1/17/2014 Health News: Death Dust in California - Chinese Allowed to Sue Over Unsafe Foods - Vit. E Helps Alzheimers - Cholesterol Under Control Helps Brain

DEATH DUST:The Valley-Fever Menace.

In 1977, the San Joaquin Valley—the swath of agricultural land that runs through central California—was designated a disaster area. Record-low runoff and scant rainfall had created drought conditions. At the beginning of Christmas week, the weather was normal in Bakersfield, the city at the Valley’s southern end, but in the early hours of December 20th a strong wind began to blow from the Great Basin through the Tehachapi Mountains. Hitting the ground on the downslope, it lofted a cloud of loose topsoil and mustard-colored dust into the sky. Continue Reading

CHINESE COURT EMPOWERS CONSUMERS TO SUE OVER UNSAFE FOOD

Beginning March 15, Chinese consumers will have support from the courts in their efforts to sue manufacturers and retailers of unsafe food and pharmaceuticals, according to the South China Morning Post. The ruling, announced last week, encourages members of the public to take legal action against those who make or market harmful food, drugs, cosmetics... Continue Reading

Vitamin E may Aid Those With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's

Vitamin E is far from an Alzheimer's cure, but a new study finds it allowed trial participants to get less help from caregivers and therefore retain more independence longer. Taking high doses of vitamin E appears to help people in all stages of Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Research a decade ago showed that vitamin E was helpful in late-stage Alzheimer's disease. Unhealthy Cholesterol Levels Might Raise Alzheimer's Risk Continue reading

Keeping cholesterol under control may help brain as well as heart, study suggests

Keeping "bad" cholesterol in check and increasing "good" cholesterol is not only good for your heart, but also your brain, new research suggests. A study from the University of California, Davis, found that low levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and high levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol are linked to lower levels of so-called amyloid plaque in the brain. A build-up of this plaque is an indication of Alzheimer's disease, the researchers said in a university news release. The researchers suggested that maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is just as important for brain health as controlling blood pressure. "Our study shows that both higher levels of HDL and lower levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream are associated with lower levels of amyloid plaque deposits in the brain,".Continue Reading