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2. CEOs Bank Big Bonuses As Oil Companies Go Bankrupt
3. The Path Beyond Extinction and Escape: Return to Earth, Regenerate and Share
4. ‘Tearing apart America’: how the world sees the US protests
5. The Slippery Slope to Despotism: Paved with Lockdowns, Raids and Forced Vaccinations
6. The neurobiology of social distance: Why loneliness may be the biggest threat to survival and longevity
7. The rest of the world sees uprisings, not riots
8. New Jersey Becomes First State to Put the Climate Crisis in Its K-12 Curriculum
9. ‘Quietly Putting Hundreds of Species at Risk,’ Trump Opens 5,000 Square Miles of Atlantic Ocean to Commercial Fishing
10. The Battle Over Free Speech Online is a Volcano That’s Ready to Blow
11. Unemployment Far Worse in Lockdown States, Data Show
12. We Crunched the Numbers: Police — Not Protesters — Are Overwhelmingly Responsible for Attacking Journalists
13. Today’s Activism: Spontaneous, Leaderless, but Not Without Aim
14. How Police Became Paramilitaries
15. What is antifa and why is Donald Trump targeting it?
16. Protests about police brutality are met with wave of police brutality across US
17. As CO2 Levels Build Up Like ‘Trash in a Landfill,’ Earth Has Hottest May on Record
18. When Profits and Politics Drive Science: Rushing a Vaccine to Market for a Vanishing Virus
19. Lancet Editor Spills the Beans and Britain’s PM Surrenders to the Gates Vaccine Cartel
20. Largest And Oldest Maya Monument Ever Found Discovered Under Mexico
21. Coronavirus linked to stroke in otherwise healthy young people
22. Politics and Corruption at the World Health Organization (WHO)
23. Decrying ‘Unacceptable’ Brutality, UK Lawmakers Join Half a Million Britons in Calling to Halt Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets Exports to US
24. Private Equity Gets New Pockets to Pick: Your 401(k), in Funds Repeatedly Cited by the SEC for Abuses
25. US has officially entered first recession since 2009
26. Ten Days that May Have Changed the World
27. Employment Jumps 2.5 Million in May, as Unemployment Falls to 13.3 Percent
28. Yes, American police act like occupying armies. They literally studied their tactics
29. Not just “a few bad apples”: U.S. police kill civilians at much higher rates than other countries
30. America’s Fracking Industry: Donald Trump’s Lost Dream for World Energy Domination
31. FBI launches open attack on ‘foreign’ alternative media outlets challenging US foreign policy
32. Media Buries George W. Bush’s Lies and Atrocities
33. Children Recruited in U.K. for COVID-19 Vaccine Trial
34. Amid Easing Restrictions, Study Estimates Shutdowns Prevented 60 Million Covid-19 Cases in US Alone
35. Holders of negative opinions towards GM food likely to be against other novel food tech
36. False Negative Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Infection — Challenges and Implications
37. As Uprising Spreads Across US, Scholars Argue Economic Transformation and Solidarity Key to Achieving Racial Justice
38. Students and Staff Oppose COVID-Inspired Disaster Capitalism on US Campuses
39. Are they gone for good? The Trump supporters who regret their vote
40. The Descent of America
41. Protesters across US attacked by cars driven into crowds and men with guns
42. No Sign Of Antifa So Far In Justice Department Cases Brought Over Unrest

43. Big Green Meltdown Over Planet of the Humans

44. Scientists Around the World are Already Fighting the Next Pandemic

45. The Race for a Coronavirus Vaccine Runs on Horseshoe Crab Blood
46. Why The Public Should Rebel Against Forced Vaccinations
47. Millions at risk as melting Pakistan glaciers raise flood fears
48. Living near oil and gas wells may increase preterm birth risk
49. 19 states see rising coronavirus cases and Arizona is asking its hospitals to activate emergency plans
50. China, scientists dismiss Harvard study suggesting COVID-19 was spreading in Wuhan in August
51. The World’s Biggest Study on Loneliness
52. This city disbanded its police department 7 years ago. Here’s what happened next
53. The New Cold War with China
54. Police have been spying on black reporters and activists for years. I know because I’m one of them.
55. US economy will shrink 6.5% this year, Fed forecasts
56. American Teens and the Insurrection of 2020: Caught Between Passion and Cool
57. COVID-19 threatens the entire nervous system
58. Russia’s ruling class nervous over spreading global protests
59. UPS expands healthcare footprint, shifting focus to vaccines
60. 5G, the New Track of the Arms Race
61. Meet Wikipedia’s Ayn Rand-loving founder and Wikimedia Foundation’s regime-change operative CEO
62. States Sue Drug Companies and Execs for Generic Price-Fixing; Is the Tide Turning on Willingness to Allow Big Pharma a Get Out of Jail Free Card for its Egregious Behavior?
63. Exclusive: Most Americans, including Republicans, support sweeping Democratic police reform proposals – Reuters/Ipsos poll
64. Where’s Airborne Plastic? Everywhere, Scientists Find.
65. ‘Speaking of Looting…’: Trump Admin. Refuses to Disclose Corporate Recipients of $500 Billion in Coronavirus Bailout Funds
66. Tucker Carlson: advertisers desert Fox News host after he attacks protesters
67. The Abrupt, Radical Reversal in How Public Health Experts Now Speak About the Coronavirus and Mass Gatherings

High-salt diet impacts health of gut microbiome

Doing good does you good

Study reveals birth defects caused by flame retardant

Research reveals why hops could help fight dementia and improve concentration

Mozart may reduce seizure frequency in people with epilepsy

People who eat a late dinner may gain weight

Antioxidant therapy: Could polyphenols reverse endothelial dysfunction in diabetics?

Polyphenols & endothelial dysfunction 

A call to arms

Typical Western Diet Found To Impair Brain Function & Appetite Control

Are Grapes Good for You?

New study finds drinking fruit juice in early years can have long term dietary benefits

Boston University, June 8, 2020)

A new study from Boston University published on-line at BMC Nutrition by Lynn L. Moore and colleagues, found that drinking 100% fruit juice early in life was associated with healthier dietary patterns in later childhood without adversely impacting weight gain. The study found that consumption of 100% fruit juice during the preschool years was associated with higher intakes of whole fruit and total fruit as well as better diet quality through childhood and into middle adolescence.

“We know that whole fruit intake as well as diet quality typically decline from early childhood through adolescence,” said Dr. Moore. “This research provides important information showing that children who consumed about 1.5 cups of 100% fruit juice per day during the preschool years tended to maintain healthier diets into adolescence than children who drank less than ½ cup per day during preschool. In addition, over 10 years of follow-up, juice consumption within the range typically consumed by these children (1-2 cups per day), was not associated with excess weight gain during childhood.”

Preschoolers who consumed more fruit juice in the early years of childhood in this study also consumed more whole fruit at the same time and continued to consume more whole fruit into adolescence.

The study tracked diet records as well as height and weight data, from a group 100 children (age 3-6) enrolled in the Framingham Children’s Study and followed them for a decade. Whole and total fruit consumption was assessed using recommendations from Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) at each age.

Among the study’s results were the following:

• Preschoolers with higher intakes of 100% fruit juice (?1 cups/day) had significantly higher intakes of whole fruit and total fruit at 14-17 years of age than those children who consumed little juice (<0.5 cups/day).
• Preschoolers who drank more 100% fruit juice were nearly 4 times as likely to meet current Dietary Guideline recommendations for whole and total fruit intake during adolescence than those preschoolers with low intakes.
• Those children with higher fruit juice intakes during preschool years had significantly higher diet quality scores than those children with lower juice intakes at all ages.
• Fruit juice consumption was not associated with change in Body Mass Index (BMI) during childhood and into middle adolescence.

“Fruit consumption, particularly whole fruit consumption, has many health benefits throughout the lifespan. Avoiding juice during these early formative years may have unintended effects on evolving dietary behaviors,” noted Dr. Moore.

“This study confirms findings from several previous studies suggesting juice drinking in young children may promote better diet quality and higher intakes of whole fruit. These benefits, associated with moderate intakes of 100% fruit juice, were not accompanied by any adverse effects on childhood weight.”

Study shows cannabis temporarily relieves PTSD symptoms

Washington State University, June 9, 2020

People suffering from post-traumatic distress disorder report that cannabis reduces the severity of their symptoms by more than half, at least in the short term, according to a recent study led by Carrie Cuttler, a Washington State University assistant professor of psychology.

Cuttler and her colleagues analyzed data of more than 400 people who tracked changes in their PTSD symptoms before and after cannabis use with Strainprint, an app developed to help users learn what types of medical cannabis work best for their symptoms. The group collectively used the app more than 11,000 times over a 31-month period.

The study, recently published in Journal of Affective Disorders, shows cannabis reduced the severity of intrusions, returning thoughts of a traumatic event, by about 62%; flashbacks by 51%, irritability by 67%, and anxiety by 57%. The symptom reductions were not permanent, however.

“The study suggests that cannabis does reduce symptoms of PTSD acutely, but it might not have longer term beneficial effects on the underlying condition,” said Cuttler. “Working with this model, it seems that cannabis will temporarily mask symptoms, acting as a bit of a band aid, but once the period of intoxication wears off, the symptoms can return.”

PTSD is a disorder affecting people recovering from traumatic events and impacts women at about twice the rate as men with a 9.7% to 3.6% lifetime prevalence, respectively. While therapy is recommended as the primary treatment, Cuttler said there is growing evidence that many people with PTSD are self-medicating with cannabis.

“A lot of people with PTSD do seem to turn to cannabis, but the literature on its efficacy for managing symptoms is a little sparse,” Cuttler said.

This study provides some insight into the effectiveness of cannabis on PTSD symptoms, but as the authors note, it is limited by reliance on a self-selected sample of people who self-identify as having PTSD. Also, it is not possible to compare the symptom reductions experienced by cannabis users to a control group using a placebo.

While some placebo-controlled clinical trials have been done with nabilone, a synthetic form of THC, few have examined the effects of the whole cannabis plant on PTSD.

In this study, Cuttler and her colleagues looked at a variety of variables but found no difference in the effect of cannabis with differing levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), two of the most studied constituents of cannabis. The results imply that it is some combination of THC, CBD and perhaps some of the many other parts of the cannabis plant that create the therapeutic effect. Cannabis has many molecules that can create a biological effect, including up to 120 cannabinoids, 250 terpenes and around 50 flavonoids.

“We need more studies that look at whole plant cannabis because this is what people are using much more than the synthetic cannabinoids,” said Cuttler. “It is difficult to do good placebo-controlled trials with whole plant cannabis, but they’re still really needed.”

Mediterranean diet found to ameliorate symptoms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Harokopio University (Greece), June 10, 2020

In this study, Greek researchers investigated the effects of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on the clinical, biochemical and inflammatory profile of patients with simple liver steatosis. Their results were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

• Diet is a modifiable key factor and target for the prevention or management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• To examine the potential associations between STAT3 rs2293152 genotype, diet composition and patient profile, the researchers conducted an open-label, 24-week prospective intervention study.
• They recruited 44 untreated NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis and gave them nutritional counseling to increase their adherence to the MedDiet, which was estimated using MedDietScore.
• They also genotyped STAT3 rs2293152 single nucleotide polymorphism and performed clinical and inflammatory measurements.
• The researchers reported that MedDietScore increased after counseling and anthropometric indices improved.
• Simultaneously, liver imaging, liver fibrosis score, blood pressure, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), visfatin and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels also significantly improved compared with baseline levels.
• The researchers found no connection between STAT3 polymorphism and diet composition.
• Upon comparing G- and C-carriers at the end of the intervention, they found that only visfatin is significantly associated with the STAT3 genotype.
• Carrying the G-allele was linked to increased visfatin levels. Consequently, STAT3 rs2293152 G-carriers experienced more beneficial changes after the intervention compared with baseline.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the Mediterranean diet can reduce clinical, biochemical and inflammatory biomarkers in NAFLD patients.

Gut reactive oxygen species linked to sleep deprivation death

Harvard Medical School, June 08 2020. 

Research reported on June 4, 2020 in Cell helps explain why premature mortality is associated with insufficient sleep.

“The view that sleep is essential for survival is supported by the ubiquity of this behavior, the apparent existence of sleep-like states in the earliest animals, and the fact that severe sleep loss can be lethal,” Alexandra Vaccaro and colleagues wrote. “The cause of this lethality is unknown.”

“We found that sleep-deprived flies were dying at the same pace, every time, and when we looked at markers of cell damage and death, the one tissue that really stood out was the gut,” Dr Vaccaro reported. “I remember when we did the first experiment, you could immediately tell under the microscope that there was a striking difference. That almost never happens in lab research.”

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are oxygen-containing chemicals whose interaction with other molecules, when excessive, can be damaging to the body. Reactive oxygen species can be neutralized by antioxidants, that include specific nutrients. The researchers observed that a buildup of ROS in the gut of sleep-deprived flies preceded premature death. However, dietary administration of antioxidants, including melatonin, lipoic acid and NAD, allowed the flies to attain a normal life span.

“We were surprised to find it was the gut that plays a key role in causing death,” commented senior author Dragana Rogulja. “Even more surprising, we found that premature death could be prevented. Each morning, we would all gather around to look at the flies, with disbelief to be honest. What we saw is that every time we could neutralize reactive oxygen species in the gut, we could rescue the flies.”

“We still don’t know why sleep loss causes ROS accumulation in the gut, and why this is lethal,” noted coauthor Yosef Kaplan Dor. “Sleep deprivation could directly affect the gut, but the trigger may also originate in the brain. Similarly, death could be due to damage in the gut or because high levels of ROS have systemic effects, or some combination of these.”

Unexpected uncertainty can breed paranoia, researchers find

Yale University, June 10, 2020

In times of unexpected uncertainty, such as the sudden appearance of a global pandemic, people may be more prone to paranoia, Yale University researchers suggest in a new study published in the journal eLife.

“When our world changes unexpectedly, we want to blame that volatility on somebody, to make sense of it, and perhaps neutralize it,” said Yale’s Philip Corlett, associate professor of psychiatry and senior author of the study. “Historically in times of upheaval, such as the great fire of ancient Rome in 64 C.E. or the 9/11 terrorist attacks, paranoia and conspiratorial thinking increased.”

Paranoia is a key symptom of serious mental illness, marked by the belief that other people have malicious intentions. But it also manifests in varying degrees in the general population. For instance, one previous survey found that 20% of the population believed people were against them at some time during the past year; 8% believed that others were actively out to harm them.

The prevailing theory is that paranoia stems from an inability to accurately assess social threats. But Corlett and lead author Erin Reed of Yale hypothesized that paranoia is instead rooted in a more basic learning mechanism that is triggered by uncertainty, even in the absence of social threat.

“We think of the brain as a prediction machine; unexpected change, whether social or not, may constitute a type of threat — it limits the brain’s ability to make predictions,” Reed said. “Paranoia may be a response to uncertainty in general, and social interactions can be particularly complex and difficult to predict.”

In a series of experiments, they asked subjects with different degrees of paranoia to play a card game in which the best choices for success were changed secretly. People with little or no paranoia were slow to assume that the best choice had changed. However, those with paranoia expected even more volatility in the game. They changed their choices capriciously — even after a win. The researchers then increased the levels of uncertainty by changing the chances of winning halfway through the game without telling the participants. This sudden change made even the low-paranoia participants behave like those with paranoia, learning less from the consequences of their choices.

In a related experiment, Yale collaborators Jane Taylor and Stephanie Groman trained rats, a relatively asocial species, to complete a similar task where best choices of success changed. Rats who were administered methamphetamine — known to induce paranoia in humans — behaved just like paranoid humans. They, too, anticipated high volatility and relied more on their expectations than learning from the task.

Reed, Corlett and their team then used a mathematical model to compare choices made by rats and humans while performing these similar tasks. The results from the rats that received methamphetamine resembled those of humans with paranoia, researchers found.

“Our hope is that this work will facilitate a mechanistic explanation of paranoia, a first step in the development of new treatments that target those underlying mechanisms,” Corlett said.

“The benefit of seeing paranoia through a non-social lens is that we can study these mechanisms in simpler systems, without needing to recapitulate the richness of human social interaction,” Reed said.

Association between greater carotenoid intake and lower risk of hypertension in adults

Qing-dao University (China), June 6, 2020

According to news originating from Shandong, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Few epidemiological studies concentrated on dietary carotenoids and hypertension since new hypertension guideline released in 2017. Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate their association.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Qingdao University, “Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2014 were used in this cross-sectional study. Dietary carotenoids data were obtained from 24-h dietary recall interviews. Hypertension was defined as SBP at least 130 mmHg or DBP at least 80 mmHg, taking antihypertensive medicine or self-report. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models were applied to explore the associations between alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin, and total carotenoids from diet and supplements and hypertension. Total carotenoids showed significant reductive risk of hypertension at 100 mu g/kg per day and over. A total of 17 398 adults aged 20 years and over were identified. High dose of beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin, and total carotenoids were significantly associated with decreased risk of hypertension in crude results. After multivariate-adjustment in model 2, the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin and total carotenoids for hypertension were 0.79 (0.67-0.93), 0.85 (0.73-0.98), 0.69 (0.58-0.83), 0.73 (0.62-0.86) for the highest versus lowest quartile intakes, respectively. Dose- response analyses showed that all of the carotenoids were inversely associated with hypertension in a linear manner. Total carotenoids showed significant effect of lower risk of hypertension at 100 mu g/kg per day. Intakes of a-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein with zeaxanthin, and total carotenoids were inversely associated with hypertension in US adults.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “The intake of total carotenoids was suggested at least 100 mu g/kg per day for general adult population.”

Ginger linked to healthier hearts: Study

Shandong University (China), June 8, 2020

Daily consumption of ginger may reduce the risk of many chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and coronary heart disease, says a new paper from Chinese researchers.

Data published in Nutrition indicated that daily ginger consumption was associated with an 8% lower risk of developing hypertension and a 13% lower risk of coronary heart disease in adults.

“The data indicated that ginger had a potential preventive property against some chronic diseases, especially hypertension and coronary heart disease as well as its ability to reduce the probability of illness by increasing 1g/d ginger intake on the basis of prior diet,” wrote the researchers.

“It was a heart-healthy alternative to appropriately increase ginger consumption every day being recommended as a good dietary choice.”

Ginger

The new study adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of ginger.

The rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and other ketone derivatives. It has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities.

Study details

For the new study, the researchers assessed the effects of different ginger intakes (0-2g/d, 2g-4g/d, 4-6g/d) in 4,628 men and women aged over 18 for a range of chronic diseases, including anaemia, cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

Results showed that there was only an association for ginger and the risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease in people over 18. Similar risk reductions were also observed when the researchers looked at over 40s only. However, the association with hypertension disappeared in people over 60.

The researchers noted that the precise mechanism(s) by which ginger may reduce the risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases are not yet well understood, but could be related to a potential inhibitory action on angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) and prevention of lipid peroxidation in the heart. They also note that the effects could linked to the polyphenol content of ginger.

“On the basis of the present study, we provided a preliminary suggestion that daily intake of 2-4g/d ginger could prevent chronic diseases. However, larger different studies were necessary to be designed to confirm our findings and determine the optimum daily ginger intake for the prevention of chronic diseases,” they concluded.

Neuroprotective activities of bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin and vitamin B12 on oxidative stress-dependent neuronal death

University of L’Aquila (Italy), June 9, 2020

According to news reporting from Florence, Italy,  research stated, “Oxidative stress is considered the common effector of the cascade of degenerative events in many neurological conditions. Thus, in this paper we tested different nutraceuticals in H O in vitro model to understand if could represent an adjuvant treatment for neurological diseases.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research, “In this study, nutraceuticals bacopa, lycopene, astaxanthin, and vitamin B12 were used alone or in combination in human neuronal differentiated SH-SY5Y cells upon hydrogen peroxide-induced injury and neuroprotective, neuronal death pathways were analyzed. The nutraceuticals analyzed were able to protect H O cytotoxic effects, through increasing cell viability and proteins involved in neuroprotection pathways and restoring proteins involved in cell death pathways.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “On this basis, it is possible to propose the use of these compounds as dietary supplement for the prevention or as adjuvant to the only symptomatic treatments so far available for neurodegenerative disease

Fructose causes genetic changes in the brain that increases risk of disease

University of California at Los Angeles, June 7, 2029

It is no secret that sugary drinks, sweets, and other processed foods containing high fructose corn syrup are detrimental to your health. The pervasiveness of high fructose corn syrup in the Americans diet has even been blamed for the epidemic of obesity,type 2 diabetes and related diseases. But now, scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, have started to uncover the exact reasons why fructose is linked to so many ills.

Researchers there have discovered that fructose actually alters hundreds of genes in the brain. Those changes are linked to development of many diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, among others. But the scientists also discovered a nutrition-based, natural solution: the omega-3 fatty acid known as DHA can reverse these harmful effects.

Scientists find fructose affects metabolic and memory areas of brain

Published online in the journal EBioMedicine, the UCLA study was the first genomics study of all genes, gene pathways and gene networks affected by fructose. In their investigation, UCLA life scientists first trained rats to escape from a maze, then divided the animals randomly into three groups. Over the course of six weeks, one group drank water with an amount of fructose equivalent to a human drinking a liter of soda per day. A second group was also given the fructose water, but then provided with a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. Rats in the third group received plain water without fructose and were not given DHA.

After six weeks had passed, the rats were again put through the maze. Animals given fructose only took about twice as long to navigate the maze as rats that drank plain water, suggesting the fructose somehow impaired memory. Those rats that were given fructose as well as DHA, however, showed navigation skills similar to the rats provided only with plain water.

Additional tests on the rats revealed more significant differences. For example, rats given a high fructose diet exhibitedhigher blood glucose, insulin levels and triglycerides than rats from the remaining two groups. In humans, these elevated levels are associated with obesity, diabetes and a number of other related diseases.

The research team was able to sequence more than 20,000 genes in the rats’ brain cells, a vast majority of which are comparable to genes found in humans. They identified more than 700 genes in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain associated with metabolic control, as well as more than 200 in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with learning and memory, that were altered by fructose. Interestingly, scientists found that two of the genes were among the first to be affected by fructose. These two genes, once altered, then set off a domino effect with other genes in the brain.

Major health problem: High fructose corn syrup has become staple ingredient in American diets

The U.S. food manufacturing industry has found high fructose corn syrup to be one of the cheapest sweeteners available. Because of this, it is found in a vast array of foods, including not only soda and candy bars, but also baby food, breakfast cereal, yogurt, salad dressing, baked goods and even so-called nutrition bars.

Americans consumed an average of about 27 pounds of high fructose corn syrup in 2014, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.  While fructose is also found in most fruit, the fiber present significantly slows the body’s absorption of the sugar and the other healthy components of fruit help to offset drawbacks of the fructose.

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA can reverse harmful effects of fructose

You can avoid the harmful changes caused by high fructose corn syrup by carefully reading food labels. Fructose in the form of corn syrup is added to a growing number of products you would not expect to find it in. Try to get a major portion of your food from whole foods that have no added ingredients, and incorporate plenty of vegetables along with a selection of nutritious fruits.

To reverse any damage done by fructose, be sure to incorporate the omega-3 fatty acid DHA into your diet. Your body cannot produce DHA, but you can supplement your healthy diet with a high-quality DHA supplement or get adequate amounts of DHA from the foods you choose.

DHA is mainly found in animal products such as fish, eggs and meats. Oily fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, trout, and sardines are some of the richest dietary sources, with from 10 to 100 times more DHA than other food sources such as nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark green, leafy vegetables.

Review: A good vitamin D status can protect against cancer

University of Eastern Finland, June 10, 2020

A good vitamin D status is beneficial both in cancer prevention and in the prognosis of several cancers, according to a new research review. The anti-cancer effects of vitamin D are especially pronounced in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer and blood cancers. In addition, high vitamin D responsiveness can be linked to a smaller cancer risk. Vitamin D responsiveness varies between individuals, affecting their need for vitamin D supplementation.

The review article, published in Seminars in Cancer Biology and written by Professor Carsten Carlberg from the University of Eastern Finland and Professor Alberto Muñoz from the Autonomous University of Madrid, provides an update on the molecular basis of vitamin D signaling and its role in cancer prevention and therapy.

Vitamin D is commonly known for its crucial role in bone health, but the authors point out it also regulates the immune system, and its anti-cancer effects are mediated mainly by immune cells, such as monocytes and T cells. Vitamin D exerts its effects via the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is a transcription factor involved in the expression and epigenetic regulation of numerous genes.

According to the review, studies focusing on the effect of vitamin D on different types of cancers provide the strongest evidence of its benefits in colorectal cancer and in blood cancers, such as leukemias and lymphomas. Vitamin D is important both for the differentiation of blood cells during hematopoiesis as well as adult stem cells in rapidly regenerating tissues, such as colon or skin. A too low vitamin D status leads to a suboptimal function of the VDR and in an increased risk that these cells are not fully differentiating and start to turn into uncontrolled growing cancer cells.

Even in other types of cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer, a low vitamin D status, measured as the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood, has been associated with a higher cancer incidence and a poorer prognosis. However, vitamin D supplementation has not been consistently shown to reduce cancer mortality in randomized controlled trials. According to the authors of the review, the impact of vitamin D could be shown more clearly if the participants were stratified according to their individual vitamin D responsiveness and the health outcomes analyzed in relation to changes in individual vitamin D status.

Professor Carlberg’s research group has earlier shown that individuals differ in their molecular response or sensitivity to vitamin D supplementation. For example, 25% of the Finnish population seem to be low responders, needing a higher dose of vitamin D supplementation to reach the full clinical benefit. In terms of cancer risk, being a high responder can be expected to have a protective effect.

According to the review, a good vitamin D status is beneficial in general cancer prevention. There is less evidence of its usefulness in the treatment of cancer.

Evolving role of natural compounds in medical treatment of uterine fibroids

Center for Postgraduate Medical Education (Poland), May 30, 2020

According to news originating from Warsaw, Poland, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Uterine fibroids (UFs) remain a significant health issue for many women, with a disproportionate impact on women of color, likely due to both genetic and environmental factors. The prevalence of UFs is estimated to be approximately 70% depending on population.”

Our news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Center of Postgraduate Medical Education: “UF-derived clinical symptoms include pelvic pain, excessive uterine bleeding, gastrointestinal and voiding problems, as well as impaired fertility. Nowadays numerous methods of UF treatment are available-from conservative treatment to invasive surgeries. Selecting an appropriate treatment option should be individualized and adjusted to the patient’s expectations as much as possible. So far, the mainstay of treatment is surgery, but their negative impact of future fertility is clear. On the other hand, emerging new pharmaceutical options have significant adverse effects like liver function impairment, hot flashes, bone density loss, endometrial changes, and inability to attempt conception during treatment. Several natural compounds are found to help treat UFs and relieve their symptoms. In this review we summarize all the current available data about natural compounds that may be beneficial for patients with UFs, especially those who want to preserve their future fertility or have treatment while actively pursuing conception. Vitamin D, epigallocatechin gallate, berberine, curcumin, and others are being used as alternative UF treatments.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Moreover, we propose the concept of using combined therapies of natural compounds on their own or combined with hormonal agents to manage UFs. There is a strong need for more human clinical trials involving these compounds before promoting widespread usage.”

Happiness might protect you from gastrointestinal distress

University of Texas Southwestern, June 9, 2020

Serotonin, a chemical known for its role in producing feelings of well-being and happiness in the brain, can reduce the ability of some intestinal pathogens to cause deadly infections, new research by UT Southwestern scientists suggests. The findings, publishing online today in Cell Host & Microbe, could offer a new way to fight infections for which few truly effective treatments currently exist.

Although the vast majority of research on serotonin has centered on its effects in the brain, about 90 percent of this neurotransmitter—a chemical that nerve cells use to communicate with each other—is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, explains study leader Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology and biochemistry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In humans, trillions of bacteria live within this space. Most of these gut bacteria are beneficial, but pathogenic bacteria can also colonize the gastrointestinal tract, causing serious and potentially fatal infections.

Because gut bacteria are significantly affected by their environment, Sperandio, along with UTSW doctoral student Aman Kumar, laboratory manager Regan Russell, and their colleagues, wondered whether the serotonin produced in the gut can affect the virulence of pathogenic bacteria that infect the gastrointestinal tract.

The researchers worked with Escherichia coli O157, a species of bacteria that causes periodic outbreaks of often deadly foodborne infection. The team grew these pathogenic bacteria in petri dishes in the lab, then exposed them to serotonin. Gene expression tests showed that serotonin significantly reduced the expression of a group of genes that these bacteria use to cause infections. Additional experiments using human cells showed that the bacteria could no longer cause infection-associated lesions on the cells if these bacteria were exposed to serotonin.

Next, the researchers examined how serotonin affected virulence in living hosts. Using mice, the researchers studied how serotonin might change the ability for Citrobacter rodentium – a mouse gut bacterium often used as an analog for E. coli in humans—to infect and sicken their hosts. These mice were genetically modified to either over- or underproduce serotonin in their gastrointestinal tracts. Those that overproduced this neurotransmitter were less likely to become colonized by C. rodentium after being exposed to this bacterium or had relatively minor courses of illness. Treating mice with fluoxetine (sold under the brand name Prozac) to increase serotonin levels prevented them from getting sick from C. rodentium exposure. However, the mice that underproduced serotonin became much sicker after bacterial exposure, often dying from their illness.

Further experiments identified the receptor for serotonin on the surfaces of both E. coli and C. rodentium, a protein known as CpxA. Because many species of gut bacteria also have CpxA, it’s possible that serotonin could have wide-ranging effects on gut bacterial health, Sperandio says.

In the future, she adds, she and her colleagues plan to study the feasibility of manipulating serotonin levels as a way of fighting bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, few available antibiotics can effectively fight E. coli O157—some antibiotics actually worsen the consequences of infection, causing the bacteria to release more damaging toxins.

“Treating bacterial infections, especially in the gut, can be very difficult,” Sperandio says. “If we could repurpose Prozac or other drugs in the same class, it could give us a new weapon to fight these challenging infection

Antioxidants in brain linked to improved psychosis treatment

University of Western Ontario, June 9, 2020

Once patients with psychosis start treatment, some get better in weeks while it can take months for others.

Seeking to understand and influence this disparity, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor Dr. Lena Palaniyappan and his team are exploring specific chemicals in the brain with the aim of speeding up the time it takes a patient to respond to medication.

Past research has shown that patients who experience their first episode of psychosis and respond early to treatment have better overall outcomes. This includes improved symptoms and daily functioning as well as spending less time in hospital.

The research team from Schulich and Lawson Health Research Institute looked specifically at antioxidant levels in the brain and found that these chemicals which rid the body of normal metabolic biproducts, called free radicals, may improve outcomes of early intervention in psychosis. They looked specifically at an area of the brain called cingulate cortex which is well connected to a network of regions that play a major role in generating symptoms of psychosis.

The findings showed that patients with higher levels of an antioxidant called glutathione responded more quickly to medication for psychosis and had improved outcomes. They estimated that a 10 percent increase in antioxidants could lead to a reduction in length of hospital stay by at least seven days.

“This study demonstrates that if we can find a way to boost the amount of antioxidants in the brain, we might be able to help patients transition out of hospital more quickly, reduce their suffering more quickly and help them return earlier to their work and studies,” said Palaniyappan, the Tanna Schulich Endowed Chair in Neuroscience and Mental Health at Western.

Antioxidant levels in the brain vary naturally from person to person and those variations can be attributed to lifestyle choices like exercise and diet. There are also ways to pharmaceutically boost these levels. A supplement called N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) as well as broccoli extracts can increase the brain‘s antioxidants if given over a long period of time.

Palaniyappan and his team in collaboration with Dr. Jean Theberge at Lawson Imaging used high-field MRI imaging to examine antioxidant levels in the brains of 37 new patients to the Prevention and Early Intervention for Psychoses Program (PEPP) at London Health Sciences Centre. Antioxidant levels were studied prior to beginning treatment for psychosis and followed up for six months post-treatment.

The study, “Early treatment response in first episode psychosis: a 7-T magnetic resonance spectroscopic study of glutathione and glutamate,” was published in Nature Molecular Psychiatry.

Effect of Mediterranean diet on cognitive function in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A randomized clinical controlled trial

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, June 5, 2020

According to news reporting from Isfahan, Iran, research stated, “Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. It is proposed that adherence to the Mediterranean diet might have a beneficial effect on the prevention and treatment of PD and its complications.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, “Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Mediterranean diet on cognitive function in patients with PD. The study was a single-center, randomized clinical trial. Eighty patients with idiopathic PD were randomly allocated to the Mediterranean diet (n=40) or control (n=40) group. Patients in the intervention group received an individualized dietary plan based on Mediterranean diet for 10 weeks. The Persian version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was used to assess the cognitive function at baseline and the end of the study. Thirty-five PD patients with a mean age of 59.3 ? 8.3 and 35 patients with a mean age of 58.6 ? 9.3 finished the study in intervention and control groups, respectively. After the intervention, the mean score of the dimensions of executive function, language, attention, concentration, and active memory and the total score of cognitive assessment significantly increased in the intervention compared with the control group (p <0.05, for all). Nevertheless, the mean of the other scores including spatial-visual ability, memory learning task, and navigation versus time and place did not significantly change in both intervention and control groups.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “The findings of this study showed that adherence to the Mediterranean diet remarkably increased the dimensions of executive function, language, attention, concentration, and active memory and finally the total score of cognitive assessment in PD patients.”

American Cancer Society updates diet and physical activity guideline for cancer prevention

More emphasis on reducing the consumption of processed and red meat and alcohol, and increasing physical activity

American Cancer Society, June 9  2020

The American Cancer Society has updated its guideline for diet and physical activity for cancer prevention, with adjustments to reflect the most current evidence. The updated recommendations increase recommended levels of physical activity and have an increased emphasis on reducing the consumption of processed and red meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, processed foods, and alcohol. They also include evidenced-based strategies to reduce barriers to healthy eating and active living and to reduce alcohol consumption. The guideline is published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the ACS’s flagship medical journal.

ACS cancer prevention recommendations are revised regularly as evidence emerges. They are created by a volunteer committee comprising a diverse group of experts from multiple sectors. The committee reviewed the evidence on diet and physical activity on cancer risk, and studied policy and systems changes that can reduce barriers to the public’s ability to eat a healthy diet and a have physically active lifestyle.

The updated recommendations are based on systematic reviews conducted by the International Agency on Cancer Research (IARC); the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR); and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (USDA/HHS). The latest update is consistent with the recommendations from those groups as well as other major recommending bodies.

Based on the review of the evidence, the updated guideline reflects a few key differences from the previous ACS guideline:

Physical Activity

Previous: Adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.

New: Adults should engage in 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week; achieving or exceeding the upper limit of 300 minutes is optimal.

Diet

Previous: Consume a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant foods. Choose foods and beverages in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Limit consumption of processed meat and red meat. Eat at least 2.5 cups of vegetables and fruits each day. Choose whole grains instead of refined grain products.

New: Follow a healthy eating pattern at all ages. A healthy eating pattern includes:

• Foods that are high in nutrients in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight;
• A variety of vegetables–dark green, red, and orange, fiber-rich legumes (beans and peas), and others;
• Fruits, especially whole fruits with a variety of colors; and
• Whole grains.

A healthy eating pattern limits or does not include:

• Red and processed meats;
• Sugar-sweetened beverages; or
• Highly processed foods and refined grain products.

Alcohol

Previous: If you drink alcoholic beverages, limit consumption. Drink no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 per day for men.

New: It is best not to drink alcohol. People who do choose to drink alcohol should limit their consumption to no more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.

Recommendation for Community Action

Previous: Public, private, and community organizations should work collaboratively at national, state, and local levels to implement policy and environmental changes that:

• Increase access to affordable, healthy foods in communities, worksites, and schools, and decrease access to and marketing of foods and beverages of low nutritional value, particularly to youth.
• Provide safe, enjoyable, and accessible environments for physical activity in schools and worksites, and for transportation and recreation in communities.

New: Public, private, and community organizations should work collaboratively at national, state, and local levels to develop, advocate for, and implement policy and environmental changes that increase access to affordable, nutritious foods; provide safe, enjoyable, and accessible opportunities for physical activity; and limit alcohol for all individuals.

“The guideline continues to reflect the current science that dietary patterns, not specific foods, are important to reduce the risk of cancer and improve overall health,” said Laura Makaroff, DO, American Cancer Society senior vice president, Prevention and Early Detection. “There is no one food or even food group that is adequate to achieve a significant reduction in cancer risk. Current and evolving scientific evidence supports a shift away from a nutrient-centric approach to a more holistic concept of dietary patterns. People eat whole foods -not nutrients–and evidence continues to suggest that it is healthy dietary patterns that are associated with reduced risk for cancer, especially colorectal and breast cancer

Why It Pays To Be Humble and Modest

Institute Science and Technology (Austria) and  Harvard University, June 7, 2020

Why do people make anonymous donations, and why does the public perceive this as admirable? Why do we downplay our interest in a potential partner, if we risk missing out on a relationship?

A team of scientists, consisting of Christian Hilbe, a postdoc at the Institute Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), Moshe Hoffman, and Martin Nowak, both at Harvard University, has developed a novel game theoretic model that captures these behaviors and enables their study. Their new model is the first to include the idea that hidden signals, when discovered, provide additional information about the sender. They use this idea to explain under which circumstances people have an incentive to hide their positive attributes.

People often take actions that may be costly at first, but lead to reputational benefits in the long run. However, if good reputations are important, why are there numerous situations in which people hide accomplishments or good characteristics, like when we donate anonymously? Similarly, we often emphasize subtlety in art or fashion, avoid appearing over-eager, or otherwise obscure something positive. Why do others consider this behavior commendable? The team’s key insight into this societal puzzle is that “burying” a signal (i.e. obscuring information) is a signal in and of itself. This additional signal can have several interpretations: for instance, the sender may be unconcerned with those who might have been impressed, but who miss subtle messages (like an artist disregarding the philistine masses). Alternatively, the sender might be confident that those who matter to them will find out anyway (for instance, only those who have the taste and/or necessary wealth will recognize a designer bag without an obvious logo).

The scientists succeeded in formalizing these ideas in a new evolutionary game theory model they call the “signal-burying game”, which they detail in a paper published in Nature Human Behaviour. In this game, there are different types of senders (high, medium, and low), and different types of receivers (selective and unselective). The sender and the receiver do not know the other’s type. To convey their type, senders may pay a cost to send a signal. Signals may be sent clearly or be buried. When a signal is buried, it has a lower probability of being observed by any kind of receiver. In particular, buried signals entail the risk that receivers will never learn that the sender has sent a signal at all. After the sender has made his signaling decision, receivers decide whether or not to engage in an economic interaction with the sender. The game has an element of risk, and therefore, senders and receivers must develop strategies to maximize their payoff. 

“We wanted to understand what strategies would evolve naturally and be stable,” explains Christian Hilbe, co-first author of the paper and postdoc in the research group of Krishnendu Chatterjee at IST Austria. “In particular, is it possible to have a situation where high-level senders always choose to bury their signals, mid-level senders always send a clear signal, and low-level senders send no signal at all?” This would correspond to situations that come up in real life, and is one of the key distinguishing features of their model: they allow for strategies that target specific receivers at the risk of losing others. In their simulations, players started off neither sending nor receiving signals. Then, with some probability, a player either selects a random strategy (representing mutation) or imitates another player (representing a learning process biased towards strategies with higher payoff). In their simulations, the scientists found that populations quickly settled at the strategy described above.

The team also developed several extensions to the model, enabling them to cover more general scenarios. First, they added different levels of obscurity: senders could choose from several revelation probabilities. “We found that in this case, high senders tend to be modest…but not too modest,” adds Hilbe. “Even if you’re humble, you don’t try to be holier-than-thou.” It is moreover possible to increase the number of types of senders and receivers, as well as introduce subtleties in the preferences of the receivers.

Using their new model, Hilbe, Hoffman, and Nowak were able to put a different perspective on various common situations: a donor giving anonymously, an academic not disclosing their degree, an artist creating art with hidden messages, and a possible partner hiding their interest, among others. Evolutionary game theory shows that, in the end, these puzzling social behaviors make sense.

Barley lowers not one but two types of ‘bad cholesterol’, review suggests

St Michael’s Hospital, June 8, 2020

Eating barley or foods containing barley significantly reduced levels of two types of “bad cholesterol” associated with cardiovascular risk, a St. Michael’s Hospital research paper has found. Barley reduced both low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and non-high-density lipoprotein, or non-HDL, by seven per cent.

The review also indicated that barley had similar cholesterol-lowering effects as oats, which is often the go-to grain for health benefits.

The research review, published in The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, included 14 studies on clinical trials conducted in seven countries, including Canada.

It is the first study to look at the effects of barley and barley products on both LDL and non-HDL cholesterol in addition to apolipoprotein B, or apoB, a lipoprotein that carries bad cholesterol through the blood. Measuring non-HDL and apoB provides a more accurate assessment for cardiovascular risk, as they account for the total ‘bad cholesterol’ found in the blood.

“The findings are most important for populations at high risk for cardiovascular disease, such as Type 2 diabetics, who have normal levels of LDL cholesterol, but elevated levels of non-HDL or apo B,” said Dr. Vladimir Vuksan, research scientist and associate director of the Risk Factor Modification Centre of St. Michael’s. “Barley has a lowering effect on the total bad cholesterol in these high-risk individuals, but can also benefit people without high cholesterol.”

High cholesterol and diabetes are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke, historically treated with medications. However, Dr. Vuksan’s research and work focuses on how dietary and lifestyle changes can reduce these risk factors.

“Barley’s positive effect on lowering cholesterol is well-documented and has been included in the Canadian strategy for reducing cardiovascular risk,” said Dr. Vuksan. “Health Canada, the FDA and several health authorities worldwide have already approved health claims that barley lowers LDL cholesterol, but this is the first review showing the effects on other harmful lipids.”

Despite its benefits Dr. Vuksan said barley is not as well-established as some other health-recommended foods—such as oats. Barley consumption by humans has fallen by 35 per cent in the last 10 years. Canada is one of the top five world producers of barley—almost 10 megatonnes per year—but human consumption accounts for only two per cent of the crop yield, with livestock making up the other 98 per cent. “After looking at the evidence, we can also say that barley is comparably effective as oats in reducing overall risk of cardiovascular disease” said Dr. Vuksan.

Barley is higher in fibre, has twice the protein and almost half the calories of oats, which are important considerations for those with weight or dietary concerns.

Dr. Vuksan said barley can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. He recommends trying to incorporate barley into existing recipes, using it as a substitute for rice or even on its own—just like oatmeal.

What is the difference between hemp seed oil and CBD oil?

• Medical News Today, June 9, 2020

First, it is important to note that there is a lot of confusion around the names of these products. “Hemp oil” is another way that people can refer to CBD oil. However, some people may also refer to hemp seed oil as hemp oil.

Hemp seed oil and CBD oil are very different products.

CBD oil uses the stalks, leaves, and flowers of the hemp plant in its production. These contain a higher concentration of CBD, which is a compound with numerous potential health benefits.

Meanwhile, hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. The seeds do not contain CBD, but they still have a rich profile of nutrients, fatty acids, and useful bioactive compounds that can also have health benefits.

Having a better understanding of hemp seed oil and CBD oil may allow both clinicians and consumers to choose the safest and most appropriate product.

Keep reading to learn more about the differences between hemp seed oil and CBD oil.

Hemp seed oil

Hemp seed oil derives from the seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. It contains omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, gamma-linolenic acid, and other nutritional antioxidants. It is also high in B vitamins and vitamin D.

People will not get high when using hemp seed oil, as it contains no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and little to no CBD.

Uses

People do not use hemp seed oil for recreational purposes. This is because the levels of THC and CBD, which cause the psychoactive effects, are either limited or absent.

Some nutritional supplements contain hemp seed oil because of its high omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid, and nutritious antioxidant content.

Other uses of hemp seed oil include manufacturing clothing and fibers.

How it works

Some people suggest that hemp seed oils can help people maintain good cardiovascular health by improving:

• total cholesterol
• high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
• low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
• triglycerides

However, the evidence for its efficacy for these purposes is not clear.

Effects and benefits

When manufacturers add hemp seed oil to nutritional products — such as snack bars, breads, cookies, and yogurt — it provides an excellent source of nutrients. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and essential amino acids.

Hemp seed oil also has several possible benefits, including:

• relieving constipation
• providing cardiovascular health benefits
• modifying the immune system
• improving skin conditions
• improving gastrointestinal conditions

Some other possible benefits of hemp seed oil include:

• anticancer effects
• antioxidant effects
• anti-aging effects

Hemp seed oil also contains other components that may provide benefits to consumers.

Tai chi lifts spirits of people with heart disease

Eating apples and other flavonoid-rich foods lowers cancer and heart disease risk, researchers find