Health News: Regenerative nanomaterials to improve dental care ♦ Report raises concern over health risks of tasers ♦ Fungal pathogen in GI tract

Coconut oil can control overgrowth of a fungal pathogen in GI tract, Coconut oil controlled the overgrowth of a fungal pathogen called Candida albicans (C. albicans) in mice, new research shows. In humans, high levels of C. albicans in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to bloodstream infections, including invasive candidiasis. The research suggests that it might be possible to use dietary approaches as an alternative to antifungal drugs in order to decrease the risk of infections caused by C. albicans

Regenerative nanomaterials to improve dental care New nanomaterials for dental treatments boast impressive antibacterial, decay-resistant and biomimetic properties. In combination with stem cells, they are even capable of regenerating dental tissues.

Combating sleep disorders: Scientists develop novel compound that regulates wakefulness potent compound that promotes wakefulness and remedies the sleep disorder narcolepsy in model animals has been developed by a team of scientists. The compound works to mimic the action of a wake-promoting substance in our brain called "orexin.

Report raises concern over health risks of tasers Tasers are increasingly being used by UK police, yet recent studies suggest the health risks are greater than previously thought, report experts. Tasers are used by over 16,000 police forces in 107 countries. The device uses compressed nitrogen to fire two barbed electrical probes that deliver a pulsed 50,000 volt shock, causing intense skeletal muscle contractions and pain.

Food Research: How to reduce levels of arsenic in rice ♦ Drinking beet juice regularly may lengthen your workouts ♦ Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil,

Drinking beet juice regularly may lengthen your workouts Regular consumption of beet juice had positive cardiovascular effects on subjects during exercise and led to increased endurance, a clinical study has found. The scientists report that healthy male subjects who drank beet juice for 15 days had lower blood pressure and more dilated blood vessels at rest and during exercise.

Mediterranean lifestyle may decrease cardiovascular disease by lowering blood triglycerides A new review article explores the effects of the “ingredients” of Mediterranean lifestyle as a whole on post-meal blood triglyceride levels (PPL). Consistently elevated PPL is a cardiovascular disease risk factor

How to cut worrying levels of arsenic in rice that is eaten all over the world Researchers have discovered a simple solution to worrying levels of arsenic in our rice. Rice is the only major crop grown under flooded conditions. It is this flooding that releases inorganic arsenic, normally locked up in soil minerals, which is then absorbed by the plant. Too much arsenic is associated with a range of health problems including, at worst, bladder and lung cancer.

Soybean oil causes more obesity than coconut oil, fructose  A diet high in soybean oil causes more obesity and diabetes than a diet high in fructose, a sugar commonly found in soda and processed foods, according to a new study. In the U.S. the consumption of soybean oil has increased greatly in the last four decades due to a number of factors, including results from studies in the 1960s that found a positive correlation between saturated fatty acids and the risk of cardiovascular disease

Massachusetts schools are improving food options Researchers examined schools across the commonwealth following the implementation of a statewide nutrition bill. Their findings show the feasibility of making significant improvements in the competitive foods and beverages available in schools.