Alcohol - Is it good for you?

You’ve probably heard that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol has many health benefits. Most research I’ve seen has focused on wine. It’s now well accepted that red wine can help your heart. But other alcoholic beverages have health benefits, too.

Red wine has been the subject of more studies than any other alcoholic beverage. We have known about polyphenols for several years. But wine’s health benefits occur through more than one mode of action.

Several studies show moderate alcohol consumption through red wine fights cancer. A new case study looked at 500 people, 250 who had new cases of colorectal cancer and 250 people from the community. It found that 12-35 grams of alcohol each day reduced the likelihood of cancer by 65% for men and 60% for women. High alcohol intake (more than 48 grams a day) more than tripled the likelihood of cancer.¹

Then there’s resveratrol, the now widely known compound that can turn on your longevity genes, helps fight cancer, too, and acts as an antioxidant.

Studies also show that red wine blocks a compound thought to be a key factor in heart disease and high blood pressure called endothelein-1. This chemical makes blood vessels constrict and increases heart attack risk. One study found red wine both with and without alcohol inhibits the formation of endothelein-1.²

Antioxidants in wine also reduce the formation of plaque in blood vessels. Other studies have found that wine dilates blood vessels. Still others suggest wine stops blood from inappropriate clotting.

Wine is not the only alcoholic drink to show considerable aid to heart health. A recent study found moderate amounts of beer lowered the chance of heart disease by up to 41% compared to non-drinkers.³

The New England Journal of Medication published a study that examined beer and the risk of stroke. They found that light to moderate beer drinking decreases the risk of having a stroke by 20%.

The yeast in beer is rich in vitamins. Beer provides a bounty of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 has been linked to heart health as well. Beer can increase vitamin B6 in blood plasma by 30%.

Other studies have been done which do not discriminate between types of alcoholic beverages. Any form of alcohol has been shown to be useful. In one analysis of other studies, researchers found 10 studies that showed the risk of heart disease was significantly lower with moderate wine drinking, four studies that found the same was true for beer, and four for spirits.⁴

The Physician’s Health Study found that men who have 5 to 6 drinks a week had 20% lower risk of death than those who didn’t drink at all. Those who consumed alcohol daily had a 40% decrease in the risk of coronary artery disease. But men who drank more than twice a day had a higher risk of death.

The Cardiovascular Health Study showed the association between alcohol and your risk of stroke. The study followed 3,660 people over 65, for 2 years. MRI scans checked blood clots in the patients’ brains. People who drank between one and six alcoholic drinks per week had a lower incidence of stroke and brain abnormalities compared to those that drank none at all.⁵

So whether you’re commemorating a friend or loved one who served our country, or having a get-together with friends and family this Memorial Day, if you like to have a drink or two, enjoy it without worry.

• If you enjoy beer, I recommend the low-carb variety. Each new low-carb brew seems to outperform the last, in terms of flavor and fullness. They all have full-bodied taste but have the lowest carbs, as these are the specially formulated low-carb brews. You can find some European imports that will top off at 30 grams of carbs.
• If you like wine, the muscadine wines have the most resveratrol. But remember, any red wine in moderation gives you the benefits. My favorite is Pisco, the distilled wine spirit from Peru. It’s hard to get in the States, but there are some places in Napa where you can get it. There’s a great website about Pisco called piscomall .com. I also like the site wine-searcher .com because you can search by country or vintage.
• The “alternatives” such as wine coolers and hard ciders have a lot of sugar, are in no way healthier than other alcoholic drinks, and are much worse when it comes to carbs. I would give those a wide berth.
• The key must be moderation. In all of the studies that list benefits from alcoholic beverages, only moderate drinkers profited. By moderation, I mean one or two per day. This matters much more than the type of alcohol you chose.
• If you currently do not drink alcohol, don’t think you should start now. There are other ways to protect your heart and lower your risk of cancer. In that case, I would recommend 50 mg of the ubiquinol form of CoQ10, and 50 mg of trans-resveratrol every day.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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1.Kontou N, Psaltopoulou T, Soupos N, Polychronopoulos E, Xinopoulos D, Linos A, Panagiotakos D. "Alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer in a mediterranean population: a case-control study." Dis Colon Rectum. 2012 Jun;55(6):703-10.
2. Kiviniemi T, Saraste A, Lehtimäki T, Toikka J, Saraste M, Raitakari O, Hartiala J, Viikari J, Koskenvuo J. "Decreased endothelin-1 levels after acute consumption of red wine and de-alcoholized red wine." Atherosclerosis. 2010 Jul;211(1):283-6.
3.Costanzo S, Di Castelnuovo A, Donati MB, Iacoviello L, de Gaetano G. "Wine, beer or spirit drinking in relation to fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events: a meta-analysis." Eur J Epidemiol. 2011 Nov;26(11):833-50.
4.Rimm E, Klatsky A, Grobbee D, Stampfer M. "Review of moderate alcohol consumption and reduced risk of coronary heart disease: is the effect due to beer, wine, or spirits?." BMJ 1996;312:731
5.Mukamal K, Longstreth W, Mittleman M, Crum R, Siscovick D. "Alcohol consumption and subclinical findings on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in older adults." Stroke. 2001 Sep;32(9):1939-46.

This article compliments of Dr. Al Sears, MD

The Healing Powers Of Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a beautiful, lustrous, red bell shaped variety of capsicum, which is named after the city Cayenne in the French Guiana, the overseas region of France. Cayenne pepper (pronounced as Kaai-yen) or Capsicum annum is powdered and used in spicy dishes. It is a spicy pepper with approximately 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units (a unit used to measure the spiciness of a substance). It commonly used in Korean and other Asian cuisines in a vinegar sauce. Apart from this, Cayenne pepper is commonly termed as the ‘king of herbs’ because of its variety of health benefits.

Where Is Cayenne Pepper Grown?

Growing cayenne pepper is not a difficult process but one must bear in mind that they are highly susceptible to extreme hot or cold conditions. This is why they need to be properly acclimatized even when being transferred outdoors after packaging. The cayenne pepper can be grown in temperate climates, and it is passionately grown in places like Mexico, Nigeria and North America, where is it used for various sauces.

What Are The Benefits Of Cayenne Pepper?

Besides setting fireworks to the taste buds,cayenne peppers are popularly used to treat various ailments. In fact, Cayenne Pepper has been revered as one of the ‘all cure’ herbs as it has so many advantages like:

• Digestion: Cayenne Pepper aids in healthy digestion by creating hydrochloric acid in the stomach, and helps in the peristaltic movement of the intestine. According to studies at NYU Langone Medical Center, it has been found that Cayenne Pepper can relieve dyspepsia or indigestion by alleviating symptoms of bloating and nausea. Because cayenne pepper is packed with flavor, it helps to produce saliva which is extremely helpful for good digestion.
• Blood Circulation: Cayenne Pepper works miracles on the circulatory system. It is known to arrest heart attacks within 30 seconds. It is a naturally stimulates the body without ill effects like heart palpitations. In February 2010 issue of Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, it was revealed that cayenne pepper energizes the system while lowering blood pressure. It is known to increase stamina and overall vigor of the body.
• Hemorrhage: Cayenne pepper is known to cure hemorrhages of the lungs and the heart within minutes. This is because the pepper can first lower the blood pressure to prevent any further bleeding and then stimulates rapid clotting of blood at the site of the hemorrhage. Cayenne pepper helps in preventing the formation of blood clots. This reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes by a large extent.
• Pain Killer: State University of New York at Buffalo have also shown that the pepper can be an effective pain killer for pain originating from cancer surgeries or peripheral neuropathy or nerve pain as a side effect of diabetes. Cayenne pepper works very similar to certain pain relieving ointments. It contains a substance called capsaicin, which causes a burning sensation to the skin. The heat is transmitted through the muscle and the joints, acting as a painkiller. Research is still being done to explore the properties of Cayenne pepper in curing chronic headaches.
• Skin & Throat Problems: Cayenne pepper has been used to treat skin conditions like psoriasis and other itchy skin conditions. Since Cayenne pepper is a spicy and pungent powder, it may seem like – it can irritate the throat. On the contrary, it works wonders against cough, sore throat, stomach ulcers and diarrhea. Cayenne pepper has the property to clear the nasal cavity from thick mucus by breaking it down. Hence it produces relief against common cold and flu.
• Cancer: Cayenne pepper induces programmed cell death, a property lacking in cancer cells. By this property, cells do not extend their life span and perish at the appropriate time. Unlike chemotherapy, it only affects cancer cells and the normal cells remain unharmed. The substance capsaicin is known to arrest tobacco induced tumors. Hence, it can also be used to treat lung cancer.
• Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial: A 2009 study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” suggests that the pepper has anti-fungal properties. Cayenne pepper acts as an anti-inflammatory and prevents certain allergies. This property helps relieve pain due to arthritis. Cayenne pepper is also used as a food preservative due to its antibacterial properties.
• Detox: Cayenne pepper is used for the purpose of detoxification. In combination with honey and lemon juice, it is extremely effective in ridding the system from toxins and other harmful substances. Moreover, consumption of cayenne pepper also induces sweating which is another way to purge the body of toxic substances.
• Other diseases & wounds: Cayenne pepper is used to treat tooth and gum diseases. It is also used topically to treat snake bites and other wounds.

Who Should Not Use Cayenne Pepper?

Despite the numerous benefits, a word of caution is in order, because cayenne pepper should not be used by all if:

• Mothers still breast feeding can suffer from cracked skin near the nipples, from where the infant is fed. Cayenne pepper, although a good healer for the mother’s skin can affect the infant.
• Children below 2 years of age should not be given cayenne pepper.
• Since Cayenne pepper prevents blood clots, patients newly recovering from surgery should avoid the pepper because it can cause excessive bleeding.

Cayenne Pepper: A Good Solution For Natural Healing

Cayenne Pepper is a master cleanser, and great food to add to your diet. With so many benefits, you can’t possibly go wrong with Cayenne!

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayenne_pepper http://www.ehow.com/how_2104211_grow-cayenne.html http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/cayenne.htmhttp://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-cayenne-pepper/http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21645http://www.livestrong.com/article/497836-is-cayenne-pepper-good-for-blood-circulation/http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/cayenne.html

This Article Compliments of BeWellBuzz.

Nutrition Simplified

Shakeology, Nutrition Simplified

Killer Soda? Not-So-Sweet News for Cola Lovers

 Bad news cola lovers: Soda isn't the healthiest thirst-quencher in the cooler. In fact, health riskssurrounding sugary drinks are increasingly well-documented. Rates of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes are higher among people who sip them regularly.

In one strange case, experts suspect cola overload may have helped to kill a 30-year-old New Zealand woman who died of a heart attack in February 2010. Natasha Harris reportedly drank 8 to 10 liters of cola per day, according to the Associated Press. In addition to all the soda, however, the mother of eight smoked about 30 cigarettes a day and ate little, the AP reports.

Even if your soda habits aren't that extreme, you may want to pay attention to new information from Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute and Harvard University researchers, who found that the more sugar-sweetened and low-calorie sodas a person consumes, the higher her or his stroke risk. This isn't the first research linkingsoda and stroke. A February 2011 study of older adults living in Manhattan found a greater risk of stroke, heart attack, and vascular-related death among those who regularly drank diet soda. The new Harvard-Cleveland Clinic study, however, examined the effects of both regular and low-calorie varieties on stroke risk.

For the study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers looked at soda consumption among more than 43,371 men and 84,085 women. The men took part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study between 1986 and 2008, while the women's data came from the Nurses' Health Study between 1980 and 2008. A total 2,938 strokes were recorded among the women and 1,416 strokes among the men. The Health Professionals and Nurses' Health studies are conducted by a consortium of institutions including Harvard and Brigham and Women's in Boston.

Sugar overload, the researchers hypothesize, may trigger to a series of reactions in the body that can cause atherosclerosis, plaque stability and thrombosis, according to a Mayo Clinic release. All three are ischemic stroke risk factors. And it's a bigger problem for women, whose risk is higher, than men.

Too Much of a Bad Thing

Harris' case was unusual, but the researchers from Harvard and Cleveland Clinic did find a comparable pattern among heavy soda-drinkers in their study. It seems people who drink soda more often are more prone to making additional unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as working out less and eating more red meat and full-fat dairy.

If all that doesn't convince you to put a cap on soda and start drinking more water, a recent study found students who brought water into exams scored higher than those who didn't, suggesting a little H2O might actually make you smarter. Now that sounds like a reason to hit the water cooler. 

I would like to thank Everyday Health for this article. The original can be found here.