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Credit: Morguefile Study suggests eating eggs might lower, not raise heart risks There has been much confusion about whether eggs should be included in a heart healthy diet, especially for anyone with known heart disease or history of heart attack. If your cholesterol level is already high, your doctor has probably asked you to avoid saturated fat and foods naturally high in cholesterol - like eggs, but particularly the yolk. But a newer study from Canada suggests if you have metabolic syndrome you might benefit from incorporating eggs in your diet. Eating foods high in cholesterol is believed to lead to the formation of atherosclerosis or plaques in the arteries that can lead to blockages and cause heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease.  In the latest study, researchers looked at 2 groups of middle-aged adults with metabolic syndrome who were overweight to find out if eggs - complete with the yolk - promote unhealthy cholesterol levels.  One group ate 3 wh

Credit: Morguefile A new report shows more teenagers are using marijuana on a regular basis that researchers say is a cause for concern. According to this year's survey, most teens don’t think smoking pot is harmful. Results of the 2012 “Monitoring the Future survey” found that 6.5 percent of 8 th , 10 th and 12 th graders smoke marijuana daily, which is an increase from 5.1 percent reported in 2007. This year’s survey included 45,449 students from 395 public and private schools. The study was conducted by the University of Michigan. According to the results, 23 percent of teens said they had used marijuana in the month prior to the survey. Thirty-six percent reported smoking pot within the previous year. More than 11 percent of students in the 8 th grade reported they used pot within the last year. Twenty-eight percent of 10 th grade students reported smoking marijuana within the past year; 3.5% answered that they smoke daily. The concern is that mo

Credit: Morguefile Researchers have been exploring the anti-inflammatory and safety profile of curcumin, the compound in the Indian spice turmeric for treating RA, finding the spice can help patients improve symptoms of the disease significantly. Curcumin compared to drug therapy alone Finding ways to manage pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis can be challenging, especially when you consider side effects of prescription drugs. For their study, researchers compared curcumin in turmeric to prescription drugs.  Authors for the study say their finding, "…provides the first evidence for the safety and superiority of curcumin treatment in patients with active RA [rheumatoid arthritis]."  For the study, three groups of patients were assigned to receive either 500 mg. of curcumin daily, 50 mg diclofenac sodium daily  (brand name Voltaren, among others), or both curcumin and diclofenac. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were given curcumin ex

Credit: Morguefile Patients who have had a heart attack or stroke are put on a variety of medications to prevent recurrence. Results of a new study show eating a heart healthy diet further lowers a person’s chances of a second stroke or heart attack that goes beyond what medication alone can do to boost cardiovascular health. Authors for the study suggest patients with heart disease often rely on their medicines to keep their blood pressures lower and cholesterol levels intact. But the study authors say relying on medication use alone is “wrong”. Changing your diet can have additional benefits that can lower your chances of dying from heart disease significantly. Eating a heart healthy diet can significantly reduce your chances of a second heart attack or stroke, shown in one of the first studies of its kind. McMaster University researchers found people who ate plenty of fruits and vegetables and low animal fat diet: ·          Lowered their risk of dying fr

Image credit: Wikimedia commons Researchers are testing bioactive compounds in rice bran in hopes that it may prevent cancer as well as cancer recurrence. Scientists say rice bran contains polyphenols that could thwart cancer include ferulic acid, tricin, β-sitosterol, γ-oryzanol, tocotrienols/tocopherols, and phytic acid. Elizabeth P. Ryan, PhD, Colorado University Cancer Center investigator, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences at the CSU Animal Cancer Center, and the review’s senior author explained in a press release,   “There’s a delicate balance of bioactive components in rice bran that together show anti-cancer activity including the ability to inhibit cell proliferation, alter cell cycle progression and initiate the programmed cell death known as apoptosis in malignant cells.” What that means is that rice bran could stop the spread of cancer and destroy what’s already there – much like chemotherapy goals, but

Image credit: CDC Public Health Library Men are especially notorious for ignoring their health; especially at the holidays. But women shouldn't postpone having an annual physical either. Scheduling a health exam can give you and your family peace of mind. Also, most insurance co-payments will go up in 2013, making getting a health check-up now a good budgetary decision. Disease prevention   According to University of Alabama physician and Professor of Internal Medicine, Stephen Russell, M.D , getting a physical helps with prevention, which in turn saves cost in the long run. “We think it’s important for all people in their twenties to establish relationships with a primary care physician, because that’s when we can get baseline health information, discuss family health history, talk about lifestyle changes and evaluate for obesity-related illnesses,” Russell said in a press release. Cost savings Knowing your current health status means you’ll save money. “