The AIDS Epidemic

Stephen Lewis, former UN-envoy to Africa for HIV/AIDS and author of "Race against time" spoke at Thompson Rivers University this past Thursday. One of the most shocking statements he made (and he did make several) was about the growth and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

"For every two people we get on treatment, five more become infected," he said. Now, while that seems horrifying, let us examine the growth pattern so we can fully realize how scary arithmetic growth like this is.

According to Lewis, if two people receive treatment another five become infected with the disease. So, if we then treat two of those five, five more become infected. This is only the second generation of this equation and we are seeing four people on treatment (two plus two) alongside eight infected. We can extrapolate the equation to look like this:

Third generation: six in treatment, 11 infected
Four generation: eight in treatment, 14 infected
Fifth generation: ten in treatment, 17 infected
Sixth generation: 12 in treatment, 20 infected
...
The thousandth generation: 2000 in treatment, 5000 infected

This highlights the chaos and the horror that is mathematical growth, whether arithmetic (where the numbers grow by a set rate continuously) or exponential (where numbers double each generation).

This is a graph that documents the rise of those undergoing anti-retro viral treatment for HIV/AIDS against the growth of the disease.

The end of needles?

Could the immunization needle be a thing of the past? It is a possibility according to some new research.

A surprising article from MedicineNet.com reports that researchers have devised a molecule that can carry a vaccine into a person's immune system without requiring a needle.

If so, it would be far more difficult for people to finagle their way out of an annual flu shot. The ramifications in providing immunizations in the third world would also be staggering.

Diabetes: An Introduction

"Diabetes in Canada is reaching epidemic proportions."

Those were the words my biology professor opened with during a lecture on Tuesday evening.

Karen Ross is part of the faculty of science at Thompson Rivers University and her research interests lie in the field of diabetes. Her topic could hardly be more timely.

According to the Canadian Diabetic Association more than 3 million Canadians have diabetes. If the population of Canada is just over 30 million, than that means according to this statistic, 10 per cent of the population is diabetic.

While that number may be a little inflated, if even six to eight per cent of Canadians have diabetes then it is far too prevalent. Especially considering that one can make certain life choices that decrease the risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes.

While this post will not go into the pathophysiology of diabetes there are several articles that have brought the topic back to the centre of public interest.

The main risk behaviours for acquiring Type 2 diabetes include sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and a high-glucose (sugar) diet. According to a recent article in the Vancouver Sun drinking coffee or tea regularily may reduce the risk of acquiring Type 2 diabetes.

However, think about how much sugar one pours into the average double-double or triple-triple (and, yes, I've heard of people ordering quadruple-quadruples).

So for those readers who are wondering, "why should I care when I take care of myself?" consider the following article from the Vancouver Sun.

"The rising rates of diabetes in Canada could cost the economy as much as $17 billion by the year 2020, according to a new report that calls on the federal government to do more to ease the economic burden," the article reports.

That money has to come form somewhere. If more Canadians are educated about this disease and how best to avoid it then that number can be reduced. Either way, it's going to be our tax dollars that fund the treatment.

An observation on healthcare funding

The link between tobacco consumption and the prevalence of cancers like lung, esophageal, and mouth cancer are definite; however, if it fair for tobacco-users to put such a burden onto the healthcare system?

Tobacco products in Canada are taxed at very high levels. The governing philosophy is that the health complications due to consumption will be paid for by the taxes that a smoker pays over his lifetime.

But is this the correct approach? And how do the numbers measure up? A diagnosis of cancer is not guaranteed merely because someone smokes, but paying taxes on cigarettes is.

We must first establish what the purpose of the tobacco tax is. Does it serve to discourage use because of cost, or is it designed to recoup the cost of providing healthcare to individuals who develop health complications from consumming the product?

While people will disagree on what purpose the tax serves, what remains clear is that it is expensive to smoke and expensive to treat someone for lung cancer.

Allow me to submit a topic for debate: Would it be better to keep tobacco taxes as they are, raise them even more to help offset the rising costs of healthcare, or abolish the taxes completely and subsequently charge people out of their own pockets for cancer treatment if they were smokers?

The issue at stake revolves around one's view on individual rights in a society. Do you possess the right to engage in harmful behaviour that will cost the state many dollars to treat? What happens if the state decided that it no longer wanted you to ahve that right because it could not afford the consequences of your actions.

If you have a comment or opinion on this issue (I'm certain everyone has opinions on this issue), then please feel free to either post it or e-mail me at 'gregory.sawisky(at)gmail.com.

UPDATE: Here is an interesting article in the New York Times that comments on this issue.

High Cholesterol hits huge numbers

More than 41 per cent of Canadians have a high total cholesterol according to a new report by Statistics Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, "Blood tests of thousands of Canadians showed 41 per cent of adults had a high total cholesterol level."

Cholesterol, which is like a fat can come in two varieties: High density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). High density lipoproteins have traditionally been thought of as 'good cholesterol' as it helps prevent the narrowing of arteries while low density lipoprotein is often thought of as 'bad cholesterol' and high levels and lead to cardiovascular disease.

In truth, it is best to keep concentrations of both cholesterol's in check.

The CBC published an article on the study available here.

Optimism is good for your health

Don't worry, be happy.

Those words, original composed and sung by Bobby McFerrin, may just carry more weight than we expect.

A recent joint study published in Psychological Science conducted by the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville has concluded that being optimistic boosts the immune system.

Two articles, one from sciencedaily.com and the other at e!ScienceNews.com wrote about the implications of the study and the optimistic state of mind.

The study followed 124 law students who were assessed as to their general outlook on life and success in their first year of law school. They were then injected with a solution generated to create an immune system response .

The ScienceDaily article writes that, "At more optimistic times, they'd have bigger immune responses; at a more pessimistic time, a more sluggish immune response. So, being optimistic about success in a specific, important domain may promote better immunity against some infections."

While it may be difficult to corroborate this evidence, or even prove conclusively how our outlook on life affects our immune system, it certainly can't hurt.

Extremely Drug Resistant Tuberculousis

Tuberculosis. It is a disease that many people regard as having been "defeated" and no longer a major health concern to us.

They could hardly be more wrong.

Several recent articles have examined instances of a new strain of tuberculosis called Extremely Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDRTB).

A recent CBC article reports that the World Health Organization doesn't know what effect they have had in combating this strain of tuberculosis.

In addition to that, the disease has reached record levels in Western Russia according to another article.

And Aboriginals in Canada are 30 times more likely to have tuberculosis than non-aboriginals. In order to treat tuberculosis, one is usually given antibiotics to take for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, many people stop taking the drugs once they feel better. Now tuberculosis is mutating and becoming stronger.

The video posted below is the work of the famous conflict photographer James Nachtwey. He documented this outbreak around the world over the course of a year. The images say so much more than words ever can.

The original video is available here. or on YouTube.

How much sugar is there?

I found this informative video on YouTube. It provides a more visual explanation on sugar content.

No more pepsi in schools.

In an intriguing article published by the CBC today, it was announced that PepsiCo is removing all sodas and suger-filled drinks from schools in more than 200 countries by 2012.

The official press release is visible here.

That's great news! Right? What happens if we're merely paying lip service to the issue?

PepsiCo can be lauded for doing the right thing. Removing sugar-laced beverages from schools will have a positive effect on childhood obesity. But they are a for-profit company. Clearly they don't want to lose money. So what are they going to be selling instead of Pepsi or Mountain Dew?

Sugar-laced juices perhaps? Fruitopia (a coke product) is labled a juice. The amount of calories? Between 100 and 250 depending on the beverage. How much sugar is in a Minute Maid Cranberry Juice? For a 591 mL bottle it is 32 grams. In fact, the cranberry juice has two more grams of sugar and 20 more calories than a 591 mL bottled of traditional Coca-Cola.

Fighting childhood obesity? Hardly.

Q&A on Trans Fats

I recently spoke with Professor Levente Diosady, a chemical engineer at the University of Toronto on the topic of trans fats. Professor Diosady has been working in the field of edible oils for more than 40 years. He had some very surprising things to say about trans fats.
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First off, what exactly is a fat?
A fat is a triglyceride molecule. There are typically 18 carbons with one, two, three or four double bonds. The unsaturated bonds can have two configurations. They can be cis or trans. If the chain continues on the same side of the carbon then we have cis, if the chain comes in on one side of the carbon and goes out the other it's called trans. In nature, in a chemical process, the cis and trans have approx the same probability of forming. However in most animals and plants the double bonded fatty acid are built up enzymatically and are inevitably in the cis form.

What is the difference between fats with the cis form and the trans form?
The naturally occurring long chain fats, unless they are coming from a dairy animal, are always in the cis form. The cis form has a relatively low melting point. Typical vegetable oils are liquid at room temperatures and contain one, two or three double bonds. If you need to have a product which has a solid or plastic fat then you have to do something to raise the melting point. There's only two ways to raise the melting point: One is by incorporating saturated fats which naturally have a high melting point or incorporating trans fats which have an almost as high melting point as the saturated fat.

How do you chemically alter a fat to be a solid at room temperature?
To obtain a hardened fat, like a margarine or butter, you can use a process called hydrogenation where you attach hydrogen atoms to the double bonds. if this reaction goes to completion the double bond is used up and it becomes a single bond and is no longer cis or trans. If you fully hydrogenate a fat in effect you eliminate all cis or trans double bonds.

If there any problems with this process?
The problem comes from the fact that these processes occur fast on the catalyst. Usually they are hydrogen starved. As a result some of the double bonds pick up one hydrogen abut then give that hydrogen up and rearrange in the process. Instead of having all cis, up to 50 or 60 per cent of the bonds will reform as trans. In the typical process you are forming some trans double bonds.

Why have we only been talking about trans fats in the last few years?
Historically these were not thought to be negative. There a positive thing in terms of the process [of hydrogenation] itself because you use a lot less hydrogen to get a higher melting point because the trans have high melting points. But research in the 1970s has shown that the body doesn't recognize trans fat as an unsaturated fat. It recognizes it as if it is a saturated fat. In effect it doesn't incorporate it into the body. Instead it burns it up for energy just as if it were a saturated fat. Earlier studies have shown that in terms of developing arteriole plaques and cholesterol deposits trans fats behaved very much like saturated fat. There was a very good ground-breaking study by a pair of researchers in 1981 which was the first one to show that trans fats do contribute to heart disease. Even to this point it was thought to essentially be equivalent to saturated fat.

What changed?
About four or five years ago there were a series of well-designed studies that showed that [trans fats] were somewhat more harmful than saturated fats and it was picked up by the popular press and everybody else. Everybody got onto the band-wagon to get rid of trans fat. It's been something we've been saying as researchers for 30 years but now it had momentum. The problem that has been presented to the public has been exaggerated. The trans fats are worse than saturated fats but they're not 50 times worse or 100 times worse. Maybe 5 or 10 per cent worse.

So what should people be conscience of when it comes to trans fats?
It's a good idea to avoid trans fats, because after all your body is not designed to metabolize them and they aren't terribly good for you. The fact is having an excess amount of any kind of fat is bad for you and having saturated fats has long ago been shown to be bad for you. The only way you can get solid fat is by having saturated fat, usually a short-chain saturated fat. Now margarine has no trans fats but its absolutely loaded with tropical oils because there is no other way around it. Even though there is some very good research, the fact still remains that you need a certain amount of saturated fat in the product to give you the functionality: The melting characteristics so that it's spreadable but melts in the mouth. Trans fats are there. They are undesirable but they are not nearly as dangerous as the public was lead to believe. Nonetheless I'm all for trying to eliminate them.

So trans fats occur naturally?
A number of natural products contain them in small amounts. Not huge amounts. A whole slew of microbial oils and in some conditions under normal conditions for example.

Can we consume them safely?
Sure. You look at the demographics. This stuff has been eaten in large quantities for 60 years. We didn't see people dropping dead from trans fats. They are dropping dead from heart disease because they are eating way too much fat period. The fact is you can have a small amount. It is desirable to limit that to as small an amount as possible. I think [consumption of trans and saturated fat] should be minimized but they can't be eliminated unless you want to eliminate all solid fat products. That would eliminate half the bakery products in the world. You can't really make bakery products with an oil you need to use a shortening which is partially solid fat.

Brief: Town considers banning all fast foods

A fascinating article just posted on the Globe and Mail's website reported that the town of Tofino, B.C. is considering a municipal ban on fast food franchises.

While the idea has commissioned a report, it would be the first Canadian municipality to ban fast food chains. The ban would extend from McDonald's to Tim Hortons and Starbucks.

How much sugar is in it?

In following up with the previous blog post, I wanted to find out just how much sugar was in one bottle of a soda beverage. I chose to examine a bottle of A&W Cream Soda (currently unavailable in Canada). According to the nutritional information there are 74 grams of sugar in one bottle. Each sugar cube measures approximately 4 grams (according to the packaging) and so there is roughly the equivalent of 18 sugar cubes in one bottle. Now that's a lot of sugar.

Soda's unsurprising link to Diabetes

Before you pop a twoonie into the pop machine, consider the following: According to a U.S. study, increasing consumption of soft drinks contributed to 130,000 new cases of diabetes in the last decade.

The study, lead by Dr. Kirsetn Bibbins-Domingo at the University of California concluded that the more soda people consummed, the more negative the consequences to human health. In addition to the cases of diabetes, the study linked 14,000 new cases of heart disease to soad consumption as well.

"The finding suggests that any kind of policy that reduces consumption might have a dramatic health benefit," Dr. Bibbins-Domingo was quoted as in an article on medicinenet.com

The author of the article did manage to talk to a representative from the American Beverage Association which represents the major beverage companies in the United States.

"What we do know is that both heart disease and diabetes are complex conditions with no single cause and no single solution," said Maureen Storey, senior vice president for science at the American Beverage Association.

Does bottled-water cause cavities?

I was reading a publication from Merck.com about human physiology and nutrition today and came across a section on the flouridation of water. Flouride is a compound made up of flourine and is added to municipal water supplies to prevent tooth decay. The question that immediately came to my mind was, "How does the preponderance of bottled water affect our teeth? Have cavities in adults increased significantly since bottled water became so popular?" At the moment I don't have any answers but check back with the CanHealth Report in the coming weeks as I investigate these questions.

Banning junk foods in school

The topic of junk food in schools has been hotly debated over the past few years. Some schools in North America have moved to try and ban all junk food completely. But the reverse argument is that if a student really wants junk food then he will walk to a nearby convenience store anyways.

But banning junk food in school may assist in preventing childhood obesity according to a San Francisco State University study. The article, published in the March issue of Health Affairs was also presented on the website sciencedaily.com

The study examined eight years of data on body mass indexes from fifth and seventh grade students. Between 2003 and 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law several bills banning junk food from schools. Before the law took effect obesity was on the rise in both groups in the study. The result of the new laws? The increase in the number of overweight boys in grade five and boys and girls in grade seven.

While childhood obesity in Canada isn't as major a topic of discussion as in the United States, Canadian school boards could learn a few things about choosing healthy foods for students to eat.

Ongoing research into Vitamin Water

I am currently compiling research and information about vitamin water products, including Glacéau's 'Vitamin Water,' Dasani's 'Plus' and Aquafina's 'Plus.' Preliminary research has revealed that there is a significant amount of sugar in each of these products and at least one of the products does not list the amount of daily recommended vitamins one consumes when drinking a bottle. Of you have a comment or more information about vitamin water please contact me at 'greg-sawisky@mytru.ca'

Where are your pills?

Where do you keep your vitamins? They're probably in your kitchen near the glasses so you remember to take them each morning with breakfast. Or perhaps they are in the bathroom above or near the sink? Is there anything wrong with that?

Yes there is according to a new study. According to an article by Jennifer Warner for medicine.net, researchers at Purdue University in Indiana concluded that humidity can affect the potency of vitamins.

The process is called deliquesence and occurs when humidity causes a water-soluble substance (e.g. a vitamin pill) to dissolve.

The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry .

According to the article, "The first signs of nutrient degradation are usually brown spots, especially on children's vitamins," and recommends discarding any vitamin that shows signs of spots or moisture inside the bottle.

Keeping your vitamins in an area of your home with as little humidity as possible is recommended.

Microwaving Tupperware

Microwaves are great, aren't they? You can pop in last night's leftovers, zap them for a few minutes and have a hot lunch ready to go. But there is a huge potential that microwaving a tupperware container, even labeled 'microwave safe' may have health consequences.

A google search of 'microwaving tupperware' yields 341,000 results. At the top of the list are websites discussing the topic of whether or not there is danger in microwaving tupperware.

At the moment there is no conclusive evidence that microwaving tupperware is dangerous; however, studies are being conducted and there is also no evidence that they aren't having long-term health effects either.

One of the major concerns is that the microwave may cause the tupperware container to leech chemicals into the food product that is then consummed. As mentioned before, there is little evidence of this as of now. A report from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health states that no link is currently established between microwaving plastic and chemical leeching if the plastic is designed as microwave safe.

If you are concerned about the possibility of chemical leeching by microwaving tupperware products then the CanHealth Report recommends you invest 50 cents into a ceramic bowl or plate at your local discount or thirft store and have it on have to microwave your food.

Effects of more screen time

A recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine and reviewed by ScienceDaily.com concludes that teenagers who spent more time in front of a screen playing video games reported feeling less attachement to their parents and friends.

The study surveyed 3,043 adolescents aged 14 and 15 in 2004.

"Overall, the more time teens spent watching television or playing on a computer, the more likely they were to report low attachment to parents (in other words, difficulty forming a relationship or emotional bond). The risk of having low attachment to parents increased 4 percent for every hour spent viewing television and 5 percent for every hour spent playing on a computer. Conversely, teens who spend more time reading and doing homework reported a higher level of attachment to parents," reported the press release on March 1, 2010.

Health Canada Issues massive warning

I received five (yes, five) warning e-mails from Health Canada warning Canadians about a variety of products to be wary of consuming. I've condensed the list here. If you have any of these products, you should follow the link for more information. The five products are 2H & 2D, STRO Emperor Capsules, Tian Yang Xu Huo Oral Ulcer Capsule, sexual
enhancement dietary supplements sold by Atlas Operations Inc. and 65 bodybuilding products
sold through Bodybuilding.com.

Product #1
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product 2H & 2D because it contains undeclared tadalafil. Tadalafil is a
prescription drug and should only be used under the supervision of a health
care practitioner."

Product #2
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product STRO Emperor Capsules because it contains undeclared tadalafil.
Tadalafil is a prescription drug and should only be used under the
supervision of a health care practitioner.[...][I]t may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet."

Product #3
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product Tian Yang Xu Huo Oral Ulcer Capsule because it contains undeclared
aristolochic acid, a naturally occurring toxic substance associated with
serious health risks such as kidney failure and cancer."

Product #4
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use certain lots (Lot Numbers
494, 520, 520A, 520B, 520C, 521, 705, 706, 779 and 807) of sexual
enhancement dietary supplements sold by Atlas Operations Inc."

Prodcut#5
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use 65 bodybuilding products
sold through Bodybuilding.com"

U.S. Health Care Premiums

A health insurance executive defended high premiums in the United States reports the New York Times.

According to the executive, "The increases in premiums are driven by prices charged by doctors, hospitals, drug companies and other suppliers, and by increases in the use of health care by an aging population."

What is perhaps most shocking to a Canadian reader is that one witness testified before Congress saying that her health care insurance premium was "being increased 38 percent, to $516 a month, from $373."

While we do not have to pay the same kind of premiums in Canada (thankfully) we do end up paying for health care via taxes. But is that truly accounting for the larger picture. Health care has been the centre of debate in the United States since President Obama has pushed for health care reform.

Perhaps this universal debate should take on a new question: Is it even appropriate to have health care engaged with the private sector at all? Pharmaceutical companies are driven by the need to make profits to satiate shareholders as are insurance companies. If coverage and drug development were the responsibility of the government is there potential that by removing the need for profit would benefit the health care consumer?

SHealth Canada issues warning over possible life threatening products

I recently received this e-mail from Health Canada:

Health Canada is warning consumers of unauthorized health products sold
under the OM Fusion Distributors LLC label included in the table below. The
use of these products may cause life threatening reactions. There are
serious risks with taking unauthorized drugs without supervision by a
health care professional. If you take these products, you may also prevent
your physician from properly diagnosing your condition and prescribing the
correct medication.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_23-eng.php

---
Canadians are advised to check the label of current medications. If you see the label you are advised to contact your health care professional. This health alert extends to seven products not authorized for sale in Canada. The seven products are:
Adelphane – Esidrex
Antihemorroi Ointment
Erythromycin
Ftorocort
Levomycetin
Prednisolonum
Zdorovye

Please note that this warning affects only the products with the OM Fusion Distributors label. Erythromycin, for example, is a common antibiotic that is safe to use under physician direction. Only the OM Fusion Distribution erythromycin is affected.

Does playing music makes you a better listener?

The debate that studying music makes people smarter has been around for some time now. Articles from music schools like the one found here are quick to promote this idea while arguments against this theory are fewer and far between.

However, in a recent article published on sciencedaily.com, researchers at Northwestern University argue that "music training has profound effects that shape the sensory system and should be a mianstay of K-12 education."

The original press release from Northwestern University is available here

Researchers at the university have release four studies in the recent year that examine the relevance of music education to human development. A similiar study released on March 3, 2009 reports that musicians' brains are fine-tuned to identify emotion.

In 2007, Northwestern University released another study that concluded that musical training can tune the auditory system.

The evidence that the ability to read and play music positively affects human development is continually growing.

Obesity in Canada

A recent article about obesity in the United States was, while hardly surprising, interesting as I hadn't seen any relevant data or news stories about obesity in Canada recently.

Googling the phrase 'Obesity in Canada' revealed an interesting Parliamentary report that was published in July of 2005.

The raw data of the report is nearly five years old; however, is there any evidence to suggest that we are in any different a position than we were in 2005? Statistics Canada reports that, "In 2008, 17.2% of Canadians aged 18 or older, roughly 4.2 million adults, reported height and weight that classified them as obese."

According to these figures, nearly one in five Canadians fits the definition of obesity. While that is certainly much less than the 62.2 per cent of Americans that are reported to be overweight or obese that was reported in the first article, it is a concerning trend that obesity is rising in both countries.

That's a lot of salt

Wondering how much sodium you might be ingesting while enjoying a healthy snack of popcorn? This photo was taken of a single serving packet of popcorn seasoning. As you can see, it contains more sodium than is recommended one consume for the entire day.

Health Canada Medical Alert: "7-Day Cleanse"

I received the an e-mail from Health Canada several hours ago that contained the following message:

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Health Canada is advising consumers that the unauthorized product “Complete
7-Day Cleanse” is being recalled because it contains a number of active
ingredients with a combined effect that may pose serious health risks.
“Complete 7-Day Cleanse” is a multi-ingredient natural health product
promoted for “cleansing” or removing toxins from the body.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_19-eng.php
---

According to Health Canada, the product in question contains laxatives and diuretics. Health Canada writes that, "This combination of ingredients may increase the laxative or diuretic impact of the product and pose a risk of dehydration and/or electrolyte imbalance."

Cleanses have been growing in popularity in recent years as a way of ridding the body of alleged "toxins." An individual chooses to avoid consuming certain products for a specified amount of time.

The benefits of cleanses at the moment are mostly anecdotal. If you are thinking of doing a cleanse, it is always best to consult a health care practitioner first.

Cancerous soda

Yesterday, the news portal canada.com (a subsiduary of CanWest Global) published an article examining a recent study that suggested that higher soda consumption led to increased risk for pancreatic cancer.

According to the article, researchers at the University of Minnesota concluded that consuming two or more sodas per week had an 87 per cent increased risk for acquiring pancreatic cancer.

The pancreas produces insulin in the body when sugar is consumed. Naturally, when a beverage is consumed that is very high in sugar, the pancreas has to work very hard to produce enough insulin to metabolize the sugar.

But does 87 per cent seem high? Does that mean if you consumer two sodas a day, you have an 87 per cent chance of acquiring cancer? Probably not.

The article doesn't provide information on what an individual risk of acquiring pancreatic cancer is in the first place. According to the National Cancer Institute, the chance of acquiring cancer in one's lifetime is 1 in approximately 7600. That works out to approximately 0.013 per cent. Increase 0.013 by 87 per cent and you are still left with a per cent chance of 0.024 of acquiring cancer (0.013 per cent multiplied by 1.87 to signify the 87 per cent increase).

Clearly, media is playing fast and loose with facts. It is important to understand how numbers are generated and what they represent. This does not mean that drinking large amounts of soda will not impact one's health. Bear in mind that drinking massive quantities of soda leads to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Can Vitamin D reduce cancer by 75 per cent?

This is a short video produced by University of California television. While the idea of vitamin D being able to reduce cancer by 75 per cent seems a little far-fetched, it is an enticing idea.

During my physics class last week I learned that 1 person in 5 will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime. Clearly, this video could present some very important information.



This video is also available on YouTube by clicking here

An introduction to Vitamin D

Vitamin D is hot.

That's what the Globe and Mail reported recently in an article examining this interesting compound.

Vitamin D is making headlines recently as scientists are beginning to unlock the mysteries behind this chemical. The organization Vitamin D Council out of the United States has pushed for more research into this compound.

For decades, vitamin D was thought to be important merely for healthy bone development. The absence of vitamin D often led to a medical condition called rickets, where bones softened over time and the patient would become bow-legged.

Even using the word 'vitamin' is a bit of a misnomer when dealing with this compound. Vitamins are defined as compounds that the body cannot synthesize and thus requires acquiring them from food and drink. The human body is capable of synthesizing vitamin D through the absorption of sunlight by the skin.

There are many factors that can prevent an individual from receiving an adequate dose of vitamin D over a month. Not only do we wear clothing that covers most of our skin, but for people living in the northern and southern hemispheres the ability to absorb vitamin D in the winter months is dramatically reduced. We also spend less time outside than we did 100 years ago.

Several recent articles have cited the positive benefits of vitamin D to a wide range of issues. From its affect on asthma, to its ability to fight crohn's disease, to preventing fractures and fighting colon cancer.

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with heart risk and even depression.

The research isn't unanimous yet, but as researchers continue to unlock the mysteries of this fascinating compound the evidence is growing.

So what can you do to better protect your health? There are several ways to dramatically increase your bodies store of vitamin D. Firstly, you can drink dairy or soy milk fortified with vitamin D. Secondly, you can spend time outside (unless you live in the far northern or southern hemispheres). Thirdly, you can take a vitamin D supplement as part of a regular dietary regime.

Remember, if you are concerned about your own vitamin D levels, the best advice is to go and see a health care practitioner.

Health Canada Alert

I received the following e-mail from Health Canada recently warning about several unregulated health products that may be found in health food stores.

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Health Canada is advising consumers not to use any unauthorized health
products sold under the brand names Natural Choice Vitamin B-17, Natural
Choice Kava Kava and Natural Choice Lithium Orotate. These unauthorized
health products have a similar identifying image on their label. Consumers
should note that the above-mentioned products may also be available under
the brand names Life Choice, Doctor’s Choice, Your Choice and Healthy
Choice as these products have been marketed under a variety of brand names.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_15-eng.php
---

A detailed explanation of the warning is available here.

According to Health Canada, Natural Choice Vitamin B-17, "contains amygdalin which is a compound derived from bitter apricot kernels that has the potential to release cyanide when ingested by humans. Small amounts of cyanide are detoxified by the human body but low to moderate amounts ingested chronically can lead to serious adverse health consequences and high doses can be lethal."

If you are concerned that you have ingested any of the drugs listed in the recall, Health Canada advises to see a healthcare practioner.

Premier leaves country for surgery

In what is shaping up to be a volatile debate on Canadian health care, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is reported to have left Canada on Monday to have a heart operation in the United States.

Details are few and far between and the National Post, the Globe and Mail and the CBC have all been reporting on the issue.

Allegations that Williams went to the United States because of long wait lists in Canada appear to ring hollow as several prominent Canadian cardiac surgeons have opined on the issue saying that Williams could have easily had his surgery in Canada.

Without knowing the exact nature of the operation (it could easily be a bypass surgery or a more complex procedure) it is difficult to assess whether or not the move was made out of necessity or simply because he had the money to be able to have the surgery done more expediently in the United States.

This issue raises a troubling aspect of the current health care debate in Canada and in the United States. Critics of President Obama's healthcare reforms were quick to point out Canadian wait lists as one of the reasons to avoid a social system. Having one of our most visible premiers go south of the border does not reflect well on our own system, at home or abroad.

We will continue to examine this issue over the coming days and provide more details as they become available.

re: Health Alert

I just received a e-mail from Health Canada that said the following:

---
Health Canada is advising Canadians that natural health products containing
the ingredient glucomannan in tablet, capsule or powder form, which are
currently on the Canadian market, have a potential for harm if taken
without at least 8 ounces of water or other fluid. The risk to Canadians
includes choking and/or blockage of the throat, esophagus or intestine,
according to international adverse reaction case reports. It is also
important to note that these products should NOT be taken immediately
before going to bed.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2010/2010_16-eng.php
---

A little research into glucomannan reveals that it is a dietary fibre supplement. The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has not approved this product for and medical treatment and should be considered therapeutic.

This does not mean that this product should be avoided. The CanHealthReport will look further into this product and post more information as it becomes available.

Sodium alert: portion sizes

Is sodium the next silent killer? Recently, there has been more talk in the media about the presence of sodium in food. Sodium (chemical name: NA) is one half of the molecule salt (NaCl) and is found in alarmingly high quantities in Canadian food.

So why should you care? Because, according to Health Canada consumption of sodium can contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure. While high blood pressure may not seam like a terribly dangerous condition, it is a contributing factor towards other health implications.

The website Caloriecount catalogs the nutritional information on food labels. One label says that a can of Red and White Chedder Cheese soup contains 37 per cent of one's daily intake of sodium.

But here is the catch. The serving size (that contains the 37 per cent sodium) is only 1/2 a cup. People will often sit down and eat an entire can of condensed soup (1 cup) thus doubling their intake of daily sodium (74 per cent).

The website ScienceDaily published an article on Jan. 26 discussing the decoding of sodium in processed foods.

Sodium can also affect the healthy functioning of kidneys. MedicineNet reports that excessive sodium consumption (along side excessive consumption of diet sodas) can negatively affect kidney function.
It is important to remember that sodium is an important part of a healthy functioning body. Sodium contributes to electrolyte balance and the bodies uses sodium to operate muscles; however, consuming too much sodium can have long-term health implications.

Acrylamide warning

Health Canada has released information regarding the molecular compound acrylamide. This substance is found in plant-based foods when cooked at high temperatures (think french fries, potato chips, beer battered products like fish, jalapeno poppers etc.)

At the moment it is too soon to be overly concerned about the health implications of this compound; however, it is always wise to minimize the consumption of processed and deep-fried foods.

Health-conscious Canadians should be aware of this compound. There is a possibility that this compound will become the new hot topic for the mainstream media to latch onto.

Health Canada has compiled a list of ways to minimize the consumption of acrylamide. The list is quite simple and the average household would find little difficulty in carrying through with the recommendations.

The World Health Organization recently posted an extensive FAQ section on acrylamide. It is found in certain plastics and is a known carcinogen. The problem with this compound, as with nearly all carcinogenic substances, is the challenge of establishing if there is a safe level of consumption.

The National Cancer Institute of the United States has also weighed in on this substance and supports the findings of both Health Canada and the WHO. They have published an extensive FAQ section as well.

Establishing the toxicity of acrylamide will take time. Stay tuned to the CanHealthReport for future developments.

Are video games good?

When we were young, our parents would despair at the hours we spent in front of the television playing video games. "Go outside," they would say. "Get some fresh air."

Grudgingly, we would, but would often be back in front of the screen later that same day. So, what happens if playing video games is actually good for you?

According to a recent article on medicine.net, playing video games might just help the elderly to remain mentally active and alert.

While playing video games can be a fun way to keep mentally active, it will never replace the need to go outside and get some fresh air. But then again, we should be doing both.

re: Trans Fat Voluntary Reduction Phase

In 2005, the Canadian government commissioned a two-year period for industry to voluntarily reduce trans fats in Canadian foods. It was believed that a self-regulating industry was preferable to introducing legislation. Over the course of the two year period, a report was commissioned every six months examining levels of trans fats in Canadian foods.
Recently, the two-year anniversary of the end of that period was marked. The Heart and Stroke Foundation, which is for the removal of as much trans fat from our food as possible, sent out a press release calling attention to the fact that very little has been done in the two years since the ending of the study period. The HSF wants legislation introduced to regulate the amount of trans fats in Canadian foods.

Frightening YouTube Video

In the media we often here about the dangers of processed food. Pre-packaged snacks like Twinkies are seen as a major health concern by many. The issue lies in the preservatives that are manufactured to keep the product fresh and consumable months, if not years, after packaging. This YouTube video demonstrates the resilience of some of the ingredients in this Twinkie.

CanHealth Report is Launched

We are live. Welcome to the CanHealth Report blog. Over the coming weeks I will be posting information on matters of public health and interest. Do you often find that news and research about health matters is written beyond most comprehension? Do you wonder if some health concerns are as dangerous as the media makes them out to be? Stop by the CanHealth Report every now and again and join the discussion.