There are striking differences in the cardiovascular risk profiles of four ethnic groups — white, Chinese, South Asian and black — living in Ontario, Canada, found a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) (pre-embargo link only) http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj091676.pdf . This is the first published study to compare cardiovascular risk factors and heart disease across four ethnic groups living in the same macro-environment with similar access to health care. It compared the prevalence of eight cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity and others and the prevalence of heart disease and stroke in 163 797 white, Chinese, South Asian and black people living in Ontario. It also examined prevalence estimates by age and sex to identify subgroups at highest risk. The study was funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

The researchers found that the Chinese population had the lowest overall prevalence of heart disease (3.2%) and stroke (0.6%) while South Asians had the highest prevalence (5.2% and 1.7%). Despite having the least desirable cardiovascular risk profile, the black population had a relatively low prevalence of heart disease (3.4%). Smoking and obesity were more common in the white population while the South Asian and black populations had the highest levels of diabetes and hypertension.

Cut down on calories to live a long life
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5821046.cms?prtpage=1
IANS, Apr 16, 2010, 04.05pm IST

Cutting down on calories can not only make you live up to 100 years but also keep you healthy throughout life, research shows.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (WUSM-SL), University College London (UCL), and Andrus Gerontology Centre, University of Southern California (USC) report that calorie restriction influences the same handful of molecular pathways related to ageing in all the organisms studied -- from yeast to rodents to humans.

In less complex organisms, restricting calories can double or even triple lifespan. It's not yet clear just how much longer calorie restriction might help humans live, but those who practice the strict diet may hope to survive past 100 years, according to the study.

Study co-author Luigi Fontana is less interested in calorie restriction for longer life than in its ability to promote good health throughout life. "The focus of my research is not really to extend lifespan to 120 or 130 years," said Fontana, research associate professor of medicine at WUSM-SL and investigator at the Istituto Superiore di Sanita in Rome, Italy.

"Right now, the average lifespan in Western countries is about 80, but there are too many people who are only healthy until about age 50," he said.

"We want to use the discoveries about calorie restriction and other related genetic or pharmacological interventions to close that 30-year gap between lifespan and 'healthspan'," Fontana said.

"However, by extending a healthy lifestyle, average lifespan could increase up to 100 years of age," he added. Fontana and co-authors write about how cutting calorie intake between 10 per cent and 50 per cent decreases the activity of pathways involving insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), glucose and TOR (target of rapamycin), and considerably increases lifespan in animals.

"About 30 per cent of the animals on calorie restriction die at an advanced age without any diseases normally related to ageing (such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and cognitive problems)," Fontana says, according to a WUSM-SL release.

Unfortunately, many humans are moving in the opposite direction. As obesity reaches epidemic rates in Western countries, Fontana said rather than closing the 30-year gap between 'healthspan' and lifespan, the gap is likely to grow.

The findings were published in the Friday edition of Science .

These foods help sleep better
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5424039.cms?prtpage=1
TNN, Apr 18, 2010, 12.00am IST

The meal you choose tonight could mean the difference between counting sheep and getting some serious shut-eye. So order the salmon.

There are certain nutrients in salmon, as well as in beans, yogurt, and spinach that help you sleep better.

Salmon: The healthy fats in this fish (namely docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA for short) may boost levels of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin.

Beans: Beans and other legumes provide a nice sampling of B vitamins, including B6, B12, and folic acid, all of which help the body regulate sleep cycles and produce relaxing serotonin. In fact, studies have shown that boosting B vitamins may help people with insomnia.

Low-fat yogurt: Yogurt is a good source of calcium and magnesium – two important sleep-supporting minerals that together help you fall asleep faster and ratchet up your deep-sleep time. And skimping on both may lead to muscle cramps, higher stress levels, and worse sleep.

Spinach: Dark leafy greens are a great source of iron – a nutrient that may help protect against the sleep robber known as restless legs syndrome.

10 Health Benefits of Spicy Food
http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/tipsforlife_arch.asp?tips_id=52
April 10, 2010

They may give you heartburn, but they also have great health benefits when consumed in moderation -- here are a few positives associated with spicy foods.

Spicy food is enjoyed all over the world because spices add an incredible amount of flavour to what you eat. Cultures all over the world have dishes that excite and stimulate your palate with spices and add heat and taste to everyday ingredients. But if you like spicy food like chillies, curries and hot sauces, there is so much more to look forward to.

Recent research shows that adding some spice to your meal can provide more health benefits than previously thought. Yes, you heard it right -- in addition to making your taste buds sizzle, spicy foods comes with some perks. These include:

Weight-loss: Hot peppers contain capsaicin, which can speed up metabolism and help the body burn calories faster. This is because capsaicin increases your body temperature and contributes to an increase in your heart rate. Furthermore, studies have shown that people who eat spicy foods eat smaller portions, which can reduce their calorie intake.

Heart health: Pungent food is good for heart: Hot peppers help to improve heart health by improving the body's ability to dissolve blood clots. Research has shown that low-density cholesterol (LDL or bad cholestrol, which can clog your arteries) resisted oxidation for a longer period of time when chillies were added to the diet, thus reducing the heart stroke risk. The capsaicin in peppers also fights inflammation, which has been identified as a risk factor for heart disease. Additionally, statistics show that cultures that eat spicy foods frequently have a much lower rate of heart attacks and stroke.

Improved circulation: Spicy foods also promote good circulation, and they appear to lower blood pressure. When you eat spicy food, your body's temperature is raised; therefore, it increases your blood flow and gets your heart pumping. Peppers help strengthen the blood vessel walls as they are high in vitamins A and C.

Anti-cancerous properties: Many studies have shown that regular consumption of chillies and curry decrease the risk of cancer. Capsaicin slows the growth of cancer cells and in some cases, even causes the cancer cells to die off without harming the surrounding cells. In countries where diets are traditionally high in capsaicin like India and Mexico, people tend to have lower rates of some cancers.

Improved digestion: Spices also improve your digestion because they increase the hydrochloric secretion of your stomach. This in turn will increase blood flow to the stomach and even increase the mucous lining. Capsaicin also helps to kill bacteria like H. pylori and helps to prevent or cure stomach ulcers. However, if you get heartburn from spicy foods, try taking an antacid relief tablet which will neutralise acids in the stomach.

Arthritis: Turmeric (haldi) reduces joint inflammation and bone destruction. Circumin present in turmeric helps to alleviate the pain associated with arthritis.

Cold and flu: Capasicin promotes sweating and eases the discomfort of cold and flu symptoms. It also helps to open up the nasal passages. It may also reduce sinusitis, and other flu symptoms.

Improved sleep patterns: Australian researchers have found that people who regularly consumed spicy meals fell asleep more easily. They also woke up easier and had more energy throughout the day.

Mood lifters: Chillie peppers boost the level of endorphins and serotonin, both of which dull pain and give us a feeling of wellbeing. They can act as depression fighters and powerful stress relievers.

Improved breathing: Hot peppers act as an expectorant, and can help people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, sinusitis and other respiratory conditions breathe easier. Hot peppers can help you to breathe better by opening up clogged nasal passages.

It is important to take spicy foods moderately, especially if you have a sensitive stomach or simply a low tolerance for them. Learn to have your food medium-spicy and hot to enjoy the amazing heath benefits that go along with it.

Can an aspirin a day keep cancer away?
By Dr. Isaac Eliaz on 04/05/2010

We all know by now that aspirin isn’t just for headaches anymore. Daily aspirin therapy to ward off heart disease has become commonplace in recent years, and though it’s come with its fair share of controversy - prompting many, myself included, to question whether its benefits truly outweigh its risks. There’s little question that an aspirin a day can provide at least some protection for an ailing heart. In fact, according to a new published study, it may offer much more than that.

This recent analysis, conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School as part of the ongoing Nurses’ Health Study, followed 4,164 women who had been diagnosed with stage I, II, or III breast cancer between 1976 and 2002. Results revealed that those women who used aspirin several days weekly cut their risk of both cancer metastasis and cancer-related death in half. What’s more, this positive association was found to be irrespective of hormonal influence, extending to both estrogen receptor positive tumors and those that were not.

This is by all accounts a truly astounding discovery, and it’s no wonder that this news has caused such a stir. What remains unclear, however is the exact reason for such a beneficial effect. While these results support earlier investigations into aspirin’s potential influence on cancer, they are nevertheless purely observational, offering no definitive answer as to the possible mechanism behind this connection.

Listen Closely: Canadians Are Plugged In To Their Music Too Loudly For Too Long
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2010/19/c3196.html

Energizer "Getting Canadians to Listen" survey highlights risky listening habits

TORONTO, April 19 /CNW/ - It's no surprise that Canadians love listening to music, especially through minute earphones as they make their way to work and school. In fact, according to a recent Energizer Getting Canadians to Listen survey conducted by Harris/Decima by telephone from March 25th through March 28th, 2010, 50 per cent of Canadians listen to music using earphones. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying some good tunes, what's concerning to experts is the fact that close to 10 per cent of those surveyed, 14% of Gen X and Y specifically, admit to listening to their music at 80 per cent volume for up to an hour or longer, putting their hearing health at risk.

"That's the type of music listening behaviour that can permanently damage ears and lead to hearing loss," says Dr. Marshall Chasin, audiologist and director at the Musicians Clinic of Canada. "Going to a rock concert once in a while is cool, but continuous loud music or other sounds at higher than normal decibels for 90 minutes or more on a regular basis can have a long term impact on your hearing health."

While hearing loss affects Canadians at all stages of life, it is most commonly associated with older generations, leaving younger Canadians feeling invincible. "Hearing loss is an insidious condition - it slowly creeps up on you. Long term hearing health is in fact impacted by the types of lifestyle choices you make early on and throughout life," says Dr. Chasin.

To keep young Canadians "tuned in" Dr. Chasin offers the following hearing insights and recommendations, in celebration of Hearing Awareness Month this May:

• Listen responsibly. The key to establishing good listening habits early is moderation. There is nothing wrong with going to a rock concert every once in a while or even listening to loud music through your earphones for short periods. However, if you find yourself listening to music at 80 per cent volume for more than 90 minutes at a time on a regular basis, you're putting your ears at risk.

• Remember: sounds may be louder than they appear. While most Canadians (83%) would agree that a rock concert is loud and a lawnmower and motorcycle are loud, hardly any (only 5%) realize that a baby rattle can also register at louder than normal (up to one-hundred) decibels. Give your children a good hearing start in life and moderate how often you expose them to loud sounds.

• Exercise and a healthy lifestyle can contribute to good hearing. Regularly exercise increases the amount of oxygen flow to your ears while smoking does the exact opposite. If you're regular smoker and couch potato and listen to your music at 80 percent volume for too long, you're increasing your risk of developing poor hearing later in life. Keep healthy overall to keep your hearing healthy.

• The stigma attached to hearing loss and how it impedes people from getting help. People think nothing of getting or using eyeglasses as their vision gets poor with age, but often feel there is a stigma attached to hearing loss and using hearing aids. Technological advancements have made hearing aids more discreet, allowing both young and old to benefit from improved hearing while remaining fashionable. Don't be left out of the conversation, talk to an audiologist about modern day hearing aid choices.

• How to recognize hearing loss. Hearing loss is very gradual and may not be noticed until it is quite significant. Key questions to ask yourself and observe in others in order to help uncover unsuspected hearing loss, include:
  a. Has someone said that you speak too loudly in conversation;
  b. Do people comment on the volume setting of your television;
  c. Do you frequently have to ask people to repeat themselves;
  d. Are there situations where it is particularly difficult for you to follow a conversation, such as in a noisy restaurant, theatre, car or among large groups etc.
  If you've answered yes to any of the following in relation to yourself or someone you know an audiologist assessment may be in order.

• Get your hearing checked by an audiologist and get help to hear better. Audiologists can perform a range of tests that assess your hearing. Prevention is the cornerstone of any healthcare program.

• Use hearing aids if you suffer from hearing loss. Today's hearing aids are small, discreet, and powerful as are the batteries that keep them going all day long. Energizer(R) offers zero-mercury hearing aid batteries in convenient perforated packaging - called Energizer(R) Perf Packs - so you can take as many batteries as you need while on the go, as well as the Energizer(R) EZ Change hearing aid battery dispenser which reduces the chance of dropping or fumbling the