• A hidden health danger of long-term chemical exposure revealed!
• This vitamin deficiency could DOUBLE your risk of experiencing
  leg cramps!
• Losing pounds can be a “weighty” matter…

Welcome to the new Thursday Edition of Health News Weekly™! We’ve added a second weekly e-zine in response to your cries for “MORE!”

And that’s just what you’ll get—MORE of the timely health news and MORE hints for healthy living you’ve come to expect.

In today’s issue, you’ll discover why chemicals in many common household products could destroy your beautiful mind. You’ll also discover a simple way to prevent blockages from developing in your leg arteries.

So if you’re ready to enjoy more tips to help you improve your health, let’s get started!

Do Common Household Chemicals
Cause Brain Damage?

Layne Lowery

Long-term exposure to the chemicals in products such as paints and dry cleaning agents may cause your brain to short circuit, researchers report.

According to a team of Dutch researchers, solvents in a variety of products may worsen a condition called chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE). The findings are reported in the April 2008 issue of the Annals of Neurology.

The study found that people with CSE experience problems with memory, attention and psychomotor function long after exposure to the solvents has ceased. According to a HealthDay News report, cases of CSE are increasing in a number of Western nations.

The study included three categories of participants:

• Ten CSE patients with mild to severe impairment of brain function who’d been exposed to solvents,
• Ten people who’d been exposed to solvents but had no CSE symptoms, and
• Eleven people with no exposure to solvents and no CSE symptoms.

All participants underwent MRI and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans to assess the function of brain circuits affected by CSE.

Researchers found the CSE patients exposed to solvents had reduced density in dopamine receptors. This deficiency is believed to play a role in psychomotor speed predictive of impaired psychomotor speed and attention.

The 10 people who were exposed to solvents but had no CSE symptoms showed similar reductions but to a lesser extent. Both groups showed reduced levels of choline—which plays a role in neurotransmission—in the frontal grey matter of the brain.

The results indicate that certain frontal brain circuits are affected in CSE patients—and in workers who’ve been exposed to solvents but don’t have any CSE symptoms, the study authors said.

Fast Fact

Did you know the herb chamomile is like a natural sedative that’s been proven to relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia? It can also help relieve stomach spasms and indigestion.

Try using this soothing herb in a warm tea at bedtime. It can help calm your nerves and prepare you for a restful night’s sleep.

Low Vitamin D May Contribute to Blocked Arteries!

Tiffany Lowery

People with low blood levels of vitamin D tend to have a higher incidence of dangerous blockages in their leg arteries—known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

A new study of nearly 4,900 American adults found that cases of PAD more than doubled in people with the lowest levels of vitamin D in their bodies.

According to a HealthDay News report, the finding was presented at the recent American Heart Association’s Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology annual conference in Atlanta.

A previous study which linked low vitamin D levels with heart disease only found eight cases of PAD among study participants. But the latest research found more than 400 people with PAD who were also vitamin D deficient, said study author Dr. Michal Melamed, assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology and population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

But recent studies have uncovered its connection to blood vessel problems. “The underlying mechanism isn’t quite known,” Melamed said. “But the study definitely speaks to the fact that it is an association that needs to be further explored.”

A number of foods including salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, fortified milk and cereals can help you boost your vitamin D intake. Your body also makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight. It is changed into a hormone that improves your bone strength.

Dr. Denise Teves, an endocrinologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said a case could be made for vitamin D supplements for some people.

Current U.S. government guidelines recommend 400 International Units (IU) daily of vitamin D for people aged 50 and older. Existing guidelines might fall short of what is needed for some people, Teves said.

“In the last two or three years, many endocrinologists have been recommending at least 800 units a day. I have seen many students in Wisconsin in the wintertime with low vitamin D levels.”

Health E-Hints

LIFT Weights to LOSE Weight!

It may come as no surprise to know that lifting weights can help bulk up your muscles—and burn calories and fat. But research from Brigham Young University shows weight training may also help you curb cravings for fatty foods!

In a 12-week program of weight lifting three times weekly, study participants voluntarily cut their fat intake by 30 percent when compared with a group that did stretching exercises instead of weight lifting.

For maximum benefit, your exercise program should include 10 exercises of 10 repetitions each. Try to work up to four sets of these exercises after four to six weeks.

Posted in Clogged Arteries, General Health, Memory Problems, Poor Diet, Stress, Weight Loss.

Send To A Friend · Subscribe To This Feed · Bookmark This!