High heels, foot pain, and running

 

 

 

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

  

CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Runners often cite the wide array of health benefits—physical, mental, and emotional—as their motivation to keep logging the miles. But like any strenuous physical activity, running can also lead to overuse injuries. One of those injuries affecting women in particular is a foot pain so intense that it prevents them from running at all—the painful neuroma.

Foot and ankle surgeons at the Annual Scientific Conference of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) in Orlando this week are evaluating how to effectively treat neuromas, a too common foot condition among women. Research has found that female runners are often plagued by intense foot pain that is caused by an unassuming culprit: fashion. Women tend to wear fashionable shoes that are narrow with pointed-toes only to then pound those squished, weary feet into the pavement on training runs. This pattern sets women up for a neuroma, a serious nerve disorder of the feet.

According to Scottsdale foot and ankle surgeon and conference presenter Kris DiNucci DPM, FACFAS, active women who enjoy running are prone to neuromas, especially if they regularly wear narrow shoes and have flat feet. A neuroma occurs when a nerve located between the toes becomes enlarged and inflamed and produces tingling, burning pain. Dr. DiNucci, who is a Fellow member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, says the symptoms begin gradual and, left untreated, progressively worsen. Patients often complain that neuroma pain feels as if something is stuck inside the ball of the foot. Relief for the symptoms may come by massaging the foot, wearing wider everyday shoes with low heels, and avoiding running and other activities that aggravate the condition.

  

The most common occurrence is called Morton’s neuroma, which develops at the base of the third and fourth toes. Treatment options depend on how far the condition has progressed. At early stages, padding lessens pressure on the nerve, icing reduces swelling, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications or injection therapy decreases pain and inflammation. Prescription or custom orthotic devices provide support to reduce traction and stress to the nerve. Patients are advised to wear wider shoes with low heels and take a break from running or other aggravating activities until the condition improves. In severe cases, surgery might be the best option to provide relief. A foot and ankle surgeon can release or remove the affected nerve with an outpatient procedure.

Dr. DiNucci stresses, ”The key to success is early treatment. Correcting training errors with changing the running surface, switching shoes, adding supportive inserts, or using prescription orthotics can be the difference between a short course of treatment and surgery.” Whatever the prescribed treatment, a neuroma diagnosis means a disruption in schedule for the runner. And depending upon the nerve’s response to treatment and the time it takes for healing, a neuroma can thwart activity for long stretches.

“Over the past few years,” Dr. DiNucci explains, “there have been many advances improving the outcomes of foot and ankle surgery. In the treatment of interdigital neuromas, many new techniques have been developed from in-office procedures to minimally invasive techniques to allow our patients to return to their running pain-free in the shortest timeframe.” For women who have found running gives them the best health benefits, that’s good news. Although their fashion may need adjusting, most women would agree that a return to regular—and pain free—running is better than being a fashionista.

For more information on foot and ankle injuries and conditions, visit the ACFAS patient education website, FootHealthFacts.org.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons is a professional society of 7,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, the College’s mission is to promote research and provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty, and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the foot and ankle through its patient education website, FootHealthFacts.org.

SOURCE American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Also see Why high heels are popular despite the pain

  

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Eat the Yolks

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

We live in an era of health hype and nutrition propaganda, and we’re suffering for it.

Decades of avoiding egg yolks, choosing margarine over butter, and replacing the real foods of our ancestors with low-fat, processed, packaged substitutes have left us with an obesity epidemic, ever-rising rates of chronic disease, and, above all, total confusion about what to eat and why.

This is a tragedy of misinformation, food industry shenanigans, and cheap calories disguised as health food. It turns out that everything we’ve been told about how to eat is wrong.

Fat and cholesterol are harmful to your health? Nope—they are crucial to your health. “Whole grains” are health food? Not even close. Counting calories is the way to lose weight? Not gonna work—nutrients are what matter. Nutrition can come from a box, bag, or capsule? Don’t count on it! In Eat the Yolks, Liz Wolfe debunks all these myths and more, revealing what’s behind the lies and bringing the truth about fat, cholesterol, protein, and carbs to light.

You’ll be amazed at the tall tales we’ve been told in the name of “healthy eating.” With wit and grace, Wolfe makes a compelling argument for a diet based on Paleo foods. She takes us back to the foods of our ancestors, combining the lessons of history with those of modern science to uncover why real, whole food—the kind humans ate for thousands of years before modern nutrition dogma led us astray—holds the key to amazing health and happy taste bud.

In Eat the Yolks, Liz Wolfe doesn’t just make a case for eating the whole egg.

She uncovers the shocking lies we’ve been told about fat, cholesterol, protein, carbs, and calories and brings us the truth about which foods are healthy—and which foods are really harming us.

You’ll learn truths like: – fat and cholesterol are crucial, not harmful . . . and why – “whole grains” are processed foods . . . and what to eat instead – counting calories is a waste of energy . . . and what we actually should be tracking – all animal products are not created equal . . . and which ones we truly need – nutrition doesn’t come in a box, bag, or capsule . . . and why there’s no substitute for real food!

Source: Amazon Look inside a copy of Eat the Yolks: Discover Paleo, fight food lies, and reclaim your health See our other “nutrition information confusion” posts - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/eat-the-yolks/confusion/#sthash.F0j3mIFE.dpuf

Machida steps in for Belfort to challenge champion Weidman following new TRT, TUE ruling in vegas

 

UFC^® ANNOUNCES THAT

LYOTO MACHIDA WILL FIGHT

CHAMPION CHRIS WEIDMAN AT UFC 173

 

Las Vegas, Nev. – The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® announced tonight that former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida will face off against UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 173 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 24.

 

In light of today’s unexpected ruling issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding the ban of therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy, Vitor Belfort, Weidman’s previously announced opponent, will no longer compete at UFC 173. Belfort, who has previously been granted therapeutic use exemptions, recognizes that he needs an extended period of time to become licensed in the state of Nevada.

 

With the event scheduled to go on sale shortly, Belfort agreed to withdraw from the fight in order to allow the UFC’s promotional efforts to move forward on time.

 

“With today’s ruling by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who’s undefeated since dropping to 185 pounds, will fight champion Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 173 in May,” UFC President Dana White said. “Machida was dominant in his last two fights, beating Gegard Mousasi and knocking out Mark Munoz.

 

He’s earned this shot at Weidman, who’s coming off two straight wins over the greatest fighter of all time, Anderson Silva. Machida wants nothing more than to avenge the losses of his friend and training partner, and become just the third fighter in UFC history to win titles in two separate weight classes.”

 

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

 

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship^®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto, Sao Paulo, Beijing and Singapore, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter^®, which airs on FOX Sports 1.

 

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, to nearly 882 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with more than 2.7 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM^®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo^® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

UFC SUPPORTS TODAY’S RULING BY NEVADA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION

 

 

Las Vegas, Nev. – UFC President Dana White issued a statement regarding the decision made today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission:

 

“The Ultimate Fighting Championship fully supports the decision made today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding the immediate termination of therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). We believe our athletes should compete based on their natural abilities and on an even playing field. We also intend to honor this ruling in international markets where, due to a lack of governing bodies, the UFC oversees regulatory efforts for our live events. We encourage all athletic commissions to adopt this ruling.”

 

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. 

 

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship^®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC^® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto, Sao Paulo, Beijing and Singapore, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter^®, which airs on FOX Sports 1.

 

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries and territories, to nearly 882 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with more than 2.7 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM^®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo^® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

 

Strawberries lower cholesterol: new study

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

A team of volunteers ate half a kilo of strawberries a day for a month to see whether it altered their blood parameters in any way. At the end of this unusual treatment, their levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides reduced significantly, according to the analyses conducted by Italian and Spanish scientists.

Several studies had already demonstrated the antioxidant capacity of strawberries, but now researchers from the Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM, Italy), together with colleagues from the Universities of Salamanca, Granada and Seville (Spain), conducted an analysis that revealed that these fruits also help to reduce cholesterol.

The team set up an experiment in which they added 500 g of strawberries to the daily diets of 23 healthy volunteers over a month. They took blood samples before and after this period to compare data.

The results, which are published in the ‘Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry’, show that the total amount of cholesterol, the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or bad cholesterol) and the quantity of triglycerides fell to 8.78%, 13.72% and 20.8% respectively. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol) remained unchanged.

Eating strawberries also improved other parameters such as the general plasma lipid profile, antioxidant biomarkers (such as vitamin C or oxygen radical absorbance capacity), antihemolytic defences and platelet function. All parameters returned to their initial values 15 days after abandoning ‘treatment’ with strawberries.

As Maurizio Battino, researcher at UNIVPM and Director of the study, tells SINC: “This is the first time a study has been published that supports the protective role of the bioactive compounds in strawberries in tackling recognised markers and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.”

The researcher admits that there is still no direct evidence about which compounds of this fruit are behind their beneficial effects, “but all the signs and epidemiological studies point towards anthocyanins, the vegetable pigments that afford them their red colour.”

The research team confirmed in other studies that eating strawberries also protects against ultraviolet radiation, reduces the damage that alcohol can have on the gastric mucosa, strengthens erythrocytes, or red blood cells, and improves the antioxidant capacity of the blood.

In fact, this year they will publish another study in the journal ‘Food Chemistry’ in which they will demonstrate that consuming strawberries increases the antioxidant function of blood flow, erythrocytes and mononuclear cells.

Source Other recent posts about cholesterol Other recent posts about strawberries - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/strawberries-lower-cholesterol-new-study/cholesterol/#sthash.oghEYdcP.dpuf

Testosterone drugs should warn of cardiac risk, consumer group says

 

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

  

(Reuters) – Drugs used to treat low testosterone should carry strong warnings about the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said on Tuesday.
The group has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add a black box warning, the most serious possible, to the product labels of the drugs.
Testosterone therapy is approved by the FDA for men who lack or have low testosterone in conjunction with an associated medical condition, such as a genetic failure of the testicles to produce testosterone.
Symptoms of low testosterone can include loss of libido, depression, decreased muscle mass and fatigue.

  

According to Public Citizen, almost 25 percent of men prescribed testosterone didn’t previously have a blood test to determine if their level was low.
The group said its petition was based on growing evidence of the risks of heart attacks and other cardiac dangers from studies dating back to 2010 and a recently published analysis of 27 studies going back as far as 20 years.
Of the 27 studies, 14 that were not funded by the pharmaceutical industry showed a “highly significant” increased risk, Public Citizen said. Thirteen were funded by drug companies and those studies showed no increased cardiovascular risk.
More of Testosterone drugs should warn of cardiac risk, consumer group says
 

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Acupuncture might treat inflammatory disease

 

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

  

Newswise — NEWARK, N.J. – When acupuncture first became popular in the western hemisphere it had its doubters. It still does. But over time, through detailed observation, scientists have produced real evidence that ancient Chinese practitioners of the medical arts were onto something.
Now new research documents a direct connection between the use of acupuncture and physical processes that could alleviate sepsis, a condition that often develops in hospital intensive care units, springs from infection and inflammation, and takes an estimated 250,000 lives in the United States every year.
“Sepsis is the major cause of death in the hospital,” says Luis Ulloa, an immunologist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School who led the study, which has been published by the journal Nature Medicine. “But in many cases patients don’t die because of the infection. They die because of the inflammatory disorder they develop after the infection. So we hoped to study how to control the inflammatory disorder.”
The researchers already knew that stimulation of one of the body’s major nerves, the vagus nerve, triggers processes in the body that reduce inflammation, so they set out to see whether a form of acupuncture that sends a small electric current through that and other nerves could reduce inflammation and organ injury in septic mice. Ulloa explains that increasing the current magnifies the effect of needle placement, and notes that electrification is already FDA-approved for treating pain in human patients.
When electroacupuncture was applied to mice with sepsis, molecules called cytokines that help limit inflammation were stimulated as predicted, and half of those mice survived for at least a week. There was zero survival among mice that did not receive acupuncture.
Ulloa and his team then probed further, to figure out exactly why the acupuncture treatments had succeeded. And they made a discovery that, on its face, was very disappointing. They found that when they removed adrenal glands – which produce hormones in the body – the electroacpuncture stopped working. That discovery, on its face, presented a big roadblock to use of acupuncture for sepsis in humans, because most human cases of sepsis include sharply reduced adrenal function. In theory, electroacupuncture might still help a minority of patients whose adrenal glands work well, but not many others.

  

So the researchers dug even deeper – to find the specific anatomical changes that occurred when electroacupuncture was performed with functioning adrenal glands. Those changes included increased levels of dopamine, a substance that has important functions within the immune system. But they found that adding dopamine by itself did not curb the inflammation. They then substituted a drug called fenoldopam that mimics some of dopamine’s most positive effects, and even without acupuncture they succeeded in reducing sepsis-related deaths by 40 percent.
Ulloa considers the results a double triumph.
On the one hand, he says, this research shows physical evidence of acupuncture’s value beyond any that has been demonstrated before. His results show potential benefits, he adds, not just for sepsis, but treating other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and Crohn’s disease.
On the other hand, by also establishing that a drug reduced sepsis deaths in mice, he has provided an innovative roadmap toward developing potential drugs for people. That roadmap may be crucial, because no FDA-approved drug to treat sepsis now exists.
“I don’t even know whether in the future the best solution for sepsis will be electroacupuncture or some medicine that will mimic electroacupuncture,” Ulloa concludes. The bottom line, he says, is that this research has opened the door to both.

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