Recent studies on the benefits of eating walnuts have made nutrition headlines: a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer (in mice) and slower growth of breast cancers (also in mice). These unfortunate mice have been bred or treated to develop these particular cancers. Researchers say that it is too soon to draw conclusions for humans from these studies. However, there are several other good reasons to include walnuts in your daily diet. Walnuts, flax seeds, and to a lesser extent canola oil (buy organic forms of this oil) contain relatively high amounts of an omega-3 fatty acid called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is a plant precursor to the EPA and DHA found in fish oil. Green leafy vegetables, exclusively grass-fed animals, seeds such as pumpkin seeds and a vegetable known as purslane also have ALA. ALA is converted to EPA and DHA in our bodies, although the conversion is incomplete. Omega-3 fatty acids, from fish and plant sources, are essential for the human brain and body. Besides its ALA content, walnuts have other health benefits which are under investigation. Read on!
No Weight gain: walnut consumption, even in sizable amounts, has not led to significant weight gain. A recent study from Loma Linda School of Public Health asked subjects (but not a control group) to add 1/3 of a cup of walnuts (~280 calories) to their daily food intake. They were given no other dietary guidelines. Participants showed no greater weight gain than the control group over a 6 month period. They ate slightly less food when adding the walnuts, in a voluntary manner. Similar findings have been seen among people who regularly eat other nuts. Nuts lead to satiety, and may make it easier to ignore candy, cake and other empty calories.
Preventing Heart Disease Another Loma Linda study looked at people with moderately high cholesterol levels; when they added slightly less than 1/3 cup of walnuts to their usual diet, their total cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased significantly. Subjects with the highest baseline readings improved the most. Men with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) showed a significant decrease in this protein; lipoprotein(a) may increase the risk of heart attack. Another Loma Linda study contrasted the effects of walnuts and fatty fish (fish contain the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA). The fish diet – 2 weekly servings of 4 oz of salmon – decreased triglycerides and increased HDL (good cholesterol) more than the control diet or walnut diet. The walnut diet, adding 1/3 cup of walnuts 6 days a week – showed better effects on LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a). The authors concluded that including walnuts and fatty fish in the diet was helpful in decreasing the risk of heart disease. (While fresh or frozen salmon has become very expensive, you can still find wild-caught Alaskan salmon in cans for about $4.00. Get the unsalted kind if possible.) Researchers at the University of Barcelona have recently shown that in addition to lowering cholesterol, walnuts can improve the elasticity of the arteries, allowing blood to flow more easily throughout the body. This is an important finding.
Melatonin in walnuts Melatonin is the hormone secreted by the pineal gland, behind our eyes, that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Darkness causes its levels to rise, and bright light inhibits it. As we get older, our nighttime melatonin levels wane, making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. Melatonin also acts as an anti-oxidant that helps the body resist toxic molecules called free radicals. Free radicals, that can damage DNA, are thought to be important in aging, cancers, brain disease et al. Melatonin is made by plants as well as animals and is fairly abundant in walnuts. Researchers at the University of Texas in San Antonio found that when laboratory rats were fed walnuts, their blood levels of melatonin went up, as did the total antioxidant capacity of their blood. The researchers surmised that the combination of melatonin and omega-3 fatty acid in walnuts made these nuts unusually beneficial. I surmise that walnuts may be a perfect bedtime snack, and an easy food to have by your bedside when the dreaded two a.m. insomnia makes your world look impossible. Dried tart cherries are said to have a similar helpful effect on sleep, again due to their melatonin content.
Sadja Greenwood, MD,MPH back issues on this blog
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
Go to Health: Walnuts
Recent studies on the benefits of eating walnuts have made nutrition headlines: a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer (in mice) and slower growth of breast cancers (also in mice). These unfortunate mice have been bred or treated to develop these particular cancers. Researchers say that it is too soon to draw conclusions for humans from these studies. However, there are several other good reasons to include walnuts in your daily diet. Walnuts, flax seeds, and to a lesser extent canola oil (buy organic forms of this oil) contain relatively high amounts of an omega-3 fatty acid called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA is a plant precursor to the EPA and DHA found in fish oil. Green leafy vegetables, exclusively grass-fed animals, seeds such as pumpkin seeds and a vegetable known as purslane also have ALA. ALA is converted to EPA and DHA in our bodies, although the conversion is incomplete. Omega-3 fatty acids, from fish and plant sources, are essential for the human brain and body. Besides its ALA content, walnuts have other health benefits which are under investigation. Read on!
No Weight gain: walnut consumption, even in sizable amounts, has not led to significant weight gain. A recent study from Loma Linda School of Public Health asked subjects (but not a control group) to add 1/3 of a cup of walnuts (~280 calories) to their daily food intake. They were given no other dietary guidelines. Participants showed no greater weight gain than the control group over a 6 month period. They ate slightly less food when adding the walnuts, in a voluntary manner. Similar findings have been seen among people who regularly eat other nuts. Nuts lead to satiety, and may make it easier to ignore candy, cake and other empty calories.
Preventing Heart Disease Another Loma Linda study looked at people with moderately high cholesterol levels; when they added slightly less than 1/3 cup of walnuts to their usual diet, their total cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased significantly. Subjects with the highest baseline readings improved the most. Men with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) showed a significant decrease in this protein; lipoprotein(a) may increase the risk of heart attack. Another Loma Linda study contrasted the effects of walnuts and fatty fish (fish contain the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA). The fish diet – 2 weekly servings of 4 oz of salmon – decreased triglycerides and increased HDL (good cholesterol) more than the control diet or walnut diet. The walnut diet, adding 1/3 cup of walnuts 6 days a week – showed better effects on LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a). The authors concluded that including walnuts and fatty fish in the diet was helpful in decreasing the risk of heart disease. (While fresh or frozen salmon has become very expensive, you can still find wild-caught Alaskan salmon in cans for about $4.00. Get the unsalted kind if possible.) Researchers at the University of Barcelona have recently shown that in addition to lowering cholesterol, walnuts can improve the elasticity of the arteries, allowing blood to flow more easily throughout the body. This is an important finding.
Melatonin in walnuts Melatonin is the hormone secreted by the pineal gland, behind our eyes, that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Darkness causes its levels to rise, and bright light inhibits it. As we get older, our nighttime melatonin levels wane, making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. Melatonin also acts as an anti-oxidant that helps the body resist toxic molecules called free radicals. Free radicals, that can damage DNA, are thought to be important in aging, cancers, brain disease et al. Melatonin is made by plants as well as animals and is fairly abundant in walnuts. Researchers at the University of Texas in San Antonio found that when laboratory rats were fed walnuts, their blood levels of melatonin went up, as did the total antioxidant capacity of their blood. The researchers surmised that the combination of melatonin and omega-3 fatty acid in walnuts made these nuts unusually beneficial. I surmise that walnuts may be a perfect bedtime snack, and an easy food to have by your bedside when the dreaded two a.m. insomnia makes your world look impossible. Dried tart cherries are said to have a similar helpful effect on sleep, again due to their melatonin content.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH back issues on this blog
No Weight gain: walnut consumption, even in sizable amounts, has not led to significant weight gain. A recent study from Loma Linda School of Public Health asked subjects (but not a control group) to add 1/3 of a cup of walnuts (~280 calories) to their daily food intake. They were given no other dietary guidelines. Participants showed no greater weight gain than the control group over a 6 month period. They ate slightly less food when adding the walnuts, in a voluntary manner. Similar findings have been seen among people who regularly eat other nuts. Nuts lead to satiety, and may make it easier to ignore candy, cake and other empty calories.
Preventing Heart Disease Another Loma Linda study looked at people with moderately high cholesterol levels; when they added slightly less than 1/3 cup of walnuts to their usual diet, their total cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased significantly. Subjects with the highest baseline readings improved the most. Men with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) showed a significant decrease in this protein; lipoprotein(a) may increase the risk of heart attack. Another Loma Linda study contrasted the effects of walnuts and fatty fish (fish contain the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA). The fish diet – 2 weekly servings of 4 oz of salmon – decreased triglycerides and increased HDL (good cholesterol) more than the control diet or walnut diet. The walnut diet, adding 1/3 cup of walnuts 6 days a week – showed better effects on LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a). The authors concluded that including walnuts and fatty fish in the diet was helpful in decreasing the risk of heart disease. (While fresh or frozen salmon has become very expensive, you can still find wild-caught Alaskan salmon in cans for about $4.00. Get the unsalted kind if possible.) Researchers at the University of Barcelona have recently shown that in addition to lowering cholesterol, walnuts can improve the elasticity of the arteries, allowing blood to flow more easily throughout the body. This is an important finding.
Melatonin in walnuts Melatonin is the hormone secreted by the pineal gland, behind our eyes, that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Darkness causes its levels to rise, and bright light inhibits it. As we get older, our nighttime melatonin levels wane, making it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. Melatonin also acts as an anti-oxidant that helps the body resist toxic molecules called free radicals. Free radicals, that can damage DNA, are thought to be important in aging, cancers, brain disease et al. Melatonin is made by plants as well as animals and is fairly abundant in walnuts. Researchers at the University of Texas in San Antonio found that when laboratory rats were fed walnuts, their blood levels of melatonin went up, as did the total antioxidant capacity of their blood. The researchers surmised that the combination of melatonin and omega-3 fatty acid in walnuts made these nuts unusually beneficial. I surmise that walnuts may be a perfect bedtime snack, and an easy food to have by your bedside when the dreaded two a.m. insomnia makes your world look impossible. Dried tart cherries are said to have a similar helpful effect on sleep, again due to their melatonin content.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH back issues on this blog
Monday, June 28, 2010
Cannabidiol - a Little Known Compound in Marijuana
Cannabidiol, known as CBD, makes up about 40% of extracts from the cannabis plant. It is said to be non-psychoactive, and to counteract the psychoactive compounds known as THC. Researchers at the Canadian Department of Agriculture have found that hemp - the type of cannabis grown for fiber or in the wild in temperate climates - is low in THC and high in CBD. The plant that originated in hot climates has different genetics, and is high in THC but low in CBD. Most cannabis currently grown for street and medicinal use is the latter type, bred to be high in THC, low in CBD. This is important for growers, as CBD is known to block the effects of THC. In other words, CBD prevents a marijuana ‘high’. In addition, CBD has been found to have interesting and promising medicinal uses. Research reports on CBD are now found in the medical literature.
Pain/Sativex : Several recent studies have shown that CBD, often combined with THC, is effective against pain in patients with advanced cancer whose pain is not controlled by medicines like morphine.. Patients appreciate the lack of hallucinogenic side effects. CBD/THC extracts have also been helpful with pain and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Canada released a medicine called Sativex in 2005, which was licensed for use in patients with multiple sclerosis and cancer pain. Sativex is a mouth spray; its full effect is achieved in about an hour. It is a mixture of THC and CBD, derived from the whole plant. Sativex is currently being used in England and Spain, for multiple sclerosis, severe nerve pain, malnutrition due to AIDS, and nausea/vomiting from chemotherapy. The US FDA has approved Sativex for certain clinical trials for cancer pain.
Cancer: Research has shown that CBD may work as an anti-cancer agent with low toxicity. Researchers at CPMC in San Francisco have been working on the ability of CBD to inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells in a mouse model. If the work goes well, clinical trials of CBD in human breast cancer patients may take place. CBD is also being studied as a therapy for leukemia and brain tumors known as gliomas.
Other Uses: CBD has been tested in schizophrenia, epilepsy, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s Disease. As yet, there are no definitive answers as to its efficacy.
CBD in the leaf: Some people with severe pain are chewing the green leaves of marijuana plants for relief. The balance between THC and CBD in the leaf is said to be helpful without giving hallucinations or a ‘high’. People differ in their response to the leaf. They find that if the leaf is green and newly harvested, they can get pain relief and stay sober, even energized, by simply chewing it. If leaves are heated or aged, however, certain effects of THC are felt, and users can become tired and feel unwell. Because of current laws on individual use, this is anecdotal information.
November Ballot: Californians will be voting in November on an initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for those over 21, and to allow small residential cultivation of the plant. Local governments, but not the state government, will be able to tax and regulate marijuana. A bill is pending in the California legislature that would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, which could generate income for the whole of California. Many proponents say that the initiative is the first step toward a rational drug policy, and will save millions by not putting users in prison. Opponents are anxious about addiction, driving under the influence, use of the drug by more teenagers, and a further proliferation of pot dispensaries. Stay tuned for a detailed discussion of the pros and cons of this important issue as November approaches.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH back issues at on this blog
Pain/Sativex : Several recent studies have shown that CBD, often combined with THC, is effective against pain in patients with advanced cancer whose pain is not controlled by medicines like morphine.. Patients appreciate the lack of hallucinogenic side effects. CBD/THC extracts have also been helpful with pain and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Canada released a medicine called Sativex in 2005, which was licensed for use in patients with multiple sclerosis and cancer pain. Sativex is a mouth spray; its full effect is achieved in about an hour. It is a mixture of THC and CBD, derived from the whole plant. Sativex is currently being used in England and Spain, for multiple sclerosis, severe nerve pain, malnutrition due to AIDS, and nausea/vomiting from chemotherapy. The US FDA has approved Sativex for certain clinical trials for cancer pain.
Cancer: Research has shown that CBD may work as an anti-cancer agent with low toxicity. Researchers at CPMC in San Francisco have been working on the ability of CBD to inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells in a mouse model. If the work goes well, clinical trials of CBD in human breast cancer patients may take place. CBD is also being studied as a therapy for leukemia and brain tumors known as gliomas.
Other Uses: CBD has been tested in schizophrenia, epilepsy, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s Disease. As yet, there are no definitive answers as to its efficacy.
CBD in the leaf: Some people with severe pain are chewing the green leaves of marijuana plants for relief. The balance between THC and CBD in the leaf is said to be helpful without giving hallucinations or a ‘high’. People differ in their response to the leaf. They find that if the leaf is green and newly harvested, they can get pain relief and stay sober, even energized, by simply chewing it. If leaves are heated or aged, however, certain effects of THC are felt, and users can become tired and feel unwell. Because of current laws on individual use, this is anecdotal information.
November Ballot: Californians will be voting in November on an initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for those over 21, and to allow small residential cultivation of the plant. Local governments, but not the state government, will be able to tax and regulate marijuana. A bill is pending in the California legislature that would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, which could generate income for the whole of California. Many proponents say that the initiative is the first step toward a rational drug policy, and will save millions by not putting users in prison. Opponents are anxious about addiction, driving under the influence, use of the drug by more teenagers, and a further proliferation of pot dispensaries. Stay tuned for a detailed discussion of the pros and cons of this important issue as November approaches.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH back issues at on this blog
Monday, June 21, 2010
Cell Signaling via Hormones
You probably have a cell phone and you may have a computer; many of you contact the world and your friends with calls, texting, email, facebook, twitter, and old-fashioned talk. Within your body, your cells are connected in a much more intricate way, constantly signaling each other through the bloodstream, nerves, and direct or short distance contact. What goes on between your 10-100 trillion cells is amazing; no cell can live in isolation – survival depends on an elaborate intercellular communication network that coordinates the growth and metabolism of cells in diverse organs. In this column I will outline the function of endocrine glands that produce hormones, chemicals that circulate in the bloodstream and affect cells and organs throughout the body.
Endocrine Glands in the Brain
Hypothalamus: this tiny key gland, located near the center of the brain, regulates the anterior pituitary, increasing or decreasing its hormonal output. It regulates the autonomic nervous system, body temperature, and many other functions.
Anterior pituitary: this gland regulates growth hormone, the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland, the ovaries and testes, and milk synthesis in the breast
Posterior pituitary: this gland regulates uterine contraction, milk letdown, and kidney functions in men and women..
Pineal gland: located behind the eyes, the pineal regulates the sleep-wake cycle via the hormone melatonin. Bright light suppresses melatonin and wakes you up, darkness promotes melatonin secretion and puts you to sleep.
With all this happening in glands of the brain, it is clearly important to keep your brain safe and healthy. My advice – avoid brain injury by always wearing helmets for riding bikes or horses, and be very careful on motorcycles. Don’t hit soccer balls with your head, and don’t allow your children to do so. Football and boxing often injure the brain. Avoid drugs and excess alcohol. Treat high blood pressure, to avoid a stroke. Exercise daily and eat healthfully.
Some other Endocrine Glands
Thyroid Gland: located in the lower neck, the thyroid secretes hormones known as T3 and T4, that stimulate the body to consume oxygen, use energy, and thereby increase the rate of metabolism. They also promote protein synthesis. Calcitonin, produced by specialized cells in the thyroid gland, stimulates bone construction.
Adrenal Glands: Located above the kidneys, these glands put out cortisol, which stimulates glucose production, suppresses inflammation, and inhibits immune responses. They also produce aldosterone, which increases blood volume and blood pressure. The adrenals produce androgens, which give women increased facial hair, and become a source of estrogen for women after menopause. The inside of the adrenal glands produce epinephrine – the fight-or-flight hormone, which also increases blood pressure, heart rate and muscular readiness.
Pancreas: Located below the stomach and adjacent to the liver, this organ secretes insulin, which promotes the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream, enabling cells to use it for energy, and the liver to store it as glycogen. The pancreas also secretes glucagon, which acts in the opposite direction, increasing blood glucose levels when needed for activity.
Ovary: Estrogen, produced from pre-puberty to menopause, stimulates the growth of the uterus and its lining, as well as breast cells. It has many effects throughout the body and brain. Estrogen increases the secretion of cholesterol in bile, which is why women in their reproductive years are more prone to gall stones. Progesterone, produced by ovaries in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy, helps to sustain pregnancy. It also has favorable effects on the thyroid, bones, teeth, gums, joints and tendons.
Testis: Androgens from the testes, mainly testosterone, increase muscle mass and strength, deepen the voice and promote the growth of bodily hair. Testes also secrete some estrogen, which helps with bone strength.
There are other hormone secreting organs in the body as well, including the heart, kidneys, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and fat. Imagine all these hormones circulating in the bloodstream, influencing your trillions of cells. It gives me a feeling of awe - of evolution, of our closeness to other animals, who share these hormones, and of the wisdom of our bodies. Stay as healthy as you can, and your body should reward and amaze you with its intricate workings.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH
Back issues at on this blog
Endocrine Glands in the Brain
Hypothalamus: this tiny key gland, located near the center of the brain, regulates the anterior pituitary, increasing or decreasing its hormonal output. It regulates the autonomic nervous system, body temperature, and many other functions.
Anterior pituitary: this gland regulates growth hormone, the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland, the ovaries and testes, and milk synthesis in the breast
Posterior pituitary: this gland regulates uterine contraction, milk letdown, and kidney functions in men and women..
Pineal gland: located behind the eyes, the pineal regulates the sleep-wake cycle via the hormone melatonin. Bright light suppresses melatonin and wakes you up, darkness promotes melatonin secretion and puts you to sleep.
With all this happening in glands of the brain, it is clearly important to keep your brain safe and healthy. My advice – avoid brain injury by always wearing helmets for riding bikes or horses, and be very careful on motorcycles. Don’t hit soccer balls with your head, and don’t allow your children to do so. Football and boxing often injure the brain. Avoid drugs and excess alcohol. Treat high blood pressure, to avoid a stroke. Exercise daily and eat healthfully.
Some other Endocrine Glands
Thyroid Gland: located in the lower neck, the thyroid secretes hormones known as T3 and T4, that stimulate the body to consume oxygen, use energy, and thereby increase the rate of metabolism. They also promote protein synthesis. Calcitonin, produced by specialized cells in the thyroid gland, stimulates bone construction.
Adrenal Glands: Located above the kidneys, these glands put out cortisol, which stimulates glucose production, suppresses inflammation, and inhibits immune responses. They also produce aldosterone, which increases blood volume and blood pressure. The adrenals produce androgens, which give women increased facial hair, and become a source of estrogen for women after menopause. The inside of the adrenal glands produce epinephrine – the fight-or-flight hormone, which also increases blood pressure, heart rate and muscular readiness.
Pancreas: Located below the stomach and adjacent to the liver, this organ secretes insulin, which promotes the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream, enabling cells to use it for energy, and the liver to store it as glycogen. The pancreas also secretes glucagon, which acts in the opposite direction, increasing blood glucose levels when needed for activity.
Ovary: Estrogen, produced from pre-puberty to menopause, stimulates the growth of the uterus and its lining, as well as breast cells. It has many effects throughout the body and brain. Estrogen increases the secretion of cholesterol in bile, which is why women in their reproductive years are more prone to gall stones. Progesterone, produced by ovaries in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy, helps to sustain pregnancy. It also has favorable effects on the thyroid, bones, teeth, gums, joints and tendons.
Testis: Androgens from the testes, mainly testosterone, increase muscle mass and strength, deepen the voice and promote the growth of bodily hair. Testes also secrete some estrogen, which helps with bone strength.
There are other hormone secreting organs in the body as well, including the heart, kidneys, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and fat. Imagine all these hormones circulating in the bloodstream, influencing your trillions of cells. It gives me a feeling of awe - of evolution, of our closeness to other animals, who share these hormones, and of the wisdom of our bodies. Stay as healthy as you can, and your body should reward and amaze you with its intricate workings.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH
Back issues at on this blog
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Go to Health - Save Your Eyesight
“Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything” wrote Shakespeare in As You Like It about the final stage of life. All the world’s a stage is great poetry, but certain steps not available in Shakespeare’s time can preserve your eyesight into old age. (As far as teeth are concerned, visit your dentist! I’ll take up the tooth issue in a later column.)
Glaucoma: A regular checkup by an eye doctor to screen for increased pressure in the fluid of your eyes will detect glaucoma, an eye disease leading to progressive loss of sight. Treatment with medicinal eye drops and laser surgery is effective. Most people should start eye checks at age 35- 40, and follow the testing advice of their eye doctor. Older people, African Americans, Hispanics, and those with a family history of glaucoma are more at risk.
Cataracts are changes in the lens inside the eye that focuses light on the retina (in the back of the eye). When the lens becomes cloudy, vision is impaired. Some causes of cataracts can be avoided – excessive exposure to UV light – wear sunglasses on bright days, and when on the water or in the snow. Start using sunglasses early in life. Don’t smoke! Smoking is a risk factor for cataracts. Stay active and of normal weight, to avoid diabetes, another risk factor for cataracts. Cataracts can be successfully treated with surgery, with the implantation of a new lens.
Macular Degeneration is a deterioration of the central portion of the retina – the interior layer of the eye that transmits signals into the optic nerve. With the macula we see detail – to read, recognize faces, do crafts, and get around safely. There is a dry and a ‘wet’ form of macular degeneration – the wet form can give rapid loss of vision due to blood vessel leaking that scars the retina. Macular degeneration is more common among lightly pigmented people (‘whites’), in smokers, in people who are obese, and in those with a family history of the disease.
Prevention of macular degeneration is important and the following steps are part of a program for healthy living that you already know. The health of your eyes is not separate from the rest of your body:
*Stop smoking! It’s a risk factor for blindness.
*Eat lots of vegetables, especially leafy greens. Kale, spinach. collard greens, broccoli, green peas and Brussels sprouts are all good sources of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that are especially helpful for the retina. Prolonged cooking decreases the bioavailability of lutein, so steam your greens lightly, and eat a raw salad daily. Egg yolk is another good source of these antioxidants. Chickens that have been out in green pastures lay eggs with the deepest orange yolks, with more lutein.
*Eat fish and/or take fish oil supplements - the omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk. A 2009 study at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda showed that a diet with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in slower progression of macular degeneration (in mice), with improvement in some lesions. The mice also had lower levels of inflammatory makers, which may explain the protective effect.
*Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. A study from the University of Wisconsin found that people who were physically active were markedly less likely to develop macular degeneration.
*Wear sunglasses – they protect the retina
*See your eye doctor regularly
There is great beauty in this world, despite its terrible problems. To enjoy this visual beauty into old age, follow the steps in the column.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH Leave me a message!
Glaucoma: A regular checkup by an eye doctor to screen for increased pressure in the fluid of your eyes will detect glaucoma, an eye disease leading to progressive loss of sight. Treatment with medicinal eye drops and laser surgery is effective. Most people should start eye checks at age 35- 40, and follow the testing advice of their eye doctor. Older people, African Americans, Hispanics, and those with a family history of glaucoma are more at risk.
Cataracts are changes in the lens inside the eye that focuses light on the retina (in the back of the eye). When the lens becomes cloudy, vision is impaired. Some causes of cataracts can be avoided – excessive exposure to UV light – wear sunglasses on bright days, and when on the water or in the snow. Start using sunglasses early in life. Don’t smoke! Smoking is a risk factor for cataracts. Stay active and of normal weight, to avoid diabetes, another risk factor for cataracts. Cataracts can be successfully treated with surgery, with the implantation of a new lens.
Macular Degeneration is a deterioration of the central portion of the retina – the interior layer of the eye that transmits signals into the optic nerve. With the macula we see detail – to read, recognize faces, do crafts, and get around safely. There is a dry and a ‘wet’ form of macular degeneration – the wet form can give rapid loss of vision due to blood vessel leaking that scars the retina. Macular degeneration is more common among lightly pigmented people (‘whites’), in smokers, in people who are obese, and in those with a family history of the disease.
Prevention of macular degeneration is important and the following steps are part of a program for healthy living that you already know. The health of your eyes is not separate from the rest of your body:
*Stop smoking! It’s a risk factor for blindness.
*Eat lots of vegetables, especially leafy greens. Kale, spinach. collard greens, broccoli, green peas and Brussels sprouts are all good sources of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that are especially helpful for the retina. Prolonged cooking decreases the bioavailability of lutein, so steam your greens lightly, and eat a raw salad daily. Egg yolk is another good source of these antioxidants. Chickens that have been out in green pastures lay eggs with the deepest orange yolks, with more lutein.
*Eat fish and/or take fish oil supplements - the omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk. A 2009 study at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda showed that a diet with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in slower progression of macular degeneration (in mice), with improvement in some lesions. The mice also had lower levels of inflammatory makers, which may explain the protective effect.
*Exercise and maintain a healthy weight. A study from the University of Wisconsin found that people who were physically active were markedly less likely to develop macular degeneration.
*Wear sunglasses – they protect the retina
*See your eye doctor regularly
There is great beauty in this world, despite its terrible problems. To enjoy this visual beauty into old age, follow the steps in the column.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH Leave me a message!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Go to Health –Blueberries
Most of us know that blueberries are healthy – but what do we know to back up this claim? Blueberries were an important food source for Native American tribes in the east; berries, leaves and roots were also considered medicinal. In the last 10 years there has been an increasing research in compounds in blueberries that may prevent disease. Wild blueberries have been found to have a higher antioxidant capacity than cranberries, strawberries, plums, and raspberries. Here is some of the data.
The Brain: blueberries contain ‘anthocyanins’ - pigments found in red/purplish fruits and vegetables – such as purple cabbage, beets, blueberries, cocoa, cherries, raspberries and purple grapes. These pigments are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, helping to protect brain cells and enhance their ability to signal one another. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati worked with a small group of older adults with early memory changes. Those who drank 2 cups of blueberry juice per day showed improved memory and learning, reduced depression and improved glucose levels after 3 months. Similar results have been found in experimental animals. A study from Reading University in England on people of all ages showed that people taking 200 gm (2 cups) of blueberries in a morning smoothie did better on mental tasks 5 hours later compared to people having a smoothie without blueberries. Two cups is a large (and expensive) amount of blueberries. Strawberries, cocoa and raspberries were said to have similar effects on the brain. A study at Tufts University in Boston on experimental animals showed that blueberries improved motor and navigational skills.
Cancer prevention: Studies at the University of Illinois have looked at 3 phases of cancer development – initiation, promotion and proliferation (metastasis). Various compounds in wild blueberries are helpful in prevention all 3 phases, Researchers at several universities have looked at the ability of blueberry extracts to inhibit the growth of prostate, colon, breast and cervical cancer cells. The work looks promising, but is still laboratory-based and preliminary.
Urinary Tract infections: Rutgers University has a Blueberry-Cranberry Research Center; they have found that both fruits prevent bacteria from adhering to urinary tract tissues, and this help prevent urinary tract infections. A half-cup of blueberries a day may be sufficient for this benefit.
Heart Health: A study on rats at Tufts University and the National Institute on Aging showed that when the animals had a major artery to their hearts tied off, those on a blueberry enriched diet had less damage to their hearts than those on a control diet, and were less likely to develop heart failure. Several studies in Canada and at UC Davis have shown that blueberries can reduce LDL Cholesterol (the kind that can lead to heart attack and stroke).
Diabetes: The anthocyanins in blueberries have been found to reduce blood sugar levels in rodents bred to develop diabetes, according to studies at North Carolina State University. This may mean that blueberries and their juice are safe for people with diabetes. People with high blood sugar should proceed with caution and check their levels. This may be a helpful fruit.
Blueberries and their European cousin, bilberries, are now being grown all over the world. There is said to be a blueberry juice craze in Japan, with the idea that blueberries reduce eyestrain. This has also been studied with bilberries in Europe. Most markets carry frozen blueberries all year, and fresh ones in the summer. They are a good investment.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH Back issues here. Leave me a message!
The Brain: blueberries contain ‘anthocyanins’ - pigments found in red/purplish fruits and vegetables – such as purple cabbage, beets, blueberries, cocoa, cherries, raspberries and purple grapes. These pigments are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, helping to protect brain cells and enhance their ability to signal one another. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati worked with a small group of older adults with early memory changes. Those who drank 2 cups of blueberry juice per day showed improved memory and learning, reduced depression and improved glucose levels after 3 months. Similar results have been found in experimental animals. A study from Reading University in England on people of all ages showed that people taking 200 gm (2 cups) of blueberries in a morning smoothie did better on mental tasks 5 hours later compared to people having a smoothie without blueberries. Two cups is a large (and expensive) amount of blueberries. Strawberries, cocoa and raspberries were said to have similar effects on the brain. A study at Tufts University in Boston on experimental animals showed that blueberries improved motor and navigational skills.
Cancer prevention: Studies at the University of Illinois have looked at 3 phases of cancer development – initiation, promotion and proliferation (metastasis). Various compounds in wild blueberries are helpful in prevention all 3 phases, Researchers at several universities have looked at the ability of blueberry extracts to inhibit the growth of prostate, colon, breast and cervical cancer cells. The work looks promising, but is still laboratory-based and preliminary.
Urinary Tract infections: Rutgers University has a Blueberry-Cranberry Research Center; they have found that both fruits prevent bacteria from adhering to urinary tract tissues, and this help prevent urinary tract infections. A half-cup of blueberries a day may be sufficient for this benefit.
Heart Health: A study on rats at Tufts University and the National Institute on Aging showed that when the animals had a major artery to their hearts tied off, those on a blueberry enriched diet had less damage to their hearts than those on a control diet, and were less likely to develop heart failure. Several studies in Canada and at UC Davis have shown that blueberries can reduce LDL Cholesterol (the kind that can lead to heart attack and stroke).
Diabetes: The anthocyanins in blueberries have been found to reduce blood sugar levels in rodents bred to develop diabetes, according to studies at North Carolina State University. This may mean that blueberries and their juice are safe for people with diabetes. People with high blood sugar should proceed with caution and check their levels. This may be a helpful fruit.
Blueberries and their European cousin, bilberries, are now being grown all over the world. There is said to be a blueberry juice craze in Japan, with the idea that blueberries reduce eyestrain. This has also been studied with bilberries in Europe. Most markets carry frozen blueberries all year, and fresh ones in the summer. They are a good investment.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH Back issues here. Leave me a message!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Go to Health: The Second Brain in Your Gut!
We have an extensive network of nerve cells (neurons) lining our guts – some call it ‘the second brain’. This nervous system contains about 100 million neurons, more neurons than the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system (sensory and motor nerves relaying impulses all over the body). The second brain consists of sheaths of neurons embedded in the long tube of our gut, from the esophagus to the anus, It gives the necessary stimuli for mechanical mixing of food in the stomach, breaking down particles, chemical processing, and rhythmical muscle contractions that move food down the intestinal tract. We can feel the inner world of our gut when we pay attention, especially if it gives us pain from malfunction (think of the cramps of dysentery, the discomfort of gas or the pain of appendicitis). Think of ‘butterflies in the stomach’ when you are anxious, or in love, or a ‘knot’ in your midsection when you are asked to do something you don’t want to do! Sudden fear, often felt in the belly, will stop digestion to route blood to your muscles for flight or fight. These feelings can come on before the brain in your head has understood the situation. The second brain works fast!
The second brain makes many neurotransmitters, just like the brain in our heads. Over 80% percent of the body’s serotonin is located in the gut, where it is made from tryptophan (an amino acid found in the proteins we eat). Serotonin regulates intestinal movements. If irritants are present in our food, gut nerve cells release more serotonin, making the gut move faster to get rid of the noxious substance. It can also induce vomiting. Gut serotonin is regularly released into the blood stream, where it is taken up and stored by blood platelets, and used to help in the clotting process when a cut or wound occurs. Serotonin is also important in the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction and some cognitive processes.
The SSRI antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and others) increase serotonin levels and are highly effective for some people to alleviate depression and anxiety. However they can also can affect the gut and bone strength. Some, but not all, users have abdominal symptoms with these drugs. Serotonin’s role in bone strength is under study - bones get weaker in the presence of more serotonin. Users of SSRIs have been shown to have greater rates of bone loss than average, and should be extra careful to protect their bones with exercise, vitamin D and special medications if needed.
In addition to serotonin, the brain in the gut also makes the neurotransmitters dopamine, glutamate, norephinephrine and nitric oxide, and two dozen small brain proteins, called neuropeptides. Endorphins, that relieve pain, are also made in the gut, as well as tranquilizing substances. The food-mood connection is real.
You can keep your gut happy and healthy by some simple daily habits. Take a probiotic every morning (keep it refrigerated) to ensure a predominance of healthy bacteria in your colon. Eat plenty of simple plant food to ensure good levels of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other plant nutrients. Go for dried figs, dates or bananas instead of cake and candy. You know the rap! Have you tried dried bananas? Wow!
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH back columns on this blog. Leave me your thoughts.
The second brain makes many neurotransmitters, just like the brain in our heads. Over 80% percent of the body’s serotonin is located in the gut, where it is made from tryptophan (an amino acid found in the proteins we eat). Serotonin regulates intestinal movements. If irritants are present in our food, gut nerve cells release more serotonin, making the gut move faster to get rid of the noxious substance. It can also induce vomiting. Gut serotonin is regularly released into the blood stream, where it is taken up and stored by blood platelets, and used to help in the clotting process when a cut or wound occurs. Serotonin is also important in the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction and some cognitive processes.
The SSRI antidepressants (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro and others) increase serotonin levels and are highly effective for some people to alleviate depression and anxiety. However they can also can affect the gut and bone strength. Some, but not all, users have abdominal symptoms with these drugs. Serotonin’s role in bone strength is under study - bones get weaker in the presence of more serotonin. Users of SSRIs have been shown to have greater rates of bone loss than average, and should be extra careful to protect their bones with exercise, vitamin D and special medications if needed.
In addition to serotonin, the brain in the gut also makes the neurotransmitters dopamine, glutamate, norephinephrine and nitric oxide, and two dozen small brain proteins, called neuropeptides. Endorphins, that relieve pain, are also made in the gut, as well as tranquilizing substances. The food-mood connection is real.
You can keep your gut happy and healthy by some simple daily habits. Take a probiotic every morning (keep it refrigerated) to ensure a predominance of healthy bacteria in your colon. Eat plenty of simple plant food to ensure good levels of fiber, vitamins, minerals and other plant nutrients. Go for dried figs, dates or bananas instead of cake and candy. You know the rap! Have you tried dried bananas? Wow!
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH back columns on this blog. Leave me your thoughts.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Go to Health: Important Updates on Vitamin D and Chocolate
Vitamin D
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have just published an important paper - explaining the mechanisms by which vitamin D helps our immune systems fight off viral and bacterial infections. T cells, the cells that detect and kill foreign pathogens must be triggered into action by vitamin D. When the T cell meets a clump of bacteria or viruses, it extends a signaling device - an antenna - known as a vitamin D receptor. If it finds enough vitamin D in the blood, it is transformed into a ‘killer’ cell that will attack and destroy all cells carrying traces of a foreign pathogen, or into a ‘helper’ call that assist the immune system in acquiring ‘memory’. This memory enables the immune system to recognize the pathogen at the next encounter and launch an enhanced response. If vitamin D blood levels are low, T cells are less likely to be transformed into killer or helper cells.
Prior studies have shown that people with higher blood levels of vitamin D are less likely to get respiratory infections. The Copenhagen group has found a mechanism that may explain this. Many local residents suffered from prolonged colds and coughs this winter – getting adequate D is good preventive medicine and may help from now on..
We are heading into summer and the sun is back – so you can get D from safe sun exposure as well as from pills. While the majority of dermatologists discourage exposing skin to sunlight without sunscreen of 15 spf or higher, a few say that 10 minutes a day of exposure of the arms, legs and back is safe and can result in good levels of vitamin D being formed. Avoid sun exposure on your face by wearing sunscreen and a hat, because of skin damage and wrinkles. Get a blood level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D at the clinic, and aim for 35-40 ng/ml by taking vitamin D3 pills as well as safe sun exposure. Most doctors are now suggesting 1000-2000 IU of D daily in pill form.
A recent study from the University of South Carolina, funded by the National Institutes of Health, showed that pregnant women who took 4000 IU of vitamin D daily, starting at three months of pregnancy, had half the usual risk of premature delivery and ‘small for dates’ babies, and a 25% lower risk of respiratory infections, vaginal infections and gum problems. The pregnant women also had less diabetes, high blood pressure and ‘eclampsia’ - a dangerous complication. The university is now studying extra vitamin D for nursing mothers. (If you are pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor!)
Chocolate
In a previous column on chocolate, I wrote that chocolate increases the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. . NO is a gaseous ‘signaling molecule’ that crosses membranes and freely diffuses between cells. It signals the muscular coating around arteries to relax, thus improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Another protective effect of NO is its inhibition of blood clotting and the adhesion of white blood cells to the lining of blood vessels. These findings tie in with a joint Swedish-US study that showed that heart attack patients who had eaten chocolate at least twice a week during the year before their attack were 66% less likely to die at that time from cardiac causes. Over the following 8 years, the risk of cardiac mortality went down as chocolate consumption went up – there was a 44% reduction of risk associated with eating chocolate up to once a week. The authors of this study cautioned that chocolate is not a health food, being high in sugars and fats. However, there are healthy ways to eat it. Buy unsweetened cocoa powder (Green and Black is organic and fair trade) and put it in a shake, sweetened with a date or two, pomegranate concentrate, banana, xylitol or stevia. Mash a banana and some peanut butter, add unsweetened cocoa powder, and eat it right away, or put it on toast.
Here’s another benefit – researchers at the University of Barcelona put 47 men and women (age 55 and older) on diets including 1/4th cup unsweetened cocoa powder and skim milk , to be taken twice a day, and found, after a month, that those who drank cocoa had lower levels of inflammatory markers associated with heart disease, and significantly higher HDL cholesterol (the good kind). People sensitive to caffeine should be careful with these amounts of cocoa, as they give a stimulant effect.
Dear readers – I hope your spirits are rising with the sun and the wonderful green plants in your gardens and all around you.
Sadja Greenwood, MD,MPH - back issues at on this blog. Leave me a message!
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have just published an important paper - explaining the mechanisms by which vitamin D helps our immune systems fight off viral and bacterial infections. T cells, the cells that detect and kill foreign pathogens must be triggered into action by vitamin D. When the T cell meets a clump of bacteria or viruses, it extends a signaling device - an antenna - known as a vitamin D receptor. If it finds enough vitamin D in the blood, it is transformed into a ‘killer’ cell that will attack and destroy all cells carrying traces of a foreign pathogen, or into a ‘helper’ call that assist the immune system in acquiring ‘memory’. This memory enables the immune system to recognize the pathogen at the next encounter and launch an enhanced response. If vitamin D blood levels are low, T cells are less likely to be transformed into killer or helper cells.
Prior studies have shown that people with higher blood levels of vitamin D are less likely to get respiratory infections. The Copenhagen group has found a mechanism that may explain this. Many local residents suffered from prolonged colds and coughs this winter – getting adequate D is good preventive medicine and may help from now on..
We are heading into summer and the sun is back – so you can get D from safe sun exposure as well as from pills. While the majority of dermatologists discourage exposing skin to sunlight without sunscreen of 15 spf or higher, a few say that 10 minutes a day of exposure of the arms, legs and back is safe and can result in good levels of vitamin D being formed. Avoid sun exposure on your face by wearing sunscreen and a hat, because of skin damage and wrinkles. Get a blood level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D at the clinic, and aim for 35-40 ng/ml by taking vitamin D3 pills as well as safe sun exposure. Most doctors are now suggesting 1000-2000 IU of D daily in pill form.
A recent study from the University of South Carolina, funded by the National Institutes of Health, showed that pregnant women who took 4000 IU of vitamin D daily, starting at three months of pregnancy, had half the usual risk of premature delivery and ‘small for dates’ babies, and a 25% lower risk of respiratory infections, vaginal infections and gum problems. The pregnant women also had less diabetes, high blood pressure and ‘eclampsia’ - a dangerous complication. The university is now studying extra vitamin D for nursing mothers. (If you are pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor!)
Chocolate
In a previous column on chocolate, I wrote that chocolate increases the amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. . NO is a gaseous ‘signaling molecule’ that crosses membranes and freely diffuses between cells. It signals the muscular coating around arteries to relax, thus improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Another protective effect of NO is its inhibition of blood clotting and the adhesion of white blood cells to the lining of blood vessels. These findings tie in with a joint Swedish-US study that showed that heart attack patients who had eaten chocolate at least twice a week during the year before their attack were 66% less likely to die at that time from cardiac causes. Over the following 8 years, the risk of cardiac mortality went down as chocolate consumption went up – there was a 44% reduction of risk associated with eating chocolate up to once a week. The authors of this study cautioned that chocolate is not a health food, being high in sugars and fats. However, there are healthy ways to eat it. Buy unsweetened cocoa powder (Green and Black is organic and fair trade) and put it in a shake, sweetened with a date or two, pomegranate concentrate, banana, xylitol or stevia. Mash a banana and some peanut butter, add unsweetened cocoa powder, and eat it right away, or put it on toast.
Here’s another benefit – researchers at the University of Barcelona put 47 men and women (age 55 and older) on diets including 1/4th cup unsweetened cocoa powder and skim milk , to be taken twice a day, and found, after a month, that those who drank cocoa had lower levels of inflammatory markers associated with heart disease, and significantly higher HDL cholesterol (the good kind). People sensitive to caffeine should be careful with these amounts of cocoa, as they give a stimulant effect.
Dear readers – I hope your spirits are rising with the sun and the wonderful green plants in your gardens and all around you.
Sadja Greenwood, MD,MPH - back issues at on this blog. Leave me a message!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Methamphetamine – What YOU can do to stop the labs
We used to worry about meth labs in West Marin, even in Bolinas, picturing a cluttered house stocked with tubing, tanks of explosive chemicals, and a stove with bubbling beakers of a toxic brew. It’s gotten a lot simpler in recent years. Meth is now made in cars. There is a faster, cheaper and simpler method of making small amounts of meth. The ingredients – pills with the decongestant pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and household chemicals are shaken in a 2 quart soda bottle. No flame is required. The back seat of a car or a bathroom stall are the new makeshift labs. The batches of meth are much smaller, so the addicts who make them are harder to apprehend. According to the NYTimes (4/15/10) roadsides throughout the country are littered with discarded pop bottles and chemicals from these car labs. Cleanup is dangerous and time-consuming, and addicts in cars are hard to apprehend. They are also very dangerous drivers.
The basis for meth production is pseudoephedrine, made in labs in Mexico, China and other countries, often from petroleum-based compounds. The chemical comes into the country illegally. However, most of the new car-based labs use pseudoephedrine pills known as Sudafed, Actifed or Contac. In California, these drugs are no longer directly available over the counter, and a limited amount is sold at any one time. However, drug addicts and dealers employ ‘smurfers’ - people who travel to various pharmacies, using different names, to buy as much Sudafed as possible
States are trying out different techniques to stop the new car labs. Oregon has gone the farthest, with a 2006 law that makes medicines with pseudoephedrine available only with a prescription. The state has seen a marked decrease in seizures of meth labs and in property crime,. Identity theft and child abuse are also linked to meth use. A similar law has been proposed in California, opposed by drug companies and chain drug stores. Oregon’s Senator Ron Wyden has introduced a bill in the US Senate called the Meth Labs Elimination Act, which would take Oregon’s law nationwide. This proposed legislation has been targeted and opposed by drug companies eager to protect their $500 million allergy and cold care business.
Sudafed and related drugs cause stimulation of the central nervous system, including sleeplessness, excitability, dizziness and anxiety. In certain people they can cause blood pressure elevation, a very rapid or irregular heart beat, and stroke.
There are safer ways to deal with nasal congestion due to colds or allergies. Work on eliminating allergens in your home. Rinse your nose with a solution of 4 ounces warm water, ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, using a bulb syringe or a neti pot. Alternatively, you can buy a Sinus Rinse kit in local pharmacies. Use an antihistamine such as Benadryl or Chlor-trimeton, being aware that these drugs can make you sleepy, or Claritin. Vitamin C in high doses is a natural antihistamine; many people take a gram of C every 3-4 hours when they have a runny nose due to a cold or allergy, and get relief without fatigue as a side effect.
But back to meth – here are some steps you can take for the safety of your family and the wider world. Call Jared Huffman, our assemblyman: 415-479-4920. Ask him to support the Wright bill, a measure that would require a prescription for drugs containing pseudoephedrine, which can be made into methamphetamine. Also call Mark Leno, our state senator, 479-6612, with the same message. Take your activism a step further and call Lynn Woolsey, our Congresswoman – 507-9554, and Senators Feinstein -393-0707, and Boxer – 403-0100. These are all local numbers. Ask these congresswomen to support Senator Ron Wyden’s bill to require a prescription for drugs containing pseudoephedrine.
Meth is not a benign recreational drug; it is a killer drug that threatens our youth and also our budgets. If you have any doubts about this, read Tweak, by Nic Sheff, a local youth whose life was profoundly disturbed by methamphetamine. Annual costs for meth detection, cleanup and health care in the US exceed $23 billion. It’s time to try what worked in Oregon to combat this drug.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH - back issues on this blog.
The basis for meth production is pseudoephedrine, made in labs in Mexico, China and other countries, often from petroleum-based compounds. The chemical comes into the country illegally. However, most of the new car-based labs use pseudoephedrine pills known as Sudafed, Actifed or Contac. In California, these drugs are no longer directly available over the counter, and a limited amount is sold at any one time. However, drug addicts and dealers employ ‘smurfers’ - people who travel to various pharmacies, using different names, to buy as much Sudafed as possible
States are trying out different techniques to stop the new car labs. Oregon has gone the farthest, with a 2006 law that makes medicines with pseudoephedrine available only with a prescription. The state has seen a marked decrease in seizures of meth labs and in property crime,. Identity theft and child abuse are also linked to meth use. A similar law has been proposed in California, opposed by drug companies and chain drug stores. Oregon’s Senator Ron Wyden has introduced a bill in the US Senate called the Meth Labs Elimination Act, which would take Oregon’s law nationwide. This proposed legislation has been targeted and opposed by drug companies eager to protect their $500 million allergy and cold care business.
Sudafed and related drugs cause stimulation of the central nervous system, including sleeplessness, excitability, dizziness and anxiety. In certain people they can cause blood pressure elevation, a very rapid or irregular heart beat, and stroke.
There are safer ways to deal with nasal congestion due to colds or allergies. Work on eliminating allergens in your home. Rinse your nose with a solution of 4 ounces warm water, ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, using a bulb syringe or a neti pot. Alternatively, you can buy a Sinus Rinse kit in local pharmacies. Use an antihistamine such as Benadryl or Chlor-trimeton, being aware that these drugs can make you sleepy, or Claritin. Vitamin C in high doses is a natural antihistamine; many people take a gram of C every 3-4 hours when they have a runny nose due to a cold or allergy, and get relief without fatigue as a side effect.
But back to meth – here are some steps you can take for the safety of your family and the wider world. Call Jared Huffman, our assemblyman: 415-479-4920. Ask him to support the Wright bill, a measure that would require a prescription for drugs containing pseudoephedrine, which can be made into methamphetamine. Also call Mark Leno, our state senator, 479-6612, with the same message. Take your activism a step further and call Lynn Woolsey, our Congresswoman – 507-9554, and Senators Feinstein -393-0707, and Boxer – 403-0100. These are all local numbers. Ask these congresswomen to support Senator Ron Wyden’s bill to require a prescription for drugs containing pseudoephedrine.
Meth is not a benign recreational drug; it is a killer drug that threatens our youth and also our budgets. If you have any doubts about this, read Tweak, by Nic Sheff, a local youth whose life was profoundly disturbed by methamphetamine. Annual costs for meth detection, cleanup and health care in the US exceed $23 billion. It’s time to try what worked in Oregon to combat this drug.
Sadja Greenwood, MD, MPH - back issues on this blog.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Biological Exuberance; a new view of animal homosexuality
In his 1999 book Biological Exuberance – Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity – the biologist Bruce Bagemihl writes about same-
sex behaviors in a wide variety of primates, other mammals and in many bird species, explaining homosexual courtship, affection, sex, pair bonding and parenting. Same-sex behavior has been documented in over 450 species of animals; biologists point out that only a fraction of the more than a million species known to exist have been studied in any depth, so the number may be far larger. Bagemihl writes that western science has overstressed the importance of heterosexual sex for passing on genes and failed to notice many other kinds of sexual behavior – such as same sex mounting, necking (among male giraffes), oral sex and masturbation- mutual and solo.
Bonobos – pygmy chimpanzees (with whom we share over 99% of our genes) - are predominantly bisexual; females and males have frequent hetero and same-sex contact with each other, including with juveniles. Females also have sex during their pregnancies. Clearly their ‘exuberant’ sexual behavior has meanings beyond reproduction – anthropologists see it as beneficial to the group by creating tribal cohesion and preventing fights over food. These animals truly do make love not war.
Bagemihl points out that western science has attempted to explain animal homosexuality for over two hundred years but has had problems explaining behavior that is non-reproductive. However, from the point of view of biological exuberance, natural systems are driven as much by abundance as by limitations and practicality. Seen in this light, homosexuality and non-reproductive heterosexuality are “expected occurrences” – they are one manifestation of an overall “extravagance” of biological systems that has many other expressions.
Bagemihl. 1999. (Think of the peacock’s tail.)
In 2006, the Natural History Museum in Oslo opened the first-ever museum exhibition dedicated to gay animals. The exhibit , titled Against Nature?, showed photographs of the more than 1500 species (their count)where homosexuality has been observed – from insects to mammals. The curators stated that a greater understanding of how extensive and common this behavior is among animals could help to demystify homosexuality among people. You can see a few of the outstanding photographs of this exhibit by going to google : Against Nature? Exhibition in Oslo.
In today’s New York Times Magazine, April 4, 2010, the article The love that Dare Not Squawk its Name concerns new studies on animal homosexuality, mostly among seabirds. Careful observation of the Laysan Albatross, who nest in Hawaii, reveals that a third of nesting pairs are made up of two females. One or both mate briefly with a male and then return to their female nest-mate, with whom they may bond for many years. Taking off from Bagemihl’s theories, scientists are thinking that homosexuality must be seen as having different ‘purposes’ or manifestations in each species - it is a byproduct of reproductive sex, but cannot easily be explained by our current Darwinian model. New thinking is needed about the possible benefits of homosexuals to the family or the group, and also about homosexuality and bisexuality being a by-product of exuberant desire for sexual play.
Scientists studying animal sexual behavior have generally been careful not to extrapolate their findings to human society, but of course their findings have had an impact on the wider world. After publishing, the authors have been reviled by homophobes and cheered by many liberals and the GLBT community. The culture wars go on – and will undoubtedly be affected by new findings from other animals.
Sadja Greenwood, MD – back issues on this blog
sex behaviors in a wide variety of primates, other mammals and in many bird species, explaining homosexual courtship, affection, sex, pair bonding and parenting. Same-sex behavior has been documented in over 450 species of animals; biologists point out that only a fraction of the more than a million species known to exist have been studied in any depth, so the number may be far larger. Bagemihl writes that western science has overstressed the importance of heterosexual sex for passing on genes and failed to notice many other kinds of sexual behavior – such as same sex mounting, necking (among male giraffes), oral sex and masturbation- mutual and solo.
Bonobos – pygmy chimpanzees (with whom we share over 99% of our genes) - are predominantly bisexual; females and males have frequent hetero and same-sex contact with each other, including with juveniles. Females also have sex during their pregnancies. Clearly their ‘exuberant’ sexual behavior has meanings beyond reproduction – anthropologists see it as beneficial to the group by creating tribal cohesion and preventing fights over food. These animals truly do make love not war.
Bagemihl points out that western science has attempted to explain animal homosexuality for over two hundred years but has had problems explaining behavior that is non-reproductive. However, from the point of view of biological exuberance, natural systems are driven as much by abundance as by limitations and practicality. Seen in this light, homosexuality and non-reproductive heterosexuality are “expected occurrences” – they are one manifestation of an overall “extravagance” of biological systems that has many other expressions.
Bagemihl. 1999. (Think of the peacock’s tail.)
In 2006, the Natural History Museum in Oslo opened the first-ever museum exhibition dedicated to gay animals. The exhibit , titled Against Nature?, showed photographs of the more than 1500 species (their count)where homosexuality has been observed – from insects to mammals. The curators stated that a greater understanding of how extensive and common this behavior is among animals could help to demystify homosexuality among people. You can see a few of the outstanding photographs of this exhibit by going to google : Against Nature? Exhibition in Oslo.
In today’s New York Times Magazine, April 4, 2010, the article The love that Dare Not Squawk its Name concerns new studies on animal homosexuality, mostly among seabirds. Careful observation of the Laysan Albatross, who nest in Hawaii, reveals that a third of nesting pairs are made up of two females. One or both mate briefly with a male and then return to their female nest-mate, with whom they may bond for many years. Taking off from Bagemihl’s theories, scientists are thinking that homosexuality must be seen as having different ‘purposes’ or manifestations in each species - it is a byproduct of reproductive sex, but cannot easily be explained by our current Darwinian model. New thinking is needed about the possible benefits of homosexuals to the family or the group, and also about homosexuality and bisexuality being a by-product of exuberant desire for sexual play.
Scientists studying animal sexual behavior have generally been careful not to extrapolate their findings to human society, but of course their findings have had an impact on the wider world. After publishing, the authors have been reviled by homophobes and cheered by many liberals and the GLBT community. The culture wars go on – and will undoubtedly be affected by new findings from other animals.
Sadja Greenwood, MD – back issues on this blog
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