Don't Just Live Longer - Live Better

Presented hereunder are collections of advices from respectable doctor(s), as follows:

Antidepressants up stroke risk
February 9, 2010

Antidepressants are bad enough for most people — but a new study shows that they’re even worse than we thought for older women.

Researchers found that post-menopausal women who take those popular SSRIs — drugs like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Lexapro — have a 45 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 32 percent increased risk of death from all other causes.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, used data on 136,293 women between the ages of 50 and 79, who were followed for an average of six years. Women on tricyclic antidepressants faced similar risks.

Not exactly comforting… especially when you consider the large numbers of women who are given these meds off-label to deal with the symptoms of menopause in addition to the millions who take it to beat the blues.

“Women should not stop taking the medications based on this one study,” Dr. Jordan W. Smoller, one of the authors, told Reuters.

I agree. They shouldn’t stop taking the medications based on this one study — they should stop taking them based on the massive and overwhelming body of research that shows how dangerous and ineffective they really are.

These meds have also been linked to sudden cardiac death in women, an increased risk of suicide in teens, and nausea, insomnia, diarrhea and sexual side effects and men and women alike. Some of these meds are even addictive — which means withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking them.

Still, despite all that, the researchers seemed almost determined to apologize for their study… lest they anger their Big Pharma friends. They were also quick to point out that a woman on antidepressants has only a 1 in 200 chance of a stroke in any given year.

Those aren’t exactly remote odds. And when you consider that many people take these meds year after year, it adds up to a few too many rolls of the dice for comfort.

The right natural treatment for your depression will depend on the cause, but nutritional imbalances are often at the heart of the condition. Deficiencies in amino acids (especially tryptophan), B vitamins and essential fatty acids can all lead to depression. A physician experienced in natural healing methods can customize your supplements to your needs.

In addition, numerous studies have found that everything from exercise to simple talk therapy can match or beat antidepressants — with none of the side effects. You might also find some immediate relief from a proven herbal remedy such as St. John’s wort.

Spices may fight breast cancer
February 9, 2010

Forget the latest radioactive technology — the real answer to breast cancer could be in some spices that have been in use for thousands of years.

New research finds that compounds in turmeric and black pepper may decrease the growth of stem cells responsible for breast cancer tumors, while leaving normal cells alone.

There’s a big caveat here: This is early research, and it was done on breast cells — not on people.
So we need to see some more studies before anyone can say for sure if these spices can really fight or prevent breast cancer. But you don’t need to wait to make both of these great spices a natural part of your diet. They already have plenty of proven health benefits. Plus, they both taste great.

Curcumin, the key compound in turmeric, is a natural anti- inflammatory. It’s been shown to help fight stomach problems and may even help treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also shown promise in fighting pancreatic, colorectal and esophageal cancers. You’ll often find turmeric in curry dishes, but you can also learn to incorporate it into your own recipes.

Most Americans are more familiar with black pepper… but they may not realize that salt’s lesser-used companion is actually a powerful antioxidant. Some studies have shown that it may even help prevent colon cancer.

Black pepper can also stimulate helpful stomach acids to improve digestion, and can even reduce flatulence.

They say variety is the spice of life… but it just may be that a variety of spice will improve, or even save, your life

Flowers for your eyes
February 11, 2010

A British optician claims he cured his blindness with marigolds.

I know — this sounds like quackery. But bear with me for a moment, because there’s more to this than a field of golden flowers.

Harry Marsland, 73, was diagnosed with one of the most frightening conditions facing seniors: age-related macular degeneration. He lost the vision in his right eye to the more serious and far less common “wet” version of the condition, and the vision in his left to “dry” AMD.

But after taking a marigold-based supplement, he can not only see through his left eye — he can drive and read, too, according to a report in Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.

And it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Marigolds contain meso-zeaxanthin, which has shown some promise when it comes to fighting vision problems. His supplement also contained lutein and zeaxanthin, two key phytonutrients linked to healthy eyes.

But since he had already tried those other ingredients before, he credits his success to the addition of meso- zeaxanthin. Because of his success, the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland is now conducting clinical trials on these supplements. I’ll keep you updated.

If you’re facing AMD, work with your doctor to find the right nutritional supplement for your eyes — because, as this case shows, sometimes it’s just a matter of finding the right blend of missing nutrients.

Of course, the real key to fighting AMD is to win the battle before it even starts by making sure your eyes have all the nutrients they need to stay healthy now.

You’ve probably heard that carrots are great for your eyes – and they are rich in beta-carotene, which you certainly need. But to really lower your risk for vision problems, you’re going to have to go far beyond Bugs Bunny’s favorite snack.

One recent study found diets rich in vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids can significantly lower your risk for age-related macular degeneration. That means eating more leafy greens, nuts, beans, fruit, eggs and especially fatty fish. Add a supplement if you have a hard time getting any of these nutrients from your food.

Other studies have found that — in addition to the nutrients I just mentioned — you should also make sure you’re getting enough copper, which you’ll find in nuts, liver and shellfish.

Happiness in togetherness
February 11, 2010

If you’re looking to fight off mental health disorders, then look no further than your other half. You may think you drive each other crazy — but a new study found that married people have a lower risk for conditions like anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

Researchers from New Zealand’s University of Otago, Harvard University, the World Health Organization and other institutions used data on 34,493 people in 15 countries to give the first wide-reaching look at the mental-health effects of marriage.

And the results of the study, published in the British journal Psychological Medicine, were a little surprising to the researchers — since previous studies found that only women had mental-health benefits from marriage.

But it’s not really THAT surprising to me. After all, other studies have found that married people are also healthier overall than single people — and for good reason. Everything’s easier when you have someone to share it with.

The researchers say that while marriage lowers the risk for mental health problems in both genders, women were more likely to become depressed during a first marriage than men. They also found that marriage reduces the risk of substance abuse in women more than men.

But marriage is like a drug you need to keep taking if you want to continue to get the benefits. The researchers found that once death, divorce or separation enter the picture, the risks of depression, anxiety and substance abuse go right back up.

And that’s also right in line with the research on marriage and overall health — divorced people are unhealthier overall. The stress of divorce can take a physical and mental toll… not to mention an economic one.

It’s no great mystery — humans are social creatures. We all have our ups and downs whether we’re single or married, but overall we tend to do better when we’re together.
So if you’ve found your partner — hold on tight. It’s good for both of you.

Feds rub Big Pharma’s back
February 12, 2010

Imagine millions of people taking cholesterol meds even though they have perfectly healthy cholesterol levels. As crazy as that sounds, an FDA panel has recently recommended the statin Crestor for healthy patients with normal cholesterol levels and no outward signs of heart disease.

It’s a Big Pharma dream come true.

This bogus recommendation is based on a study published last year showing that Crestor could reduce heart problems by 44 percent even in people with normal cholesterol levels. That’s because the drugs don’t just lower cholesterol — they also lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation that’s actually a better indicator of heart disease than cholesterol levels.

But just like you don’t need hazardous meds with nasty side effects to lower your cholesterol, you can get your CRP levels where they should be entirely on your own — and I’ll tell you how to do both in a moment.

First, let me tell you why this just may be one of the worst decisions in the long and terrible history of the consumer-unfriendly FDA.

For starters, the very study the panel used to make their risky recommendation, also found that Crestor patients have an increased risk of developing diabetes. Thirteen of the patients in the study DIED of gastrointestinal problems, and 18 patients reported being in a state of confusion while on the meds, versus just four in the placebo group.

All that and they had the nerve to end the study early — because everything was working so well! And on top of all that, we already know that statins can cause debilitating muscle pain and liver damage.

There’s no need to risk death, diabetes, muscle pain or liver damage… because you can take care of both high CRP and elevated cholesterol levels entirely on your own, without drugs or any expensive products or gimmicks.

The key to both cholesterol and inflammation control starts with a healthy diet and steady exercise. Eat right and get moving, and your cholesterol levels will come down. You’ll also have a head start on reducing that inflammation.

Then, for an extra boost in bringing CRP levels down, get more vitamins C.

That’s it. No pills, no treatments — and no reason to enrich some shady Big Pharma execs. Save your prescription drug costs and co-pays for something you could really use instead.
Just don’t buy a new television with it — if you think there are too many statin ads on the air right now, wait until the FDA signs off on this new recommendation.

Coffee, tea may fight diabetes
February 12, 2010

I was sipping my favorite Kenyan roast when I read the latest good news for coffee and tea drinkers. A new analysis found that these drinks can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes. The more the better!

University of Sydney researchers looked at the data from 18 studies involving more than 500,000 people — 21,000 of whom developed diabetes. And they found great news for those of us who love our hot beverages:

Three to four cups of coffee per day can lower your risk by 25 percent compared drinking two or fewer cups

Three to four cups of decaf can lower the risk by 33 percent compared to those who drink no coffee; and

Three or more cups of tea each day can cut the risk of diabetes by 20 percent.
And of course, both coffee and tea — especially green tea — come with plenty of other great health benefits.

Recently, I told you that a steady stream of coffee may lower your risk for prostate cancer by up to 60 percent. And if you want to know more about green tea’s benefits — and how to drink it right — be sure to read, “Just a spoonful of sugar… and a slice of lemon.“

Don't just live longer -- live better

First, the good news -- we're living longer than ever.

Americans are now living, on average, to almost 78 years old. That's nearly a year and half longer than we did a decade ago.

But here's the bad news: We're not living nearly as long as people in other nations. Depending on whose stats you choose to believe, we're barely in the top 40, often just behind or just ahead of Cuba. Japan consistently tops the list, where their life expectancy is about four years longer than it is here.

You can do a lot with those four years. The bottom line is that Americans just don't take very good care of themselves.

But for you, that can change today.

The best advice is always the simplest:

Eat right and exercise, just like mom said. But if you feel like you need an extra boost, here are a few lesser-known ingredients to a long and healthy life:

- Resveratrol: You've probably heard of this antioxidant, found in red wine. But you'd have drink your wine by the case to get the amounts used in the most promising studies, so consider a supplement.

- Vitamin D: Studies have found that the sunshine vitamin may slow aging -- and lower your risk of early death by any cause. It's also our most common deficiency.

- Vitamin C: One study found mice deficient in C aged four times faster than those who got what they needed. This crucial immune system vitamin can also slash levels of C-reactive protein, lowering your heart disease risk.

- Fish Oil: Omega-3 fatty acids have been repeatedly linked to a decreased risk for the top age-related diseases. It's also a great natural anti-inflammatory, and can boost your eyes and brain.

-Green Tea: Is this the secret to Japanese longevity? Probably not by itself -- but there's mounting evidence that it plays a role. You need to drink between three and five cups a day to get the benefits of this one.

- DHEA: If you're on the other side of 30, your levels of the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone are plummeting. Since DHEA can be converted into estrogen and testosterone, work with your doctor to find out how much you should take. A simple saliva test will usually do the trick.

-Phytonutrients: These are what give fruits and vegetables their color. Phytonutrients include lycopene, resveratrol, quercetin, lutein, and zeaxanthin and may help slow aging and reduce the risk of age-related diseases.

Just remember, the overall risk of death is 100 percent, no matter what you do. Make the most of the time you have -- and don't forget to enjoy each day, since happiness is another key to longevity.

On a mission for your health,

Ed MartinEditor,
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