Healthnotes Newswire (June 28, 2007)—When it comes to colon cancer risk, the type of fat that you eat might be more important than the amount. A new study shows that people who consume more omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in oily fish, are less likely to develop colon cancer.
Healthnotes Newswire (June 14, 2007)—Fish oil supplements and regular exercise both reduce body fat and improve cardiovascular health. Could combining the two work better than either one alone?
“Only two studies have previously investigated these two interventions in combination,” said Professor Peter R.C. Howe, director of the Nutritional Physiology Research Center, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, and supervising author of the new study. But because of the study design it wasn’t clear whether this combined intervention effectively reduced cardiovascular risk and improved body composition in overweight participants.
Healthnotes Newswire (May 17, 2007)—Tuna oil rich in the essential fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) can lower triglycerides and possibly enhance the cholesterol-lowering effects of statin drugs, according to a new study.
“We wanted to know the effects of DHA on people whose triglycerides were elevated in addition to their cholesterol,” said Barbara J. Meyer, PhD, associate professor at the School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong in Australia, and lead author of the new study. “A high proportion of statin-treated patients still have elevated triglycerides.”
Healthnotes Newswire (May 10, 2007)—Coronary heart disease can be added to the list of health problems linked to trans fats, according to a study in the journal Circulation.
Not too long ago, the dangers of trans fatty acids were known only to researchers and some forward-looking healthcare practitioners. Now the term has entered the public vocabulary, and public health policy is changing as a result. The Canadian government is under pressure from the Heart and Stroke Foundation to remove this toxin from the food supply altogether. Stateside, New York’s mayor recently signed into law a bill that would restrict the use of artificial trans fats in New York’s restaurants. This is just the beginning.
Healthnotes Newswire (May 3, 2007)—Pain relief is one of the most common reasons that people seek medical care, and now people looking for alternatives to drugs have another place to turn. A new report finds that omega-3 fatty acids from fish are effective for relieving joint pain associated with a variety of conditions.
Nutritional, herbal, and homeopathic supplements have become increasingly popular among people looking for pain relief, owing in part to concerns about the side effects of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines. While some of these natural therapies have promising evidence supporting their effectiveness, many remain unstudied.
“Generally, I believe that detoxification is a very important part of any weight loss program. They basically go hand in hand – they’re best friends. You really can’t address one without the other.
“When we look at a person who is overweight or who doesn’t have their optimal body composition, we really have to look at why. They’ve gotten off balance for some reason.
“One of the top areas for weight loss resistance is toxicity. We really want to look at -- is this person detoxifying well? How can we support their ability to move the toxins out of the fat stores, out of the tissues. Once we do that, weight loss becomes a lot easier.”
Healthnotes Newswire (March 22, 2007)—Many studies have suggested that increased fat mass benefits the bones. However, a new study finds that this is not the case, particularly for adolescents and young adults.
“Despite the dire repercussions of obesity, the traditional paradigm suggests that increased body fat is beneficial to the skeleton and could protect against osteoporosis,” said Vicente Gilsanz, MD, professor of radiology and orthopedic surgery at the Keck School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. “Our findings challenge this widely held view.”
Healthnotes Newswire (March 22, 2007)—Trans fats are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and possibly diabetes; now it appears that they also impair fertility, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Trans fat is formed when hydrogen is added to a liquid fat, making it solid at room temperature. Small amounts of trans fats are found naturally in some animal foods like butter and meat, but most trans fat in the diet comes from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils like margarine or shortening. Because these fats have a longer shelf life and can be heated to high temperatures, they’re commonly used in processed foods like crackers, candies, cookies, fried foods, and baked goods.
Fats have gotten a bad rap. Cruise any supermarket aisle, and the promises of “fat free” and “no trans fats” leap from the shelf. Confused consumers trying to eat well mistakenly eschew any kind of fat - and think they’re doing their body a favor. The fact is there are good fats and bad fats and it is important to know the difference.
Here is something to chew on: eating the right kind of fat isn’t just delicious, but it is necessary for optimum health. Some fats are so important that they are called essential fatty acids, and are essential for proper cell function, brain functioning (especially in children), hormonal balance, for calming inflammation, and for maintaining healthy skin and hair.
