Published December 9, 2009

Cut your dementia risk by up to 39%

Did you know that a supplement you’re probably already taking can cut your risk of dementia by 39% or more?

You probably already know that omega-3 fatty acids are great for your heart, your colon, and your lungs. But a new study suggests they’re also a great way to protect yourself from dementia.

A study followed 1,214 subjects for four years. At the start of the study, none of the participants had dementia. During the four years, 65 developed dementia. Having a high EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) level reduced that risk by 31% regardless of depression. Higher arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid that can cause inflammation) compared to another omega-3 fatty acid called DHA raised the risk 39%. And the omega-6 fatty acid was particularly devastating to those with depression.

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Published December 4, 2009

Which is more deadly — high cholesterol or low vitamin D levels?

You’ve undoubtedly heard that high cholesterol can be deadly. However, I’ve told my readers for years that it isn’t how high your cholesterol level is. It’s how well your body handles that cholesterol. So I’m not nearly as concerned about your cholesterol levels as most doctors.

In fact, there’s another risk factor that’s far more critical for your health and longevity. That’s vitamin D. Two important studies came out recently that showed why a vitamin D deficiency is far more deadly than high cholesterol.

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Published December 3, 2009

What you must avoid in your next hospital stay

You may have heard that the most common place to catch a nasty infection is the hospital. That makes sense, as there are so many sick people there. But did you know the hospital staff may be part of the cause? It’s true. A recent study found that something the hospital staff regularly gives their patients increases the patients’ risk for pneumonia by 30%. Fortunately, it’s really easy to avoid the infection.

In a new study, researchers looked at every patient admitted into a large, state-of-the-art academic medical center in Boston, Massachusetts.

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