"medical" news and stories

At last, tomatoes improve their reputation despite recent reports of them causing cases of salmonella. Just last week, Springer's journal "Biotechnology Letter" had a study on how transgenic plants, like tomatoes, are used to produce a vaccine against Alzheimer's disease.

Would we simply need to eat more tomatoes to ward off symptoms of Alzheimer's disease? According to the report, researchers believe that tomatoes may help create an edible cure for the disease. To prevent Alzheimer's disease, scientists are looking to stimulate the immune system to reduce beta-amyloid which is a toxic protein in the brain that destroys neurons. Apparently, the tomatoes had strong immune responses on mice which lead scientists to wonder the possibilities of a tomato-based cure for the disease.

So, just when you thought you should avoid tomatoes, it turns out they might be incredibly beneficial to your health. Finally, you could enjoy your cool refreshing mildly spicy gazpacho soup without wondering about the tomatoes causing salmonella.

It is amazing how easy it is to find artisanal honeys in Paris. On my last trip, I found a store that not only offers a gorgeous array of honeys but also medicinal products made from honey, everything from throat lozenges to anti-aging moisturizing creams and soaps. From the second I entered Famille Mary at No. 35 rue Cler, the shopkeeper asked how he could help me and if I had any ailments. He pointed me towards a wall stacked with the largest variety of honey-made products I had ever seen.

The storekeeper at Famille Mary picks out specific honeys and honey-made items that address health issues relating to your specific body, such as stress, insomnia, blood flow, digestion, menopause, memory, vision, and weight gain. In essence, the store is a pharmacy full of sweet honey-made medicines developed in laboratories by doctors and apiarists (beekeepers).

Not only does Famille Mary create remedies to treat existing health problems, but it also concocts candies, pills, toothpastes, and syrups to prevent health ailments from arising in the future. The products are made with propolis, a natural resinous material collected by bees from tree buds. Propolis is believed to prevent cataracts and promote heart health. Three of the most bizarre medicinal products from Famille Mary can be found after the jump.

You've seen them before. Those fliers tacked onto telephone poles (wait, do such things still exist?!), duct taped to street light posts, or even stapled onto the bulletin board in your doctor's office: "Wanted: women for a [insert health condition here] study."

You've never thought about actually volunteering for one of those studies.

Until now.

Researchers in the UK want 150 women who are willing to eat one bar of chocolate every day for a year. The study's purpose is to determine whether a natural compound found in cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate, could cut the risk of heart disease among women with diabetes.

Unfortunately, you don't get to pick which chocolate you get to eat. A Belgian chocolatier has created a chocolate especially for this study.

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Do you and your children live in the "fat belt?"

According to a new report by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health, "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America," the fat belt stretches through the South and into the Southwest, but the heaviest children are found in Washington D.C.

Is it surprising? Not really, since we are well aware of nutrition and physical activity levels of children. Nonetheless, it's still pretty disturbing. According to the Washington Post, which reports the story, "today's children are likely to be the first generation to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents" if the obesity rate doesn't turn around.

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Ever working to improve their image and put their best foot forward with the public, McDonald's has introduced nine meals to its Australian menus that have all been given the seal of approval by the National Heart Foundation. It's an historic event, to be sure, since the company has never had their approval before and fast food is not known for being heart-healthy - or healthy in general, for that matter. The meals include salads, Chicken McNuggets and some hamburgers, but no french fries.

Critics say that the "the Heart Foundation should feel 'duped'" for going along with McDonald's "marketing ploy." While it is true that McDonald's is paying to get the NHF's approval - fees that go towards testing the food, according to the NHF - the organization is still placing their reputation on the line and has no reason not to support the fast food company if their meals meet the NHF's standards. And if some regular McDonald's eaters switch to healthier fare, that's a positive change whether it came from a "marketing ploy" or not.

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