Study: Sweet Fiber Curbs Appetite -Boosts Weight Loss

The key to controlling your weight is controlling your hunger – and now a new study sheds light on a natural food ingredient that can help you do just that ! - By Colette Bouchez

As anyone who's ever tried to diet can tell you, the key to losing weight is not controlling what you eat – it's controlling your desire to eat it!

I'm talking about appetite – and how the ability to control your hunger pangs and the desire to quench them is key to weight control.

But if a new study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is right, that key is about to open a headlock on obesity – and doing so may require nothing more than adding a specific type high fiber sweetener to your diet.

That ingredient say experts, is oligofructose. Not to be confused with fructose or fruit sugar, oligofructose is a slightly sweet plant fiber, that appears to suppress levels of a hormone that actually controls our desire to eat!

Moreover, oligofructose also functions as a probiotic – a type of healthy bacteria that's been shown to have a positive impact on intestinal health - plus it may also help regulate blood sugar, another plus in controlling your appetite.

“Independent of other lifestyle changes, oligofructose supplementation has the potential to promote weight loss and improve glucose regulation in overweight adults,” write researchers Jill Parnell and Raylene Reimer who conducted the research at the University of Calgary in Canada.

Parnell and Reimer also report that foods high in this probiotic fiber not only help reduce levels of ghrelin, a hormone linked to appetite control, but they also increase levels of a peptide hormone known as PYY – which is the natural compound involved in chemically signaling the brain that we have reached our satiation point and we don't need to eat any more.

Conversely, many researchers believe that when ghrelin levels rise and PYY levels fall , it becomes nearly impossible to feel full or control our appetite – not to mention stay on a diet.

A Sweet Way To Lose Weight

The 12 week study involved 48 overweight or obese adults with no other known health issues. Each member of the group was weighed and then randomly assigned to receive either a daily dose of 21 grams of oligofructose, or a placebo. They were then told to eat as they normally would. At the end of the 12 weeks, each member of the group was weighed again.

The result: Those who were taking the oligofructose lost an average of 1.02 kg of weight, while the placebo group gained an average of .45 kg. Moreover , testing showed that while the supplement was able to suppress production of ghrelin ( which helped control appetite), as well as increase levels of PPY( the signal that tells the brain we are full), other hormones involved in the satiation response were not affected.

That said, the researchers report it became clear that the oligofructose was controlling appetite since everyone in the group using the supplement reported a decrease in the desire to eat – and noted they felt fuller on less food. Moreover, no one in the group taking the supplement reported any adverse effects.

Oligofructose is closely related to another plant fiber known as inulin and previous studies have shown that both can be beneficial in reducing body mass index (BMI) while controlling appetite. The research conducted by Parnell and Reimer was among the first human studies to demonstrate the ability of oligofructose to have a direct impact on the body chemistry linked to overeating.

Both oligofructose and inulin can be found in a number of yogursts, and some fruit juices. Oligofructose is also available as a sweetening ingredient and can be found in in some low carbohydrate candies and baked goods.

You might also enjoy reading :
Dieting Is Easier Now Thanks To This Secret Ingredient
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Or visit RedDressDiary.com - the health and beauty source for fabulous women over 40!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Study: Could Depression Be Sign of Hidden Cancer?

A new study suggests that in some people depression may be an early warning sign of cancer, appearing long before other obvious symptoms occur. Here's what you need to know. - Colette Bouchez

If a new study proves to be right, the first line of defense for patients suffering with depression may not be that all-too-common prescription for an antidepressant, but instead a medical workup designed to hunt down hidden tumors.

That's the interesting premise just published in a study on line in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Here, neuroscientists from the University of Chicago offer evidence that tumors may, in fact, be responsible for at least some of the biochemical changes that kick off bouts of depression – and that this may occur long before there is any obvious signs that the tumor itself even exists.

“By using this animal model of cancer we were able to isolate just the physiological effects of the tumors from the psychological effects that you get in human studies," said Leah Pyter , a behavioral neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, who led the study and was recently quoted in The Scientist.com.

It has long been known that cancer patients, along with others who suffer from chronic diseases, are more prone to depressive behavior. For the most part, however, doctors believed this was largely due to the emotional response to the diagnosis, as well as a biochemical stress reaction to the disease itself. Indeed, if you, or someone you love has ever undergone cancer treatment, then you already know how stressful both the diagnosis, and sometimes even the treatments can be.

Pyter and her group now believe that based on her research, the biochemical changes caused by the tumor itself could be strong enough to induce depression.

How The Study Was Conducted

To arrive at this conclusions Pyter and her team injected a chemical known to cause mammary tumors into a group of rats. They then monitored these rats, alongside a group of healthy rodents, as they participated in activities designed to reveal clinical signs of depression.

The result: The rats with the tumor cells demonstrated depressive symptoms in more than one situation – and they did so long before they had any telltale signs of cancer.

Researchers believe this is a strong indication that the depression was incited by biochemical changes stemming directly from the tumor cells. What is less clear, however, is what those changes entail.

One theory suggests the answer is rooted in cytokines - immune cells that, ironically, help fight disease. But cytokines have also been known to cause behavioral changes in response to certain bacterial infections, as well as brain trauma. What's more these changes appear to unfold in the same area of the brain linked to depression.

Pyter says all the rats in her study that were injected with the tumor cells showed an increase in cytokine activity, giving further rise to speculation therein lies the link to depression.

Experts say this idea may hold special significance for patients undergoing chemotherapy since many of the drugs used are, in fact, cytokine-based treatments.

Breast Cancer and Anti Depressant Medications

While clearly the new research has the potential to impact all cancer patients , perhaps it's greatest significance is for women at high risk for breast cancer. Why?

For more than two decades scientists have debated links between an increased incidence of breast cancer and the use of certain antidepressant medications, particularly those known as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). While the findings are hardly conclusive in either direction, the new research could add another dimension to the debate - with two new questions coming to the forefront.

First: Could the studies which showed a link between the use of SSRIs and an increased risk of breast cancer really have provided us with the first glimpse at the possibility that some women diagnosed with depression may indeed be harboring undiagnosed tumor cells?

Second: If in fact, SSRIs really do increase the risk of tumor growth, should we be first ruling out cancer in all patients who are diagnosed with depression before doling out prescriptions for these, or any other antidepressant medications ?

At least for the moment, both questions remain unanswered.

What This Research Means To You

Certainly, not everyone who is diagnosed with depression develops cancer. Depression is a disease on it's own and experts agree that in most people it is not likely to ever be a sign of a hidden cancer.

That said, if you are diagnosed with depression, there may be a common sense lesson here worth noting: If your family or personal health history indicates you are at increased risk for cancer, particularly breast cancer, and that same history does not indicate an increased risk for depression, it might be wise to talk to your doctor about the need for certain advanced cancer screenings, and to have them either in conjunction with the use of antidepressant medications, or perhaps even before you start taking the medication.

The Really Good News: If , in fact, it turns out that depression is the very earliest marker for cancer in some people, then the possibility of catching this disease early enough to effect a complete cure is now a whole lot greater. And that is indeed, something to smile about.

You might also be interested in reading:
Menopause May Increase The Risk of Depression
Study:Can Attitude Impact Breast Cancer Risks?
Or visit RedDressDiary.com : The 24 Source for Health & Beauty for Women Over 40!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

News: A Novel Way To Stop Smoking

Trying to quit cigarettes? Best selling author Debbie Macomber's new novel just might help! I also predict it's the start of a whole new genre of summer beach reads - books that capture your imagination while helping you stop a bad habit. Here's a look at a brand new way to get healthy and have a good time! - by Colette Bouchez

If you're anything like me, then you know there's an easy-to-draw line between fiction books that capture our imagination, and self improvement books that teach us how to live our best life.

Which is one reason I was so captivated with “Summer on Blossom Street” by best selling fiction author Debbie Macomber. It's the first fiction book I know of that also carries a powerful health message – and it just might be the start of a whole type of self-help book.

Indeed, intrinsic to the plot of Macomber's new novel is the recreation of a widely successful Australian stop smoking phenomenon called “Knit To Quit” - a program wherein women get together in modern day “knitting circles” using the craft of creation to channel the energies that might otherwise result in the need for a cigarette. The end result is often the ability to quit smoking faster and easier than you might imagine.

In fact, in Britain and Australia, Knit to Quit groups have sprung up everywhere, as women and men increasingly find that the soothing tempo of knitting works to not only help them quit smoking, but also aids in dealing with other nasty habits – like over eating – and even helps certain chronic conditions like depression or even arthritic pain.

Doctors say the repetitive act of knitting – combined with the concentration necessary to learn a new skill – helps keep hands and minds busy. This works much like any stress buster, to transition us to a calmer , more meditative state – thereby reducing the need for a cigarette ( or a donut ). Call it “Zen and the Art of the Scarf”.

When , during a visit to Australia, best-selling author Macomber discovered a Knit to Quit class, she says she knew instantly it would could be the hook upon which to hang another in her best selling series of Blossom Street tales. And in fact, in "Summer On Blossom Street" , yarn shop owner Lydia Goetz, herself a cancer survivor, decides to help a friend quit smoking by offering just such a class – and then expands the group to include anyone who has a bad habit the y want to quit.

On a personal note I will add that , from the moment I began reading, I knew this was a tale that could ring true for many of you. You see, more than two decades ago- when I was in my early 20's - I found myself in the back of an ambulance hooked to a whole lot of heart monitor wires as I vaguely heard the tech calling in to the hospital : “Heart attack victim on the way.” I could barely breathe but I could think – and I remember thinking to myself “If I survive this, I swear I will never touch another cigarette.” I was, I now admit with some guilt, a 3-pack a day chain smoker.

Well as it turns out, I wasn't having a heart attack at all – but instead an allergic reaction to a medication I had just started for an ear infection. I was treated, released and sent home within a few hours, with a new prescription for my ear infection and a warning about an antibiotic I should never take again.

But I also came home with something far more valuable in tow: The promise to quit smoking. Those few hours of feeling what it's like to struggle for a breath was enough of a shocker to make me realize what it would be like if in fact I did have a heart attack – or fell prey to any number of lung-related ailments that steal your breath, courtesy of those daily smokes.

But while the decision to quit smoking may have been easy – the challenge of doing so was hard. I'll spare you all the details on what didn't work - and zero in on what did: I taught myself to knit.

Yup - long before I knew anything about the Knit To Quit programs, much like the women on Blossom street I substituted knitting in place of smoking . Thankfully, within about 6 weeks or so I not only had a stash of some pretty snazzy scarves, I was well on my way to living smoke-free, for life!

It's been over 20 years now – and I've never touched another cigarette since. But I have, however, continued with the craft, often turning to the rhythmic clang of those needles to knit my way through every kind of heart break and heartache you could imagine. ( You should see my sweater wardrobe!)

Certainly Knit to Quit is not a replacement for other kinds of therapy, and it might not work for you as well as it did for me – o r the gals on Blossom Street. But while scientific proof may be a little slow in coming, anecdotal evidence abounds that Knit To Quit is definitely a concept worth trying.

If you do want to give it a try, Summer on Blossom Street entertainingly lays out the plan – and even includes a knitting pattern to get you started. At the very least, you'll get a great scarf out of the deal!

Do you have an interesting or new method that helped you quit smoking? Write me about it – and I'll share your success story with others!

You might also be interested in reading:

Is the Oprah Effect Good For Women's Health?
10 Ways To Cut Health Care Costs

Or visit RedDressDiary.com - the health and beauty source for fabulous women over 40!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Studies: Nutrients to Stop Hair Loss, Cut Cancer Risks, Reduce Infections

A cache of new studies reveal certain vitamins can make hair grow thicker, reduce the risk of colon and ovarian cancer and cut infection rate in women – and more. Here's what you need to know – Colette Bouchez

Reduce Hair Loss With This Vitamin!

Has your hubby virtually glued that baseball cap to his head in an effort to hide his thinning hair? Or maybe it's you that's doing the same? Now a new study out of Malaysia has shown that a specific type of vitamin E – a nutrient known as tocotrienol – may reverse baldness by up to 42% and in the process make hair thicker and stronger.

The eight-month study included 28 men aged 18 to 59, reporting hair loss for 2 to 5 years. At the start of the study researchers took hair counts in a pre-selected 2 x2 cm area of the scalp and then assigned the men to either a daily supplement containing 100 mg of tocotrienel, or a placebo capsule containing 600mg of soybean oil. The men were also told to wash and groom their hair normally with whatever products they had previously used.

The Result: After eight months of daily supplement use the men taking the tocotrienol form of vitamin E had a whopping 41.8 percent increase in hair count, with some of the volunteers gaining as much as 50% more growth. The placebo group saw no statistically significant increase in hair count or growth.

Now if you're thinking of just popping a vitamin E capsule to get the same result, there's something you should know: There are actually 8 different forms of vitamin E including 4 forms of tocopherols ( the kind most commonly found in multi vitamins) and 4 types of tocotrienols, which are considered a minor nutrient found in many plants but also available in palm oil, cereal grains and rice bran.

To get the same effect found in the study you need to specifically look for a Vitamin E supplement containing all 8 forms or at the very least the 4 tocotrienols – which are available in specialty vitamin products.

The research was conducted at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Science in Malaysia and will be presented next week at the Vita Foods International Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk With This Nutrient

Could reducing your risk of ovarian cancer be as simple as munching on some celery, parsley and tomatoes ? New research says yes – because all three foods have a simple but very protective nutrient in common.

That nutrient is a flavonoid known as apigenin - a type of water soluble compound found in plants and often responsible for their vibrant color. Now doctors from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health found that apigenin may be linked to a 28 percent decrease in the risk of ovarian cancer in women over aged 50.

Reporting in the International Journal of Cancer Research, doctors detailed a study on over 2,000 women, each of whom filled out a 126 item food frequency questionnaire designed to detail intake of foods high in five flavonoids including myricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, luteolin, and apigenin .

The Result: Although there was no statistically significant difference in cancer rates due to the overall intake of flavonoids, when doctors analyzed individual results they found apigenin appeared to reduce ovarian cancer risks by about 28%. It's most plentiful in celery, tomatoes and parsley.

Researchers say they aren't sure how or why apigenin confers protection, and they caution that more research is needed to confirm the findings. But among the possible modes of action include inhibiting estrogen activity in the ovaries, reducing circulating estrogen levels by occupying receptors in the ovary, or interfering with the way estrogen is metabolized in the body. Either way the end result is less estrogenic activity in the ovaries – and that translates into a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.

Since the rate of ovarian cancer is higher among women who are overweight ( which also correlates with higher levels of estrogen) if you are carrying some extra pounds it may be especially important to add these foods to your diet.

Take This Vitamin & Reduce V-Zone Infections

If you're looking to decrease your risk of a common infection known as bacterial vaginosis (BV), try adding more vitamin D to your diet. That's the finding of a new study just published in the Journal of Nutrition by doctors from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

The research involved some 400 pregnant women, each examined in their 16th week of gestation. Here doctors found those with low vitamin D levels (20 nmol/liter) were 34 percent more likely to have a BV infection than those whose vitamin D levels were higher ( 80nmol/l or more).

But it's not just pregnant women who are at risk. Doctors suggest that any woman who is low in vitamin D is more susceptible to a BV infection.

And, in fact, bacterial vaginosis is a common problem with symptoms that include an odorous vaginal discharge, and sometimes itching or burning on urination . It develops due to an overgrowth of a certain type of bacteria found naturally in the reproductive tract, and affects up to 30% of women between the ages of 19 and 49. When it occurs during pregnancy BV increases the risk of premature birth and of having a low birth weight baby. It can also increase a woman's risk of contracting HIV, and other STDS including genital herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

While doctors aren't sure how or why vitamin D offers protection research suggests it may stimulate the immune system to keep natural bacteria levels under control.

The most bioactive form of vitamin D - and the form most likely to protect you can be made from just 20 minutes of sun exposure daily. But if , like many women, you are limiting time in the sun to protect your skin, or if you live in a climate where sun exposure is naturally limited, experts recommend 1000 mg of vitamin D supplements daily, as well as consuming food fortified with vitamin D, such as low fat dairy products.

Cut Your Risk of Colon Cancer With This B Vitamin

Looking to cut your risk of colon cancer? Add more vitamin B6 to your diet ! That's the latest finding from the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. The study documented blood levels of Vitamin B 6 in 197 men who developed colon cancer, and compared the findings with 371 who did not.

The Result: When blood markers for an active form of B6 known as PLP were high, the risk of colon cancer was reduced -sometimes by as much as 50%. When vitamin B6 levels were low, not only was cancer more likely to occur, but the men also had higher levels of other compounds including homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP) two natural compounds that promote inflammation. Low Vitamin B levels were also associated in with other factors that increase tumor growth.

The research was conducted by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, collaborated with scientists from Harvard School of Public Health, Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, and GlaxoSmithKline R&D.

You might also enjoy reading:
Spring Summer Allergies Triggered By Health Foods
New Smart Foods Reduce Blood Pressure - Improve Heart Health

Or stop by RedDressDiary.com anytime for the latest health, nutrition, beauty & style advice for fabulous women over 35!

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.

Flu Epidemic: 10 Ways To Cut Health Care Costs

The swine flu epidemic is stealing the headlines. But perhaps the bigger health story underneath any epidemic is how many more people may need medical care, and what that can do to our already inflated health care costs. Here are 10 tips for saving some money without sacrificing good care.

By Colette Bouchez

While everyone is concerned with cutting spending, with a flu pandemic eminent this is clearly not the time to skimp on health care. In fact, if expert predictions about this flu are right, many of us may find ourselves having to budget in some unexpected health care costs in the very near future - even if that only involves preventive care.

If you do find yourself in health care cost turmoil over the next several weeks or months, here are some money-saving tips that help you save some green and stay in the pink.

1. Negotiate Smart – A 2005 Harris poll showed 3 out 5 folks who bargained with their out of network doctor got a lower price for their treatment. But to bargain more effectively try this:

* Ask your doc tor for the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) billing code for your procedure. ( It’s what insurance companies and hospitals use to set a charge).
* Call your insurance company and find out what they pay a network doc for this same procedure . Also check what Medicare and Medicaid pays.
* Then ask your doctor if he or she will accept that amount.

2. Make Your Case for Out of Network Care - If you’re choosing an out-of-network doctor because he/she has a vast amount of experience treating your health problem, or special skills that could ultimately save you future health care costs, tell your insurance company. If you can prove the skills of your out-of-network doc will save them big bucks in the long run, they just might pick up the tab.

3. If you go network – go all the way. Everyone knows that choosing an in-network doctor will save you money. To save more, find if the anesthesiologist, radiologist, or other s involved in your care are also in- network. If they aren’t, call your insurance company , for names of those affiliated with the hospital or center where you will have your procedure. Then talk to your doctor about getting those folks on your care team.

4. Double Up On Your Healthcare . If you need to go out of network or have a high deductible, try to get chronic care check ups from a single doctor visit. For example, if you need a Pap smear ask your gynecologist to check your cholesterol , blood pressure even blood sugar, thereby saving you an extra doctor visit.

5. Brown Bag It! If you need a hospital procedure and will be staying more than a day, bring your own self-care incidentals – like toothpaste, shampoo or soaps. Also ask if you can bring some of your own medications such as aspirins or any drugs you take for a chronic condition. Your own is bound to cost less than what the hospital will charge you for a few pills.

6. Health care Teamwork - If you and your partner each have a health insurance plan at work, check where coverage overlaps. Then reduce costs by having one of you opt for a lower priced plan, or even cancel one plan completely.

7. Single Parents Rejoice! You can save big on individual vs family plans by checking out the State Children’s Health Insurance Program ( SCHIP) . Most offer very low cost or even free insurance for children under 18 – meaning you can drop that pricey family plan at work. For more info call the nationwide toll free line 877-KIDSNow. Or visit www.InsureKidsNow.gov.

8. Split The Pill! Most drugs cost the relatively the same for a higher or a lower dose. So ask your pharmacist if a pill can be safely cut in two and if so, ask your doctor to prescribe a higher dose and then split the pill yourself. If it’s not safe to split a pill (some don’t work as well when cut) ask your doctor a prescribing higher dose you take once a day instead of a lower one several times a day.

9. Keep A Symptom Diary. If you’re not sure if that ache or pain really requires a doctor visit? Keep a record of symptoms while you decide - including when the symptom started, how long it lasts, what makes it worse –or better. If you do see your doctor, having this information could make save you a bundle in unnecessary diagnostic tests or procedures.

10. Shop Around. When purchasing medicine look to Big Box stores or non-chain drugstore first. Surveys show both offer lower prices than most chain pharmacies. To save more investigate free prescription drug programs. Some are state or federally funded, others supported by drug manufacturers. Here’s some places to start:

The Access Project: 800- 734-7104
Free Medicine Program.org
RXAssist.org ( 401 -729-3284).

For more health and beauty news for women over 35 visit www.RedDressDiary.com

You might also enjoy reading:
Crisis: Could You Survive a Plane Crash - or Worse?

7 Ways To Avoid Colds and Flu

Copyright by Colette Bouchez 2009 - All Rights Reserved.
In addition to US Copyright, the text of this RedDressDiary article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. All formatting and style elements of this page are not available under this license, and Colette Bouchez retains all rights in those elements.