ScienceDaily (June 14, 2012) A novel form of vitamin B3 found in milk in small quantities produces remarkable health benefits in mice when high doses are administered, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The findings, recently reported in the June 2012 issue of the journal, Cell Metabolism, reveal that high doses of the vitamin precursor, nicotinamide riboside (NR) -- a cousin of niacin -- prevent obesity in mice that are fed a fatty diet, and also increase muscle performance, improve energy expenditure and prevent diabetes development, all without side effects.

The Swiss researchers, led by Dr. Johan Auwerx, performed the mouse experiments, while the ability to give the animals sufficient doses of NR was made possible by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers, who played key roles in uncovering the biological story of NR.

"This study is very important. It shows that in animals, the use of NR offers the health benefits of a low-calorie diet and exercise -- without doing either one," says Dr. Anthony Sauve, associate professor of Pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dr. Sauve is the pharmacologist and organic chemist who has invented a simple method for efficiently synthesizing NR in large scale. He was first to show that NR increases nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels in mammalian cells. NAD is a central player in energy metabolism. He has pioneered research into the compound, and he is a leader in investigating how NAD can signal adaptation in cells and in physiology.

"The research also suggests that the effects of NR could be even broader," Dr. Sauve says. "The bottom line is that NR improves the function of mitochondria, the cell's energy factories. Mitochondrial decline is the hallmark of many diseases associated with aging, such as cancer and neurodegeneration, and NR supplementation boosts mitochondrial functioning."

The Swiss researchers call NR a "hidden vitamin" that is believed to also be present in many other foods, although levels are low and difficult to measure. Nevertheless, the effects of NR on metabolism "are nothing short of astonishing."

Got nicotinamide riboside?

The study depended on a series of crucial discoveries by Dr. Sauve and his laboratory colleagues.

NR, related to niacin and other common forms of vitamin B3, was first investigated more than 60 years ago by a Stanford researcher and 1959 Nobel Laureate, Arthur Kornberg. But little more was known about its effects in mammals until Dr. Sauve discovered the effect NR had in stimulating levels of NAD in mammalian cells -- work he published in 2007.

Read more:
Hidden vitamin in milk yields remarkable health benefits

PLYMOUTH, England, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

June 15th 2012 represents a ground-breaking date in the history of diabetes research. After twelve years the EarlyBird project has made significant advances in understanding what triggers diabetes and cardio-vascular disease and the means to determine how advanced these conditions are. The Earlybird research has worryingly shown just how early in life the underlying symptoms of diabetes start, and how focus must move to early prevention through diet not simply physical activity, despite the current focus of government policy.

The EarlyBirds, a randomly selected group of 300 healthy children, have undergone an intensive series of measurements and tests from the age of five to seventeen. Since 2000, the Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth, Terence Wilkin has been leading the 'EarlyBird study' to find which factors in childhood cause diabetes in later life.

The project aim is to help parents, teachers and decision makers in government to understand the preventable factors in childhood that are responsible for the current epidemics of diabetes and heart disease. This radical medical research will provide evidence to help academics identify the causes of diabetes.

The EarlyBird study has been distinctive in combining objective measures of physical activity and body composition, with annual fasting blood samples. These measures reach beyond simple body composition (BMI and body fat) to metabolic health (glucose control, insulin sensitivity, blood fats, cholesterol, blood pressure).

Critical to the success of the programme has been the funding of Dr Chai Patel, his Bright Future Trust and the Patel family who will have donated over 1million by the time the study is completed September 2013.

Dr Chai Patel, said:

"EarlyBird has developed and harnessed critical new advances in medical science in order to challenge some of the misconceptions surrounding diabetes, and its causes, and will undoubtedly lead to better medical practices being implemented to tackle the root cause of diabetes-onset.

"We are all incredibly grateful to the volunteers who have shown commitment, motivation and maturity which has been truly remarkable and would daunt most adults.

"I am proud to have been associated with a project that has massive potential to change lives across the world."

Continued here:
Ground-breaking Research Reveals Government Must Focus on Healthy Children's Diets to Prevent Diabetes

Tammy Jackson swears she hasn't blown her nose in seven months. The credit, she said, goes to a change in diet.

Jackson and her boyfriend, Will Poole, started the Paleo diet in an effort to help Poole deal with Type I diabetes.

The Paleo diet eliminates processed foods and focuses on hunter-gatherer foods, much like cavemen would have eaten during the Paleolithic era. The philosophy is centered on the theory that our bodies respond best to food that is, and has been for thousands of years, naturally available to us.

Breads, cereals, potatoes, legumes and dairy products are prohibited in the strictest versions of the diet. Jackson and Poole have adapted their diets to include more meats, vegetables and nuts.

And eggs, Jackson said. "We eat a lot of eggs."

Health advantages

Jackson and Poole are convinced that the Paleo diet has improved their health.

Before the Paleo diet, Poole's food choices were adversely affecting his health.

"I didn't do a good job," he said. His idea of managing his diabetes well was, "I wasn't having to have to go to the ER on regular basis."

"Will's diet was a big concern of mine," Jackson said. "He ate anything. He would eat food that would spike his blood sugar and then treat it with insulin."

Continued here:
Local Couple Improves Health Through Paleo Diet

Key concepts Chemistry Physics Materials science Carbonation Physical reactions Explosions

Introduction Have you ever seen the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment that is all over the Internet and wondered what makes the reaction work? You might think that there is some ingredient in a Mentos candy that causes a chemical reaction with the soda pop, like the way baking soda reacts with vinegar. But the amazing eruption that takes place when Mentos are dropped into Diet Coke or other brands of diet soda pop is not a chemical reaction at all! Instead it is a physical reaction. That means that all of the pieces of the reaction are there, but that they are simply rearranged. It also means changing some factors may cause a larger or smaller physical reaction to take place.

Background A carbonated beverage is packed full of dissolved carbon dioxide gas, which forms bonds with water. While the soda is in the bottle, the gas is kept in solution by the bottle's pressurized conditions. When you pour some soda into a glass, some gas escapes and forms foam, but most stays trapped by the surface tension of the water. But all those gas bubbles want to escape, making it no wonder that soda makes you burp!

To create bubbles, the carbon dioxide needs to interact with itself, which means that the carbon dioxide's bonds with water in the Diet Coke must be broken. A Mentos candy can help with this. Although the candy may look smooth, if you looked at it under a microscope you'd see tiny bumps coating its entire surface. This rough surface allows the bonds between the carbon dioxide gas and the water to more easily break, helping to create carbon dioxide bubbles and cause the classic eruption. The speed at which the Mentos falls through the soda can affect how large the eruption is, and this can be tested by comparing whole with crushed Mentos, the latter of which are less dense.

Materials Wax paper Cutting board Knife One roll of Mentos (at least eight candies) Two index cards Tape Two two-liter bottles of Diet Coke An outdoor area at least two meters from buildings Eye protection (safety goggles or glasses) Video camera with either a tripod or a helper to take the images (optional)

Preparation Place a piece of wax paper on top of the cutting board. On the wax paper, carefully use a knife to crush and cut four Mentos candies into many small pieces. An adult may help you cut up the candies. What does the inside of the candies look like? Make a Mentos cartridge to hold the candies for you before you drop them into the Diet Coke bottle by rolling an index card into a tube, slightly larger than the diameter of a Mentos candy. Tape the tube together on the side. Be sure to wear eye protection when putting the candies into the cola! Wear clothes that you would not mind if they get splashed with a little soda popthis activity can get a little messy!

Procedure Place a Diet Coke bottle in an outdoor area, at least two meters from any buildings or anything hanging above the area, such as eaves, overhangs or wires. Make sure that the bottle is on a level surface and stably standing straight. Why do you think all of this is important? If you want to videotape the reactions, set up the video camera so that it has in its viewfinder the bottle and a height equivalent to at least the first story of a building. Carefully remove the cap from the bottle and place the flat index card on top, covering the hole. Add four whole Mentos candies to your cartridge, put on your eye protection, and start the video camera. Place your full cartridge on top of the flat index card. Line up where the opening of the bottle is with the opening of your cartridge. Quickly pull out the flat index card, releasing the Mentos candies into the bottle. Then step back without tipping the bottle over or disturbing the reaction. How quickly did the reaction start to happen, and how quickly did it stop? About how high did the eruption go? How much cola is left in the bottle? When the bottle stops spouting, stop recording. Remove the spent cola bottle and place a new full bottle in the same position, again making sure that it is level and stably standing straight. As with the first bottle, remove the cap and place the flat index card on top, covering the hole. Add your four crushed Mentos candies to your cartridge, pouring them in from the wax paper. Put on your eye protection and start the video camera. Like you did before, place your full cartridge on top of the flat index card, then line up where the opening of the bottle is with the opening of your cartridge. Quickly pull out the flat index card, releasing the crushed Mentos into the bottle, then step back without tipping the bottle over or disturbing the reaction. How quickly did the reaction start to happen, and how quickly did it stop? How high did the eruption appear to go? How much liquid is left in the bottle? Is it more or less than the amount that was left when you used whole candies? When the bottle stops spouting, stop recording. If you videotaped the reactions, you can watch your videos now. What do you notice from the videos? Which reaction went higher, the whole or the crushed Mentos? Extra: Find an exterior wall of a building with no windows and set a Diet Coke bottle at the base of the wall. Use a tape measure and blue painter's tape to mark off the height from the top of the bottle in meters. Then repeat this activity three times, with the bottle in front of the tape-marked wall, video taping it each time. When you review the recordings, use slow motion and pause the recording when the spout is at its maximum height. Using the tape marks in the background, estimate the height of the spout. Calculate the average height of the fountains for the whole and for the crushed Mentos. What is the difference in height of the eruptions? Extra: What other factors affect the size of the Mentos and Diet Coke eruption? You can try testing different kinds of carbonated beverages, different kinds of candies with different shapes and textures or using other things to start the reaction, like rock salt, pennies or dice. Which beverages, candies or other things cause the largest and smallest fountains? Why do you think this is? Extra: Do this activity again but instead of testing whole Mentos versus crushed, compare warm versus cold Diet Coke. Does temperature affect the eruption height?

Read more:
Spurting Science: Erupting Diet Coke with Mentos

FRESNO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A Pennsylvania State University study published online this month in Hypertension, an American Heart Association Journal, reveals that including pistachios in a healthy diet may positively reduce the bodys response to the stresses of everyday life.

Adults with elevated cholesterol were enrolled in a randomized, controlled clinical trial comparing diets containing pistachios to a low fat diet. The results show that a healthy diet supplemented with pistachios helps decrease systolic blood pressure, peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate during acute stress. Cardiovascular responses were measured while participants engaged in a challenging mental arithmetic test and again as they immersed their foot in cold water.

The study conducted at Pennsylvania State University by Drs. Sheila G. West and Penny M. Kris-Etherton and colleagues examined how diets containing pistachios (one-and-a-half and three ounces per day) versus a low-fat diet without pistachios, affect responses to stress on subjects with elevated LDL cholesterol, but normal blood pressure. This study is the first to show that including both salted and unsalted pistachios in a healthy diet helps reduce blood pressure and lessen the vascular load on the heart.

The people in the study were healthy, non-smoking men and women with elevated LDL cholesterol (commonly regarded as bad cholesterol) but normal blood pressure. All of the meals were provided and calorie levels were customized to maintain body weight. Pistachios were substituted for other foods in the diet to prevent weight gain. Participants followed three different diets one low fat diet (25% fat ) without pistachios, and two with different levels of pistachios (approximately 1.5 oz or 10% of calories from pistachios and 3.0 oz or (20% of calories from pistachios). The pistachio diets contained higher amounts of potassium, healthy fats and protein. All diets were rich in fruit, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains, consistent with current food-based dietary recommendations. Participant demographics and the diet design have been published previously.2

Daily events, such as work stress, a tight deadline, or public speaking can increase blood pressure, and we know that we cant avoid all of the stressors in our lives. These results are significant because they show that physiological responses to stress are affected by the foods we eat, stated Sheila West, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Health and the studys lead author. Dr. West continues, These changes in blood pressure occurred even though self-reported mood, anxiety, and tension were not changed.

The largest drop in blood pressure, - 4.8 mm Hg, was associated with eating about one-and-a-half ounces of pistachios a day versus a -1.8 mm Hg on the low-fat diet and, -2.4 mm Hg, three ounces of pistachios per day. The diet containing three ounces of pistachios resulted in a significant decrease in peripheral vascular resistance, a measure of artery stiffness and heart rate versus the control diet. Fifty percent of the pistachios were given salted as a snack and the other half were unsalted and incorporated into recipes. Interestingly, although high sodium intake is typically associated with high blood pressure, the largest drop in in blood pressure was not associated with the lowest sodium diet. Pistachios do provide potassium (8% Daily Value) and magnesium (8% Daily Value) which are important in maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

In addition, these results are very exciting because they demonstrate further benefits of pistachios on another risk factor for cardiovascular disease, added Penny M. Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, and a lead researcher for the study. Dr. Kris-Etherton adds, Our previous research suggests including pistachios in a healthy diet lowers LDL cholesterol in a dose-response fashion2 and increases antioxidants in the blood.3

This research adds to the growing body of literature on the health benefits of pistachios, added Constance J. Geiger, Ph.D., R.D. who serves as a nutrition research consultant with the American Pistachio Growers. Dr. Geiger continues, Nuts, such as pistachios, are an important part of a healthy diet.

For more information and to read the full study, go to hyper.ahajournals.org.1

See more here:
Pistachios Shown to Help Reduce Blood Pressure and Biological Responses to Everyday Stress

By Frances Childs

PUBLISHED: 16:34 EST, 13 June 2012 | UPDATED: 19:41 EST, 13 June 2012

Since astrology can give us an insight into what makes us tick - helping us understand how we act in a relationship, what we need to inspire us and the situations we should try to avoid - then could our star sign also help determine the best way to keep in shape?

Astrologer Sharon Ward, who has more than 20 years experience in lecturing and writing on astrology and health, thinks so. Astrology can give us a real insight into personality, so it can help you find a diet and exercise regime that youll stick to, she explains.

Using her insights, Sharon has created a special astro-diet plan. So what do the diet and fitness experts think? Andrew Stemler, director of training at Crossfit in London, says: Looking at your star sign to work out what you enjoy is a fun way to start exercising, and anything that inspires you to get fit is a good thing.

Dietician Anne Myers, of the British Dietetic Association, says the astro-diet plan has some great ideas. I think everyone should be following these suggestions, whatever star sign they are. So whether youre a sensitive Piscean or a wilful Taurus, heres astrologer Sharons guide to getting your beach body this year...

Since astrology can give us an insight into what makes us tick could our star sign also help determine the best way to keep in shape?

ARIES Mar 20 - Apr 20

Driven, high-achieving, Victoria Beckham is a typical Aries. You thrive on competition and are determined to win. When it comes to dieting, fast-paced regimes that bring quick results are perfect for you because patience definitely isnt a virtue.

DIET: Atkins (high in protein, low in carbs) is a good bet for an Aries. It provides concentrated fuel and appeals to your competitive, all-or-nothing personality. This is quite an extreme diet so Id recommend regular health checks to keep an eye on things such as your cholesterol.

See the original post here:
The zodiac diet: Can't find a slimming regime that works for you? Maybe the answer is in your stars