Vitanews.netWhen my young sons were exploring the streets of Brooklyn, I couldn't helpbut wonder how good crushed rock or dried dog droppings could tastewhen delicious mashed potatoes were routinely rejected. Since allinstinctive behaviors have an evolutionary advantage or they would nothave been retained for millions of years, chances are that this one too hashelped us survive as a species. Indeed, accumulating evidence stronglysuggests that eating dirt is good for you. In studies of what is called thehygiene hypothesis, researchers are concluding that organisms like themillions of bacteria, viruses and especially worms that enter the body alongwith "dirt" spur the development of a healthy immune system. Severalcontinuing studies suggest worms may help to redirect an immune systemthat has gone awry and resulted in autoimmune disorders, allergies andasthma. These studies, along with epidemiological observations, seem toto explain why immune system disorders like multiple sclerosis, Type 1diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma and allergies have risensignificantly in the United States and other developed countries . . .Lengthy television viewing in adolescence may raise the risk for depressionin young adulthood, according to a new report. The study, in the Februaryissue of The Archives of General Psychiatry, published by the AmericanMedical Association, found a rising risk of depressive symptoms withincreasing hours spent watching television. There was no association ofdepression with exposure to computer games, videocassettes or radio. Researchers used data from a larger analysis of 4,142 adolescents whowere not depressed at the start of the study. After seven years of follow--up, more than 7% had symptoms of depression. But while about 6% of those who watched less than three hours a day were depressed, 17% ofthose who watched more than nine hours a day had depressive symptoms.Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has just introduced a new $20 millionadvertising campaign for Yaz, the most popular birth control pill in theUnited States. An actress in new ads for Yaz says that some commercialswere not clear, and that the F.D.A. "wants us to correct a few points." But the television ads, now running during prime-time shows like "Grey’sAnatomy" and on cable networks, are not typical spots promoting thebenefits of a prescription drug. Instead, they warn that nobody should takeYaz hoping that it will also cure pimples or premenstrual syndrome . . .Human genes remember a sugar hit for two weeks, with prolonged pooreating habits capable of permanently altering DNA, Australian research hasfound. A team studying the impact of diet on human heart tissue and micefound that cells showed the effects of a one-off sugar hit for a fortnight,by switching off genetic controls designed to protect the body againstdiabetes and heart disease. ""We now know that chocolate bar you had thismorning can have very acute effects, and those effects can continue forup to two weeks,"" said lead researcher Sam El-Osta, from the Baker IDIDiabetes Institute. ""These changes continue beyond the meal itself andhave the ability to alter natural metabolic responses to diet,"" he said . . .I recommend the following products:
