Strawberries Shown To Protect Stomach Against Ulcers

Yahoo News .....

People who suffer from stomach ulcers should consider tucking into a pint of fresh strawberries, particularly if the inflammation is related to excessive alcohol consumption, suggests a new study.

The new research, published in the journal PLoS One (Public Library of Science) and announced Tuesday, found that the powerful antioxidant properties of strawberries can act as a protective barrier to stomach ulcers.

In their study, a team of scientists from Italy, Serbia and Spain put a group of rats on a diet that included strawberry extracts for 10 days, before inducing gastric damage by giving the animals ethanol.

Rats that ate strawberry extract were found to have less ulcerations by about 40 mg/day per kilo of weight, compared to those that didn't.

Not only did the strawberries' antioxidant capacity help strengthen the stomach lining, but they were also found to activate the body's own defenses and enzymes, researchers said. Eating strawberries can also help alleviate damage either before or after the onset of inflammation.

The new findings could pave the way for new protective ulcer treatments.

Ulcers can be caused by alcohol consumption, viral infections or medications like aspirin.

Researchers pointed out, however, that their study was not conceived to mitigate the effects of getting drunk, but to discover new ways of protecting the stomach against damage.

Previous studies have also shown that strawberries can strengthen red blood cells' response to oxidative stress, which is often a precursor to cancer and other chronic diseases.

13 Surprising Causes of Constipation

By Amanda Gardner

What causes constipation? Well, the obvious culprits include a low fiber diet, repeatedly ignoring the urge to go, not drinking enough water, or a lack of exercise. But constipation also has other, less-well-known causes, including certain medications and supplements, as well as potentially serious medical conditions. What’s causing your gut trouble?

Here are 13 possible causes of constipation you may not have considered.

Possible Cause No. 01 : Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, slows the body’s metabolic processes—even the gut. Not everyone with an underactive thyroid has constipation, nor do all cases of constipation mean that the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck is underperforming. Still, "when I see a young person who’s constipated more than normal and really complaining, I do tend to get a thyroid level," says Carla H. Ginsburg, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Possible Cause No. 02 : Painkillers

Painkillers, specifically narcotics, can cause constipation. "A lot of receptors for the narcotic class of drugs are in the digestive tract, so it tends to bring everything to a halt," says Thomas Park, MD, a gastroenterologist with the University of Rochester Medical Center Park in New York. "In general, it?s a good idea for everyone who?s placed on one of these drugs to also place them on a gentle laxative like a stool softener." Some studies (but not all) have suggested that there might be a higher risk of constipation for people who are chronic users of pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen.

Possible Cause No. 03 : Chocolate

There’s some evidence that chocolate can cause constipation, though other studies show chocolate may actually help some people, Dr. Park says. In one 2005 study, people with chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome were more likely than people without those problems to say that chocolate caused constipation (as did bananas and black tea). Eliminate or cut back on chocolate if you think it could be causing your constipation.

Possible Cause No. 04 : Vitamins

Vitamins in general won’t cause constipation, but certain components, such as calcium and iron, can be a problem. "I would tell a patient to stop taking the iron [or calcium] unless they really need it and, if they do need it, I would put them on a stool softener to counteract that," says Dr. Ginsburg, who is a spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association.

Possible Cause No. 05 : Laxative Overuse

Some laxatives work by stimulating bowel activity. Such stimulant laxatives should be taken only as directed. If used for long periods of time, stimulant laxatives can lead to dependence, meaning your body simply won’t function properly without them. Stimulant laxatives include Dulcolax, Ex-Lax, Senna, and others. Don’t take any medication—including laxatives—for longer than instructed by either the product’s label or your doctor.

Possible Cause No. 06 : Too Much Dairy

A diet high in cheese and other low-fiber/high-fat foods such as eggs and meat can slow down your digestion. The obvious solution? Cut down on your intake of such foods, and increase fiber intake to 20 to 35 grams a day. "If you?re going to have cheeses and red meat and eggs, mix in some salads or other foods that have fiber," Dr. Park advises. And avoid fast foods and processed foods, which are generally low in fiber.

Possible Cause No. 07 : Antidepressants

Constipation can be associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as Prozac (fluoxetine). However, constipation is more of a problem with older tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline), says Dr. Park. Why any of these drugs have this effect isn’t clear, though. If you’re taking an antidepressant and have this side effect, think about using a gentle stool softener.

Possible Cause No. 08 : Depression

Ironically, the very condition that antidepressants are meant to treat—depression—can also cause constipation. Like hypothyroidism, depression causes a general slowdown of the body’s normal processes, which can also affect the bowel. People with irritable bowel syndrome, which can be closely linked to depression, are also prone to constipation, Dr. Park says.

Possible Cause No. 09 : Antacids

Antacids are great for fighting heartburn, but some can cause constipation, particularly those containing calcium or aluminum, Dr. Park says. Fortunately, the drugstore aisles are crammed with options, so if one medication is a problem you can try something else. You can also cut down on your risk of heartburn by not overstuffing at meals. And consuming fewer fatty foods and more fiber will help prevent both problems.

Possible Cause No. 10 : Blood Pressure and Allergy Medicines

Constipation can be a side effect of some common drugs used to treat high blood pressure, such as calcium channel blockers and diuretics. Diuretics, for instance, lower blood pressure by increasing urine output, which flushes water from your system. However, water is needed to keep stools soft and get them out of the body. Antihistamines used to treat allergy symptoms can be a problem too.

Possible Cause No. 11 : Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes two chronic conditions—Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Both can cause cramping, weight loss, bloody stools, and other health problems. Chronic diarrhea is a common symptom of both. However constipation can be a problem too. In ulcerative colitis, constipation can be a sign of inflammation in the rectum and in Crohn's disease it can be a sign of an obstruction in the small intestine. However if you have constipation alone, without other symptoms, it's unlikely to be due to IBD.

Possible Cause No. 12 : Childbirth

Constipation is common during pregnancy, but childbirth itself can be a problem, possibly due to sluggish abdominal muscles or perhaps the use of pain relievers or an anesthetic during the delivery. Also, "there may be some perineal soreness right after the delivery, so the fear of causing more discomfort may be an important factor in the constipation," says Dr. Park. Although stretch injuries during childbirth can sometimes cause nerve damage that leads to constipation, this is less common.

Possible Cause No. 13 : Diabetes and Neurological Conditions

Diabetes can cause nerve damage that can affect a person’s ability to digest food, says Dr. Park. Most people with advanced diabetes know they have it. Still, it’s reasonable to do a blood sugar test on someone who is regularly constipated, says Dr. Ginsburg. Neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease can cause constipation. Usually, though, "this goes with another symptom such as trouble urinating, double vision, or a gait problem," Dr. Ginsburg says.

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More Evidence Obesity Tied To Colon Cancer : Study

(Reuters) - Older adults who are heavy, especially around the middle, seem to have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than their thinner peers -- and exercise may lower the incidence of the disease, especially for women, a European study said.

More than 120,000 adults in the Netherlands aged 55 to 69 were followed for 16 years by the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

During that time, about two percent developed colorectal cancer, tumors of the colon and/or rectum, though most were diagnosed with colon cancer.

The risk was 25 percent higher for men who were significantly overweight or obese at the outset, versus normal-weight men.

"The study provides further evidence that excess body fat may contribute to a higher risk of colorectal cancer," said lead researcher Laura Hughes, at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, in an email.

For men, waist size seemed to matter most. Men with the biggest bellies, gauged by their self-reported trouser size, had a 63 percent greater risk of colorectal cancer than men who were trimmest around the middle.

Among women, though, a large waistline was only linked to a higher cancer risk in women who also got little exercise, defined as less than 30 minutes a day.

Women who topped a "44" in pants size -- about a size 16 in the United States -- and got little exercise were 83 percent more likely to develop colon cancer than women who had smaller waistlines and exercised more than 90 minutes a day.

Studies have tied abdominal obesity to other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, and belly fat seems to be particularly linked to chronic, low-level inflammation in the body, Hughes added.

"One of our most intriguing observations was that abdominal fat was associated with colorectal cancer in women only when combined with low exercise levels," she said.

It's not clear why that might be, or why the pattern was seen only in women, Hughes added. Calorie balance, or how much you take in through food versus how much you burn through exercise, may be important.

"Women should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle rather than simply paying attention to what the scale says," Hughes added.

Risk factors for colorectal disease include older age, a history of colitis or Crohn's disease, a family history of the cancer, and smoking. Some studies have also linked diets high in animal fat, and low in fruits, vegetables and fibre to an increased risk. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/rTElMb

(Reporting from New York by Amy Norton at Reuters Health; editing by Elaine Lies and Sanjeev Miglani)

The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States (Part 2/5)

By Sarah Klein

Traditional American fare—just like the American waistline  —  is looking more than a little pudgy these days.

Even though some states enjoy healthier reputations than others (Yes, Colorado, we mean you), no state is completely guilt-free when it comes to dishes with huge portion sizes, super-high calorie counts, or sky-high fat content.

So if you want to sample some of these regional favorites on your next road trip, your best bet may be to minimize your portion size.


11) Hawaii: Loco Moco

Legend says the islands’ comfort food dates back to 1949, when a group of hungry teens wanted the owner of Hilo’s Lincoln Grill to whip up something cheap but filling. He reportedly threw together some white rice, a beef patty, and gravy, which came to be known as the Loco Moco.

Ingredients: Today, variations abound. The Large at Island Cuisine Maui, a Maui restaurant, has two hamburger patties, two eggs, three scoops of jasmine rice, plus onions, fish, and mushroom gravy.

Fat content: Two hamburger patties clock in at 32 grams fat, two eggs have 10 more grams of fat, and a serving of mushroom gravy has about a gram of fat, all of which edge this dish close to the daily recommended limit.


12) Idaho: Bacon Bleu Cheese Dressing

In a state known for its potatoes, residents tend to get creative with their spuds, often by adding fatty toppings. The Gem State houses the headquarters of Litehouse Foods, a dressings, sauces, and marinades company. A dollop of sour cream on top of a baked potato looks like a good choice compared to the Bacon Bleu Cheese dressing.

Ingredients: Chunky blue cheese dressing, hickory smoked bacon

Fat content: 2 tablespoons contain 16 grams of fat, about the same as an entire Burger King cheeseburger.


13) Illinois: Deep-dish Pizza

Deep-dish pizza, native to Chicago, was born in 1943 at the original Pizzeria Uno’s. Now a nationwide chain, the restaurant continues to serve deep-dish pies, piled high. Guilty of one of the oldest tricks in the book, the restaurant markets pizzas as an “individual” size, but the pie should really serve three. It’s a surefire way to up your fat and calorie intake.

Fat content: One serving of the Cheese & Tomato deep dish has 40 grams of fat, 5 more than your recommended daily limit. Add toppings, like sausage or pepperoni, and that can jump as high as 55 grams of fat per serving!


14) Indiana: Fried-brain Sandwich

The Hoosier State is known for its pork products and festival fare. But Evansville, Ind.’s Hilltop Inn, until recently, was more famous for serving up a fried-brain sandwich that dates back to the days of waste-not German and Dutch settlers. After recent USDA regulations concerning the spread of mad cow disease, the restaurant created a version made from pork brains instead.

Ingredients: Oil for frying, brain on a bun with pickles and onions

Fat content: A 6-ounce scoop of beef brain batter fried up at the Hilltop Inn packed about 24 grams of fat. The pork version is estimated to be closer to around 18 grams.


15) Iowa: Hot beef Sundae

In 2006, the hot beef sundae made its debut at the Iowa State Fair. An artery-clogging play on the classic hot fudge sundae, this horror was marketed as “a new twist to an old favorite.”

Ingredients: Mashed potatoes, roast beef, beef gravy, cheddar cheese, tomato

Fat content: Following the Iowa State Fair recipe at home will dish out a “sundae” with about 28 grams of fat. Commercially prepared recipes may vary.



16) Kansas: Charred Ends

Burnt ends don’t necessarily sound like a delicacy, but in the Kansas barbecue world, the charred ends of a brisket are held in the highest esteem.

Ingredients: These crunchy cubes are the fatty ends of a barbecued brisket.

Fat content: Recipes vary between about 10 to 12 grams of fat per serving.





17) Kentucky: KFC's Double Down

Everyone’s buzzing about the Double Down, the new bunless sandwich from KFC. Surprisingly, it’s not the fattiest item on this Kentucky-based chain’s menu—the chicken pot pie takes the cake—but it is definitely still among the worst.

Ingredients: Two fried chicken fillets, bacon, pepper jack and Monterey jack cheese, special sauce

Fat content: 32 grams in one sandwich


18) Louisiana: Beignet

A staple at southern cafés is the beignet, a fried dough pastry particularly linked with New Orleans. One of the most popular places to enjoy a beignet is Café Du Monde, a French market–style coffee shop in the Big Easy. There, the fried puffs come covered in powdered sugar in orders of three.

Ingredients: Fried dough, powdered sugar

Fat content: Recipes estimate that Café du Monde–style beignets clock in at about 11 grams of fat, the same number as in a McDonald’s cheeseburger.


19) Maine: Lobster Roll

New England is a bastion of fresh—and healthy—seafood. But seafood restaurants are guilty of transforming these powerhouses of heart-healthy fats into saturated-fat-delivery machines. The lobster roll, a classic in Maine, piles on the mayo and butter.

Ingredients: Lobster meat, cucumber, mayonnaise, tarragon, scallions, salt, pepper, hot dug bun, butter

Fat content: Recipes vary. The lobster roll at New England sandwich shop D’Angelo clocks in at 22 grams of fat, while a small one at New England pizza chain Papa Gino’s averages about 34 grams.


20) Maryland: Smith Island Cake

In 2008, the Old Line State adopted the Smith Island Cake as its official state dessert. The cake gets its name from a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay, home to fewer than 100 year-round residents, and yet the decadent treat became so popular the governor signed the cake into law.

Ingredients: At least 10 layers of cake, which can be made from scratch or from a packaged mix, with layers of chocolate icing in between

Fat content: Most recipes have around 26 grams of fat per serving.

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From health.com
To be continued
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The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States (Part 1/5)

By Sarah Klein

Traditional American fare—just like the American waistline—is looking more than a little pudgy these days.

Even though some states enjoy healthier reputations than others (Yes, Colorado, we mean you), no state is completely guilt-free when it comes to dishes with huge portion sizes, super-high calorie counts, or sky-high fat content.

So if you want to sample some of these regional favorites on your next road trip, your best bet may be to minimize your portion size.


1) Alabama: Bacon-wrapped meatloaf

With the second-highest obesity rate in the country—behind only neighboring Mississippi—you’d expect to find some fattening culprits in the deep-fried-bacon-loving south. And Chef Kevin Layton of Greer’s Market, in Mobile, does not disappoint with his bacon-wrapped meatloaf recipe. “People ask for it on a weekly basis,” he told WKRG News in 2008.

Ingredients: Meatloaf made with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, celery, eggs, breadcrumbs, and seasonings, then wrapped in bacon.

Fat content: One 3-ounce serving of 80% lean meatloaf has roughly 14 grams of fat. Each slice of bacon will cost you an additional 3 grams of fat.


2) Alaska: Eskimo Ice Cream

Also known as Eskimo Ice Cream, akutaq, (pronounced agoodik or agooduk) is a classic native dish that is still popular today. Traditionally, women made a batch of the frosty treat when the men returned with a freshly killed polar bear or seal. Today, modern versions are usually prepared with Crisco, but traditional recipes called for meat and fat from caribou, moose, bears, seals, and fish.


Ingredients: Reindeer fat, seal oil, salmonberries, blackberries

Fat content: It’s hard to estimate without a known serving size of this native treat. But consider this: An average serving of reindeer fat packs a whopping 91 grams of fat. A different version made with fish, berries, and seal oil contains 9 grams of fat.


3) Arizona: Quadruple Bypass Burger

The Grand Canyon State takes celebrating fatty foods to a whole new level at the Heart Attack Grill. Patrons weighing over 350 pounds eat for free. The Quadruple Bypass Burger—estimated by some to be worth 8,000 calories—is at least refreshingly honest about its potential impact on your health.

Ingredients: Four beef patties, eight slices of cheese, tomato, onions, sauce, on a bun

Fat content: Four patties alone clock in at around 60 grams of fat, which is just about the upper limit of 65 grams that the USDA recommends for the average woman eating 2,000 calories a day.


4) Arkansas: Catfish

The south is notorious for frying just about anything. For a traditional southern fish fry, Arkansas catfish is an old standby. When you consider that this dish is often served with hush puppies, another southern fried favorite, you can bet you’re reeling in quite a bit of fat along with your fish.

Ingredients: Catfish, cornmeal, flour, eggs, seasonings

Fat content: This dish is faux fried in the oven and still packs a whopping 25 grams of fat per serving.


5) California: In-N-Out Burger Double Double

Golden State residents are known for their fit bodies, gym-sculpted abs, and love for In-N-Out Burger. This West Coast drive-thru chain uses fresh ingredients, but its Double Double should also be known for its fat content, nearly double the fat in a McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger.

Ingredients: Two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, two slices of American cheese, and spread

Fat content: 41 grams. A McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger contains a comparably reasonable 23 grams of fat.


6) Colorado: Jack-N-Grill’s 7-pound breakfast burritos

While this mountainous state is well known for its healthy reputation—it is the state with the lowest obesity rate in the country—it is home to one of the most giant burritos of all time. Finishing one of Jack-N-Grill’s 7-pound breakfast burritos is such a feat it was featured on an episode of the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food.

Ingredients: 7 potatoes, 12 eggs, a pound of ham, a whole onion, cheese, and chili.

Fat content: A pound of ham and 12 eggs alone have nearly 100 grams of fat, almost twice a woman's upper daily limit for fat, and that’s not counting the fat in the cheese and chili.


7) Connecticut: 2-foot-long hot dog

Man v. Food also made an appearance at Doogie’s, a hot dog joint outside Hartford. Being a local favorite in Connecticut, the hot dog is available in over 24 places in Hartford alone. Doogie’s has taken the diet-buster to a new level with its 2-foot-long hot dog smothered in half a pound of additional toppings.

Ingredients: 2-foot-long pork and beef hot dog, three rolls, onions, peppers, chili, cheddar cheese sauce, and bacon

Fat content: The average foot-long hot dog will set you back about 24 grams of fat, 10 grams of it saturated. But this is double that, plus it has bacon, chili, and cheddar cheese.


8) Delaware: Deep-fried pastry

The First State is known for a deep-fried pastry appetizer stuffed with crabmeat and cheese, similar to the Chinese appetizer crab Rangoon.

Ingredients: Recipes vary, but most include cooked crab or imitation crabmeat, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, seasonings, and oil for frying.

Fat content: Crab is relatively low-fat fare, but many recipes are heavy on butter and mayonnaise. One small puff can have anywhere from 3 grams of fat to 8 grams of fat, and richer recipes can pack as many as 20 grams of fat per serving.


9) Florida: Empanadas

The South American influence on Floridian cuisine is impossible to miss. Empanadas are folded meat pies served across the country, but they are particularly popular in the southern part of the Sunshine State.

Ingredients: The dough is made with lard. The filling is up to the chef, but can range from cheese to veggies to assorted meats.

Fat content: Various recipes for empanadas place them at around 10 to 22 grams of fat each. Depending on what you choose to put inside, an empanada can slide around on the nutritional value scale. Still, as the dough is usually made with lard, it’s never a low-fat choice.


10) Georgia: Luther Burger

The story behind the Luther Burger is murky. But the general consensus is that this monstrosity was invented at a suburban bar in Decatur, Ga., and named after R&B legend (and diabetic) Luther Vandross. In 2008 Paula Deen of the Food Network took it one step further by topping it off with a fried egg.

Ingredients: Ground-beef patty, topped with cheese and bacon between two donuts instead of a bun

Fat content: The two Krispy Kreme glazed donuts are worth 24 grams of fat and the patty is another 16.


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