and Ohio rivers according to a new study led by the U s. Geological Survey (USGS). Such abnormalities are linked to estrogen-mimicking chemicals
and even cancer-preventing properties. Plus broccoli is low in sodium and calories at about 31 calories per serving.
Research shows that they have numerous healthful benefits according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.
The damage they can cause may lead to cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. Broccoli is a good source of lutein a compound antioxidant and sulforaphane
Cancer prevention Probably the most publicized health benefit of broccoli is its possible ability to help prevent cancer.
and intestinal cancers Jarzabkowski said. The American Cancer Society notes broccoli's isothiocyanates including sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol.
These chemicals boost detoxifying enzymes and act as antioxidants reducing oxidative stress. They also may affect estrogen levels which may help reduce breast cancer risk.
Cholesterol reduction According to Jarzabkowski broccoli can help lower cholesterol because the soluble fiber in the vegetable binds with the cholesterol in the blood.
Together they aid all steps of the body's detoxification process from activation to neutralization and elimination of contaminants.
Excess homocysteine an amino acid that builds up after a person eats red meat increases the risk of coronary artery disease.
Broccoli also aids in digestion by helping to keep your stomach lining healthy. The sulforaphane in broccoli helps keep the stomach bacteria Helicobacter pylori from becoming overgrown
and may slow down the damage to joints associated with osteoarthritis. A 2013 study at the University of East Anglia found that broccoli's sulforaphane may help people suffering from arthritis
Those with hypothyroidism should also limit their intake of broccoli. The way that you prepare broccoli can affect the amount of nutrients you get and which ones.
A 2007 University of Warwick study found that boiling broccoli can undermine the effects of the food's good cancer-fighting enzymes Researchers studied the effects of boiling steaming microwave cooking
Boiling led to the biggest losses of cancer-fighting nutrients. Steaming for up to 20 minutes microwaving for up to three minutes and stir-frying for up to five minutes produced no significant loss of cancer-preventive substances.
Raw broccoli maintains all of its nutrients but it is also more likely to irritate your bowels and cause gas.
#In Africa, Anthrax Lures Animals to Their Death Areas contaminated with anthrax germs lure grazing animals like zebras
and wildebeest and these animals could spread the bacteria leading to new rounds of infections researchers say.
and intensity of anthrax outbreaks in order to better predict them. The anthrax bacterium Bacillus anthracis can cause symptoms ranging from itchy sores on the skin to breathing problems
and fever and can be fatal. About 95 percent of known anthrax infections in people are passed to humans through skin contact with livestock.
Grazing animals on the other hand are thought to get anthrax by ingesting the microbe. Scientists investigated zebra carcasses over a 115-square-mile 300 square kilometers) area at Etosha National park in Namibia from 2010 to 2013.
The anthrax bacterium is widespread in Namibia and is considered part of the park's natural ecosystem.
Most anthrax cases seen in Etosha are in zebras; the disease can kill grazing herbivores within days after the animal is exposed to a lethal dose.
See Images of the Namibia Zebras and the Carcass Sites I revisited a carcass site in 2007 from a zebra that
I had found dead of anthrax one year previously and saw a patch of lush green grass growing up through the skeleton in an area that was
otherwise a sea of short dry grasses said lead study author Wendy Turner an ecologist at the University of Oslo in Norway.
This got me questioning the role of carcass sites for anthrax transmission. Would these areas be attractive to herbivores searching for high-quality food?
Or would the remains of the carcass repel herbivores? And for how long might this attraction or avoidance last?
Watching the grazers For this study the researchers analyzed 35 sites that tested positive for anthrax
The researchers also used motion-triggered cameras at 13 anthrax-affected carcass sites and 13 sites without carcasses to monitor the grazing activity of herbivores such as elephants wildebeest and zebras.
Zebra like anthrax grasses The scientists found that the soil fertilized by the carcasses they studied was rich with nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
The scientists also discovered that anthrax spores were found on grasses up to two years after the zebras had died.
This research has important implications for our understanding of anthrax in grazing wildlife and livestock Turner said.
We know a lot about weather cues associated with anthrax outbreaks and there are a lot of hypotheses about how animal behavior may contribute to differences in anthrax incidence among species
and among age and sex classes within a species . However this is the first study to look for the pathogen on grasses
and to determine how different grazing animals respond to these infectious anthrax carcass sites. It remains uncertain
whether anthrax carcass sites are more attractive to herbivores than regular carcass sites are. Because anthrax prevents blood from clotting the researchers suspect that the anthrax-ridden carcasses might release more nutrients into the soil than regular carcasses do
thus making them more attractive to herbivores. It's possible Turner said. Whether it would be easy to detect
or not given all the things that can vary in the environment that remains to be seen.
and intensity of anthrax and to find out if the locations and timing of these outbreaks can be predicted.
because there really weren't any data available about how these sites may contribute to anthrax transmission over time Turner said.
and anthrax mortality records in this system. In addition Turner noted she would like to conduct a parallel study in the United states to see how North american herbivores respond to carcass sites.
This would add to our understanding of transmission for disease agents that can persist for long periods in the environment.
In the U s. in addition to the anthrax bacterium this would include transmission of the prion causing chronic wasting disease.
#7 Strategies for Outdoor Lovers with Seasonal Allergies Do you love the great outdoors but don't feel so great out there during allergy season?
To help prevent their symptoms from acting up gardeners adventurers and outdoor exercisers with seasonal allergies may benefit from planning ahead before engaging in their favorite activities.
By taking a few precautions in advance people with a green thumb can steer clear of red watery eyes.
And runners hikers golfers cyclists and other outdoor enthusiasts who have seasonal allergies can safely pursue their passions.
and minimize them as much as possible said Dr. Sarita Patil an allergist with Massachusetts General Hospital's Allergy Associates in Boston.
Patil offered the following seven tips on how outdoor lovers can remain active during allergy season.
Know exactly what you're allergic to. People with allergic rhinitis may be sensitive to specific types of pollen from trees grasses weeds and mold spores.
Trees release pollens first usually from late winter into spring or early summer depending on the location.
Weeds such as ragweed the most common cause of hay fever pollinate in late summer and early fall.
To limit exposure know the look of the plants to which you're allergic Patil suggested.
So people with allergies should keep an eye on them. Pollen levels are higher on dry warmand windy days
and lower on cloudy rainy and windless days making those days best for people with seasonal allergies who want to enjoy outdoor activities she explained.
If possible pick a time of day to exercise when your allergy-inducing plants don't pollinate Patil said.
Dawn and dusk are the worst times for people with tree pollen allergies. 9 Myths About Seasonal Allergies Protect yourself outdoors.
Golfers who have grass allergies should know whether the pollens they are allergic to are found on their favorite courses Patil said.
Cyclists get exposed to wind-carried pollens but sunglasses might help protect them from pollen entering the eyes.
People with severe weed or grass allergies may want to find someone else to care for their lawns during peak allergy season she said.
and car stay closed as much as possible during allergy season Patil said. When you come inside after gardening
Develop an allergy plan. Work with your allergist to develop a treatment plan that's right for your active lifestyle sensitivities and symptoms Patil suggested.
and diseases that can be spread from domestic dogs in nearby villages according to the National Zoo.
#Pesticides Linked to Parkinson's Risk in People with Specific Gene Several studies have linked pesticides with the development of Parkinson's disease
and now a new study has found a specific gene that may explain why some people are particularly susceptible to developing Parkinson's after exposure to certain pesticides.
Parkinson's disease results from the loss of neurons involved in processing the neurotransmitter dopamine. Researchers had previously found a gene that was involved in dopamine processing
They then tested for this gene variant in Californians with Parkinson's disease whose exposure to various pesticides could be measured by comparing where they had lived with charts of pesticide use in the state.
The findings show that for people with certain genes exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease two to six times the researchers said.
for Gene-Environment Studies in Parkinson's disease. All of this is environmental exposure not occupational exposure. It can be quite harmful.
to find out which genes might be involved in the nerve death that results in Parkinson's and to see
if there was a variant of that gene that could be found in people exposed to pesticides who developed Parkinson's. 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain There were four pesticides the researchers found that appear to trigger an effect on enzymes called neuronal aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHS)
The researchers then looked at exposure to those four pesticides in a group of 360 people with Parkinson's who lived in central California
but had developed not Parkinson s. They found that pesticide exposure increased the risk of Parkinson s and the risk was increased further among people with a variant of the ALDH2 gene.
Though researchers were able to identify four pesticides that might be responsible for this effect they were not able to identify a specific pesticide as the culprit.
or banned because of their potential harm she said. Another step that should be taken is to see
whether a treatment can be created to reduce the susceptibility of certain people to Parkinson's if they have the gene variant.
Can we predict who might develop Parkinson's? Would they want to take meds? These are need questions we to answer Ritz said.
But in view of the Congressional paralysis giving states this sort of latitude is probably the best way to go within the constraints of the Clean Air Act.#
and health disparities amongst the poor and other disadvantaged Americans and potentially save billions of dollars a year in health care costs for diet-related diseases.
The researchers noted that the economic burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes predominantly caused by a poor diet is approaching $700 billion annually in the United states alone.
But their plan would perhaps hurt the poor said Michael Tanner a senior fellow at the Cato Institute a libertarian think tank based in Washington D c
#How Blueberry pie Caused Girl's Strange Allergic reaction A girl in Canada experienced an unusual allergic reaction to blueberry pie she was not allergic to any of the pie's ingredients
and treated with drugs used for allergic reactions including epinephrine and recovered. A team of doctors then investigated
Although the patient was allergic to milk an analysis showed the pie did not contain milk.
if the girl was allergic to other ingredients in the pie such as blueberries eggs or nuts but the tests all came back negative. 8 Strange Signs You're Having an Allergic reaction Further analysis showed that the pie contained residue from an antibiotic.
The doctors tested the girl for an allergy to streptomycin an antibiotic used as a pesticide on fruit.
And indeed she reacted to streptomycin in much the same way as she had responded to the blueberry pie.
Although the researchers did not have access to enough of the pie to confirm that it contained streptomycin specifically the study results suggests that the girl's allergic reaction was caused by streptomycin-contaminated blueberries the researchers said.
Allergic reactions to antibiotics in food such as beef and milk are rare but have been reported. The new study is the first to link an allergic reaction to antibiotics in fruit the researchers said.
The findings serve as a reminder to doctors in cases of unexplained allergic reaction. Don't forget to think about antibiotics said study researcher Dr. Anne Des Roches an allergist at CHU Sainte-Justine a health center affiliated with the University of Montreal in Quebec.
Allergic reaction to antibiotics in food are underdiagnosed because doctors cannot simply check a product label for antibiotics;
they have to send the sample to special laboratories to perform an analysis Des Roches said.
This is a very rare allergic reaction Dr. James Sublett president-elect of the American College of Allergy Asthma
Stricter policies to reduce antibiotic contaminants in foods will not only help to fight antibiotic resistance
but may also reduce the type of rare allergic reaction that the girl in the study experienced the researchers said.
The study is published in the September issue of the journal Annals of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.
and fungal diseases are rare. Since hemp plants shade the ground quickly after sowing they can outgrow weeds a trait interesting especially for organic farmers.
Bee colonies worldwide are experiencing die offs a mysterious phenomenon called colony collapse disorder. Pesticides and other environmental contaminants are suspects
and researchers have turned their attention to how pesticides might affect the honeybee navigation system memory and brain function.
Preterm delivery defined as giving birth between 22 and 37 weeks of pregnancy is linked with short-and long-term health problems in children and accounts for nearly 75 percent of all newborn deaths according to the study.
Women who had diabetes and those who did not deliver a single live baby were excluded from the study.
Diet can increase the risk of conditions such as gestational diabetes obesity preeclampsia high blood pressure during pregnancy)
which can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses. However while subzero weather might reduce the populations of invasive pests it's unlikely to completely eradicate them experts caution.
Wildlife experts often see wild animals suffering from various stages of sarcoptic mange a skin disease that causes animals'hair to fall out
But when their facial hair falls out due to disease it becomes much more difficult to identify the animal.
#Certain Starch May Reduce Colon-cancer Risk of Meat-Heavy Diet Eating your steak with a side of potatoes
and beans may be one way to reduce the colon cancer risk that comes with eating red meat findings from a new study suggests the resistant starch found in root vegetables grains
Specifically the scientists found an increase in certain micrornas linked to colon cancer. Cancer-Fighting Diet:
6 Tips to Reduce Your Risk However adding resistance starch to the diet mitigated some of this increase according to a study published today (Aug 4) in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
Red meat and resistant starch have opposite effects on the colorectal cancer-promoting micrornas study author Karen Humphreys a researcher at Flinders University in Adelaide Australia said in a statement.
This finding supports consumption of resistant starch as a means of reducing the risk associated with a high red-meat diet.
Colon cancer develops in the cells lining the inside of the colon and rectum often beginning as a polyp but then growing into a cancerous tumor.
Consuming too much alcohol smoking and not exercising are among risk factors for colon cancer. Studies have found that people who eat a lot of red meat are more likely to develop colon cancer
whereas those who eat a lot of fiber appear to have reduced a risk of the cancer. Further research is needed to determine whether a diet high in resistant starch results in a lower risk of actually developing cancer.
But there is reason to think that eating resistant starch does bring such a benefit. When it is broken down starch transforms into compounds called butyrates
which are important for cells'metabolism. Lab studies have found butyrates affect colon cancer cells by altering their micrornas
which in turn regulate gene expression. The researchers noted that the amount of red meat people ate during the study may exceed levels consumed by many people in the general population
but the amount of resistant starch used in the study was realistic. For the study the researchers used a supplement of starch
and vegetables. 8 Top Meals from Nutritionists The link between potassium intake and a lower risk of stroke was stronger among women in the study who didn't have high blood pressure the researchers found.
Among women who had high blood pressure or were taking medication for the condition those who ate the most potassium had a lower risk of dying during the study period
This finding suggests that higher potassium intake may be more beneficial before people develop high blood pressure according to the study
and studies have suggested it may help prevent high blood pressure a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
and about 130000 people die from a stroke according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However consuming too much potassium can be dangerous particularly for older people and those with kidney disorders according to the American Heart Association.
They knew the diapers did not contain any contaminants or parasites since the diapers were sterilized.
#Eating Yogurt May Reduce Risk of Diabetes Eating yogurt four or five times a week may lower the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes a new study has found.
Researchers in the United kingdom looked at the diets of 4000 people and followed them for 11 years.
They found that people with the highest yogurt consumption had a 24 percent lower risk of developing diabetes compared with people who didn't eat yogurt.
The study found an association not a cause-and-effect relationship between eating yogurt and lowered risk of diabetes.
They found that replacing a serving of chips with a serving of yogurt reduced the risk of diabetes by 47 percent. 9 Snack foods:
of which have been suggested to protect against diabetes the researchers said. The researchers didn't find a link between total dairy consumption
and the risk for diabetes suggesting that only some dairy products may be beneficial in reducing the risk for this condition.
Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal because the body cannot get the glucose into the cells to be used for energy.
Risk factors for developing diabetes include obesity and physical inactivity. About 26 million people in the United states (8. 3 percent of the population) have diabetes.
If current trends continue one out of three U s. adults will have diabetes by 2050 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Email Bahar Gholipour or follow her@alterwired. Follow us@Livescience Facebook & Google+.+Original article on Live Science e
About 18 percent of U s. adults currently smoke according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
weather disease and crime. Mexico is the world's largest exporter of limes supplying the United states with about 95 percent of its limes The New york times reports.
Citrus greening And if all this weren't enough the entire citrus industry is reeling from the blow of citrus greening a devastating disease also known as huanglongbing or HLB
Though Florida has been the epicenter of citrus greening's impact all 32 of Florida's citrus-growing counties have reported the disease the blight has also been found in California Arizona Texas and other states.
Oranges have been hardest hit by the disease but it's also affecting limes pomelos grapefruit and other citrus fruits according to a report from the University of California Davis Division of Agriculture and Natural resources.
Domestic rabbits need a regulated environment to protect against heat exhaustion or hypothermia. Wild rabbits don't have this problem
The study used powerhouse as a term to describe foods most strongly linked with reducing the risk of chronic disease.
The findings are published online today (June 5) in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease. Powerhouse produce Among the 47 raw fruits
These 17 qualifying nutrients which health organizations have identified as helping to protect against cancer heart disease
and other chronic illnesses were: calcium fiber folate iron niacin potassium protein riboflavin thiamin and zinc and several vitamins (A B6 B12 C D E and K). Foods containing more of these nutrients
These foods have been hailed widely as nutritional superstars packed with valuable antioxidants and disease-fighting properties.
The study is published today (June 5) in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease a
#'Powerhouse'Produce: Researchers Rank the Top Fruits and Vegetables for Health Among fruits and vegetables leafy greens rank as the top powerhouse foods according to a new ranking of produce items based on their nutrient content.
People with certain digestive condtions such as celiac disease are advised to avoid eating gluten. Foods that naturally do not contain any gluten such as bottled water
People with celiac disease can rest assured that foods labeled'gluten-free'meet a clear standard established
and enforced by FDA. 7 Allergy Myths (and the Truth Behind Them) The FDA announced the new rule last year
Without a clear definition consumers with celiac disease could not determine if gluten-free food was really gluten-free enough FDA officials said.
The FDA estimates that as many as 3 million people in the United states have celiac disease an intestinal condition with symptoms that include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
There is no cure for celiac disease and the only way to manage the disease is to avoid eating gluten altogether according to the American Celiac disease Alliance.
Eating too much gluten can trigger an abnormal immune response for people with the condition. The body launches an attack on the lining of the small intestine causing damage that prevents vital nutrients from being absorbed.
and osteoporosis. Other health conditions such as diabetes thyroid disease and intestinal cancers can also develop for people with celiac disease.
The new rule applies to packaged food but restaurant foods are a little trickier to regulate.
#Tomato-Rich Diet May Lower Kidney Cancer Risk Women who eat more tomatoes or other lycopene-containing fruits
and vegetables may have a lower risk of developing kidney cancer a new study suggests. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives tomatoes watermelon grapefruit
and papaya their reddish color and some studies have suggested it may reduce the risk of a number of cancers including lung and stomach cancer.
All of the women were participants in the Women's Health Initiative a long-term nationwide study designed to help researchers better understand the causes of disease in middle-age and older women.
The researchers also gathered data on the women's supplement use. 5 Key Nutrients Women Need As They Age During the study period 383 women were diagnosed with kidney cancer.
The researchers looked at the relationship between kidney cancer and a number of vitamins and other nutrients in the diet including lycopene Vitamin c Vitamin e and several carotenes.
The results showed that only lycopene was associated with a lower kidney cancer risk. Women who consumed the highest amount of lycopene had a 45 percent lower risk of kidney cancer compared with those who ate the lowest amount according to the study presented Monday June 2) at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical
Oncology in Chicago. The amount of lycopene in the diet of the women who consumed lycopene at the highest level in the study would be equal to eating four tomatoes daily said study researcher Dr. Won Jin Ho a medical
Kidney cancer also called renal cancer is the ninth most common cancer among Americans and accounts for about 2 percent of all cancers in the United states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kidney cancer often doesn't cause symptoms in its early stages and is diagnosed often accidentally during a medical examination
or not until the cancer has progressed. In later stages signs of the cancer include blood in the urine back pain and general feeling of poor health.
But these symptoms could also be signs of other health problems such as infections. Studies have suggested that a process known as oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of kidney cancer the researchers said.
A diet rich in micronutrients that have antioxidant properties could potentially affect the risk of this cancer
but more studies are needed to know for sure they said. Email Bahar Gholipour or follow her@alterwired. Follow us@Livescience Facebook & Google+.
+Original article on Live Science S
#10 Important Ways to Avoid Summer Tick Bites Editor's Note: This story was updated at 4: 50 p m. ET:
Each year about 300000 people in the U s. catch Lyme disease which is caused by bacteria from a tick bite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates.
Thousands more develop tick-borne diseases such as the malarialike disease babesiosis the flulike anaplasmosis and the Heartland virus infection.
Permethrin the insecticide found in antimalarial bed nets kills adult ticks as well as those in their larval stage called nymphs which are the likeliest to harbor Lyme disease.
and camping aren't the most common ways to catch a tick-borne disease said Kirby Stafford III the state entomologist at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the author of the Tick Management Handbook.
Though American dog ticks don't usually harbor diseases that sicken people the lone star tick can often hitchhike on a pet into the home so pet owners should check pets for the bugs as soon as they come indoors.
but in this case it can save you the suffering from a tick-borne disease later on Donohoe said.
when the mercury rises. 7. Lighten up The clothes people wear should also be said light Kathryn Berger a disease ecologist at the University of Calgary in Canada.
People who are in the habit of showering immediately after outdoor activities are less likely to get Lyme disease perhaps
because they can catch any biting ticks before they've transmitted the disease Stafford said.
After biting ticks can take several hours to transmit Lyme disease said Laura Kramer the director of the Arbovirus Laboratory at the New york state Department of health's Wadsworth Center. 10.
if it harbors any diseases Kramer told Live Science. Editor's Note: This story was updated to correct the spelling of Kathryn Berger's name.
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