Fluoride is a man-made element that derives from fluorine. According to the declassified documents of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. military group which built the atomic bomb, fluoride was the main chemical utilized during the atomic bomb production. Tremendous quantities of the element were necessary for manufacturing bomb-grade uranium as well as plutonium for nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War.
Recognized as one of the most toxic chemicals in the world, the declassified documents distinguished fluoride as the principal chemical health hazard of the U.S. atomic bomb program, both for workers and for neighboring communities.
Scientists from the atomic bomb program later provided evidence demonstrating that fluoride can be safe for humans in low doses, after being secretly ordered to provide original proof useful in litigation against defense contractors for fluoride injury to individuals. The declassified documents also showed that the first lawsuits against the U.S. atomic bomb program were in fact not over radiation but over fluoride damage.
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How Safe is Fluoride?
Fluoride continues to be identified as one of the most toxic man-made substances today, yet it can be found in our toothpastes, bottled water and infant formulas. Even vitamin supplements now contain fluoride. Additionally, fluoride compounds are being purposely added to water in many areas of the United States, a process known as fluoridation.
The practice of water fluoridation has been banned in various countries, including: China, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary and Japan. Nearly all of Europe’s water supply is fluoride-free. In 2002, approximately 90 percent of the United States population was supplied water through public water systems where about 67 percent of that percentage received fluoridated water.
Fluoride is also added in a majority of toothpaste brands to help prevent tooth decay. Despite being used in toothpaste, fluoride has never been proven to considerably help protect teeth from developing cavities. Material Safety Data Sheets, abbreviated as MSDS, generally label sodium fluoride as a substance which is toxic by ingestion, inhalation and through skin contact, requiring that personal protection equipment for handling it should include safety goggles and gloves. Fluoride is more toxic than lead while being only slightly less poisonous than arsenic. Keep in mind that fluoride is utilized in many of the popular dental care products you use to brush and rinse your teeth on a daily basis.
The Dangers of Fluoride Consumption
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, classifies fluoride as a drug because, unlike minerals like calcium and magnesium that we need, humans have no physiological requirements for fluoride. Research studies have shown that fluoride can affect the body’s normal production of hormones, can cause bones to become weaker and it’s been referred to as a neurotoxin, meaning its toxic to the nerves.
Sodium fluoride, which has long been known as an effective poison for cockroaches, is added to drops and tablets for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. However, because fluoride has been previously identified as a toxic element, fluoride supplements cannot be purchased over-the-counter, they can only be distributed with a prescription supervised by a healthcare professional. Ultimately, sodium fluoride is not a nutritional supplement, it’s a prescription drug and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The FDA has never approved fluoride as either safe or effective.
Fluoride drugs have been prescribed for over 50 years but because the FDA has not approved these products as safe and/or effective, the agency called on various manufacturers to cease selling fluoride drops and tablets immediately. Removing the harmful substance from the market will help ensure the health of millions of individuals is protected, however, there’s still a bigger issue the U.S needs to address: water fluoridation.
Water Fluoridation and ADHD
A recent research study, entitled: “Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association,” published in the journal Environmental Health, discussed the association between water fluoridation and ADHD in the United States.
Fluoride Disrupts Endocrine Function
FAN’s Science Director, Chris Neurath stated, �Scientific and medical research stretching back to the 1920’s has demonstrated that fluoride can affect the thyroid. The levels of fluoride exposure known to lower thyroid function overlap with the levels of exposure known to occur in some people drinking artificially fluoridated water.”
Hypothyroidism is a very common medical disorder in the United States and it can develop severe adverse health effects. Decreased thyroid function in pregnant women has been linked to reduced IQ in their children. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests that fluoride, at levels within that of which individuals utilize and consume, has been associated with lowered IQ. Fluoride’s effect on thyroid function could affect this reduction in IQ.
Fluoride as a Neurotoxin
Over 100 animal experiments have connected the consumption and exposure of fluoride to a reduction in IQ. Approximately 31 out of 33 of the animal experiments which investigated the behavior of the tested animals also concluded that fluoride caused learning and memory issues in the subjects while 43 out of 50 of the people studied demonstrated that modest levels of fluoride negatively affected IQ.
About 27 of these studies were recently reviewed by a team from Harvard School of Public Health. Of these, 26 displayed a decrease in IQ, about a drop of 7 points while the average fluoride level in the water for 20 of the studies was only 3.52 ppm, lower than the current safe drinking standard in the United States for fluoride of 4.0 ppm.
Department of Health & Human Services Admits to Overexposing Americans to Fluoride
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, abbreviated as HHS, acknowledged that the fluoride levels which they once reassured were safe to use, is actually damaging children’s teeth. A major increase in dental fluorosis, characterized as white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth, found in 41 percent of teenagers lead the Department of Health & Human Services to conclude that water fluoride levels should be lowered to 0.7 mg/L from the average 1 mg/L utilized in most communities. In about 10 years, the HHS will check children’s teeth to determine if the new level should be implemented.
Fluoride Causes Disease
In the 1970’s, Austrian researchers demonstrated that a concentration of as little as 1 ppm of fluoride could interrupt the proper function and structure of DNA repair enzymes by up to 50 percent. If DNA is unable to efficiently repair damaged cells, our tissues can begin to degenerate faster.
Fluoride causes the body to age prematurely due to the alteration in the enzyme’s shape. When an enzyme becomes ultimately distorted or twisted out of shape, it becomes incapable of performing its job. This in turn results in collagen breakdown, eczema, tissue damage, skin winkling, genetic damage and immune suppression. Basically, any type of disease imaginable can occur due to this distortion.
Potential Results of Consuming Fluorides
Acute Poisoning
Birth Defects
ADHD
Impaired Brain Development
Osteoarthritis
Bone & Uterine Cancer
Thyroid Disease
Perinatal Death
Immune System Suppression
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Essential enzyme inhibition
Lowered IQ (especially in young children)
Skeletal Fluorosis (leading to brittle teeth and bones)
Fluoride And Osteoporosis
Former science director of the National Health Federation, Dr. Yiamouyiannis, cited a study from the 1990’s where roughly 541,000 osteoporosis cases concluded the definite link between hip fractures in women over 65 years of age and fluoride levels. A wide variety of research studies have concluded that fluoridation is indeed associated with osteoporosis and hip fractures in older adults.
The process of bone construction is complicated and finely balanced. Since the 1930’s, fluoride was recognized as a main threat in the disruption of this essential process. Dr. Alesen, former president of the California Medical Associated explained what fluoride does to bone formation. He cited dozens of international scientific studies proving that fluoride has caused osteoporosis, skeletal thinning, fractures, rubber bones, anemia and rickets.
Fluoride also causes osteoporosis by creating a calcium deficiency in the body. Fluoride precipitates calcium out of solution, causing low blood calcium as well as resulting in the development of calcium stones and crystals in the joints and organs.
Testing for Fluoride Levels in the Body
In a medical laboratory, technicians are capable of measuring blood levels for the amount of calcium and potassium. Both hypocalcaemia, meaning there’s very little amounts of calcium in the body and hyperkalemia, meaning there’s too much potassium in the body, can indicate that a person has consumed or has been exposed to excess amounts of fluoride.
References:
Fluoride Action Network. Dental Fluorosis.
Schellenberg D, Marks TA, Metzler CM, Oostveen JA, Morey MJ. Lack of effect of fluoride on reproductive performance and development in Shetland sheepdogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1990 Aug;32(4):309-14. Erratum in: Vet Hum Toxicol 1990 Dec;32(6):527.
Fluoride Action Network. Gastrointestinal.
Martijn W. H. Pinkse, Maarten Merkx, Bruce A. Averill. Fluoride Inhibition of Bovine Spleen Purple Acid Phosphatase:? Characterization of a Ternary Enzyme?Phosphate?Fluoride Complex as a Model for the Active Enzyme?Substrate?Hydroxide Complex. Biochemistry. 1999 July 20. 38 (31), pp 9926�9936 DOI: 10.1021/bi990446w
Michael Connett, Tara Blank PhD. Fluoride & Intelligence: The 36 Studies. Fluoride Action Network. 2012 December 9.
Fluoride Action Network. Water Fluoridation.
National Institutes of Health, Endocrine Disruptors
FAN Study Tracker, Thyroid Health
Neurotoxicology and Teratology Jan-Feb 2015: 47; 96-101
Chemical Brain Drain
Fluoride Does Not Prevent Cavities
It’s essential that we no longer continue ignoring the amounting research studies and evidence regarding the dangers of fluoride consumption and exposure. Unfortunately, not only is fluoride found in our drinking water, it can also be found in reconstituted/dehydrated foods, foods cooked in Teflon pans, baby formulas and even in anesthetics.
In order to avoid fluoride exposure and consumption from your home water supply, invest in a good water filtration system to help properly cleanse your drinking water. Brita and Pur pitchers do not filter out fluoride, however, there are many affordable systems that will. The AquaSana system is a common system used for drinking water and whole house filtration. Also remember, your skin is the largest organ of your body. When you shower, your pores open up and act like a sponge, taking in chemicals from the water, including chloride and fluoride, both which can also lead to cancer.
If your budget doesn�t allow for a whole house water filtration system, don�t worry. You can pick up an inexpensive shower filter which can range from $40 to $50. It simply screws on to your shower head and it does a great job filtering out chlorine, fluorine and other harmful chemicals.
Don’t Use Toothpaste with Fluoride
And finally, make sure you switch your brand of toothpaste to one that doesn�t contain fluoride. Herbal Choice Mari Natural Tooth Gel doesn’t contain fluoride. Another brand which doesn’t contain fluoride is Dr. Brite Whitening Mineral Toothpaste. When it comes to your own body’s overall health and wellness, it’s up to you to take action to improve your well-being and eliminate your consumption and exposure of these dangerous substances.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is an well-known, alternative treatment option utilized to prevent, diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the spine, primarily subluxations or spinal misalignments. Chiropractic focuses on restoring and maintaining the overall health and wellness of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, can carefully re-align the spine, improving a patient�s strength, mobility and flexibility.
Sciatica specifically refers to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg, along the distribution of the the sciatic nerve down the back of the leg. Most commonly however, people will refer to any condition that causes back pain in association with leg symptoms as sciatica.
Common Causes:
True sciatica occurs when there is pressure on, or damage to, the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts in the lower spine and runs down the back of each leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides senation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.
As previously mentioned, the term “sciatica” is often used by patients to describe any condition where there is back pain together with associated leg symptoms. This being the case, there are a number of other conditions that will actually mimic sciatic nerve pain. Sacroiliac joint irritation (sacroiliac joint syndrome), lumbar facet joint irritation (lumbar facet joint syndrome), and piriformis syndrome all frequently produce leg symptoms, and are therefore commonly mistaken for sciatica.
Common Symptoms:
Sciatica pain can vary widely. It may feel like a mild tingling, a dull ache, or even a burning sensation, while in other cases, the pain can be servere enough to make movement practically impossible. Most commonly, sciatica effects only one leg.
Treatment:
Treatment begins with first determining whether a patient is suffering from true sciatic nerve involvement, or if they are actually suffering from one of the other conditions that frequently mimics sciatica. From there treatment is directed towards reducing inflammation, pain, and spasm, while restoring movement and function to the effected spinal levels. Once normal spinal mechanics are restored, patients are given a simple home exercise program in order to help maintain normal function and to help prevent re-occurances.
What is sciatic nerve pain? Sciatic nerve pain is one of the most tough [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUcGA-BvmIQ dolore sciatica] problems for physicians, also those experienced in treating back pain as well as sciatica patients, to determine as well as treat. Sciatica usually presents itself as a prickling and/or numbness, like the sensation one may experience with a pulled hamstring muscle mass, the biceps femoris at the back of the leg. The experience could be plain, almost an ache, with durations of prickling and/or tingling happening throughout specific activities. The prickling and/or numbness experienced, if not dealt with, may develop into a full-on constantly [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrFQWAtJtZU click resources] severe phase with discomfort capturing throughout the butts and also radiating down the leg. Sciatic nerve pain might influence one or both legs, typically one, starting as a pain radiating from some point in the lower back, the lumbar spine, after that throughout the gluteal muscle mass (the buttocks), as well as ultimately down the rear of the leg. In innovative instances, sciatic nerve pain gets to right right into the feet as well as toes, triggering discomfort as well as an eventual loss of feeling.
Remarkably, sciatica is not a details condition, it is just a catch-all clinical term put on a constellation of symptoms in order to explain a state the back pain victim remains in. In this instance, sciatic nerve pain is utilized to define a patient’s complaint of pain radiating across the butts, down the leg, and also right into the feet and toes … along with the connected tingling and/or feeling numb. Sciatica could be brought on by a variety of conditions, from stress and anxiety and trauma at a particular area on the spinal column, the reduced back or back curvature, to a much more general condition such as obesity or pregnancy. There are a number of other problems associated with sciatica, all needing varying degrees of clinical intervention and also treatment. A few of the conditions likely to present with sciatica are:
1. Osteomyelitis: An infection of the bone or bone marrow. Osteomyelitis might be debilitating and also in severe cases may also create death. It is tough to identify as well as might go undetected for a long period of time unless appropriate blood examinations are purchased and also the doctor is well trained in contagious diseases influencing the bones.
2. Growths on or near the spine: Lumps, particularly tumors or abnormal growth (e.g., scar tissue) affecting the nerves or nerve roots as they exit the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen, will certainly sciatic nerve pain or sciatic nerve pain.
3. Degenerative Disc Disease: Again, degenerative disc condition is not an illness anymore than sciatic nerve pain, called sciatica, is a specific problem. Degenerative disc condition is a break down of the IVDs, the intervertebral discs, and also is generally an effect old combined with the any or every one of the 5 primary elements influencing the spine as we age.
o Excess weight and/or obesity
o Muscle weakness
o Muscle Imbalance
o Poor nourishment and also diet plan
o Poor hydration or dehydration
4. Herniated (i.e., burst) or protruding disc: This problem might be particularly bothersome if the herniated disc or bulging disc is extending posteriorly (to the back) and right into the spine canal, or impinging on the nerve origin at the intervertebral foramen, hence putting pressure on the spine and/or nerve root; and, sciatica is the result in lots of instances.
Female soccer players suffer the highest rate of concussions among all high school athletes in the United States, a new study finds.
“While American football has been both scientifically and colloquially associated with the highest concussion rates, our study found that girls, and especially those who play soccer, may face a higher risk,” said study author Dr. Wellington Hsu. He is a professor of orthopaedics at Northwestern University in Chicago.
“The new knowledge presented in this study can lead to policy and prevention measures to potentially halt these trends,” Hsu said in a news release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The researchers analyzed data on nearly 41,000 injuries suffered by high school athletes in nine sports between 2005 and 2015. The injuries included nearly 6,400 concussions. The sports studied included football, soccer, basketball, wrestling and baseball for boys; and soccer, basketball, volleyball and softball for girls. During the study period, participation in the sports rose 1.04-fold, but the number of diagnosed concussions increased 2.2-fold.
In sports played by both girls and boys, girls had much higher concussion rates than boys, Hsu’s team found. Between 2010 and 2015, the concussion rate was higher in girls’ soccer than in boys’ football, the findings showed. During the 2014-2015 school year, concussions were more common in girls’ soccer than in any other sport in the study.
Girls may be at greater risk of concussion while playing soccer due to “heading” the ball, a lack of protective gear, and an emphasis on contact during the game, the researchers suggested.
Each year, about 300,000 U.S. teens suffer concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries while participating in high school sports, the study authors said.
The findings were presented Tuesday at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting in San Diego. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
SOURCE: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, news release, March 14, 2017�
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Headache and Auto Injury
Whiplash is a common type of automobile accident injury. Characterized by symptoms of neck pain, whiplash is caused when the complex structures and tissues of the neck are stretched beyond their limit as a result of an abrupt back-and-forth motion of the head. While neck pain is the most common symptom associated with the auto injury, headaches can also occur due to complications along the cervical spine.
Both UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull and Women�s Basketball Coach Keitha Adams released statements Wednesday night regarding Adams leaving UTEP for Wichita�State University.
UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull:
�Keitha was one of my first hires and has been with us for 16 years. She has done an absolutely unbelievable job. We hate to see her leave, but understand the desire to go home. We can�t thank her enough for everything she has done for UTEP Athletics and the women�s basketball program. She has enjoyed unprecedented success and has graduated all of her players. You won�t find a more quality person anywhere. The Wichita community will fall in love with her, just like El Paso has. She is a great coach and a great friend and we wish her the best.�
***
Keitha Adams:
�First off I want to thank Dr. Natalicio and Bob Stull for the opportunity and support in my tenure at UTEP. I want to thank my coaches for your efforts and hard work in our journey together. To all of the support staff and numerous individuals who helped our program succeed, thank you!! To all of the UTEP players, I�m so grateful and thankful to have you in my life. To the Miner fans, I will always cherish our memories and moments in the Don Haskins Center. I will always hold dear your support to me and our players. UTEP took me away from my home in Kansas. El Paso became my new home for 16 years. It is only for a unique and special opportunity that I would ever leave UTEP. Wichita State University is 36 miles from my hometown. It�s a special opportunity for me to share my passion for this game with my family and friends. I will always cheer for the Miners, I will always love El Paso. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. God Bless and Go Miners!!�
Parkinson’s disease can cause tremors, stiffness and trouble with walking. But a new study suggests that regular exercise can slow the progression of the disease. Even those with advanced Parkinson’s can benefit from activity, the study authors said.
The research included more than 3,400 patients in North America, the Netherlands and Israel who were followed for more than two years. During that time, Parkinson’s-related changes in mobility were assessed by timing how long it took patients to rise from a chair, walk about 10 feet, turn and return to a sitting position.
The results were published online recently in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.
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Connection Between Parkinson’s Disease and Exercise
“We found that people with Parkinson’s disease who maintained exercise 150 minutes per week had a smaller decline in quality of life and mobility over two years compared to people who did not exercise or exercised less,” said lead investigator Miriam Rafferty, of Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
“The smaller decline was significant for people who started the study as regular exercisers, as well as for people who started to exercise 150 minutes per week after their first study-related visit,” she said in a journal news release.
The study didn’t look at what specific types of exercise might be best for people with Parkinson’s disease. But the findings suggest that at least 150 minutes a week of any type of exercise offers benefits.
“People with Parkinson’s disease should feel empowered to find the type of exercise they enjoy, even those with more advanced symptoms,” Rafferty added.
The study also found that people with more advanced Parkinson’s disease saw the greatest benefit from 30-minute-per-week increases in exercise. This finding could prove important in making exercise more accessible to these people. Currently, their increased disability may limit their independent participation in community and group exercise programs, according to the researchers.
“The most important part of the study is that it suggests that people who are not currently achieving recommended levels of exercise could start to exercise today to lessen the declines in quality of life and mobility that can occur with this progressive disease,” Rafferty said.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Additional Topics: Chiropractic Care for Older Adults
Chiropractic care is an alternative treatment option which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of injuries and/or conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system, primarily the spine. Chiropractic utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to treat a variety of injuries and conditions. As people age, degenerative injuries and conditions can commonly occur. Fortunately, chiropractic treatment has been demonstrated to benefit older adults with spinal degeneration, helping to restore their original health and wellness.
It was a battle of far-east versus west, as the Horizon Scorpions traveled from the High Desert to Northwest El Paso to take on the surging Canutillo Eagles. �The Eagles took the game 48 to 0, and our Andres Acosta captured the competition and shares it with you via this Story in Many Pics.
Horizon Scorpions vs Canutillo Eagles. Horizon Scorpions vs Canutillo Eagles. Horizon Scorpions vs Canutillo Eagles.
Parkinson’s disease can cause tremors, stiffness and trouble with walking. But a new study suggests that regular exercise can slow the progression of the disease.
Even those with advanced Parkinson’s can benefit from activity, the study authors said.
The research included more than 3,400 patients in North America, the Netherlands and Israel who were followed for more than two years. During that time, Parkinson’s-related changes in mobility were assessed by timing how long it took patients to rise from a chair, walk about 10 feet, turn and return to a sitting position.
The results were published online recently in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.
“We found that people with Parkinson’s disease who maintained exercise 150 minutes per week had a smaller decline in quality of life and mobility over two years compared to people who did not exercise or exercised less,” said lead investigator Miriam Rafferty, of Northwestern University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
“The smaller decline was significant for people who started the study as regular exercisers, as well as for people who started to exercise 150 minutes per week after their first study-related visit,” she said in a journal news release.
The study didn’t look at what specific types of exercise might be best for people with Parkinson’s disease. But the findings suggest that at least 150 minutes a week of any type of exercise offers benefits.
“People with Parkinson’s disease should feel empowered to find the type of exercise they enjoy, even those with more advanced symptoms,” Rafferty added.
The study also found that people with more advanced Parkinson’s disease saw the greatest benefit from 30-minute-per-week increases in exercise. This finding could prove important in making exercise more accessible to these people. Currently, their increased disability may limit their independent participation in community and group exercise programs, according to the researchers.
“The most important part of the study is that it suggests that people who are not currently achieving recommended levels of exercise could start to exercise today to lessen the declines in quality of life and mobility that can occur with this progressive disease,” Rafferty said.
It may be tempting to latch on to the latest diet fad like juicing or going gluten-free to lose weight or achieve other health goals. But when it comes to heart health, doctors say sticking with old standbys like fruits, veggies and olive oil is still the best approach.
To see what kind of diet patterns might be the most heart healthy, a team of doctors and researchers examined results from more than a dozen previously published nutrition studies. Taken together, all of this evidence shows the best regimen for heart health includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, the study concludes.
“There is a great amount of misinformation about nutrition fads, including antioxidant pills, juicing and gluten-free diets,” said lead study author Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness in the division of cardiology at National Jewish Health in Denver.
“However, there are number of dietary patterns that have clearly been demonstrated to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease,” Freeman said in a statement. “There is growing consensus that a predominantly plant-based diet that emphasizes green, leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruit is where the best improvements are seen in heart health.”
Based on the scientific data available, nuts in moderation, extra-virgin olive oil and lean meats can also be part of a heart healthy diet, Freeman and colleagues report in the Journal of theAmerican College of Cardiology.
To help avoid high cholesterol, one risk factor for heart disease, the study authors also recommend skipping or limiting eggs and other oils like coconut and palm oil.
Even though U.S. dietary guidelines released last year removed previous recommendations to limit cholesterol, the current research review still advises against eating too many eggs because they are associated with higher cholesterol levels in the blood.
Coconut oil and palm oil may be trendy, but there isn’t much data to show they’re healthy for routine use, the study also concludes. Olive oil does have proven benefits, but should be consumed in moderation because it’s high in calories.
When it comes to antioxidants, another diet fad, there’s no evidence that supplements can help the heart and some evidence that they may have harmful health effects. But the science does support eating whole fruits and vegetables to get these nutrients.
Juicing, too, may not be as good for the heart as whole fruits and vegetables if people end up drinking too many calories, the researchers note. Juices without added sugar may, however, make sense for people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables.
“The problem with juicing is that many individuals who drink these tend to consume more calories from added sugars (fruit, yogurt, milk) than they realize,” Dr. Daniel Rader of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia said by email. He wasn’t involved in the study.
Gluten-free diets that avoid ingredients like wheat, barley and rye are necessary for people with celiac disease or gluten allergies, but don’t have proven benefits for anyone else, the study concludes.
It’s possible that fad diets avoiding gluten without a medical reason to do this might appear to be successful because people who try eating this way to improve their health also do other things that are healthy like getting plenty of exercise and sleep and avoiding smoking and junk food, said Alvaro Hernaez, a researcher at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona.
“They feel better because of the general improvement in their lifestyle habits,” Hernaez, who wasn’t involved in the study, said by email.
Fads diets, especially those that load up on meat or restrict too much food, should be avoided, said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Langone Medical Center who wasn’t involved in the study.
“We would all benefit from eating fewer foods that come from animals such as ham, beef, cheese, butter and pork, and eating a lot more plant foods,” Heller said by email.
Running is a great workout, and it comes with all of the heart-strengthening benefits of aerobic exercise. But doing it for long distances�like in a marathon�may come with unintended health consequences. A small new study finds that marathon runners can experience short-term kidney injury after the race.
In the study, published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, researchers took blood and urine samples from 22 people who ran the 2015 Hartford Marathon, and looked for evidence of kidney injury. The researchers reported that based on the markers they observed in the samples, 82% of the runners had evidence of stage 1 acute kidney injury after the race. The problem appeared to be short-term, and most people�s kidneys returned to normal within 24 to 48 hours.
Still, the researchers say that their findings underline the fact that running a marathon is a stressful event for the body, and that some people may want to be extra vigilant. �We knew we would find something, but I was surprised by the level [of injury],� says study author Dr. Chirag Parikh, a professor of medicine at Yale University. �It�s comparable to what I see in hospitals.�
More research is needed, but Parikh says that people who have no risk factors for kidney disease probably don�t need to worry. People with diabetes or high blood pressure, or people who are older, may want to work closely with trainers and doctors to keep an eye on their kidney health if they�re running marathons.
Though the researchers did not determine how exactly running a marathon can temporarily hurt kidneys, Parikh says the damage may be due to less blood flow to the kidneys, high core body temperature and dehydration. It�s still unknown whether this short-lived kidney injury can cause cumulative damage, or if some people may not recover in the short-term.
The study is not the first to find that marathons can come with health risks. While it�s clear that getting exercise is important, research suggests that more isn�t always better. A 2015 review published in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports found that while runners in the study lived longer than non-runners, men and women gained the lifesaving benefits of running if they ran at slow or moderate speeds for about one to two hours a week. Among the runners, the people who ran the most had worse survival rates than people who ran less.
Parikh says that his study did not identify who might be at a higher risk, but notes that people over age 40 are increasingly signing up for marathons, and may want to take more precautions. Today, people 40 and older make up nearly 50% of marathon finishers in the U.S., compared to 1980 when this age group made up just 26%.
�Is there a right amount of distance for each person?� says Parikh. �Like everything else, there might be a balance of the benefits and risks. People can find the right distance for them and train their body.�
Our very own Andres Acosta made his way across the Borderland this week, taking in the most interesting games and shooting the action. Check out his work in this week�s �Story in Many Pics�
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