Prevent DNA damage that promotes aging and disease

We'll start on the "surface" of this topic with some news from the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology last month. According to a presentation by dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., recent studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of nicotinamide (a derivative of niacin - also known as vitamin B3) promote moisture retention in the epidermis - the upper-most layer of the skin.

In one study, subjects reported significantly less dryness and flakiness, followed by smoother, softer skin after using a topical nicotinamide. Dr. Baumann said that formulas containing nicotinamide may be especially useful to those who have flare-ups of a type of eczema called atopic dermatitis.

More importantly, other studies have revealed chemopreventative effects when nicotinamide was used. In one animal study, ultraviolet-induced skin cancer was reduced by 70 percent when topical nicotinamide was applied to mouse skin.

But as useful as nicotinamide might prove to be for the prevention and treatment of skin problems, when taken internally, this nutrient does wonders for your body and especially your brain.

The excellent benefits of nicotinamide are illustrated through its relationship to a gene called Sir2 that can slow the aging process and prevent disease. Sir2 stands for "silent information regulator 2." It produces a protein called Sir2p that forms a protective barrier around your cells, defending them from rogue DNA molecules that cause the genetic instability that promotes aging. Without this barrier, cells deteriorate and eventually die - unable to resist disease or invasion by foreign bodies.

Injury to your DNA has serious consequences. The deterioration and death of brain cells are symptoms of aging, and patients suffering from this type of cell death typically show DNA damage. Recent research at the University of Southern California found that brain DNA damage was prevented by nicotinamide supplements. This is hopeful news for those suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases (both of which are believed to be associated with brain-cell death).

Research into the genetic theory of aging is really just beginning, and more research will be needed to fully understand the relationship between Sir2p, NAD, and B vitamins. In the meantime, there's no doubt that a daily intake of niacin will help put the breaks on your body's aging process. Supplements of nicotinamide are available at most health food stores. The best dietary sources of niacin include red meat (including organ meats), poultry, fish, eggs and whole grains.

Does Microwaving effect nutrition?

There are very few studies on microwave cooking and food quality. There's a reason for that, which I'll get to in a second. What studies exist are all bad news for microwaving - they universally describe some type of damage. One study showed breakdown of vitamin B-12 to inactive degradation products in microwaved foods. The magazine "Health & Healing Wisdom" reports that Russian research concerning neurological effects of altered magnetic states of microwaved foods caused the Russian government to outlaw all food microwave apparatus in 1976 (we don't know if that ban still exists). Another study showed depletion of antibodies and breakdown of enzymes when breast milk is microwaved.

There's also a problem with release of potentially toxic molecules into the food from packaging designed to help brown food during microwaving. This includes items such as pizza, French fries, waffles, popcorn and breaded fish - and these findings were determined by the FDA!

The most controlled (and scary) research was almost stopped from anyone knowing about it before being published. Two Swiss researchers sequestered subjects under close scrutiny and blood tested them after randomly eating food that was either microwaved or conventionally cooked. They found all sorts of potentially nasty stuff: (1) blood hemoglobin levels decreased significantly after ingesting microwaved foods, both total levels and the amount contained in each red blood cell; (2) White blood cell levels tended to increase for no other reason than foods were microwaved; (3) microwaves altered protein molecules; (4) LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' type) increased relative to HDL cholesterol (the 'good' type).

The problem was, they were immediately sued by the "Swiss Association of Dealers for Electroapparatuses for Households and Industry," and one of the authors was convicted by the Swiss Federal Court of "interfering with commerce." The fine was the equivalent of $65,000. So, the message is you think twice before stepping on too many big-money toes.

However you slice it, there appears to be a problem with those high frequency, alternating current (meaning abnormal for the human system) electromagnetic waves...but it's sure an easy way to fix popcorn!

Caution: If you must use one, stay away from the exhast when cooking.

Sleep, How much do you need for a happy heart ?

Late-to-bed, early-to-rise schedules may be harming your heart A Canadian study of well over 70,000 U.S. women (all healthcare professionals, 45-65 years old, enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study) showed that those averaging five hours or less sleep per night were almost 50 percent more likely to develop heart disease than those who slept eight hours per night.

The risk of heart disease was reduced dramatically for women who slept an average of six or seven hours per night, compared with those who slept five.

It would seem that for most of us, seven or eight hours is best for optimal heart health. Less than that places stress on the heart, probably due to increased blood pressure and decreased glucose intolerance - two known hazards of sleep deprivation, according to previous studies.

But this is not a case of more being better. The unusual finding in this study was that women who slept nine or more hours per night actually had a greater risk of heart disease when compared to those who slept between six and eight hours.

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