.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
The supplement, called coenzyme Q10, is a vitamin-like compound with powerful antioxidant properties that is vital for the proper function of virtually every cell in the human body.
Although it is produced naturally by the body, levels typically dwindle with age.
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that low levels of coenzyme Q10 play an important role in many age-related diseases.
The results of several recent studies show that individuals with Parkinson’s have lower levels of coenzyme Q10 compared to those without the disorder.
Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 can help boost levels in the body and protect the specific area of the brain damaged by the disease.
In a 16-month clinical trial, researchers evaluated the effects of coenzyme Q10 in 80 individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Reporting in the medical journal Archives of Neurology, the scientists noted the supplement was safe and well tolerated in daily doses ranging from 300 mg to 1,200 mg.
At doses of 1,200 mg per day, individuals with Parkinson’s experienced significantly less functional decline and were better able to carry out activities of daily life, such as feeding and dressing themselves, compared to those treated with a placebo pill.
These findings are particularly important, since few treatment options are available and, to date, no prescription drugs have been found effective in slowing the natural course of the disease.
Coenzyme Q10 may benefit individuals with other neurological disorders. In preliminary trials, the dietary supplement was found to slow the progression of dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
In individuals with migraines, coenzyme Q10 has been shown to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of headaches, especially when taken daily for a period of at least three months.
In a study published in the medical journal Cephalgia, researchers found that daily doses of 150 mg coenzyme Q10 reduced migraine symptoms by half in more than 60 percent of individuals treated.
Coenzyme Q10 appears to be just as beneficial for the cardiovascular system as it is for the brain.
The supplement is often recommended for individuals who have suffered a heart attack and for those diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
The results of several clinical trials have demonstrated that daily doses of 100 mg to 200 mg can improve cardiac function and reduce the risk of future heart attacks in these patients.
For individuals who suffer from heart-related chest pain known as angina pectoris, supplementation appears to improve exercise tolerance and to protect the heart from further damage.
Numerous studies have proven coenzyme Q10 beneficial in the treatment of hypertension. Daily doses of the supplement have been found to produce measurable reductions in blood pressure, similar to the reductions achieved with some prescription medications.
Interest in coenzyme Q10 as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer arose after scientists discovered low blood levels of the substance in individuals suffering from cancers of the breast, lung and pancreas. Preliminary research indicates the supplement may be beneficial in the treatment of these cancers, especially when combined with other therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation.
Use of the supplement also has been found beneficial in the treatment of gum disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, male infertility and age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly.
While aging and poor nutrition are believed to be the most common cause of low blood levels of coenzyme Q10, there is evidence that certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, interfere with the body’s ability to produce the substance.
More research is needed to determine whether coenzyme Q10 supplementation should be routinely recommended for individuals taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs.
It is possible to modestly boost your intake -- and your blood levels -- of coenzyme Q10 without taking a handful of pills.
Good food sources of the substance include meat, poultry and fish, as well as nuts and canola oil.
To obtain a therapeutic dose of coenzyme Q10, you’ll probably need a dietary supplement, which you can get without a prescription at pharmacies and health food stores.
Although most adults can safely take the nutritional supplement, it’s wise to consult your doctor first.
Taking coenzyme Q10 won’t keep you from aging, but it may help protect you from many age-related diseases.
Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including “Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom’s Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim.” Her Web site is www.rallieonhealth.com.
She has also created www.MommyMDGuides.com, which features the advice of mommy MDs from top-notch hospitals, medical centers and universities around the country.
For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
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