Researchers in Ireland that a diet that is high in milk may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The study was published in the May edition of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Researchers studied the diet diaries of 665 men between the ages of 49 and 59 who took part in the Caerphilly Cohort Study during the early 1980s. They found that men who consumed the most amount of milk – more than 12 ounces – had a much lower risk of stroke, had lower blood pressure and were more active.

There has been a lot of conflicting research about milk in the past year. Most recently the Food and Drug Administration ordered the U.S. government to halt advertising campaigns that promoted the supposed weight loss qualities of milk because there was no scientific evidence to support those claims. There has also been research to suggest that dairy products may increase cholesterol levels. It’s hard to know what to believe.

Like many other food products, milk is one that should be included in a healthy diet in moderation. Low-fat milk is packed with essential nutrients that are important particularly for developing bodies. Hopefully one day we’ll get a straight answer on what the exact health benefits are and if there are any negative impacts of drinking milk.

Researchers from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Maryland believe that people who consume a lot of salt are more prone to ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. A team at the university discovered that a high salt diet causes an increase in the activity of bacteria called H. pylori, which cause gastric ulcers.

Researchers discovered that not only did the activity levels of the bacteria change when exposed to high levels of salt, they also affected cell division. Aside from ulcers, the changes to bacteria with a high salt diet may also increase the risk of gastritis and stomach cancer.

American researchers have found that following a Mediterranean-style diet can lower the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 50 percent.

The study, headed up by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, looked at the diets of nearly 43,000 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The men who consumed a diet rich is vegetables, fruits, fish and whole grains were found to be far less likely to suffer from COPD than men who consumed a Western-style diet of processed, high fat foods such as red meat and French fries. As well, men who ate more high fat foods were less likely to exercise and more likely to smoke. Smoking is considered to be the number one cause of COPD.

It is certainly no secret that an unhealthy lifestyle leads to health problems. That is why it should come as no surprise that poor eating habits, combined with smoking causes a serious lung disease. Researchers predict that by 2020 COPD will be the third leading cause of death not just in the U.S. but around the world. What is shocking is the fact that the men who participated in this study were health professionals. If doctors are unable to lead by example by managing their own health how can we expect the rest of the population to make healthier choices? Does anyone else see a problem here?

Over one billion people around the world suffer from high blood pressure, according to a Swedish study – even those in developing countries. Research conducted by the Karolinska University Hospital, along with the State University of New York and the London School of Economics, revealed that high blood pressure leads to other serious health conditions, such as heart disease, which kills millions of people each year.

According to researchers, the reason for the startling numbers is that many countries, even those in Africa, are adapting to Western lifestyles, which includes poor diets high in processed and salty foods. At the same time, many people aren’t getting the amount of exercise they need. The highest figures are in Western Europe where approximately half the populations of some countries, including Germany and Spain, suffer from high blood pressure.

Doctors who worked on the study warn that there is a growing need for high blood pressure medications but in many developing countries people, particularly men, are not using them. Authors of the study are currently working to find ways to educate people in these countries about the dangers of high blood pressure and the need for lifestyle changes.

A study out of Britain suggests that individuals who appear thin may be storing fat around their organs that can lead to the same health problems suffered by those who are obese. Researchers at Imperial College in London, England have conducted MRI scans on approximately 800 people and found that some who appeared thin were actually storing fat around their internal organs.

Researchers determined that people who ate unhealthy diets and did not exercise remained thin largely because they ate small amounts of food. Unfortunately, the fat wasn’t being burned off; it was actually being stored internally. Even people who had Body Mass Index readings that were considered healthy were found to have deposits of fat around their organs, which could make them just as susceptible to serious health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, as individuals who are obese. Experts say that internal fat can be eliminated through a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Pure fruit juice does not cause children to become overweight, according to researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. In fact, it may even help children to avoid weight gain.

Researchers studied the juice intake of more than 3,600 children between the ages of two and 11 years old and found that 100 percent pure fruit juice provides important nutrients that are beneficial to children’s health, including vitamins B6, C and folic acid. The data was taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Interestingly, researchers found that more than half the children who participated in the survey did not consume fruit juice. Those who did consumed less fat, sugar and salt.

It is important to remember that pure fruit juice, while it may not contain any added sugar, is still quite high in sugar. Watering down the juice can significantly decrease the sugar content per serving and reduce the risk of dental cavities. Ensuring that your child is physically active for at least 30 minutes each day can help them to maintain a healthy weight.

Australian scientists have discovered that seniors who engage in exercise and increase their intake of essential fatty acids and antioxidant-rich foods may be able to prevent dementia and even reverse the condition. The findings were published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Doctors and researchers from Sydney University, St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Black Dog Institute studied the affects of diet and exercise on the brain and found that physical and mental exercise, along with a diet rich in fish oil and vitamins aided in the growth of new brain cells. This could help to reverse the effects of conditions like obesity and high blood pressure on the brain.

Dutch researchers have concluded that taking a popular weight loss drug in addition to following a low-calorie diet and exercise program may not help overweight teenagers. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

While the drug sibutramine has been proven to help adults lose weight, a study of 24 obese teenagers by the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam found that the drug did little if anything to enhance weight loss. The teens were divided up into two groups and were given either the diet drug or the placebo for a 12-week period. Both groups followed a low-calorie diet and exercise program while taking the pills. After the 12 weeks the groups stopped taking the sibutramine and the placebo. Researchers studied the results and found that the teens who took the diet drug and found that the average fat loss for both groups was similar, as were the changes in metabolism.

It is unclear why this drug did not work for teenagers, while it has shown promise for creating a feeling of satiety in adults and helping to reduce weight. Is it possible that this is because adult and adolescent metabolisms are different? At any rate, there must be better methods for obese teenagers to lose weight. It is unclear what effect weight loss drugs could have on their bodies while they are still growing and developing.