Cutting cancer risk at the barbecue

Few things taste as good as a barbecued steak or burger. Unfortunately, grilling meats produces compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that increase the risk of cancer. The smoke that flares back on the meat when the fat hits the coals produce other cancer causing substances called polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Scientists from the national institutes of health (NIH) suggest barbecuing vegetables and fruits as an alternative.
Marinating meats also decreases HCA production by as much as 92 percent to 99 percent. Other cancer reducing tips include micro waving food for 1 minute before grilling, flipping food often and cooking red meat medium or rare. These measures reduce meat temperature, which prevent the production of cancer causing chemicals. Cutting down on red meat consumption may also prevent many types of cancer. (Dekalb Medical; press release May 12, 2008)

Got the rotator cuff blues?

If you throw, hit a tennis racket swim. Or lift weighs hard enough and long enough, chances are you will develop a rotator cuff problem. The cuff is made up of four muscles that cause the shoulder to rotate in and out. In the same general area of the shoulder you will find bursa, tendons and ligaments, all of which can become irritated or injured from trauma or overuse. Initial weakness of the cuff can lead to bursitis, tendonitis, bone spurs, tears and ruptures. Conservative treatment – rest, ice, rehab exercises and anti-inflammatory drugs is best. However, chronic shoulder problems may require surgery to repair or prevent tendon tears and ruptures. Results of shoulder surgery to repair tendon ruptures, tears and shoulder impingement are very good…92 percent of patients reported a good result two and five years after the procedure. Experts encourage patients to do shoulder rehab exercises religiously for three to six months before resorting to surgery. (American Journal Sports Medicine, 36: 987-993, 2008)

Are you growth hormone deficient?

Celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone have popularized growth hormone (GH) supplements as a fountain of youth. Scientific studies and anecdotal observations from GH users suggest that it increases bone and muscle mass, decreases body fat, improves energy levels, boosts sexual performance and tightens the skin. Critics charge that GH supplements are a scam and that millions of Americans are spending a lot of money on a drug that could damage their health and decreases longevity. The food and drug administration (FDA) has approved GH supplements for brain-based short stature in children, growth hormone deficiency in adults, muscle wasting from AIDS and several obscure metabolic disorders. Growth hormone deficiency is rare and is diagnosed using an insulin challenge test. Does GH therapy prevent some of the symptoms of aging in metabolically normal adults? The evidence is mixed. One 10years long study from Sweden found that patients (52 men and 35 women; average age 44) given daily injections of GH for 10 years (0.47mg to 0.98mg per day) increased muscle mass, maintained body fat and improved blood markers of general health (cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), and hemoglobin A1c (measure of blood sugar control) (J Clin Endocrinal Metab, 92:1442-1445, 2007). The study showed that middle aged adults gained substantial benefits from long-term growth hormone supplementation with minimal side effects. Other studies found that GH increased lean mass and decreased fat, but did not improve strength or power output capacity. Most adults will not meet the criteria for growth hormone deficiency but might benefit from hormone replacement therapy. We need more research to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks. (Growth Hormone IGF Research, 18:116, 2008)

Many older people take supplemental growth hormone to increase IGF-1 levels in the hope of living longer, losing fat, gaining muscle and improving skin texture. Also, low levels of IGF-1 are linked to heart disease and diabetes. Increasing IGF-1 in your 50s and 60s might make you feel and look better, but it might also prevent you from living to 100. Low IGF-1 and GH levels are linked to increased lifespan in insects and small mammals. The same might be true in humans. (Proceedings National Academy Sciences, 105: 3438-42, 2008)

Heavy cell phone use linked to mouth cancer

In the old days, when you needed to speak to your girlfriend or wife and were on the road, you pulled over to the nearest gas station and called her on a pay phone. Those days are long gone. People depend on cell phones for communications, internet access and entertainment. Many people spend hours with the phones glued to their ears. An Israel study found that heavy cell phone use increased the risk of salivary gland tumors by 50 percent.
Researchers compared 500 Israelis who developed the cancer with 1300 healthy controls. Salivary cancers are rare, but the incidences are rising. Most studies show no link between cell phone use and cancer, but heavy use of these devices is a relatively recent phenomenon. Cancers typically take many years to develop, so short-term increases in cancer rates in cell phone users is a potentially ominous observation. On a positive note, a 10-year study found no link between cell phone usage and any kind of cancer in 420,000 people in Denmark. (American Journal of Epidemiology 167: 457-467, 2008)

Urban legends about fluid requirements

Until recently, health experts recommended that the average person drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. In 205, the United States department of Agriculture changed that and recommended that people drink fluids when they are thirsty. Fluid requirements are so variable that it is impossible to make recommendations that are appropriate for everyone. Physically active people can plan for increased fluid requirements by consuming more beverages at mealtime. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, in a review of literature, concluded that people should drink more water in hot climates or if they are physically active. Water influences sodium and urea elimination from the kidneys, but it is not clear if these effects are beneficial. Drinking water intake above thirst levels does not benefit the tissues and organs and will not “flush out” toxins and poisons. Also, water does not suppress appetite, promote weight loss or improve skin texture and appearance. We have no evidence one way or the other for recommending increased water intake in the average person. You can get too much of a good thing. The kidneys can only process about 1 l (about a quart) per hour. Drinking more than that increases your risk of water that increases your risk of water intoxication, which can be deadly. The take home message is to drink water when you’re going to exercise in the heat and don’t follow any set schedule for fluid replacement. (Journal American Society Nephrology, in press; published online April 2008)

Winning increases testosterone

I love the smell of testosterone in the morning; it smells like victory! Cambridge University scientists affirmed what researchers have known for more than 50 year: winning increases testosterone levels. Saliva testosterone increased in stock traders when they were making money, while cortisol (a catabolic hormone) increased when the market was variable and unsettled. During a six-day winning streak, the testosterone level of one trader increased by 74 percent. The study affirmed what coaches have known for years: wining triggers more winning. Increased testosterone produced by winning tended to promote aggressiveness and enthusiasm, which led to more winning. Coaches often schedule games earlier in the season that will likely result in victory. Likewise, unexpected losses often lead to additional losses because of decreases in testosterone and increases in cortisol. Testosterone is critical for making gains in muscle mass, strength and overall fitness. Bodybuilders should have winning attitudes if they want to make maximum gains in the gym. (Sciences, in press; published online April 2008)

Cell phones decrease sperm quality

Many people seem to have a cell phone glued to their ear almost continuously. A Cleveland Clinic study showed that talking on a cell phone impaired fertility in men. They examined sperm quality in 361 men undergoing fertility evaluation and compared it with cell phone usage during the day. Sperm count, motility (movement), sperm health and overall structure deteriorated with increased cell phone use. Even a small amount of exposure (less than 2 hours per day) caused sperm cell deterioration compared to men who did not use cell phones. Other studies found that talking on a cell phone close to bedtime could make it more difficult to fall a sleep. Exposure to electromagnetic radiation from using cell phones before bedtime caused insomnia, headache and confusion. It appears that radiation from cell phones might interfere hormones and influence many aspects of body function. Before you throw away your cell phone, a six year long British study showed that cell phones posed no short-term risk to the brain. However, there is enough negative information about cell phones to limit their use. (Fertility and sterility, 89: 124-128, 2008; Bioelectromagnetics, 29: 185-96, 2008)