In case you were suspicious about cell phones, it looks like you had good reason to be. Recent, comprehensive epidemiological data has demonstrated that cell phone use for 10 years or more doubles your chance of getting a brain tumor on the side of the head that you put the phone close to. It’s really amazing how far common sense gets you. Common sense tells you that if you can fry an egg on your ear after a phone conversation, then maybe that’s not going to be the best thing for your brain. But somehow we are convinced of the safety of these things. Companies that have financial interests submit safety data and our government makes decisions based on these. My advice is to keep cell phones as far away from you as you practically can. When talking use the speakerphone or car bluetooth and hope for the best.
 
Surg Neurol. 2009 Sep;72(3):205-14; discussion 214-5. Epub 2009 Mar 27.

While I am far from a fan of fox news, this is an important story that I think people should listen to and be aware of.
 

 
I want to thank Nini Mai of Fat Turtle Herb company for sending me the link.

For those of you used to hearing how wonderful fish oils are for everything, researchers are beginning to discover that, like anything, fish oils are at times appropriate and at times not so appropriate. In Chinese dietary therapy fish is forbidden anytime someone has a bronchial infection. However, until recently there was no hard evidence that this was in fact a valid concern.
 
In this recent study, they took a group of mice and gave them the flu. They then fed some of the mice fish oils and others served as a control group and only ate their regular diets. The researchers found the fish oil fed mice had much lower levels of inflammation in their lungs than the control mice. However, the fish oil fed mice had a 40% higher mortality rate than the controls. That means you may be much more likely to die from the flu if you take fish oils.
 
J Nutr. 2009 Aug;139(8):1588-94. Epub 2009 Jun 23.

According to a recent study, 2 oz. of walnuts per day may slow breast cancer growth. Walnuts contain many potent chemicals such as the anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids, phytosterols, polyphenols, carotenoids, and melatonin. In this study, human breast cancer cells were implanted into mice until the tumors reached 3-5mm in diameter. Then one group was given the human equivalent of 2 oz of walnuts and that significantly slowed the growth of the cancer cells. While the walnuts did not kill the cancer, it is certainly a good idea to consider walnuts in an overall breast cancer prevention or treatment strategy. Please note that if you have insomnia, taking walnuts in the evening might be helpful given the melatonin content. Also melatonin has been shown to slow breast cancer as well, perhaps that is one of the mechanisms.
 
Nutr Cancer. 2008;60(5):666-74

Researchers from the University of Colorado used a relatively new technique in microbiology and found potentially dangerous levels of certain bacteria (mycobacteria … similar to tuberculosis) in 30% of the showerheads examined (these were in New York, Chicago and Denver). Some of these bacteria were bleach loving … it actually made them grow faster, so Clorox is not going to help. The bacteria actually hide in slimy biofilms and the most dangerous time is thought to be right when you first turn on the shower. So be sure to turn the shower on for a little bit before you step in. The next factor was that plastic was much better at harboring the mycobacteria than metal, so try to get metal showerheads where possible. We use water saver showerheads which are small, cheap and metal. You can get them at any hardware store. Regardless, if you have a cold, the last thing you want to do is take a long shower with a plastic showerhead. Baths don’t have the same problems so that’s a reasonable option if your immune system is compromised.
 

A recent study demonstrated that vitamin C was able to prevent genetic mutations in the skin due to oxidative damage. It is also an essential cofactor in collagen production so it can help to reduce wrinkle formation and protect the integrity of the skin. In Southern California we get a lot of oxidative damage from the sun, pollution, etc. and vitamin C should be a part of everyone’s daily regimen. Of course natural sources of vitamin C are preferable: oranges, kiwi, etc., however, this is one area where supplementation is also very useful.
 
Free Radic Biol Med. 2009 Jan 1;46(1):78-87. Epub 2008 Oct 9

Researchers at the University of Chicago medical school found that American Ginseng is able to significantly lower blood glucose levels and improve glucose tolerence tests. This is very good news for diabetics as, not only does it lower sugar levels, it also improves energy. However, you need to be careful taking this herb if you have a history of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Interestingly, researchers could not identify how American Ginseng lowered blood sugar, but they found it was not through antioxidant activity alone. In this study they used a water extract so just making a tea is sufficient. In China, American Ginseng is felt to promote longevity.
 
Fitoterapia. 2009 Jul;80(5):306-11. Epub 2009 Apr 7
Am J Chin Med. 2002;30(2-3):187-94

I’m not sure what gets people to take a look at these things, but I’m going to guess that someone in Malaysia that was doing research on cancer cell lines was eating vanilla ice cream and some dropped into the dish and killed the cancer cells. However it happened, they ended up showing that Vanillin, which is the chemical in vanilla that is responsible for
the flavor and smell of vanilla, stops colon cancer replication. So they are now looking at the potential for vanilla in cancer prevention. Now I’m waiting for Steve to make a colon cancer prevention vanilla cookie or something. Please email him and get him to post a recipe on the blog
 
Cancer Epidemiol. 2009 Aug;33(2):155-60.