We know that soft drinks aren’t healthy for many reasons — one of which is triggering weight gain. However, a study conducted in Singapore has us even more concerned. According to the study, drinking two or more sodas a week increased the risk for pancreatic cancer by 85% compared to nondrinkers. Scientists discovered this after tracking more than 60,000 middle-aged people for 14 years. They looked at lifestyle, environmental factors, and diet. We should also note that the study was based in a country whose populace, like ours, tends to enjoy (at least) an occasional soft drink. Soft Drinks Cause Blood Sugar Spikes […]

          A new study on Breast Cancer is now available. According to news originating from Barcelona, Spain, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Aromatase inhibitor (AI)-related bone loss is associated with increased fracture rates. Vitamin D might play a role in minimising this effect.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from IMIM, “We hypothesised that 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentrations [25(OH)D] after 3 months supplementation might relate to bone loss after 1 year on AI therapy. We conducted a prospective cohort study from January 2006 to December 2011 of a consecutive sample of women initiating AI […]

In an article published online on June 20, 2012 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton provide an explanation for the ability of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, found in oily fish and algae) to support memory. A team led by Yves Sauve, who is a member of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, divided ten mice to receive a diet supplemented with DHA or an unsupplemented diet.  Animals that received DHA-enhanced diets were found to have a 29 percent higher level of DHA in the brain’s […]

With summer on the horizon, Golden Isles residents and visitors will begin flocking to the beaches. As the sun moves more directly overhead and the ultraviolet index rises, the use of sunscreen becomes even more important. Most people know that overexposure to the sun’s powerful ultraviolet rays is damaging, but too many still aren’t doing enough to protect themselves. Approximately one in five people will develop some sort of skin cancer in their lifetime, and area residents need to take precautions seriously. “Everyone should care about skin cancer in the area, as we are exposed to a higher amount of […]

You may be surprised to learn that until 2002, no standard definition for chronic kidney disease (CKD) existed within the medical community (Medscape, 2010). Before then, conflicting classifications had created a state of confusion as to how many Americans were afflicted with this progressive, life-threatening condition. Once proper categorization of the various phases of CKD was established, the stark and daunting scale of this modern epidemic emerged. We now know that as many as 26 million Americans currently suffer from some form of chronic kidney disease (US Renal Data System 2009; National Kidney Foundation 2009). Aging individuals are especially vulnerable […]

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – James Revier, of San Jose, Calif., had no idea his heartburn was anything more than a nuisance until six years ago, when a piece of beef became logged in his esophagus and sent him to the emergency room. The on-call internist removed the meat and suggested Revier see a gastroenterologist for the lingering redness. It’s a good thing he did. Revier had developed Barrett’s esophagus, a condition caused by prolonged acid reflux. Over time, it produces cellular changes which can lead to adenocarcinoma, a type of esophageal cancer. “I’d had acid reflux for 15 years but […]