Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vuHcKOXJzhM

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is more critical for preventing cardiovascular disease than consuming a particular fad diet that emphasizes either unsaturated fats, proteins, or carbohydrates.   This nutritional commandment comes from researchers at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

Their study focused on 150 participants, 54 years of age on average, with as yet untreated elevated blood pressures.   Each person was sequentially fed three diets emphasizing either protein, fat, or carbohydrate.  All diets included fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fiber while avoiding saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.  Participants showed immediate improvement with reduced signs of cardiac damage no matter which of the diets they followed.  

You can enjoy the same benefits if you regularly consume 4-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and moderate your intake of other foods.  Make’s controlling your weight easy, doesn’t it?

Lara C. Kovell, Edwina H. Yeung, Edgar R. Miller, Lawrence J. Appel, Robert H. Christenson, Heather Rebuck, Steven P. Schulman, Stephen P. Juraschek. Healthy diet reduces markers of cardiac injury and inflammation regardless of macronutrients: Results from the OmniHeart trial. International Journal of Cardiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.07.102

#Diets #fruits #vegetables #cardiovasculardisease

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vuHcKOXJzhM

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is more critical for preventing cardiovascular disease than consuming a particular fad diet that emphasizes either unsaturated fats, proteins, or carbohydrates.   This nutritional commandment comes from researchers at Harvard’s Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

Their study focused on 150 participants, 54 years of age on average, with as yet untreated elevated blood pressures.   Each person was sequentially fed three diets emphasizing either protein, fat, or carbohydrate.  All diets included fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fiber while avoiding saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.  Participants showed immediate improvement with reduced signs of cardiac damage no matter which of the diets they followed.  

You can enjoy the same benefits if you regularly consume 4-6 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and moderate your intake of other foods.  Make’s controlling your weight easy, doesn’t it?

Lara C. Kovell, Edwina H. Yeung, Edgar R. Miller, Lawrence J. Appel, Robert H. Christenson, Heather Rebuck, Steven P. Schulman, Stephen P. Juraschek. Healthy diet reduces markers of cardiac injury and inflammation regardless of macronutrients: Results from the OmniHeart trial. International Journal of Cardiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.07.102

#Diets #fruits #vegetables #cardiovasculardisease

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/uNabJxQaMAo

When it comes to preventing the spread of the flu, a paper surgical mask works just as well as the N95 respirator mask costing 14 times more.  Both masks are readily available from Amazon.com.

A multi-site study, organized by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the CDC, reviewed the spread of influenza when more than 2800 participants wore either the N95 respirator or the paper mask.  There were no significant differences when wearing either mask type during confirmed influenza occurrences.

The paper masks cost as little as 9 cents a piece, and can easily be worn if you are at high risk for the flu or if you have the flu and don’t want to infect others with whom you live or work.  They are available in decorator colors and designs.

Lewis J. Radonovich, Michael S. Simberkoff, Mary T. Bessesen, etal. N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel. JAMA, 2019; 322 (9): 824 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2019.11645

#Influenza #mask #respirator #N95

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/uNabJxQaMAo

When it comes to preventing the spread of the flu, a paper surgical mask works just as well as the N95 respirator mask costing 14 times more.  Both masks are readily available from Amazon.com.

A multi-site study, organized by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the CDC, reviewed the spread of influenza when more than 2800 participants wore either the N95 respirator or the paper mask.  There were no significant differences when wearing either mask type during confirmed influenza occurrences.

The paper masks cost as little as 9 cents a piece, and can easily be worn if you are at high risk for the flu or if you have the flu and don’t want to infect others with whom you live or work.  They are available in decorator colors and designs.

Lewis J. Radonovich, Michael S. Simberkoff, Mary T. Bessesen, etal. N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel. JAMA, 2019; 322 (9): 824 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2019.11645

#Influenza #mask #respirator #N95

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/FedQyWPCnNM

To induce tolerance to peanuts in those allergic to them, tiny amounts of peanut protein under the tongue, so called Sublingual Immunotherapy or SLIT, work better with fewer dangerous side effects than swallowing the peanuts or wearing a peanut patch.  Allergists at The University of North Carolina announce this conclusion from their ongoing study of 48 patients treated with daily tongue immunizations and followed over the past 8 years.

Two-thirds of the patients were successfully immunized so that they tolerated a reasonable peanut exposure without serious consequences.  The goal of peanut allergy therapy is to prevent a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction rather than to permit kids to safely ingest a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.

SLIT therapy for peanut allergy appears to be effective, safe, and cheap.  It will permit more kids to participate in more activities more freely without fear of impending disaster.

Edwin H. Kim et al. Long-term sublingual immunotherapy for peanut allergy in children: Clinical and immunologic evidence of desensitization. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.07.030

#SLIT #sublingualimmunotherapy #peanuts

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/FedQyWPCnNM

To induce tolerance to peanuts in those allergic to them, tiny amounts of peanut protein under the tongue, so called Sublingual Immunotherapy or SLIT, work better with fewer dangerous side effects than swallowing the peanuts or wearing a peanut patch.  Allergists at The University of North Carolina announce this conclusion from their ongoing study of 48 patients treated with daily tongue immunizations and followed over the past 8 years.

Two-thirds of the patients were successfully immunized so that they tolerated a reasonable peanut exposure without serious consequences.  The goal of peanut allergy therapy is to prevent a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction rather than to permit kids to safely ingest a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.

SLIT therapy for peanut allergy appears to be effective, safe, and cheap.  It will permit more kids to participate in more activities more freely without fear of impending disaster.

Edwin H. Kim et al. Long-term sublingual immunotherapy for peanut allergy in children: Clinical and immunologic evidence of desensitization. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.07.030

#SLIT #sublingualimmunotherapy #peanuts

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/acnKKOtHZRc

It’s exercise doctrine that strength-boosting sessions should be followed by a protein shake to permit muscle recovery and reduce aches and pains.  Now a study from Britain’s University of Lincoln suggests that these shakes are no better than plain old carbohydrate drinks.

University exercise physiologists provided 30 male subjects with one of three drinks, a whey protein shake, a milk-based shake, or a carbohydrate drink.  The liquids looked and tasted the same.  When the results were decoded, all 3 drinks were associated with the same degree of muscle soreness and functional muscle recovery.

The researchers and other exercise nutritionists recommend foregoing post-exercise protein shakes in favor or eating real food that provides needed proteins, amino acids, and carbs.  They suggest eggs, oily fish such as tuna, meat, and soy.  Many of these are portable and can easily replace the shakes in your gym bag.

Thomas I Gee, Thomas J Woolrich, Mark F Smith. Effectiveness of Whey Protein Hydrolysate and Milk-Based Formulated Drinks on Recovery of Strength and Power Following Acute Resistance Exercise. Human Kinetics, 2019 DOI: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0066

#Proteinshakes #exercise #muscles

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/acnKKOtHZRc

It’s exercise doctrine that strength-boosting sessions should be followed by a protein shake to permit muscle recovery and reduce aches and pains.  Now a study from Britain’s University of Lincoln suggests that these shakes are no better than plain old carbohydrate drinks.

University exercise physiologists provided 30 male subjects with one of three drinks, a whey protein shake, a milk-based shake, or a carbohydrate drink.  The liquids looked and tasted the same.  When the results were decoded, all 3 drinks were associated with the same degree of muscle soreness and functional muscle recovery.

The researchers and other exercise nutritionists recommend foregoing post-exercise protein shakes in favor or eating real food that provides needed proteins, amino acids, and carbs.  They suggest eggs, oily fish such as tuna, meat, and soy.  Many of these are portable and can easily replace the shakes in your gym bag.

Thomas I Gee, Thomas J Woolrich, Mark F Smith. Effectiveness of Whey Protein Hydrolysate and Milk-Based Formulated Drinks on Recovery of Strength and Power Following Acute Resistance Exercise. Human Kinetics, 2019 DOI: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0066

#Proteinshakes #exercise #muscles

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h7tCnOJJpvM

One-third of middle school and high school students are exposed to the lung-sickening toxins that spew from electronic cigarettes smoked by their peers.  This warning comes from Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the analysis of data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2018.

The numbers of students who report inhaling the fumes generated by their friends’ vaping devices has risen by 30% compared with reports from the 3 previous years.  These second-hand aerosols contain addicting nicotine, toxic heavy metals, carcinogenic aldehydes, irritating glycerol, and the antifreeze propylene glycol.

Vaping damages lungs, and it is producing a generation of pulmonary cripples.  If a teen won’t stop vaping to save themselves, they should do it for their friends.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "Exposure to second-hand e-cigarettes increasing among young people: A national survey shows one-third of middle and high-school students exposed to second-hand e-cigarettes in the past year." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190828111242.htm

#Vaping #secondhandsmoke #pneumonitis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h7tCnOJJpvM

One-third of middle school and high school students are exposed to the lung-sickening toxins that spew from electronic cigarettes smoked by their peers.  This warning comes from Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the analysis of data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey for 2018.

The numbers of students who report inhaling the fumes generated by their friends’ vaping devices has risen by 30% compared with reports from the 3 previous years.  These second-hand aerosols contain addicting nicotine, toxic heavy metals, carcinogenic aldehydes, irritating glycerol, and the antifreeze propylene glycol.

Vaping damages lungs, and it is producing a generation of pulmonary cripples.  If a teen won’t stop vaping to save themselves, they should do it for their friends.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. "Exposure to second-hand e-cigarettes increasing among young people: A national survey shows one-third of middle and high-school students exposed to second-hand e-cigarettes in the past year." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190828111242.htm

#Vaping #secondhandsmoke #pneumonitis