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1. HOW ASPIRIN COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE 2. PIGGIN' OUT ON PIZZA???? GREAT! 3. HEART DEATH RISK STARTS IN YOUTH 4. ANTIOXIDANTS REDUCE CANCER THERAPY SIDE EFFECTS 5. MICE, MAGNETS AND MEMORY 6. CELL PHONES DANGEROUS 7. BEARS, BARS, BEERS IN BILLINGS

------------------------------------- HOW ASPIRIN COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

In modern society, we sometimes overlook that fact that newer isn't always better. Modern convenience foods may be easier to prepare than a meal made the old-fashioned way, but these products are nutritionally empty and loaded with synthetic preservatives. Produce made with modern agricultural methods looks prettier than organic fruits and vegetables, but it's laden with toxic pesticides. And the sedative your doctor prescribed to help you fall asleep has dangerous side effects -- unlike the chamomile tea your grandmother used to brew.

Simpler is also better when it comes to preventing heart attacks. Despite the debut of newer, more expensive drugs, nothing beats aspirin for preventing this nation's number one killer.

Aspirin's protective benefits were first proposed forty years ago by Dr.Lawrence Craven, who noticed that children given aspirin-containing gum for pain after a tonsillectomy had increased bleeding. Craven reasoned that if aspirin could prevent blood clotting, as it obviously did in these children, it might be useful for cardiovascular disease, since heart attacks occur when a blood clot forms in a coronary artery and cuts off the blood supply to that area of the heart.

Aspirin Prevents Heart Attacks.

Craven was right. We now know that aspirin blocks the production of hormones called prostaglandins that are responsible for pain, inflammation, and abnormal blood clots. The Physicians' Health Study, a long-term investigation involving 22,000 male physicians, found that a daily dose of aspirin reduced the risk of a first heart attack by 44 percent compared to placebo in men over the age of 50. The evidence for aspirin's ability to prevent heart attacks was so compelling that the study was halted early.

Aspirin is of even greater benefit for those who have already suffered a heart attack or are at risk of one because of coronary artery disease. In fact, aspirin works as well as high-tech big-dollar prescription drugs used for this purpose. In a recent study that involved some 9,000 patients with heart disease, aspirin was as effective as the blood-thinning medication sibrafiban in preventing a heart attack -- and aspirin had far fewer side effects.

Increases the Likelihood of Surviving a Heart Attack

Recent studies have shown that if aspirin is taken at the first sign of a heart attack, chances of death from that heart attack can be substantially reduced. In a study involving over 17,000 patients seen in a hospital within 24 hours of the onset of a heart attack, patients given aspirin in that time period and for 30 days thereafter had a 23 percent lower death rate than those who did not receive aspirin.

It Doesn't Take Much

The dosage of aspirin needed to prevent a heart attack is much lower than the dose you'd take for a headache or arthritis pain. One-half a regular aspirin or one baby aspirin daily is sufficient. Taken with food, this dose is not likely to cause the gastrointestinal problems that sometimes occur at higher doses.

If you have heart disease and are not taking aspirin as a preventive measure, speak to your physician. This simple and inexpensive remedy is one of the most powerful agents for the prevention and treatment of heart attack. -------------------------------------- PIGGIN' OUT ON PIZZA???? GREAT!

Next time you sink your teeth into a deep-dish pizza, pause for a moment of thanks to Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson. Until this brave man consumed a basket of tomatoes before a skeptical audience of 2,000 spectators, Americans were convinced that tomatoes were poisonous. As members of the nightshade family of plants, tomatoes were thought to cause appendicitis, cancer, "brain fever," and even death.

Colonel Johnson survived his courageous feat, and today tomatoes are among our favorite foods. They're also among our most healthy foods, as they contain compounds that fight cancer, heart disease, and other serious conditions.

Lycopene Fights Cancer.

You're probably familiar with the antioxidant beta-carotene, which is found in carrots and other yellow and orange vegetables and is known for its beneficial effects on the eyes. But beta-carotene is only one member of the carotenoid family of compounds, which includes alpha-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, and lycopene. Though less well-known than beta-carotene, these plant antioxidants are beginning to get the attention they deserve.

Lycopene in particular has been making headlines. This antioxidant, found in tomatoes and other red fruit, may pack a more powerful cancer-fighting punch than beta-carotene. Studies have shown that people with a high intake of tomatoes or a high serum level of lycopene have a significantly lower risk of certain types of cancer. The evidence is strongest for cancers of the prostate, lung and stomach. There is also evidence suggesting a benefit for cancers of the pancreas, colon and rectum, esophagus, oral cavity, breast and cervix.

When researchers recently reviewed 72 studies of the tomato/cancer connection, 35 studies -- almost half -- showed a link between increased tomato intake and lower cancer risk, with the overall risk of cancer reduced by 40 percent. None of the studies reviewed showed an increase in cancer risk from high tomato consumption.

Protects Against Heart Disease

Lycopene's antioxidant properties also make it a valuable tool in the fight against heart disease. Antioxidants are compounds that help "mop up" free radicals, the potentially damaging byproducts of the body's fuel-burning processes. Free radicals initiate damage to LDL cholesterol that lays the groundwork for atherosclerosis, in which arteries become stiffened and narrowed by plaque. Atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for heart attack.

In a recent study, researchers compared fat samples drawn from men who had suffered a heart attack with samples drawn from men of the same age who were healthy. When they measured the tissue levels of plant-based antioxidants in the carotenoid family, they found that lycopene was the strongest protective factor of all -- even stronger than beta-carotene. Men with the highest concentration of lycopene had half the heart attack risk of men with the lowest concentration.

The Secret Is in the Sauce

The tomato in your tossed salad will provide some lycopene, but tomato sauce is an even better choice. Cooking tomatoes makes a substantially larger dose of this important antioxidant available. According to researchers, lycopene is released from its tight cellular environment by the oil and heat involved in the cooking process. If you opt for homemade tomato sauce, make sure your recipe includes some olive oil. The oil will serve as a catalyst to release the lycopene. And unlike some other types of fat, olive oil is good for your heart. -------------------------------------- HEART DEATH RISK STARTS IN YOUTH

About 10,000 young men had their blood pressure checked as part of a large college study between 1948 and 1968. Thirty to 50 years later, many of these (no longer young) men have died from heart disease or stroke. The risk of dying was directly correlated to blood pressure during their college years. Men who had relatively higher blood pressure in their youth were much more likely to die from heart disease.

Another study of university alumni showed that even slightly elevated blood pressure in male students could accurately predict their risk of heart disease and stroke over the next 50 years. The authors feel that the risk of heart disease and stroke is "established long before middle age." This means that the earlier you start taking preventive measures and protecting yourself against heart disease, the better off you will be and the longer you will live.

The Lancet 2000;355:1430-1431. ------------------------------------ ANTIOXIDANTS REDUCE CANCER THERAPY SIDE EFFECTS

When it comes to vitamins, most oncologist (cancer specialists) are adamantly against using them while undergoing cancer treatment. They mistakenly believe that anti-oxidants will protect the cancer cells and will render chemotherapy or radiation ineffective. According to this study, there is no reason to avoid antioxidants. In fact, they actually improve the effectiveness of the treatment and reduce the side effects.

Mice with colon cancer were treated with radioimmunotherapy, a form of treatment that uses specialized antibodies to deliver radioactive agents directly to the tumor cells. The goal is to kill the tumor by exposing it to high amounts of radiation without harming normal tissues. In addition to radiation, some mice also received either vitamins (C, E and A) or bone marrow transplant or both.

All the mice in the group that received radiation alone died. But there were many survivors in the vitamin group, even though the dose of radiation was the same. The authors mention previous studies in which vitamin E was shown to be deadly for malignant cells. They also note that no study has ever demonstrated that vitamins promote the formation of cancer.

International Journal of Cancer 2000;86:276-280. ------------------------------------ MICE, MAGNETS AND MEMORY

Recently there has been some who suggest that magnetic energy from the South pole can adversely affect memory. A good friend, a scientist in Canada, recently completed a mouse study.

Each group had ten mice. Group #1 received no magnetic energy. Group #2 lived on a pad of many 3,000 gauss South Pole magnets. Group #3 lived on top of North Pole magnets.

Prior to any magnetic energy all mice quickly learned to navigate a maze to find food.

These "educated" mice were separated into three groups. None did the maze for two weeks.

The results were interesting:

Groups 1 and 3 navigated the maze an average of 20% faster than the South pole mice.

Does this one trial prove anything? Nothing at all. However, it may indicate that South pole exposure may affect memory cells. We will duplicate the study here and report the results. If, in fact, one can reliably replicate the findings it will be acceptable evidence . . . that mouse memory is adversely affected by South Pole energy. This does NOT necessarily mean the same for humans, but it does cause concern.

A large Japanese company had made a fortune with their bi-polar magnetic (overpriced) devices. I think I would stay with main line thinking that North Pole is better.

For an extensive discussion of magnet therapy see our web pages. ------------------------------------ CELL PHONE DANGER

Recent study confirms suspicions. http://cat007.com/cell.htm ------------------------------------ Tip: Brush your teeth with hydrogen peroxide, 3% solution, and have a brilliant smile within weeks. Available at your drug store for a couple of bucks.

Also: If you feel a cold/flu coming on put a few drops in ears, wait until bubbling stops (5 mins), and you are probably home free. It is truly magic for most people. ------------------------------------ BEARS, BARS, BEERS IN BILLINGS

A big, black bear walked into a bar in Billings, MT. and ordered a beer.

"We don't serve big, black, bears beer in Billings bubba.", said the bartender.

"You damm sure better or I'll eat that woman at the end of the bar!".

"We don't serve big, bad, beligerent black bears beer in Billings bubba."

The bear ate the woman.

"Now, by God, you'll gimme a beer." he growled.

"We don't serve big, bad, beligerant, bummed-out black bears beer in Billings bubba."

"Bummed out????" exclaimed the bear. "Bears can't bear drugs!".

"Oh yea, izzat so? Then explain the BarBitchUAte! ---------------------------------- Oh well . . . we ex-patriot Limeys appreciate this silly humour.

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If you missed the "Greetings from our cats" go ahead, you'll be ROFLYAO. http://cat007.com/cat.htm

Comments, criticisms or a nifty health tip? Click here: mailto:drbrooks@cat007.com?subject=comments

Cheerio,

Jon J. Brooks, M.D. - Trustee