Even Moderate Drinking Puts Many Older Adults at Risk

Although one to two alcoholic drinks a day is often considered safe or possibly even beneficial for health, this habit may put many older adults at risk, a new study has found.

Older adults are considered “at risk” if they have at least one of the following drinking behaviors: they consume more than two drinks a day; they consume one to two drinks on most days and have certain health problems, such as gout, hepatitis or nausea; they consume one or two drinks on most days and take certain medications, such as antidepressants or sedatives.

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Signs Of Aging Accelerated By Phosphorous In Sodas And Processed Foods

Here’s another reason to kick the soda habit. New research published online in the FASEB Journal shows that high levels of phosphates may add more “pop” to sodas and processed foods than once thought. That’s because researchers found that the high levels of phosphates accelerate signs of aging. High phosphate levels may also increase the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and can also induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.

“Humans need a healthy diet and keeping the balance of phosphate in the diet may be important for a healthy life and longevity,” said M. Shawkat Razzaque, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. “Avoid phosphate toxicity and enjoy a healthy life.”

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Chili Compound May Help Weight Loss

A compound extracted from chilli peppers may boost energy expenditure and aid weight loss, according to new findings from the University of California, Los Angeles.

While this is not the first time that researchers have linked chilli compounds with weight loss, previous reports have focussed on the compound capsaicin, known to the give red pepper its heat. However, new data presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting in Anaheim indicates that a non-burning version of capsaicin called dihydrocapsiate (DCT) may also aid weight loss.

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Five Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones: From Lemonade to Surgery

Drinking lemonade has been shown to prevent the formation of kidney stones, according to new research at the UC San Diego Comprehensive Kidney Stone Center. The findings revealed that drinking 4 ounces of reconstituted lemon juice in two liters of water per day decreased the rate of stone formation from 1 to 0.13 stones per patient.

Lemons have the highest concentration of citrate – a natural inhibitor of kidney stone formation – of any citrus fruit. In a recent study conducted by Sur, lemonade therapy – drinking four ounces of reconstituted lemon juice in two liters of water per day – was shown to decrease the rate of stone formation from 1.00 to 0.13 stones per patient.

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Study Found Little Nutritional Difference Between Conventional and Organic Milk

Researchers at Cornell University reported no meaningful nutritional differences between conventionally produced milk with no specialty labeling, milk labeled rbST-free and milk labeled organic in a recent Journal of Dairy Science-published study (Volume 93, Issue 5, Pages 1918-1925 (May 2010)). They all milks were similar in nutritional quality and wholesomeness.

They pursued this research because of concern that consumers may be misinterpreting organic and rbST-free labelled milks – which are an increasingly common sight in grocery stores.

“Consumers have little knowledge of the how milk is produced, and the information search for most Americans rarely extends beyond package labelling and retail marketing,” stated the scientists.

“Of particular concern is that some consumers may perceive that this type of specialty labelling indicates differences in the quality, nutritional value, or safety of dairy foods.”

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