Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Omega-3 fatty acids, the good fats recently found to improve heart health and help prevent prostate cancer, are now being associated with lower bodyweight.

Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, scientists observed that overweight or obese people had blood levels of omega-3s roughly 1% lower than healthy people.

For the study, 124 people of varying bodyweights—21 were classified as healthy weight, 40 overweight and 63 obese—had blood samples taken, with results showing an inverse relationship between omega-3 levels and participants’ waist size and hip circumference.

Obese people had omega-3 levels of 4.53%, but healthy people had levels of 5.25%.

Sure, it’s only a small difference, but healthy bodyweight is just one perk of omega-3s. Other reports have shown omega-3 fatty acids offer protection from stroke, depression linked to pregnancy and help lower young children’s risk of type-1diabetes.

Good sources of omega-3 include flaxseed, walnuts and micro algae-derived supplements.

Via Food Navigator.

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A night at the pub might land you a night in the emergency room. No surprise really. Reports have shown drinking alcohol increases the risk of bowel cancer and aggressive prostate cancer.

And now, a new findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health claim even as little as four pints of beer each week can raise a man's chances of needing hospital treatment.

For the study, researchers studied 5,772 Scottish men, ages 35 to 64, and discovered those participants who drank the equivalent of four pints of beer, eight shots of liquor or eight small glasses of wine, were more likely to be admitted to the hospital.

Experts observed the risk grew as the amount of alcohol consumed increased and heavy drinkers stayed longer in hospitals than people who abstained.

Reminds be of that episode of Scrubs when J.D., Turk and their college buddy are hung over from the night before and hook themselves up to IVs to sober up. Too funny!

Now, boozing might be a good time, but it’s iffy. Other studies have even associated alcohol consumption with erectile dysfunction and brain shrinkage. Eek!

Via the BBC.

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The days of the film noir private dick taking a slick drag off a cigarette and sipping a shot of stiff whiskey are long gone. He died from lung cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

Now, booze might look cool up on the big screen, but it doesn’t do your health any favors. In the past, reports have linked alcohol to cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction. Eek!

Go on and add prostate cancer to the list. A new study in the journal Cancer found heavy drinkers—men who drank 1.7 ounces of pure alcohol each day, the equivalent of four shots of hard liquor, four or five times a week—had a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

That’s a lot of drinking! The typical beer has 4% to 6% alcohol by volume, wine 12.5% to 14.5% and around 40% for vodka.

The study aimed to test alcohol’s effect on finasteride—found in popular prostate cancer medications—showing that alcohol reduces the drugs benefits. Clearly, drugs aren’t the be-all-end-all of for prostate cancer. That’s why the researchers recommend men limit their intake of alcohol.

In related news, experts determined eating less meat and more vegetables helps prevent prostate cancer.

Via HealthDay News.

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