Archive for January, 2010

Regular practice of  yoga can lower a number of compounds in the blood and reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging. The study, done by Ohio State University researchers and just reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, showed that women who routinely practiced yoga had lower amounts of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in their blood.

for further reading: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/yogastress.htm

Lead exposure  is more common today than most realize. A recent study in the Archives of General Psychiatry (December issue) found that individuals with lead levels of 2.11 ug/dL or more had 2.3x greater risk of being diagnosed with Manic Depressive Disorder (MDD) and had nearly 5x the odds of panic disorder compared with those with lead levels of 0.7 ug/dL or less.

Elevated symptoms of depression, hostility, and anxiety have been shown in a number of studies done on employees from foundries, smelters, and battery plants who had very high blood lead levels (averaging 40 ug/dL). “What is most surprising is the finding that lead can be associated with adverse mental health status at such low levels of exposure,” said Dr. Bouchard. The mean blood level in study subjects was 1.61 ug/dL.

Steps have been taken over the years to decrease environmental lead. One big step in the right direction was the elimination of lead from gasoline. This process significantly decreased average blood levels in the general population, but remaining sources of exposure include contaminated water, home plumbing fixtures, paints, ceramic dishes, and hunting & fishing gear.

According to a press release from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology “New research in the FASEB Journal shows for the first time that reducing caloric intake, specifically in the form of glucose, extends the lifespan of human cells . . Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have shown exactly how restricted calorie diets—specifically in the form of restricted glucose—help human cells live longer. This discovery  could help lead to drugs and treatments that slow human aging and prevent cancer.”

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/foas-sti122109.php