Do You Have a Fat Liver?

Don't miss any of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line. Add our address, HealthyWomanfromBottomLine@news.bottomlinepublishing.com, to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. March 13, 2011  Got Milk? Then Good-Bye, Garlic Breath Tumors Dried Up and Gone in 2 Months Why Liver Fat Is More Dangerous than Belly Fat Secret to Reversing Arthritis Pain Hormone-Free Help for Hot Flashes   Got Milk? Then Good-Bye, Garlic Breath Next time you savor some garlic bread or a dish with a generous amount of the pungent bulb, you can enjoy its intense flavor and health benefits (including protection against cancer and cardiovascular problems) without worrying about the smelly aftereffects every time you exhale. Reason: We heard from Sheryl A. Barringer, PhD, a professor in the department of food science and technology at The Ohio State University, that drinking some milk with the meal can substantially reduce both the taste and smell of garlic on your breath. Garlic contains large amounts of five volatile sulfur compounds, most notably diallyl disulfide, that are responsible for its odor and flavor. In Dr. Barringer’s study, on separate occasions, a volunteer ate garlic along with about seven ounces of water... or along with fat-free milk... or with whole milk... or with powdered milk proteins. Scanning equipment analyzed the concentration of the various sulfur compounds in the volunteer’s breath at regular intervals from three to 60 minutes after she ate the garlic. Results: Whole milk was most effective at neutralizing the sulfur compounds and minimizing garlic breath. For maximum breath-freshening effects, it is best to drink milk along with the garlicky dish, Dr. Barringer said. But if milk isn’t your idea of a great accompaniment for, say, shrimp scampi, drink the milk right before or right after your garlicky meal. Source: Sheryl A. Barringer, PhD, is a professor and chair of graduate studies in the department of food science and technology at The Ohio State University in Columbus and coauthor of a laboratory and human study on garlic breath. Tumors Dried Up and Gone in 2 Months "Within two months, every tumor had shrunk, dried up and fallen off," said Tom to Dr. Gary Null about the miraculous disappearance of his rapidly spreading cancer. Tom had already gone through surgery once for skin cancer on his forehead. Unfortunately, his skin cancer was melanoma. Just 10 days after the operation, the cancer was back with a vengeance. It reappeared on his forehead, and quickly spread to his arm, upper body and chest. Four doctors all agreed: There was nothing they could do to cure this cancer. They all still wanted to operate. But Tom wanted to live -- not just get sliced up. Learn more... Why Liver Fat Is More Dangerous than Belly Fat An excess of belly fat -- the visceral fat that lies deep inside the abdomen and surrounds the abdominal organs -- often is blamed for increasing the risk for metabolic problems, such as insulin resistance (inability of cells to readily accept insulin) and diabetes. But a new study suggests that a more significant problem is excess fat found inside the liver, a condition called fatty liver disease. Researchers evaluated obese people who had similar levels of belly fat but different levels of liver fat (either high or normal)... and those who had similar levels of liver fat but different levels of belly fat (again, either high or normal). Findings: Metabolic risks were significantly higher in people with excess liver fat than in those with normal levels of liver fat, regardless of belly fat levels. Bottom line: People who are obese but do not have high levels of fat in the liver should be encouraged to lose weight... but those who also have elevated liver fat (as determined by a physical exam, blood tests and/or imaging tests) should seek aggressive treatment to help them lose weight. Good news: Losing even a little weight can markedly reduce liver fat. Source: Samuel Klein, MD, is the director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, and senior investigator of a study of 42 people. Secret to Reversing Arthritis Pain Joseph couldn’t walk a step without limping when Mark Stengler, NMD, first saw him. For years, his osteoarthritis had been steadily getting worse. Now his painkillers were giving him ulcers, the agony was unbearable, and he envisioned a knee replacement in the near future. But Dr. Stengler did not give him steroids or even an aspirin tablet! Instead, he told Joe about a natural compound so harmless, even pregnant women can take it safely. Just two days later, his pain had already faded dramatically... Read on... Hormone-Free Help for Hot Flashes Don’t we all hate it when hot flashes strike at the most inopportune moments -- for instance (as has happened to me), in the middle of a job interview, black-tie event or chance encounter with an old flame? Equally annoying are night sweats, those episodes of overheating that wake us from slumber, making it impossible to sleep soundly. About 75% of menopausal women experience these sudden rushes of heat that can leave us dripping with perspiration (so if you are approaching midlife and it hasn’t happened to you yet, chances are that it will someday). No wonder we often feel desperate for relief! Yet many of us are understandably reluctant to resort to the conventional treatment, hormone therapy, because it can increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. That’s why I was delighted to get a call from a reader who also is a gynecologist and certified menopause clinician -- she offered to discuss alternative therapies that have credible scientific evidence for being safe and effective at reducing hot flashes. Julia Schlam Edelman, MD, author of Menopause Matters: Your Guide to a Long and Healthy Life, told me that for certain women whose menopausal symptoms are debilitating and whose risk for cardiovascular problems and breast cancer is low, the benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks -- but even so, it just makes sense to try safer alternatives first. Here’s what really works... BODY-COOLING BREATHING TECHNIQUE It sounds almost too good to be true (and experts aren’t sure how it works), but paced respiration -- a form of very slow, deep breathing -- has been found to decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes by up to 80%, Dr. Edelman said. To teach yourself paced respiration, sit comfortably in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Slowly inhale for five seconds (counting to yourself, "one, one thousand... two, one thousand" etc.). Don’t hold your breath after inhaling -- instead, exhale in the same slow manner for five seconds (silently counting backward, "five, one thousand... four, one thousand" etc.). The goal is to take five to seven breaths per minute rather than the typical 12 breaths. Practice twice a day until you can comfortably perform the technique continuously for 15 minutes, Dr. Edelman suggested -- this trains your body to breathe slowly on command. Then, to reduce hot flash frequency, do paced respiration for five to 15 minutes each morning and evening. Also do the technique whenever you experience a hot flash or awaken from a night sweat -- this makes symptoms subside more quickly. Bonus: Paced respiration also reduces blood pressure. NUTRITIONAL HEAT-SOOTHERS Various studies indicate that certain dietary approaches can help reduce hot flashes. What works best... Flaxseed. In a small study from Mayo Clinic, women who had at least 14 hot flashes weekly added four tablespoons of crushed flaxseed per day to their diets. After six weeks, they reported that their hot flashes had decreased in frequency by half and in severity by 57%, on average. Theory: Flaxseed contains lignans, antioxidants that may have estrogenic effects. More research is needed, Dr. Edelman noted, but in the meantime, flaxseed looks promising -- plus it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Try it: Add crushed flaxseed to cereal, juice, yogurt or fruit dishes. To avoid constipation (or even intestinal blockage), be sure to drink plenty of water at the same time. Caution: Do not consume flaxseed within two hours of taking oral medication -- flaxseed may interfere with medication absorption. Fiber. Research suggests that women whose daily diet includes at least 30 grams of fiber have fewer hot flashes than women who consume less fiber. The research is on fiber from foods rather than supplements, Dr. Edelman pointed out, so to boost your fiber intake, eat more fruits, vegetables, brown rice and whole grains. Vitamin E. Though studies have had mixed results, some research indicates that vitamin E does help ease hot flashes. Taking up to 400 international units (IU) daily is safe for most women, Dr. Edelman said, though as with any nutritional supplement, check with your doctor before beginning. Caution: To avoid bleeding problems, do not take vitamin E if you take blood-thinning medication, such as aspirin or warfarin (Coumadin), or an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve)... if you supplement with evening primrose oil, ginkgo biloba, garlic or ginger... or if you have ulcers or heavy periods. Cutting back on caffeine. While any hot liquid can trigger hot flashes, caffeinated coffee is a particular problem because it disrupts sleep and promotes night sweats. Simply avoiding caffeine in the evening isn’t enough -- because six hours after you ingest caffeine, half of it still remains in your system. "This means that if you drink a medium cup of coffee containing 200 mg of caffeine at 4 pm, 100 mg of caffeine will still be left in your body at 10 pm," Dr. Edelman said. Tea has less caffeine than coffee but still may cause problems if you are sensitive to caffeine. Abruptly eliminating caffeine can bring on severe headaches, so instead, cut back on your caffeinated beverage intake by two ounces for seven days... then cut back by another two ounces for seven more days. If your hot flashes disappear, you can continue drinking that amount... otherwise, keep reducing by two ounces per week. Does it really work? It’s worth a try. Dr. Edelman said, "I’ve had patients who completely got rid of their hot flashes this way." Source: Julia Schlam Edelman, MD, is a board-certified gynecologist and certified menopause clinician in private practice in Massachusetts. She is the author of Menopause Matters: Your Guide to a Long and Healthy Life (Johns Hopkins University). Dr. Edelman was selected as the 2010 Menopause Practitioner of the Year by the North American Menopause Society. www.JuliaEdelmanMD.com Tamara Eberlein, the editor of HealthyWoman from Bottom Line, has been a health journalist for nearly three decades. An award-winning author or coauthor of four books, she is committed to helping other women in midlife and beyond live healthy, fulfilling lives. Her latest book is the updated, third edition of When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads (HarperCollins). She is also the "chief health adviser" to her husband of 25 years, college-age twins and teenaged son. BOTTOMLINESECRETS.COM Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy About Us Contact US Bottom Line Publications | 281 Tresser Boulevard, 8th Floor | Stamford, CT 06901 You received this free E-letter because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Click here to easily unsubscribe. To change your e-mail address click here. To update your e-mail preferences click here. © 2011 by Boardroom Inc. All Rights Reserved.