The Daoist Diaries

If you’re worried about aging, perhaps a little corn on the cob, followed by a bowl full of cherries, and topped off with a glass of red wine might be in order.  Why?  Because all of these foods contain melatonin, and recent studies indicate the substance may be the long sought after “fountain of youth.”  Melatonin, a substance that helps neutralize oxidative damage and delays neurodegenerative processes, might have a hand in putting off old age, according to a University of Granada study.

In the study, 5-month-old mice, which are the human age equivalent of 30-year-olds, were used.  This is the age where mice start to show signs of aging, due to an increase in free radicals (oxygen and nitrogen), which cause inflammation.  This “oxidative stress” can cause cell membranes to become more fragile, making them easier to break and damage.  The mice then received melatonin in small amounts.  The melatonin not only neutralized the damages, but also delayed the negative effects of aging in the mice.  Researchers believe that daily intake of melatonin by humans beginning at the age of 30 could prevent or at least delay some of the negative consequences of aging, such as neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) and other illnesses such as diabetes.  More research is being done in the hope of developing a supplement containing enough melatonin to positively affect the aging process.

In the meantime, melatonin can be found naturally in small amounts in certain fruits and vegetables like cherries, bananas and onions; in cereals such as corn, oats and rice; and in aromatic plants such as mint, lemon verbena, sage or thyme’ and last but not least in red wine.

If you’re dining alfresco, you might want to see if there’s a no-smoking section, even though you’re out-doors.

Stanford researchers have found that sitting a few feet downwind from a smoker when you are out of doors means that you are likely to be at least periodically exposed to substantial levels of contaminated air.

Neil Klepeis, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and the lead author of the study, says, “Some folks have expressed the opinion that exposure to outdoor tobacco smoke is insignificant, because is dissipates quickly into the air.  But our findings show that a person sitting or standing next to a smoker outdoors can breathe in wisps of smoke that are many times more concentrated than normal back-ground air pollution levels.”

Researchers say they were surprised at some of the findings.  Wayne Ott, professor of environmental engineering and co-author of the study says, “If you’re at a sidewalk caf, and you sit within 18 inches of a person who smokes two cigarettes over the course of an hour, your exposure to secondhand smoke could be the same as if you sat one hour inside a tavern with smokers.  Based on our findings, child in close proximity to adult smokers at a backyard party also could receive substantial exposure to secondhand smoke.”

The researchers found that if people move about 6 feet away from an outdoor smoker, exposure levels drop significantly.

The results of the study were publishes in the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association.

The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center is pleased to announce that its WIC Program has received a rating of “exceeds” in its 2007 performance review by the Department of Public Health.

WIC is nutrition program that provides free nutritious food, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, immunization screening and referrals for children, and social service and health referrals.  WIC services are available to eligible pregnant and postpartum women and children under the age of 5. Health Center patients participating in WIC have shown reduced numbers of low birth weights and reduced infant mortality.

Performance measurements looked at leadership and management, participant service, community based participation, and the clinic environment. When asked about community based coordination, Darlene Dymsza, Program Director, said the goal of the Health Center’s WIC program has been to increase the enrollment of Central American women in their first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, the Community Coordinator regularly visits organizations to set up referrals for eligible women and children.  

When asked how the Health Center’s WIC Program has done in the past, Darlene said it has always done well. When asked why, she replied the staff is very committed to the program and its patients. She proudly added “close to 500 people have been enrolled in the past 4 to 5 years without sacrificing the quality of the program”.