FitSugar

Google Founder Starts Project After Finding Genetic Mutation

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:50:23 PDT

Imagine you know that in a few decades you will be struck with an incurable disease. How much energy would you put into trying to find a cure before it's too late?

Well after learning that he had a genetic mutation that results in a high risk of Parkinson's disease, Google co-founder Sergey Brin has decided to spend millions of dollars on an innovative genetic study, which will attempt to conduct research by, you guessed it, search. Sergey's mother also has Parkinson's.

Genetic discovery company 23andMe, which was founded by Sergey's wife, will team up with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center to enroll 10,000 Parkinson's patients. Participants will have their genotype mapped using 23andMe. All the data will be put into a database that can be searched for correlations and new information.

This gets me thinking - with the increased sophistication of genetic testing perhaps the rich will be able to direct the focus of scientific research in the future.

Source

ACTivism: Ryan Reynolds Runs For His Father's Life

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:30:00 PDT

One of the ways we motivate ourselves to get involved in races is by adding a bit of philanthropy to it. Apparently, celebrities need the same sort of motivation. Recently, Ryan Reynolds declared that he is going to run the New York City Marathon to raise money for Parkinson's disease (his father has been diagnosed with the disease). He wants it to be known that he is not a runner, but is willing to run for the greater good. Nonetheless, it's inspiring to everyone and anyone who has ever contemplated running a race for charity. Here are highlights:

By some tragic backwards prophecy, I find myself signed up to run in the New York City Marathon. Every other day I train. I run like a bastard all morning. Not since the discovery of Junior High School has a torture been so effective. Why on earth would I willfully do this? On behalf of my Father, Jim Reynolds, who's spent the last 15 years in a life or death struggle with Parkinson's disease.

To find out why he chose running and to see how you can help out Ryan just

One of the reasons I chose running specifically, was because (as Murakami so eloquently put it) my competition is the most formidable foe of all; me. The person I have to beat is the guy I was last week. The person I was yesterday. Indescribably worse, those affected by Parkinson's wage a similar war in their own bodies every single day. Unlike a marathon, their struggle won't end in a shallow pool of vomit just outside Tavern on the Green while waiting for an ambulance. They continue day in and day out, silently battling away in the most personal of struggles.

Sorry ladies, this adorable charmer is officially off the market, but you can read his full story on the Huffington Post. And, if your budget allows, you can donate a little money to help his cause. Better yet, why not join a race and a cause that you believe in and raise money so that you can do all the running? A great way to get started is with Team in Training.

Source

New Drug for Parkinson's Disease

FitSugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:45:00 PDT

A new drug has been approved by the FDA to treat early Parkinson's disease. I always thought it was a disease that afflicted older folks, but remembered Michael J. Fox was only 30 years old when he announced that he had the disease.

With Parkinson's disease the substantia nigra, a part of the brain, begins to malfunction and eventually die, disrupting then halting the production of the chemical dopamine. And dopamine is important since it sends messages to your brain telling your body when and how to move. When a person has Parkinson's, those messages are delivered more slowly, which explains the trembling commonly seen in Parkinson’s patients.

This new drug called Neupro is actually in patch form that you apply once a day. It delivers the drug called rotigotine, which works by mimicking the action of dopamine in the brain.

Previously, patients would have to take pills orally. When the medicine wore off, symptoms would worsen until more pills were taken. The patch is more effective because it offers a continuous release of the drug.

There have been a few reported side effects including skin irritation where the patch is placed, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and insomnia. The FDA said that these are typical with this kind of drug.

About 1 million people in the U.S. have Parkinson's disease. Wow - that is more than I would have thought. Plus it is chronic (meaning there is no cure), and progressive (meaning it keeps getting worse). This disease impairs people's ability to control their movements, and also impairs their speech. It's great to hear there's a new drug that could help people deal with their symptoms better than taking oral pills.

Source

Coffee: The New Health Drink?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:30:00 PST

Think there's an over the counter drug that could lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and colon cancer?

Well, there is, but you won't find it at the pharmacy. Try going to your local coffee shop counter to get a hold of this wonder drug.

As if you weren't already convinced that coffee belonged on a pedestal, this dark and dreamy beverage is beloved for its ability to wake you up, cure your headaches, and keep you regular.

And now, studies show that downing 1-3 cups of caffeinated coffee a day could reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes by less than 10%. But having 6 cups a day cut a woman's risk by 30%. Talk about overtime at Starbucks.

On the same note, the more java you drink, the less likely you are to develop Parkinson's disease.

So feel good about brewing up a cup (or 2 or 12) because overall, research shows that coffee is far more healthy for you than it is harmful.

Fit's Tips: Sipping hot coffee throughout your day can cause small fractures in your teeth called crazes. They happen when your teeth expand and contract from exposure to hot foods or liquids. Try sipping your cup of joe all at one sitting to prevent this from happening.

3 Reasons to Eat More Beans

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:06:41 PDT

Joke all you want, but since they offer so many health benefits, beans really are the magical fruit (or legume, really). If you shy away from them, here are three reasons to start eating beans today.

Encourage Weight Loss
Thanks to their high fiber and water content, beans are extremely filling; it doesn't take much to feel satisfied. Taking a long time to digest, beans help keep hunger at bay for longer, which means less snacking later. A recent study found that on average, bean eaters were seven pounds lighter and have slimmer waists than those who don't eat legumes. A more slender you not only builds self-confidence, it also lowers your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease.

Keep reading to find out more reasons you should be eating beans (recipes included!).

The Secrets of the World's Healthiest Women

Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:45:10 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

From pouring on the olive oil like the Greeks to slashing stress like the Scandinavians, what we
can learn from the happiest, slimmest, longest-living cultures around the globe.

The secret to a long, healthy life in America? According to longevity researchers, it may be to act like you live somewhere else.

It seems like every year another country's lifestyle is touted as the new magic bullet to cure us of obesity, heart disease, and premature death: for an unclogged heart, herd goats and down olive oil like a Mediterranean. Avoid breast cancer and live to 100 by dining on tofu, Japanese-style. Stay as happy as Norwegians by hunting elk and foraging for cowberries.

Health.com: Weight-Loss Secrets From Around the World

The places we're usually told to emulate are known as Blue Zones or Cold Spots. Blue Zones were pinpointed by explorer Dan Buettner and a team of longevity researchers and are described in his book The Blue Zones: Lessons For Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. They're areas in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where the people have traditionally stayed healthy and active to age 100 or older.

Keep on reading for more great tips from around the globe.

The Healthiest Drinks For Your Diet

Leta Shy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:29:33 PST

When eating healthfully, a large focus may be on what not to drink: no sugary juices, sodas, or high-calorie cocktails. But many drinks can actually help you live a healthier lifestyle. We all know that drinking enough water is essential, but find out what other drinks should also be on your OK list below, and remember to enter our healthy living giveaway for a chance to win a $500 Under Armour gift card!

Coffee: The hot drink is the perfect accompaniment to a cold morning or a drowsy afternoon, but offering you a warm pick-me-up isn't its only advantage. Coffee has been proven to help improve memory, increase endurance, and ease muscle pain. The list doesn't stop there; read more about the health benefits of coffee here.

Watch for: The benefits of coffee don't always outweigh the risks, especially if you drink too much. Drinking too much java can cause you to become anxious or jittery, disrupt your sleep patterns, develop high blood pressure, or endure regular headaches. Stay attuned to caffeine's affect on your body and, in general, don't drink more than 300 milligrams a day (the average cup of coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine).

Red wine: All those studies about the health benefits of red wine makes me feel that much better about relaxing with a glass of Cab after work. Red wine contains a compound called resveratrol, which has been proven in studies to be beneficial to your health - everything from fighting cancer to antiaging, along with other disease-preventing benefits.

Watch for: The benefits of wine stop at one glass a day, so don't go overboard. You may be doing yourself more harm than good, especially since one glass of red wine usually runs around 127 calories. And while scientists have researched resveratrol in many lab studies, there have been few studies in humans - and let's not forget the recent news that a leading red wine researcher actually falsified data in dozens of studies on heart health and resveratrol.

Two more good-for-you drinks after the break!

4 Toxic Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips

Prevention — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:37:36 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Is your food loaded with toxins and chemicals? Here, simple swaps to protect yourself
By Anne Underwood

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing.

Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe - or not - to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health - and peace of mind.

The Best Packaged Foods to Shop For

1. Canned Tomatoes

Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A, gives us the scoop:

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says vom Saal. "I won't go near canned tomatoes."

The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe's and Pomi.

Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

Low-Sodium Alternative Dinner Options

Keep reading to three more foods to avoid.

The Truth About the Health Benefits of Tea

Health — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:13:17 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Tea - does it really fight cancer? Lower cholesterol? We filter the research to find out which health claims actually hold water.
By Kate Lowenstein

The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you'd think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful magical elixir. Improving heart health, reducing cancer risk, warding off dementia and diabetes - there's barely a health benefit that hasn't been credited to tea. It's true that the brew has disease-fighting antioxidants, and, as far as anyone can tell, should be great for us.

"The science is certainly promising," says David L. Katz, MD, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "But the hype goes beyond it and tends to make promises which the science can't yet deliver." (No, tea probably will not cure depression, eliminate allergies, or boost your fertility!) We talked to the experts and weighed the studies to separate the truth from the hype.

Health.com: Drink This Tea to Lose That Belly

Why tea is so hot
First, a definition: When scientists talk about tea, they mean black, green, white, or oolong teas - all of which are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal brews, like chamomile and peppermint, are not technically considered tea; they're infusions of other plants with different nutritional characteristics. If you're not sure what kind you're drinking, check the ingredients for the word "tea."

Keep reading to learn even more about tea.

Healthy Dose Link Time

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:55:51 PST

Forget Calgon, let yoga take you away - yoga retreats worth booking - Lululemon
Which weight machines to hit or skip the next time you're at the gym - Fitness
Eat berries now to avoid Parkinson's disease later - That's Fit
5 reasons why becoming a (part-time) vegetarian makes sense - Self
Time to hit the trail - great gear for runners - The Daily Spark
Bitchy, tired, and irritable? Maybe it's hormone imbalance - Shape
Open your books! A brief history of yoga - Mind Body Green