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Health

New Advances in Anti Aging Research

For a very, very long time, anti-aging drugs have been the bane of scammers, scoundrels and charlatans. Snake oil, if you will. Turns out, there are some anti-aging drugs and you may well be taking one of them? Have type 2 diabetes and on metformin? That’s one of them and FDA approval is being sought for its use as an anti-aging medication. The world’s population is aging, especially in parts of Asia, Europe and North America. Over the next 30 years it is projected that the number of over 65 year olds will double to 1.5 Billion. Only the continent of Africa is seeing significant growth in a younger population. Today, over 80% of adults aged 65 or over have at least one chronic illness with 68% having two or more. That’s a lot of illness and a lot of medications. From heart disease to diabetes, hypertension, dementia, arthritis and

Alex Hurst August 4, 2022

Health

Milk may increase prostate cancer risk

If you grew up in the 50’s to 70’s, chances are you heard the constant refrain of “drink your milk, it’s good for your bones.” Starting in the 1930’s, dairy companies started adding vitamins to milk as well as it began to become a morning breakfast staple. For those of us over 45, milk was always there. Along with Apple Jacks, SugarCrisp and all those other sugary cereals we wouldn’t go near today! Some new research indicates that milk can also increase the risk of prostate cancer. The new study comes out of Loma Linda University in California. They conducted a long-term study to investigate the links between diet, lifestyle and disease focused on members in the Seventh-day adventist church. And that’s not the only study. Another was done in 2016 by the American Cancer Association. The advantage with studying this particular group of men is that around 40% of

Alex Hurst July 19, 2022

Health

The best mushrooms for good health

Whether cooked or in powdered form, many mushrooms can give good health benefits. Here’s our list of the best mushrooms for your health as provided by nutritionist Tawnya Ritco. You can incorporate them into recipes from soups to stews or sandwiches or find them in pill and powder form from good retailers. Sun mushroom (Agaricus blazei) Agaricus has long been recognized for its ability to galvanize immune response, reduce both physical and mental stress and help the body to detoxify. It also possesses powerful anti-inflammatory action. Red Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) The Red Reishi mushroom has long been known in traditional Chinese medicine as the mushroom of immortality—a claim that’s been backed up by scientists who have found that it increases longevity in mice and may possibly do the same for humans. It supports bet- ter sleep, helps with calming and de-stressing the body and supports the immune system. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) A powerful antioxidant, Maitake— or

Alex Hurst November 24, 2021

Health

Tips for good prostate health

As men age, the risk of prostate cancer and other issues such as BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.) So keeping an eye on your prostate health is a good idea. The good news is, coffee and tea are still on the agenda! There are tow keys to good prostate health; diet and activity. And both benefit in more ways than just prostate health. They’re good for heart and brain health as well. Tips for prostate health It’s all about a balanced diet, which help overall health anyway. Leafy and green veggies are very good. Especially broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus and of course, salads with leafy greens such as kale and spinach. But avoid charred meats as there is believed to be a link between them and a risk of cancer. Reducing your consumption of red meat is important as well. Enjoy more plant-based meals every week. Keep up on fruits as

Alex Hurst June 14, 2021

Health

Good Sun Health Tips

The sun is getting warmer, finally! It’s also getting stronger and the risk of skin cancer and bad skin conditions increases. The Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) recently published some tips for keeping your skin safe and healthy this summer. “Probably more than ever, we all will be craving the outdoors to enjoy the summer weather of 2021. Nonetheless, it will remain our obligation to remind everyone and everybody, regardless of skin colour, to be sun safe,” says Dr. Jason K Rivers, president of the CDA. Skin cancer (melanoma) is one of the fastest growing cancers in the world and it is one type of cancer that can be prevented. When the UV Index is 3 or higher, protect your skin as much as possible. In general, the UV Index in Canada can reach 3 or higher from 11am to 3pm between April and September, even when cloudy. Seek shade between

Alex Hurst May 5, 2021

Health

Can some drugs delay ageing?

Research into pharmaceuticals that can extend life is ramping up. Some existing drugs are proving interesting. In late 2014, a group of world renowned scientists in the study of ageing gathered in Toledo, Spain to discuss this very topic and they’re out to prove it can work. We’re not talking about those fictional stories of dialing back the clock to your twenties, coupled with all that learned wisdom that we’d like to do. This is research into putting on the brakes or at least slowing down the effects of ageing. The focus is mostly around age-related diseases and conditions. Drugs that can delay ageing or stop some diseases from progressing or even starting, could add many healthy years to a person’s life. That has social and economic benefits, including reducing the burden on health care and enabling people to live more productive lives longer. One such hot drug is the

Alex Hurst March 26, 2021

Health

Smartphones and healthcare

Already smartphones, from iPhone to Android, are playing a key role in our health and they’re going to play an even bigger role. Smartphones today are packed with all kinds of sensors, advanced software and cameras that are getting better every day, including many smartphones that use LiDAR (Light emitting Radar) such as that found in the new iPhone 12 Pro and coming to other smartphones. If you have an Apple Watch then you’ve got yet another health device that can connect with your iPhone for even more health monitoring. Right now, most smartphones can check your blood pressure, monitor heart rate and in some cases with a smartwatch, monitor your blood oxygen level (Apple Watch only for now.) But the uses for healthcare are developing rapidly. One app from skincare company Marianna can look at blemishes and skin conditions and recommend products. They use Artificial Intelligence to analyze photos.

Giles Crouch December 23, 2020

Health

Overcoming the stigma of lung cancer

When someone says they have lung cancer, we may not say it out loud, but we may first think that they must be or have been a smoker. It’s a human trait that we make assumptions about certain things. To Canadians, lung cancer is often, wrongly, tagged with being “smokers cancer.” It’s a stigma that the Canadian Lung Health Foundation and Lung Cancer Canada are seeking to do something about and that’s not a bad idea. Nearly 30,000 Canadians are diagnosed with lung cancer each year and while around 85% of cases are due to smoking, and 15% quit long before their diagnosis. Sometimes lung cancer can be the result of other factors such as asbestos (especially for those over 70 who may have worked with or around asbestos during the 60’s and 70’s) as well as just a natural occurrence or other factors. “We are shifting the conversation from

Alex Hurst October 1, 2020