The risks include an increased chance of bacterial infection (from organism clostridium difficile or c. difficile) and bone fracture according to some new studies in the Archives of Internal Medicine, part of a special theme issue examining the downside of over-using medical care.

Dr. Mitchell Katz, the director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health authored an editorial that accompanies the studies. He estimates that between 30 to 40% of those who take proton pump inhibitors really need them to treat conditions like ulcers and Barrett’s esophagus, but the remainder who are taking these medications for more common heartburn and indigestion, probably don’t need them.

Lifestyle (don’t smoke) and diet changes (drink less alcohol, eat smaller meals, avoid trigger foods) would be a more effective treatment for these people.

Rising rates of infections like C. difficile, often the result of a lengthy stay in a hospital, have experts worried – especially now that acid reducing drugs are so popular. Stomach acid seems to protect against harmful C difficile bacteria, keeping it from gaining a foothold in the intestines.

In one of the studies led by Dr. Michael Howell, director of critical care quality at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, he and his colleagues looked at data from over 100,000 hospitalized patients. Those who took a proton pump inhibitor once a day had a 74% increased risk of developing a C. difficile infection. Those who took the drugs more often were at more than two times the risk.

In a different study conducted by another research team led by Dr. Amy Linsky, a fellow in internal medicine at Boston Medical Center, found those who were already being treated for a C. difficile infection and were also taking a proton pump inhibitor were 42% more likely to have the infection return compared to similar patients who weren’t taking these types of medicines.

Another study in the same issue of the journal found that proton pump inhibitors increased the risk of some types of bone fractures. This comes from an analysis of data on more than 161,000 postmenopausal women that found taking these medications raised the chance of fractures of the spine by 47%; fractures of the forearm and wrist went up by almost 25%.

It’s not clear why this happens, and the medication doesn’t appear to affect bone mineral density. The researchers theorize that suppressing stomach acid might interfere with the ability of the intestine to absorb calcium, a must for strong bones.

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Heartburn Drug Health Risks Uncovered… Continued…

While Nexium and Prevacid are the most popular proton pump inhibitors there are others. Some of the names you might know are Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix and Aciphex.

These medications are some of the most often prescribed drugs in the United States. Last year they were the third largest class of drugs in the country with sales of $13.6 billion. This represents over 110 million individual prescriptions according to numbers that come from health care market research company IMS Health.

The studies, taken together, suggest that these medications are being over prescribed, or the doses given may be too high. Not surprising in a culture that’s increasingly looking for solutions to problems from pills and potions.

If you have symptoms, indigestion, heartburn or other discomforts you’re worried about, talk with your doctor, and be sure to ask questions about the risk and benefits of any heartburn treatment, including proton pump inhibitors, that you are given.

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The condition, known as hyperthyroidism, before the age of 45 years old was associated with a 44% higher risk of stroke according to the study. Where once strokes were a condition well known in the elderly, the number of strokes happening to young people has gone up significantly since the 1990s.

Your doctor will tell you that hyperthyroidism is a risk for atrial fibrillation (also known as irregular heartbeat) in older people, and this condition is a risk factor for stroke. While an overactive thyroid might contribute to the risk of stroke in the elderly, this latest research is the first to look at the potential role of this problem and strokes in younger people.

In this research, a team from Taipei Medical University looked at Taiwanese adults under 45 (average age 32) years old who did (and did not) have hyperthyroidism. The study included a total of 3,176 subjects who had just been diagnosed with overactive thyroid, and 25,408 subjects without the disease. During the five years of observation, the team tracked each patient’s data and found 198 subjects (0.7%) had a stroke – 167 (0.6%) of those who were free of thyroid disease, and 31 (1.0%) of those diagnosed with thyroid disease.

After adjusting for stroke risk factors like older age, income, level of urbanization, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and any history of atrial fibrillation, the team found that having an overactive thyroid was linked to that 44% increase risk for ischemic stroke, the type of stroke caused by blocked arteries.

“This study is important because hyperthyroidism has not been considered a potential risk factor for stroke and there are up to a third of young ischemic stroke patients without a determined cause,” says Herng-Ching Lin, Ph.D., professor at the School of Health Care Administration, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University in Taiwan.

Though strokes aren’t all that common, they are on the rise in those in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

A recent study, presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2010 using data from Ohio and Kentucky found a large increase in strokes among U.S. adults, though stroke rates in older adults were going down.

From the mid 1990s to 2005 the stroke rate rose sharply from 4.5% to 7.3% in adults aged 20 to 45 years old, the average age of stroke patients in 2005 was nearly three years younger than in 1993-1994.

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Overactive Thyroid Increases Risk Of Early Stroke Continued…

Lin and colleagues are suggesting that young stroke patients be tested for hyperthyroidism, though other experts believe the recommendations are premature.

Hyperthyroidism affects almost 2% of the world’s population, and causes the overproduction of thyroid hormone that speeds the metabolism and causes symptoms like sweating, weight loss, diarrhea and nervousness.

Of course more research is needed to confirm the link. In the meantime, if you do have an overactive thyroid gland you need to pay attention to your health and managing your condition. It’s also smart to do all you can to reduce your risk of stroke – keep your weight under control, stay active on a regular basis, don’t smoke or drink to excess.

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What’s more, those who’d had a heart attack were about three times more likely to be given a diagnosis of cancer than those who had not had such an event.

Most interesting of all is that the link between chronic illnesses and cancer was significant in every age group. In fact, the relationship between cancer and heart attack was especially pronounced under the age of 45.

The survey in question is part of the Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index, developed to offer a read on the pulse of U.S. well being, that involves interviews by phone of 350,000 U.S. adults.

This latest survey was conducted between January 2 and December 30th of both 2008 and 2009 and has a sampling error of no more than one percent.

Here’s how it breaks down…

If you have… % diagnosed with cancer

High blood pressure 11.8 (5.0 w/out high blood pressure)

High cholesterol 11.7 (5.3 w/out high cholesterol)

Heart attack 18.1 (6.5 no heart attack)

Diabetes 12.7 (6.4 In non diabetics)

The researchers point out that the results don’t mean that these conditions cause cancer, but rather that cancer and these conditions share risks and might be related to each other in ways we’ve yet to understand.

Think about this. Smoking is a risk factor for heart attack and also lung cancer, cholesterol can enhance the effects of other carcinogens that might be in the body.

It also makes no distinction in terms of the type of cancer. Other research in recent years has found a link between excess cholesterol with colon and testicular cancers. Lower total cholesterol has also been shown to reduce the risks of prostate cancer.

Diabetes has also been linked in studies to some cancers – liver, colon and pancreatic have all been named. Keep in mind that researchers are still studying this relationship. It seems that while those with long standing diabetes appear to be more likely to also have pancreatic cancer, those who develop diabetes after the age of 50 are much more likely to then be diagnosed with this type of cancer. Clearly the relationship is complex and in need of further study.

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Cancer Linked to Chronic Illnesses Continued…

Your doctor will tell you that the risk of developing any chronic illness goes up as you get older.

While cancer can happen at any age, increasing age here is also a factor; most who are diagnosed are 55 or older. Once a cancerous mass is detected it can contain as many as 100 million to 1 billion cancer cells… and could well have been growing for 5 or more years.

We know that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., though the good news is that survival rates are getting better thanks to improved screening and more targeted treatments.

If you’re worried about your cancer risk factors, or your risk of other chronic diseases, do all you can to make the changes in what you eat, how active you are and how you live to keep your body healthy. Don’t smoke; limit your alcohol intake and pay attention to the environment around you, watching for harmful chemicals that might increase your cancer risk.

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European researchers (and coffee lovers) who have studied the chemicals in coffees have found one that inhibits acid production in the stomach… and its unexpectedly part of espresso, French roast and other dark roasted blends. The results of the work were presented at the 239th American Chemical Society’s recent meeting held in San Francisco.

Until now, research has not verified the stomach irritating components of coffee. What’s more, the effectiveness of the “stomach friendly” brands remains unclear

The researchers used a variety of coffee (dark roast, regular roast, mild blend, decaffeinated and so called stomach friendly varieties) and examined their effect on cultures of human stomach cells.

They identified a mix of compounds, caffeine, catechols and N-alkanoly-5-hydroxytriptamides as the chemicals that promote stomach acid production. A fourth chemical, N-methylpyridinium (more common in dark roasts like espresso and French roast blends) inhibits acid. This chemical is a natural product of the roasting process, can have up to two times as much of the stomach saving ingredient as a light roast while also lending bold, rich flavor to that favorite of all morning beverages.

“The major import of our work is that it provides scientific evidence that you can produce a more stomach-friendly coffee by varying the processing technology,” said study author Veronika Somoza, professor and chair of the Research Platform of Molecular Food Science at the University of Vienna, Austria who presented the research. The team is now conducting a pilot study to see how the stomach acid reacts to both light roast and dark roast blends of coffee.

Identifying the components in coffee that cause stomach problems, as well as the one that does not. It might also help a lot of people who are bothered by coffee and push the development of a blend that’s gentler to the stomach, but retains the bold flavor coffee-drinkers crave. There’s good reason to try. Several earlier studies have found that a cup of coffee a day habit brings health benefits like lower risk of obesity, Alzheimer’s disease and colon cancer.

Almost 40 million people in the U.S. stay away from coffee because of acid reflux disease, a common stomach problem for those who drink coffee. There are stomach friendly coffees on the market, but your doctor won’t recommend them for you if you’ve been diagnosed with acid reflux. This condition causes the stomach contents to be pushed back up into the esophagus, and this causes the intense, burning discomfort of heartburn.

Professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton, Dr. Joseph Vinson has studied the antioxidant properties of our favorite wake-up beverage. He believes the study presented at the American Chemical Society gives hope of a less troublesome brew.

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Great News For Coffee Lovers… Continued…

Among doctors who don’t advise drinking coffee of any kind is Dr. Anthony A. Starpoli, director of gastroesophageal research at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers in New York City. “I’m very strict about coffee,” he explained, because it causes serious stomach trouble for many people. “At the end of the day, if you have significant acid reflux disease, you should not drink coffee.”

There are medications, both over the counter and by prescription, that prevent the acid reflux, but you shouldn’t take them so you can drink coffee, wine, or any food that produces heartburn for you. These medications can inhibit the acid that serves to kill helpful bacteria, and this can sometimes cause diarrhea and other problems, not to mention becoming addictive according to Starpoli.

If you have acid reflux (or think you do) talk with your doctor. Treatment of the condition will help you feel better, and reduce the damage done to your body by untreated disease. And until the more stomach friendly blends make it to market take care drinking coffee.

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European researchers (and coffee lovers) who have studied the chemicals in coffees have found one that inhibits acid production in the stomach… and its unexpectedly part of espresso, French roast and other dark roasted blends. The results of the work were presented at the 239th American Chemical Society’s recent meeting held in San Francisco.

Until now, research has not verified the stomach irritating components of coffee. What’s more, the effectiveness of the “stomach friendly” brands remains unclear

The researchers used a variety of coffee (dark roast, regular roast, mild blend, decaffeinated and so called stomach friendly varieties) and examined their effect on cultures of human stomach cells.

They identified a mix of compounds, caffeine, catechols and N-alkanoly-5-hydroxytriptamides as the chemicals that promote stomach acid production. A fourth chemical, N-methylpyridinium (more common in dark roasts like espresso and French roast blends) inhibits acid. This chemical is a natural product of the roasting process, can have up to two times as much of the stomach saving ingredient as a light roast while also lending bold, rich flavor to that favorite of all morning beverages.

“The major import of our work is that it provides scientific evidence that you can produce a more stomach-friendly coffee by varying the processing technology,” said study author Veronika Somoza, professor and chair of the Research Platform of Molecular Food Science at the University of Vienna, Austria who presented the research. The team is now conducting a pilot study to see how the stomach acid reacts to both light roast and dark roast blends of coffee.

Identifying the components in coffee that cause stomach problems, as well as the one that does not. It might also help a lot of people who are bothered by coffee and push the development of a blend that’s gentler to the stomach, but retains the bold flavor coffee-drinkers crave. There’s good reason to try. Several earlier studies have found that a cup of coffee a day habit brings health benefits like lower risk of obesity, Alzheimer’s disease and colon cancer.

Almost 40 million people in the U.S. stay away from coffee because of acid reflux disease, a common stomach problem for those who drink coffee. There are stomach friendly coffees on the market, but your doctor won’t recommend them for you if you’ve been diagnosed with acid reflux. This condition causes the stomach contents to be pushed back up into the esophagus, and this causes the intense, burning discomfort of heartburn.

Professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton, Dr. Joseph Vinson has studied the antioxidant properties of our favorite wake-up beverage. He believes the study presented at the American Chemical Society gives hope of a less troublesome brew.

Continues below…

Great News For Coffee Lovers… Continued…

Among doctors who don’t advise drinking coffee of any kind is Dr. Anthony A. Starpoli, director of gastroesophageal research at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers in New York City. “I’m very strict about coffee,” he explained, because it causes serious stomach trouble for many people. “At the end of the day, if you have significant acid reflux disease, you should not drink coffee.”

There are medications, both over the counter and by prescription, that prevent the acid reflux, but you shouldn’t take them so you can drink coffee, wine, or any food that produces heartburn for you. These medications can inhibit the acid that serves to kill helpful bacteria, and this can sometimes cause diarrhea and other problems, not to mention becoming addictive according to Starpoli.

If you have acid reflux (or think you do) talk with your doctor. Treatment of the condition will help you feel better, and reduce the damage done to your body by untreated disease. And until the more stomach friendly blends make it to market, take care drinking coffee.

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This finding comes from work in the U.S. on a group of volunteers who were willing to adjust their sleep patterns so they could be monitored.

For seven days, one half of the group was given extra sleep, while the others were told to make no changes to their sleeping patterns.

The next week they were all sleep deprived. “After this week of either extended or habitual sleep per night, all the volunteers came to the lab and they were allowed only three hours of sleep, per night, for a week,” explained award-winning researcher Tracy Rupp from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Next, both groups were given tasks of varying complexity – tests showed that subjects who had banked sleep the week before were better off during the sleep restriction.

Those who banked sleep didn’t lose reaction time and alertness like the group who’d slept normally. Even a week after the experiment, the sleepers who banked sleep were recovering better from being deprived of sleep than those who had slept as usual.

“What we’re basically saying is if you fill up your reserves and pay back your sleep debt ahead of time, you’re better equipped to deal with the sleep loss challenge.”

The research team isn’t able to say just how much sleep you need to bank for maximum effect. Like the amount of sleep each of us needs, the amount to bank is likely very individualized.

Of course so many of us know well the feeling of going to bed early before a big day and not being able to fall off to sleep. This is where good sleep habits can truly make a difference, especially relaxation techniques, in helping you slow your thoughts and let go so you can slip into sleep easily.

And though the latest work didn’t look at napping, the researchers point out that short rests during the day have been shown to improve performance, at least in the short term.

Continues below…

Bank Sleep To Fight Fatigue Continued…

Earlier work has found that those who suffer with chronic sleep deprivation might be able to function just fine just after waking, but experience slower reaction times as the day goes on… even if they tried to catch up the night before. Chronic sleep deprivation appears to take some time and effort to fix.

Not only does this sleep banking idea have implications for business people, but also for the military where it could be a lifesaver. The idea, if supported after some more testing, could become a part of pre-tour routines for armed forces.

The next step is to find out why the extra sleep can be banked and to identify just what’s happening in the brain – something that we can be observed with advanced brain-imaging machines.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 50 to 70 million Americans deal with chronic sleep disorders and sleep problems that can truly affect health, not to mention alertness and safety.

Sleep disorders that don’t get treated have been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, diabetes and other chronic conditions. The trouble for many of us is that we overlook or ignore our sleep problems and don’t mention them to our doctor.

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For women, the disease can be a risk to both mother and child during a pregnancy as well as raising her risk of having a heart attack, at an earlier age.

And while the numbers of cases are growing, the public perception of this dangerous, life-altering condition continues to be full of myths and half-truths. Having the answers to some of the most basic questions will help you, or someone in your life, understand the disease better.

1. What’s the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks insulin creating cells in the pancreas, most often diagnosed in those under 18, though it can strike at any age and calls for insulin to manage your condition. In type 2 diabetes the body loses its sensitivity to insulin, and while this form was once more common in older people, thanks to today’s rising obesity rates its now being found in people of younger ages. Type 2 is usually treated with changes to diet and exercise, sometimes oral medications or insulin.

2. How do you know if you have diabetes?

While diabetes can cause no symptoms, most often the signs that might signal this condition are frequent thirst and hunger, having to pee more than usual (since you’re drinking more), losing weight without trying, fatigue and irritability. To be sure, you’ll need to undergo a fasting blood test to measure the amount of sugar in your blood after not eating for at least eight hours. Normal readings are 99 mg/dL or lower; prediabetic levels range from 100-125 mg/dL and diabetes is any number over 126.

3. Is my risk higher because my mom or dad has diabetes?

Yes, if you have a close family member with the disease your own risk is higher. The risk of type 1 diabetes goes up by about 5%, for type 2 the risk increases by more than 30%.

4. Should I worry about my belly fat?

Absolutely. Extra fat about your waistline is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Fat in this area, more so than in other parts of the body, increases insulin resistance, part of the trouble for type 2 diabetics. Being obese (or even overweight) can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than 90 times. Perhaps the pancreas just can’t keep up with a bigger body.

Type 1 diabetes, by contrast, has nothing to do with your weight.

5. Can diet or exercise really prevent diabetes?

They can. Your doctor will tell you that you can prevent, or maybe delay, the onside of life-changing diabetes by eating a healthy diet and doing some regular exercise. If you already have diabetes, doing aerobic exercise and resistance training helps by encouraging muscles to use more blood sugar, and over the short term can reduce the amount of medication you need to take. Over the long term, regular exercise might lower the risk of complications like blindness or damage to nerves and kidneys.

A recent study found that type 2 diabetics who ate a Mediterranean-style diet, rich in fish, fruits, nuts and olive oil lost more weight and went longer without blood sugar lowering medication than those eating a low fat diet.

Continues below…

8 Diabetes Myths Answered: Continued…

6. Can my sweet tooth lead to diabetes?

This is one of the oldest, and most doggedly persistent myths associated with diabetes – that having a sweet tooth or eating too much sugar causes the disease. This just isn’t true. What’s more, diabetics don’t need to avoid all sugar, but rather eat a diet rich in whole grains, protein, veggies and fruits; low in fat, cholesterol and simple sugars.

7. If I’m thin I can’t get diabetes, right?

While being overweight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, 20% of diabetics are slim. The number of diabetics in thin Asian populations is growing, showing us that weight isn’t always the culprit with diabetes.

8. If I had gestational diabetes that went away, do I need to worry?

It’s smart to understand your risks – having gestational diabetes increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes to about 50%… so certainly not a guarantee of illness. Gestational diabetes occurs in about 4% of U.S. pregnancies each year and can be affected by factors like your ethnicity, your genetics and your weight. Losing weight, and being active, after the baby can limit your risk going forward.

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Plan ahead now, while you’re feeling fine, for any possible downtime. Here are ten things you can do now before the first sign of swine flu appears in you or your loved ones:

1) Have a backup plan – how will you handle work, college classes or other obligations? Does your company, or business, have a flu leave policy? How will you make up class work? Plan ahead now, while you’re healthy and not under the gun.

2) Touch base with friends – you might need them to help out when you’re sick, especially if you live alone.

3) Stockpile flu relief supplies – be sure you have tissues, fever meds, cough syrup and a working thermometer. If you’re using face masks, have a large enough supply so you can use them once and discard.

4) Stock up on comfort foods – whatever these are for you, be sure they’re in the house and ready to go. Especially good choices are tea, chicken noodle soup, saltine crackers, white bread for toast. Liquids are especially important, have water, ginger ale and other favorite beverages on hand too.

5) Care for your hands – sick or not, you’ll be washing them a lot, so be sure to use a gentle soap and creamy hand lotion to keep your hands from being raw and chapped. Applying hand lotion before bedtime can also be helpful.

6) Plan now for what you can do – with several days on the couch; you’ll quickly be bored by daytime TV. While you’re feeling well, search out DVDs you’d like to watch, handheld games to play, books or magazines you like – skip anything that requires intense concentration.

7) Know your flu risk – pregnant women, children, young adults or anyone with a chronic medical condition is more likely to be really knocked for a loop by H1N1. Those with asthma, diabetes or heart disease should seek medical attention at the first sign of flu-like symptoms.

Keep your distance – to keep your germs to yourself, you’ll want to stay at least 6 feet away from others. Use a tape measure in the comfort of your own home to see just how far away that really is.

9) Get a doctor – if you don’t have a primary care physician, now’s the time to look around and find one you’d like to see. Make an appointment for a physical so they know you. If you then develop flu-like symptoms, call the office first, you may not need to be seen.

10) Know when it’s an emergency – while most cases of H1N1 have been mild, there have been those who needed to go to the hospital. Some people have died from this illness.

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Ten Things To Do Before Swine Flu Hits You Continued…

Children should get immediate medical attention if they -

- Have fast breathing or trouble breathing

- Have bluish or gray skin color

- Are not drinking enough fluid

- Are not waking up or not interacting

- Have severe or persistent vomiting

- Are so irritable that the child does not want to be held

- Have flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough

- Have fever with a rash

- Have a fever and then have a seizure or sudden mental or behavioral change

Grown ups need to get urgent medical attention if they…

- Have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

- Have pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

- Have sudden dizziness

- Exhibit Confusion

- Have severe or persistent vomiting

- Have flu-like symptoms that improve but then come back with worsening fever or cough

Once you’ve prepared yourself with these tips, the next best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to stay informed.

The illness is thought to spread from person to person due to coughing or sneezing, so be sure to wash your hands a lot and keep your distance from those who are ill – if you can. Regularly check out the CDC and World Health Organization updates so you know what’s happening and getting the facts, without the media hype. In this way, you will be ready and fully prepared at the first sign of swine flu in you or aloved one.

To your good health,
Daily Health Bulletin Editor
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1. Don’t smoke – if you do, try to quit

2. Get active – at least 3.5 hours a week

3. Stay away from junk food and follow a diet rich in fruits and veggies,

whole grain breads, with limited amount of lean meat.

4. Watch your weight – keep the BMI under 30

Not altogether surprising suggestions – public health officials have been saying these things for years.

The startling news is the benefit some recent research has found to doing all four things at the same time.

Living this way cuts your risk of developing some pretty serious chronic diseases by almost 80%. The result holds even after adjusting for things like age, sex, education and occupation status.

The recommendations come from a report in this month’s Archives of Internal Medicine that analyzed the lifestyle, diet and health of 23,513 German adults who were from 35 to 65 years old and part of the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition-Potsdam study.

Begun in the mid 1990s and covering an eight year period, the work found that subjects with healthy habits were far less likely to be diagnosed with conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

The team analyzed each person’s body weight, height, disease history, food frequency and how well they stuck with the four healthy lifestyle tips.

Only 9% of the subjects followed all four recommendations, but most of the participants practiced from one to three of these good-for-you habits.

All in all, following all four healthy habits combined was linked to…

· 93% lower risk of type 2 diabetes

· 81% lower risk of heart attack

· 50% lower risk of stroke

· 36% lower risk of cancer

These findings reinforce the idea that making simple, everyday changes to a healthier lifestyle is worth the effort.

It’s clear that healthy habits can have a huge impact on your health over the long term. If you’re concerned about living well into your later years, this study points out things you can do today – stopping smoking, keeping your weight under control, being more active – to keep your body healthy.

Healthier, disease free living starts with you. All you have to do is commit yourself to these four totally natural lifestyle choices to keep your body in shape.

If you smoke, you probably know it’s time to stop. Luckily there’s help quitting from support groups, nicotine replacement therapy, hypnosis or with medication – talk with your doctor to see which option is right for you.

All it takes is a simple change, like cutting down on junk foods is a painless but practical first step. Before you know it you’ll have dropped a few pounds, maybe discovered some healthy foods you actually like.

Once you’re eating better you’ll be more inclined to get up and exercising, which will show rewards almost at once in how you feel.

Before you know it, you’re living better, you’ve cut disease risk, your feeling better, and on your way to a healthier, happier life.

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Some experts have argued that high fat dairy products contribute to heart problems later in life, though new research out of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research might just start to improve dairy’s troubled image, especially for the young.

Appearing in the July 28,2009 online issue of the journal Heart, this 65-year observational study brings us the finding that those who consumed lots of calcium and dairy products as children were more likely to avoid stroke and live longer than those with lower intakes.

The team of Australian researchers collected data on children (4,999 in all) from 1,343 families in England and Scotland, all participants in a survey of diet and health that was conducted in pre WWII Britain from 1937 to 1939.

The team was able to track the health status of 4,374 of the original children through the years 1948 and 2005, looking at two main outcomes, death from stroke or heart disease.

By 2005, 1,468 (34%) of the children had died. Of this number, 378 had succumbed to heart disease and 121 to stroke. The researchers also looked at dairy intake and mortality, as well as associations between specific dairy foods and mortality.

There was no clear evidence that the dairy foods were linked to either heart disease or stroke deaths. What was surprising was the children in the group with the highest intake of calcium (from milk and milk products) had lower overall death rates from stroke than those kids who took in less calcium as youngsters.

“Children whose family diet in the 1930s was high in calcium were at reduced risk of death from stroke. Furthermore, childhood diets rich in dairy or calcium were associated with lower all-cause mortality in adulthood,” the researchers conclude.

Other experts who didn’t participate in the study point out that those children who ate the most dairy probably also had better diets overall, eating more fruits and veggies as well.

Also, income and education levels of the original families may well have played a part in the results.

While we know that a good diet in childhood is important for longevity, no one can say for sure, even after this study, that calcium is solely responsible for this effect. What’s more, increased risks of prostate cancer have been linked to high dairy intake.

Low or non-fat products are a great option for young and old alike, and these were not available to the original pre-WWII populations.

Continues below…

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Calcium Linked To Protection From Stroke Death Continued…

If you want your kids to get more calcium, look for nutritious, low-fat or non-fat options.

“This study shows a modest protective effect of dietary calcium intake in childhood against stroke risk later in life, and a modest protective effect against mortality from any cause from higher intake of milk in childhood,” explains Dr. David L. Katz, who was not part of the work, but does serve as director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.

Yet another reason to keep an eye on just what your children are eating, not only to ensure a healthy now, but perhaps a healthier later life as well.

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