 | Referring Farmacist Info. | Name | | Robert & Susan Jacques | Phone | 1-906-250-2995 | ID Number | | 1384001 | | Send Farmacist E-mail |
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| | | | An Ounce of Prevention NEW YORK (Reuters Health) By Amy Norton Even a quite modest amount of exercise might be better than none at all when it comes to preventing disability from arthritis, new research suggests. In a study that followed more than 3,500 U.S. adults with arthritis, researchers found that those who were getting some regular physical activity at the study's start were less likely than their sedentary peers to develop worsening problems with walking, climbing stairs and other daily activities. What's more, exercisers were more likely than inactive adults to show improvements in any mobility problems they had at the outset. The findings are published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism in December 2005. The study included 3,554 adults ages 53 to 63 who had osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear form of arthritis in which the cartilage cushioning the joints breaks down over time, leading to pain, stiffness and, often, limited mobility. Among older Americans, osteoarthritis is one of the major causes of functional decline -- problems with daily activities like walking short distances, bathing and preparing meals. The new findings suggest, however, that even modest levels of exercise can help prevent disability from arthritis, or perhaps reverse it in some cases, according to Dr. Joe Feinglass, the study's lead author. Study participants who got some exercise -- but less than 30 minutes per day of moderate activity or less than 20 minutes of vigorous exercise -- were still less likely than inactive arthritis sufferers to show functional decline over time. However, that doesn't mean there's no benefit to getting more exercise, noted Feinglass, a research associate professor at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He told Reuters Health that he and his colleagues have found, in this same study group, that vigorous exercise lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes -- a major risk factor for such ills as heart attack and stroke -- while modest activity did not. Still, even lower levels of exercise may be enough where arthritis disability is concerned. Other studies, Feinglass said, have found that walking may be a good form of exercise for people with the joint disease. In their study, he and his colleagues divided participants up into three groups based on their reported leisure-time activities at the start of the study: an inactive group, an insufficiently active group, and a group that got the recommended level of exercise for adults - at least 30 minutes of moderate activity like walking or gardening on most days of the week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise like running or swimming. Overall, adults in this latter group were 41 percent less likely to show functional decline over the next 2 years than their inactive peers were. The risk reduction was almost as great for those who exercised at a less-than-ideal level. "Given the high prevalence of arthritis," Feinglass and his colleagues write, "even modest increases in rates of lifestyle physical activity among older adults could make a substantial contribution to disability-free life expectancy." It is always a good idea, Feinglass noted, for sedentary people with arthritis to consult their  doctor before taking up any activity. SOURCE: Arthritis & Rheumatism, December 15, 2005. The American Heart Association offers the following tips to help you bring more physical activity into your daily life. At Home
It's convenient, comfortable and safe to work out at home. It allows your children to see you being active, which sets a good example for them. You can combine exercise with other activities, such as watching TV. If you buy exercise equipment, it's a one-time expense and other family members can use it. It's easy to have short bouts of activity several times a day. - Do housework yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it.
- Work in the garden or mow the grass. Using a riding mower doesn't count! Rake leaves, prune, dig and pick up trash.
- Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
- Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving.
- When walking, pick up the pace from leisurely to brisk. Choose a hilly route. When watching TV, sit up instead of lying on the sofa. Better yet, spend a few minutes pedaling on your stationary bicycle while watching TV. Throw away your video remote control. Instead of asking someone to bring you a drink, get up off the couch and get it yourself.
- Stand up while talking on the telephone.
- Walk the dog.
- Park farther away at the shopping mall and walk the extra distance. Wear your walking shoes and sneak in an extra lap or two around the mall
- Stretch to reach items in high places and squat or bend to look at items at floor level. Keep exercise equipment repaired and use it!
At the Office
Most of us have sedentary jobs. Work takes up a significant part of the day. What can you do to increase your physical activity during the work day? - Brainstorm project ideas with a coworker while taking a walk.
- Stand while talking on the telephone.
- Walk down the hall to speak with someone rather than using the telephone.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or get off a few floors early and take the stairs the rest of the way.
- Walk while waiting for the plane at the airport.
- Stay at hotels with fitness centers or swimming pools and use them while on business trips.
- Take along a jump rope in your suitcase when you travel. Jump and do calisthenics in your hotel room.
- Participate in or start a recreation league at your company.
- Form a sports team to raise money for charity events.
- Join a fitness center or Y near your job. Work out before or after work to avoid rush-hour traffic, or drop by for a noon workout.
- Schedule exercise time on your business calendar and treat it as any other important appointment.
- Get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to work or home.
- Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Have you had your prevention today? |
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| | | | Laughter Activates the Immune System There’s been something funny going on at Loma Linda University and there are two doctors right in the middle of it. We’re talking about Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan, and they’ve been studying the effects of laughter on the human immune system. To date, their published studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle range of motion, and boosts immune system function. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being. This exciting research was featured in the September / October 1996 issue of the Humor and Health Journal. We all know that a good laugh leaves us feeling great. That wonderful, euphoric, post-laugher feeling is a type of “positive stress” that produces healthy and positive emotions. After a good laugh, your immune system also seems to “turn it up a notch Your body steps up production of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells. Your body activates more cancer fighting T cells. Your body increases the antibodies that fight upper respiratory tract insults and infections. Your body produces more gamma interferon, an anti-viral protein that “turns on” the various parts of your immune system.  Laughing is good exercise. It provides a workout for your diaphragm and increases your body's ability to use oxygen while it brings in positive emotions that can actually reduce pain. In a study published in the Journal
of Holistic Nursing, patients were told “one-liners” after surgery and before painful medication was administered. Those exposed to humor perceived less pain when compared to the others. Imagine that a medicine that’s free and that has no bad side effects. The pharmaceutical companies haven’t quite figured out, as yet, how to get those two qualities into a single pill, but in the meantime a good laugh will get you by.
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| | | |  An Apple A Day
Apple in the morning - Doctor's warning
Apple at night - starves the Doctor outright Is it just nursery rhyme? The latest scientific research shows that this old nursery rhyme is more fact than fiction. WHOLE-BODY HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLES The disease-fighting profile of apples provides a multitude of health benefits, including a potential decreased risk of cancer and heart disease. Several recent studies suggest apples may provide a "whole-body" health benefit which include Lower blood cholesterol, improved bowel function, reduced risk of stroke, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma.
A number of components in apples, most notably fiber and phytonutrients have been found in studies to lower blood cholesterol and improve bowel function, and may be associated with a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, prostate cancer, type II diabetes and asthma. Preliminary research from Finland indicates diets with the highest intake of apple phytonutrients were associated with a 46 percent reduction in the incidence of lung cancer. Findings indicate that two apples a day or 12 ounces of 100% apple juice reduced the damaging effects of the “bad” LDL cholesterol. (Interpoma 2002 Conference, Bolzano, Italy / Dianne Hyson, Ph.D., M.S., R.D., University of California-Davis) CANCER PREVENTION
Over the past four years, apple consumption has been linked with reduced cancer risk in several studies. A 2001 Mayo Clinic study indicated that quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in apples, helps prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells. A Cornell University study indicated phytochemicals in the skin of an apple inhibited the reproduction of colon cancer cells by 43 percent. The National Cancer Institute has reported that foods containing flavonoids like those found in apples may reduce the risk of lung cancer by as much as 50 percent. (Carcinogenesis March, 2001 / Nature June, 2000 /Journal of the National Cancer Institute January, 2000) HEALTHY LUNGS
Two recent British studies indicated that eating apples can improve lung health. A study of Welsh men indicated that people who ate at least five apples per week experience better lung function. Researchers at the University of Nottingham reported that those who ate five apples per week also had a lower risk for respiratory disease. In the Netherlands at the University of Groningen, apples were singled out as a fruit that could cut smokers risk of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in half. Scientists believe antioxidants found in apples may ward off disease by countering oxygen’s damaging effects on the body. (American Thoracic Society Meeting May, 2001 - Thorax January, 2000) HEART DISEASE & STROKE PREVENTION
A Finnish study published in 1996 showed that people who eat a diet rich in flavonoids have a lower incidence of heart disease. Other studies indicate that flavonoids may help prevent strokes. (The British Medical Journal 1996) WEIGHT LOSS
Apples are a delicious source of dietary fiber, and dietary fiber helps aid digestion and promotes weight loss. A medium apple contains about five grams of fiber, more than most cereals. Also, apples contain almost zero fat and cholesterol, so they are a delicious snack and dessert food that’s good for you. UC-DAVIS: APPLES ARE HEART-HEALTHY
Researchers at the University of California-Davis recently reported that apples and apple juice may help protect arteries from harmful plaque buildup. In the first study conducted in humans, adults who added two apples, or 12 ounces of 100% apple juice, to their daily diet demonstrated a significant slowing of the cholesterol oxidation process that leads to plaque buildup - thereby giving the body more time to rid itself of cholesterol before it can cause harm. Have you and your children had an apple today? | | | |
| | |  A Slice of Life
These days, juicy, delicious oranges are practically synonymous with vitamin C. But did you know that America's favorite fruit also provides healthful natural compounds called limonoids? In laboratory tests with animals and with human cells, citrus limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon. Agricultural Research Service scientists in northern California led by chemist Gary D. Manners of the Western Regional Research Center in Albany have uncovered new details about these compounds. Their research has demonstrated that our bodies can readily access a limonoid called limonin, and all of its health-imparting properties, each time we bite into an orange. This is the first time that bioavailability has been shown in humans. In some individuals, limonin remains in the bloodstream for up to 24 hours which is an impressive length of time. This longevity, or persistence, may help explain why limonoids fight the type of cancer cells which proliferate unless they are continuously suppressed. A single orange provides 12.5% of the daily value for fiber, which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels and to prevent atherosclerosis. A single orange offers you over 170 different phytochemicals and more than 60 flavonoids, many of which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and blood clot inhibiting properties, as well as strong antioxidant effects. Although oranges are the major fruit in the citrus fruits group we shouldn’t forget about the others such as Tangerines, Mandarin’s, Clementines , Satsumas, Lemons, Limes and Grapefruits. Treat yourself, and your children, to a slice of life today! | | | | Thank you for visiting www.wholefoodfarmacy.info | | | Company Information | Our Philosophy | Privacy Policy | Legal Notice
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