People who suffer from a rare form of insomnia can die from lack of sleep. Scientists have long known, for instance, that lack of sleep is associated with weight gain. Another study also found that subjects ate significantly more snacks and carbohydrates after a night of only five and a half hours of sleep. We get about 25% less sleep than they did a century ago - and this isn't just a matter of having less energy. As ABC News reported, staying awake for just one night is enough to make you act as though you're legally intoxicated if you get behind the wheel. This shows just how crucial sleep is to your health. It is no less vital than food, water and air.
Source: New York Times April 26, 2010

A new study using fish DNA suggests that some species of tuna, particularly those used by restaurants, have higher mercury levels. Restaurants tend to favour certain species of tuna, such as Bluefin, Akami and Bigeye tuna. Unfortunately, mercury tends to accumulate to a greater degree in muscle than in fat, rendering these highly prized, leaner species of tuna more susceptible to high contamination. Restaurants tend to buy larger sized fish, which in turn contain larger concentrations of mercury due to their size.
Source: Biology Letters April 21, 2010 [Epub ahead of print]

Drugmaker AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $520 million to settle federal investigations into marketing practices for its schizophrenia drug Seroquel. This makes AstraZeneca the 4th big drug company in the last three years to admit to federal charges of illegal marketing of antipsychotic drugs. The company was accused of misleading doctors and patients by spotlighting favourable research, while failing to adequately disclose studies showing that Seroquel increases the risk of diabetes.
Source: New York Times April 26, 2010; The United States Department of Justice April 27, 2010.

People who fail to brush their teeth twice a day may be putting themselves at risk of heart disease. A study of more than 11,000 adults backs previous research linking gum disease with heart problems.
Source: British Medical Journal May 28, 2010; 340:c2451

Adding certain spices to your meat before tossing it on the grill can also cut the risk of cancer long associated with beef cooked at high temperatures. Rosemary and tumeric are the most effective in preventing the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs). HCAs are cancer-causing compounds that are produced when meat is barbecued, grilled, broiled or fried. Other spices are beneficial for cooking: cloves, cinnamon, oregano, rosemary, ginger, black pepper, paprika and garlic powder.
Source: New York Times May 27, 2010

Swedish scientists recently published the positive impact of omega-3 fatty acids (which are found mainly in fish oil) on a certain type of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma (Gleissman 2010). These Karolinska Institute scientists had previously shown that DHA (the most unsaturated form of fatty acid in fish oil) could cause apoptosis (i.e., programmed cell death) in cancer cells. They have now extended their work to experimental animals, showing that fish oil supplementation caused either stabilisation or actual regression of tumours in these animals.
Source: www.panaxea.com

Before the public consultations, the Federal Government had GE marked as only a minor issue for their expert panel to consider as part of this year's review of Australia's food labelling laws. By the time the public submissions had closed, the panel had received around 6,000 submissions and the majority were on GE. Add to this over 30,000 signatures from consumers and a GM-Free charter signed by 200 of Australia's leading chefs, and it would be fair to say that demand for GE labelling emerged as one of the major issues of the food labelling review.
Source: www.truefood.org.au/newsandevents/?news=94

Cancer patients should not avoid exercise; they can and should find ways to be physically active both during and after treatment, according to U.S. guidelines. Exercise improves cancer survival.
Source: Science Daily June 1, 2010

To hear pharmaceutical companies tell it, statin drugs are "miracle" medicines that have prevented millions of heart attacks and strokes. But a recent study published in the British Medical Journal tells a completely different story: For every heart attack prevented by the drug, 2 or > people suffered liver damage, kidney failure, cataracts or extreme muscle weakness as a result of taking the drug. Statin drugs, in other words, harm far more people than they help. Highly deceptive advertising implies that statin drugs help everyone who takes them. However, statin drugs only "work" on about 2.7% of those who take them. Yet they cause serious damage in about 4.4% of those who take them. From the point of view of pharmaceutical companies, they have the added benefit of causing other diseases that often result in yet more drugs or medical procedures being prescribed. Kidney dialysis is a multi-billion-dollar business all by itself.

People who get vitamin K from food may have a lower risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. Both vitamins K1 and K2 were related to a lower Diabetes risk, but the relationship was stronger with vitamin K2, which people get mainly from meat, cheese and eggs. Vitamin K is well known for the important role it plays in blood clotting but it also helps fight cancer, improve bone density, prevent heart disease, stave off varicose veins and lower your risk of Diabetes. K1 is found in dark green leafy vegetables and makes up about 90% of the vitamin K in a typical Western diet, eg. collard greens, spinach, salad greens, kale, broccoli and Brussel sprouts. The best natural source of vitamin K2 is derived from an ancient Japanese food called Natto which is made from fermented soybeans.
Sources: Reuters May 27, 2010; Diabetes Care April 27, 2010.