Curiously Awesome

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A recent report has found that black women who eat fried chicken or burgers (from fast food restaurants) at least two times per week are between 40 and 70 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who do not. Black women are not the only demographic that should be concerned about this study; however. Everyone who eats fast foods (even on a moderate basis) are susceptible to developing diabetes.

The two foods that increased the incidence of diabetes the most were fast food hamburgers and fried chicken. These two menu items were instrumental in causing the most weight gain (resulting in more cases of diabetes).

A previous fast food study conducted in 2004 found similar results.

Some experts recommend consuming smaller amounts and fewer overall calories. It would be far better to make healthier food choices. Eating less fast food is a good start; but changing your diet to include whole foods would be even better.

According to a recent study, overweight people have better success in losing weight when their vitamin D levels are increased. In the study, 38 obese men and women were placed on a diet program. Those whose vitamin D levels were increased lost up to a half pound more than those whose vitamin D levels were not increased. Supplementation with vitamin D increases weight loss for people whose Vitamin D levels are already low.

Approximately 75 percent of American teens and adults are deficient in vitamin D. A Vitamin D deficiency is connected to many serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

As Vitamin D works with calcium and sunlight, it helps to properly use the foods consumed and it regulates blood sugar levels. If there is a lack of calcium, the body makes more synthase (a fatty acid enzyme that coverts calories into fat). People with a calcium deficiency may have a synthase production increase of up to 500 percent. This explains the connection between low Vitamin D levels and obesity.

A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is either blocked by a blood clot or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts(diverting blood into the spaces around brain cells, or neurons). Brain damage often results–leaving stroke survivors with a range of different disabilities.

New research concludes that a specific type of vitamin E (called TCT) could keep brain cells from dying after a stroke.

TCT is not widely found in the typical American diet but it is common in foods that make up a typical Southeast Asian diet. Some food sources of TCT are rice bran oil, wheat germ, barley, and oats.

Researchers have identified an enzyme called cPLA2 that TCT targets to protect neurons after a stroke.

Blocked blood flow associated with stroke causes an excess of glutamate to be released. Normally, glutamate is beneficial and important for memory and learning. If it is produced in large amounts (in response to the brain trauma of a stroke), it triggers reactions that lead to the destruction of neurons and causes stroke damage.

The amount of TCT necessary to achieve these brain cell protecting effects is small (about 10 times lower than the average amount of TCT circulating in the bodies of humans who regularly consume vitamin E).

Many breast cancers depend on estrogen to fuel them. There is a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors (AI) that block the movement of estrogen. These drugs are used by mainstream medical doctors to attempt to slow the growth of estrogen sensitive breast tumors. Unfortunately, these drugs come loaded with side effects including hot flashes, joint pain, headaches, fatigue, fractures and even heart disease.

Researchers have found a substance that could prevent the development of estrogen-dependent breast cancer: pomegranate fruit.

Pomegranates contain phytochemicals that work much like AIs. Any cancer treatment derived from pomegranates would not have harmful side effects because the fruit is a basic food. Phytochemicals suppress estrogen and this, in turn, prevents the spread of breast cancer cells and estrogen-related tumors.

The health benefits of broccoli and related vegetables may come in part from a chemical known as sulforaphane, which appears to activate a specific heart-protecting protein.

Researchers studied the chemical sulforaphane (occurring naturally in vegetables in the family Brassicaceae–known as cruciferous vegetables). Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, cauliflower, radish, and turnip. Sulforaphane increases the activity of the protein Nrf2. In these areas, blood flow is usually slowed or even disrupted completely.

These findings provide a possible way by which eating vegetables can help protect against heart disease. The biochemistry revealed could lead to more medical approaches for controlling disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Children who are too clean have a greater chance of developing inflammation and disease. Normal skin bacteria acts to balance immune response and protect the body from overreactions to injuries. Keeping children excessively clean may be interfering with children’s natural healing function and making them more susceptible to disease.

Exposure to germs is beneficial to young children. They need germs to build immunity and prevent the development of allergies. Staphylococci (a bacteria) is important for blocking inflammation. Overuse of skin soaps and hand sanitizers is reducing staphylococci.

A significant rise in allergies, asthma, and serious inflammation diseases is becoming prevalent in the UK and in the United States and researchers suggest that the current sanitation craze is responsible. The human body fights disease and stays healthy because of the presence of microbes that counteract each other. Antibacterial products can cause the growth of super-bacteria that may contribute to serious problems.

Children who grow up on farms with a variety of bugs, worms and natural elements have fewer allergies and autoimmune problems than urban children who spend more time indoors.

If you live in an area with high traffic noise you may find you have higher blood pressure and a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. Exposure to traffic noise that is above 60 decibels is associated with high blood pressure among young and middle-aged people.

Previous studies have found a connection between living near airports and high blood pressure. Constant noise may place the body in a state of chronic stress. This state of stress leads to a higher heart rate and blood pressure.

A full 28 percent of middle-aged people living in areas with noise averaging above 64 decibels reported high blood pressure. Approximately 17 percent of middle-aged adults in quieter neighborhoods suffered from hypertension.

Sixty-five decibels is slightly louder than a normal conversation.

A recent study conducted on a group of 3,000 women indicates that those who drank two or more artificially-sweetened beverages each day doubled their risk of decline in kidney function.

The study evaluated the effects of all sweetened drinks on progressive kidney decline. The conclusion is that two or more diet drinks per day leads to a twice as fast increase in rapid kidney decline.

High sodium also was indicated as promoting progressive kidney decline. Diet soda contains very high amounts of sodium.

Aspartame was first approved in the 1970s with studies claiming it was safe. The FDA initially approved the chemical for use in some foods based upon studies submitted by G.D. Searle Co. (the creator of aspartame). Shortly thereafter, a discovery made by a research psychiatrist who found that a primary ingredient in aspartame caused holes to form in the brains of mice. The FDA then created its own internal task force to investigate the original claims about aspartame’s safety.

The FDA discovered a series of falsified claims, doctored study results, and pertinent information missing.

Over the past 25 years, studies continue to be released that support aspartame’s safety even though they do not address the results of other studies that have concluded aspartame is dangerous.

The most prudent course of action is to avoid artificial sweeteners completely. There are many safe alternatives (stevia, for example) which will provide sweetening without harmful side effects.

New findings reveal that the chances of surviving cardiac arrest are improved by instigating chest compressions only instead of the standard CPR (including mouth-to-mouth breathing).

Five percent of victims survive without any form of CPR being administered to them. Those who receive CPR have a 6-percent chance of survival. Chest pumping alone has an 11-percent survival rate.

Trends have also changed among those trained in administering CPR. The number of cases where CPR-trained people treated an individual using chest compressions only has risen to 77 percent.

Only 20 percent of people would be willing to perform conventional CPR if needed.

The American Heart Association recommends that people use compression-only CPR when they witness a collapse in public. Compression-only CPR was designed to stem the tide of growing unwillingness among the population to perform CPR.

The least nutritious cereals are advertised to children the most frequently…right? In fact, the worst cereals are marketed the most aggressively to children.

The average American child sees 642 entertaining cereal advertisements per year…and advertising is created to fit the audience. The cereals with the most sugar are aimed at young children, and more nutritious cereals are aimed at adults.

Interestingly, cereal manufactures claim they are making their cereals more nutritious and at the same time are reducing their advertising to children. The fact remains that cereals marketed to children have 85 percent more sugar, 60 percent more sodium and 65 percent less fiber than adult cereals.

Not only is obesity a concern, but there are other health issues associated with diets high in sugar and starches. These diets cause blood sugar spikes that are common to diabetes. These diets also create more oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is connected with a rising number of health issues.