Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Abdominal Obesity and the Endocannabinoid System


Other Important Videos

  1. What is an Endocannabinoid (ECS) System?
  2. How Cannabis Works

Could there be a substance that both gives us the munchies and can help combat obesity? There may indeed be, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Monell Center in Pennsylvania partnered with Kyushu University in Japan to study compounds called endocannabinoids. These occur naturally in our body and are similar to THC, the compound primarily responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects.

Researchers studied endocannabinoids in mice, and they say that the chemicals have a one-two punch—in your brain, they increase your appetite. And on your tongue, they enhance the response to sweet flavors. The compounds had no effect on salty, sour, bitter or umami tasting....read more articles




This internationally renowned author team provides a unique and thorough analysis and distillation of the endocannabinoid system and its relationship to abdominal obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in cardiometabolic risk, as well as modulating energy balance, feeding behavior, hepatic lipogenesis, and perhaps glucose homeostasis. Evidence suggests that the ECS is overactive in human obesity and dyslipidemia.
Critical to the management of cardiometabolic risk, this new, timely book provides practical overviews and management guidance on many important topics, including:
  • abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome
  • the endocannabinoid system and energy balance: functions and dysfunctions
  • abdominal obesity, the EC system, and cardiometabolic risk

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Pregnacy Heath Tips (studies)

An article courtesy of

Cannabis Research A-Z

Oily fish makes 'babies brainier'
Mackerel
60% of the brain is formed of fats

Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children's future brain power and social skills, research suggests.

A study of 9,000 mothers and children in Avon suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQ's.

These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in the Economist said.

The Food Standards Agency says pregnant women should consume only one or two portions of oily fish a week.

A team from the National Institutes of Health in the US analyzed data from a long-term study done in Avon, UK.

'Frightening data'

Looking at the effects of Omega-3 intake on 9,000 mothers and their children, the team found mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average.

While those with the highest consumption of mackerel and sardines and other sources of Omega-3 had children, at age three-and-a-half, with the best measures of fine-motor performance, researchers said.

Low intake of the crucial fatty acid also appeared to lead to more problems of social interactions - such as an inability to make friends.

Research leader Dr Joseph Hibbeln said "frightening data" showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mother had eaten small quantities of Omega -3 during pregnancy demonstrated this sort of behavior.

This compared with 8% of those born to the group with the highest intake, he said.

Dr Hibbeln said: "The findings of poor social development and poor motor control in children indicate that these children may be on a developmental trajectory towards lifelong disruptive and poorly-socialized behavior as they grow up."


It's absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3
Patrick Holford
Nutritional expert

Professor Jean Golding of Bristol University set up the original research - the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children -15 years ago to look at the predisposition to disease.

She told the BBC: "The baby's brain needs Omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn't create its own fatty acids so it needs to be something that the mother will eat."

The new research also builds on earlier work in the US which suggests pregnant mothers will develop children with better language and communication skills if they regularly consume oily fish.

Nutritional expert Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Center, said Omega-3 was key to children's intelligence because the brain is formed of 60% fat - 30% of which is essential fats.

Successive studies have shown clear links between intelligence and consumption of this essential fatty acid, he added.

Seed option

"It's absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3."

The richest sources of Omega-3 are larger fish which eat other fish, but research shows that the larger the fish the more pollutants, such as mercury, they contain.

For this reason Mr Holford recommends women consume two portions of wild or organic salmon, trout or sardines weekly.

Seeds such as flax, pumpkin and hemp are good sources of Omega-3 for vegetarians, but large quantities need to be consumed to gain the same effect.

This might translate to two tablespoons of seeds daily, Mr Holford said, but women can also use a high quality Omega-3 supplements.

Source BBC NEWS

FACTS
- You don't always know where your fish is caught. Are the waters clean?
Do the Health Risks Outweigh the Supposed Benefits?
- Hemp seed provides 19 times more Omega 3 than any fish.

Benefits
-Gluten Free
-Lowers cholesterol
-Increased energy
-Improved organ function
-Better immunity to opportunistic infections (colds, flu, any diseases)
-Reduces symptoms of arthritis
-Increases muscle growth when working out.
-Improves skin disorders ie - Eczema, psoriasis, acne...
-Can be eaten by anyone unable to tolerate, nuts
Lowers blood pressure


Hemp Seed Hulled Organic - Cannabis sativa, 1 lb,(Starwest Botanicals)
From Starwest Botanicals




Price: $28.49 Order Here Now and Save (free shipping for limited time)


- Shelled Hemp Seeds provides
A fantastic source of essential fatty acids (Perfect balance of Omega 3, and 6 and GLA)

Excellent Vitamin E intake

Easily Digested - More so than meat, eggs, human milk, goats milk, cows milk, or any other protein food.