Thai Dipping Sauce For Veggies

Thai Dipping Sauce

Sliced veggies are perfect for this refreshing dip, with only 46 calories who wouldn’t want to taste!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach

• 1 (8 ounces) carton fat‐free sour cream

• 1 (8 ounces) carton plain fat‐free Greek yogurt

• ¼ cup snipped fresh mint

• ¼ cup finely chopped peanuts

• ¼ cup all‐natural peanut butter or almond butter

• 1 tablespoon honey (organic when possible)

• 1 tablespoon low‐sodium soy sauce

• 2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

• Vegetables for dipping (like baby carrots, zucchini slices, and/or cucumber sticks)

Method:

In medium bowl combine spinach, sour cream, and yogurt. Stir in mint, peanuts, peanut butter, honey, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper. Cover and chill for 2‐24 hrs. Serve with vegetables.

Serves: 20 (2 TBSP)

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 46 calories, 2.6 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 2.6 grams of fat, .4 grams of fiber, 63.7 mg of sodium

Honey Carrots

Honey Carrots

Spice up your next carrots with a little sweet and sour!

Ingredients:

 1 pound baby carrots

 2 tablespoon light butter

 2 tablespoon honey (organic when possible)

 1 tablespoon lemon juice

 Freshly ground black pepper

 ¼ cup chopped flat‐leaf parsley

Method:

In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add carrots and cook un��l tender, 5‐6 min. Drain the carrots and add back to pan with butter, honey and lemon juice. Cook until a glaze coats the carrots, 5 min. Season with pepper and garnish with parsley.

Serves: 4

Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 96.5 calories , .9 grams of protein, 18.5 grams of carbohydrates, 2.7 grams of fat, 2.2 grams of fiber, 133.5 mg of sodium

Muscle Cell Fusion

Muscle Cell Fusion:

How Muscle Develops

In The Human Body

The development of muscle is based on a function known as muscle cell fusion. A team of Johns Hopkins researchers have shown how the cyto-skeleton from one muscle cell builds finger-like projections that invade into another muscle cell's territory, eventually forcing the cells to combine.

The researchers explain muscle cell fusion is important for understanding normal muscle growth, and also muscle regeneration after an injury or a disease. Their research, they believe, could further development of therapies for muscular dystrophy or age-related muscle wasting.

Their report on muscle cell cytoskeletons, published in Developmental Cell, adds detail to a previous study last year showing that actin (a main building block of the cell's cytoskeleton) is required to form the finger-like projections and stimulate muscle cell merges. The new discovery outlines the intricate activityrequired among cytoskeleton-regulating proteins to precisely construct protrusions that promote muscle cell merging. Specifically, the Johns Hopkins team uncovered the activity of a regulatory protein known as "Blown Fuse," named because muscle cells lacking this specific protein fail to fuse.

"Blown Fuse" was found to play a role in muscle cell fusion 14 years ago," say research scientists of molecular biology and genetics, "and now we know how Blown Fuse regulates the dynamics of the cytoskeleton to facilitate the invasion of one muscle cell by another."

In a test tube, the researchers showed that the protein, Blown Fuse, disrupts the complex formed by the protein duo WASP and WIP, which are known regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. "Blown Fuse does so by a competitive binding mechanism. It binds to the same site in WIP as WASP does" they explained.

The researchers knew that the WASP-WIP protein duo binds to the growing ends of actin filaments, protecting these ends from being capped by proteins that prevent further actin growth. Apart from its protective role, WASP also has to come off the end of the actin filaments from time to time to start new actin branches. The intricate balance between actin filament growth, capping and branching, determines the dynamics of the cytoskeleton.

With this knowledge, the researchers tested whether Blown Fuse competes with this process to change how WASP simultaneously protects and builds the cytoskeleton.

The test began with researchers putting fluorescent actin in fruit fly muscle cells that incorporated themselves into the growing actin branches in the finger-like protrusions. Then, the researchers used a laser beam to bleach the fluorescent actin in the region of the finger-like protrusions and waited to see whether and how long it would take for new, unbleached actin to spread from other parts of the cell and be taken up by the growing branches in the "fingers." In normal muscle cells, it took about two minutes for the fluorescence to return. In muscle cells that lacked Blown Fuse, the fluorescence never fully recovered and the cytoskeleton failed to project finger-like protrusions, probably because the WASP-WIP complex does not come off the ends of the actin filaments to start new actin branches.

"These results suggest that the growing ends of the actin cytoskeleton are occupied by the WASP-WIP protein duo and that without Blown Fuse to dissociate with the WASP-WIP complex and push WASP off the ends, new actin branches cannot be started," say the researchers "And these shorter and stiffer new branches are critical for generating the finger-like membrane protrusions."

Through a microscope, the Hopkins team compared the finger-like projections from normal cells with cells lacking Blown Fuse. Normal muscle cells form pointy finger-like protrusions that push into the other muscle cell, but cells without Blown Fuse have fewer and floppier protrusions that don't push their way in to other muscle cells.

"Modulating the stability of the WASP-WIP complex may represent a general mechanism in regulating cytoskeleton dynamics and generating membrane protrusions," they reported.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Story Source: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.
Journal Reference:
"Competition between Blown Fuse and WASP for WIP Binding Regulates the Dynamics of WASP-Dependent Actin Polymerization In Vivo. Developmental Cell" 2011

Birch Pollen Plant and Hay Fever

Birch Pollen Plant Extract May

Be New Therapy for Hay Fever

Battling hay fever with a plant extract works. It was recently
demonstrated in a clinical study conducted by researchers
of the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technische Universität München,
Germany.

Allergic symptoms were alleviated significantly better than
with the usual histamine receptor antagonists. In a paper published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
the research scientists explained how this plant extract works
and how effective it is.

Antihistamine medications (such as Desloratadine) have long been considered the treatment of choice to alleviate the symptoms of hay fever sufferers. Now, in a randomized double-blind study, researchers demonstrated that the plant extract Ze 339 (Petasol butenoate complex) from Birch Pollen
combats nasal mucosa swelling faster and more effectively.

Apparently, however, the extract not only works in acute cases "Our data indicate that the extract also has a preventive effect, which must be nvestigated further," said the doctors from the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) in Munich. The results look promising for improving the quality of life of people with allergies.

So far the plant extract has only been approved as a drug in Switzerland and South Korea. Further studies need to be carried out in order to allow it to be sold as a prescription drug elsewhere.

Story Source:
German Research Centre for Environmental Health
Journal Reference:
"Petasol butenoate complex (Ze 339) relieves
allergic rhinitis-induced nasal obstruction more effectively than desloratadine. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"2011

Coffee Reduces Breat Cancer Risk

Coffee Reduces Breast Cancer Risk,

New Swedish Study Reports

Recently published research shows that coffee drinkers enjoy not only the taste of their coffee but also a reduced risk of cancer. More detailed research published in the journal Breast Cancer Research shows that drinking coffee specifically reduces the risk of antiestrogen-resistant estrogen-receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer.

Researchers from Sweden compared lifestyle factors and coffee consumption between women with breast cancer and age-matched women without. They found that coffee drinkers had a lower incidence of breast cancer than women who rarely drank coffee. However they also found that several lifestyle factors affected breast cancer rates, such as age at initial stage of menopause, exercise, weight, education, and a family history of breast cancer.

The team of scientists from Karolinska Institutet explained, "There is often conflicting information about the beneficial effects of coffee -- when we compared our results to that of a German study we discovered that their data showed the same trend, but the relationship was much weaker. We suggest that this may have something to do with the way the coffee was prepared, or the type of bean preferred. It is unlikely that the protective effect is due to phytoestrogens present in coffee since there was no reduction in the incidence of ER-positive cancer in this study."

So while it is evident that coffee may have beneficial effects in protecting women from ER negative breast cancer the exact mechanism and compounds involved are not yet clear and not all types of coffee are the same.

Journal Reference:
Coffee consumption modifies risk of estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research, 2011

This is taken from the Jillian Michaels newsletter:

Overcoming a Setback

It happens — you miss a few workouts and you feel like you've fallen off the weight-loss wagon. It's tempting to mentally slap yourself around, right? (Or head for the fridge.) Before you start, I want to remind you of something: Being hard on yourself is the Old You.

The New You knows how to deal with setbacks and get back on the wagon. And after all, there are no mistakes, just learning experiences. Weight loss is a process — it takes time. You will encounter small failures — everyone does — but every pound you gain can be lost.

And if you miss a workout, it's not the end of the world! Get to the gym the next day and continue to focus on your short-term goals. Just because you made bad choices today doesn't mean you can't start over tomorrow. New day? New beginning. And don't you forget it!

Strawberry Extracts May Prevent Inflammation

Strawberry Extracts May Prevent Inflammation

Natural compounds in strawberries may decrease levels of inflammatory markers and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, suggests a new study.

According to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition, obese volunteers who drank a strawberry-based beverage and ate a meal with a high carbohydrate content and a moderate fat content had lower levels of inflammatory markers than volunteers who consumed a placebo beverage.

"These changes have been observed against a background of increased plasma concentration of anthocyanins derived from strawberry," reported researchers from the Illinois Institute of Technology and University of California-Davis.

"Overall, these findings suggest beneficial effects that accrue
from consumption of fruits that have a high phenolic content,"
they added.

Chronic Inflammatory Conditions Linked to Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, Cognitive decline, Alzheimer's, Type-2 diabetes, and Arthritis...

Chronic inflammation is brought about by an over-expression or lack of control of the normal protective mechanisms in the body.

In a review appearing in "Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases" (2004, Vol. 14, pp. 228-232), research scientists from Italy noted that "obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes are associated with a pro-inflammatory state, which in turn is associated with increased cardiovascular risk".

Chronic inflammation has also been linked to a range of conditions linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, type-2 diabetes, and arthritis.

Biomarkers For Inflammation...

A list of established biomarkers for inflammation exists, with commonly touted markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-18, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

The new study found that consumption of the strawberry extract drink was associated with a 25 percent lower level of IL-6 six hours after consumption, compared with people receiving the placebo drink.

In addition, CRP levels were 13 percent lower following consumption of the strawberry beverage than following consumption of the placebo beverage.

The research team from Illinois Institute of Technology recruited 24 obese subjects to participate in their study. Volunteers were fed a high-carbohydrate, moderate-fat meal, which is known to produce inflammatory and insulin responses after eating, and
then given either a strawberry beverage or a placebo beverage.

Results showed that blood levels of two strawberry compounds, pelargonidin sulfate and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, significantly increased following ingestion of the strawberry beverage at the same time as eating the test meal, compared with placebo.

Commenting on the potential mechanism, the researchers note that the effects appear to be independent of a possible antioxidant effect since antioxidant activity, such as reducing levels of LDL oxidation, were observed quicker than the
changes in the anti-inflammatory markers.

"These data suggest an anti-inflammatory role of strawberry with
a time course of action that is delayed relative to the antioxidant effects of strawberry.

"Therefore, the antioxidant / anti-inflammatory effects of strawberry-derived compounds need to be studied further to reconcile the difference in the time course of the changes in glucose, insulin and oxidative stress / inflammatory markers observed in plasma," they explained.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition
(Published online)
"Strawberry anthocyanin and its association with postprandial inflammation and insulin"

Helping A Family Member In Need

Olivia's just graduated from nursing school! [She's my cousin's daughter.] This has been her dream come true! She's talked about being a nurse since she was in kindergarten, and now the day has arrived!

Olivia's mother, Rebecca, called the other day to tell me Olivia has been accepted for a nursing position at a local nursing home working with the elderly! [Happy Congrat's Olivia!]

"I know you know where to get cheap nursing scrubs ", Rebecca said. "So, tell me where to go to get her uniforms to get started in!"

I was happy to oblige. I gave Rebecca a web site to find the most modern, up-to-date scrub uniforms, as well as the scrubs at the best prices all around!

Well, Rebecca went to
 http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/
and Olivia started her new job with the uniforms that her mother ordered. Thanks to Rebecca, Olivia is not only dressed to the "nines" in nursing fashion, but she didn't have to spend a fortune to dress her that way!

If you're interested in fashionable nursing scrubs at a price you can afford, then you should visit the site as well! You'll be glad you did.

Calcium & Vitamin D Supplements BEFORE Prescriptive Medications!

Experts Urge Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements To Patients Before Starting Prescriptive Bone-Building

Medications...

A University of Illinois study now finds that "For many people, prescription bone-building medicines should be a last resort." If a bone density scan places you at risk for osteoporosis and your doctor prescribes a widely advertised bone-building medication, a more effective first course of action is increasing dietary calcium and vitamin D or taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.

The study reported that adults who increase their intake of calcium and vitamin D usually increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk for hip fracture significantly. These results were often successfully accomplished with supplements, but food is also a good source of these nutrients, the experts said.

"Many doctors reach for their prescription pads because they believe it's unlikely that people will change their diets," the researchers noted.

The scientist said that prescription bone-building medications are expensive, and many have negative side effects, including an increase in hip fractures and jaw necrosis. They should be used only if diet and supplements don't work.

"Bisphosphonates, for instance, disrupt normal bone remodeling by shutting down the osteoclasts, the cells
that break down old bone to make new bone. When that happens, new bone is built on top of old bone. Yes,
your bone density is higher, but the bone's not always structurally sound," the researchers explained.

A bone density test measures quantity, not quality, of bone. "Although the test reports that you're fine or doing better, you may still be at risk for a fracture," they cautioned.

"Menopausal women should consume 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. Three glasses of 1 percent to skim milk will get you up to 900 milligrams. The rest can easily be obtained through calcium-rich and calcium-fortified foods," they also said. A woman in midlife can get enough calcium in her diet without gaining weight, said director of the University of Illinois's dietetics program.

The number of foods fortified with calcium and vitamin D is increasing every day! Examples are soy milk, orange juice, yogurt, crackers, cereal, bread, breakfast bars, and now, even pancakes.

The researchers also looked at the effects of dietary protein, vitamin K, soy, and sodium in their literature review. The new USDA food pyramid guidelines recommend that Americans decrease their sodium intake.

"Following a low-sodium diet does also seem to have a positive effect on bone density. You have to choose
different foods," they recommended.

Smoked or processed meats, bacon, lunch meat, and processed foods all contain a lot of sodium and could actually sabotage bone health. "Cheese is also very high in sodium so try to get your calcium some other way more often," the team said.

They're recommending a "portfolio diet" that contains a number of nutrients, not just extra calcium and vitamin D.
For bone health, the researchers also encourage consuming adequate protein, less sodium, and more magnesium and potassium.

"That can be done by following a diet that's high in fruits and vegetables, has adequate calcium and protein, and is light on salt," citing the optimal dietary regimen.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends more physical activity. She suggests a combination of aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility exercises with a focus on improving your core muscles so you can catch yourself if you start to fall.

Whatever sort of exercise you're doing, you have to introduce new forms of activity every so often because your bones will stop responding to the same old routine and rebuilding will slow. The researchers set out to determine the impact of dietary, supplemental, and educational interventions over the last 10 years and reached their conclusions after reviewing 219 articles in scientific journals.

Journal Reference:
Bone Health Nutrition Issues in Aging. Nutrients, 2010; 2 (11):
University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (2011, May 11).
"Before you start bone-building meds, try dietary calcium and supplements, experts urge"

Parsley & Celery Fight Against Breast Cancer!

Parsley, Celery Contain Key Substance Called Apigenin

To Fight Against Breast Cancer...

A University of Missouri researcher has found that an important compound in parsley and other plant products, including fruits and nuts, known as apigenin can stop certain breast cancer tumor cells from multiplying and growing. The study was published recently in Cancer Prevention Research.

"Six to 10 million women in the United States receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT)," researcher sssaid. "We know that certain synthetic hormones used in HRT accelerate breast tumor development. In the study, we exposed laboratory subjects to one of the chemicals used in the most common HRTs received in the United States, a progestin called medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) which also happens to be the same synthetic hormone that accelerates breast tumor development."

When tumor cells develop in the breast in response to MPA, they encourage new blood vessels to form within tumors. The blood vessels then supply needed nutrients for the tumors to grow and multiply. The scientists found that apigenin blocked new blood vessel formation, thereby delaying, and sometimes stopping, the development of the tumors. They also found that the compound reduced the overall number of tumors. However, while apigenin did delay tumor growth, it did not stop the initial formation of cancer cells within the breast.

Apigenin is most prevalent in parsley and celery, but can also be found in apples, oranges, nuts and other plant products. However, apigenin is not efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream, so scientists are unsure of how much can or should be ingested."We don't have specific dosage for humans yet," the researchers said. "However, it appears that keeping a minimal level of apigenin in the bloodstream
is important to delay the onset of breast cancer that progresses in response to progestins such as MPA. They recommend eating a little parsley and some fruit every day to ensure the minimal amount. However, you can also find this compound in parsley dietary supplements.

Story Source:
University of Missouri-Columbia.

Fish Oil: Positive Effects on Mood and Alcohol Craving

New Study Shows Fish Oil May

Have Positive Effects on Mood, Alcohol Craving

Fish Oil's Omega 3 fatty acids may be beneficial for more
than heart health. Researchers at the Indiana University
School of Medicine have found at a molecular level a potentially important therapeutic benefit for treating
alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorders.

In a multi-year study, researchers demonstrated conclusive behavioral and molecular benefits for omega 3 fatty acid
for bipolar disorder. The key fatty acid DHA, one of the
main active ingredients in fish oil, "normalized their behavior," according to the study reported online in the Nature Publishing Group journal "Translational Psychiatry."

Using a stress-sensitive laboratory model of bipolar disorder, research scientists studied the influence of dietary DHA.
The controlled laboratory subjects have characteristic bipolar symptoms including being depressed and, when subjected
to stress, becoming manic.

The subjects that were given DHA normalized their behavior "They are not depressed and when subjected to stress, they
do not become manic," explained the researchers "When we looked into their brains, using comprehensive gene expression studies, we were surprised to see that genes that are known targets of psychiatric medications were modulated and normalized by DHA."

An unexpected finding of the research was the discovery that the subjects given DHA also showed a reduced desire for alcohol. "These bipolar subjects, like some bipolar patients, love alcohol. Those on DHA drank much less; it curtailed their alcohol abusive behavior," they said, adding that this is a completely novel finding. To verify this finding, the researchers studied another well-established controlled lab model of alcoholism, and obtained similar results.

"We believe a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder, and may help with alcoholism as well," they said.

The researchers also found correlations between brain molecular changes and molecular markers in their blood,
so called "bio-markers."

"There is now substantial evidence at the molecular level that omega-3 fatty acids work on the brain in ways similar to psychiatric drugs," said the researchers "With these biomarker findings, we can now move forward as a field and do more targeted clinical studies in humans."

Omega 3 fatty acids are known to be good for one's health, good for one's brain, and lack major side-effects, as opposed to some psychiatric medications, they said, indicating, omega 3 fatty acid could in the future be used as an adjuvant treatment to minimize the amount of psychiatric drugs needed to produce the same effect, especially in pregnant women or women who intend to get pregnant.

The research was supported by a National Institutes of Health Director's New Innovator Award grant.

Story Source: Indiana University School of Medicine.

Journal Reference:
Convergent functional genomics of anxiety disorders: translational identification of genes, bio-markers, pathways and mechanisms. Translational

Psychiatry, 2011

Mexican Pizza

Mexican Pizza

INGREDIENTS:

1 package (13.8-oz) refrigerated pizza dough

1 cup chunky salsa

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 cup no-salt added canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1-cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

1/2 cup sliced green onions

1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend

1/2 cup chopped cilantro, optional

PREPARATION:

1: Heat oven to 425F. Unroll pizza dough onto 15X10X1 inch jelly-roll pan coated with nonstick cooking spray, press dough evenly to all edges of pan. Bake 8 minutes.

2: Combine salsa and cumin; spread over partially baked crust. Top with beans, corn and green onion. Bake 8 minutes or until crust is a deep golden brown. Top with cheese; continue baking 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into squares; granish with cilantro if desired.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

NUTRITIONAL INFO:

Calories: 244 per serving

Carbs: 36g

Fat: 6g

Protein: 12g

Sodium: 699mg

The above recipe is taken from Diabet Cooking, May/June 2011, p30.

****NOTE: When making this recipe, I substituted Great Value pizza dough mix, which is lower in both calories and sodium than purchased dough or crusts. And makes it equally delicious!

Even my little grandson enjoyed this recipe!!!

Crab Salad Tostados

Crab Salad Tostados

INGREDIENTS:

2 (6-inch) high-fiber, low-carb tortillas

2-tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise

1-tablespoon fresh lime juice

2-teaspoons minced fresh jalapeno pepper

2-cups packed mixed field or baby greens

1/2 cup diced tomatoes

2-tablespoons minced cilantro

2-tablespoons finely diced red onion

1-can (6-oz) all white crabmeat, drained

1/2 cup diced ripe avocado

PREPARATION:

1: Heat oven to 400F. Place tortialls on baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 6 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.

2: Meanwhile, mix mayonnaise, lime juice and jalapeno pepper in large bowl. Add greens, tomato, cilantro and red onion; toss well. Add crabmeat and avocado; toss again. Serve on tortillas.

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

NUTRITIONAL INFO:

Calories: 246 per serving

Carbs: 23g

Fat: 12g

Protein: 20g

Sodium: 759mg

The above recipe is take from Diabetic Cooking, May/June 2011; p26.

****NOTE: When I made this recipe, I substituted corn tortillas for the high fiber [enjoying the corn flavor so much better!], and imitation crab meat for the canned [about half the price, and tastes almost identical!].

Charred Corn Salad

Charred Corn Salad

Ingredients:

3-tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 to 6 ears corn, husked [enough to make 3-4 cups kernels]

2/3 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2-teaspoons minced seeded chipotle pepper [1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce or 1 dried chipotle pepper, reconstituted in boiling water]

Preparation:

1. Whisk lime juice and salt in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Set aside.

2. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook corn in single layer 15 to 17 minutes, or until browned and tender, turning frequently. Transfer to plate to cool slightly. Slive kernels off ears and place in medium bowl.

3. Microwave beans in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until heated through. Add beans. cilantro and chipotle to corn; mix well. Pour lime juice mixture over corn mixture; toss to combine.

Makes 6 servings

Nutritional Info:

Calories: 216 per serving

Carbs: 30g

Fat: 10g

Protein: 5g

Sodium: 301mg

The above recipe was taken fromDiabetic Cooking, May/June, p23

***NOTE: When I made this recipe, I substituted 4 cups of frozen corn kernels for  ears of corn. And I used a dried chipotle pepper, reconstituting it in boiling water before using it.

This was a delicious and refreshing salad! We served it with baked tilapia! It was fabulous!!!

Looking For Womens Scrub Uniforms?

My DDL [Dear-Daughter-In-Law], works for a nursing home. Part time as a records keeper, and part-time as a CNA [Certified Nursing Assistant]. She is required to wear all cotton scrubs when working the latter. With her birthday coming up very shortly [July the 4th!!!] I thought I'd surprise her with something she can find useful for her job! What better than new clothing?

So, I was perusing the 'net for sites, and I keep coming back to the same site, over and over!
http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/Original-Scrubs/
I've used this company before, and simply put... it can't be beat!

Shipping is affordable and fast. And descriptions actually match the products I am sent! [We've all ordered something online or from a catalog and didn't receive what we thought we would be getting! That won't happen here!]

Simply put, you get what you order!

Now, I simply have to decide which colors of the rainbow I want for her outfits! Soft blue... or pinks... or greens.... or tans.... or.....

Looking For Quality Scrub Uniforms

I was recently looking over a very unique website, http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ , when I discovered that I could meet the needs of several family members birthday and Christmas gifts this year simply by shopping from here!

Yes, I am one of those family members who is blessed to have medical personnel in the family! And they have the unique need of required scrub sets for work apparel! Always in the need for new uniforms, I have tried to help them out with surprise scrubs for gift-giving.

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Take a few minutes and visit the site today! If you're in need of quality, good-looking scrubs, then this is the site for you!

Aspirin Reduces Rick of Prostate Cancer Recurrence

Aspirin Reduces the Risk of Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients

Some studies have shown that blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, can reduce biochemical failure, cancer recurrence that is detected by a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, the risk of metastasis and even death in localized prostate cancer. Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have concluded the largest study, offering substantial data suggesting that aspirin improves outcomes in prostate cancer patients who have received radiotherapy.

A research team of radiation oncologists at Fox Chase, examined a database of over 2000 prostate cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy at Fox Chase between 1989 and 2006 and found that aspirin use lowers the risk of cancer recurrence. The scientists presented their findings on May 1 at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the American Radium Society.

The team found that the 761 men who took aspirin at or after the time of radiotherapy were less likely to experience biochemical failure (as indicated by the levels of PSA) than were the 1380 men who didn't take the drug.

After 10-years from completion of treatment, 31% of the men who took aspirin developed recurrence compared with 39% of non-aspirin users (p=0.0005). There was also a 2% improvement in 10-year prostate cancer related survival associated with aspirin use with a trend toward statistical significance (p=0.07). "We know that prostate cancer has a long natural history and 15 years or more may be necessary to detect significant difference in survival," the researchers explained. "Longer follow-up is needed, but these results
warrant further study."

Thus, aspirin could be a promising supplement to radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients, and its beneficial effects may generalize to other types of cancer. Still, they caution that "it's a little premature to say that men need to start taking aspirin if they have a history of prostate cancer."

The optimal dose, timing, and duration of aspirin therapy, as well as potential side effects are not well understood. It's not clear how exactly the aspirin is helping and more research is needed to investigate this.

"Its possible aspirin therapy is making the radiation more effective or preventing the cancer from spreading."

Story Source:
Fox Chase Cancer Center (2011, May 2). "Aspirin reduces the risk of cancer recurrence in prostate cancer patients, study suggests."

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

diagnosis or treatment.

Herbal Remedies... The New Antibiotics???

Herbal Remedies Strongly Considered By Healthcare Experts As the New Antibiotics

Cancer treatments often have the side effect of negatively impacting patients' immune system. This can result in life-threatening secondary infections from bacteria and fungi.
It is a major concern because certain bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, are becoming multi-drug resistant (MRSA). New research published by BioMed Central's open access journal Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials investigates the potency of Indian wild plants against bacterial and fungal infections in the mouths of oral
cancer patients.

Researchers from Rohtak, India, tested extracts from several plants used in traditional or folk medicine against microbials found in the mouths of oral cancer patients. Of the 40 patients involved in the study, 35 had compromised immune systems with severely reduced neutrophil counts. Several of the plants tested were able to significantly affect the growth of organisms collected by oral swab, and pure cultures of bacteria and fungi grown in the lab. This included Wild Asparagus, Desert Date, False Daisy, Curry Tree, Caster Oil Plant and Fenugreek.

Researchers reported, "Natural medicines are increasingly important in treating disease. Traditional knowledge provides a starting point in the search for plant-based medicines. We found that the extraction process had a huge effect on both the specificity and efficacy of the plant extracts against microbes.

Nevertheless several of the plants tested were broad spectrum antibiotics able to combat bacteria including E. coli, S. aureus and the fungi Candida and Aspergillus. Both Desert Date and Caster Oil Plant were especially able to target bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are known to be difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics."

They explained, "Although the plants tested had a lower potency than conventional antibiotics they offer hope against resistant species. These results are a starting point for further testing in the lab and clinic."

Journal Reference:
Manju Panghal, Vivek Kaushal and Jaya Parkash Yadav. In vitro antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants against clinical isolates of oral cancer cases. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 2011

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

diagnosis or treatment.

High Protein Breakfast Reduces Cravings

High-Protein Breakfast May Help

Reduce Food Cravings

Empowering Our Youth With Knowledge,

Science & Nutrition To Eat Healthier and

Help Battle The Obesity Problem...

Eating a high-protein breakfast may increase satiety and reduce food cravings, according to results of a new study published in the journal Obesity.

The researchers, from the University of Missouri, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain signals associated with food motivation and eating-related reward behaviors in ten obese adolescent girls who usually skipped breakfast.

For three weeks, the teenagers either skipped breakfast or were given 500-calorie breakfasts consisting of either cereal and milk containing a 'normal' amount of protein or a high-protein breakfast of protein-enriched Belgian waffles, syrup and yogurt.

They found that there were differences in brain activity three hours after eating breakfast, and those differences were greater when a high-protein breakfast had been consumed.

The university's Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology researchers said: "Everyone knows that eating breakfast is important, but many people still don't make it a priority. This research provides additional evidence that breakfast is a valuable strategy to control appetite and regulate food intake."

The researchers said they decided to focus on teenagers who normally skipped breakfast for two reasons:
Firstly, because breakfast-skipping has been associated with unhealthy snacking, overeating, weight gain and obesity, and secondly, because it's estimated that about 60 percent of teens skip breakfast every day.

"Incorporating a healthy breakfast containing protein-rich foods can be a simple strategy for people to stay satisfied longer, and therefore, be less prone to snacking," they said. "People reach for convenient snack foods to satisfy their hunger between meals, but these foods are almost always high in sugar and fat and add a substantial amount of calories to the diet. These findings suggest that a protein-rich breakfast might be an effective strategy to improve appetite control and prevent overeating in young people."

Source: Obesity (2011) Published online

"Neural Responses to Visual Food Stimuli After a Normal vs. Higher Protein Breakfast in Breakfast-Skipping Teens:
A Pilot fMRI Study"

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice,

diagnosis or treatment.

Key Enzyme Prevents Fatal Heart Condition

Key Enzyme Prevents Fatal

Heart Condition Associated

With Young Athletes

Scientists have discovered an important enzyme molecule that may prevent fatal cardiac disorders associated with cardiac hypertrophy, the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

Cardiac hypertrophy is a disease of the heart muscle where a portion of the tissue is thickened without anyobvious cause. It is commonly linked to high blood pressure (hypertension) and excessive exercises and results in a shrinking of the heart chamber and a reduction of its blood-pumping volume.

The condition is also associated with fatal cardiac disorders related to irregular heart beats (arrhythmias), leading to millions of deaths worldwide each year, and is perhaps the most well-known cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young sports people.

The researchers used laboratory experiments and computer simulations to show that the enzyme MKK4 is involved in preventing arrhythmias. They believe it does this by modifying another protein connection, which forms an electrical bridge between adjacent heart cells to ensure the conduction of electrical activity across the heart as an excitation wave,

triggering synchronised mechanical contraction of the heart with a regular heartbeat rhythm.

The researchers reporting in The Journal of Biological Chemistry, found that loss of the MKK4 protein disrupts the spatial distribution of connexin, resulting in reduced and non-uniform electrical coupling between heart cells.

This causes a fragmented excitation wave in the heart, leading to uncoordinated heart muscle contraction and irregular heart rhythm. As a result, the heart loses its power to pump blood efficiently, causing disability or sudden cardiac death.

"Using experimental measurements together with detailed computer models, we were able to simulate the electrical activity in cardiac tissue with disrupted electrical coupling between adjacent cardiac cells," explained the researchers from Manchester's Faculty of Life Science.

"The information generated from this study will help us to identify whether the MKK4 enzyme could become a therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in association with cardiac hypertrophy."

They added: "This research means it would be possible to identify the most important factor behind the sudden cardiac death associated with cardiac hypertrophy, which can affect people of any age with hypertension and also healthy well-trained athletes."

Story Source: University of Manchester

Journal Reference:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 deficiency in cardiomyocytes causes connexin 43 reduction and

couples hypertrophic signals to ventricular arrhythmogenesis.

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Blueberries Studied

Blueberry's Effects on Cholesterol Examined in New Laboratory Study

Laboratory hamsters that were fed rations enriched with
blueberry peels and other blueberry-juice-processing pulp
had better cholesterol health than subjects whose rations weren't enhanced with blueberries. That's according to a
study led by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers, at the Western Regional Research Center operated in Albany Calif., by the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS), the principal scientific research agency
of USDA.

In the investigation, the lab subjects were fed high-fat food rations. For some, those rations were supplemented with one of three different kinds of juice by-products: blueberry skins- the peels leftover when berries are pressed to make juice; fiber extracted from the peels; or natural compounds known as polyphenols, also extracted from the peels. Blueberry polyphenols give the fruit its natural purple, blue, and red coloration.

In an article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2010, the investigators reported that all the subjects that were fed blueberry-enhanced rations had from 22 to 27 percent lower total plasma cholesterol than those fed rations that didn't contain blueberry juice by-products.

Levels of VLDL (very low density lipoprotein and considered a form of "bad" cholesterol) were about 44 percent lower in the
blueberry-fed subjects.

The researchers used a procedure known as real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR, to learn about the genes responsible for these effects. This approach allowed the scientists to pinpoint differences in the level of activity of specific liver genes.

The liver makes cholesterol and also helps get rid of excessive levels of it. Results suggest that activity of some liver genes that either produce or use cholesterol resulted in the lower blood cholesterol levels.

The study is the first published account of cholesterol-lowering effects in laboratory subjects fed blueberry peels or fiber or polyphenols extracted from those peels. At this stage of investigation, the researchers don't know which berry compound or compounds activated the liver genes, or which parts of the berry have the highest levels of these compounds.


Story Source: May/June 2011 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.
Journal Reference: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2010;
USDA/Agricultural Research Service (2011, June 1)

Why It's More Difficult Remembering.... Uh, What Were We Talking About?

Why It's More Difficult To Remember New Information, Especially As We Get Older... Information Overload... The older we get, the more difficulty we seem to have remembering things. We can leave our cars in the same parking lot each morning, but unless we park in the same space each and every day, it's a challenge eight hours later to recall where we left the vehicle. Another common example... We can be introduced to new people at a meeting and will have forgotten their names before the initial handshake. Typically, we reassure ourselves that our brains are just too full to handle the overload of new information that comes in daily. According to a team of Johns Hopkins neuro-scientists, the real difficulty is that our aging brains are unable to process this information as "new" because the brain pathways leading to the specific area of the brain that stores memories called the hippocampus become degraded over time. As a result of hippocampus degradation, our brains cannot accurately "file" new information (like the names of new people we meet and where we left the car in the parking garage), and we experience confusion. "Our research uses brain imaging techniques that investigate both the brain's functional and structural integrity to demonstrate that age is associated with a reduction in the hippocampus's ability to do its job, and this is related to the reduced input it is getting from the rest of the brain," said researchers of psychological and brain sciences in Johns Hopkins' Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. "As we get older, we are much more susceptible to "interference" from older memories than we are when we are younger." When faced with an experience similar to what it has encountered before, such as parking the car, our brain tends to recall old information it already has stored instead of filing new information and being able to retrieve that. Thus, you can't find your car immediately and find yourself wandering the parking lot."Maybe this is also why we tend to reminisce so much more as we get older: because it is easier to recall old memories than make new ones," the researchers explained. The study appears in the May 9 online edition of the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" The Johns Hopkins team used MRI scans to observe the brains of 40 healthy young college students and older adults, ages 60 to 80, while these participants viewed pictures of common, everyday objects and classified each (by pressing a button) as either "indoor" or "outdoor." (The team used three kinds of MRI scans in the study: structural MRI scans, which detect structural abnormalities; functional MRI scans, which document how hard various regions of the brain work during tasks; and diffusion MRIs, which monitor how well different regions of the brain communicate by tracking the movement of water molecules along pathways.) Some of the pictures were similar but not identical, and others were markedly different. The team used functional MRI to watch the hippocampus when participants saw items that were exactly the same or slightly different to ascertain how this region of the brain classified that item: as familiar or not. "Pictures had to be very distinct from each other for an older person's hippocampus to correctly classify them as new. The more similar the pictures were, the more the older person's hippocampus struggled to do this. A young person's hippocampus, on the other hand, treated all of these similar pictures as new," they explained. Later, the participants viewed a series of completely new pictures and again were asked to classify them as either "indoor" or "outdoor." A few minutes later, the researchers presented the participants with the new set of pictures and asked whether each item was "old," "new" or "similar.""The 'similar' response was the critical response for us, because it let us know that participants could distinguish between similar items and knew that they're not identical to the ones they had seen before," they said. "We found that older adults tended to have fewer 'similar' responses and more 'old' responses instead, indicating that they could not distinguish between similar items." The inability among older adults to recognize information as "similar" to something they had seen recently is linked to what is known as the "perforant pathway," which directs input from the rest of the brain into the hippocampus. The more degraded the pathway, the less likely the hippocampus is to store similar memories as distinct from old memories. "We are now closer to understanding some of the mechanisms that underlie memory loss with increasing age," according to the researchers. "These results have possible practical ramifications in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, because the hippocampus is one of the places that deteriorate very early in the course of that disease." The team's next step would be to conduct clinical trials in early Alzheimer's disease patients using the mechanisms that they have isolated as a way to measure the efficacy of therapeutic medications. "Basically, we will now be able to investigate the effect of a drug on hippocampal function and pathway integrity," they noted. "If the drug slows down pathway degradation and hippocampal dysfunction, it's possible that it could delay the onset of Alzheimer's by five to 10 years, which may be enough for a large proportion of older adults to not get the disease at all. This would be a huge breakthrough in the field." The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging. Story Source: Johns Hopkins University (2011, May 13). Journal Reference: Age-related memory deficits linked to circuit-specific disruptions in the hippocampus. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011;

Green Tea Boosts Memory

Green Tea Extract Demonstrates Memory Boosting Activity According To New Study Naturally-Rich Source of Beneficial Antioxidants, Polyphenols and Phytochemicals, Green Tea Extracts Are Now Recognized For Support of Cognitive and Mental Function Daily supplements of a green tea extract may boost mental alertness and enhance memory, according to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study from Korea. A combination of a green tea extract with L-theanine was associated with improvements in immediate and delayed recall, and general memory, according to findings published in the Journal of Medicinal Foods. "As a natural ingredient with a long history of consumption, should be considered as a potential nutraceutical candidate for enhancing cognitive performance," wrote researchers from Korea. The study was funded by LG Household & Health Care, Ltd., which also produced the ingredient used in the study, and provided one of the co-authors for the paper. Green Tea Nutritional Science The majority of science on tea has looked at green tea, with benefits reported for reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and certain cancers, improving cardiovascular and oral health, as well as aiding in weight management. Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent. Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea, with polyphenol content between green and black tea. The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tea leaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin. L-theanine, an amino acid naturally present in tea leaves, is thought to help reduce stress, promote relaxation and improve the quality of sleep. L-theanine is found in tea leaves in relatively low concentrations (less than 2 percent), which means that effective dosage levels (of 100 - 200mg/day) cannot be supplied from only drinking tea. Study Details Ninety-one participants with mild cognitive impairment, a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either 1,680 mg of the green tea extract-L-theanine combination (LGNC-07) or placebo (maltodextrin plus lactose) for 16 weeks. Several tests were used to assess memory and attention. Results showed that volunteers receiving the green tea supplement exhibited improvements in memory: Marginal improvements were observed with regards to the delay in recognition, and significant increases in memory regarding recall of word reading. Electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded in 24 volunteers, and these scans showed improvements in indicators of mental alertness in specific parts of the brain. The cognitive mental benefits of green tea and the L-theanine it contains have been the subject of interest and research by numerous companies.Unilever scientists reported results of a randomized trial in the journal Appetite that tea (and L-theanine) may boost attention, although it did not report any benefits for alertness (Vol. 54, April 2010, pp. 406-409). "We conclude that a high dose of L-theanine combined with caffeine, at the level of a single cup of tea, can help to improve attention," wrote researchers from Unilever R&D Vlaardingen. Source: Journal of Medicinal Food Volume 14, Issue 4, Pages 334-343 "A Combination of Green Tea Extract and l-Theanine Improves Memory and Attention in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study" Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Dark Chocolate Boosts Energy

Dark Chocolate Helps Boost Energy and Protects Against Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress! Rich In Healthful Antioxidants, Carotenoids and Phyto-Nutrients, Dark Cocolate Is Now Being Studied For Helping Boost Energy & Endurance. Important New Research Continues... Consuming flavonoid-rich dark chocolate prior to exercise may decrease the potential muscle damaging effects of oxidative stress, suggests new research. Dark chocolate (containing 70 percent cocoa) was associated with a stopping in oxidative stress after exercise, measured as a reduction in levels of a compound called F2-isoprostane, according to a study published in European Journal of Nutrition. "We believe that the small effects observed here could be physiologically important, but arise from cocoa-induced metabolic changes leading to modulation of the major plasma constituents," wrote research scientists from Aberystwyth University in Wales. "In addition, dark chocolate was effective at blunting the exercise-induced increase in plasma total antioxidant status observed in the other trials, providing support for the idea that the elevated total antioxidant status on the dark chocolate trial has physiological significance." What Is Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress? Oxygen-breathing organisms naturally produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play an important role in a range of functions, including cell signalling. However, over production of these ROS from smoking, pollution, sunlight, high intensity exercise, or the aging process, may overwhelm the body's antioxidant defenses and lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been linked to an increased risk of various diseases including Cancer, Alzheimer's and Cardiovascular Disease. The researchers also noted that extended periods of exercise are also often used to model physical stress, and that this may be eased by consumption of a polyphenol-rich dark chocolate. Key Benefits of Dark Chocolate... According to their new findings, the effects were seen after only one 100 grams serving of the dark chocolate. "It is possible, therefore, that greater blunting of oxidative stress responses would be observed with a different timing and/or quantity of dark chocolate ingestion, although this will require further investigation," wrote the researchers. The health benefits of polyphenols from cocoa have been gaining more and more attention in the national media. Studies have reported potential benefits for cardiovascular health, skin health, and even brain health. The majority of science into the potential benefits of cocoa have revolved around cardiovascular benefits of the flavanols (also known as flavan-3-ols or catechins), and particularly the monomeric flavanol (-) epicatechin. Study Details... The researchers recruited 14 healthy men to participate in their study. Volunteers were asked to consume 100 grams of dark chocolate, a control bar, or nothing. Two hours later, they were required to cycle for 2.5 hours at 60 percent of the maximal oxygen uptake level. Results showed that intake of the dark chocolate resulted in an increase in antioxidant status before the cycling, and reduced levels of F2-isoprostane (the oxidative stress factor) one hour after the cycling had finished, compared with the control bar. Insulin levels were also increased before the trial and after cycling for men who consumed the dark chocolate and this was associated with a "better maintenance of plasma glucose concentration", added the scientists. There were no significant changes in markers of immune response, which is known to be affected by rigorous exercise. "These results with acute dark chocolate consumption are similar to those observed following 2 weeks of daily dark chocolate ingestion," wrote the researchers. The other scientists conducting the study were affiliated with Loughborough University and the University of Newcastle in the UK, and the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The study was funded by the Nestle Research Center. Source: European Journal of Nutrition (Published online) "The effect of acute pre-exercise dark chocolate consumption on plasma antioxidant status, oxidative stress and immuno-endocrine responses to prolonged exercise" Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Americans Overdose On Energy Drinks

A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics explains how "energy drinks are consumed by 30 percent to 50 percent of adolescents and young adults." Because of slick marketing techniques, young people across America are rehydrating more and more with drinks such as Red Bull, Full Throttle, Monster and Rockstar rather than drinking water or even sports drinks, such as Gatorade and Powerade.

It seems America's youths are confused about how to rehydrate. What most are also unaware of is that drinking a single energy drink injects up to 14 times the caffeine that is found in a normal can of soda pop – an amount that is considered clinically toxic for children.


Read more: Americans overdose on energy drinks, Gatorade http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=306789#ixzz1OELNKV95

IBS Linked to Bacterial Overgrowth/ Food Poisoning

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Common Gastrointestinal Disorder Linked to Bacterial Overgrowth, Food Poisoning Cedars-Sinai researchers have reported two advances in the understanding of irritable bowel syndrome, the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 30 million people. One study provides further evidence that IBS is linked to an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut. In a separate study, a mathematical model reveals the disease's link to food poisoning and shows that military personnel are at a much higher risk for the disorder than the rest of the population. "The better we understand this disease, which affects millions of Americans, the more tools we will have for fighting it," said Mark Pimentel, MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program and a primary investigator on the studies. "Patients with this condition suffer serious quality of life issues. It's a disease that is frequently misunderstood and difficult for people to talk about, but it's important for the medical community to understand the causes of the disease so we can develop the most effective treatments possible." The findings were reported at Digestive Disease Week, the world's largest gathering of physicians and researchers in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. The May 7-10 conference occurred in Chicago. IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, affecting more than 20 percent of the population. Doctors commonly categorize patients with a "constipation predominant" condition, a "diarrhea-predominant" condition, or an alternating pattern of diarrhea and constipation. These patients also often experience abdominal pain or cramps, excess gas or bloating, and visible abdominal distension. In collaboration with researchers at Sismanogleion General Hospital in Athens, Greece, and at the University of Athens, scientists looked at small bowel cultures to confirm the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth -- or SIBO -- in patients with IBS. Previous studies have indicated that bacteria have a role in the disease, including breath tests finding methane (a byproduct of bacterial fermentation in the gut), as well as the disease responding to antibiotics. In this study, 320 patients underwent an endoscopy of their upper GI tract, from which a small bowel culture was cultivated. Of those patients with IBS, 37.5 percent were positive for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, compared to fewer than 10 percent of those who did not have the disorder . The overgrowth was more prevalent in those with the diarrhea-predominant version of the disease. Researchers also found more different kinds of bacteria in IBS patients. In a separate study, using a mathematical model, researchers concluded that food poisoning -- gastroenteritis -- may account for the majority of irritable bowel syndrome cases. Further, it predicts a greater incidence of the disease for populations at a higher risk of these kinds of infections, such as military personnel. The study was based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and other research studies. The model projects that 9 percent of those with a genetic predisposition would contract IBS after 10 years. However, among high risk groups such as deployed military, 9 percent of that population would develop the disease in a six month time frame. "While everyone understands that our troops encounter great danger and difficult conditions while serving their country, this study reminds us that we need to pay greater attention to the dietary woes and digestive upsets that long have been the subject of wry discussion among overseas forces," researchers said of the study results. Story Source: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2011, May 13) " Irritable bowel syndrome: Common gastrointestinal disorder linked to bacterial overgrowth, food poisoning."