Fish - Food for Brains

According to Reuters Health, Swedish researchers discovered that teenage boys who ate fish more than once a week tended to score high on intelligence tests 3 years later. The study included about 5,000 15-year-old boys.

The boys in the study filled out a questionnaire when they were 15 about their dietary habits and took an intelligence test when they were 18.

These findings are significant according to Dr. Maria Aberg, lead researcher from Goteborg University because "the late-teens are a critical period for the brain 'plasticity' that underlies intelligence and emotional and social behavior. Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize the connections among cells in response to normal experience, like learning a new skill, or to injury."

The reasoning for the positive impacts of the fish is believed to be the omega-3 fats, found in fish such as salmon and albacore tuna, which helps with brain development and functioning.

Source: http://health.yahoo.com/news/reuters/us_fish_boys.html;_ylt=AjVNSUyHx.0EKmu.fp9KLOuz5xcB

Sweetened...not Soured

With its almond shape and cranberry color, synsepalum dulcificum - better known as the "miracle fruit" - can turn every sour taste sweet within the first 15 to 30 minutes of its ingestion.

Native to West Africa, the "miracle fruit" contains miraculin, a natural protein which has sugar molecules that stick to the tongue, triggering the tongue's sweet receptive taste buds. After eating the "miracle fruit", lemons and limes and can taste like sweet ... and Tabasco sauce can taste like tingling honey.

Because of its amazing effects on foods, the fruit is currently being used in several different medical studies.

In one case, the "miracle fruit" is being used in a study for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, several patients not only lose weight, but they also lose their taste senses, resulting in further weight loss and sometimes even malnutrition. Dr. Mike Cusnir, a lead researcher on the project and oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center, is hoping that by giving his patients the fruit, they will be able to regain some amount of taste and want to eat more. According to CNN, the feedback from his patients have been mixed.

The "miracle fruit", which has been growing in South Florida since about 1974, has created a buzz among exotic fruit eaters and fruit-lovers alike. People have even participated in parties where they pay $10 to $35 to taste the fruit.

Low on calories and high on taste, doctors have currently been considering the fruit as a helpful resource for diabetics and those suffering from obesity.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/25/miracle.berries.weightloss/index.html

Pizza at the Push of a Button

In Italy, a freshly baked pizza can be made right in front of your eyes with the new "Let's Pizza" vending machine in just under 3 minutes. Developed by Claudio Torghele at the University of Bologna, the machine creates and rolls out dough, spreads on tomato sauce, adds your choice of topping, and bakes it, providing customers with a pizza in a matter of minutes.

Currently there are 4 toppings available - bacon, ham, cheese and tomato, and fresh vegetable.

"I think is it really cool!" says Ugo Mbadugha, freshman at the University of Georgia. "I wish something like this was available here at school. Then we could get pizza at anytime without the wait of delivery."

The price of the pizza is about 4 euros, equivalent to about 6 U.S. dollars. Due to tough economic times in Europe, the low price of the pizza machine is another plus for its customers.

Because Italy is known for its cuisine and the time and care put into creating its dishes, some Italian chefs are not too excited about the pizza vending machine. According to Reuters, Pizzeria Brandi chef Marcello says, "Unfortunately, today people invent many things, but you can't make any comparison, especially in terms of quality. The only benefit is the price."

Source: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=12674257&ch=4226714&src=news

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090326/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_pizza_machine_1

Red Meat Radar

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from the National Cancer Institute, individuals who eat a large amount of red meat "have a higher risk of dying over a 10-year period - mostly because of caridovascular disease or cancer" than those who have less daily intake of red meat.

The research team's study included about half a million people aged 50 to 71 over a 10-year period. The red meat being evaluated included all types of beef and pork. Those individuals who ate most red meat had a 30 percent mortality rate than those who ate less. The cause of the majority of the deaths was due to cancer or cardiovascular disease.

Researchers estimate that an average of 13.5 percent of the deaths could have been prevented with a reduction of their consumption of red meat.

Despite the risks included with consumption, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Lona Sandon, R.D., does not suggest people stop eating red meat for it provides nutrients such protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins.

The doctors suggest that instead people increase their intake of white meat (chicken, turkey, fish, etc.) and protein-high foods suchs as eggs, beans, and low-fat dairy.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/23/healthmag.red.meat.lifespan/index.html

Summer Migrane Madness

A recent publication in the Neurology journal revealed that hot weather can increase the chances of migranes.

During the study, researchers compared the number of emergency room visits for headaches during a seven year period with several environmental aspects on the days leading up to the visit.

Results concluded that high temperatures and low air pressure and trigger migranes and even non-migrane headaches.

"Living in Atlanta, it's hot for the majority of the year," says sophomore public relations major Serena Rogers from Clark Atlanta University. "When I do get migranes, its usually in the summertime, so this study makes a lot of sense."

Storms, a product of low air pressure, also cause migrane and headache issues.

The researchers suggest that people who are used to migranes check the weather forecast and even take medication in preparation.

According to Neurology, consultant neurologist and spokesman for the Migraine Trust, Dr. Brendan Davies said,"this does not mean that just because there is a hot day people are going to have a migraine the next day, although it is more likely. We do not want people taking too many painkillers too often because that carries its own risks."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7931945.stm

"Old" School

An Australian study has discovered that children with older fathers tend to score lower on IQ tests during infant and adolescent years.

According to Reuters, during the study, researchers analyzed data from intelligence tests taken by more than 33,000 U.S. children who were born between 1959 and 1965. "The children were tested at 8 months, 4 years and 7 years and were assessed for their sensory discrimination, hand-eye coordination, reading, spelling and arithmetic ability."

The results if the study revealed that those children with older fathers scored lower on the test, in contrast to those with older mother who tended to score higher on the given IQ tests.

Research concludes that those with older mothers score higher because they were more nurtured at home. Those with older fathers were more likely to not be nurtured as much.

Also, those children with older aged fathers are more subject to "mutation". According to researchers, the older a man gets, the more "incidents of mutation the sperm" is likely to have, created an effect on their offsprings.

Older parents is more of a trend now in developed countries, however, the side effects to late child birth is often never considered.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29595513/

Incredible Hulk Bulk

Recent studies show that hostile men tend to put on more weight than those of a calmer nature; no wonder tough guys always seem so big!


The body mass index of those men with high hostility levels increased over a period of 20 years according to a study done by French Dr. Hermann Nebi and his researchers.

The study included men and women ranging from ages 35 to 55. The study concluded that both men and women with higher hostility levels had higher BMI's. However, as men's hostility rates increased so did there BMI, contrasting women's rates which remained constant.

Hostility has also been associated with high blood pressure, heart disease and a high risk of death according to prior studies.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29433563/

Crown Royal Cancer RIsk

Recent research uncovered that modest alcohol consumption can increase the risks of breast, digestive tract, liver, and other cancers for middle-age women. Women who drink and smoke also put themselves at a higher risk for cancers of the mouth and throat.

University of Oxford lead researcher Naomi Allen used 1.2 million women up to 75 years old for her study. The majority of the participants had about one drink per day while a smaller amount of participants had three or more drinks per day. Over 7 years of follow-up, more than 68,700 women developed cancer.

The type of alcohol consumed did not create a difference in the overall results.

The higher amount of alcohol intake resulted in the higher health risk of cancer. The surprising part of the study seemed to be that the risk increased even with very low amounts of alcohol consumption.

"I have a glass of wine maybe twice a week," said Evelyn Johnson, 64. "Studies such as this are helpful because they make me more aware of what risks are involved with just my normal everyday activities."

Representatives of the American Cancer Society say the study confirms previous studies done on men and smaller groups of women. They suggest limits of one drink a day for women and two drinks a day to men.

Despite previous research that shows alcohol may help decrease the risks of heart disease, they do not encourage the start of consumption.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/healthday/drinkingraisescancerriskformiddleagewomen.html