Monthly Archive for January 2010
One in Five U.S. Adolescents Have Abnormal Lipid Levels
Roughly 20% of U.S. youths aged 12 to 19 have at least one abnormal lipid level, with overweight and obese teens being most at risk, according to an analysis of NHANES data published in MMWR.
In particular, abnormal lipid levels were noted in 14% of normal-weight, 22% of overweight, and 43% of obese adolescents.
The reason for this can be attributed to the rise of teen obesity. According to a US Department of Health & Human Services report, one in seven teens are overweight. This figures has tripled in the last 20 years. This means that these teens are at a greater risk for things like, heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes has also increased dramatically among teens.
The Antioxidant Vitamin
Vitamin C is sometimes called the “Antioxidant Vitamin” because of its affect on the immune system, protecting our bodies from foreign invaders possibly even tumor cells. The importance of vitamin C was first discovered in 1747. During the 16th century numerous sea voyagers died due to the disease known as scurvy. A man by the name of James Lind discovered that when sailors were given lemons or oranges they recovered from this sickness. Although his understanding of vitamin C was flawed in some areas he was the first person to realize the importance of what would later be called vitamin C.
Is Fruit Juice More Healthy Than a Soft Drink?
We’ve all heard about how bad soft drinks are for our health. They’re loaded with high fructose corn syrup and calories. So what a lot of parents and schools have done is trade these soft drinks for juices, but is this really helping anyone health-wise?
Kimber Stanhope, a scientist from UC Davis, says that her studies suggest that the sugar (fructose) in 100% fruit juice has the same effect as the sugar in soft drinks. Both fruit juice and soft drinks were proven to increase risk factors for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. She continued that fruit juice can also promote weight gain the same way soft drinks do. That said, she also believes that it is possible - though unproven - that other components of juice may protect against those side effects.
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