Vitamin D and P

Not that there's a vitamin called "P" but more along the lines of urinary issues. More pee than the letter "P." We found more research that would verify our speculation that the amount of vitamin D that the government suggests as a maximum and the actual need that has been demonstrated beyond the recommended maximum. Toxicity is the government's concern yet researchers and the Canadian government exceeds the US levels.

"Syracuse gynecologist shows how vitamin D deficiency leads to urinary incontinence - ...found that women of all ages with pelvic floor disorders or urinary incontinence had significantly lower levels of vitamin D. Women age 20 and older, with high levels of vitamin D, had a significantly lower incidence of pelvic floor disorders; and women age 50 and older, with high levels of vitamin D, had a significantly lower incidence of urinary incontinence. Given the increase in the number of patients with pelvic floor disorders, further evaluation of the role of vitamin D is warranted, particularly future research to assess the relationship between vitamin D levels and pelvic muscle strength in women of all ages and racial/ethnic groups," he writes in his summary. Dr. Samuel Badalian says vitamin D levels should be checked annually. Taking 2,000 international units per day of vitamin D3 can provide healthy levels for most people, but those who are elderly, obese or who have renal insufficiency need more." - SYRACUSE.COM (April 20, 2010)

We're including the additional information on Vitamin D because the researchers claim that African-Americans are vitamin D deficient. While Dr. Badalian only suggests more he doesn't really say how much that much more is. The Vitamin D Council goes as far as suggesting 5,000 international units of Vitamin D per day. While the New York State law prevents home test kits for vitamin D deficiency and we couldn't find them at the Council's website if you're African-American it'll save you the costs of a kit. Whether legally available for sale or not.

"Are you vitamin D deficient? Your health could be at risk, but it's easily fixed - Almost without a doubt, the vast majority of African Americans are vitamin D deficient," says Susan Brown, a clinical nutritionist and director of the Center for Better Bones in East Syracuse. She says people with dark skin require about six (6) times the amount of sun exposure as light-skinned people to make vitamin D." - SYRACUSE.COM (August 6, 2006)

We haven't found the studies that says you can get more the 2,000 international units of vitamin D with a suntan. However, if we exercised we'd probably need less supplement and less sunlight. It's just that everyone can't get out but I guess that could be placed in the sunlight with shades. Of course our future would have to be "so bright that we'd have to wear shades." Then again we haven't really researched sunlight and its healthy benefits. However we have to admit George Hamilton doesn't look all that weathered. We do wonder what this millenniums George Hamilton would be. Who among today's youth consider the benefits of the tan - maybe Jersey Shore's Snooki?

FDA Recalls

A new service we will provide is one on the specific recalls from the specific companies in our region from the USDA. If a company is in our region and has food products that are part of a recall we'll notify you as well as what you'll hear in the mainstream. Sometimes recalls can affect the distributors in our area as well as the producers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.These products were cooked on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, 2010, packed between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12, 2010, then distributed to wholesale and retail establishments throughout North Carolina. These products were not involved in the National School Lunch Program or Department of Defense sales.

"FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers (including restaurants) of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. Consumers and media with questions regarding the recall should contact Josh Whitley, the company's Owner/President, at (919) 496-6054. - USDA (FSIS)

If you're eating processed foods you'll always going to have to be concerned with your food choices and how they're manufactured. Once you're targeted by the USDA you can expect that they'll be back and they'll find something else to charge you with. Once they get you the USDA is like a dog with a bone. We were a little suspicious when we discovered that the recall concerned not named soy products. We've just written on the benefits of soy and couldn't see the problem.

"North Carolina Firm Recalls Pork Barbecue Products Due to an Undeclared Allergen - The Murphy House, a Louisburg, N.C., establishment, is recalling approximately 2,850 lbs. of pork barbecue products because they may contain an undeclared allergen, soy flour, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Soy flour is a known potential allergen, which is not declared on the label." USDA (February 5, 2010)

Soy flour does produced allergies to our surprise. These allergies can be severe and there are cases when the children and teens have died. According to the independent organization called the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).

"Symptoms of soy allergy are typically mild, although anaphylaxis is possible. Soybean allergy is one of the more common food allergies, especially among babies and children." - The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (Education)

While the concern is that death is possible its not likely in adults according to all the research we could discover. We also discovered that there is research that has found that children can outgrow these allergies. Most interesting is that allergies appear as symptoms similar to other illness. Some of the research can be found at the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) with links to many of the abstracts.

"Hidden” allergens in foods - One clear message from the literature is that most fatal and near-fatal reactions happen when eating away from home. Individuals with severe food hypersensitivity should probably avoid processed foods. If it is necessary to purchase these foods, they should be made by a reliable manufacturer. Parents and children can learn to scrutinize food labels carefully. Unfortunately, the multiplicity of possible names for any one ingredient may let a hidden allergen slip by. If possible, hypoallergenic formulas should be tested in each case before being prescribed for children sensitive to cow’s milk. The very sensitive individual should wear a Medic Alert bracelet and carry an epinephrine (adrenaline) self-injector at all times. Less sensitive individuals may need to carry antihistamines with them. Fortunately, many individuals lose their reactivity to foods over time, albeit not completely in some." The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Preventative Measures)

While soy allergies are real there are many food allergies found in other processed products as well. While processing makes life more convenient for families on the go there is a health cost that may be too expensive for us to live with. In any event we do have to strongly suggest not giving pork barbecue to children under any circumstances. Who knew that there would be a food category "for adults only!"

"North Carolina Firm Recalls Brunswick Stew Products due to Undeclared Allergens - recalling 414 lbs. of Brunswick stew products because they contain cracker meal with undeclared allergens, wheat and milk, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Wheat and milk are known allergens, which are not declared on the label." USDA (April 29, 2010)

It's the date of above recall that lead us to see that the second recall was more USDA due diligence after the wheat and milk recall from months before the soy recall. The problem isn't with the product from the Murphy House. We're familiar with the company nor its products and news reports tend to be more headlines than in depth stories.

"Virginia Firm Recalls Imported Prosciutto Products Due To Potential Listeria Contamination - International Gourmet, a Springfield, Va., establishment, is recalling approximately 70 pounds of prosciutto products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced..." USDA (May 5, 2010)

International Gourmet is more of a distributor than manufacturer and the recall stems from problems at the factory that got caught too late. We're not blaming them but since we've started this section and Springfield Virginia is in our region we had to include it. Again if living a long life or a better life is of concern to you - you might want to give up the processed meats. If you want to know what to eat and what not to eat there's plenty of research to support the list from Dr. Susan Merola McCoon, Fayetteville, NC.

Aspirin Prevents Bowel Cancer

We've always supported the use of aspirin and we've also spoken on how scientific research can be misused to mislead and aspirin was our example. Aspirin has been found to be successful for reducing heart damage or high blood pressure but not heart attacks, and now cancer of the colon. Aspirin has not been found effect in stopping stab wounds or automobile accidents. It's not meant to. Research into such things would not be useful except to disparage or discourage aspirin use. It's affordable, available and well tested.

"Aspirin taken for several years at doses of at least 75 mg daily reduced long-term incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer. Benefit was greatest for cancers of the proximal colon, which are not otherwise prevented effectively by screening with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy." - The LANCET (Interpretation)

We also spoken on the amount used. In the recently release study more aspirin has been more effective. In the past we talked about governments recommend use levels but also the effects and concerns of toxicity in exceeding recommended amounts. Indeed in the studies the researchers spoke on this very issue of the twenty (20) year over fourteen thousand (14,032) Brits, Dutch, and Sweds participants:

"High-dose aspirin (≥500 mg daily) reduces long-term incidence of colorectal cancer, but adverse effects might limit its potential for long-term prevention. The long-term effectiveness of lower doses (75—300 mg daily) is unknown. We assessed the effects of aspirin on incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer in relation to dose, duration of treatment, and site of tumour." - The LANCET (Background)

We know its more of a review of one specific study on the power of the aspirin. Aspirin works and if you're concerned about colorectal cancer you might want to add it to your medical regime if you FIRST discuss your intention with your primary care physician. According to the current research in the British Journal THE LANCET. So we do mention the publication in some of our stories but there is a caveat. Well there is now. The World Health Organization (WHO) finds some flaws with the publication:

"WHO disputes Lancet's report on number of malaria deaths in India - The World Health Organization has disputed the findings of a study on malaria that claimed the number of Indians dying from the mosquito-borne disease each year 13 times higher than the United Nations health agency's estimate. The study was published in the British medical journal Lancet. The research claimed that malaria causes 200,000 deaths in India every year. However, the WHO estimates that 15,000 malarial deaths take place each year in India." - OneIndia (ANI)

We don't often quote OneIndia either. We do so to say that the review of the review shouldn't be considered the final word on the subject. Neither we nor the Lancet are the final words on the matter. Aspirin - GOOD. Bowel cancer - BAD. The final word on the subject may come from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREEE) international study.

"This research study is the largest international trial ever funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and is being conducted in partnership with over 21 clinics and universities across the United States." - ASPREE (English Brochure)

While the study won't really affect or apply to us (God willing and the creek don't rise) if we live to a ripe old age the results might be useful to us. Prior research has already demonstrated the success of aspirin and taking a low dose a day has shown to be more useful than not. What the study doesn't do that we have concerns with is that it doesn't appear to be focusing on interactions among the elderly. We know of no cases where seniors are NOT on multiple medications. Nor do we support giving any senior a placebo for five (5) years when aspirin has proven to be so effective.

"Women's Health Study Researchers Publish Landmark Findings - Nancy Cook, ScD served as the lead investigator on the low-dose aspirin and cancer analyses, and I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD was the lead investigator of the vitamin E and cardiovascular and cancer analyses. “As a result of our findings, we do not suggest doctors recommend low-dose aspirin therapy for primary prevention of cancer,” Cook said. WHS analyses could not rule out benefits of higher doses of aspirin, and Cook and her colleagues recommend additional study. Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

The study contradicts the American research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston. The twelve (12) year forty-thousand (40,000) women study. Except it doesn't. The BWH Women's Health Study (WHS) concerns low dose aspirin and "breast, colorectal and other site-specific cancers." The results from that study which included the use of Vitamin E and cancer. It's the contradictions in the findings that makes the study so interesting. Vitamin E doesn't work says the researchers.

"Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

I-Min Lee is, in our humble opinion, wrong. The research says the researchers are wrong. Rather, the research indicates that its not completely correct in their assessment. While vitamin E and aspirin do NOT prevent cancer or disease. Yet, if we take aspirin and vitamin E we won't be among those numbers of the dead and dying that do not. Research shows that as well.

Soy Safe Breasts

We disagree with the American Heart Association's (AHA) conclusions on soy. It's not that they're wrong or that their statements are incorrect. The AHA conclusions are misleading. Our newest associate editor accused us of trying to kill him because we fed him vegetables. He claims he's allergic to vegetables, jokingly. The American Heart Association (AHA) will later conclude that soy is not bad for you. We think that's not strong enough in support of soy.

"AHA Comments to FDA on Soy Protein and Coronary Heart Disease Health Claim - at this time the totality of evidence linking soy protein consumption with reduced risk of coronary heart disease is not sufficient to meet the standards of significant scientific agreement (SSA). Thus, AHA strongly recommends that FDA revoke the soy protein and CHD health claim. We understand that if the FDA decides to revoke this SSA health claim, the Agency could consider allowing its use as a qualified health claim. We urge FDA not to do so. Consumer research conducted by AHA, FDA, and others has repeatedly shown that despite the presence of qualifying language, consumers do not understand qualified health claims and do not understand that they are based on limited and varying degrees of evidence. Therefore, AHA does not support the use of qualified health claims; only health claims meeting the SSA standard should be permitted." - American Heart Association (May 1, 2008)

Headlines don't help and the news reports you read or view don't have the time to accurately explain the research results. The American Heart Association (AHA) is accurate saying that soy protein doesn't prevent cancer. Neither does beef or pork prevent cancer or heart disease. If you have to eat a soy burger, hamburger or pork chop you'll be better off eating the soy than any of the alternatives. While soy protein might not be heart healthy processed soy is better than processed meat as an alternative. It might not make you live forever it would be better if you ate tofu, cooked soy beans with your unprocessed soy milk that you made yourself. That's more likely to keep you alive than any of the processed alternatives.

"Effect of soy isoflavones on breast cancer recurrence and death for patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy - Of the original 524 patients, we were able to contact 508 directly for follow-up in July 2008. Among the 16 patients who could not be contacted directly, the mortality registry revealed 10 deaths. For six patients there was no match in the registry, and we assumed that they were still living. The total number of deaths was 154, and 132 of these were due to breast cancer. The other causes of death were cardiovascular disease (12 patients), respiratory disease (5), other cancers (2) and other causes (3)." - Canadian Medical Association Journal (October 18, 2010)

How can soy be good for you two (2) years ago but good for you now? The answer is in the processing of food as compared to unprocessed food. Soy protein is processed soy isoflavones is unprocessed and actually part of the waste product from processing soy. It's like comparing apples to cinnamon sweeten applesauce. It's not all soy and soy is better and healthier for you than any meat alternatives. Soy is as a vegetables the lowest in fats. Meats can't compete.

"In this study, high dietary intake of soy isoflavones was associated with reduced risk of recurrence of disease among postmenopausal patients with estrogen- and progesterone-receptor positive breast cancer and those who were receiving anastrozole as endocrine therapy. This finding is potentially important in terms of recommendations for intake of soy isoflavones in conjunction with endocrine therapy. Large multicentre clinical trials and other observational epidemiologic studies are needed to confirm these findings." - Canadian Medical Association Journal (October 18, 2010)

While the American Heart Association (AHA) may not be convinced we think there is more than ample evidence that soy is heart smart and healthy. While this might not apply to all soy processed products we maintain that the research is clear and getting clearer all the time. There were earlier stories that indicated the contrary but again those stories results often contradicted the studies. For instance the evidence might not have made soy the superfood that on its own was miraculous. We think soy in combination with the basics recommendations of the AHA was more healthful than previously thought.

"Dietary Soy and Increased Risk of Bladder Cancer, the Singapore Chinese Health Study - We caution that our novel finding of a positive association between soy and bladder cancer risk is based on a relatively short period of follow-up and a modest number of cancer cases. If this provocative observation is confirmed by others, laboratory studies to delineate possible mechanisms will be needed. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (December 2002)

There are other items in nature and health that if you don't want to be bothered with soy have been scientifically effective. We're convinced of the effectiveness of soy but can understand if you aren't convinced. You don't need to take our word or the word of the above mentioned organizations and institutions. Just because an institution isn't based in the United States of America doesn't mean their facts or rather research should be ignored. Often the off-shore universities work in cooperation and collusion with US institutions of higher learning to share methods and methodologies.

Bitter Melon Extract Attacks Breast Cancer Cells - Early Research Points to Promising Area of Research - The extract from a vegetable that is common in India and China shows promise in triggering a chain of events that kills breast cancer cells and prevents them from multiplying, a Saint Louis University researcher has found. Ratna Ray, Ph.D., professor in the department of pathology at Saint Louis University and lead researcher, said she was surprised that the extract from the bitter melon she cooks in stir fries inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells. "To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the effect of bitter melon extract on cancer cells," Ray said. "Our result was encouraging. We have shown that bitter melon extract significantly induced death in breast cancer cells and decreased their growth and spread." - Saint Louis University (February 23, 2010)

One of the weaknesses in much of the research is in the reporting to researchers. The individuals reported their behavior to researchers. While this might be significant in a small study history has shown the success of soy in both animals and human trials. While much of the research has centered on breast cancer research specifically in girls and women soy has other benefits as well. You might not trust soy be we're soy believers. We think that more unprocessed soy is digested the more effective its health benefits would be felt on the human body.

"A New Frontier in Soy Bioactive Peptides that May Prevent Age-related Chronic Diseases - Soybean proteins can be a source of bioactive peptides with diverse and unique health benefits that can be used in the prevention of age-related chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, and decreased immune function. Bioactive peptides are released from proteins by either food processing or by GI digestion. Indirect evidence also suggests that these peptides can be absorbed by the GI system thus exerting their action on specific target organs. Other peptides do not need to be absorbed and act at the intestinal level. However, understanding whether digestion of food proteins in vivo releases the same peptide fragments as the ones in vitro experiments is an important question. Also, the effective plasma levels of bioactive peptides are unknown and need to be determined. In comparison with milk, research on bioactive peptides from soybean is far from complete." - Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (November 20, 2006)

If we didn't convince you - you just might want to try soy and we looked for the specifics in the research that we might personally duplicate for better health. Well try anything as long as its not exercise. We're not allergic to exercise we just remember the quote from Mark Twain. "Whenever we feel the urge to exercise we lie down until it goes away." Since that kind of thinking can lead to an early death we look for foods we can consume to keep death at bay. We look to soy and all the soy research that leads us to that conclusion.

"Soy Peptide Lunasin Has Anti-Cancer, Anti-Inflammatory Properties - "We confirmed lunasin's bioavailability in the human body by doing a third study in which men consumed 50 grams of soy protein--one soy milk shake and a serving of soy chili daily--for five days. Significant levels of the peptide in the participants' blood give us confidence that lunasin-rich soy foods can be important in providing these health benefits," said Elvira de Mejia, a U of I professor of food science and human nutrition." - University of Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana (December 2, 2009)

Our focus because of PearlieMae has been breast cancer. Soy's benefits aren't new neither are results that say its so. We wish that more of the bigger more familiar institutions of higher learning we more in the research of soy. We will admit that many of the smaller, meaning less trust worthy institutions are sources for much of the information. We don't admit that their research is any less trust worthy only that when you think of the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico you don't immediately think of as scientific worthy of award and acclaim.

"Children’s Hospital Oakland Scientists Discover Soy Component May be Key to Fighting Colon Cancer - Soy has long been touted as protective against colon cancer, but Dr. Saba’s team made the groundbreaking discovery that SDs naturally found in soy may underlie the benefits of soy products. Dr. Saba and her team first identified SDs in the fruit fly, an organism that is sometimes used to study the genetics of human diseases. Further investigation indicated that elevated SDs actually induced the death of mutant cells in the fly, revealing SDs to be cytotoxic compounds (toxic to cells). Preventative colon cancer strategies often focus on cell death—a normal process the body uses to remove unhealthy or mutant cells, like cancer cells. Coupling this discovery with the finding that soy is a rich source of SDs, researchers made an innovative connection." - Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland (November 24,2009)

We aren't fruit flies and again this is the only study on soy and cancer. We still think its better to eat your way to health than sweat your way to health. We don't deny the benefits from exercise. We're just reminded of the TV commercials for the Biggest Loser and the woman contestant who said that her workout "was harder than giving birth." TV trainers who proclaim: "You thought the other person was hard you ain't seen nothing yet." We imagine passing out from the sweat and strain of working out. That's before we even begin to exercise.

"Diet Can Provide Protection against Development of Certain Cancers, New Studies Show - With cancer, researchers don't believe "you are what you eat" -- that disease is always a direct result of what is, or what isn't, on your dinner plate. But studies into the association between diet and cancer show that food can have an impact in preventing cancer, or in reducing the aggressiveness of the disease. At the American Association for Cancer Research's Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting, investigators have found that eating fish regularly as an adult, or soy as a young girl, or using a specific vitamin if you are a smoker, can help to protect against development of certain cancers. Another study found that blood cholesterol, some of which comes from eating animal fats, doesn't control whether a man develops prostate cancer, but lower levels of these lipids may help protect against aggressive forms of the disease. The researchers say these studies provide some of the strongest links found to date between diet and cancer."  - American Association for Cancer Research (November 14, 2006)

The implication from this earlier research are clear. While later conclusions are that you can't eat your way to good health it appears from earlier research is that to survive the leading indicators of death requires a proper diet as well as exercise. We tend to place our focus on food rather than work. We'd rather add soy and "gold pepper" to our diet with the proper supplements to intensify the effectiveness of all than to grunt and strain under the watchful eye of a scowling trainer. However it is better to workout with a buddy than alone. We support that as well. Soy and a buddy for better breast health.

Vitamin D Prevents

Back in the "gold pepper" story we suggested, based on our experiences, that we all use Vitamin D in combination to make the effects more efficient. Today we found what we thought was the story concerning the effectiveness of Vitamin D in the prevention of breast cancer. The story wasn't from a well-known or respected news source, though we thought it was. We found the story but the research seemed to say something different and we got so excited we didn't know what to do:

"Serum Vitamin D and Cancer Mortality in the NHANES III Study (1988-2006) - Vitamin D has been hypothesized to protect against cancer. We followed 16,819 participants in NHANES III from 1988 through 2006, expanding upon an earlier NHANES III study (1988-2000). Using Cox proportional hazard regression models, we examined risk related to baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) for total cancer mortality, in both sexes, and by racial/ethnic groups, as well as for site-specific cancers. Because serum was collected in the south in cooler months and the north in warmer months, we examined associations by collection season ("summer/higher latitude" and "winter/lower latitude"). We identified 884 cancer deaths during 225,212 person-years." - Cancer Research (OnlineFirst)

That's all we can afford, the free abstract, so we don't know the best part that works, for instance, how much worked or needed. The information that we would need to speculate might be in the parts of the research to which we didn't have access. We don't need to access the full research and we will admit that we sometimes miss crucial information that won't be found in the abstract. Which is why we often go to the source institution to find their plain English press releases on their research that often isn't in either the headlines or the story.

“Vitamin D Status Is Not Associated With Risk for Less Common Cancers - We did not see lower cancer risk in persons with high vitamin D blood concentrations compared to normal concentrations for any of these cancers,” said Demetrius Albanes, M.D., NCI, one of the study investigators. “And, at the other end of the vitamin D spectrum, we did not see higher cancer risk for participants with low levels.” - National Cancer Institute (News)

Its hard to ignore a thirty-three (33) year study even if it is from a US government agency. We don't generally question the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the US National Institutes of Health. We don't also take their word at face value. We question. We doubt. We check and we verify. Consider it checked, doubted and verified.

"Researchers and clinicians have looked to the possibility that vitamin D might be used for cancer prevention. Some evidence indicates that higher levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, though the evidence is inconsistent. Through the Vitamin D Pooling Project, researchers had access to a geographically and demographically diverse group of men and women, including participants from the United States, Finland, and China." - National Cancer Institute (News)

That's the doubting part that we talked about. The US found one results and the Chinese found another with a more diverse albeit smaller group. We think the difference is in the amount of Vitamin D used to achieve a different result than in America. We aren't scientists and we didn't have access to the full US results but we speculate that since the US minimums are substantially different than levels recommended by US doctors and even Canadian doctors that matters. It is speculation. We also admit that. We're not ready to dismiss the power of Vitamin D which is and has been shown to be effective.

"There appear to be many health benefits associated with adequate intake of vitamin D, including suggestive evidence with colorectal and breast cancers. While the available data are promising, we need to learn a lot more about vitamin D and its potential health effects. We plan continued study of this remarkable nutrient, which will help resolve the many remaining questions." - Nurses' Health Study Newsletter (2008)

Not our opinion but the opinions reached by those with more information and education that all of us combined. We know. This is for those who say the news says one thing one day and another thing the next - you just don't know what to believe. We say you can and you should know what to believe. The news can't give you the nuances that you need to be able to discern your beliefs. We says its in the math. Number of years, number of participants and amounts given thats the math you need to know to firm up your beliefs. If you want to be in the know.

"Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren - This study suggests that vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter may reduce the incidence of influenza A, especially in specific subgroups of schoolchildren." - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (March 2010)

That's the power of vitamin D just in time for those with grandchildren or children, if you're so blessed, flu season and fears that the vaccine could harm them. We say don't be afraid and that your fears are largely unfounded - but we will admit what's true for the majority isn't true for everyone. You have to do what's right for you and your situation. Vitamin D seems to be, if you're not overly supplementing yourself and family now, the answer to vaccine fears.

The amounts given to the children exceed what the government says is the safe high limit for the vitamin. Though the amount given the children didn't exceed the government limits plus the "safe upper limit." While vitamin D can be toxic what the government considers recommended levels aren't the same amounts that professionals recommend.

"Can vitamin D be harmful? - Signs of toxicity include nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. And by raising blood levels of calcium, too much vitamin D can cause confusion, disorientation, and problems with heart rhythm. Excess vitamin D can also damage the kidneys. The safe upper limit for vitamin D is 1,000 IU/day for infants and 2,000 IU for children and adults. Vitamin D toxicity almost always occurs from overuse of supplements. Excessive sun exposure doesn't cause vitamin D poisoning because the body limits the amount of this vitamin it produces." - National Institutes of Health (Consumer Fact Sheet)

We're not comfortable recommending exceeding levels beyond what the researchers used in their research. We are curious as to their intentions of the researchers in exceeding the levels in trying to achieve their findings. Again since we can't afford to access the entire study we can't speculate as to what their motivations might have been. We can speculate that researchers don't expect government recommended levels to contribute to our overall health. That's what we'd like to see researched.

"Osteoporosis guide to help treat brittle bones - Take 400 to 1,000 IUs of vitamin D per day for those aged less than 50, and 800 to 2,000 IUs daily for those 50 and older." - CBCNews (Oct 12, 2010)

We weren't comfortable recommending exceeding the US government's levels but the Canadian government feels comfortable doing so for those older than 50. The research shows that illnesses and age can be a time where we get comfortable with what we eat which probably doesn't include a wide variety of fresh foods nor much sunlight all of which decreases our vitamin D levels. When we made our prior suggestions it was without full knowledge of the current research though there was plenty of prior studies that made the suggestion more than likely.

"A recent review article published by Loyola's nursing school researchers concluded that adequate intake of vitamin D may prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and reduce complications for those who have already been diagnosed." -  Loyola University Health System (Newswire)

When we buy vitamin D we go for the cheapest price rather than for any concern for its form. Until the most recent research we bought by the International Unit rather than whether its natural or synthetic. We didn't even realize until we made a recent purchase of the supplement that it was available in two (2) forms. When we sought information from the purchaser we discovered conflicting information than that available from our government.

"Vitamin D is found in supplements (and fortified foods) in two different forms: D2 (ergocalciferol) and D3 (cholecalciferol). Both increase vitamin D in the blood, but the D3 form may do it better and keep levels raised for a longer time. Many supplements now provide vitamin D3 instead of D2." - National Institutes of Health (Consumer Fact Sheet)

What excited us even further was that the vitamin was good at reducing children's chances of contracting the flu. We'd like to speculate that what would work with children would also work with teens and seniors. That isn't quite what the study says. The indication is that prior use might even work against you in the protection department.

"Vitamin D better than vaccines at preventing flu, report claims - Altogether 354 children took part in the trial, which took place during the winter of 2008-09, before the swine flu epidemic. Vitamin D was found to protect against influenza A, which caused last year's epidemic, but not against the less common influenza B." - The Sunday Times (March 15, 2010)

The same way we suggested adding Vitamin D to "gold pepper" to make its health effect work efficient and effective when it comes to the maximum amount of Vitamin D protection combining D with calcium has a more profound and health effect as well. We know you're going to tell us the headline that calcium use can hurt you but if you read the specifics you'll discover the following:

"Calcium pills may raise heart attack risk - A recent study suggested a link between calcium and heart attacks, so researchers from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, reviewed 11 studies of people taking calcium, without also taking vitamin D, which included almost 12,000 people." - CDCNews (July 30, 2010)

That's true that calcium is bad for your heart if you don't take it in combination. Would we speculate that you should add calcium to "gold pepper" and vitamin D? No, not just yet. We need more research to make us take that step. After all we aren't doctors and review the news on health and not the science as much as what's behind the science. Even if we were doctors its doubtful that we'd still be likely to make or take the step of making that speculation. We've been concerned about reactions from combinations and regardless of the source of the supplements they're still chemicals. Reactions are still a major concern.

Boils and Troubles

We got a call today from a family member who'd been hospitalized and asked if we could do a story on their condition. As always we research the illness by finding the most recent studies and in the "blogosphere" there's a blog for everything. Unfortunately there isn't much science or medicine behind the suggestions or treatments. What we did like is the personal "points of views" addressing their own issues.

"Boils are often caused by poor hygiene or diseases and conditions that cause a weakened immune system or a low resistance to infection. A boil can also be a complication of folliculitis. Symptoms of a boil include swelling or a reddened lump that develops in the skin. The swelling eventually emerges to the skin's surface and comes to a head of pus. In some cases a boil can lead to potentially serious complications, such as septicemia." - Wrong Diagnosis (Boils)

The problem is that people are nasty and need to be better at taking care of themselves. Really that's the problem? Suppose you're not physically able to take care of yourself. Suppose you have a health issue that makes it either painful or impossible for you to take care of yourself. Or suppose you're old or just dependent upon someone else for your personal care for some reason.

"Hospitalizations of the elderly for bloodstream infections rose sharply in the early to mid-1990s - Elderly people are at particular risk of developing septicemia (bloodstream infection) and dying from it. Unfortunately, during the 1990s, there was a substantial, unexplained increase in the rate of elderly men and women in this country who were hospitalized for septicemia, according to William B. Baine, M.D., of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Dr. Baine and his colleagues William Yu, M.A., and James P. Summe, M.S., used Medicare claims data for hospital discharges from 1991 through 1998 to study nearly 76,000 hospitalizations for septicemia or bacteremia in patients aged 65 or older." - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Health Care for the Elderly)

When the problem happens in an institution other than a nursing facility, say maybe like a hospital is the problem that a hospital is nasty? This major problem in 2005 is still with us some five (5) years later especially in this age of budgetary restraints. While the bodies haven't been counted in our region (we'll start counting next week). The trend has been spotted in other cash strapped areas (California).

"The number of Americans treated in hospitals for septicemia—potentially deadly bacterial infection of the blood stream also known as blood poisoning—increased from 666,000 cases in 1993 to over 1 million cases in 2003, according to the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality." - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ News and Numbers)

We understand the "blame the victim" mentality that exist in science research. We don't support it but we do understand it. For example when skin diseases were starting to be discovered in greater and more deadly numbers among young athletes know for their skills as well as their strict hygienic requirements. The matter had to be addressed and the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) who issued this statement in the Journal of Athletic Training:

"National Athletic Trainers' Association Position Statement: Skin Diseases - The nature of athletics exposes the skin of its participants to a wide variety of stresses. Trauma, environmental factors, and infectious agents act together to continually attack the integrity of the skin. Combined with the close quarters shared by athletes and generally poor hygiene practices, it is not difficult to see why skin infections cause considerable disruption to individual and team activities." - Journal of Athletic Training (July/August 2010)

The problem is that athletes don't clean themselves well enough according to the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Ignoring the facts that the athletics use what's available to them. Fortunately CBS News and no other news outlet was fooled. They all saw the report differently than the NATA.

"Don't Let Germy Gyms Get You Sick - Gyms Are Crawling With Germs, Experts Say, but There Are Things You Can Do to Keep Them From Making You Ill - A recent paper on skin diseases published by the National Athletic Trainers' Association says it's imperative that you wipe down those machines and mats if you want to guard against infection. The report covers everything from the towels to use and when to shower." CBS News (August 2010)

Some people even suggest that its another reason to avoid going to the gym altogether. Which is something we can agree with because it means not working out or paying for the privilege of paying for it. We think of our gym membership as preventative health care. Now as we consider looking for ways to cut our personal budget we'll consider eliminating our membership - all in the interest of saying money, you understand? We're doing it to fiscally responsible.

"Folliculitis is often caused by an infection that occurs after shaving, waxing, tweezing and other types of hair removal methods. Folliculitis can also be caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which may be growing in hot tubs that are not properly maintained. Making a diagnosis of folliculitis begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination. Folliculitis can generally be diagnosed based on symptoms, history of hair removal or hot tub use, and a physical exam." - Wrong Diagnosis (Introduction)

So you can wash those hands and feet as much as you'd like and as often as you'd like the facts are the facts. Soap isn't as good as anti-bacterials and communal towels (paper or cloth) are better than electric hand-dryers. You know the kind found only in institutions those kind of electric hand dryers.

We speculate that the problem is one that many men here suffer from. We have favorite clothing that we should have long discarded. The clothes while comfortable have become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. We need to discard items long before they become "comfortable" our athletic clothing, socks and shoes, especially shower slides or sandle thongs. Again its just speculation based on the causes CBS and others have other suggestions that might work as well.

Genetic Shapes Of Us

"It's not my fault" that "I'm big boned," "it runs in my family." We remember hearing this from all of our larger than us friends. We didn't believe it then but the current news gives us cause for pause. Not just because we were so insensitively wrong but hopeful because its consistent with our there's got to be another way other than exercising. We admit we need to not be idle and that activity is good.

"‘Apple and pear shapes: partly down to genes - Understanding biology through finding genes is just a first step in a long journey towards treatment, but it is a vital one. As efforts to tackle obesity through changes in lifestyle or by different treatment options have proved extremely challenging, the potential to alter patterns of fat distribution may offer an alternative for future drug discovery,' says Dr Cecilia Lindgren of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford University, senior researcher on the waist-to-hip ratio study and who was involved in both papers." - University of Oxford (Media)

"Extremely challenging" is a nice way of saying raging failure in the effort of getting us smaller. It reminds us of the old Steve Martin joke about "getting small." In it instead of taking drugs to expand your mind or alter your consciousness you'd take a pill to become physically smaller. That would be the real fun! What would not be real fun is that the solution is looking toward a chemically traditional solution rather than what we would like.

"‘These two studies are the beginning of new insights into to biology of obesity and body shape, which in turn may lead to more targeted approaches to obesity prevention and potentially to the development of new drugs. But we should not forget that, while the genetic contribution to obesity is substantial, a large part of obesity susceptibility remains down to our lifestyle.’" - University of Oxford (Media)

What they've found isn't all there is and that the solution even if yours, and we're not saying that you're fat, gene issue isn't among the ones found there are more to be discovered. Its not all your fault but its not all your lot either. Large sibling can have smaller siblings and share the similar genetic strains. There is hope and you should never feel hopeless. Once a drug solution is found a natural alternative has to be just around the corner.

"The studies were carried out by the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) consortium, an international collaboration of more than 400 scientists from 280 research institutions with support from many funding agencies worldwide. The papers, Meta-analysis identifies 13" new loci associated with waist-hip ratio and reveals sexual dimorphism in the genetic basis of fat distribution and Association analyses of 249 796 individuals reveal 18 new loci associated with body mass index, are published today in Nature Genetics." - Medical Research Council (MRC)

Is it a medical fact? No not yet but it is a medical certainty. The hope it offers is to those who have struggled with their weight but have not given up regardless of their results. It's not all your fault and it is largely where you live, who were your parents, what you eat and what you do (employment). There are things we can do to reduce those risks and we should and teach our next generations as well.

Cause and Effect

Genetics isn't the final word for medicine and medical breakthroughs. It is one of the many futures available to us and to our tomorrows. The Medical Research Council (MRC) is on the right path is our opinion and we support most of what they seek to do. We say most and not all. The MRC seeks to do research is several areas:

"New strategy advocates joint approach to ageing research challenges - Researchers need to find ways to help people live healthier, more independent lives as they age, not just to improve individual quality of life, but to ease the economic strain of an increasingly older population. " - Medical Research Council (MRC)

We're not so much concerned about the economic strain of social security because we're on the other side of the debate. We see an older population as a contributing factor and under utilized societal resource. Rather than an economic strain we see them as economic resource more asset than strain.

"Genetic cause for migraine found - A genetic defect that is a key cause of migraines has been identified by researchers funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). The new study offers researchers new hope for finding better treatments for the common form of migraine. Scientists at the MRC Functional Genomics Unit based at the University of Oxford and colleagues in Canada have identified a specific gene called TRESK found in a family suffering from migraines. This gene was found to be directly attributable as a cause and could be a significant result for the one in five (5) women and one in ten men worldwide who suffer from migraines. " - Medical Research Council (MRC)

When MRC makes these kind of discoveries we're more than happy with them. We agree with the Medical Research Council though their concern is primarily with the United Kingdom (UK). "Ageing is inevitable, but it is not uniform. It is influenced by a variety of factors including genetics and socioeconomic circumstances and average life expectancy varies ..." Specifically there are difference between the UK and the USA but we would argue not significant genetic differences. Therefore the solutions found there or anywhere would not be significant.

Arthritis Gold Pepper

Arthritis is back in the news and we immediately went to available treatments for this affliction especially since when combined with obesity is a larger problem for everyone. Gnarled bones and appendages does not make exercise either desirable nor comfortable. The more pain you have the less likely you are to move the body to reduce the pain. Your first desire is to simply reduce the pain.

We looked closer into turmeric treatment for arthritis and discovered that our suggestion to add the spice to your food, while it couldn't hurt, doesn't offer enough relief though it is a good, in our minds, way of thinking "brown." The research in 2006 found:

"Efficacy and mechanism of action of turmeric supplements in the treatment of experimental arthritis - ...before turmeric supplements can be recommended for medicinal use, clinical trials are clearly needed to verify/determine whether treatment with adequate doses of well-characterized turmeric extracts can indeed prevent/suppress disease flares in RA patients, as well as to explore any potential benefits of turmeric dietary supplements in the prevention or treatment of more common forms of arthritis in the general population." - Arthritis & Rheumatism (November 2006)

The researchers tested administering the turmeric in rats with injections. When you add piperine to curcumin and feed them to rats or human volunteers the amount that was absorped was greatly increased. It seems that piperine has an affect of making the effects much more effective. Called "bioavailability" adding spices can add life to your living. Spices are the key to life:

"Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: a review of diverse physiological effects - Piperine has been documented to enhance the bioavailability of a number of therapeutic drugs as well as phytochemicals by this very property. Piperine's bioavailability enhancing property is also partly attributed to increased absorption as a result of its effect on the ultrastructure of intestinal brush border. Although initially there were a few controversial reports regarding its safety as a food additive, such evidence has been questionable, and later studies have established the safety of black pepper or its active principle, piperine, in several animal studies. Piperine, while it is non-genotoxic, has in fact been found to possess anti-mutagenic and anti-tumor influences." - Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2007)

We're going to be adding black pepper, curcumin, turmeric allspice blends to all of our meals. While it isn't the "Big 10" doing the research and indeed few institutions of high learning in the US are doing the studies either. Most of this we can understand as very few school can afford to provide the necessary funding when there isn't a payoff to the institution in funding. Since above mentioned study is India based and a major source of the turmeric or curcumin for the country and possibly for the institution. We'll take the benefits where we can. Now what should we call this concoction of ours? We're thinking gold pepper!

"Vitamin D, curcumin may help clear amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer's - UCLA scientists and colleagues from UC Riverside and the Human BioMolecular Research Institute have found that a form of vitamin D, together with a chemical found in turmeric spice called curcumin, may help stimulate the immune system to clear the brain of amyloid beta, which forms the plaques considered the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease." - UCLA Newsroom (July 2009)

Add vitamin D supplement to make everything work better. Take a vitamin D pill just before we add the "gold pepper" to our meals and we're protected or better off than we were before the day began. We're healthier and stronger than we would be without it. It's not exercise but its a good start. Making everything work more effectively seems so efficient.

Take 2 Aspirins & Exercise

This is not the story we wanted to write. If it says that exercise is good for you and you need to exercise then who really needs to read that again and again. Besides the information isn't recent its kind of old. It's being repeated by the Caregiver's Home Companion and called to our attention. We don't care to know what we already know. The good news is it doesn't take much exercise and there is a way to super-size the effects of the exercise. We just don't like the way to make the exercise more effective.

"Elderly Restore Muscle with Painkillers while Exercising - Elderly men and women who lift weights for exercise experience a substantial increase in their muscle mass when they take the daily recommended dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen, according to Ball State University researchers." - Caregiver's Home Companion (June 2008)

We went to the source to verify the information and we include the report and the research directly from Ball State University (BSU) website after we found the information presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 conference in San Diego. The techno babble is what we look for before we find the plain English. There the researchers said:

"This study examined the influence of chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during 12 weeks of knee-extensor resistance training in the elderly. Thirty-six (36) individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups and consumed the drugs in double-blind placebo-controlled fashion... These results suggest that chronic consumption of ibuprofen or acetaminophen during resistance training induces intramuscular changes that enhance the metabolic response to resistance exercise, which promotes additional muscle hypertrophy and strength gains during resistance training in the elderly." - The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2008) 

At the BSU website we found what it all meant. Our concern was what was meant by the term chronic consumption. We take the occasional low dose of aspirin for daily health the same as we go for the dark chocolate each evening as a health regiment. We recommend that all the time. Science says its good for you so that's good enough for us. We find all we can that says we can do something other than sweat and grunt.

 "Combining pain relievers with weight training may increase muscle strength, mass - Thirty-six men and women, between age 60 and 78 years, were randomly assigned to daily dosages of either brand versions of ibuprofen, acetaminophen or a placebo. The dosages were identical to those recommended by the manufacturers and were selected to most closely mimic what chronic users of these medicines were likely to be taking. Subjects participated in three months of weight training that included 15- to 20-minute sessions three (3) times a week in the Human Performance Laboratory." - Ball State University NewsCenter (April 2008)

 If you're going to exercise you can increase the benefits of your workout but taking either aspirin or acetaminophen. That's the good news. We're including the story because we were told to and because we discovered that tumeric is considered "Asian aspirin." Which makes us speculate that adding the spice to your daily diet prior to exercising with offer the same or comparable results as well. We admit that this is speculation based on the results. We also can't ignore the size of the study it's not a large group studied.

"Exercise but not Diet Induced Weight Loss Decreases Skeletal Muscle Inflammatory Gene Expression in Frail Obese Elderly - Many obese elderly persons have impaired physical function due to increased body fat relative to strength. We evaluated 12 weeks of exercise (aerobic and resistance, E) or 12 weeks of weight loss (WL) on skeletal muscle... ...exercise in frail obese elderly individuals had a beneficial effect on markers of muscle anabolism and inflammation while weight loss had no effect." - The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (2008) 

The above information from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO is included simply because it was found at the same FASEB conference attended and presented by Ball State University. Did you know that David Letterman graduated from BSU? We don't know Mr. Letterman beyond viewing him on his late night program but we thought about that bit of trivia when we started doing this story.

Exercise works better than anything else including eating the right among of food. You have to do what works and doing the most effective way to exercise. It's not quite an exercise pill but it's a way of doing less and getting more from what you do.

Arizona Spice - Asian Aspirin

Arizona is not the most beloved state in the union and while you might disagree with their politics or you might not. When the University of Arizona Health Science Center found a way to double a person's chances of survival that wasn't the story as much as how ineffective traditional CPR is. We give credit where credit is due. If the research shows it then either find fault in the research or proclaim it what it is. We proclaim it what it is.

This independent authority released two startling pieces of information. One on improving CPR with CCCPR and the other on the value and effectiveness of tumeric on stroke and for stroke patients. Since heart attacks and stroke are pretty high up on our list of most popular ways to die we're paying attention.

"The spice that flavors curries may have double benefits for stroke patients. Leslie Ritter, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor in the UA Colleges of Nursing and Medicine, explains ischemic stroke and why turmeric may be protective." - The Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC)

We love natural solutions to medical conditions. We absolutely love them. Not just because they tend to be cheaper, safer, have higher survival rates, more effective - OK none of that might be true but we live and hope.

"Arizona Health Sciences Center researchers are discovering that turmeric, a cousin of the ginger plant and a spice used in cooking, is effective against some inflammatory diseases. UA College of Medicine Associate Professor Janet Funk, MD, discusses the spice and takes a look at turmeric supplements." - The Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC)

It's only because University of Arizona reached the conclusion that they did that we didn't challenge their finding. We like the videos very much. However, facts are facts and as much as we love what they had to say and the way that they say it we must admit this. We haven't seen the data that got them to reach their conclusions. The first (1st) video shows us the what and the second (2nd) video shows us the how much. It seems like a dangerous way to self medicate and we certainly don't ever recommend that you do that.

"Medical Breakthroughs - UCLA researchers have isolated an ingredient in curcumin that may help the immune system clear amyloid beta that forms the plaques found in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin is a natural substance found in the tumeric root that is frequently used in Indian curries. " - University of California at Los Angeles (2007)

Tumeric has a research history of showing promise and even if you're suspicious of anything Arizona you'll at least be happy to learning that UCLA found some value in in the same spice even if its for a possible other symptom. A symptom that's near and dear to our hearts and all things PearlieMae.

""We hope that vitamin D3 and curcumin, both naturally occurring nutrients, may offer new preventive and treatment possibilities for Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Milan Fiala, study author and a researcher at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System." - UCLA (July 2009)

We couldn't find the specific research in the July issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease but UCLA says it's there. We just couldn't find the specifics. We do, like UCLA, hope that the "naturally occurring nutrients" offer new treatments as well. We'll keep watching and keep reporting what we find to you.

We're Not Doctors But We're Here To Help You

While other editors got it right the editors at TIME magazine didn't quite get it right. We felt that if you can walk away from any health advice then that's good advice. In this case its not what you can do for yourself its what you can do for someone else. This Sunday this editor's wife observed someone who passed out in church. Her concern was that the person was no longer with us and that enough wasn't done to aid them. The news articles and research indicates that something is always better than nothing.

"The Case Against Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation - The study measured survival by hospital discharge: 13% heart patients who received chest-only compressions were discharged from the hospital, compared with 7.8% of those who received conventional CPR. Of those who received no resuscitation whatsoever, only 5.2% left the hospital, showing that whether you do mouth-to-mouth or not, doing something is better than doing nothing." - TIME (Healthland)

When you go to the source of the most current research even they don't give the source of their information though we're certain that it's just a matter of math. You know the kind from your school days where A is to B as B is to C. For instance Arizona Health Science Center said:

"Every three (3) days, more Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest than the number who died in the 9-11 attacks. " - The Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC) 

That's not what the headline would indicate in the TIME article. We've got some experience, as should anyone with a loved one, with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. What we learned and were told is that we should first do no harm and we're taught how and when giving aid - to do no harm. We were told that the first few minutes were crucial to the individuals survival.

"You can lessen this recurring loss by learning this hands-only CPR method that doubles a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. Watch physician researchers Gordon A. Ewy, MD, and Karl Kern, MD, demonstrate the easy, life-saving method that they developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine." - The Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC) 

Change is a good thing but if you're unwilling to take a chance on this non-mouth to mouth method you can always become certified by the American Red Cross who still teaches the old fashion cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) just like we did. However we're going to make the switch. Better is better to us and it's less to remember, not as intimate nor as personal.

"Prepare for Emergencies with American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Courses - American Red Cross first aid, CPR and AED programs are designed to give you the confidence to respond in an emergency situation with skills that can save a life. Additional training in bloodborne pathogens, oxygen administration and injury prevention can be added to CPR and first aid training to prepare you to prevent and respond to life-threatening emergencies." - American Red Cross (Taking A Class) 

There are a lot of statistics given about the risk of heart disease or heart attacks without sufficient indication of what specific research, by whom and what was used to get these numbers. If we're certain of one thing its that things change.

"Less than eight percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive." - American Heart Association (AHA) 

What's true today, if you make a change those same things, won't be true tomorrow. If you've not made any changes then yes what was true yesterday can be true today. To be honest, even if you make changes what was true yesterday can still be true today. If you make a change then its not unusual to see a change reflected but nothing is guaranteed.

"Heart Attack Risk Assessment - It's essential that you measure your risk of heart disease and make a plan for how to prevent it in the near future. Use this tool to help you assess your risk of having a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease in the next 10 years. It will also check to see if you may have metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that greatly increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, including stroke and diabetes. This Risk Assessment can be use by people age 20 or older who do not already have heart disease or diabetes." - American Heart Association (AHA) 

This tool might not change anything for you but like Continuous Chest Compression CPR - when you're in need sometimes a little can mean a lot. It can save a life and if you see a situation we hope you'll have the proper instructions. At the very least you'll view what you can - and do no harm.

The parishioner survived, did not suffer a stroke or heart attack but tests are still being performed. His condition is stable.

Preventing Breast Cancer

We're very concerned about this topic because of how it affected us through our families and the women in our lives and on our staff. PearlieMae's death was a result of her fear of breast cancer. The cancer spread from there to her back and into the bone . This being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month we thought we should contribute to its success. PearlieMae might have wanted it that way though we know she would shudder knowing we've revealed her "Big C" condition.

"The Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, a large, population-based cohort study of 5042 female breast cancer survivors in China. Women aged 20 to 75 years with diagnoses between March 2002 and April 2006 were recruited and followed up through June 2009. Information on cancer diagnosis and treatment, lifestyle exposures after cancer diagnosis, and disease progression was collected at approximately 6 months after cancer diagnosis and was reassessed at 3 follow-up interviews conducted at 18, 36, and 60 months after diagnosis. Annual record linkage with the Shanghai Vital Statistics Registry database was carried out to obtain survival information for participants who were lost to follow-up. Medical charts were reviewed to verify disease and treatment information." - Journal of the American Medical Association (December 9, 2009)

We're believers in soy products yet we're not certain that removing the other nutritional factors from the above equation makes it a wonder drug. Genetically Asian women suffer less from breast cancer than European and women of African descent. The results aren't new in 1998 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition drew a connection between soy and breast cancer. It's worth noting during this "Pink Month" because its use might be prevented.

"The following may reduce breast cancer risk: kelp; forsteronia refracta compound; oleic acid in olive oil restricted calories; apple, Danggui Longhui Wan ( chinese medicine); moderate exercise; turmeric, fish oil, weight loss, omega-3 fatty acids, cabbage and sauerkraut; Artemisinin; vitamin D, soy, garlic, grape juice, whole wheat, pro-vitamin E, low-protein diet, doing home work, high dietary fiber, broccoli, breastfeeding, grapes, green tea and mushroom, vitamin c, and sun exposure. Those factors that may boost risk are: high GI diet, alcohol, adipose fat, Bisphenol A; cleaning chemicals, hormone therapy, french fries, omega 6 fatty acid linoleic acid found in corn and soybean oil; mamograms, dietary fat, red meat and processed meat, barbecued meat, grapefruit, western diet, aluminum salts, radiation, iron, antibiotics, calcium, living in a large, metropolitan area, and acrylamide." - Food Consumer (Pink Tips)

Missing from that list is the desire to seek care until its too late. Both men and women suffer from that same condition of fear if our personal experience is any indication of having cancer and seeking immediate medical treatment. We don't want to know, believing ignorance is bliss and that we can't die if we don't know for sure. How's that for research. We believe that nothing "boost risk" more than fear and trepidation whether you're male or female.

"Although not all experts are convinced that it's safe to begin advising women to add soy to their diet, they agree that there is no need to avoid soy altogether. "What I've been telling my patients right now is that soy as part of a healthy balanced diet is safe. But I would avoid trying to eat a totally soy-based diet or taking a soy supplement. You have to be careful in not extrapolating beyond the study," says Dr. Richard Lee, medical director of the Integrative Medicine Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston." - Time (December 2009) 

We'd have to agree. The nutritional solution isn't a one (1) item choice. Variety seems to be what all the experts agree upon. The Pink Tips given offer a variety of items that together might be the super fuel that would be a preventative against breast cancer. Though finding a lump and leaving it rather than calling attention to it to your physician is a mistake that can cost you your life and your family much pain and suffering. Unfortunately we have too much experience with the latter than we care to admit or ever care to see repeated.