PODCAST #18 11-1-07

WELCOME TO THE 18th EDITION OF THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST

Chocolate: Echinacea and the common cold:

Is your microwave safe? Yes!
The FDA rule states a microwave may leak no more than five milliwatts per square centimeter, measured at about two inches away over the ovens entire lifetime. Cell phones average a maximum output of about 1.6 watts.

Chocolate:

In a study in the AMA journal of 2007 it is that reported 6.3 grams (one-fifth of an ounce) of dark chocolate which equals 30 calories, reduced blood pressure an average of -2.9/-3.0 mmHg. in 18 weeks. Without affecting weight or blood lipids. This is a pleasant way to make a small reduction in blood pressure. Added to other blood pressure lowering modalities it can have an impact.

In short-term studies, consumption of 100 grams of unsweetened bakers cocoa daily has been shown to improve the function of endothelial lining blood vessels-thereby reducing blood pressure.

An intriguing finding by Dr. Taubert was that simple commercial dark chocolate was as effective at lowering blood pressure as much as more comprehensive dietary modifications. Dark chocolate yielded results similar to the DASH hypertension diet plan. Note: Dark chocolate should contain 70% or more cocoa. And dark chocolates have varying amount of unhealthy sugar.

Echinacea:

In The Lancet Infectious Diseases publication Craig Colman and colleagues looked at 14 randomized controlled trials totaling 1,630 participants. The researchers concluded that Echinacea reduced the average duration of colds by 1.4 days. Among 1,376 participants tested for Echinacea’s effectiveness in preventing colds. Echinacea also reduced the chances of catching a cold by 58%.
Although in line with findings of a meta-analysis performed in 2000, the findings contradicted a large, highly publicized 2005 trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. That study found Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, ineffective at preventing colds. The herbal industry challenged those findings, saying the tested dosage was too low—one gram daily rather than a standard three gram dose, and that the trial didn’t use a commercially available product.
In the new study (2005) Coleman suggests another possible reason for the contradictory results. More than 200 different viruses are known to trigger the common cold, and the 2005 negative findings focused on only one, rhinovirus. In addition some 800 Echinacea products are available. Note: be careful of bad studies done after 2000 especially if they contradict studies done before 2000. Note2: If the drug companies want to prove a vitamin or herb is not effective it is easy with a bad study.

That’s all for PODCAST #18. I hope you found it interesting and informative. The next PODCAST will be the week of December 1

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS PODCAST OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS
health@lencolabs.com.

For more information on this subject and other subjects go to www.lencolabs.com, thank you for listening to the health and happiness podcast with–Leonard Austin