(RealAge.com) You don't need eye cream, injections, or plastic surgery to look younger and more attractive. There's a free way to get there. Just spend more time between the sheets.

When people in a study got at least 8 hours of sleep, they were deemed by outward appearances to be healthier folks compared with when their looks were evaluated after a bout of little sleep…

A lack of sleep isn't bad news for just your looks. It affects the way your brain, endocrine system, and immune system work, too. And sleep deprivation can contribute to serious health problems, including high blood pressure and weight gain.

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(RealAge.com) Burn more fat when you walk -- and make bigger cardio gains -- just by following these three simple walking rules from Andrea Metcalf, author of Naked Fitness.

Here's what Metcalf advises: Challenge yourself with a few hills, regularly change up the terrain that you walk on, and, for really big cardio benefits, mix in a little jogging here and there.

Walking is fabulous (and fabulously easy!) exercise. And it has the highest compliance rate of any exercise around -- probably because it requires little more than a sturdy pair of walking shoes and the great outdoors. What's more, studies show that people who walk regularly are more likely to lose weight and keep it off for the long term compared with people who don't walk for exercise. But why not maximize what you get out of a walking program with Metcalf's simple strategies?

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(UPI) A U.S. emergency medicine physician says severe frostbite -- frozen tissue as deep as to the bone -- should never be rubbed

Dr. Melanie Cerinich of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., says severe frostbite -- affecting face, ears, fingers, toes, even arms and legs -- can lead to gangrene, even death. Frostbitten skin is hard, numb, and appears pale, white or gray.

"People with severe frostbite should never rub or apply snow to the affected area. That will only increase injury to the tissue," Cerinich says in a statement. "The best thing to do is to get out of the cold as fast as possible and wrap the frostbitten area immediately in some warm clothing or warm it with your body. Then seek immediate medical attention."

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(RealAge.com) Do you usually ask for tomatoes with your turkey on whole wheat? Make it a habit and your triglycerides could benefit.

In a study, young adults who consumed lots of fresh tomatoes experienced lower triglyceride levels -- and higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels. And after only 6 weeks!

Participants in the study noshed on lots of tomatoes every day -- almost 3 cups of the fresh fruit. So top your salads with cherry tomatoes, add slices to your sandwiches, and dice up a bunch of fresh tomatoes for a pico de gallo snack. You could throw in some tomato juice for good measure, as well. In the study, people who drank 2 1/2 cups of tomato juice daily experienced similar benefits -- and lower LDL cholesterol levels!

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MyRecipes.com:

Meatless Monday: Bean Burrito Bake
This five-star burrito recipe is a reader favorite and sure to become one of your go-to weeknight meals.

Refried Bean Poblanos with Cheese

Corn, Black Bean and Pepper Jack Burritos

Easy Mexican Black Bean Casserole

EatingWell:

Fettuccine Alfredo
Alfredo di Lello, the Roman restaurateur who created his signature sauc.e in the 1920s, might be startled to find this streamlined version that still tastes rich enough to satisfy those deep creamy-pasta cravings. The addition of zucchini boosts the nutritional profile. And when cut into thin strands, it can be twirled gracefully on a fork.

Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms

Fettuccine Timbale

Fettuccine with Shiitake Mushrooms & Basil

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(The Guardian, U.K.) Scientists at Oxford University have successfully tested a universal flu vaccine that could work against all known strains of the illness, taking a significant step in the fight against a disease that affects billions of people each year.

The treatment – using a new technique and tested for the first time on humans infected with flu – targets a different part of the flu virus to traditional vaccines, meaning it does not need expensive reformulation every year to match the most prevalent virus that is circulating the world.

Developed by a team led by Dr Sarah Gilbert at Oxford's Jenner Institute, the vaccine targets proteins inside the flu virus that are common across all strains, instead of those that sit on the virus's external coat, which are liable to mutate.

If used widely a universal flu vaccine could prevent pandemics, such as the swine flu outbreaks of recent years, and end the need for a seasonal flu jab.

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(WebMD Health News) A new study shows that shingles is at least as likely to strike a person who's already had one bout of the disease as one who has never had it…

It seems unfair, but people whose initial shingles outbreak caused pain for 30 days or more had the greatest the odds of a second bout. This risk diminished three to four years after the initial attack.

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(New York Times) If you have chronic pain, chances are you have discovered that getting the care you need at a price you can afford can be, well, excruciating. These suggestions may help.

A MEDICAL ‘HOME’… It is important to find a primary care provider who will serve as your “medical home” and will work with you to coordinate care. You will avoid duplicative tests and procedures, and you are more likely to find the care you need…

MENTAL HEALTH… People with chronic pain are twice as likely to suffer from depression and anxiety as the general population, but insurance coverage for mental health problems often is inadequate for these patients. Fortunately, the recently passed mental health parity law should help make those services more available…

STRETCHING OUT… Exercise is one of the most effective and most affordable ways to manage chronic pain. Gentle stretching and exercises to increase range of motion and strength training are all helpful. (Get the go-ahead from your doctor before starting, though.)…

INSURANCE APPEALS… If your plan turns down your request for physical or behavioral therapy, or any other treatment, get a copy of the policy and read the fine print, said Jennifer C. Jaff, executive director of Advocacy for Patients With Chronic Illness.

If the policy says therapies are covered only if they are medically necessary, for example, you may be able to challenge the denial in an appeal. Sometimes insurers say they are denying coverage because you have not shown improvement, a standard that someone with chronic pain may find impossible to meet. Appeal those decisions, too. Ms. Jaff’s organization files free insurance appeals for patients.

AFFORDABLE DRUGS… It is important to find a doctor who will work with you to find a drug regimen that manages your pain and who will advocate on your behalf with an insurer. As with any drug, it pays to ask your doctor if an older, generic drug might be a reasonable substitute for a brand-name prescription.

If you do not have insurance or if a drug you need is not on your plan’s list of covered drugs, check out needymeds.org, a clearinghouse for programs that provide free or discounted drugs to people, generally based on income.

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(Science Daily) [A] pediatric cardiac team … is the first in the region and one of a handful in the nation to implant a pulmonary heart valve without open-heart surgery…

The device, called the Medtronic Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve, … is used to replace a narrow or leaky pulmonary valve "conduit" -- a tube connecting the heart to the lungs -- in children and adults who previously have undergone surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Until now, pulmonary valve replacements have required open-heart surgery.

The Melody valve is inserted into a tiny opening in the leg and guided by a catheter through blood vessels into the heart. Once the valve is correctly positioned, a balloon on the end of the catheter is inflated, delivering the valve and immediately correcting blood flow.

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(Science Daily) An unexpected immune protein exacerbates cancer due to sun exposure, report researchers…

Instead of protecting the body like most interferon proteins do, interferon-ÿ allowed tumors to grow by preventing the body's natural immune response…

In exposing an unforeseen dark-side of these immune proteins, the report points to a new direction in drug development. Blocking interferon-ÿ prevented melanoma cancerous skin cells from growing into tumors in mice. A drug that intercepts interferon-ÿ, or its effects, might therefore be used to treat melanoma patients. Indeed, the team found that 70% of cancerous cells from melanoma patients contained high levels of the interferon-ÿ protein.

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(Science Daily) With millions of people warding off winter's chill with blazing fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, scientists are raising red flags about the potential health effects of the smoke released from burning wood…

The scientists analyzed and compared particulate matter in air from the center of a village in Denmark where most residents used wood stoves to a neighboring rural area with few wood stoves, as well as to pure WSPM [wood smoke particulate matter] collected from a wood stove. Airborne particles in the village and pure WSPM tended to be of the most potentially hazardous size -- small enough to be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lungs. WSPM contained higher levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which include "probable" human carcinogens. When tested on cultures of human cells, WSPM also caused more damage to the genetic material, DNA; more inflammation; and had greater activity in turning on genes in ways linked to disease.

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(HealthDay News) In cold weather, older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia, and they and their loved ones need to take steps to prevent this potentially deadly condition…

As people age, their bodies are less able to endure long periods of exposure to cold, according to the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA).

The NIA offers the following hypothermia prevention tips for seniors:

When it's cold, wear several layers of loose clothing. The layers will trap warm air between them. Always wear a hat, scarf, gloves or mittens when outside in cold weather.

At home, wear long underwear under your clothes, along with socks and slippers. Use a blanket or afghan to keep legs and shoulders warm, and wear a hat or cap.

Set your home's thermostat to at least 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Even indoor temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit can lead to hypothermia in older people.

Ask your doctor if any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking may increase the risk of hypothermia.

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Community: I find it helpful to eat a lot of pepper.

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(AP) Health care fraud used to be a faceless crime — until now.

Medicare and Medicaid scams cost taxpayers more than $60 billion a year, but the average bank holdup is likely to get more attention. Seeking the public's help to catch more than 170 fugitive fraudsters, the government has launched a new health care most-wanted list, with its own website…

[Gerald Roy, deputy inspector general for investigations at the Health and Human Services Department,] said he hopes this newest list will raise awareness about the importance of combatting health care fraud. Medicare and Medicaid, which provide care for about 100 million Americans, are in serious financial trouble and can't afford to be hemorrhaging tens of billions a year because of fraud.

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(South Florida Sun Sentinel) Medicare took steps Wednesday to make it easier for patients to file complaints about unsatisfactory medical care.

Already, hospitals must give patients a written notice telling them how to file a complaint with an independent review agency. Under the new proposal, the rule would be expanded to clinics, home health agencies, surgery centers, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, hospices and other providers — all of which would have to give patients the notices. Doctors would not be included.

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(NPR News) [A] federal judge in Mississippi dismissed a challenge to the [new federal health care] law Thursday, only days after another federal judge ruled the law was unconstitutional because of its insurance mandate…

[T]he judge who tossed lawsuit is a Republican appointed by President George W. Bush in 2004 and backed by the state's two GOP senators. The judge — Keith Starrett — said 10 individuals and Mississippi's Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant lack standing to sue. Read the decision by clicking here.

He said they failed to show they would definitely be affected by the law's insurance requirement, which doesn't kick in until the year 2014. Starrett gave the plaintiffs 30 days to refile their case, so it's still possible he'll hear them out.

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(UPI) About 2 1/2 hours of exercise a week reduces breast and colon cancer, diabetes and heart disease risk, World Health Organization officials in Switzerland say.

Dr. Ala Alwan, assistant director-general for non-communicable diseases and mental health at the WHO, says the new Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health advise at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity per week can reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases for adults…

"Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for all global deaths, with 31 percent of the world's population not physically active."

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(Science Daily) A systematic review … has analysed existing studies and concluded that there are benefits to mental and physical well-being from taking exercise in the natural environment…

The study found that most trials showed an improvement in mental well-being: compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.

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(UPI) All work and no play not only "makes Jack a dull boy," it makes him an unhealthy one, U.S. researchers suggest.

Leisure expert Dr. E. Christine Moll … says play is as important to one's health as keeping cholesterol levels in check and getting regular exercise…

Reiner examined the role leisure plays through life and the findings show that people who nurture leisure activities throughout their lives have a much healthier outlook physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and in their sense of selves.

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(Reader's Digest) Trying to lose weight? Turn down the thermostat. A cozy home could be contributing to your fat, suggests new research… When our bodies are cold, we shiver, causing our muscles to contract to generate heat—and burn calories.

Even when we’re not shivering, the cold activates a substance in our bodies called brown fat. Unlike other fat, brown fat works like a furnace, consuming calories. When we don’t use our brown fat to warm us, we lose it, along with its calorie-burning potential, says study researcher Fiona Johnson..

“Changes in the way we eat and physical activity levels are the primary factors behind increases in obesity,” says Johnson, “but other aspects of our lifestyle can also make a contribution.”

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(RealAge.com) Darker than rubies and loaded with sweet-tart taste, pomegranate juice has lots of sensory appeal. But here's a better reason to love it: It may keep your colon healthy.

In a recent test-tube study, special polyphenols in the juice appeared to do a stellar job of vanquishing colon cancer cells, reducing their ability to replicate by 85 percent…

[But] don't make pomegranates the sole component of a cancer-prevention plan. A low-meat diet and regular exercise are key to protecting your colon. Here's another smart strategy for thwarting colon cancer.

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MyRecipes.com:

Hot Turkey Sandwiches
Serve these quick-to-make sandwiches whenever you have turkey leftovers and crave a hearty sandwich. Cranberry-shallot chutney adds a sweet, tangy flavor.

Grilled Basil Chicken Sandwiches

Ham and Cheese Toasted Sandwich

Roast Beef Sandwich with Horseradish Aoli

EatingWell:

Oven-Fried Fish & Chips
Fish and chips are traditionally sold wrapped in paper to soak up all the grease—not a good sign. To cut the calories in half and reduce the fat, we coat the delicate fish in a crispy cornflake crust and then bake it along with sliced potatoes. Serve with: Coleslaw and malt vinegar or lemon wedges.

Oven-Fried Fish Fillets

Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Crispy Fish Sandwich with Pineapple Slaw

Recipes for Health, New York Times

Mushroom and Greens Gratin
This savory gratin is a regular item in my winter repertory, made easy with one-pound bags of mixed greens from the market.

Slow-Baked Beans With Kale
Baked slowly for several hours, beans acquire a creamy texture and a lovely caramelized flavor.

Potato and Chard Stalk Gratin
Chard stems aren’t throwaways — they can be used in a number of dishes, including this rich gratin.

Beets, Spiced Quinoa and Yogurt
With a layer of nutritious grains seasoned with sweet spices, this dish makes a strong entree.

Cabbage and Red Pepper Gratin
Paprika contributes a spicy edge to this sweet, comforting gratin.

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(New York Times) For decades cranberry juice has enjoyed a reputation as an effective way to prevent bladder infections. Scientists have doggedly tried to confirm this well-known folk truth with dozens of studies, some in test tubes and some in people.

The latest results are now in, and the answer is conclusive: This field is all bogged down.

Some older studies found the juice worked. Some found it didn’t. All were too small to be definitive. In 1998 a substance presumed to be the active component in the cranberry was identified with some fanfare, and two years ago another study suggested that a cranberry extract containing this substance was almost as powerful as an antibiotic.

Now a large, impeccably designed and executed study of cranberry juice has found that the presumed active compound apparently has no effect. And yet the newest study closed no doors. It may simply mean that the juice works, but by an unknown mechanism.

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(Booster Shots, Los Angeles Times) Magician James Randi, who has devoted the latter part of his career to exposing fraud, scams and charlatans, and a network of skeptics known as the 10:23 Campaign launched a major campaign Saturday against the manufacturers of so-called homeopathic drugs, charging that the companies that sell the drugs are packaging worthless products that are cheating customers out of their money.

In an online video, Randi consumed an overdose of homeopathic sleeping pills to demonstrate that they have no effect, and skeptics elsewhere consumed large overdoses of other homeopathic drugs in similar demonstrations. Randi also offered $1 million of his own money to any manufacturer of a homeopathic product who could prove that the product actually worked as claimed, and challenged major retailers like CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens to remove the products from their shelves.

"Consumers have the right to know what they are buying," he said. "No one should walk out of a drugstore with a homeopathic product without knowing these basic facts: There is no credible evidence that the product does what it says. There is not one bit -- not a single atom -- of the claimed 'active ingredient' in the package, and no U.S. health agency has tested or approved the product."

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(UPI) French researchers suggest "protracted abstinence syndrome" may be helped by drugs targeting the serotonin system.

The researchers found mice chronically exposed to morphine had decreasing physical dependence during abstinence -- with no physical withdrawal symptoms after four weeks. However, low sociability and despair behavior -- similar to protracted abstinence syndrome -- clearly developed.

The researchers say, treating the mice during the abstinence period with the antidepressant fluoxetine prevented the development of social aversion and despair behavior.

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(HealthDay News) Electrical stimulation of the brain can bring a flash of insight that can help people solve new, difficult problems, research suggests.

Investigators in Australia found that volunteers who received electrical stimulation of the brain's anterior temporal lobes were three times more likely to be able to figure out a challenging, unfamiliar problem than participants in a control group.

Many people have difficulty achieving creative leaps needed to solve new problems because they tend to stick to strategies and insights that have been successful before, study authors … explained.

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Community: Unfortunately, however, most people hate novel thinking. They try to suppress it in every way they can. It doesn’t do much good to have some people thinking creatively, even if electrically induced, when so many societal pressures work against implementing creative ideas.

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(Los Angeles Times) Add diagnosing soft-tissue injuries to online banking, e-mail, video games and thousands of other applications available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

The Food and Drug Administration ushered in the era of mobile diagnostic radiology Friday, approving software for viewing images and making medical diagnoses from MRIs and CT, PET and SPECT scans on several of Apple Inc.'s popular hand-held devices.

The FDA reviewed image quality and checked studies with radiologists under variable lighting conditions and determined that the Apple devices running Mobile MIM software offered clear enough images for diagnostic interpretation.

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(Science Daily) When a laboratory rat learns how to reach for and grab a food pellet -- a pretty complex and unnatural act for a rodent -- the acquired knowledge significantly alters the structure of the specific brain cells involved, which sprout a whopping 22 percent more dendritic spines connecting them to other motor neurons.

The finding … underscores the brain's remarkable ability to physically change as it learns (not just in rats, but presumably in humans too), but also reveals that the effect is surprisingly restricted to the network of neurons actually involved in the learning.

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Community: Yes, and habits are learned, which means they become structurally a part of the brain. That’s why it’s hard to change them. Not impossible, but it takes time and attention. It takes more than just realizing a habit is bad and a passing desire to change it.

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(UPI) U.S. researchers say neural reactions to pro-health messages -- as shown by brain scans -- may predict those most likely to successfully quit smoking.

Study leader Emily Falk of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor finds activity in the brain's medial prefrontal cortex -- while watching pro-quitting television ads -- predicted less smoking in the weeks ahead…

The findings, published in Health Psychology, suggest functional magnetic resonance imaging could be used to select the messages that are most likely to affect behavior change both at the individual and population levels.

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Community: But bear in mind that those who aren’t ready today may be ready tomorrow, or even a year from now.

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(HealthDay News) By helping other alcoholics and addicts stay clean, addicts can actually help themselves stay on the wagon, a Case Western expert suggests.

Maria E. Pagano … finds that addicts who offer fellow addicts structured support through participation in community service programs help to reduce the pull of egocentrism and/or selfishness that some researchers believe is a root cause of addiction.

"The research indicates that getting active in service helps alcoholics and other addicts become sober and stay sober, and suggests this approach is applicable to all treatment-seeking individuals with a desire to not drink or use drugs," Pagano said in a university news release. "Helping others in the program of AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] has forged a therapy based on the kinship of common suffering and has vast potential."

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Community: Almost 80 years after Bill W. and Doctor Bob pioneered the concept of service, science is finally catching up.

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(UPI) Coffee and energy drinks such as Starbucks' new 31-ounce drink, Trenta, can be loaded with excess sugar and calories a U.S. researcher says.

Ellen Schuster, a University of Missouri nutrition expert, says consumers should be wary of extra calories and sugar in the quest for bigger, bolder drinks. For example, a Trenta-sized Starbuck's lemonade could include 21 teaspoons of sugar, Schuster says.

"The sheer size of new coffee and energy drinks increases consumers' potential for unhealthy calorie and sugar consumption," Schuster, state specialist for University of Missouri Extension and the College of Human Environmental Sciences, says in a statement.

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(RealAge.com) Low-fat yogurt is a smart move for your waistline. But a new study suggests that the occasional indulgence in whole-milk yogurt could carry some benefits, too.

In a 20-year study, people with the highest blood levels of trans-palmitoleic acid -- a type of fatty acid found in full-fat dairy products -- were 60 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

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MyRecipes.com:

Pork with Lemon-Caper Sauce
Lightly-breaded pork chops cook quickly for a fast and delicious weeknight dinner. Serve with orzo and green beans.

Fennel-Crusted Pork with Roasted Artichokes

Rubbed Pork Loin with Apricot Glaze and Sauerkraut

Pork Loin Stuffed with Cranberries and Rosemary

EatingWell:

Pulled Pork with Caramelized Onions
Traditional pulled pork is barbecued, which gives it a smoky flavor. But the slow cooker happens to be the absolute easiest way to cook pulled pork—and you can get a hint of smoke by adding chipotle chile. Serve the pulled pork with potato salad, collard greens and grits. Or make it into a sandwich and serve it on a bun with coleslaw.

Green Beans with Caramelized Red Onions

Beef Burgers with Caramelized Onions

Seared Steaks with Caramelized Onions & Gorgonzola

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(Science Daily) In a discovery that may lead to a new treatment for breast cancer that has spread to the bone, a Princeton University research team has unraveled a mystery about how these tumors take root.

Cancer cells often travel throughout the body and cause new tumors in individuals with advanced breast cancer -- a process called metastasis -- commonly resulting in malignant bone tumors. What the Princeton research has uncovered is the exact mechanism that lets the traveling tumor cells disrupt normal bone growth. By zeroing in on the molecules involved, and particularly a protein called "Jagged1" that sends destructive signals to cells, the research team has opened the door to drug therapies that could block this disruptive process. Doctors at other medical centers who have reviewed the research have found it promising.

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(Science Daily) By coaxing healthy and diseased human bone marrow to become embryonic-like stem cells, a team of Wisconsin scientists has laid the groundwork for observing the onset of the blood cancer leukemia in the laboratory dish.

"This is the first successful reprogramming of blood cells obtained from a patient with leukemia," says … stem cell researcher Igor Slukvin, who directed a study aimed at generating all-purpose stem cells from bone marrow and umbilical cord blood. "We were able to turn the diseased cells back into pluripotent stem cells. This is important because it provides a new model for the study of cancer cells."

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(Science Daily) Ever since researchers devised a recipe for turning adult cells into cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells, there has been lingering doubt in the field about just how close to embryonic stem cells each of those cell lines really is at a molecular and functional level. Now, researchers reporting in the February 4th issue of the journal Cell, have developed a systematic way to lay those doubts about quality to rest.

They have devised a method to quickly and comprehensively characterize those cells using a series of genomic assays, ultimately assigning a scorecard to each…

The advance is critical for the future use of iPS cells [induced pluripotent stem cells] in the study of disease, for cell-based drug screening and as a renewable source of cells for transplantation medicine, the researchers say. Overall, the news is quite positive.

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(HealthDay News) The amount of money spent on psychiatric drugs in the United States continues to grow but at a much slower rate than in previous years, a new federal government study has found…

The agency's analysis of health-care costs from 1986 to 2005, the latest year comparable data is available, also found that spending on behavioral health accounts for a decreasing portion of overall health-care costs…

"Behavioral health services are critical to health systems and community strategies that improve health status, and they lower costs for individuals, families, businesses and governments," Pamela S. Hyde, the SAMHSA administrator, said in an agency news release. "The value of behavioral health services is well documented. Studies have shown that every dollar invested in evidence-based treatments yields $2 to $10 in savings in health costs, criminal and juvenile justice costs, educational costs and lost productivity. Yet, too many people don't get needed help for substance abuse or mental health problems, and health-care costs continue to skyrocket."

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(Reuters Health) More than a quarter of Americans taking antidepressants have never been diagnosed with any of the conditions the drugs are typically used to treat, according to new research.

That means millions could be exposed to side effects from the medicines without proven health benefits, researchers say.

"We cannot be sure that the risks and side effects of antidepressants are worth the benefit of taking them for people who do not meet criteria for major depression," said Jina Pagura, a psychologist … who worked on the study.

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(UPI) More than half of U.S. clinical trials exclude seniors but researchers call for more elderly participants since they are the main consumers of medications…

Lead author Dr. Donna Zulman says the review of clinical trials found that one in five trials excluded patients based on their age alone. Furthermore, almost half of the remaining trials excluded people using criteria that could disproportionately affect older adults, such as physical frailty or impaired cognition.

The study found that trials rarely assess how treatments affect function and quality of life.

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(Reuters) More than half a billion people, or one in 10 adults worldwide, are obese -- more than double the number in 1980 -- as the obesity epidemic spills over from wealthy into poorer nations, researchers said on Thursday.

And while rich nations made big strides in cutting rates of high cholesterol and hypertension, or high blood pressure, the overall number of people with high blood pressure rose from 600 million in 1980 to nearly 1 billion in 2008, fueled by an aging and expanding global population…

Commenting on the findings in the Lancet, Sonia Anand and Salim Yusuf from McMaster University in Canada said they showed a global "tsunami of cardiovascular disease" which needed to be met with population-wide efforts to cut intake of bad fats and salt, and increased levels of exercise.

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(HealthDay News) Besides enabling severely obese people to lose weight, gastric bypass surgery seems to help their overly stressed hearts return to more normal function and appearance, a new study suggests.

Obesity is a risk factor for many types of heart problems, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm) and death, explained senior study author Dr. Sheldon Litwin…

The connection between obesity and cardiovascular disease isn't fully understood, but obese people often show signs of structural changes to the heart, including excess heart muscle mass in the left ventricle and enlargement of the right ventricular cavity. Both are linked to heart failure and other problems.

Read more.

Community: Yes, but is it the surgery or the weight loss that “remodels” the heart? I continue to be skeptical of the necessity for surgery.

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(HealthDay News) About 340,000 cancer cases in the United States could be prevented each year if more Americans ate a healthy diet, got regular exercise and limited their alcohol intake, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)…

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Each year, 12.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer and 7.6 million die from the disease. But 30 percent to 40 percent of cancers can be prevented and one-third can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment, according to the WCRF.

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(Science Daily) After taking a small dose of inorganic nitrate for three days, healthy people consume less oxygen while riding an exercise bike. A new study … traces that improved performance to increased efficiency of the mitochondria that power our cells…

[Said Eddie Weitzberg of the Karolinska Institutet,] "We know that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes but the active nutrients haven't been clear. This shows inorganic nitrate as a candidate to explain those benefits."…

Nitric oxide has been known for two decades as a physiologically important molecule. It opens up our blood vessels to lower blood pressure, for instance.

The new study offers yet another benefit of nitrate and the nitric oxides that stem from them. It appears that the increased mitochondrial efficiency is owed to lower levels of proteins that normally make the cellular powerhouses leaky.

Read more.

Community: As Popeye the Sailor Man has always told us, “I'm strong to the ‘Finich’ / 'Cause I eats me spinach.”

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MyRecipes.com:

Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach
Serve these quick-cooking scallops over a bed of whole-grain pasta or brown rice for a filling (and impressive!) meal.

Spinach Pie with Goat Cheese, Raisins, and Pine Nuts

Pesto Lasagna with Spinach and Mushrooms

Layered Torta with Ham, Provolone, Spinach, and Herbs

EatingWell:

New England Clam Chowder
Chopped clams, aromatic vegetables and creamy potatoes blended with low-fat milk and just a half cup of cream gives this chunky New England-style clam chowder plenty of rich body. Serve with oyster crackers and a tossed salad to make it a meal.

Manhattan Clam Chowder

Clams Casino

Spaghetti with Clam Sauce

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