MRIs Spot Breast Cancer

For women at high risk for breast cancer, a new study supports existing research showing that MRI is extremely useful in detecting breast cancer.

The latest study compared the three screening methods of mammography, ultrasound, and MRI in detecting breast cancer in high risk women. The American Cancer Society already asserts that women at high risk will benefit from adding MRI to mammography procedures. The current study, published in the August issue of Radiology, does not break new ground but does add evidence about the advantages of adding MRIs to the screening process.

So far, using MRIs along with mammography can be justified only with high risk women because of the higher cost of MRIs, the risk involved in injecting contrast material needed to display very small lesions, and the biopsies required to rule out false-positives.

For technological reasons, MRIs are often able to detect cancers that mammography misses, but MRIs should not replace mammograms, which do detect cases that may be missed by MRI.

Read the full article below:

Yahoo! Health: Breast Cancer News
TUESDAY, July 31 (HealthDay News)

posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

www.amazinghealing.com

New Multiple Sclerosis Findings

Over the years, I have helped patients manage their symptoms resulting from multiple sclerosis. This disease with no cure creates extremely varied symptoms that can be mild to debilitatingly intense. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are very successful at lessening the intensity of varied signs and symptoms, increasing the time between attacks of MS, and allowing for a better quality of life. Now, researchers have identified two genetic markers that increase a person's risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This is a wonderful breakthrough that offers hope in eventually better understanding a disease that has been so mysterious over the years.

Posted by: Michael Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

Your Heart Loves Organic Food

A BBC.com article reported on study about the benefits of eating organic foods.

"Organic fruit and vegetables may be better for you than conventionally grown crops, US research suggests.

A ten-year study comparing organic tomatoes with standard produce found almost double the level of flavonoids - a type of antioxidant. Flavonoids have been shown to reduce high blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the team said nitrogen in the soil may be the key.

Dr Alyson Mitchell, a food chemist at the University of California, and colleagues measured the amount of two flavonoids - quercetin and kaempferol - in dried tomato samples that had been collected as part of a long-term study on agricultural methods".

Read the entire article.
You might also like to read this interview, Health Food, Organics & Politics.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac. Author of Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management an evidence-based integrated approach. Her book is about acupuncture weight loss, Chinese herbs and weight loss diets.

How to protect yourself from West Nile virus

Press Release # 058-07
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MEDIA:(212) 788-5290; (212) 788-3058
(After Hours)Andrew Tucker (atucker@health.nyc.gov)Sara Markt (smarkt@health.nyc.gov)

HEALTH DEPARTMENT URGES NEW YORKERS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES DURING WEST NILE VIRUS SEASON Wearing Repellent Can Prevent Infection

NEW YORK CITY – July 18, 2007 – A steamy summer is in full swing in New York City, and with it comes mosquitoes. The Health Department today reminded New Yorkers to mosquito-proof their homes and wear mosquito repellent when spending time outdoors. New Yorkers can also help prevent the spread of West Nile virus by eliminating standing water, where mosquitoes breed, from their property. While there have been no indications of West Nile virus in humans, animals or mosquitoes yet this season, now is the time to start taking precautions.

The Health Department monitors for West Nile Virus and applies pesticides as needed throughout the summer. The Department has begun routine preventive mosquito control (larviciding) in parts of Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx, using a naturally-occurring and environmentally-friendly product to prevent immature mosquitoes from growing into adults. The City’s 2007 Comprehensive Mosquito Surveillance and Control Plan can be found online at http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/wnv/wnvplan2007.pdf.

“West Nile virus likely to appear soon, so take precautions to protect yourself and your family,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City Health Commissioner. “Anyone who is outdoors in areas with mosquitoes should wear an appropriate insect repellent, and property owners should eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to serious illness and should take care to avoid mosquitoes.” Residents can report dead birds, which may be signs of West Nile virus, and standing water by calling 311 or logging onto nyc.gov/health.

Reduce Exposure to Mosquitoes
• Use an approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus to reduce exposure to mosquitoes. (Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should NOT be used on children younger than three.) Use products according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Make sure windows have screens, and repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.

• Eliminate any standing water that collects on your property, and dispose of containers that can collect water. Standing water is a violation of the Health Code.

• Make sure roof gutters are clean and draining properly.

• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. Keep them empty and covered if not in use; drain water that collects in pool covers.

• Do not leave vases in cemeteries as they are prohibited during West Nile virus season.
To report dead birds or standing water, or for more information about West Nile virus, call 311 or visit http://www.nyc.gov/health/wnv.

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

IVF Kids Grow Up Tall?

Even though in-vitro fertilization has been used to help couples bear children for several decades, studies about the lives of children born through IVF have been slow to appear. I have been particularly interested in whether there are differences in the health of IVF children compared with children conceived naturally, so I'm always interested in IVF kids' news.

I noticed a news tidbit on the topic last week: A New Zealand study has found that school-aged IVF kids are slightly taller than naturally-conceived kids of the same age. The study involved 69 children conceived by IVF using fresh embryos and 71 matched "controls" who were conceived in the normal way.

After factoring in parents' heights, the IVF children were significantly taller than their peers, by about 3 centimeters, or just over an inch, the investigators report in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

What does this mean? It probably doesn't make a tremendous difference in life to be an inch or two taller than average. However, it may be a sign that hormones and metabolism are slightly different in IVF children. We will all be waiting to see how that will affect them in the future...


Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, online July 12, 2007

posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.
www.amazinghealing.com

Tour de France vs. New York City Marathon

I have had a long running (pun intended) debate with my friends about which is harder -- running or biking? There is no clearcut answer as each sport utilizes different muscles and calorie reserves. At the end of the 2006 New York City Marathon, Lance Armstrong said it was the hardest physical thing he had ever done, but maybe that was due to the resulting pain from pounding the pavement as opposed to the actual physical demand the marathon placed on his body. Cycling is a lower impact sport than running, for sure, and you may get more out of cycling for your body as this article explains in a little more in depth:

“The thing with the marathon is the distance,” he said. “It’s a long, long distance. I’ve learned about the marathon the hard way. I’ve experienced its pain. When the going gets hard, you still have to run hard. You have to give it everything. It took me a while to learn the pain of the marathon.”

Marathon running is so hard that elite runners often recuperate by taking two or three weeks off after a race with no running at all. And they only race in marathons twice a year.

Tour riders, by contrast, typically are racing again a month after the Tour and race as many as 100 times a year.

But the question of which is harder — the Tour or a marathon — depends, scientists say, on what you mean by hard. “Running is less of a test of pure cardiovascular strength and muscle strength,” says Robert Wolfe, a physiologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “Other factors come into play. In particular, the physical pounding of the legs on the road brings a kind of fatigue and muscle damage that lasts and persists.”

For pure energy expenditure, it is hard to match the Tour de France, whose riders consume as much as 8,000 to 9,000 calories a day.'

This is to say nothing of the ultramarathons and the Race Across America.



TIPS

Don't push yourself to do these long distances right off the bat.
Ease yourself into any new physical activity as you want to avoid injury at all cost.
Read up on technique, proper training, and adjust your diet accordingly.
Remember to stretch beforehand and afterward appropriately to the muscles that you are using.



Get out and enjoy the summer!



Posted by: Michael Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

New York City Community Health Profiles

So you think that you have the healthiest neighborhood in NYC? Prove it!

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene updated the New York City Community Health Profiles to capture the health of 42 New York City neighborhoods in 2006. These comprehensive reports provide detailed information on significant health issues and serve as a critical resource for improving health, community by community. Check it out online here! The interactive maps that display differences in health topics are interesting and fun. You can also plug in your zip code, too. Hopefully the Department of Health will continue to expand this feature to include more health topics. Enjoy!

Posted by: Michael Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

Fun with Exercise

Guess what? More opportunities for summer exercise! Outdoor activities with groups of fellow New Yorkers are so much more fun than the treadmill at the gym, so check out the list below for ways to stay in shape without being isolated.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/fashion/28fit.html?ex=1184472000&en=ec10a807c5ede6ce&ei=5070

Activities listed include running, kayaking, volleyball, backpacking, mountainbiking, rowing, flyfishing, rollerskating, and swimming!

posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.

Aiyana Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

Really? A Free Bike?

As a big proponent of bicycling for exercise and transport whenever possible, I know that a bike share program would be wonderful if it could take-off in New York City. A pilot program is underway and today is the last day that you can actually borrow a free bike! You can take it for 30 minutes and cruise the city to check out a new part of town. Check out the NY Bike-Share Project website for more information and get out there! And keep track of the project to see if it will become a mainstay.

Posted by: Michael Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

A Wow for Watermelon

Summer is now in full swing, and if anyone is looking for an alternative to cooling off with ice cream, look no further than delicious and refreshing watermelon!

Because of watermelon’s cooling nature, it can do more for our health than refresh us on these hot summer days; watermelon can help quench the inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis.

Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamin C and a very good source of vitamin A. It is also rich in the B vitamins necessary for energy production such as B6 B1, magnesium, thiamin and potassium.

Sweet, juicy watermelon is also packed with some of the most important antioxidants in nature. Specifically, pink watermelon is a rich source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene, which, according to the USDA research, protects against cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer (most notably prostate with some studies showing protective properties against breast, endometrium and lung cancers as well). Studies have shown that a cup and a half of watermelon contains about 9 to 13 milligrams of lycopene.

High intakes of vitamin C and beta-carotene have been shown in a number of scientific studies to reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce the airway spasm that occurs in asthma, reduce the risk of colon cancer, and alleviate some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. A cup of watermelon provides 24.3% of the daily value for vitamin C, and, through its beta-carotene, 11.1% of the DV for vitamin A.

For further information about watermelon and more of the world’s healthiest foods, check the following website:
http://www.whfoods.org/

posted by Jessica Silver, MAOM, L.Ac.
Aiyana Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
212-894-0767
www.amazinghealing.com

How Kobayashi ate SO many hot dogs

On July 4th, the Mustard Belt was reclaimed by an American, but not without a fight from the famous Japanese competitive eater Kobayashi. As Justin Silverman writes in his article covering the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest:

"Though he lost, the Japanese master eater achieved a personal best and also scored a personal victory, considering the severe attack of jaw arthritis almost kept him from competing. Just three hours before the contest, Kobayashi was still receiving acupuncture treatment to abate the pain."

Using acupuncture to alleviate pain is highly effective for athletes, but I would not condone attempting to eat 63 hot dogs in 12 minutes like Kobayashi did.

Posted by: Michael Pingicer, M.S., L.Ac.

Salmonella Tained Veggie Booty Snacks

If you have these products at home don't delay, throw them away!!!

For complete information about recalled products read this article on CNN.com.

Article Highlights
NEW: Salmonella-contaminated ingredients from China used in recalled snacks
NEW: Bacteria in Veggie Booty sample matches type that sickened consumers
Super Veggie Tings Crunchy Corn Sticks Snack Food recalled Monday
Same maker'sVeggie Booty Snack Food recalled last week on salmonella fears

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

NYC Restaurants No Longer Using Trans Fat Oils!

MORE THAN 80% OF NYC RESTAURANTS NOW USING ZERO GRAMS TRANS FAT OILS First Phase of Trans Fat Regulation Takes Effect July 1, 2007

NEW YORK CITY – June 29, 2007 – Facing a July 1 deadline, most restaurants have already eliminated artificial trans fat in oils used for frying, a new Health Department survey shows. The agency reported today that 83% of restaurants were not using artificial trans fat for frying as of June 1 – a full month before the new regulation will take effect.

The first phase of the trans fat regulation takes effect on July 1 and applies to oils, shortening and margarines used for frying and spreading – not to baked goods or prepared foods, or oils used to deep-fry dough or cake batter. These are covered by the second phase of the regulation, which takes effect on July 1, 2008. The Health Department’s new survey found that 57% of restaurants where trans fat content could be determined were using oils free of artificial trans fat for frying, as spreads, and even for baking – a purpose covered by the 2008 deadline. That’s up from approximately 50% in 2006.

“The vast majority of restaurants are using trans fat free oil for frying,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden. “This confirms that the switch is feasible. But many restaurants are still using spreads such as margarine that contain artificial trans fat. These products need to be replaced with widely available alternatives. We will continue to work closely with restaurants to eliminate harmful trans fat.”

“We’re excited about this change,” said Susan Giannetto, executive chef at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in Times Square. “We’re keeping people healthy, and we’re making a better product. We want people to feel good about what they eat. The taste hasn’t changed.” Bubba Gump’s NYC restaurant switched to trans-fat-free fry oils more than three months ago. The company now plans make the same change at all of its establishments worldwide.

Waterfront Ale House in Brooklyn, popular for its game burgers, barbeque and chocolate cake, made the switch easily. “We changed the oil in a few recipes, and we have not had any problem,” said owner Sam Barbieri. “We have not seen any change in quality or price.”

Trans Fat Regulations
Starting July 1, 2007, restaurants may not use partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, shortenings or margarines for frying, pan-frying (sautéing) or grilling if they contain 0.5 grams or more of trans fat per serving. The same restriction applies to spreads. Restaurants will be cited for violations, but fines will not be issued until October 1, 2007, after a three-month grace period.

Beginning July 1, 2008, no food containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, shortenings or margarines with 0.5 grams or more trans fat per serving may be stored, used or served by food service establishments in New York City. The regulation does not apply to food served in the manufacturer’s original, sealed packaging, such as a package of crackers.

The Trans Fat Help Center
The Health Department, with a grant from the American Heart Association, launched the Trans Fat Help Center in April to help restaurants switch from artificial trans fat to more healthful oils while maintaining the same taste and texture of food. The Help Center offers the following resources at no cost to restaurants:
The Help Line. Restaurants can call 311 to reach the help line for information on the regulation Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Assistance is also available in Chinese, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages with interpretation services.

The Website. www.notransfatnyc.org features easy-to-use resources, available to restaurants 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Restaurant operators may download “0 grams trans fat” product lists, a guide to frying without trans fat, get information about classes, or download a brochure on the new regulations.

Classes for Restaurant Operators. Restaurant operators can sign up for classes on cooking and baking without artificial trans fat. Classes will be offered monthly, in a variety of locations depending on demand, until December 2008. For information about how to sign up, visit www.notransfatnyc.org.

A complete guide to complying with NYC’s new trans fat regulation is available at: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cardio/cardio-transfat-bro.pdf

Calorie Labeling Regulation in New York City
A separate regulation, which will also go into effect July 1, 2007, requires restaurants with standard portions that make calorie information publicly available to post it on menus where consumers can see it when they order. The rule will affect about 10% of city restaurants. No fines or citations will be issued for violations until October 1, 2007. The Health Department is working with restaurants affected by this regulation that are in the process of redesigning menu boards to assure compliance.

One restaurant association has sued New York City, challenging the calorie labeling regulation. “This rule simply requires restaurants to provide information they already publish where their customers will actually see it,” said Dr. Frieden. “It is unfortunate that some restaurants are so ashamed of what they are serving that they would rather go to court than present this important information where their customers can readily see it.”
Information about the calorie labeling regulation in New York City restaurants is online at: http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/cdp/cdp-pan-calorie-bro.pdf

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac., Author of Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management
Try Acupuncture for Weight Loss and/or for High Blood Pressure. It Works.
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Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management

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Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management an integrated evidence-based approach

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by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

Autism: Why The Debate Rages

Autism: Why The Debate Rages

To learn about the debate check out this thorough article found on CBS News Online.

I wonder if the new way of administering multiple immunizations all at once is too rough for our babies' little bodies. Perhaps the older, slower administration allowing time (weeks, even months) between shots is better. Some pediatricians will still give immunizations the old fashioned way. Before you chose a doctor for your baby, ask the staff how the doctor administers the immunizations, review all the information you can with your partner to make an informed decision.

Here's to healthy babies!

Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.

The Stress & Weight Gain Connection

An article by Rob Stein of the Washington Post (Monday, July 2, 2007; Page A01) reports on the connection between stress, over-eating junk food and obesity.

"Scientists reported yesterday that they have uncovered a biological switch by which stress can promote obesity, a discovery that could help explain the world's growing weight problem and lead to new ways to melt flab and manipulate fat for cosmetic purposes.

In a series of experiments on mice, researchers showed that the neurochemical pathway they identified promotes fat growth in chronically stressed animals that eat the equivalent of a junk-food diet". Read the entire article.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can help reduce the production of stress hormones and helps to balance the qi (energy) to stimulate weight loss. When these therapies are combined with a healthy diet, behavioral change and stress reduction classes, and/or meditation, they strengthen and lengthen the therapeutic effects. Call us for an appointment: 212-894-0767

Read more about Acupuncture Weight Loss

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Posted by Juliette Aiyana, L.Ac.