Fitness Factoids: Volume 46
Gluten Fre
e Diet May Help Protect Bones
The list of health problems and ailments associated with gluten is astounding. The most common disease associated with gluten consumption is celiac disease, an autoimmune disease caused by gluten that leads to atrophy of the villi in the small intestine. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology has found that patients who suffer from celiac disease that eliminate gluten from their diets have a reduced risk for suffering bone fractures. Scientists studied 7,100 people diagnosed with celiac disease and issued internal biopsies to the participants. They found that 43% suffered from “persistent damage” to the small intestine. At the start of the study it was determined that all patients were at the same level of risk for developing bone fractures, however, it was determined that the patients identified as having significant intestinal damage had a much higher risk of developing fractures over a five year period. Consuming high levels of wheat gluten in the diet promotes an acidic environment in the body due to the high levels of acidity found in modern wheat. In an attempt to regulate the pH the body pulls alkalizing minerals such as calcium out of the bones and teeth in order to reestablish an alkaline environment.
V
itamin D Decreases Pain in Women Suffering From Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition that effects nearly 1 in 25 women. Women who suffer from fibromyalgia experience extreme fatigue and chronic pain, and the disorder has even been linked to depression and anxiety. Typical treatment for the disease centers on pain management from prescription pain medicine, but some have found that exercise helps decrease the severity of the pain. According to a new study published in the journal Pain, vitamin D supplementation has the ability to decrease pain and nerve sensitivity in women suffering from fibromyalgia. The study split thirty women diagnosed with the disease into two groups; one of which received vitamin D supplementation for 25 weeks, and the other received a placebo. The women receiving vitamin D supplementation self-reported reductions in pain during the course of the treatment while the placebo group did not. These findings lead researchers to suggest that women suffering from fibromyalgia consider vitamin D supplementation as a safe, cost effective method for reducing pain.
Curcu
min Improves Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer
Curcumin, one of the primary components occurring in the spice turmeric, has been used medicinally for centuries as a form of treatment for a variety of ailments. According to research published in the online journal Plos One, curcumin has the ability to improve treatment in colon cancer therapy, even after patients had become resistant to chemotherapy medicines. For the study researchers took three groups; one group treated with traditional chemotherapy drugs, a second group pre-treated with curcumin four prior to chemotherapy, and a group that received curcumin as a stand-alone. Researchers found that curcumin improved the effectiveness of chemotherapy in the combination group, resensitized cells that were previously treatment resistant, and reduced proliferation (spread) of cancer cells in all groups. Those searching for additional alternative therapies for cancer may consider curcumin supplementation as an adjunct to their current therapy.
High Fiber Diets Boost Colon Health
Diets high in dietary fiber have been proven to be effective weapons for controlling blood sugar and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. According to new findings published in the journal Immunity, high fiber diets have the ability to improve colon health and decrease risk of developing diseases such as colon cancer, Chron’s, disease, and ulcerative colitis. Researchers at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical College at Georgia Regents University have discovered that high fiber diets activate a protective gene identified as Gpr109a. As fiber is broken down in the colon by healthy bacteria a short chain fatty acid known as butyrate is produced that activates the receptor for Gpr109a which is located on the surface of colon cells. Once Gpr109a has become activated an immune response is triggered that aids in the healing of damaged cells that and decreases inflammation.
Strength and Aerobic Training Decrease Risk of Diabetes in Women
The benefits of resistance training have been well documented for their ability to improve health, strengthen bones, and increase insulin sensitivity for decades. However, despite the multitude of studies conducted and copious data that have been collected; the majority of studies have been conducted on men, with few focusing on the effects that The Women’s Health Study. Researchers found that women who engaged in 150 min/week of aerobic activity and 60 min/week of resistance training had up to a 38% reduced risk of developing diabetes than those who did not. Regular exercise also helps to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease as well; two conditions which are known to afflict nearly 50% of elderly women who have been previously diagnosed with diabetes.
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