Coffee Could Help Reduce Body Fat In Women, Study Finds

The Benefits of Coffee

Reaching for that extra cup of coffee could come with added health benefits

Kristen Dalli Reporter

Photo (c) Drazen Zigic - Getty Images

While many consumers worry about their coffee intake, recent studies have found that the popular morning beverage could come with countless health benefits, including fighting obesity.

Now, researchers at Anglia Ruskin University have found that having two to three cups of coffee per day could help women keep off excess body fat. 

“Our research suggests that there may be bioactive compounds in coffee other than caffeine that regulate weight which could potentially be used as antiobesity compounds,” said researcher Dr. Lee Smith. “It could be that coffee, or its effective ingredients, could be integrated into a healthy diet strategy to reduce the burden of chronic conditions related to the obesity epidemic.” 

Health benefits of caffeine 

To understand what health benefits consumers can reap from coffee, the researchers evaluated responses to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They looked specifically at how coffee consumption affected consumers’ trunk fat and overall body fat. 

Overall, greater coffee consumption was linked with a reduction in body fat, but more significant changes were seen in women than in men. 

The researchers learned that body fat was nearly three percent lower overall for women who drank two to three cups of coffee per day, but older women benefitted even more from the extra boost of caffeine. For those in the 45-69 year-old age group, having two to three coffees each day was linked with over four percent lower body fat, whereas for younger women, body fat was lowered by roughly 3.5 percent. 

The study also found that it didn’t matter whether the participants drank decaf or fully caffeinated coffee, as the results remained consistent. 

Because caffeine affects everyone differently, it’s important that consumers to know how much their bodies can handle before upping their coffee intake each day. However, for those that can manage adding an extra cup or two each day, coffee could help maintain a healthy weight. 

Kristen Dalli

Kristen Dalli is a New York native and recent graduate of Marist College. She has worked as a writer and editor for several different companies and publications, including Thought Catalog, The Oddysey, Thomas Greco Publishing, and several travel blogs.
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Unhealthy habits can start young: infants, toddlers and added sugars

Unhealthy habits can start young: infants, toddlers and added sugars:

A new study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published by Elsevier, found that nearly two-thirds of infants (61 percent) and almost all toddlers (98 percent) consumed added sugars in their average daily diets, primarily in the form of flavored yogurts (infants) and fruit drinks (toddlers).


Newswise — Philadelphia, November 14, 2019 – A new study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published by Elsevier, found that nearly two-thirds of infants (61 percent) and almost all toddlers (98 percent) consumed added sugars in their average daily diets, primarily in the form of flavored yogurts (infants) and fruit drinks (toddlers). Infants were 6-11 months, and toddlers were 12-23 months.

The analysis documented some good news in the decline over the study period (2005-06 and 2015-16) in the percentage of infants and toddlers whose daily diets include added sugars, as well as the amounts they consumed. Yet the widespread intake points to a serious and persistent problem: the early development of eating patterns associated with negative health conditions.

“Our study, which is the first to look at trends in added sugars consumption by infants and toddlers, documents that most infants and toddlers consume added sugars. This has important public health implications since previous research has shown that eating patterns established early in life shape later eating patterns,” explained lead investigator Kirsten A. Herrick, PhD, MSc, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD, USA. She cited an earlier study that found that 6-year-olds who had consumed any sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) before the age of one were more than twice as likely to consume an SSB at least once a day compared to 6-year-olds who had not consumed any before the age of one.

Dr. Herrick noted, “Previous research into the diets of children over two years old associated sugar consumption with the development of cavities, asthma, obesity, elevated blood pressure and altered lipid profiles.”

Health organizations in the United States promulgate guidelines that recommend limiting sugar intake to 9 tsp or less for adult men, and 6 tsp or less for adult women and children between 2 and 19. With no comparable research available for infants and toddlers prior to this study, only one organization, the American Heart Association, provided any guidance for children under age 2. “Our study’s findings about infant and toddler diets should raise awareness among health organizations and practitioners and inform future guidelines and recommendations,” she added.

The investigators analyzed data for 1,211 infants and toddlers (6-23 months) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016, a nationally representative study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They used the Food Patterns Equivalents Database and the United States Department of Agriculture’s What We Eat In America’s list to categorize foods. Sugars contained in breast milk and formula were not included in the consumption estimates.

The results showed that infants consumed about 1 teaspoon (tsp) of added sugars daily (equivalent to about 2 percent of their daily caloric intake), while toddlers consumed about 6 tsp of sugars (about 8 percent of their daily caloric intake). No differences were detected in added sugars consumption by sex, family income level, and head-of-household, but there were some distinctions by race/Hispanic origin: non-Hispanic Asian toddlers consumed the fewest added sugars (3.7 tsp) and non-Hispanic black toddlers consumed the most added sugars (8.2 tsp). The top food sources of added sugars for infants included yogurt, baby snacks and sweets, and sweet bakery products. For toddlers, the top sources included fruit drinks, sweet baked products, and sugar and candy
. 
According to Dr. Herrick, parents should be mindful of added sugars levels in the foods chosen when weaning their infants. “The transition from a milk-based diet (breast milk and formula) to table foods has an impact on nutrition, taste preference, and eating patterns. More work is needed to understand this critical period.” She recommends discussing which solid foods to introduce during weaning with a child’s healthcare provider and pointed to the Nutrition Facts label as another resource to support informed decisions. While the federal requirement to include added sugars content of a food or beverages on the Nutrition Facts label is not mandatory until January 2020, many labels already include this information. For more information about infant and toddler nutrition, visit

How Gut Bacteria Influence Your Metabolism

Gut Bacteria

Story at-a-glance

• Any given individual will have around 160 different species of bacteria colonizing their gut. This individual combination is known as your gut microbiome, and can have a tremendous influence on health and well-being
• Obesity is associated with as much as a 40% decrease in bacterial diversity. Improving diversity through probiotic supplementation can help resolve metabolic defects, resulting in fat loss
• Research has demonstrated that probiotics — beneficial bacteria found in fermented and cultured foods such as yogurt — have a measurable effect on several metabolic pathways
• A link has also been found between bowel movements and obesity; 8.5% of obese and 11.5% of severely obese individuals reported chronic diarrhea, compared to 4.5% of those with normal weight
• One hypothesis is that chronic low-grade inflammation is at play. Not only is chronic inflammation a factor in obesity, but it can also contribute to diarrhea

Hippocrates once said that “all disease begins in the gut,”¹ and the more we learn, the more accurate that statement proves to be. As noted in a 2018 paper:²

“While often-quoted figures suggest that the microbes that live in and on the human body outnumber human cells by 10:1, a more recent estimate suggests that we are essentially one part human to one part microbe in terms of cell number.³

These commensal microorganisms have a vital role in human health. They break down otherwise indigestible dietary fibres and other components of food, produce vitamins, promote the development and maturation of the immune system, and prevent pathogenic bacterial species from colonizing the gut.”

According to evidence cited in this paper, of the 1,000 or so gut bacteria we know of, any given individual will have around 160 different species of bacteria colonizing their gut. This individual combination is known as your gut microbiome, and can have a tremendous influence on health and well-being.
The diversity of your gut microbiome begins to be established when you are an infant, and is affected by genetics, whether you are breast or bottle fed, and your immediate environment. Later in life your microbiome is significantly affected by your food choices.⁴
Diets high in sugar and processed foods may reduce the diversity and your overall health, while diets high in whole foods high in fiber tend to have a beneficial impact.
For example, a number of studies have found obese individuals tend to have a less diverse gut microbiome,⁵ in addition to having greater numbers of certain harmful bacteria and fewer beneficial ones.
Studies have shown obesity is associated with as much as a 40% decrease in diversity,⁶ and that improving that diversity through probiotic supplementation can help resolve metabolic defects, resulting in fat loss.⁷

Obesity Associated With Frequent Diarrhea

There’s also a link between abnormal bowel movements and obesity, according to research⁸ published in September 2019. As reported by Medical Xpress:⁹

“In the most comprehensive analysis of the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and bowel habits to date, published today in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, a team of physician-researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) found a strong association between obesity and chronic diarrhea independent of an individual's dietary, lifestyle, psychological factors or medical conditions …

‘While several previous studies have pointed to an association between obesity and bowel habits, all lacked data on whether dietary or other factors drive the connection,’ said corresponding author Sarah Ballou, Ph.D., a health psychologist in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at BIDMC.

‘Our research confirms a positive association between obesity and chronic diarrhea and reveals for the first time that this relationship is not driven by confounding factors such as diet or physical activity level.’”

Looking at data from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the researchers found 8.5% of obese and 11.5% of severely obese individuals reported chronic diarrhea, compared to 4.5% of those with normal weight. “Stepwise regression revealed that severe obesity was independently associated with increased risk of diarrhea,” the authors say.
Unfortunately, this study cannot shed light on why this is happening. One hypothesis is that chronic low-grade inflammation is at play. Not only is chronic inflammation a factor in obesity,¹⁰ but it can also contribute to diarrhea.
Systemic inflammation is also believed to be one of the leading triggers for other serious diseases, including neurological degeneration,¹¹ Type 2 diabetes¹² and cardiovascular disease¹³ — all of which, by the way, are also associated with obesity.
Committing to making changes to your gut microbiome can do far more than improve your bowel habits. Your gut health is important to most aspects of your health, including reducing your risk for cancer, metabolic syndrome and depression.

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Probiotics Shown to Alter Metabolism

Improving your microbiome can be as simple as increasing your intake of fermented foods or taking a quality protiotic supplement. Previous research has demonstrated that probiotics — beneficial bacteria found in fermented and cultured foods such as yogurt — have a measurable effect on your metabolism.
One such study,¹⁴ published in 2008, found the bacterial strains Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus affected a number of different metabolic pathways, including the metabolism of:

• Hepatic lipids
• Amino-acids
• Methylamines
• Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)

As reported by Science Daily:¹⁵

“Adding 'friendly' bacteria changed the makeup of the bugs in the gut, not only because this increased the number of such bacteria, but also because the 'friendly' bacteria worked with other bacteria in the gut, amplifying their effects.

One of the many biochemical changes observed by the researchers was a change in how mice treated with probiotics metabolized bile acids. These acids are made by the liver and their primary function is to emulsify fats in the upper gut. If probiotics can influence the way in which bile acids are metabolized, this means they could change how much fat the body is able to absorb.”

While some claim taking probiotic supplements or eating fermented foods won’t have a significant impact on your microbiome, this particular study found otherwise. As noted by corresponding author Jeremy Nicholson with the department of biomolecular medicine at Imperial College:¹⁶

"Some argue that probiotics can't change your gut microflora — whilst there are at least a billion bacteria in a pot of yoghurt, there are a hundred trillion in the gut, so you're just whistling in the wind.

Our study shows that probiotics can have an effect and they interact with the local ecology and talk to other bacteria. We're still trying to understand what the changes they bring about might mean, in terms of overall health, but we have established that introducing 'friendly' bacteria can change the dynamics of the whole population of microbes in the gut."

Can Probiotics Effectively Aid in Fighting Obesity?

So, can probiotics actually have a beneficial impact on obesity? A number of studies suggest the answer is yes. Among them is a 2013 animal study,¹⁷ which found the probiotics Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, found in human breast milk, act as an obesity inhibitor and antidiabetic.
According to the authors, “The administration of L. gasseri BNR17 significantly reduced the body weight and white adipose tissue weight regardless of the dose administered.” Such findings jibe well with studies¹⁸ showing breastfed babies have a significantly lower risk of childhood obesity.
In another study¹⁹ published that same year, obese participants with a fasting blood sugar level above 100 mg/dL were given either BNR17 or a placebo for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the treatment group had shed more body fat than the controls. As reported by the authors, “Despite there being no change in behavior or diet, administration of only the supplement of BNR17 reduced weight and waist and hip circumference.”
Lactobacillus gasseri has also been shown to ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis,²⁰ thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects. L. gasseri is also one of four bacterial strains shown to help eradicate Heliobacter pylori,²¹ a primary cause of stomach ulcers.
A more recent review,²² published in the journal Nutrients in February 2019, sought to “present evidence … demonstrating the effects of various probiotic strains and their potential efficacy in improving obesity and associated metabolic dysfunctions.” As noted in this paper:²³

“A large body of evidence has described several possible mechanisms by which the gut microbiota can contribute to, and/or influence, obesity.

Although so much is still unknown and debatable, thus far there is a general consensus that the gut microbiota is implicated in obesity through dietary carbohydrate fermentation, lipogenesis, excess energy storage, and several other pathways including a vast array of metabolites, hormones and neurotransmitters, some of which are known to control food intake and the regulation of energy balance.”

How Gut Bacteria Can Influence Your Fat Stores

Three main phyla or groups of gut microbes make up the human microbiome and serve diverse structural, protective and metabolic functions:²⁴

• Bacteroidetes — Porphyromonas, Prevotella and Bacteroides
• Firmicutes — Ruminococcus, Clostridium, Lactobacillus and Eubacteria
• Actinobacteria — Bifidobacteria (the most prevalent type)

As explained in the 2019 Nutrients review,²⁵ in your gut, these bacteria protect your health by “displacing harmful bacteria, competing with pathogens for nutrients and producing antimicrobial factors.”
Structural functions provided by them include “developing the immune system, inducing immunoglobulin A (IgA), and reinforcing the mucosal barrier,” while metabolic functions “benefit the host by synthesizing vitamin K, folate and biotin” and play a role in the absorption of minerals such as magnesium, calcium and iron.
Importantly, gut bacteria also help break down the foods you eat and ferment digestive-resistant starches, turning them into beneficial SCFAs, which help modulate your immune response and inflammation.²⁶ As explained in the 2019 Nutrients review:²⁷

“Degradation of dietary polysaccharides and fiber by Bacteroides and Firmicutes in the gut results in the production of SCFAs, such as propionate, acetate, and butyrate.

Propionate is an important energy source for the host via de novo synthesis of lipids and glucose in the liver. Acetate is used in peripheral tissues as a substrate for cholesterol synthesis while butyrate represents a rich energy source for the epithelial cells that line the colon.

Furthermore, microbiota is involved in the control of energy balance, food intake, and satiety via gut peptide signaling, through hormonal effects in the blood or by modulating the nervous system directly. The appropriate balance of these regulatory peptides may be disrupted if the microbiota composition is altered …

SCFAs … also serve as signaling molecules that can activate G-protein coupled receptors (GPRs), including GPR43 (also known as free fatty acid receptor 2) in adipose and intestinal tissues.

In adipose tissue, SCFAs bind to GPR43, thus promoting adipogenesis and increasing energy expenditure. In intestinal tissue, SCFAs bind to GPR43 leading to secretion of anorexigenic peptides … resulting in improved glucose tolerance and increased energy utilization.”

Since SCFAs play such an important role in fat accumulation, the two phyla that produce SCFAs, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, may be used as markers for obesity. As noted in the 2019 review, obese individuals tend to have higher proportions of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus and lower proportion of Bacteroidetes and Bifidobacterium compared to normal weight individuals.²⁸
Studies have also linked specific strains to specific health problems. For example, high levels of Bacteroides vulgatus (which is abundant in the human gut) appear strongly associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and altered metabolism.
Low levels of certain bacteria in the Firmicutes phylum, including Blautia and Faecalibacterium, have been linked to the accumulation of trunk-fat specifically.²⁹

How Probiotics Can Benefit Your Health and Weight

The 2019 Nutrients review also details the mechanisms by which supplementation with probiotics can improve your health and weight. Key areas of influence include:³⁰

• Enhancing the integrity of your intestinal epithelial barrier
• Enhancing the adhesion of bacteria to your intestinal mucosa, thereby facilitating colonization
• Producing antimicrobial and other health promoting substances
• Inhibiting pathogenic microbes by competitive exclusion
• Modulating your immune system

While individual strains of bacteria have been linked to specific health effects such as reductions in trunk fat or lowered inflammation, several studies have demonstrated that multi-strain probiotics may be more beneficial than single-strain ones, as they tend to create synergistic effects.³¹

An Easy, Inexpensive Way to Improve Your Gut Microbiome

While probiotic supplements are widely available, few can compete with traditionally fermented foods, in terms of the diversity and sheer number of probiotics.
Fermented foods are also your least expensive alternative, as you can easily make them at home. Using a starter culture will speed the process and ensure you’ll end up with a consistent, high-quality product.
Remember, your diet is one of the easiest, fastest and most effective ways to improve and optimize your microbiome, so the good news is you have a great degree of control over your health destiny. For instructions and general guidance, see “Learn How to Make Cultured Veggies at Home.”

Genes which prevent four million people gaining weight discovered, in new hope for slimming medicine

Genes Which Prevent Weight Gain


Interesting Study!

Around six per cent of British people with European ancestry had the necessary combination of genetic variants

• Henry Bodkin

18 April 2019 • 4:00 PM

The genes which protect around four million people in the UK from obesity have been discovered following a major research project.

Scientists at Cambridge University say drugs to keep people slim are now a possibility after they identified the handful of genetic factors that prevent overeating.

Medics have known for several years that genes can influence a
person’s weight
.
However, the new study is significant because it reveals in granular detail which variants suppress or encourage appetite.

The research team analysed the genetic profiles of more than half a million volunteers from the UK Biobank.

They found that around six per cent of British people with European ancestry have a particular combination which means they are more likely to avoid putting on weight regardless of their lifestyle.
Published in the journal Cell, the study focused on a gene known as MC4R which was previously identified by the same Cambridge scientists to play a role in appetite by  controlling a receptor in the brain called melanocortin 4.

People who had certain variants of MC4R which disrupted this receptor tended to gain weight easily, the study found, while those who had a different combination caused the receptor to stay “switched on”, enjoying the opposite effect.

Participants with these variants would eat less, which probably explaining their lower weight.
The team found that people with two copies of these particular variants - one in over 1,000 people in the UK - were on average 2.5 kg lighter than people without the variants and had a 50 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Professors Sadaf Farooqi, who co-led the project, said: “This study drives home the fact that genetics plays a major role in why some people are obese - and that some people are fortunate enough to have genes that protect them from obesity.

"It doesn't mean that we can't influence our weight by watching what we eat, but it does mean the odds are stacked against some people and in favour of others."

Through laboratory experiments, Professor Farooqi and her colleagues established that MC4R can send signals through a pathway, known as the beta-arrestin pathway, that had not previously been linked to weight regulation
.
Genetic variants that sent signals preferentially through this route were the ones driving the association with protection against obesity and its complications and, importantly, were also associated with lower blood pressure.

The insight forms a platform for the development of new drugs which mimic the newly identified pathway.

"Genetic studies of thousands of people and a functional understanding of the mechanisms behind protective genetic variants can really help us inform the development of a new generation of medicines for common diseases like obesity and diabetes that affect millions of people globally,” said Professor Nick Wareham, who also took part in the study
.
Almost one in three adults are now estimated to be obese - which is set to rise to 48 per cent in the next three decades.

The figure is more than double the forecast global average of 22 per cent, said the University College London report.

The US the only developed country predicted to fare worse - reaching 55 per cent.
Around 10 per cent of adults in the UK already have type two diabetes, which is closely linked to excess weight.

The data presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna last year suggested this will reach almost 13 per cent by 2045.

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Vitamin C protects against water pollution

The Importance Of Vitamin C

Story at-a-glance

• Despite a massive lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric in 1996, spearheaded by Erin Brockovich, the known carcinogen, hexavalent chromium, pollutes water supplies across the U.S.; research shows vitamin C and epigallocatechin gallate found in green tea, protect cells against the cytotoxic effects
• In 2010 the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found hexavalent chromium affected 74 million U.S. citizens; by 2016 the number jumped to 200 million, and researchers from Olivet Nazarene reported 250 million in 2019
• Even in small amounts, hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, may trigger skin burns, pneumonia and complications during childbirth; the EWG maintains a database and interactive map of water testing for chromium-6 where you may search for your home county
• Vitamin C is also effective against air pollution, reducing the symptoms of asthma, and epigallocatechin gallate may help prevent obesity, improve exercise performance and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke

In 1996, the little town of Hinkley, California, won a massive arbitration against Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). You might recall the story as the basis for the movie “Erin Brockovich,” in which a single mother and small-town attorney went up against a utility company that had been dumping hexavalent chromium into an unlined pond.¹
At the time of the settlement, the case was the largest payout ever awarded for a direct-action lawsuit and environmental advocates were excited about the possibilities. Unfortunately, Hinkley has become a ghost town and hexavalent chromium has continued to contaminate water supplies across the U.S.
Back in Hinckley, a resident found levels of hexavalent chromium had recently increased in her water supply. Upon investigation, she discovered the plume had grown over the last 15 years, stretching miles from the original contamination site. In 2014, a feasibility study from PG&E found eliminating the chromium from the hardest hit areas may take up to 50 years.²
In the meantime, town properties have been classified as uninsurable wasteland. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, is a carcinogen.^3,4 While Hinkley struggles with contamination of their water supply, researchers have found varying levels of chromium-6 in the water sources of more than 250 million Americans.⁵
Although there are current water regulations for total chromium level exposure, despite a well-publicized lawsuit and full knowledge of the devastation caused by chromium-6, there are not yet permissible exposure limits for this carcinogen.⁶
In a study undertaken by researchers at Olivet Nazarene University, data demonstrated antioxidants, such as vitamin C, may help reduce the effects of hexavalent chromium commonly found in drinking water.^7,8

Vitamin C and tea may mitigate water pollution

The research paper was presented at the Experimental Biology 2019 conference⁹ held in Orlando, Florida. The thesis paper was supervised by Ryan Himes, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Life and Health Sciences at Olivet University.
The allowable concentration of hexavalent chromium in drinking water is currently under review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The study was designed to determine how antioxidants might prevent cell toxicity when two types of human cells were exposed to different concentrations of chromium-6.¹⁰
Chromium-6 is a known powerful oxidizing agent, although the specific mechanism through which it causes cancer has not yet been determined.¹¹ There has been no known preventive treatment for exposure. Researchers tested the hypothesis chromium-6 cytotoxicity might be prevented using antioxidants.¹²
They exposed human embryonic kidney and human intestinal epithelial cells, finding chromium-6 was significantly toxic in cell culture at concentrations of 200 parts per billion (ppb) and higher.¹³ The researchers found toxicity was blocked by vitamin C at 10 parts per million (ppm) or the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the primary antioxidant in green tea, at 15 ppm.
The researchers found the cytotoxic effect was blocked by vitamin C or EGCG alone. They then exposed bacteria to 20 ppb or more of chromium-6 and observed DNA mutations. However, when the bacteria were also treated with 20 ppm of vitamin C, the cytotoxic effect was again blocked.

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Water pollution affects millions in the US

In 2010, the Environmental Working Group (EWG)¹⁴ published an executive summary showing at least 74 million U.S. citizens in 42 states were drinking tap water contaminated with chromium, much of it likely in the form of cancer-causing hexavalent chromium.
By 2016 the number had jumped to 200 million¹⁵ and, according to researchers at Olivet Nazarene, 250 million Americans are currently drinking water contaminated with hexavalent chromium.¹⁶ In 1972, the U.S. Clean Water Act¹⁷ was supposed to ensure clean water for swimming, fishing and drinking. Unfortunately, after nearly five decades of regulation, waterways are in serious jeopardy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2 billion people worldwide do not have safe drinking water.¹⁸ Forced to drink contaminated water, hundreds of thousands die from preventable diseases.
U.S. drinking water is contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, antibacterial products and medications.¹⁹ In one ambitious project,²⁰ researchers gathered samples from the Hudson River to measure levels of pharmaceutical pollution.²¹
Past testing had detected antidepressants, blood pressure medications, decongestants and other drugs. Unlike the volumes of information available on the effect of pathogens, the science on long-term exposure to slight amounts of a chemical soup mixture of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals is still in its infancy.

Where is the chromium?

Keeping the public in the dark is not new. A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease registry showed widespread water contamination near military bases, chemical plants and elsewhere. They warned these chemicals could harm health at levels significantly lower than those deemed safe by the EPA.²²
According to Politico,²³ which obtained internal EPA emails, the report had been kept from the public for months to prevent a “potential public relations nightmare.” Although hexavalent chromium occurs naturally in the environment, high amounts are produced through industry.
Even in small amounts, it may trigger skin burns, pneumonia and complications during childbirth. You may search your county for chromium-6 testing using the EWG interactive map.²⁴ During their evaluation, EWG found Oklahoma, Arizona and California have the highest averages; Phoenix has the highest level of any city.
Past EPA assistant administrator of toxic substances, Dr. Lynn Goldman, told PBS,²⁵ “There should be no carcinogen in water. The overall problem here is, what does it take for EPA to speed up its standard-setting process?”
In a press release from the EWG announcing their interactive map, they stated two-thirds of American water supplies have levels above what scientists say are safe for hexavalent chromium. Of the more than 60,000 water samples collected between 2013 and 2015, more than 75% contained hexavalent chromium. Consumer advocate Brockovich commented on the results:²⁶

“Houston, we have a problem. More than 20 years ago, we learned that this dangerous chemical poisoned the tap water of California communities, and now these tests and EWG’s report show that roughly 218 million Americans are being served drinking water polluted with potentially dangerous levels of this known carcinogen.

But in that time the EPA hasn't set drinking water standards for any previously unregulated contaminant, and there are disturbing signs the agency may again do nothing about chromium-6. This is an abject failure by the EPA, including members of Congress charged with overseeing the agency, and every American should be outraged by this inaction.”

Vitamin C may also reduce the effects of air pollution

Vitamin C is a water-soluble micronutrient humans do not have the ability to synthesize and must get from their diet.²⁷ It is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymatic reactions and there is some evidence to suggest it may be useful as an adjunct to conventional medical practices to reduce heart injury and arrhythmia after a cardiac procedure.²⁸
Oregon University²⁹ reports no evidence that large amounts, up to 10 grams per day in adults, will have any toxic effect. However, 2 grams per day and greater may trigger diarrhea or gastrointestinal disturbances in some adults. The usefulness of vitamin C is related to its ability to donate electrons and reduce oxidative stress.³⁰
In this manner it contributes to your immune system, supporting various cellular functions and epithelial barrier function against pathogens. While a gross deficiency results in scurvy, functional deficiency will impair the immune system³¹ and leave you susceptible to infection.
In addition to helping protect cells against water pollution as demonstrated in the featured study on hexavalent chromium,³² vitamin C may also help to mitigate oxidative stress response to air pollutants. There is substantial evidence particulate matter air pollution increases oxidative stress and those with higher dietary intake of specific vitamins may experience a lower negative response.³³
The WHO³⁴ places air pollution as one of the world's largest environmental health risk factors. In one meta-analysis,³⁵ the review found evidence for vitamin supplementation in reducing the effects of pollution on asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases, including supplementation with carotenoids, vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids.

More benefits from antioxidants in tea

The featured study also found EGCG, an antioxidant found in green tea, was effective against the cytotoxic effects of chromium-6. Green tea has been prized for generations in China, Japan and Britain. It has also made a name for itself in the U.S., where many drink it daily to enjoy the many health benefits attributed to EGCG.
Studies have found EGCG increases fat oxidation³⁶ and may help prevent obesity.³⁷ It may also improve exercise performance³⁸ and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.³⁹ However, not all green teas are created equal.
If you drink it, you probably assume you're getting the same dose with each cup, but an analysis of strength and purity of 105 products found the levels varied widely from product to product.⁴⁰ It is important to seek out high quality green tea to enjoy some of the additional health benefits.
These benefits include inhibiting bacterial and viral growth,⁴¹ protecting against oxidation in the brain and liver,⁴² improving mental alertness⁴³ and reducing blood pressure.⁴⁴ The type of tea you purchase may make a difference in the amount of beneficial antioxidants and flavor.
There's also an art to brewing tea using loose leaves that brings out full flavor and reduces your exposure to unwanted additives, which I discuss in my previous article, “What's in your green tea?”

Vitamin C potent adjunct to cancer treatment

Vitamin C has also been shown to be selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells when administered intravenously or in liposomal form in high doses. The presence of vitamin C generates hydrogen peroxide, which is ultimately what kills the cancer cells.⁴⁵
Normal tissue is unharmed⁴⁶ by high levels of hydrogen peroxide as they have several ways of removing it before it builds to toxic levels.⁴⁷ High doses of vitamin C administration in combination with chemotherapy and radiation may also significantly improve the effectiveness of these treatments.⁴⁸
Cancer cells have unstable iron particles, also known as redox active iron molecules, making them more vulnerable to oxidative damage triggered by high dose vitamin C. Hydrogen peroxide is generated when the redox active iron reacts with the vitamin C, subsequently damaging the cancer cells’ DNA and making them more vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiation.⁴⁹
Administration of vitamin C also helps those suffering from cancer by lowering levels of inflammation, a hallmark of cancer. Vitamin C appears to slow the growth of liver and lymphoma cancers in animal studies.⁵⁰

+ Sources and References

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Higher weight increases risk of psoriasis | Newswise: News for Journalists

Higher weight increases risk of psoriasis | Newswise: News for Journalists:

 Studies have linked psoriasis and higher weight, but the causal relationship between the two has been unclear. What triggers what?

Article ID: 711982
Released: 26-Apr-2019 11:05 AM EDT
Source Newsroom: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

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Newswise — Studies have linked psoriasis and higher weight, but the causal relationship between the two has been unclear. What triggers what?
Or could other underlying reasons explain the connection?
"Higher BMI may contribute to increased inflammation of the skin, which can exacerbate psoriasis, but it could also be that psoriasis leads to a person being less physically active and thus gaining weight," explains Mari Løset.
She is a medical doctor at the Department of Dermatology at St. Olavs Hospital and a postdoctoral fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology.
Løset is part of a team that been involved in a study of the causal relationship between BMI and psoriasis.
BMI stands for body mass index and is a measure of body fat content. It is calculated from a person's height and weight.
The observational study is a large collaboration among researchers from NTNU, England and North America. Some of the data being used is from the Health Survey in Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT) and the UK Biobank. Together, the analyses include data from 750 000 individuals.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin, which causes a red, scaly rash. The cause of the disorder is probably multifactorial, involving both heredity and the environment.
Worldwide, two to four per cent of the population is affected by psoriasis. The incidence is particularly high in Norway.
"Self-reported data from two large population surveys in Norway indicate that six to eleven per cent of the population may be affected in this country," says Løset.
A study in the city of Tromsø has shown that the incidence of psoriasis was 4.8 per cent in 1980, but had increased to 11.4 per cent in 2008.
"Similar studies from other parts of the world substantiate the fact that the condition is increasing," says the postdoctoral fellow.
To investigate the causal relationship between BMI and psoriasis, the researchers used a method called Mendelian randomization. It is named after Gregor Mendel, who is known as the father of genetics.
According to Mendel's principles of inheritance, whether we inherit a certain variant of genes from our mother or our father is random. Genetic variants are randomly distributed, or randomized, between individuals.
"Mendelian randomization means that nature itself distributes individuals randomly into groups based on genes. This way, we can avoid the results being influenced by external factors," says Løset.
"Our understanding of how genes are related to disease is increasing at record speed, and in this study we used known genetic variants as markers for BMI and psoriasis," she adds.
By using Mendelian randomization, the researchers found that higher weight is a contributing factor to psoriasis. They observed that greater BMI increased the chance of getting the disease.
"We calculated that the risk increased by nine per cent for each higher whole number on the BMI scale," Løset says.
But the researchers are still uncertain about just how higher weight can lead to psoriasis.
"We still don't know enough about the mechanisms behind this connection. Fatty tissue is an organ that produces hormones and inflammatory signalling molecules, which could be a contributing factor," says Løset.
So far, not much research has been done on whether weight loss can cause psoriasis to disappear, although a few clinical studies suggest the possibility.
"Psoriasis is a very complex disease and we hope to study subgroups, especially individuals with severe psoriasis. The hypothesis is that we will be able to observe even greater links with higher weight," says Mari Løset.

###

Study:
Mari Løset et al.: Evidence of a causal relationship between body mass index and psoriasis: A mendelian randomization study. PLOS Medicine.

Diet tips for MEN: Counting calories is more acceptable for women - but these tips from top nutritionists can help you slim down without feeling embarrassed

Diet Is For Men Too


 Diets are mainly targeted at women, but what about men?

• Dr Meg Arroll, psychologist on behalf of wellbeing brand Healthspan and author of the book The Shrinkology Solution, tackles why men struggle with dieting 
• Health scares alone aren't enough to help men make better food choices
• Dr Meg identifies that a combination of factors are needed to create that 'tipping point' of meaningful change 
• She advises we should all be helping men to talk openly about their health and support any health behavior change 

By Dr Meg Arroll For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:02, 1 January 2019 | Updated: 17:35, 1 January 2019

Rates of obesity and related health problems such as type 2 diabetes are skyrocketing in the UK and the US. 

On both sides of the Atlantic around three quarters of middle-aged men are overweight or obese. 

The impact of this is not only physical health issues – being overweight causes a great deal of stigma in our body beautiful obsessed societies of today.

There has been some movement in terms of acceptance of all shapes and sizes for women, and a general support for women to make healthy changes to diet and lifestyle.

But while exercise and protein-packing is marketed to men, counting calories and dieting is generally seen as a girly domain - even though men are more likely to be obese. 

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Cutting calories and eating salads has been marketed as a woman's domain

'Weight loss is commonly defined as a feminine concern which some men find difficult to relate or react to,' Rob Hobson, Healthspan head of nutrition, says. 

'In some cases, embarking on weight loss can be especially tricky when in the presence of male peers, which can create an environment that puts pressure on men to retain their 'real' male identity. 

'Living up to the cultural script of masculinity can impact on weight loss efforts and also influence decisions to seek help and advice, which may have a huge impact on long-term health as symptoms of disease take longer to be diagnosed.' 

Stigma and men's dieting

For men, even considering changing what they eat can be a stumbling block.

In Gary Barlow's raw and honest autobiography A Better Me, he illustrates just how hard it can be for men to change their eating patterns. In response to ordering a salad, Gary was jeered 'What? What's wrong with him? Salad? Are you gay?'

This lack of social support is a significant barrier to change.

Countless research studies demonstrate the transformative benefits of encouragement from those around us, and conversely the detrimental effect of being surrounded by people who stigmatize health-promoting behaviors such as healthy eating.    

It can be incredibly hard for me to admit that they want to lose weight and are usually only open about their struggles once they've shed the pounds.

This is because being overweight is also stigmatized – leaving men in an impossible catch-22 of wanting to shed pounds but not be perceived as 'dieting'.

This is one reason why men tend to control their weight through exercise rather than diet.

But not being able to talk about their struggles can obviously affect men's mental health. There has been wonderful coverage and discussion of men's mental health in recent years with regards to depression and suicide prevention, but less so on issues of body image and self-esteem.

It's OK to get fit, but not diet

Here is a typical case that I see in my practice:

Middle-aged man, often quite fit, sporty and happy with their body at school and beyond. It's only when the years creep up and life gets a bit more demanding (work plus kids plus friends plus aging parents, etc.) that the pounds insidiously pile on.

This may seem rather cruel – just when life is at its fullest, health niggles start to rear their heads. Usually, this leads to a short-term 'fitness' goal – 10k run, triathlon, amateur boxing match for charity, etc.

These goals are often reached relatively easily. With the training lasting at most a few months, focus is razor-sharp. The exercise feels good and it's effortless to negotiate the time at the gym with partners ('it's for charity!').

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Dr Meg Arroll says there has been wonderful coverage and discussion of men's mental health in recent years with regards to depression and suicide prevention, but less so on issues of body image and self-esteem

In fact, the admiration from fiends and family is almost as good as seeing changes in body shape.

However, after the event there is no structure in place to maintain healthy changes. Fed-up spouses again want so help at home (no benevolent excuse now), colleagues have moved onto another topic of conversations and to be honest, it's all rather anticlimactic.

Then what happens? Old patterns of behavior kick right back in. A heavy sigh of relief is expressed as meetings once again include wine and a side of chips. Yet, there is a niggling feeling that the middle will start spreading again.

Why? Diets are marketed to women. 

Even our ads for diets exclude men – for example the only men in the famous Diet Coke ads are picture perfect.

In fact, soft drink brands have invented new versions (Coke Zero, Pepsi Max) that purposefully exclude the word 'diet' from their names. Because diets are for girls.  

The tipping point 

What I also see quite often is a health scare trigger that can drive weight loss.

Labour MP Tom Watson recently revealed that after hitting a whopping 22 stone, developing Type 2 diabetes, and reading about politicians dying in their 50s, he knew he needed to make a substantial change to his diet and lifestyle.

Having a young daughter too was a motivating factor for a healthier routine from the former 'Tommy two dinners', who sought out research and evidence in order to change his health for good. 

This is the tipping point for meaningful health change, which consists of a combination of factors rather than just not just one.

This is important as a health scare is sometimes not enough on its own to instigate behavior change.

Heavy criticism is heaped on people with so-called 'lifestyle conditions' but without truly understanding what's driving this behavior, it can rarely be changed.

The tipping point if often powerful enough to help men overcome the shame and guilt associated with overweight and obesity – but really, we need to help men make these changes before ill-health develops by reducing the stigma around dietary changes.

The solution – combining men's competitive nature with meaningful health changes

In general, only 2-5 percent of weight loss is maintained over time. As we age, our metabolism slows so even with the same amount of physical activity, it can be nigh-on impossible to prevent the creeping waistline unless dietary changes are made.

Combining diet, exercise and a good understanding of individual eating psychology is essential for maintaining a healthy weight long-term. Innovative approaches such as the SuperWellness Challenge harness both men and women's competitiveness within a workplace and use this edge to catapult health and wellbeing.

The SuperWellness program combines nutritional education with the principles of coaching and behavioral psychology, so that even after the initial competition is finished, participants have the knowledge and confidence to keep going with their new healthy habits. 

Major companies such as P&O Ferries and AMCOGiffen (principal contractor to Network Rail) have seen huge benefits to their workforce, with the former having reduced sickness absence from 7 percent to 0.07 percent following the program. Which goes to show, that there are ways to help even diet-adverse men get healthier.

Coca-Cola’s Moment of Panic

Coca Cola

Story at-a-glance

• In an effort to revive consumer interest and increase sales, Coca-Cola added four “exotic” flavor offerings to its Diet Coke product line — Feisty Cherry, Ginger Lime, Twisted Mango and Zesty Blood Orange — flavors directed at millennials
• Diet Coke, like most soda brands, has experienced flagging sales in recent years as energy and sports drinks, flavored waters and bottled teas have flooded the beverage market
• Research underscoring the dangers of artificial sweeteners is also negatively affecting consumer interest in zero- and low-calorie soda
• If you are still drinking diet soda, be aware that regular consumption of artificially sweetened beverages puts you at increased risk of chronic diseases such as dementia, depression, diabetes, heart attack, infertility, obesity and stroke
• The Emotional Freedom Techniques is particularly useful to break soda addiction, and you may also find success in drinking black organic coffee, eating sour foods or switching to sparkling mineral water
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• In an effort to revive consumer interest in its flagging Diet Coke product line, Coca-Cola launched four new “exotic” flavors in January 2018,¹ in slimmer, redesigned cans.
  After reportedly testing more than 30 flavor combinations and talking with 10,000 people over a two-year period, Coke introduced Feisty Cherry, Ginger Lime, Twisted Mango and Zesty Blood Orange, which took their place alongside original Diet Coke, its formula unchanged. Given the can design, flavors and marketing, it is clear millennials are the intended target for the new beverages.
  Diet Coke, as is the case with most soda brands, diet or not, has experienced decreased sales in recent years as energy drinks, flavored waters, sports beverages and bottled teas have flooded the market. The dangers of artificial sweeteners, as well as scientific evidence linking the consumption of “diet” products to chronic illnesses like diabetes and obesity, are among the factors contributing to Diet Coke’s eroding popularity.
  Introduced in 1982, Diet Coke experienced years of wild popularity through 2005, when the diet soda market peaked. That year, 3 billion cases of diet soda were sold, much of it Diet Coke. Since then, sales of diet soda have plummeted by more than 27 percent. In nearly the same time frame, the market for other drinks exploded — bottled tea sales grew by 91 percent, single-serve bottled water increased 76 percent by volume and sports drinks rose by 20 percent.²
  

  Coke Hopes to Recapture Attention of Millennials

  By their own admission, Coke has its sights set on capturing the attention of millennials with these new flavors. About their two-year so-called “innovation process,” Coke suggests it was “fueled by consumer research pointing to younger Americans’ affinity for big, yet refreshing and great-tasting, flavors in their favorite foods and beverages — from hoppy craft beers to spicy sauces."³
  While just four new flavors were launched, Coke’s research and development teams developed and tested more than 30 Diet Coke flavor combinations, featuring a variety of botanical, citrus and tropical elements.
  Said Rafael Acevedo, the group director of brand management for Diet Coke in North America, “Millennials are now thirstier than ever for adventures and new experiences … We’re contemporizing the Diet Coke brand and portfolio with sleek packaging and new flavors that are appealing to new audiences. We're making the brand more relatable and more authentic."⁴
  Marketing hype aside, given the continuing drop in sales, Coke is undoubtedly trying to pull in a new generation of Diet Coke drinkers. As reported by CNN Money,^5,6 this is the second of its notable recent attempts to breathe life into its sluggish low- and no-calorie beverage line. In 2017, the company replaced Coke Zero with Coke Zero Sugar, mainly to ensure consumers recognized the drink was sugar-free, but also apparently to tweak its flavor to taste more like original Coke.
  It seems their efforts were a success. By year-end, Coca-Cola reported earnings and sales above forecasts, attributing part of the growth to the success of Coke Zero Sugar. Some suggest the black can and absence of the word "diet" may be at the root of attracting more males to Coke Zero Sugar, and the new offering may be succeeding at the expense of Diet Coke.⁷
  In May, CNN Money reported “Diet Coke’s New Flavors Are a Big Hit,”⁸ saying the company’s first quarter volume growth in North America was largely due to the new flavor assortment, although Coca-Cola Zero Sugar also reported double-digit growth.⁹
  Since 2006, Diet Coke’s sales volume has dropped off by a dramatic 34 percent,¹⁰ and this was the first time the company’s sales volume had risen since 2010. At the end of July, Forbes¹¹ noted Diet Coke had performed “surprisingly” well in the second quarter as well.
  

  Sales of Low- and No-Calorie Coke Products Under Pressure

  Despite Coca-Cola’s relative success with Coke Zero Sugar and the four exotic newcomers, it’s evident consumer appetites for soda, including both diet and regular varieties, are diminishing. There are several reasons for this shift, and you’d be wise to support this trend given the significant health repercussions involved. As news about the potential dangers of these beverages continues to be made known, sales remain sluggish overall.
  As an example, data released by the research group Cowen noted a 2 percent decline in diet soda sales in the fourth quarter of 2017, which included a 4 percent dip in Diet Coke sales (and an 8 percent slide by Diet Pepsi).¹² The most telling aspect of Diet Coke's decline perhaps relates to the way consumers and the beverage market have evolved in recent years — with three major shifts having taken place that put pressure on an aging brand:¹³
  
• Bottled water — Despite the negative environmental and health impacts of drinking bottled water, consumption of it has tripled since 2000. In 2016, the volume consumed outpaced soda consumption in the U.S. for the first time ever. Markets for flavored water and flavored seltzer water, as well as vitamin water, also continue to grow.
• Coffee and energy beverages — Back in the early 2000s, soda sales outpaced coffee by a 3-to-1 margin in the U.S. Since then, coffee sales have soared and sales of energy drinks have grown by more than 5,000 percent since the turn of the century.
• Regular soda — As evidenced by the replacement of Coke Zero by Coke Zero Sugar, pressure is on to produce more flavorful beverages. Many drinkers prefer the so-called richer taste of classic Coke, which is sold in 200 countries and continues to grow in popularity worldwide. Coca-Cola's financial reports also suggest sales of Fanta and Sprite are rising in the U.S.

Given these market shifts and the noticeable impact on Diet Coke, The Atlantic said:¹⁴

"One could argue that, in the last decade, all of the jobs of Diet Coke are being outsourced to superior beverages. The role of hydration has been outsourced to bottled water and sports drinks, like Gatorade. Getting a jolt of energy has been outsourced to coffee and energy drinks, like 5-hour Energy.

And the satisfaction of a cold liquid fizzing on one’s tongue? That’s been outsourced to the trendy crop of flavored seltzers, like LaCroix. In the end, it probably doesn’t matter what the Diet Coke can looks like. Young people know what’s inside the can. Perhaps that’s precisely why they’re drinking so much less of it."

Why Low- and No-Calorie Drinks Really Aren't Better for You

If you are among those still clinging to the outdated notion you're making a healthier choice by choosing diet over regular soda, it's time to get educated. Mounting research highlights the potent negative effects beverages like Diet Coke can have on your body. A few of the health risks associated with drinking diet soda include:

Depression — According to a study involving nearly 264,000 U.S. adults over the age of 50, those who drank more than four cans or glasses of diet soda or other artificially sweetened beverages daily had a nearly 30 percent higher risk of depression compared to those who did not consume diet drinks.15

Diabetes and metabolic syndrome — Although people with Type 2 diabetes are often advised to consume artificial sweeteners in lieu of sugar, one study indicated daily consumption of diet soda puts you at a 67 percent greater relative risk of Type 2 diabetes and a 36 percent higher relative risk of metabolic syndrome as compared to those who avoided these beverages.16

Heart attack — After following nearly 60,000 post-menopausal women for about nine years, researchers found drinking just two diet drinks a day can dramatically increase your risk of early death from heart disease.17 In fact, heavy consumers of diet drinks were about 30 percent more likely to have suffered heart trouble than those who rarely or never consumed artificially sweetened beverages.

Infertility — A study presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's congress linked artificial sweeteners to infertility. About the research, which involved 524 women observed to have lower rates of IVF implantation due to artificial sweeteners found in diet soda or added to coffee and other beverages, professor Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society said:18 "This is a very interesting study that suggests the false promise of artificial sweeteners that are found in soft drinks and added to drinks, such as coffee, may have a significant effect on the quality and fertility of woman's eggs, and this may further impact on the chances of conception. These findings are highly significant to our population. There should be more scrutiny of food additives and better information available to the public and, in particular, those wishing to conceive."

Obesity — Studies presented at the 2017 Endocrine Society's annual meeting prove artificial sweeteners promote metabolic dysfunction that may promote the accumulation of fat.19,20 By testing sucralose (brand name Splenda) on stem cells taken from human fat tissue — using a dose similar to what would be found in your blood if you drank four cans of diet soda a day — researchers noted increased expression of genes linked to fat production and inflammation, as well as increased fat droplets on cells.

Cardiovascular disease — A recent study21,22 exploring how different sweeteners — including aspartame and acesulfame potassium-k — affect energy usage, energy storage and vascular functioning found both high amounts of sugar and artificial sweeteners caused vascular impairment and other effects "that may be important during the onset and progression of diabetes and obesity." The artificial sweeteners, however, accumulated in the blood, thereby harming the blood vessel lining to a greater degree. Of the two artificial sweeteners included in this study, acesulfame potassium — found in Diet Coke Feisty Cherry, Ginger Lime, Twisted Mango and Zesty Blood Orange — appeared to be the worst.

Stroke and dementia — A 2017 study23 followed nearly 3,000 participants aged 45 and older for incidence of stroke and 1,500 participants aged 60 years and older for incidence of dementia related to consumption of sweetened beverages. Based on a 10-year follow-up, the study authors said, "higher recent and higher cumulative intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks [was] associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease dementia. Sugar-sweetened beverages were not associated with stroke or dementia."

Microbiome and DNA damage — Recent animal research24,25,26,27,28 published in the journal Molecules found all artificial sweeteners currently approved and deemed safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cause DNA damage in, and interfere with the normal and healthy activity of, gut bacteria. This includes aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, advantame and acesulfame potassium-k. According to the researchers, the effects on your gut health may in turn affect your body's ability to process regular sugar and other carbohydrates. Aspartame and ascesulfame potassium-k — both of which are found in Diet Coke's new flavor offerings — were also found to cause DNA damage.

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Air Pollution Triggers Millions of Cases of Diabetes Each Year

Air Pllution - A great Danger

Story at-a-glance

• Air pollution has been named the “largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today” as it is generated around the world and travels without respect for borders
• Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.; links between outdoor air pollution and the emergence of Type 2 diabetes have been established, but this study was the first attempt to quantify the connection
• In the largest study of its kind, researchers determined 14 percent of cases of diabetes could be attributed to air pollution and an estimated 8.2 million years of healthy life were lost globally in 2016 due to air pollution-induced diabetes
• Indoor air pollution develops from outgassing from furniture and building material and is associated with negative health conditions; by keeping your indoor air clean, you may create a safe haven from outdoor air pollution
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  By Dr. Mercola
  Air pollution has been named the "largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today" by a collaboration of more than 40 researchers looking at data from 130 countries.¹ The problem is insidious and travels without respect for borders. Air pollution created in Asia affects people living on the California coast.
  Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is the most studied type of air pollution and refers to dust, dirt, soot, smoke or other particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These particles of air pollution are so fine they may enter your system through your lung tissue and trigger chronic inflammation, which in turn increases your risk of health conditions.²
  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 92 percent of the world's population is breathing polluted air³ and nearly 7 million deaths are attributed to air pollution each year.⁴ Overall, a toxic environment is responsible for at least 25 percent of all deaths reported worldwide, and air pollution is the greatest contributor.
  The idea that air pollution is a source of toxic exposure often leading to ill-health should come as no surprise. In a previous study,⁵ American researchers found exposure to as little as one or two months of air pollution may be enough to increase your risk of diabetes, especially if you are already obese. In a recent global study,⁶ a new link has been made between air pollution and Type 2 diabetes.
  
  

  Air Pollution May Be Responsible for Damage Leading to Type 2 Diabetes

  According to the American Diabetes Association,⁷ 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4 percent of the population, had diabetes in 2015. Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the condition, accounting for nearly 99 percent of cases⁸ and is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2015, 4.1 million Americans over 18 were diagnosed with prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.
  Individuals with prediabetes have an increased risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.⁹ Previous studies^10,11,12,13 have looked at links between outdoor air pollution and the emergence of Type 2 diabetes, but the featured study is a first attempt to quantify the connection.
  Researchers tracked 1.7 million U.S. Veterans¹⁴ for almost a decade in order to assess risk, using data from other global studies evaluating diabetes risk, along with air quality data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NASA.
  The researchers then created an equation to analyze the connection between exposure to air pollution and the risk of diabetes globally. The study, published by The Lancet Planetary Health, concluded that air pollution was responsible for 3.2 million newly diagnosed cases around the world in 2016 alone. Assistant professor of medicine at Washington University and author of the study, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, commented on the overall effects of breathing air pollutants, saying:¹⁵
  

  "We tell people all the time, if you eat bad stuff, it affects your health. You are what you eat, you are what you drink and, really, you are what you breathe. What you breathe really, really affects your health."

  This was one of the largest and most unique studies of its kind. In all, 14 percent of newly diagnosed cases of Type 2 diabetes could be attributed to air pollution in 2016.¹⁶ The study also estimated 8.2 million years of healthy life were lost globally in 2016 due to air pollution-induced diabetes.
  The pollutants tracked and examined in the study were PM 2.5, 30 times smaller than a human hair. The study makes a strong case that the current EPA limits on air pollution are set too high. The threshold on particulate matter deemed safe by the EPA is 12 ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air) and the study found the risk of diabetes started at 2.4 ug/m3.
  During the study, 21 percent exposed to between 5 ug/m3 and 10 ug/m3 of particulate matter, developed diabetes. At the current "safe" level established by the EPA, 24 percent develop diabetes.
  

  Rule Creates Loophole to Evade Improvements in Water and Air Quality

  While this and other studies have demonstrated a significant detrimental effect on the health of U.S. citizens from air pollution, a rule proposed by the Trump Administration¹⁷ suggests all studies used by the EPA to determine water and air regulations must make their underlying data publicly available. Unfortunately, studies like the featured study and others are based on confidentially held health data. This greatly undermines the potential for regulations to improve air quality.
  In the face of this and other data, the Trump administration¹⁸ is seeking to boost the nation's manufacturing sector by creating industry-friendly air quality regulations, which environmentalists warn will damage the health of U.S. citizens.
  In one directive, he proposed the EPA work with states whose metro areas are failing to obtain clean air standards, by helping them submit plans to show how the city will confront the problem — a review process that can take years. This represents a clear effort on the part of the administration to assist manufacturers, which the president made clear in his accompanying statement:¹⁹
  

  "These actions are intended to ensure that EPA carries out its core missions of protecting the environment and improving air quality in accord with statutory requirements, while reducing unnecessary impediments to new manufacturing and business expansion essential for a growing economy."

  Pollution Contributes to Obesity

  The journey started nearly 60 years ago when an environmental disaster in southwestern Pennsylvania forever changed the way America thought about industrial pollution.²⁰ In 1948 the people of Donora, Pennsylvania, awoke to a thick blanket of smog that darkened the valley for five days before lifting when a storm swept through. By this time, one-third of the population had become ill, 20 people were dead and another 50 died in the following months.²¹
  It was later learned cold air had trapped a mixture of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and metal dust over the valley, recorded as the worst air pollution disaster in U.S. history. It was this disaster that prompted the federal government to begin regulating industrial pollution.
  Previous studies have looked at respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease associated with inhaling air pollutants but more recent studies have found compelling evidence suggesting air quality can also contribute to weight gain and obesity. In one study²² examining over 3,000 children in California, researchers found an association between traffic density and higher levels of body mass index (BMI) by the age of 18.
  Another study²³ analyzed BMI in children exposed to traffic-related air pollution over a five-year period, during which those exposed to the most pollution, compared to those exposed to the least, had a 14 percent larger increase in their BMI. Another from Harvard Medical School looked at whether adults living in areas with constant exposure to traffic were more likely to be overweight, and found more fat tissue in those who lived 60 meters (197 feet) from a busy road than those who lived 440 meters (1,443 feet) away.²⁴
  The relationship has also been found in animal studies. Chinese researchers²⁵ compared two groups of pregnant rats, one raised in a filtered air-scrubbed room and the other breathing outdoor air from Beijing. The animals were fed the same diet, but those living in Beijing air were heavier at the end of their pregnancy as were their offspring. Autopsy findings found the rats exposed to pollutants had higher levels of inflammation, which may have contributed to weight gain and metabolic disruption.
  An EPA study found mice exposed to ozone pollution developed glucose intolerance, a precursor to diabetes.^26,27 In a study evaluating the physiological response in 314 overweight or obese children in Los Angeles, children who lived in neighborhoods with the highest concentration of nitrogen dioxide and particulates were found to have the greatest decline in insulin sensitivity.²⁸
  

  Multiple Molecules Make Up Air Pollution

  Multiple types of molecules make up the fine particulate matter your body is able to absorb through lung tissue. Top pollutants include:
  

  Ammonia	Carbon monoxide
  Fine particulates	Lead
  Nitrogen oxides	Sulfur dioxide
  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)	Ozone

  While car emissions contribute one source of air pollutions, another significant source is released into the atmosphere from synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers at rates higher than previously believed.²⁹ California has some of the strictest car emission standards in the U.S., but is continued to be plagued by nitrogen oxide pollution.
  Scientists have known soil microbes convert nitrogen-based fertilizers to nitrogen oxides and then release them into the air. However, it was assumed the amount of gas would increase linearly, or at 1 percent of the amount of fertilizer used. These predictions turned out to be conservative,³⁰ as emissions were measured at up to 5 percent of the fertilizer used, explaining some of the increased rates of nitrogen oxides emitted in large agricultural areas.
  Unfortunately, when nitrogen oxides and VOCs combine on a sunny day, it increases the amount of ozone at ground level. VOCs are emitted by cars, power plants, refineries and chemical plants. Ozone in the upper atmosphere, called stratospheric ozone, provides a protective shield against the ultraviolet rays of the sun.³¹ This beneficial ozone has been partially destroyed by man-made chemicals.
  However, ground level ozone, tropospheric ozone, is not admitted directly into the air but created through a chemical reaction and is a harmful pollutant. This bad ozone is the main ingredient in smog and has a higher likelihood of reaching unhealthy levels on hot sunny days, as sunlight triggers the chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides and VOCs.³² "Nitrogen oxides" is a catch-all term used to designate nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide, both of which react with oxygen and sunlight to produce ozone in the lower atmosphere.
  

  Nanoparticles Responsible for Vascular Damage

  In a study published in Environmental Pollution,³³ researchers found silica nanoparticles have the ability to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial cells by entering the mitochondria, causing swelling and increasing the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species. This eventually results in the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane and impairment in ATP synthesis.³⁴
  Silica nanoparticles were found to trigger endothelial toxicity using mitochondria as the target, which may in part explain some of the cardiovascular dysfunction triggered by PM 2.5 air pollution. Silica nanoparticles are used³⁵ as an additive in rubber and plastics, to strengthen concrete and as a platform for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery. In other words, drugs bound to silica nanoparticles may create endothelial damage as you take prescribed medications.
  However, nano-particulate damage is not new information.³⁶ A study published by the American Chemical Society found evidence of how particles inhaled may affect your blood vessels and heart muscle.³⁷ Air pollution has shortened the lives of nearly 40,000 people in the U.K.,³⁸ which is often attributed to the part it plays in worsening or triggering heart and lung disease. Using humans and several mouse models, the researchers studied the effect of inhaled gold nanoparticles.
  Within 24 hours after inhalation, particles were detected in the blood and urine of the participants and appeared to have an affinity for accumulating in damaged or inflamed areas of the vascular system,³⁹ suggesting nanoparticles have the ability to access the bloodstream from your lungs and reach susceptible areas of your cardiovascular system.
  In some participants, the nanoparticles were still detectable in the urine three months after testing, leading researchers to theorize air pollutant nanoparticles may have the potential to make a similar journey in your body.
  Researchers then asked participants scheduled for removal of damaged blood vessels to inhale gold nanoparticles.⁴⁰ Following surgery the researchers analyzed the plaques and found an accumulation of nanoparticles from the prior 24 hours. Although some criticized the design of the study, it is clear air pollution damages heart and lung tissue. Coauthor of the study, Dr. Nicholas Mills, commented on the results saying:⁴¹
  

  "We have always suspected that nanoparticles in the air that we breathe in could escape from the lungs and enter the body, but until now there was no proof. These findings are of wide importance for human health, and we must now focus our attention on reducing emissions and exposure to airborne nanoparticles."

  Mind Your Indoor Air Quality as Well

  Your risk of breathing polluted air does not end when you go indoors. Indoor air pollution is also associated with a remarkable number of conditions, including worsening asthma, poor sleep, high blood pressure and reduced cognitive function. Primary sources are the materials used to construct your home and everything in it, including your furniture, as well as chemical products you bring into the home for cleaning or DIY projects.
  Modern buildings are also airtight for energy efficiency purposes, and need to be properly ventilated to prevent the buildup of indoor pollution. One way to reduce your exposure to damaging outdoor air pollution is to keep your indoor air as clean as possible and stay indoors when pollution levels are high. For a list of strategies you may consider to improve your indoor air quality and protect your health see my previous article, "Reduce Indoor Air Pollution."