elnathan Blog

Babies who are breastfed have lower arsenic exposure than babies who are fed formula , according to a new study. The powder and water used to make the baby formula may be sources of arsenic, which occurs naturally in the environment and in large doses is linked to serious health problems, the researchers write in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives . It's not clear, however, whether the low levels of arsenic exposure in the study will turn out to be harmful, the researchers say. Parents who need to use formula to feed their infants shouldn’t feel badly about the new findings, said Kathryn Cottingham , one of the study’s lead authors. Instead, they should pay attention to the water they’re using to make baby formula. “People who don’t know what’s going on in their water should test their water,” said Cottingham, who works at the Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hamps...

A study from Finland suggests that saunas might have health benefits – at least, for men. During the study, men who spent time in a sauna seven times a week were less likely to die of heart problems or to die at all, compared to those who only visited the sauna once a week. Researchers followed more than 2,000 middle-aged men in eastern Finland for about 20 years. The more often the men went to the sauna, and the longer they stayed, the lower their risk for sudden cardiac death, fatal coronary heart disease and fatal cardiovascular disease over those 20 years. The association was strong even after many potentially interacting factors were taken into account, said senior author Dr. Jari Laukkanen , a cardiologist at the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio . Starting in the 1980s, more than 2,000 men filled out questionnaires about their weekly sauna use. About 1,500 men reported using a sauna two or...

The minute you become a mom you’re faced with so many questions about your baby’s health. From breastfeeding , cord blood banking and bottles to circumcision, vaccines and beyond, there’s so much to think about. Plus, there are the decisions that also affect your health— physically, mentally and emotionally. Here, experts sort through some of the most common conundrums new moms deal with and offer up easy ways to help make the choices a bit easier. 1. Exercise or sleep? Even though you know a sweat session can give you energy and help you feel strong, you’re probably just too exhausted to muster up the stamina to get to the gym. In fact, 50 percent of new moms are still fatigued during the day even 18 weeks after giving birth, according to a study in the journal PLOS One . On top of that, lack of sleep can affect two hormones that affect your appetite. When you’re sleep deprived your body makes more ghrelin, “the hunger hormone” that tells your body to eat and...

In the great Amazon rainforest, native people have long used a large array of psychoactive medicinal agents, from frog secretions to potent snuffs, to various items that can be smoked, applied to skin, or otherwise ingested. Among these agents, the best-known of all is ayahuasca, a fluid potion. Also known as "La Medicina" (The Medicine), ayahuasca is a combinatory preparation, made from the pounded vines of Banisteropsis caapi, and the leaves of Psyhcotria viridis. Large quantities of both are placed into a pot with a large amount of water, and the entire potion is boiled down, until the remaining fluid is thick, bitter, a bit oily, and sadly quite nasty to the taste. In recent years ayahuasca, which has been prepared by native people for well over 1,000 years, has become vastly popular. Today, two large Brazilian churches utilize ayahuasca as a sacrament. Both churches, Santo Daime and Uniao de Vegetal, boast millions of followers, and on weekends bot...

Conjunctivitis was first discover in Mexico in 1902. It is also called Pinkeye Inflamed and uninflamed conjunctiva Conjunctivitis or Pinkeye is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the thin transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. Conjunctivitis, often called “pink eye,” is a common eye disease, especially in children. It may affect one or both eyes. Some forms of conjunctivitis can be highly contagious and easily spread in schools and at home. While conjunctivitis is usually a minor eye infection, sometimes it can develop into a more serious problem. Conjunctivitis may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection . It can also occur due to an allergic reaction to irritants in the air like pollen and smoke , chlorine in swimming pools , and ingredients in cosmetics or other products that come in contact with the eyes. Sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia and gonorrhea are less...

What Causes Cataracts? A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, most elderly either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. What is the lens? The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina . The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred. The eye functions much like a camera. Light rays enter the eye, passing through the cornea, the aqueous humor -- transparent fluid i...

 “During the holidays, we tend to eat more and exercise less. We also tend to eat the wrong types of foods, and before we know it, we are gaining a lot of weight.” - Dr. Michael Aziz, author 'The Perfect 10 Diet'  THIS IS HOW YOU CAN CHEAT ON YOUR DIET 1. Snack on vegetables “Vegetables have a lot of fiber – they have nutrients and vitamins,” Aziz said. “They fill you up nicely.” Taking a bite from the holiday gift basket instead of the chocolate box is a good idea. 2. Limit which fruits you eat “Fruits contain a sugar called fructose, and the upper limit that the body can handle in one single day is about 15 grams,” Aziz said.  “And many fruits have more than 15 grams - bananas in general, apples, pears.  Stick with fruits that have a lower sugar content, such as strawberries, blueberries.” 3. Think outside the box when it comes to dessert “Chocolate has a lot of sugar, and it’s going to add a lot of calories,” Aziz said. “It's going ...