DAILY HEALTH UPDATE: Friday, November 22, 2013 Dr. Jeff Allyn, Berkley Chiropractic Clinic

“You can have it all. Just not all at once.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

Mental Attitude: Body Image a Problem for Middle-Aged Women. A new study reveals that most women over age 50 are not happy with the way they look. This study involved 1,789 women and found only about 12% reported that they were satisfied with their body. Women who were happy with their appearance were more likely to exercise regularly and less likely to have eating disorders. Skin appearance caused the most upset, with almost 80% of the women citing this as a cause for concern, followed by stomachs (56%) and faces (54%). Journal of Women & Aging, October 2013

Health Alert: Antidepressants Linked to Higher Risk of Diabetes. A systematic review of previous studies suggests clinicians should be extra aware when prescribing antidepressants, as they are linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. There is a concern that these medications may have an adverse effect on glucose metabolism, although no direct cause has been found. Diabetes Care, October 2013

Diet: Vitamin D Supplementation Reduce Diabetes Risk? Based on the findings of previous studies, there is a planned nationwide clinical trial to determine if vitamin D supplementation can reduce the likelihood of developing diabetes in individuals who are at high risk for this metabolic disorder. About 2,500 people at high risk for diabetes will be recruited for this trial, which will take place at 20 medical centers in 17 different states across the United States. Participants will receive either vitamin D supplementation or a placebo, and will be followed for development of diabetes twice a year for approximately four years. Tufts Medical Center, October 2013

Exercise: Combine Exercise and Nutrition to Super-Size Heart Health. Both high-intensity interval training and healthier diets have been shown to improve the heart health of obese adults, but no study has ever examined the effect of combining the two approaches. The Canadian Cardiovascular Congress reports that when both high-intensity interval training and a heart healthy diet (the Mediterranean diet in this case) are combined, the results are greater than one would expect if both approaches were implemented at different times. Dramatic improvements were measured in body fat mass, cholesterol, blood pressure, exercise capacity, muscle endurance, weight loss, waist circumference, resting heart rate, and blood sugar control.  Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, October 2013

Chiropractic: Decrease Childhood Asthma. A past study found that 3.5% of children raised under chiropractic care developed asthma, whereas 5% of children raised under medical care developed asthma. The authors of the paper concluded that the immune systems of children receiving chiropractic care may be better able to handle allergens which cause asthmatic conditions. Journal of Chiropractic Research, May 1989

Wellness/Prevention: Liver Cancer Risk Cut with Coffee. Research in Italy has shown that coffee consumption reduces the risk of liver cancer by about 40%. Furthermore, drinking three cups a day helped reduce the risk by more than 50%.  Clinical Gastronenterology and Hepatology, October 2013

(This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.)