PreDisease.com Blog

People are aware that certain tastes evoke certain responses: sweet foods are more palatable than some bitter foods; some people crave salty foods while others prefer sweets. The five tastes that humans are able to differentiate are sweet, salt, bitter, sour and foods that are high in protein (also referred to as umami).

Researchers have discovered that humans can differentiate a sixth flavor: namely, fat. Furthermore, people that are hypersensitive to the flavor of fat are less likely to eat foods with high fat content. Conversely, those people less able to differentiate the taste of fat were more likely to eat foods high in fat, and were also more prone to being overweight and to having a higher BMI (body mass index).

This research is interesting because it holds the possibility of developing new ways to help people lose weight, by altering their sensitivity to the taste of fat. In addition, this research could lead to the development of new foods that are low in fat but are still palatable to those trying to lose weight. Manipulating this new knowledge in a way that targets taste perceptions may offer new avenues to weight loss.

Source: Discovery of ‘Fat’ Taste Could Hold the Key to Reducing Obesity

Part of President Obama’s health care reform plan is to increase comparative effectiveness research. This type of research can reduce health care costs by determining the most effective medications to treat certain conditions, as well as comparing drug therapy against other forms of treatment to determine which is best. This type of research is aimed at finding the most cost-effective treatments available.

Generally, pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in funding studies that show that the drug they supply is better than a drug from another rival company. Billions of dollars are spent on researching new drugs that will earn pharmaceutical companies millions in revenues, but drug companies are less interested in funding research that may not show their product in a favorable light.

Non-commercial and government entities support most of these comparative studies; 1.1 billion dollars was earmarked by Congress last year to fund comparative effectiveness studies as part of the government’s stimulus program. It has been suggested that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) should demand these studies from drug companies before granting approval of new drugs. At this point in time, this is not a requirement for gaining approval status for new medications.

Many new medications are not necessarily better but may be more expensive, a fact that is sometimes forgotten in the hype and media blitz that often occurs with the release of a new drug. People are lulled into a sense of security and may be unaware that the expensive new drug that has been hailed as the “wonder drug” of the month may not be any more effective that the “old” one that did virtually the same thing.

Is it any wonder that many cannot afford their medications? Comparative effectiveness research may be one tool in the arsenal of health care reform that can help to reduce the runaway costs of prescription drugs.

Source: Few U.S. studies compare one drug to another: report

It seems that researchers can’t get enough of vitamin D. There have been many studies in the past few years which have yielded evidence that vitamin D may provide a protective effect against heart disease, multiple sclerosis, premature birth and other conditions.

Now, researchers from Denmark have studied the effects of vitamin D on the immune system and have come to the conclusion that vitamin D plays an important role in marshalling the immune system’s defenses against infectious diseases, such as colds and influenza.

Their research has shown that vitamin D helps to signal “dormant” white blood cells to become active, in order to seek out and destroy invading organisms. White blood cells can be thought of as front-line soldiers in the immune system’s response to bugs. Specifically, vitamin D triggers T-cells, the cells that contain a memory for bugs that the body has been exposed to before. T-cells also target infectious agents that the body has never been exposed to. This research could have implications for the development of new methods to combat old enemies, such as cancer and certain auto-immune diseases.

We get most of our vitamin D from exposure the sun. Our body absorbs ultraviolet rays and converts them into vitamin D. We also obtain vitamin D from foods such as fish, milk, liver, eggs, and foods that have been fortified with vitamin D.

Source: Vitamin D crucial to activating immune defenses

The benefits of breastfeeding for infants have been well documented. These benefits include a reduction in the risk of allergies, eczema, ear infections, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory illnesses and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), to name but a few. But what of the benefits to mothers who breastfeed?

Research in the past has shown that mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing some conditions, such as ovarian and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and postpartum depression. The latest research shows that breastfeeding can reduce amounts of abdominal fat for years after breastfeeding has ceased. Many women are aware that breastfeeding can help them to lose weight after pregnancy, but now there is proof that breastfeeding can decrease abdominal girth, and that this benefit can last for decades.

Abdominal fat is known to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in women, as well as contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome. Breastfeeding moms will be happy to know that breastfeeding their infants not only conveys a protective health benefit to their infant, but may also help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes in themselves in later years.

Source: Breast-Feeding Helps Mom Stay Slimmer Later in Life

Most people would rather not think about colorectal cancer, but the fact remains that colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth in females. Here’s what you need to know about this disease, which is very treatable when diagnosed in the early stage:

• Risk factors for the disease include polyps, hereditary factors and ulcerative colitis
• Colorectal cancers often arise from polyps, and removal of polyps can help prevent the disease
• Early colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms, but regular screening can catch the disease in its early stages
• Diagnosis of the disease is most often made by barium enema or colonoscopy; a biopsy confirms the diagnosis
• Surgery is often the first-line treatment for colorectal cancer
• Western diets are thought to contribute to colorectal cancer (this type of cancer is rare in Africa and Asia)
• About 20% of cases of colorectal cancer are associated with a family history of the disease
• Colon cancer can be present for many years before symptoms are noticed; weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, weakness and abdominal pain may be symptoms of colon cancer
• Anyone over the age of 40 should have yearly exams for colorectal cancer, including a digital rectal exam and testing for occult blood in the stool

Colorectal cancer is best treated by preventing the disease in the first place. When caught early, colorectal cancer can be treated and cured.

Source: Colorectal Cancer

Spring is upon us, and with the reemergence of the sun and longer days comes unhealthy behavior that can increase your risk of skin cancer. Many people mistakenly believe that tanning is safe in small doses, despite evidence to the contrary.

Essentially, a tan is the result of damage to the skin. Exposure to ultraviolet light results in the darker colororation of the skin that many people seek, believing that they appear healthier or more attractive when they have a tanned appearance. The reality is that a tan is the result of damage, and damage to cellular DNA may result in melanoma or other skin cancers. Tanning beds are believed by many to be safer than the sun, a belief that is false according to cancer experts. There has been much controversy over the past few years, with tanning bed owners vigorously defending their product while scientists refute the claim that tanning beds are safe to use.

To lower the risk of skin cancer, you should avoid the sun as much as possible. If you plan to be in the sun, you should use an approved sunscreen with an SPF (sun protective factor) of at least 30. Cover your skin as much as possible, and wear a hat to shield both your head and your eyes. Children should have sunscreen applied by a responsible adult and should have sunscreen reapplied if they enter water. Using these simple measures can help you avoid both skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, which is accelerated by sun exposure.

Knowing your genotype for low-fat or low-carb diets could significantly increase your chances of dieting success. Researchers followed 133 women for a year after they submitted to a genetic test to determine which type of diet their body would respond best to.

The test, which involved obtaining a sample from the inside of the women’s cheeks, was able to differentiate those women who would respond well to a low-carb diet versus women who would do better on a low-fat diet. By following the diet that their genes were naturally programmed for, the women were able to lose as much as 2 ½ times the weight of women without the genetic predisposition.

For years scientists have wondered why, when two people strictly follow the same regimented diet, one person would lose weight and one would not. The answer, according to this study, lies in our genes. Knowing which way your body is programmed might mean that dieting will prove more successful for those who diet according to their needs.

Researchers caution that further study with larger groups is necessary, but state the findings from this study had statistical relevance, and the genetic test may provide another weapon in the fight against obesity.

Source: Genes Point to Best Diets

New guidelines for prostate screening state that men aged 50 and older should discuss their risk of prostate cancer with their physician and decide whether the benefits of screening for prostate cancer is greater than the risks. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men; in 2009, approximately 27,000 men lost their lives to prostate cancer.

The problem lies in the fact that really effective prostate screening tests have not been developed. At present, prostate screening consists of performing a rectal exam to check for prostate irregularities and a blood test, the PSA, or prostate-specific antigen. The problem with the PSA blood test is that it can yield false-positive results. Many prostate cancers are slow growing and not immediately life-threatening, meaning that men may undergo treatments for prostate cancer that can have potentially devastating side effects, such as impotence and incontinence. The other side of the coin is that not testing may result in some cancers not being diagnosed.

The American Cancer Society is focusing on education, recommending that screening counseling should be provided prior to screening taking place, so that men are aware of the shortcomings of prostate screening, as well as the risks of not screening. The bottom line? Men should be armed with the most current information and should decide for themselves whether or not they should be screened for prostate cancer.

Source: Let men decide on prostate screening, cancer society says

Many people believe that taking aspirin (ASA) daily will help prevent a heart attack or stroke. Is there any validity to the idea that aspirin can be used to prevent cardiovascular disease?

Aspirin is a potent anti-inflammatory and pain killer; almost everyone has taken aspirin for a headache or for other body pains. However, aspirin is also a blood thinner, and it is this property that people who take daily aspirin are hoping to exploit for their own good. Aspirin is often prescribed as a preventative agent for those who have already suffered a heart attack or stroke.

A trial of almost 30,000 people, both men and women, who did not have heart disease was undertaken to determine if aspirin would prevent future heart disease. The result? Aspirin did not prevent cardiovascular disease but did raise the risk of bleeding internally in the stomach, brain or elsewhere.

The conclusion of the study’s authors was that aspirin is effective for the secondary prevention of heart attack and stroke but was not effective in preventing an initial event. The risk of bleeding, although small, outweighs the benefit of taking aspirin daily to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Source: The Benefits of Popping an Aspirin (and Some Risks)

It is estimated that 76 million people in the United States become ill after succumbing to a foodborne illness every year, with 5,000 of these people becoming so sick that they die (CDC, 2009). Alarmed by these numbers? The last few years saw an unprecedented number of foodborne outbreaks. Common culprits were peanuts, lettuce, peppers, spinach, sprouts and seafood.

What can consumers do to protect themselves and their families from foodborne illnesses?

• Don’t buy food that is packaged in damaged containers- damaged containers may be an indication that food has been contaminated, so do not eat food from containers that are dented, cracked, etcetera
• Don’t allow perishable food items to come to room temperature- store perishable items in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible after purchase to inhibit bacterial growth
• Don’t allow meat to thaw on the counter- meat should be thawed in the refrigerator or in
• a  microwave
• Do wash hands thoroughly before and after handling food, especially when handling meat
• Do not leave food out at room temperature for greater than 2 hours
• Don’t use a wooden cutting board- use a plastic cutting board that can be immersed in hot, soapy water after use to kill germs
• Do wash all produce carefully
• Do cook meat thoroughly- use a meat thermometer

Following these simple tips can help you and your family to avoid foodborne illnesses and stay healthy.

Source : Foodborne Illness