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

• I guess I’m going to die soon, because I’m a big dummy! New findings in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine reveals an association between higher IQ and decreased mortality, i.e. death, in men. Researchers believe people with higher IQ test scores are less likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol and more likely to eat better and exercise; ScienceDaily reports.

• More bad news for obesity! A study published in the current issue of the Archives of Surgery claims obese pancreatic cancer patients are 12 times more likely to see their cancer worsen and spread to their lymph nodes. Individuals with a body mass index greater than 23 survived an average of 13.2 months after cancer surgery, while patients with a BMI of less than 23 lasted 27.4 months; via Health Magazine.

• Presented at the American Heart Association's Joint Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention and Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism, scientists have determined teenagers with higher intakes of vitamin D may have less abdominal fat than adolescents with vitamin D deficiencies. Data revealed white boys had the highest intake of vitamin D, with African-American girls having the lowest; from NutraIngredients.

• Bisphenol A, a toxic compound used to make plastic and found to interfere with brain cells, may be banned from food and drink containers under a new federal bill proposed to the House and Senate last Friday. Spearheaded by senators from New York, Massachusetts and California, the bill aims to protect children from BPA, which has also been linked to cancer, such as breast and testicular; The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains.

• Another study discussed at the Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention and Nutrition suggests not getting enough sleep may heighten the risk diabetes. Experts said people who sleep less than six hours per night were 4.5 times more likely to have abnormal blood sugar levels than individuals getting more sleep. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend people get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night; Reuters reports.

• A federal judge has rejected the appeal by 15 California organic almond growers to stop regulations mandating that raw almonds to be treated before sale. Current laws require almonds to be chemically pasteurized or heat-treated. This stem from fears over health risks such as salmonella, but is angering raw food devotees who rely on raw almonds for vitamins and foods like almond milk; via TreeHugger.

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• Nowadays, a lot people belong to a CSA. And the local food movement is spreading! Some have even coined the term “locavore” referring to people who eat food close to home. And, the number of farmers markets is up nationwide, the highest it’s been since 1994; the Associated Press explains.

• Plastic bottles and bisphenol-A (BPA) are in the news a lot lately. And recently, despite consumer outrage, the FDA said BPA is safe as it’s currently used, like in food packaging, but now the agency has agreed to reexamine the research on BPA’s health risks; The New York Times reports.

• Last week, a small town in Tennessee was flooded by a billion gallons of water and coal ash, when a retention pond for a local coal-burning plant burst! Homes were destroyed, but the long term effects could be worse. Officials fear toxins from the slurry could ruin drinking water; via the Associated Press.

• All the gift giving is over and now the world is neck deep in crumpled wrapping paper. And the U.K. is worried that rubbish from 100 million toys could burn a big hole in the ozone layer. So, they’re calling on toy manufacturers to make recycling information more obvious; from Green (Living) Review.

• But don’t fret! There are plenty of green-friendly ways to dispose of used wrapping paper. You could recycle it. Shredding it and making compost is another good idea. Stuffing it into a flattened beanbag chair works too or maybe line pet cages with it or mush it up for paper mache crafts; via inhabitots.

• Speaking of recycling, a corporate watched dog reports that 16 of 23 major beverage companies, like Coca-Cola, were given failing grades for their recycling efforts. Companies were graded on multiple parameters, like using less virgin materials and transparency of operations; more from TreeHugger.

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Experts want the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a risk-assessment on the potential dangers of phthalates, chemicals used to make plastics soft and flexible, for things like toys, food packaging and medical devices. Currently, animal studies indicate phthalates may decrease testosterone levels in males and heighten risk of liver cancer. And many phthalates have already been banned in Europe for nearly a decade; via Reuters.

Bisphenol-A or BPA is another harmful chemical found in plastic drawing heavy scrutiny.

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