JUNE 2007 Natural Health News
The WELLBEING AWARDS – get involved
For more than two decades WellBeing Magazine has been empowering readers to live more holistic and environmentally sustainable lives. Now in 2007 we are launching the inaugural WellBeing Awards. They will offer a pat on the back to those individuals and businesses that have contributed to the raising of the collective consciousness. The WellBeing Awards will seek to maintain the impetus for change in society and recognise those who are building the values of tomorrow. Most importantly we want you to be part of it. As of now we are seeking Award nominations for people or businesses in 20 different categories. If you would like to nominate someone simply go to the WellBeing website (www.wellbeing.com.au ) and click on the WellBeing Awards icon. You will be able to print out a nomination form and nominate a person or business. Alternately you can email sroberts@universalmagazines.com.au and ask for a nomination form. Get involved in the launch of this exciting event. The WellBeing Awards will be awarded in Spring 2007.
Sleep yourself thin
Middle-aged women may be able to sleep their way to a trimmer body. In a study that followed more than 68,000 women for 16 years, researchers found that those who caught more sleep each night tended to put on less weight during middle-age. Women who typically clocked five hours of sleep were one third more likely than those who slept for seven hours to have a substantial weight gain (15kg or more) during the study period.
Even a relatively small weight gain can make a health difference; putting on an extra 4.5kg has been shown to double a person's risk of diabetes. Sleep-deprived women were more likely to gain in excess of 13.6kg, and were 15 percent more likely to become obese as they grew older. Although the reasons aren't clear, some research suggests that sleep deprivation alters hormones involved in appetite control and metabolism.
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology
Why sweat is sexy
For women there's nothing like the smell of a man's sweat. Androstadienone is a male chemical signal found concentrated in men’s sweat. Researchers measured levels of the hormone cortisol in the saliva of females after they took 20 sniffs from a jar of androstadienone. Cortisol is secreted by the body to help maintain proper arousal and sense of well-being, respond to stress and other functions. Cortisol levels in the women who smelled androstadienone shot up within roughly 15 minutes and stayed elevated for up to an hour. Consistent with previous research, the women also reported improved mood, higher sexual arousal, and had increased blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
For comparison's sake, women also smelled baking yeast, which did not trigger the same effects. So forget your high priced cologne guys, turn up to your next date with a nice sweat going and just let the rest happen.
Source: Journal of Neuroscience
Mushrooms protect breasts
Eating a few ounces of mushrooms every day could help prevent breast cancer, a new study suggests. Extracts of the fungi interfere with the action of aromatase, an enzyme that helps the body make estrogen. Most breast tumours require oestrogen to grow. The researchers tested seven vegetable extracts for their aromatase-blocking activity, and found that white button mushroom had the strongest effect. The researchers evaluated 10 other types of mushrooms, and found portobello, crimini, shiitake and baby button mushrooms also inhibited aromatase activity. Since white button mushrooms are the most commonly eaten type, the researchers tested extracts of the mushrooms in a series of laboratory and animal experiments. The extract reduced the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a lab dish, while feeding the extract to mice implanted with breast cancer cells suppressed tumour growth. Based on the amount of extract used in the experiments in mice, about 100 grams of mushrooms daily would be enough to prevent breast cancer growth, the researchers state.
Source: Cancer Research
Stonehenge one of a pair
Remnants of a wooden circle at a site called Durrington Walls have been shown to bear striking similarities to the more famous and permanent Stonehenge circle about two miles away. The find suggests that Stonehenge was just part of a bigger ceremonial complex. Carbon dating supports the idea that the villagers of Durrington Walls helped to build Stonehenge. The houses date to 2600-2500 BC, matching the time when it is thought that the first stone blocks were erected. The archeologists also discovered a vast stone avenue that connected the wooden circle to the Avon River. Architecturally, the two monuments were remarkably similar. A similar stone avenue connects Stonehenge to the Avon River. Whereas Stonehenge is oriented to face sunrise in the summer and sunset in the winter, the wooden circle at Durrington Walls would have faced the opposite way. While we aren’t sure exactly how, the two henges were probably part of linked ritual practices.
Source: Nature
Trans fat alternative may have its own problems
Cholesterol-raising trans fats may be disappearing from supermarket shelves and restaurants, but one type of fat taking their place may be no healthier. Artificial trans fats boost the stability of a food's flavor, as well as its shelf life, and the oils have long been a key ingredient in baked and fried foods. Research has shown that trans fats in these oils may be even worse for heart health than the saturated fat found in foods like meat and butter. Not only do trans fats raise "bad" LDL cholesterol, as saturated fat does, but they also lower heart-healthy HDL cholesterol. With trans fats so out of favor the search for alternatives is on. However, one of those replacement fats, interesterified fats, may not only lower HDL levels but also cause a significant rise in blood sugar. The researchers said consumers can find out whether their new "trans-fat free" food has interesterified fats by looking for "fully hydrogenated oil" on the ingredient list.
Source: Nutrition & Metabolism.
Dr Dolittle’s secret
It might be that Dr Dolittle wasn’t so special in talking to the animals. In this study, researchers studied how well people could describe the emotional content of several bark sequences. The scientists discovered that changes in three basic sound qualities (tone, pitch, and the time between barks) determined how listeners perceived the barks. In general, high-pitched barks with longer intervals between each bark were rated as less aggressive than lower-pitched barks heard in frequent succession. Human babies make similar changes in sound quality when they cry. This link between pitch or frequency and perceived emotion appears to carry across many different species but the researchers suspect dogs and humans share a unique ability to communicate with one another that goes beyond the proposed universal mammal language. Common house cats also appear to have evolved improved means of communicating with humans. Cats however, seem more intent on manipulating us.
Source: Applied Animal Behaviour Science
For your diary
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), invites women and men from across the country to register to take part in Field of Women LIVE at www.fieldofwomen.org.au aimed at raising health awareness and fundraising. 13,100 people are needed to form a giant ‘Pink Lady’ silhouette on August 11, 2007 at Telstra Stadium, Sydney, kick-starting the Sydney Swans versus Saint Kilda match. Registration will open at the end of May and costs $50, which includes pink poncho, entry to the Sydney Swans versus St Kilda match and free train travel from within greater Sydney area.
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