“No implantable device on planet has been more thoroughly studied than silicone gel implants.”

If you’ve been following plastic surgery news lately, you know that silicone-gel breast implants are back, big time. When they returned to the market in 2006 after the FDA ban was lifted only 19 percent of breast augmentation procedures used silicone. In 2012, according to new statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), 72 percent of the 330,631 breast augmentation procedures in the U.S. used silicone implants, while only 28 percent used saline.

Explaining how extra virgin olive oil protects against Alzheimer’s disease

The mystery of exactly how consumption of extra virgin olive oil helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may lie in one component of olive oil that helps shuttle the abnormal AD proteins out of the brain, scientists are reporting in a new study. It appears in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

Amal Kaddoumi and colleagues note that AD affects about 30 million people worldwide, but the prevalence is lower in Mediterranean countries. Scientists once attributed it to the high concentration of healthful monounsaturated fats in olive oil — consumed in large amounts in the Mediterranean diet. Newer research suggested that the actual protective agent might be a substance called oleocanthal, which has effects that protect nerve cells from the kind of damage that occurs in AD. Kaddoumi’s team sought evidence on whether oleocanthal helps decrease the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain, believed to be the culprit in AD.

They describe tracking the effects of oleocanthal in the brains and cultured brain cells of laboratory mice used as stand-ins for humans in such research. In both instances, oleocanthal showed a consistent pattern in which it boosted production of two proteins and key enzymes believed to be critical in removing Aβ from the brain. “Extra-virgin olive oil-derived oleocanthal associated with the consumption of Mediterranean diet has the potential to reduce the risk of AD or related neurodegenerative dementias,” the report concludes.

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The authors acknowledge funding from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

What Is a Detox Diet?

Detox (short for detoxification) diets are extreme weight loss diet plans that claim to flush toxic chemicals from your body. Detoxing is based on the concept that your body needs help getting rid of unwanted toxins from contaminants in processed foods and the environment. In theory, once free of toxins, your body functions better and your metabolism soars so you can shed those extra pounds.

Despite the popularity of detox diets, nutrition experts say they are neither necessary nor scientifically proven to work.

Frank Sacks, MD, a leading epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, says, “There is no basis in human biology that indicates we need fasting or any other detox formula to detoxify the body because we have our own internal organs and immune system that take care of excreting toxins.”

Loma Linda, CA — A Mediterranean diet supplemented with either extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts may cut the risk of cardiovascular events by as much as 30% in subjects at high risk of developing heart disease, as compared with people advised to eat a reduced-fat diet [1].

Those are the key findings from the randomized controlled PREDIMED primary-prevention trial presented here at the International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition.

The Mediterranean diet already reigns supreme in secondary prevention of CV events. PREDIMED, which looked at diet effects on hard clinical end points, carves out an important role for this dietary eating pattern in primary prevention.

“These results support the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for CV risk reduction [and] are particularly relevant given the challenges of achieving and maintaining weight loss,” investigators write in a paper published in advance of the presentation in the New England Journal of Medicine. PREDIMED was led by Dr Ramón Estruch (Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain) and Dr Miguel Angel Martínez-González (Clinical Universidad de Navaraa, Pamplona, Spain).

Commenting on the study for heartwire , Dr Marc Gillinov (Cleveland Clinic, OH), who was not involved in the study, pointed out that there are very few studies of any diets that are rigorously designed and that address hard clinical outcomes. “This randomized controlled trial is by far the best in class when it comes to dietary studies. We should take its results seriously: if you have risk factors for cardiovascular disease–and the majority of adult Americans do–your best bet is to follow a Mediterranean diet.”

PREDIMED: Oil and Nuts Over Fat Restriction

PREDIMED enrolled 7447 men and women ranging in age from 55 to 80 years, none of whom had established cardiovascular disease but who were at high CV risk. Subjects were randomized to one of two Mediterranean diet groups (one supplemented with olive oil, the other with nuts) or to a control diet wherein subjects were advised to try to reduce dietary fat.

Patients in the Mediterranean-diet groups were invited to regular dietary training sessions; by contrast, those in the control group were, for the first three years, sent leaflets explaining a low-fat diet. After a protocol amendment at the three-year mark, low-fat-diet patients were also invited to regular group sessions and offered personalized advice at the same level of intensity as the Mediterranean groups.

The study was stopped when an interim analysis at 4.8 years revealed a clear signal of benefit among subjects eating the Mediterranean diets. In the olive-oil and mixed-nut Mediterranean diet groups, the primary end point (MI, stroke, or CV death) was reduced by 30% and 28% respectively, as compared with the control group.

Study dropouts, meanwhile, were twice as common in the control diet group as in the Mediterranean diet group (11.3% vs 4.9%). “Favorable trends” were seen for both stroke and MI rates among subjects eating the Mediterranean diet, but numbers were too low to be relevant statistically. A total of 288 subjects experienced an event in the study: 96 events in the olive-oil group, 83 in the nut group, and 109 in the control group.

Of special note, subjects randomized to the Mediterranean diets were not told to reduce calories, a major barrier to success in many dietary interventions, particularly the long-supported “low-fat” approach.

Good Fat and Bad

In an email to heartwire , Estruch highlighted the importance of differentiating between different types of fat “Animal fat should be avoided,” he said, whereas “vegetal fats–extra virgin olive oil and nuts–should be recommended [within] a healthy food pattern such as the Mediterranean diet.”

Asked whether the findings would be applicable to other parts of the world where saturated fats are such a common component of everyday eating, Estruch stressed the importance of education.

“People should know that the Mediterranean diet is a diet healthier than others and should know the key components of this food pattern. The plan should be to increase the intake of the key foods (vegetables, fruit, nuts, fish, legumes, extra virgin olive oil, and red wine in moderation), also increase the intake of white meat, and decrease the intake of red and processed meat, soda drinks, whole dairy products, commercial bakery goods, and sweets and pastries.”

He continued: “To achieve a score of 14 in the 14-item adherence scale to traditional Mediterranean diet [laid out in a supplemental appendix in the paper] is more or less impossible, but to upgrade two to three points in this score is enough to reduce your cardiovascular risk by 30%.”

Gillinov, in turn, pointed out that there are no data of a similar quality supporting a low-fat diet, although these have long been promoted by physicians and professional medical groups. “The Mediterranean diet contains moderate quantities of fat, and it clearly wins in this trial of primary prevention,” he said.

Dr Steven Nissen , also of the Cleveland Clinic, was even more effusive, calling PREDIMED “a spectacular study that was extremely difficult to perform.”

“The findings are compelling and should alter the dietary advice we give patients. The currently popular ultralow-fat diets . . . are clearly not best for patients,” he told heartwire in an email. “The standard AHA-recommended diet should be modified to reflect these findings: fat is not the problem with the American diet, we just eat the wrong types of fats.”

HEALTHbeat from the Harvard Medical School suggests that the Mediterranean diet may be among the healthiest:

Mediterranean Style Diets: Healthy fats and carbs with a big side of fruits and vegetables
Good fats are the monounsaturated fats found in olive oil and other oils, and the polyunsaturated fats found in fish, canola oil, walnuts, and other foods. (Saturated fat and trans fat are the bad guys.) Mediterranean diets tend to have a moderate amount of fat, but most of it comes from healthy fats. The carbohydrates in Mediterranean-style diets tend to come from unrefined, fiber-rich sources like whole wheat and beans. These diets are also rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish, with only modest amounts of meat and cheese.
People living in Mediterranean countries have a lower-than-expected rate of heart disease. But the traditional lifestyle in the region also includes lots of physical activity, regular meal patterns, wine, and good social support. It’s hard to know what relative role these different factors play — but there is growing evidence that, in and of itself, the diet can reduce cardiovascular risk and the development of diabetes.

by Linda Thrasybule, MyHealthNewsDaily Contributor

Throughout history, women and men have gone to extreme lengths to look good. Sometimes even at the cost of their health.

The same quest for beauty exists today. Take a look at 7 beauty trends that aren’t so good for your health.

Tanning
Despite the serious health risks linked with indoor tanning, many Americans, particularly teens, still sit under sunlamps and tanning beds to get a bronzed look, according to a recent study.

Indoor tanning beds and sunlamps emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can damage the skin, which can lead to premature skin aging, skin burns, eye damage and skin cancer.

Nearly 28 million people tan indoors in the United States annually, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Of these, 2.3 million are teens.

Moreover, frequent exposure to UV light may lead to an addiction to tanning. A 2010 study in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology found that females, and those who are start tanning at a younger age may be particularly vulnerable to developing a compulsive desire to tan.

Braids and weaves
Getting braids or a weave may contribute to permanent hair loss in African-American women, according to a 2011 study published in the Archives of Dermatology.

This type of hair loss, called central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, occurs on the crown and can spread throughout the scalp.

Researchers surveyed 326 African-American women about their family and medical histories, and their hair-grooming habits. Dermatologists then performed a scalp examination to grade the women’s hair loss.

They found that nearly 60 percent of the women showed signs of advanced hair loss.

Braids and weaves are common hair treatments in the African-American community, researchers said. The treatments can be expensive, so they may be left in “for weeks or months at a time to justify the money spent,” researchers wrote in the study.

Tattoos
The number of tattoos a person gets is linked to an increased risk of Hepatitis C, a 2010 study suggested. Especially if the needle used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood.

Hepatitis C is caused by a virus that attacks and inflames the liver, which can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver tissue, liver cancer and liver failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

People who get tattoos are also prone to skin infections, causing redness, swelling and pain.

Moreover, tattoo dyes that are red, green, yellow and blue can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site.

Botox
Botox injections have become the quick fix for facial wrinkles.

Botox, a medicinal form of botulinum toxin type A, relaxes muscle for several months. The toxin is produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacteria that causes botulism, a rare but serious illness.

Although the injections are generally safe, side effects and complications can occur, including pain and bruising at the injection site, headaches, nausea and temporary muscle weakness.

In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Botox for cosmetic use, but with a boxed warning label that states a risk of the toxin spreading to other areas of the body, causing symptoms similar to those of botulism, including difficulty swallowing and breathing and even death.

But these symptoms have mostly been reported in children with cerebral palsy who are treated with Botox for muscle spasticity, a use of the drug that has not been approved by FDA.

Contact lenses that widen your eyes
Circle Lenses, which are contact lenses that make your eyes appear bigger, could cause serious vision problems, according to some experts.

“Consumers risk significant eye injuries — even blindness” when they buy contact lenses without a valid prescription or help from an eye professional,” Karen Riley, an official with the Food and Drug Administration, told the New York Times in 2010.

The lenses have not been approved by the FDA, and it’s illegal to sell them in the U.S. However, they’re available for less than $20 on the Internet, reports ABC news.

The lenses have become particularly popular among teen girls.

Skin bleaching creams
Some cosmetic products, including skin-lightening creams, contain high levels of mercury, according to the FDA.

Mercury is used in skin-lightening creams because it blocks the production of the skin pigment melanin, reported NPR’s Health blog in March.

High levels of mercury can also be found in some soaps, lotions and anti-aging products that are manufactured overseas and sold illegally in the U.S., the FDA said.

“Exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences,” said Charles Lee, M.D., a senior medical advisor at FDA. “It can damage the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young children.”

The FDA recommends checking the label of any skin lightening or anti-aging products. If you see the words like “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury,” stop using the product immediately.

Hair straightening products
Certain hair straightening products, such as the Brazilian Blowout, contain various chemicals including dangerously high levels of formaldehyde, announced the FDA in a warning letter in 2011.

Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling gas that can irritate the eyes and nose, and cause allergic reactions such as asthma-like breathing problems and skin rashes and itching, if inhaled.

In fact, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a hazard alert in April 2011 to hair salon owners and workers about the risk of formaldehyde exposure from working with these products.

Hundreds of beauty salons offer the hair straightening treatment, which is remarkably popular despite a price that can run up to $500, reported the New York Times.

Products like Brazilian Blowout are often misleading, labeled as “formaldehyde-free” when in fact they’re not, according to the FDA.

A recent study has found that it may be possible to slow the aging process of skin down by injection with fillers. The process boosts the support of the structures that hold up the skin.

Researchers at the University of Michigan School of Medicine have found that the supporting structures or scaffolding of the skin becomes fragmented with age. Fibroblasts (cells in the body that among other things make collagen) produce less collagen with age and shrink. The decrease in collagen causes the supporting structures of the skin to fragment, decreasing the skin support leading to an aged appearance.

Researchers found that injecting the space under the skin with a filler can increase the natural structural strength and support of the skin (extracellular matrix) even after the filler is reabsorbed.

Investigators injected a dermal filler into the facial skin of 21 volunteers over age 70 during a three month period. The results showed that the filler stimulated fibroblasts to begin producing more collagen and boosted the support structure of the skin (extracellular matrix). This not only increased skin support but also seemed to cause an increase in the number of fibroblasts and increase skin thickness. The entire layer of skin grew thicker with more blood vessels to nourished the cells.

“By altering the matrix using an external filler and increasing the internal pressure, we’ve shown that we can essentially trigger a signal for cells to wake up,” a researcher said. “This shows that skin cells in elderly people have the capacity to respond robustly in a very positive way to alterations in the mechanical property of their environment. We still need to know more about how cells sense their environment, but in general it appears we have made a real difference in the structural integrity of skin.”

The findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

8 nutritional approaches to healthy living*
Numerous products from lotions and creams to dietary supplements are promoted as ways to prevent or slow down the aging process. Yet there is no hard scientific evidence that any of these items are effective. In fact, in the December 2008 issue of Scientific American, 51 researchers who study aging stated their concerns over the growing number of anti-aging products and their promises that can’t be delivered.
Gerontologists (experts in aging) advocate instead that people focus on staying healthy and well so they can enjoy their favorite activities into middle age and beyond. Eating a balanced diet, which supplies all the necessary nutrients for health, is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Here are the key factors that influence your nutritional health as you age.
1. Calorie needs
As we get older, our resting metabolic rate declines. This can lead to unwanted weight gain, which can increase your risk for certain chronic diseases. This decrease in metabolic rate is related to the loss of lean body mass as we age. To help lessen this effect:
• Increase your physical activity so you burn more calories.
• Begin resistance training to strengthen your muscles and add muscle mass, which raises your metabolic rate.
• Improve the quality of your diet by including whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and nonfat or low-fat dairy.
• Enjoy your favorite foods in moderation; practice portion control to manage your caloric intake.
2. Protein
Protein is necessary for tissue growth, repair, and maintenance. Despite the need for fewer calories as we age, it’s important to eat an adequate amount of protein each day.
• The average adult needs 45 to 60 grams.
• Choose high-quality protein foods, like 3 ounces of chicken (21 grams), 8 ounces of nonfat or low-fat milk (8 grams), and 1 cup cooked lentils (18 grams).
• Legumes, eggs, nonfat or low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, and lean meat are good choices.
3. Dental health
It is estimated that 80% of adult Americans have periodontal disease. Good dental hygiene practices can help prevent it. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to problems with your teeth and chewing. As a result, you may avoid foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. To prevent periodontal disease:
• Have yearly dental exams and cleanings.
• Brush your teeth after meals or after consuming high-sugar foods.
• Floss on a regular basis.
4. Taste
The senses of taste and smell are sometimes dulled by the aging process. Smoking and some medications can also alter your sense of taste. To preserve taste and smell:
• Stay hydrated; adequate saliva is necessary to fully taste food.
• Resist overusing the salt shaker.
• Use herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of food.
5. Antioxidants
There’s no definitive data that antioxidant supplements, like vitamin C or E, can help prevent chronic diseases or delay the aging process. In fact, the known health benefits occur from eating foods rich in antioxidants (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables), not from taking supplements. Include more of these in your diet:
• almonds
• bell peppers (especially red and orange)
• blueberries
• dark green leafy vegetables
• strawberries
• tomatoes.
6. Calcium and vitamin D
The majority of our bodies’ calcium is in our bones. This mineral is needed for the proper function of the nervous system, muscle contractions, and blood clotting. Adequate calcium intake is crucial for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium. New evidence indicates that adults need more than the current recommendations, especially those who live in northern climates where there is less sunlight. (The body makes vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.)
• Dairy foods are still the best source of calcium because the body can easily absorb the calcium in them.
• Some experts recommend that adults eat 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. If you take a supplement to reach this amount, make sure it contains calcium carbonate or calcium citrate.
• Vitamin D is not widely found in foods except for fortified dairy products, so you may need to take a supplement.
• New recommendations for vitamin D intake may be closer to 1,000 international units rather than the current recommendation of 200 to 600 international units, depending on age.
7. Dietary supplements
Health care professionals generally do not recommend dietary supplements unless a person has a vitamin or mineral deficiency or a malabsorption problem. More and more research is showing that food, not pills or commercial drinks, is the best source of nutrients. Keep in mind:
• With vitamins, more is not always better; a multivitamin and mineral supplement should be all you need to make up for any shortfalls in your diet.
• Vitamin D and, in some cases, calcium are the only supplements you need when consuming a healthy diet.
• There is insufficient evidence to promote antioxidant supplements for health.
8. Water
Water is often the forgotten nutrient. But getting enough fluid is needed for almost all bodily functions.
• Healthy adults need about 1.5 to 2 liters, or 48 to 64 ounces, of fluid per day.
• The sensation of thirst decreases as we age, which leaves us vulnerable to dehydration.
• Focus on fluids that are not diuretics, such as decaffeinated beverages, fruit juices, nonfat or low-fat milk and, of course, water

* Taken from the Harvard Medical School “Focus on Healthy Living” Issue #7

Almost all of us have some area of fat that bothers us. All the diets, all the exercise all the efforts you make to look your very best and it just won’t go away. A little fullness in the side of your slacks, some fat that spills over you belt line, a bulge that sticks to you and just won’t go away.
No wonder liposuction is the number one cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S. today. It’s almost common place in our society where health, beauty and an alluring figure are so popular. But its not just women having liposuction. Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) indicate that over 41,00 men have also had this procedure. That helped liposuction to become the top procedure in 2010 with over 325,000 procedures performed.
Liposuction is, however, not a weight loss technique. It is not a substitute for diet or exercise. It is a contouring procedure. You’ll get the best results if you are at a stable weight (in a perfect world near your ideal body weight) that you can reasonably maintain. Although liposuction is not weight loss method, it is a contouring procedure – such as sculpting for example. It can remove unwanted fat from specific areas (especially those very stubborn ones) to help your body look the way you want it to. Liposuction can be performed on most areas of the body. From the face to the ankles, any place where there are stubborn, persistent areas of fat that just won’t go away from diet – it can be suctioned out.
Different kinds of fat
Not all fat is the same. There is fat within your body cavity (around your internal organs) and can be associated with unhealthy conditions such as heart disease and/or diabetes. This fat is called visceral fat and cannot be removed by liposuction. Fortunately, visceral fat is among the first of the fat that is lost by diet and exercise. Some believe that it may be lost nearly twice as fast as fat which sits outside the body cavity underneath the skin.
The fat underneath the skin (subcutaneous) that is the last to leave and keeps you from having the figure you desire, can often be liposuctioned away. Common areas where the fat stays are: hips, waist, stomach, thighs, upper arms and calves. These areas can all be liposuctioned. It is, however, important that you have good skin elasticity so that the skin can contract to the new contour and not hang loose. If there is too much skin, a procedure to remove the excess may be needed.
There are also some studies that show that liposuction can have added benefits to your health. People who had high triglyceride levels (can lead to heart disease) had a substantial decrease in their triglyceride levels after liposuction – some as high as 40%. Unfortunately, no benefit was shown for patients who had normal levels of triglycerides. Although we know that both types of fat (visceral and subcutaneous) have an effect on your health, liposuction may offer a “bonus” benefit.
Does the fat come back?
If your weight remains stable, the results from your liposuction should not change. However, if you gain weight, the increased fat tends to travel to other areas of the body. The fat will be redistributed differently. It will of course go away again when you lose weight but the best option is to not gain weight after your procedure. Remember, diet and exercise are the keystones to your health. Liposuction can help you look as good as you feel!