Stanford scientists are blending the latest in nanotechnology with a quirky light effect discovered in the 1920s to create a new way to scan for tumors - a process that is potentially safer and more sensitive than current cancer screens.
Using a beam of laser light projected on the skin surface, the technique can spot with extraordinary precision tiny particles that have been injected into the bloodstream and attach themselves to cancer cells.
"The goal is to detect the fewest number of cancer cells possible," said Dr. Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, the Stanford radiology professor who is developing the approach.
Today's most advanced cancer diagnostic tools, such as PET scans, can pick up a tumor about 5 millimeters wide - containing tens of millions of cancerous cells. The new technique, called Raman imaging, has the potential to detect microscopic clumps of only a few hundred cancer cells.
A more precise test for cancer such as this one might pick up the disease more quickly and give surgeons a more complete picture of where the tumors are that need to be removed.
The experimental Raman imaging system has been tested only on mice, but it could be ready for human clinical trials in a year, said Gambhir. The goal will be to detect colon cancer.
In a paper published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Gambhir and his team at the Stanford Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence describe how they used the technique to spot cancer cells in living laboratory mice.
"It's an important paper," said Piotr Grodzinski, director of Nanotechnology for the National Cancer Institute, which is supporting Gambhir's group with an $18 million grant. "Their work is innovative in many ways."
The Raman effect
This technology capitalizes on an unusual property of light, the "Raman effect," named after the Indian scientist C.V. Raman, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in physics in 1930 for discovering it.
Shine a light on any surface, Raman found, and a tiny portion of the light is reflected back at a different wavelength that is precisely determined by the nature of the material illuminated. Out of 10 million photons of light, only one will bounce back with this distinctive "Raman" signal. But gather enough of them and ordinary light can be used to analyze the chemical nature of things.
Virtually unheard of outside scientific circles, the Raman effect has been used for decades in laboratory analytical instruments. Raman microscopes are used to identify chemical components in blood, but until recently the technology had never been used in a living creature.
That's where nanotechnology comes into play.
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of materials measured in nanometers - billionths of a meter. Typical nanoparticles are 100 nanometers wide, and 3,000 of them could fit across the width of a human hair.
Gambhir and his team created tiny particles that can be injected by the billions into the bloodstream. The particles are designed to latch on to the surface of cancer cells. When a light is shined on the tumor site, the particles give off a distinctive Raman reflection, signaling the presence of those cancer cells.
The Stanford team is experimenting with two types of Raman nanoparticles. One is an astonishingly small gold bead, not much bigger than a virus, and the other is a similarly microscopic tube of carbon.
These particles have a unique physical property: They act like amplifiers, boosting those weak Raman signals a thousandfold.
Using chemical tricks, Gambhir's team attaches to each of these gold particles or carbon nanotubes a molecular latch that will grab on to a specific part of a cancer cell. The laser light reflects off these latches, producing the Raman signal, and the gold or carbon nanotubes boost that signal so it can be detected.
Aiming at multiple targets
A key advantage of this imaging system is that, if it is proven safe, researchers could tailor-make nanoparticles to zero in on half a dozen targets. For example, in a single test, a patient might be injected with several nanoparticles that coat different features on the surface of a cancer cell, and another nanoparticle that finds blood vessels that form to feed tumors. The combined signals would be a powerful indication of that cancer at work in some part of the body.
In a separate paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology on Sunday, the same scientific team reported that the carbon nanotubes were not toxic to the mice. But proving the safety of the technique in humans will require more time, and more tests.
It is possible that Raman imaging could be safer than many current scanning technologies, which rely on injecting mildly radioactive tracers that latch on to cancer cells. The presence of cancer is determined by devices that pick up the signal of these radioactive tags. In Raman imaging, only laser light is used to spot the tumor - there's no radioactivity involved.
"It's a common procedure today, and quite safe, but instead of putting radioactivity into you, why not a Raman signal?" said Gambhir.
In about a year, the Stanford scientist hopes to conduct a pilot test of Raman imaging in human volunteers to find cancerous polyps in the colon. In this test, the nanoparticles will not circulate in the bloodstream - they'll just be swallowed and flow through the digestive tract. That should be a safer experiment. "There is nowhere for the particles to go, other than out," Gambhir explained.
A major limitation of Raman imaging is that it can work in the body only as deeply as light can safely penetrate. Right now, that's about a half inch. Using fiber optics, the test might be performed just about anywhere that doctors can snake in a light cable.
"You wouldn't use this to image the brain," Gambhir said. "But it could easily image tumors near the surface of the breast, or light up a polyp in the bowel."
E-mail Sabin Russell at srussell@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Stanford nanotech project may find tumors
Pilot Investigation of a Multinutrient Supplement on Skin Aging and Aging Metabolites in Healthy Women
Pilot Investigation of a Multinutrient Supplement on Skin Aging and Aging Metabolites in Healthy Women
Contact Information
Stanford University School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Primary contact:
Anne Chang
(650) 725-4302
alschang@stanford.edu
Secondary contact:
Claudia Munoz
(650) 725-4302
cmunoz1@stanford.edu
We are seeking healthy female volunteers to determine if multinutrient supplementation affects visible signs of skin aging as well as blood measurements of aging. We are seeking smokers and non-smokers.
Recruiting Status: Recruiting
Condition(s):
* Skin Diseases
Intervention(s):
* Drug: Dietary Supplement: LifePak Nano
Phase: N/A
Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years
Genders Eligible for Study: Female
Healthy Volunteers?: People with the conditions listed in this trial can not participate as controls.
Key Inclusion Criteria:
- Fitzpatrick Skin type I or II
- Nonpregnant Females, age 18-30 or 50-70
- Body Mass Index Normal or Overweight
- If age 18-30, must be non-smoker
- Willing to fast for 8 hours prior to a blood draw
Key Exclusion Criteria:
- History of cosmetic surgery
- Use of anti-aging medications within 3 months of enrollment
- Use of over-the-counter anti-aging creams (not sunscreens) more than once per week within one month of enrollment
- Use of dietary supplements including vitamins within one month of enrollment
- Use of tanning beds or excsessive UV exposure (greater than 2 hours per day) within one month of enrollment
- Use of sunless tanners within one month of enrollment
- Uncontrolled or ongoing serious medical condition
- Participation in another clinical study involving use of an investigational drug or product
- Medical condition which, at the discretion of the investigator, will have a significant impact on ability to judge participant's skin characteristics, including age.
Additional Study Details
Official Title: Pilot Investigation of a Multinutrient Supplement on Skin Aging and Aging Metabolites in Healthy Women
Anticipated start date:
Lead Sponsor: Stanford University
Collaborator(s):
* Nu Skin Enterprises
Investigator(s):
* Dr. Anne Lynn S. Chang
* Emily Sarah Gorell
* Claudia Alejandra Munoz
Study Type: Interventional
Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-randomized
Masking: Open Label
Control: Historical Control
Assignment: Single Group Assignment
Endpoints: Efficacy Study
Primary Outcomes:
* Determine whether supplementation affects skin aging
Secondary Outcomes:
* Determine if supplementation affects blood markers of aging
Total Number to be Enrolled: 60
Total Number to be Enrolled at Stanford: 60
More Information
Trial Unique Id: 10622
Locations & Contacts
Stanford Locations & Contacts
Stanford University School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Primary contact:
Anne Chang
(650) 725-4302
alschang@stanford.edu
Secondary contact:
Claudia Munoz
(650) 725-4302
cmunoz1@stanford.edu
Non-Stanford Locations
The Stanford website does not have any locations outside of Stanford listed for this trial. You may want to check clinicaltrials.gov for posible additional locations.
This listing was last updated: 2/25/2008
PLEASE NOTE: Study Coordinators and Research Nurses cannot give medical advice over the phone. Telephone numbers are provided for obtaining additional information on specific clinical research trials only. If you have specific questions which require clinical expertise, please call your primary care physician. If you do not have a primary care physician please feel free to call the SHC Physician Referral Service at (800) 756-9000 or email referral@medcenter.stanford.edu .
Thursday, June 19, 2008
High Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy steps
Al Sears, MD
12794 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 16
Wellington, FL 33414
June 19, 2008
Dear Mike,
There is just so much misguided diet advice out there…no wonder so many people have failed at their fat loss efforts. If you are one of these people I have some advice I would like to share with you.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that counting calories is the best way to lose fat. The problem with this theory is that it just doesn’t work.
Your body is not a machine. It decides on its own how it should use the calories that it consumes. So, it’s more about what you eat, not how much or the calories.
Unfortunately, the typical American diet consists of only 16% protein, 35% fat and nearly 50% carbs! What’s wrong with this?
First, a diet high in carbs is not the way to stay lean. It spikes your blood sugar and makes you fat and diseased. Second, the amount of protein in this diet is not enough to keep you lean. Third, the amount of fat in this diet would be okay, but it’s the wrong kind of fat. The right kind of fat will actually help with your fat loss efforts.
Our ancestors had it right. Their diet consisted of 38% fats, 31% protein, and only 31% carbs. As a result there were no cases of obesity or diabetes. So, a good rule of thumb for getting the right balance in your diet to make you lean and healthy is to eat what they ate.
So, start by dumping the high-starch carbs, processed foods, and the low-fat diet now. Instead opt for whole foods consisting of natural meats and eggs, wild fish, vegetables, unmodified fruits, and nuts. This will give you the right kind of protein, fats, and carbs you need for a lean and healthy body.
You can hear me discuss more about this in an upcoming, live, online teleconference with EveryDay Qi Wellness. This is a free 12-week series that has just kicked off. You will get live in-depth interviews with some of the most well known names in the field of health, wellness and self-development.
You will get cutting edge information from some of the people I respect the most in health and wellness today. You’ll get to hear interviews with people like Dr. Susan Lark, Ron Matthews, Master Chunyi Lin, Peggy McColl, and Ellen Britt. They’ll give you information on how to:
* Raise your happiness set-point
* Change the nature of your relationship to abundance
* Free yourself from goals paralysis
* Discover your own personal hormone profile
* Awaken your own natural healing ability
* Tap into your body’s wisdom
* Regain a healthy rapport with your subconscious mind
* And much more…
You will hear me discuss some key highlights from my new book, High Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps on Thursday, July 17th at 8 pm. Some of the topics I will cover are:
* The biggest fat loss lies today
* How to avoid common dieting mistakes
* The truth about low-fat/high-carb diets
* How to teach your body to lose fat naturally
So, come and be my guest and attend this extraordinary teleconference. I am looking forward to you attending.
You can sign up, fast and easy right now for FREE, just CLICK HERE.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
P.S. – If you’re not available to listen during the actual teleconference or missed lectures, don’t worry… I have made special arrangements for you to have access to them. But you have to register.
Vitamin D and Coronary Heart disease
25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study.
Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB.
Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. egiovann@hsph.harvard.edu
BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency may be involved in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in humans. METHODS: We assessed prospectively whether plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations are associated with risk of coronary heart disease. A nested case-control study was conducted in 18,225 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study; the men were aged 40 to 75 years and were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at blood collection. The blood samples were returned between April 1, 1993, and November 30, 1999; 99% were received between April 1, 1993, and November 30, 1995. During 10 years of follow-up, 454 men developed nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal coronary heart disease. Using risk set sampling, controls (n = 900) were selected in a 2:1 ratio and matched for age, date of blood collection, and smoking status. RESULTS: After adjustment for matched variables, men deficient in 25(OH)D (
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Quarter and a Glass of water can save your life
A Quarter and a Glass of Water Saved Ed’s Life.
Could it Save Yours Too?
Dear Mike,
The first time I met Ed he told me his story… It could be very important for you…
He was a roofer. He was leaving a job site, climbed into his truck and turned the ignition. But as he was pulling out of the parking lot, his vision suddenly went blurry. “It’s like I just forgot how to drive. Then it got to where I couldn’t feel the right side of my body” He clenched the steering wheel, but couldn’t move.
His crew panicked as they saw his truck roll off the road and into a ditch. The next thing Ed remembered he was waking up in the hospital and seeing his wife’s grief-stricken face. He wanted to talk to her…“I could think of what I wanted to say but I just couldn’t get the words to come out.”
After his stroke, Ed told me he saw every specialist but no one could explain why it had happened. He didn’t drink or smoke and had none of the traditional risk factors. He was strong and muscular from a lifetime of working as a roofer, and was only 48 years old. His doctors insisted on the cholesterol lowering drug, Lipitor even though Ed’s cholesterol was only 150.
And this is the point of Ed’s story that I wanted you to know. Prescription drugs won’t save you from a stroke. But you can slash your risk to almost zero with just a few inexpensive supplements available at your grocery store. Ed didn’t come to see me until another stroke hit. The second one left him bedridden and out of a job.
His doctors put him through a battery of tests at some of the best hospitals in the country. But after 6 months, Ed had no answers. The specialists at John’s Hopkins concluded he would never work again. They told him he could never climb a ladder. Worse still, they told him that he had an 80% chance of having a third stroke, which they said would likely kill him.
Feeling desperate from the weight of his death sentence and the loss of his livelihood, Ed went outside his HMO and came to me.
I measured his risk of stroke with a simple blood test. When his lab results came back, the answer was immediately obvious: He had high levels of an acid that builds up when your antioxidant systems start to fail – the biggest single risk factor for stroke. It was the highest I had ever seen.
I gave Ed a combination of safe and inexpensive supplements to counteract the acid. Ten years later, Ed is healthy and still working. And he never had that third stroke.
Many heart attack victims don’t see it coming either. The same acid that gave Ed two strokes gave Dave a heart attack at the age of 54. When he came to me for help, I found high levels, which I expected. But I also discovered low levels of a critical heart nutrient that most doctors completely overlook.
After 6 months of taking this nutrient twice a day he had no trace of heart disease and his blood pressure dropped to a normal 120 over 80. And he’s not the only one.
I’ve helped thousands of my patients overcome their fear of heart attack and stroke. By eliminating their risk, they sleep better at night. And if you have a family history, the anxiety can be intense – especially as you get older.
Dodge the Heart Attack Causing Hormone
• There’s another very effective predictor of heart disease. When inflammation, injury or infection appears, your liver releases a marker. By measuring it, I can tell how likely you are to develop heart disease.
The New England Journal of Medicine found that men with high levels of this marker were twice as likely to suffer a stroke and 3 times as likely to have a heart attack.1 They also discovered this marker shows up in the blood 6 to 8 years before the event happens. That means it gives you an advance warning. You can take action to prevent them long before they strike.
• Your body produces a particular hormone to help you regulate blood sugar. When levels get too high, you start to gain weight and your body makes dangerous changes that appear in your blood. Triglycerides (blood fat) start to rise and your HDL (good cholesterol) starts to fall. Both your blood pressure and your risk of heart disease go through the roof.
Patients at my clinic are always surprised to discover the extra fat around their belly has put them in the danger zone. And most have no idea that a hormone is the real cause. But a few simple changes in diet fix the problem. There’s no sacrifice involved either. In fact many of my recommendations for heart health include steak, eggs and a glass of wine.
• It may surprise you to learn that cholesterol is a very poor indicator of heart disease. In spite of the drug ads you see on TV and in magazines telling you to push your cholesterol lower and lower, traditional cholesterol scores tell you very little about your real risk.
Many people with high cholesterol never develop heart problems and at least half of the people who have heart attacks have “normal” levels of cholesterol (below 200). But there’s an effective new test that gives you the real story about your cholesterol.
Traditional cholesterol tests pick up only 45% of cholesterol problems. The new one identifies about 90% of them. What’s more, the new test can determine whether your cholesterol is actually dangerous or if it is present in your bloodstream but harmless in terms of triggering a heart attack.
Get the Exercise Your Heart Really Needs
Even more surprising than finding out cholesterol doesn’t cause heart disease is discovering that traditional exercise ramps up your risk of heart attack.
Aerobics, jogging and marathons have led you in the wrong direction. This type of long-duration activity puts stress on your heart that actually makes it shrink. When faced with long bouts of exertion, your body will “downsize” your heart and lungs to economize its use of energy. This keeps your heart going at high output for long periods.
But your body wasn’t designed for long-duration activity. Your ancient ancestors never ran for hours on end. Their activity was more like short bursts of intense exertion followed by rest – the kind used during hunting or escaping from dangerous animals.
When you stress your heart for long periods and force it to shrink, you lose vital reserve capacity. This is the extra pumping power your heart reserves for when it really needs it. If someone is chasing you and you need to get away fast, your heart will draw on that reserve capacity to pump more blood quickly and get more oxygen to your muscles. This gives you the power to get out of trouble.
The same applies for traumatic experiences that are emotional. If you find out that a loved one has suddenly died, the shock of hearing the bad news creates a demand for more oxygen, just like when you’re trying to escape danger.
Losing your reserve capacity means having a heart attack when a stressful situation arises. Every year, well-conditioned long-distance runners suffer sudden cardiac death. And distance runners have much higher rates of sudden cardiac death than all other athletes.
But you can prevent heart attacks and build up your heart’s reserve capacity by training your body in a whole new way. I developed a program over 15 years ago that bulletproofs your heart in less than 10 minutes.
I use it with my patients and get results in a matter of weeks. It strengthens their heart, normalizes their blood pressure and melts pounds of unwanted fat. In several cases I’ve had patients lose over 70 pounds of body fat in 12 weeks. It’s easy to learn and requires no special equipment or gym memberships.
My Patients Beat these Killers Everyday… Why Not You?
Ed and Dave are just two out of thousands that have kicked heart attack and stroke to the curb. Just ask my secretary… The medical records of my past success stories take up two rooms at a warehouse down the street from my clinic.
Here are just a few from my files:
• In 1994, Emily from Houston, Texas came to see me after 5 strokes left her wheelchair bound and barely able to speak. Her doctors told her to “get her affairs in order,” and prepare for the end. But after 3 months of taking the supplements I told you about, she was talking like her old self.
Today she’s walking on her own and hasn’t had another stroke. That’s almost 14 years and counting… (Stroke victims never have “permanent” damage. If it doesn’t kill you, healing starts almost immediately.)
• In 2001, Mike walked into my clinic with advanced heart disease. He was on half a dozen prescription medications and over a hundred pounds over weight. Aside from being obese, his blood pressure was off the charts.
The same “heart nutrient” that helped Dave brought Mike back from an early grave. Combined with a 10-minute routine of heart-healthy exercise, Mike lost that extra weight in about 15 months. He says he “feels like his old self.” And his cardiologist confirms he’s heart disease free.
• Just a few years ago, Larry told me he was scared senseless. Both his father and grandfather died of heart attacks shortly after retirement. At 66, Larry was afraid his time was drawing near.
His fears were justified. After his blood tests came back I knew he was at risk. But with a few simple supplements and changes in diet, those risk factors disappeared in a matter of 12 weeks. Today, Larry is a lot more relaxed. He enjoys golf and time with his family without the anxiety of thinking he could go at any moment.
Cross Heart Attack and Stroke Off Your List of Things to Worry About…
You can beat these killers and put the worry out of your mind for good. Even if you have a family history, I can help you. These methods are safe, proven and effective. Ed prevented his third stroke with just a few simple supplements available at your local grocery store. In The Doctor’s Heart Cure, I show you exactly which ones and how much to take.
These strategies work regardless of your current condition or medical history. I’ll give you all the details behind the techniques I mentioned in this letter and more.
You’ll find out how to stop heart attacks and strokes in a way that’s easy to understand and simple to follow. You’ll learn how to determine your own risk and put together a program that fits your own needs.
Now that you know it’s possible, I’ll show you how to get started right away. And I personally guarantee it will work for you. If it doesn’t, just let me know. You’ll get back every penny. Even your shipping and handling will be refunded.
To help you put the threat of heart attack and stroke behind you, I want you to have 3 more powerful resources. And they won’t cost you a single cent. Eva – my services director – put them into a special Doctor’s Heart Cure Package that’s full of FREE bonuses.
Attention Women: Emergency Room Doctors May Not Recognize Your Heart Attack Symptoms Until It’s Too Late…
You may think heart disease is just a man’s problem. But every year, more women die from heart disease than men. It’s the biggest killer of women in American history. And it’s deadlier in women too. Over 40% of women die within a year of their first heart attack versus only 24% for men.
Even most doctors underestimate this risk women face. To help you understand why and exactly what to do, I’m giving you a copy of The Doctor’s Heart Cure for Women.
You’ll discover:
* The 3 unique risk factors women have, but don’t know about.
* Why traditional “cardio” accelerates a loss of aging unique to women.
* The big blunder treating women with heart disease and how to avoid them.
* Why women are more likely to be deficient in important fats and nutrients because of flawed diet advice.
* Why emergency rooms fail to diagnose a heart attack in women. (Women experience completely different heart attack symptoms.)
* And more…
I Use 10 Powerful Supplements that Reverse Disease in My Patients – Today, I’ll Tell You what They Are and How to Use Them…
Supplements are one of the keys to preventing heart attack and stroke. There are 10 powerhouse herbs, minerals and nutrients I recommend most often to my patients. They’re easy to find and won’t cost you a fortune.
In my Top 10 Life-Saving Supplements, you’ll find out what they are, how to take them and where to get them. I’ll give you simple, easy-to-follow advice showing you exactly why these super-charged ingredients target and protect the most vulnerable areas of your body and mind.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll find:
* Just 55 micrograms of this mineral protects you from the 4 deadliest forms of cancer.
* This “miracle” nutrient has the power to reverse heart disease and prevent heart attacks.
* This potent herb can boost a man’s testosterone level by 30% in just 5 days. (It was used by Eastern European athletes to enhance their performance during the Olympics – decades before it was “discovered” by the West.)
Throw Away Your Jogging Shoes and Beat
Heart Disease in Just Minutes a Day
As another added bonus, you’ll get my Real Heart Strength audio CD. You’ll hear me in my own words tell you step-by-step, how to avoid the dangers of traditional exercise and how you can prevent and reverse heart disease in just minutes a day.
In this revealing audio program you’ll learn:
* What you must do to prevent a heart attack
* How to super-charge your heart and lungs
* How you can strengthen your immune system as you age
* How to get the heart of a well-trained athlete in just 10 minutes a day
Order NOW!
Let Me Put an End to Your Worry… For Good!
Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to the lightning fast and deadly strike of a heart attack or stroke. The Doctor’s Heart Cure lowers your risk to zero. By taking action now, you’ll put your mind at ease by eliminating the two most common killers of our time.
When you order The Doctor’s Heart Cure Package, you’ll get a hard copy of The Doctor’s Heart Cure and my Real Heart Strength CD sent right to your door. Your other FREE reports, The Doctor’s Heart Cure for Women and my Top 10 Life-Saving Supplements will be e-mailed to you immediately.
You get everything for just $24.00. If you need a refund, not a problem. All your FREE bonuses are yours to keep with my compliments. That way, we take all the risk.
Getting started is easy. Just click the link below.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
Order NOW!
_________
1 Ridker PM et al. Inflammation, aspirin and the risk of cardiovascular disease in apparently healthy men. New England
Monday, June 16, 2008
Is Your Water Making You Fat?
Is Your water making you Fat?
If you drink flavored water as a substitute for plain water, beware.
Flavored water can increase the size of your waistline, and threaten your health.
The problem with drinking flavored water to stay hydrated is that it contains about as much sugar as one can of soda. Drinking just one bottle can significantly spike your insulin levels, promoting insulin resistance and increased fat storage.
Many manufacturers flavor their water with fructose or (even worse) High Fructose Corn Syrup--both culprits behind leptin and insulin resistance.
One study found that fructose affects the hormones involved in appetite regulation. A drink high in fructose caused low levels of the hormone leptin. Leptin lets you know that you have eaten enough. Low leptin causes high levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates eating. The end result is that your hormones tell you to keep eating.1
Other studies support this.
Researchers at Purdue University studied the effects of liquid versus solid calories. Two groups of people were fed the same amount of calories over a period of 4 weeks. One group was given jelly beans (solid) and the other was given soda (liquid). The group eating the jelly beans maintained their weight. Those in the soda group gained weight, primarily because they ate far more afterwards than the jelly bean group.2
And if you go with a no-calorie option, the threat to your health can be worse.
Many flavored waters contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose…both of which are toxic. I’ve written about the dangers of these two chemicals at length in previous Doctor’s Calls.
The best way to stay hydrated is to drink plain, purified water. But if you need a little flavor now and then, here are a few alternatives:
* Freeze ice cubes with 100%, all-natural fruit juice and bits of real fruit and add to your water for a little flavor.
* Squeeze lemon, or grapefruit into your water for zest.
* Drink tea sweetened with stevia (an all-natural, no calorie sweetener) and a dash of lemon.
* Drink green tea.
* Try water with a splash of 100% cranberry juice for a little sweetness.
* Mix lemon-flavored stevia into your water.
* Add some crushed mint, lime and stevia, for a non-alcoholic water “Mojito”
1. Teff KL, Elliott SS, Tschop M, Kieffer TJ, Rader D, Heiman M, Townsend RR, Keim NL, D'Alessio D, Havel PJ., Dietary fructose reduces circulating insulin and leptin, attenuates postprandial suppression of ghrelin, and increases triglycerides in women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. June 2004, 2963-72.
2. DiMeglio, R D Mattes, “Liquid versus solid carbohydrate: effects on food intake and body weight”, International Journal of Obesity, June 2000, Volume 24, Number 6, Pages 794-800
Diabetics shouldn't forget their antioxidants
Diabetics shouldn't forget their antioxidants: study
By Stephen Daniells
16-Jun-2008 - Vitamins C and E supplements may reduce memory loss in type-2 diabetics, a population at risk of increased impaired memory, suggests a new study from Canada.
Daily doses of 1000 mg of vitamin C and 800 IU of vitamin E improved mental function after carbohydrate-rich meals and may protect against memory loss, according to a small study with 16 diabetics published in the journal Nutrition Research.
"Results from this study suggest that postprandial oxidative stress is a potential contributor because deficits in [cognitive performance] after test meal consumption could be minimized by co-consumption of the test meal with high doses of antioxidant vitamins," wrote Michael Chui and Carol Greenwood from the University of Toronto.
The results may have significant benefits for the growing number of diabetes across the world. An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 billion, with $92 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.
According to Chui and Greenwood: "Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with chronic oxidative stress, a major contributor to cognitive decline and Alzheimer disease. Meal ingestion can induce acute elevations of free radicals, with higher susceptibility observed in patients with type-2 diabetes compared with healthy individuals."
Study details
The Toronto-based researchers recruited 16 type-2 diabetes with an average age of 63.5 and fed them a high-fat meal (50.4 g fat, 63 g carbohydrate, and 25.4 g protein), the same meal plus the vitamins, or just water. The meals were fed on three separate occasions and none of the subjects were regular consumers of high-dose antioxidant supplements.
The results of a battery of cognitive tests showed that consumption of the high-fat meal produced poor performance in verbal recall and working memory, compared to water consumption.
Consumption of antioxidant vitamins attenuated the detrimental effects of the high-fat meal and cognitive performance was "indistinguishable from that after water intake," wrote Chui and Greenwood.
Interestingly, a "small but significant improvement" in certain tests (word and colour classification) was observed after consumption of both meals, regardless of antioxidant intake, compared to water, "demonstrating the specificity of meal-induced impairments to memory function," they added.
"Results from this study can only provide indirect evidence that meal-induced oxidative stress may contribute to postprandial changes in cognitive performance," wrote the researchers.
"Nevertheless, the results are consistent with an animal-based study, which demonstrates that acute exposure of rats to low-dose ozone induces deficits in short- and long-term memory and that administration of vitamin E before or after exposure prevents these deficits."
Chui and Greenwood do note that the doses used were higher than current RDAs (vitamin C in the EU is 80 mg per day, while vitamin E is about 18 IU), but stated that these high doses have previously been reported to "effectively prevent the meal-induced elevations in circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines in subjects with type-2 diabetes and were selected on this basis."
Source: Nutrition Research (Elsevier)
July 2008, Volume 28, Issue 7, Pages 423-429
"Antioxidant vitamins reduce acute meal-induced memory deficits in adults with type-2 diabetes"
Authors: M.H. Chui, C.E. Greenwood
