The Anti-Soy Fraud
THE ANTI-SOY HYSTERIA
Is soy safe to eat? Loma Linda University, september 2000
Many articles, including several in this newsletter, have touted the health benefits of soy which are largely related to plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) called isoflavones. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved a health claim for the cholesterol-lowering effects of soy protein. But is there a limit to how much soy is good for us? Some critics of soyfoods note that any foods or compounds with such potent biological properties
Black Tea Lowers Cholesterol Disease
BLACK TEA MAY LOWER HEART DISEASE RISKS
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - That tea bag soaking in your cup could be brewing up a longer, healthier life, researchers report.
A study of over 3,400 adults in Saudi Arabia–a country of tea-lovers–found that those who drank more than 6 cups per day of the brown beverage had a more than 50% lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to tea abstainers, even after adjusting for other factors such as smoking, diet and obesity. Antioxidants called flavonoids, found in both green and black teas, are thought to be potent weapons in the fight against heart disease. “”Tea, the most widely consumed beverage in the world, is a rich source of (these) antioxidants,”" explain researchers led by Dr. Iman A. Hakim of the University of Arizona in Tucson. They published their findings in the January issue of the journal Preventive Medicine. Numerous studies have trumpeted the cardiovascular benefits of green tea, which is the beverage of choice in much of the Far East. But elsewhere in the world black tea reigns supreme, and fewer studies have examined its heart-healthy properties. The researchers interviewed 3,430 Saudis ranging in age from 30 to 70. Study participants were quizzed on their dietary habits, history of smoking, coffee drinking, exercise and other factors. Just over 6% were diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Tea-drinking is a very social event in Saudi Arabia, and about 90% of those interviewed drank the beverage daily. Comparing heavy drinkers to non-drinkers, the researchers found that those who consumed more than 6 cups of tea per day (about 20% of those interviewed) had a 50% lower risk of heart disease than those who did not drink tea. Those findings held even after the researchers adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, fat intake, blood cholesterol levels or sedentary lifestyle. In general, individuals with heart disease tended to drink less tea than healthier individuals–3.5 cups/day versus 4.5 cups/days, respectively. How might tea drinking boost heart health? Studies have suggested that flavonoids in tea may lower blood pressure and reduce stroke risk by about 12% for those drinking 3 cups of tea per day. Flavonoids may also lower clotting risks and “”hardening of the arteries,”" and reduce levels of LDL or “”bad”" cholesterol, the researchers suggest. Whatever the reason, tea for two–or more–may be just the ticket for healthy tickers, the researchers conclude. “”These findings support a potential protective effect of tea consumption in relation to coronary heart disease,”" they say. SOURCE: Preventive Medicine: 2002;36:64-70.
Cavities
‘Good’ Bacteria Seen as Potential Cavity Fighters NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Arming a type of friendly bacteria to do battle with cavity-promoting bacteria could offer a new way to prevent tooth decay, early research suggests. In experiments with cells and rats, scientists found that a type of “”good”" bacteria called lactobacillus could be genetically modified to produce an antibody that kills off a particular cavity-causing bacterium and helps prevent dental woes. The researchers, led by Lennart Hammarstrom of the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden, report the findings in the July issue of Nature Biotechnology. Lactobacillus bacteria have long been used in food fermentation and are commonly found in items such as yogurt. Some forms of the bacterium dwell normally in the human intestines. Lactobacillus-laden foods and supplements–commonly referred to as “”probiotics”"–have grown increasingly popular because they are believed to promote good gastrointestinal health. In addition, lactobacilli have been proposed as “”carriers”" for oral vaccines, according to Hammarstrom’s team. In their study, rats were given lactobacilli armed to produce antibodies against Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that lives in the human mouth and causes cavities by converting sugar into enamel-eroding lactic acid. The rats were given the good bacteria over 2 weeks, and the researchers found that the friendly bugs were still in the animals’ mouths 1 week after the final treatment. Moreover, the treated rats showed a sharp reduction in S. mutans in the mouth and developed far fewer cavities compared with untreated animals, according to the report. The researchers conclude that the effectiveness of the transformed lactobacilli, coupled with their persistence in the rats’ oral cavity, suggest a “”viable approach”" to preventing or treating tooth decay in humans. SOURCE: Nature Biotechnology 2002;20:702-706. Editor’s Note: Cavity Prevention is among the many known benefits of Lactobacillus Acidolphilus and requires any genetic modifications to be effective. The pharmaceutical companies would love to sell a genetically modified pill for $3.00 that you can buy for $0.15 from us. For more information on Lactobacillus Acidolphilus and FOS please visit<a href=”"acwitfos.html”" LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOLPHILUS FORMULA
The Surprising Story Behind Probiotics
The Surprising Story Behind Probiotics
When Dr. S.K. Dash was director of the Food and Drug Administration for South Dakota from 1973 to 1979, one of the biggest challenges animal-based agriculture faced was maintaining the health of large numbers of confined livestock. Government officials, scientists and ranchers had only begun to recognize that the proliferating use of antibiotics for challenges faced in animal husbandry presented a number of important health hazards. These included persistence of antibiotic residues in edible portions of meats sold to consumers as well as risks of creating antibioticresistant “”super bugs”" that would become resistant to commonly used antibiotics, thus rendering people more susceptible to infectious pathogens. But, the ranchers had no proven alternatives to which to turn and, thus, use of antibiotics for animal disease prevention and growth stimulation continued.
Dr. Dash knew it was important to find a better solution for animal health. He had been following the progress of probiotic research since the usefulness of L. acidophilus was first identified and demonstrated by Nobel laureate Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov.
S.K. Dash
Dr. Dash learned that back in the 1950s a probiotic product actually had been licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a drug for the treatment of a disease known as scour in pigs and calves, which is caused by E. coli infection. This probiotic supplement was 97 percent effective in combating E. coli infection in pigs, a cure rate as effective as the antibiotic neomycin sulfate, the standard treatment. Unlike antibiotics, however, the natural probiotic posed no untoward side effects, left no harmful drug residues in the edible portions of the pork, and was relatively inexpensive. Plus, the probiotic supplement provided many benefits that would lead to overall health among farm animals.
So what happened to this great probiotic product? Unfortunately, for consumers and ranchers alike, the big pharmaceutical companies used millions of dollars in research, development, marketing and promotion and had taken over the market with antibiotics-the miracle drug of the time. Probiotic firms lacked funds to compete with the big drug firms in research, development, marketing and promotion, and lost the battle against antibiotic manufacturers.
Meeting the Challenge of Modern Probiotics
Although he knew that the time had come for the public to rediscover probiotic supplementation, Dr. Dash recognized that significant challenges would have to be overcome in order to deliver to the consumer viable, health-promoting bacterial cultures. Thus, while working for the government, Dr. Dash played an integral role in introducing quality control standards for probiotics, which are now used by the industry worldwide.
After leaving government work, Dr. Dash began to work closely with researchers at the University of Nebraska. There, scientists had isolated a strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus now called DDS®-1. DDS®-1 L. acidophilus was being extensively researched with published papers published showing its health benefits. It had been found that this specially isolated and cultured strain possessed properties significant to digestion and nutritional health. For example, it produced enzymes (such as proteases and lipases) to aid the body’s digestion of proteins and fats, respectively. Other documented benefits, perhaps of even greater significance, were the strain’s antibacterial actions, which were essentially equivalent to those of antibiotics.
Today, more than 200 papers on this bacterial strain have been published in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals over a period of more than 40 years. But at the time, DDS®-1 L. acidophilus was not commercially manufactured and unavailable to the consumer. Thus, Dr. Dash formed UAS Laboratories, which became the first commercial manufacturer of probiotic supplements to:
Implement an unique process of commercially producing, freeze-drying and naturally stabilizing the bacterium for delivery to consumers; Introduce non-dairy probiotics; Introduce quality control standards for probiotics requiring guarantee of viable bacteria (CFU/g); Package probiotics with nitrogen to improve the stability of the probiotics; Prove that DDS®-1 L. acidophilus can pass through stomach acid, implant in the intestines, and multiply 100 to 200 fold; Incorporate the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) with probiotics to enhance their growth in intestines.
UAS Labs Maintains Leadership All of these innovations, from UAS Labs under the leadership of Dr. Dash, have been incredibly important to the probiotic category and have provided leadership in its most meaningful format by example.
DDS®-1 L. Acidophilus: A Natural Antibiotic
Today, DDS-1 Lactobacillus acidophilus has the most proven track records of probiotics. Scientific studies detailed in the original patent (U.S. Patent #3,689,640) show that this probiotic strain has antibacterial activity against many strains of harmful bacteria. It has shown inhibitory activity against the following bacteria:
Bacillus subtilis Bacillus cereus Bacillus stearothermophilus Streptococcus faecalis Streptococcus faecalis var liquifaciens Streptococcus lactis Lactobacillus lactis Lactobacillus casei Lactobacillus plantarum Lactobacillus leichmanii Sarcina lutea Serratia marcescens Proteus vulgaris Escherichia coli Salmonella typhosa Salmonella schottmuelleri Shigella dysenteriae Shigella paradysenteriae Pseudomonas fluorescens Pseudomonas aeruginosa Staphylococus auerus Klebsiella pneumoniae Vibrio comma
Today, of course, probiotic products are now available in different formulations with Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Enterococcus faecium and others with or without probiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS). The most common probiotic products are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum with FOS, and Bifidus infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus with FOS.
The major benefits that probiotic products offer include the following:
Digest foods and alleviate digestive disorders. Enhance synthesis of B vitamins. Protect against E. coli, salmonella and other bacterial infections. Improved lactose tolerance and digestibility of milk products. Reduced risk of vaginal infection and yeast infection. Improved immune function. Promoting anticarcinogenic activity. Helping to prevent peptic ulcer caused by H. pylori. Preventing acne. Reducing cholesterol.
It is apparent that our polluted environment, consumption of processed foods and chlorinated water and heavy use of antibiotics and other medications can destroy the friendly microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, thus making the body susceptible to yeast infection and other diseases. Research shows that seventy percent of women and forty percent of men have yeast infections to some degree as a result of heavy use of antibiotics, cortisone drugs, and poor eating habits. Studies at the Minneapolis VA Hospital show that the average man or woman no longer has adequate populations of friendly bacteria in their intestines. Supplementation with certain probiotics has clearly been demonstrated to enhance the presence of these friendly bacteria in the intestine, leading to greater population numbers of beneficial bacteria.
However, unfortunately, to take advantage of this burgeoning market, many so-called probiotic supplements have appeared on the market using UAS Labs’ trademarked DDS®-1 strains. UAS Laboratories is the owner of the U.S. trademark “”DDS®”". UAS Laboratories uses this DDS® trademark and other variants like DDS-1, DDS-30, DDS-60, and DDS-100. When seeking true DDS-1 strains for reliability, safety and efficacy, be sure that you seek products using this registered trademark.
Unfortunately for the consumer, individuals or firms using DDS or confusingly similar marks without written authorization from UAS Laboratories are in violation of the U.S. patent and trademark law, and the product most likely was not developed by UAS Laboratories and, thus, does not offer consumers or health professionals the assurances of a true, quality probiotic supplement.
Now, in the 21st Century, UAS Labs’ growing line of DDS® probiotic supplements is widely regarded as the leader in the field-for safe and efficacious use by adults and children alike. DDS®-Acidophilus capsules, tablets and powders are listed in the 2002 edition of the Physicians’ Desk Reference for Nonprescription Drugs and Dietary Supplements.
References Armuzzi, A., et al. “”Effect of Lactobacillus GG supplementation on antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal side effects during Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: a pilot study.”" Digestion, 2001;63:1-7. Bagchi, D. & Dash, S.K. “”Lactobacillus acidophilus — natural antibiotics and beyond.”" Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, 1996: 78-80. Dash, S.K. “”How to select an acidophilus supplement,”" presented at the Canadian Health Food Convention, Vancouver, Canada, October 1989. Elmer, G.W. “”Biotherapeutic agents.”" JAMA, 1996:275:870-876. Fuller, R. Probiotics-The Scientific Basis. London: Chapman and Hall, 1992. Gorbach, S.L. “”The intestinal microflora and its colon cancer connection.”" Infection, 1982; 10(6): 379-384. Hilton, E. “”Ingestion of yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus as prophylaxis for candidal vaginitis.”" Annals of Internal Medicine, 1992;116(5):353-357. Sehnert, K.W. The Garden Within: Acidophilus-Candida Connection. Health World Magazine, 1989. Saavedra, J.M., et al. “”Feeding of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophillis to infants in hospital for prevention of diarrhea and shedding of rotavirus.”" Lancet, 1994;344:1046-1049.
Contact Information Dr. Dash can be reached at: UAS Laboratories 5610 Rowland Rd., Suite 110 Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343 (952) 935-1707 / Fax: (952) 935-1650 Toll-free: (800) 422-3371 E-mail: dash@uaslabs.com Web site: www.uaslabs.com
Click here to view available probotics products Summary of Quality Control Standards
UAS Labs, under Dr. Dash’s leadership and knowledge, fulfills all criteria initially established for the production of quality probiotics. Simply placing the name acidophilus or probiotic on labels does not mean anything unless the probiotic product:
Contains the right strain(s). Many probiotic combinations lack research. It is imperative to select bacteria for incorporation in probiotic supplements that are on the federal GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list and that have been researched. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus species and some Bifidobacterium species are considered GRAS. Has been studied for safety. Following on this, any new bacterial culture that has no history of prior safe use in humans should be subject to toxicological studies prior to incorporation in any probiotic supplement. We want to know that the culture is benefiting, not harming the host. Remains stable and viable for a long period. All probiotic formulas lose their potency when they are exposed to oxygen, moisture, and heat. For that reason, probiotic supplements should be freeze dried, nitrogen-packaged and refrigerated to maintain their potency and viability. Has ability to survive in the intestine. Additionally, the culture should adhere to the intestinal wall and proliferate. Not all strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and other probiotic strains are acid-resistant. Selecting acid-resistant strains of L. acidophilus and other probiotics, as done at UAS Laboratories, is the key to the success of the probiotic supplement. Is guaranteed to provide a reliable number of live organisms. In order to know more about the keeping qualities of a probiotic product, it is important to know that the supplement is tested for viable microorganisms at the time of manufacturing and at the expiration date. This quality control procedure is important to the manufacturer as well as the consumer. The viable cells are guaranteed as CFU (colony forming units) per gram at the time of probiotic supplement packaging. If the supplement does not list viable cells, or does not list the amount in CFU form, it may not be a quality formulation. Consumption of probiotic supplements with two to five billion CFU per day is necessary to have any chance of offering significant beneficial effects. Produces beneficial effects in the intestine. Prefer well-studied cultures. Having the very best cultures in sufficient quantities will outperform combinations of convenience, which are cheaper to produce and sound impressive, but are not the superior strains your body needs. Is nondairy. A nondairy formula is especially important for persons allergic to dairy products and for persons with yeast infection. Fortified with the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Fortification of probiotics with FOS enhances the value of the probiotic supplement by providing a selective nutrient that enhances growth of friendly cultures.
Beta Glucan 1,3, 1/6 Immune Activator
Despite the “”advances in modern medicine, we are living in an age that presents staggering risk to our immune system,”" warns Ronald L. Hoffman, M.D., in his 1997 book, Intelligent Medicine (Fireside/Simon & Schuster). True enough. It’s sometimes quite challenging to keep on top of all of the compromises posed to our immune defenses via the environment, chemicals in our foods, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, insufficient sleep, and disease. But the good news is that surprising immune-boosters are being found in the most unlikely places. Would you believe that a complex sugar (polysaccharide), beta-1,3-D-glucan — found in the cell walls of baker’s yeast (and other sources) — is proving itself to be a top-notch immune-charger? Believe it. Beta what? Like other glucans (special complex sugars, or polyglucose), beta-1,3-D-glucan is made up of sugar units linked together. In most cases, beta-1,3-D-glucan is taken, and purified, from common baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisia). Other betaoglucans are found in a variety of fungal cells, including such sources as maitake mushroom, Reishi mushroom, Sacred Mushroom tea, barley, and oats. The immune “”connection”" comes into play when we realize that there is a specific receptor site on a very important important immune cell, called a macrophage. When beta-1,3-D-glucan attaches to the receptor site on the macrophage, this immune cell is then “”activated,”" allowing it to go about its business of attacking and destroying invading organisms. So what exactly is a macrophage? It’s a potent cell that stems originally from a genetic “”soup”" of DNA in bone marrow. After this “”pre-macrophage”" travels from the bone marrow into the blood, it becomes a monocyte (a special white-blood cell, or leukocyte), and then, as a macrophage, gets distributed into many different tissues and organs. Macrophages: Pac-Man to the rescue? Sort of. Just as our hungry virtual friend goes his own little way by devouring invaders, macrophages engulf, or phagocytose, those nasty troublemakers. Infection. Macrophages play a key role in fighting infections because they rapidly mobilize to the infected sites, and also help to recruit immune T cells to sites of infection, injury, and cancerous growth. In addition, they respond to bacterial infection by undergoing changes which enable them to make use of “”supercharged”" antimicrobial (antibiotic) function. In contrast to the inflammatory macrophages brought on by irritants or tissue damage, macrophages recruited for immune response, specifically, “”display an increased capacity to [kill] a broad range of neoplastic [pre-cancerous] and infectious targets,”" William E. Paul, M.D., clarified in Fundamental Immunology (Raven Press, 1989). A complex molecule. Superimposed on the macrophages’ more traditional role as a phagocytic scavenger cell is the growing realization that these cells secrete an enormous array of biologically active products. Not only do macrophages eat up trespassers, and offer their own (innate) antioxidative powers against free-radicals (the hydroxy radical, especially), they release a dizzying array of critically important enzymes, proteins, lipids, and other factors, an energy-draining process which decreases levels of vitamin C in activated macrophages. Some key products released by macrophages include: enzymes that break down cholesterol, triglycerides, and protein; interferon-alpha and interferon-beta (”"green berets”" of our immune expeditionary forces, used against AIDS and other diseases); other immune cells: interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha; chondroitin sulfate (proteoglycans) — critical for injury and arthritis; and cyclic AMP (part of our bodies’ energy equation). Wound healing and inflammation. Macrophages also participate in reducing inflammation and in the healing of tissues following injury. The role of macrophages in inflammation is complex, involving the release of molecules that regulate activity of connective tissue cells. In addition, macrophages secrete angiogenesis factors — that is, factors that bring on the development and growth of new blood vessels. The same molecules promote growth of endothelial tissue and smooth muscle tissue. Reducing the number of macrophages in tissues results in poor wound healing. Tumor cells. Activated macrophages can be powerful weapons against many unrelated tumor cells, as can macrophages’ “”children,”" such as interferon (mentioned above). Interferon. Not only is interferon released by macrophages, it, in turn, increases the anti-bacteria and anti-tumor capabilities of macrophages, and boosts their innate immune powers. In conjunction with antioxidants (including vitamin C), beta-1,3-D-glucan — this yeast-derived sugar — can certainly “”rise to the occasion.”"
Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA Manages Weight While Boosting Immune System
CLA Affects Boosts Weight Loss, Immune Functions November 12, 2003
GREENSBORO, N.C. & BLACKSBURG, Va. — Two studies published in the October Journal of Nutrition (www.nutrition.org) supported the benefits of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in human health. The first study, out of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, showed CLA’s mechanism of action for weight management (133, 10:3041-6, 2003), while the second, out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, showed CLA may help fight viral infection through immunoregulatory properties (133, 10:3204-14, 2003).
The North Carolina researchers conducted in vitro research to determine the isomer-specific mechanisms by which CLA reduces body fat and insulin sensitivity. They noted that previous in vivo and in vitro research has attributed CLA’s effects to the t10,c12 isomer, although human studies have shown conflicting results with mixed isomers. However, their in vitro research showed t10,c12 CLA prevented triglyceride accumulation, while c9,t11 CLA increased triglycerides. The researchers concluded CLA’s anti-adipogenic actions are due, at least partially, to its regulation of glucose and fatty acid uptake and metabolism.
The Virginia researchers conducted animal research to determine CLA’s effects on viral infection. They fed 32 pigs a control diet of soybean oil or a treatment diet of CLA for 42 days, after which time half of the pigs in each group were given a viral challenge (type-2 porcine circovirus). Researchers noted the viral infection depleted B cells in pigs fed the control diet, while those on the treatment diet exhibited an increased proliferation of CD8 T cells and suppressed interferon-gamma production in CD4 T cells specific to the circovirus. In addition, pigs in the control group tended to have more severe pneumonia, and they were affected by growth retardation. [This study was sponsored by Lipid Nutrition, a division of Loders Croklaan BV.]
Source: Natural Products Industry Insider.
Veggie Compounds Prevent Alzheimer’s
Common Fruit And Veggies May Protect Memory In Elderly September 25, 2005
Broccoli, potatoes, oranges, apples and radishes all contain substances that act in the same way as drugs used to treat Alzheimer
Smoking
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Smokers who think they will cheat death by puffing away on fewer cigarettes or not inhaling the noxious smoke better think again. New research from Denmark suggests that women who smoke as few as 3 to 5 cigarettes a day may double their risk for a heart attack. And men may suffer the same fate smoking 6 to 9 cigarettes a day, according to the report published in the August issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Although the adverse health effects of smoking are well known, some smokers assume that smoking just a few cigarettes or smoking without inhaling “”is not hazardous,”" write Dr. Eva Prescott of the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Copenhagen, and colleagues. While most previous studies have uncovered a host of health problems associated with smoking as many as 10, 15 and 25 cigarettes a day, few have examined the adverse health effects attributed to lighting up just a few times a day. To investigate, the team evaluated the health and smoking habits of over 12,000 men and women over a 22-year period. During this time, 476 women and 872 men had a heart attack and 2,305 and 2,883, respectively, died. Women who smoked 3 to 5 cigarettes per day were 2.14 times as likely to have a heart attack and 1.86 times as likely to die from any cause during the study than nonsmokers, the authors report. Men who smoked 6 to 9 cigarettes per were 2.10 times as likely to have a heart attack and 1.76 times as likely to die of any cause during the study period than nonsmokers. Risks of having a heart attack were also increased for those who puffed on cigarettes but said they didn’t inhale the smoke. “”The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing that even very limited tobacco consumption has detrimental effects,”" the authors conclude. SOURCE: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2002;56:702-706.
Testosterone Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease
Animal experiments show that testosterone, either alone or in combination with estrogen, blocks the formation of a key component found in neurofibrillary tangles characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Sozos Ch. Papasozomenos and Dr. Alikunju Shanavas, from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, previously showed that rats exposed to high temperatures for 15 minutes produced hyperphosphorylated tau, the major component of neurofibrillary tangles. The researchers also identified three enzymes that were involved in hyperphosphorylation process and found that androgens, but not estrogens, inhibited the reaction.
In the current study, the authors studied the effects of testosterone and 17-beta-estradiol in heat-shocked ovariectomized rats. In agreement with earlier findings, 17-beta-estradiol did not prevent hyperphosphorylation of tau. Testosterone, however, did prevent hyperphosphorylation when given alone or in combination with 17-beta-estradiol.
Testosterone appeared to exert its effect by inhibiting the overactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3-beta (GSK-3-beta). One of the other enzymes, cyclin-dependent kinase 5, was stimulated by 17-beta-estradiol, “”but its activity toward tau is overridden by the inhibition of GSK-3-beta by testosterone,”" the researchers report. The third enzyme, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, was unaffected by gonadal hormones.
“”Because of the increasing evidence implicating GSK-3-beta in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, testosterone given alone to aging men and given combined with 17-beta-estradiol to postmenopausal women would probably prove beneficial in preventing and/or treating Alzheimer’s disease,”" Drs. Papasozomenos and Shanavas conclude.
For informationon how testosterone levels can be increased naturally visit<a href=”"an5060tab.html”" Increasing Testosterone Levels Naturally
exercise
Americans Fooling Themselves About Exercise Habits Fri Oct 4, 1:34 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Expanding waistlines and dire health statistics aside, most Americans think their exercise habits are just fine, according to the results of a new survey. The poll of more than 1,500 US adults and teens found that 88% of adults and 84% of adolescents said they were getting enough exercise to maintain their health. And 76% of parents felt their kids were adequately active. The US Surgeon General begs to differ, however. A 1996 Surgeon General report concluded that 60% of Americans aren’t active enough, notes the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), which commissioned the new survey. And obesity, fueled in part by sedentary lifestyles, is considered epidemic in the US. “”It appears perceptions do not meet reality,”" Dr. Kim Graber, president of the Reston, Virginia-based NASPE, said in a statement. “”Clearly,”" Graber added, “”the physical activity community must find better and more creative ways to provide parents and teens with a better understanding about the amount and type of activity needed to maintain good health.”" Health experts advise healthy adults and teens to accumulate at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week. According to the NASPE, survey respondents may also have lost touch with reality when it came to estimating their TV time. While US health officials report that the typical American teen watches around 5 hours of TV a day, adults and teens in this survey put that number at closer to 2 hours. Parents did, however, cite television and computer and video games as the biggest barriers to getting kids to stay active. Other factors included lack of interest and lack of safe recreational areas. For their part, the few adults who thought they weren’t active enough largely blamed it on their jobs, lack of time, health problems or disinterest. A large majority of respondents did believe exercise has numerous benefits, including better overall health, increased energy and reduced stress. The survey was based on interviews with a nationally representative sample of adults and adolescents age 12 and older.