Moms who breastfeed may have reduced risk of multiple sclerosis.

Moms who breastfeed may have reduced risk of multiple sclerosis. Mothers who breastfeed for a total of at least 15 months over one or more pregnancies may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with those who don’t breastfeed at all or do so for up to four months, according to a study. Mothers who breastfeed for a total of at least 15 months over one or more pregnancies may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with those who don't breastfeed at all or do so for up to four months, according to a study published in online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. more

Eating more vegetable protein may protect against early menopause.

Eating more vegetable protein may protect against early menopause.Long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from such foods as whole grains, soy and tofu, may protect women from early menopause and could prolong reproductive function. Results of a new study from epidemiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggest that long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from such foods as whole grains, soy and tofu, may protect women from early menopause and could prolong reproductive function. Consuming enriched pasta, dark bread and cold cereal were especially associated with lower risk, while they observed no similar relation to eating animal sources of protein. A better understanding of how dietary vegetable protein intake is associated with ovarian aging may identify ways for women to modify their risk of early onset menopause and associated health conditions.The study appears in the current early edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Early menopause, the cessation of ovarian function before age 45, affects about 10 percent of women and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and early cognitive decline, more

Diet rich in tomatoes cuts skin cancer in half in mice.

Diet rich in tomatoes cuts skin cancer in half in mice.This discovery builds on previous evidence of cancer-prevention benefits. A new study at the Ohio State University. has shown that daily tomato consumption appeared to cut the development of skin cancer tumors by half in a mouse. The new study of how nutritional interventions can alter the risk for skin cancers appeared online in the journal Scientific Reports. It found that male mice fed a diet of 10 percent tomato powder daily for 35 weeks, then exposed to ultraviolet light, experienced, on average, a 50 percent decrease in skin cancer tumors compared to mice that ate no dehydrated tomato. The theory behind the relationship between tomatoes and cancer is that dietary carotenoids, the pigmenting compounds that give tomatoes their color, may protect skin against UV light damage.more

'Solarsack' cleans water with heat from sunlight, cheaply and effectively.

'Solarsack' cleans water with heat from sunlight, cheaply and effectively. Two Danish students have developed have developed “SolarSack” for inexpensive and environmentally friendly water purification. The concept was tested in villages, refugee camps and slums in East Africa where it will be marketed. The product, known as SolarSack, is a special bag that is filled with four liters of water and placed in the sun for four hours. Using UVA and UVB rays, as well as heat from the sun, the water is cleaned of pathogenic bacteria. The user can then drink the water and reuse the bag for water purification. The method was approved by the World Health Organization which estimates that between 99.9 and 99.999 percent of the pathogenic bacteria in the water die. The students tested SolarSack in Kenya and Uganda with local users and organizations, and adapted it to their needs. And it's cheap. more

Malaria parasites able to sense their hosts' calorie intake

Malaria parasites able to sense their hosts' calorie intake.Scientists have found that the odds of dying with a malaria infection are lower when the host eats lower amounts of food. A new study has shown that the infectious agent responsible for malaria, the Plasmodium parasite, is able to to sense and actively adapt to the host's nutritional status.Using mouse models of malaria infection, scientists from Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon (iMM Lisboa), found that mice who ate 30% fewer calories had a significantly lower parasite load. Plasmodium parasites reproduce inside red blood cells every 48 hours. The study in Nature reveals for the first time that the parasite's rate of replication depends on the calories ingested by the host. This may ultimately dictate the outcome of a malaria infection: survival or death.more

Pesticides Linked to Depression In Farmers.

Pesticides Linked to Depression In Farmers. A landmark study indicates that seven pesticides, some widely used, may be causing clinical depression in farmers. Will the government step in and start regulating these chemical tools? Earlier this fall, researchers from the National Institute of Health finished up a landmark 20-year study, a study that hasn’t received the amount of coverage it deserves. About 84,000 farmers and spouses of farmers were interviewed since the mid-1990s to investigate the connection between pesticides and depression, a connection that had been suggested through anecdotal evidence for far longer. We called up Dr. Freya Kamel, the lead researcher on the study, to find out what the team learned and what it all means. Spoiler: nothing good. more

Gamifying diabetes with mySugr for easy management.

Gamifying diabetes with mySugr for easy management. Austrian diabetes management start-up, mySugr has been specializing in app-based, all-around care for people with diabetes since 2012. Pioneer in gamification and creator of the diabetes monster, mySugr has already over a million registered users, is available in 52 countries and in 13 different languages. It was recently acquired by global pharmaceutical company, Roche. One third of the team has diabetes and that makes mySugr credible to the community. The mantra has always been “user first”. That will not change at all. However, with the backing from Roche they will be able to focus even more on the user's needs and not have to spend so much energy on our next funding round. Roche is now the exclusive shareholder of mySugr. It’s only been a couple of weeks since the announcement but they have been working on this for a long time. They will remain a separate legal entity and keep our platform open to other companies. The user data will be strictly contained within our legal entity. The users are excited and a 4.7-star rating in the app stores prove that. Some people who tattooed the mySugr logo on their arm,and the company have so much heart-warming user feedback about how mySugr has helped them managing their diabetes better or reducing their A1C. Healthcare professionals and big pharma companies were skeptical first but along the way we’ve convinced them.