Blueberries halt hardening of the arteries

Posted by Neill Abayon

Atherosclerosis is a disease marked by plaque in the arteries. Made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood, plaque hardens overtime not unlike concrete -- and that narrows arteries and limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. The result can be potentially fatal strokes and heart attacks.

But now, for the first time, scientists have direct evidence that a side-effect free natural substance exists that can help prevent these harmful atherosclerotic plaques from increasing in size and narrowing arteries. What is this powerful hardening of the arteries fighter? Blueberries.

Principal investigator Xianli Wu, who works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock and with the University of Arkansas Center for Medical Sciences, led the new study which was just reported in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition. Dr. Wu's research team compared the size of atherosclerotic lesions in 30 young laboratory mice with this form of heart disease. These animals were deficient in apolipoprotein-E (which helps regulate fats in the body), making them highly susceptible to forming atherosclerotic lesions.

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Overuse of energy drinks worries health pros

Posted by Neill Abayon

NEW YORK — Health experts are sounding the alarm over the possible effects on young athletes of popular energy drinks such as Red Bull, the leading brand in a growing market.

High school and college athletes are increasingly consuming large quantities of these caffeine-loaded drinks to boost athletic performance or lose weight, said a dozen health experts at the SUNY Youth Sports Institute's first national symposium on energy drinks here this week.

But athletes who consume too many energy drinks could suffer from dehydration, tremors, heat stroke and heart attacks, the experts warned. Instead, they say, teen and adolescent athletes should drink water while training and playing — especially during hot and humid summer months.

Some experts called for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — which treats energy drinks as dietary supplements — to require warning labels on the hundreds of energy drinks now on the market.

FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said Wednesday the agency does not have the authority to do that.

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HEAT STROKE

Written by Neill Abayon

SYMPTOMS - The body temperature goes very high (105 degrees F. or more). Sweating is reduced. There is a strong headache, accompanied by tingling, numbness, confusion of mind, and delirium. The pulse becomes rapid and breathing is faster. Blood pressure rises.

DANGER - Heat stroke is serious emergency. If not properly cared for, the person can go into comvulsions, permanent brain damage, and even death.

REMEDIES

* You must begin the cooling treatment immediately: do not wait!

* If near hospital, wrap him in an ice-cold sheet and immediately take him to the hospital. Apply more ice water as you travel. At least every 5-10 minutes, take his temperature. Do not give the cold treatment if it begins to drop below 10 degrees F.

* If you are not near a hospital, put him into an ice-cold stream or lake until medical help can be obtained. While he is in the cold bath, rub the arms,legs,hands, and feet in order to increase the circulation.

AFTER TREATMENT

Should consist of daily graduated cold applications (tonic frictions), to slowly build up the body. The head should be thoroughly cooled before each application.