Tag Archives: italian

Multicenter study underscores need for uniform approach to bladder cancer

According to the lead author, Dr. Francesco Atzori, progress in developing new effective drugs in bladder cancer has been stagnant in the last decades. "In patients who recur or who are refractory to first-line therapy, response rates and outcomes are grim, and to date, no second-line therapy has been clearly established," he explained…

How safe is Splenda? Group urges caution for artificial sweetener

The artificial sweetener sucralose (sold under the brand name Splenda) could potentially pose health risks, so it needs to be better understood before the sweetener should be assumed to be safe, one advocacy organization says. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit watchdog group, said today that it was downgrading its safety rating of sucralose from “safe” to “caution,” meaning that the additive “may pose a risk and needs to be better tested.” The change was spurred by a recent study from researchers in Italy that found that sucralose caused leukemia in mice, according to the CSPI. This study has not been published, and needs to be reviewed by other scientists to determine whether the findings are credible. While sucralose may turn out to be safer than other artificial sweeteners, “the forthcoming Italian study warrants careful scrutiny before we can be confident that the sweetener is safe for use in food, said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. The CSPI recommends people avoid the artificial sweeteners saccharin (Sweet N Low), aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal), and acesulfame potassium (Sunett and Sweet One). The issue of whether artificial sweeteners pose health risks is controversial. Many of the studies showing risks, including the new Italian study, have been done in animals, and it's not known whether the same effects would be seen in humans. In addition, rodents, like humans, may develop cancer as a result of old age, and not exposure to chemical additives. This issue has caused some to question the results of studies showing that aspartame-fed rats are at increased risk for cancer over their lifetimes. Even the CSPI says that it considers drinking diet soda, which often contains artificial sweeteners, to be safer than drinking regular soda. Regular soda “poses the greater and demonstrable risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, gout, tooth decay, and other health problems,” the CSPI said in a statement. To avoid both the risks of sugar and artificial sweeteners, the CSPI recommends drinking water, seltzer water, flavored unsweetened waters, seltzer mixed with some fruit juice or unsweetened iced tea. It's worth noting that the CSPI also gives caffeine a safety rating of “caution.” Caffeine “keeps many people from sleeping, causes jitteriness, and affects calcium metabolism,” the CSPI says. Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/06/12/how-safe-is-splenda-group-urges-caution-for-artificial-sweetener/

Olive Oil 101: How to choose oils with the most health benefits

It is well known that extra virgin olive oil is good for the body – boosting heart health and even lowering the risk of certain kinds of cancer.  But not all olive oils are created equal. According to Nicholas Colman, the chief olive oil specialist at Eataly in New York City, olive oil has to be fresh in order to maintain its health advantages. “Even the best producer in the world – if their oil is old, you’re not going to reap the health benefits from it,” Coleman told FoxNews.com. Coleman said it’s important to pick your oil like you would pick your wine – taking into account when it was bottled, the kinds of olives that are in it, and the region from which it came. “When you taste a really, really great olive oil, you might notice a peppery finish build in the back of the throat – this tingle,” Coleman said. “And what causes that is oleocanthal, which is an antioxidant.  The more of that peppery burn you feel, the higher the presence of antioxidants in the oil and the healthier it is for the body.” Oils from Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily have the most antioxidants of the Italian extra virgin olive oils, Coleman said.  And price is an important factor too: Cheap olive oil from the grocery store may not cut it. “Usually they take olives from all over the world, and they buy oil that is left over at the end of the year,” Coleman said. “And they blend it all together and ship it to America.” While the oil’s color doesn’t affect its health benefits, Coleman said the bottle’s color does.  He advised picking a dark, glass bottle or tin, so the oil doesn’t photo-oxidize and degrade. And when you finally cook with your newly purchased olive oil in the kitchen, make sure to warm it slowly to preserve the antioxidants. For more information on how to choose the perfect olive oil, visit http://www.eataly.com/.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/19/olive-oil-101-how-to-choose-oils-with-most-health-benefits/