Women who had diabetes during pregnancy might want to treat themselves to another cup of joe. New research shows that drinking coffee may lower their risk of type 2 diabetes. Compared to the general female population, women who had gestational diabetes may have 10 times the risk for type 2, according to researchers at the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW) at the National University of Singapore. “The overall findings suggest that caffeinated coffee, when consumed properly [2 to 5 cups per day, without sugar and whole-fat/high-fat dairy], could be incorporated into a relatively healthy lifestyle for certain population,” GloW researcher Cuilin Zhang said in a university news release. Past studies had shown that drinking 2 to 5 cups of caffeinated or decaf coffee daily was healthier than artificially and sugar-sweetened drinks. To learn more, researchers followed more than 4,500 women who had a history of gestational diabetes over 25 years, examining long-time coffee consumption and risk. Most of the participants were white. Compared to those who drank no coffee, those who downed 4 or more cups a day after their pregnancies had a 53% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Those who drank 2 to 3 cups lowered their risk by 17%, and those who drank 1 cup or less had a 10% lower risk, the study found. Decaf wasn’t found to have…  read on >  read on >

Call it a good idea that seems to have backfired: A tough new labeling law that requires even the smallest amount of sesame be listed on food products has instead spurred some companies to add it to their products. The new federal law goes into effect on Jan. 1, adding sesame to the list of major allergens that must appear on food labels when they are present in the product. Allergens that have appeared on labels since 2004 are milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans, the Associated Press reported. Food allergen labeling advocates have sought to add sesame to the list of major allergens for years. But the new requirements are so strict that it costs less to add sesame to food products than to try to keep it out of those aren’t meant to contain it, the AP reported. “It was really exciting as a policy advocate and a mom to get these labels,” Naomi Seiler, a consultant with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America whose 9-year-old daughter, Zoe, is allergic to sesame, told the AP. “Instead, companies are intentionally adding the allergen to food.” To follow the law, companies must label foods that contain sesame or follow safety measures to keep it from getting into foods through shared equipment and supplies. “It’s as if we’ve suddenly asked bakers…  read on >  read on >

Plenty of people enjoy a cup or two, or maybe three or four, of coffee every day. But new research shows that people with severe high blood pressure (“hypertension”) should steer clear of drinking too much java. The study found that for those with blood pressure of 160/100 or higher, drinking two or more cups of coffee daily was associated with a doubled risk of death from heart disease compared to those who don’t drink coffee. “We were surprised that heavy coffee consumption was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among people with severe hypertension, but not in those without hypertension or with grade 1 hypertension,” said study author Dr. Masayuki Teramoto. He is with Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan and the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. “In contrast, green tea consumption was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality across all blood pressure categories,” Teramoto added. Why no heart harm with green tea? Researchers said polyphenols — micronutrients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties — may be what’s responsible for the benefits of green tea. “These beneficial effects of green tea may partially explain why only coffee consumption was associated with an increased risk of mortality in persons with severe hypertension, despite both green tea and coffee containing caffeine,”…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 21, 2022 (American Heart Association News) — Need a healthy way to kick off the new year? You’re in luck. As the calendar turns, cultures across the world focus on good fortune and associate all kinds of foods with it. Here’s a look at which are healthiest – and how to handle those that are less so. Black-eyed peas In the American South, it’s not New Year’s without black-eyed peas, which are actually a type of bean. In some areas, they’re served with rice in a dish called Hoppin’ John. James Shikany, endowed professor of cardiovascular disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said black-eyed peas themselves are a healthy food, “but it depends on how they’re prepared.” On their own, black-eyed peas are full of fiber and packed with iron, thiamin and other nutrients. But Shikany, a nutritional epidemiologist and lead author of a 2015 study in Circulation about the traditional Southern diet, said they often are made with a lot of salt and fatty meat. Excess sodium can increase your risk of high blood pressure, and saturated fat can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, which can boost your risk of heart disease. Collard greens “It’s the same story,” Shikany said. Collard greens – said to be symbolic of folded cash – are full of fiber, vitamins and iron. “Most greens, in…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s tobacco unit is “reactive and overwhelmed,” an expert panel reviewing its work reported Monday. In addition, the panel blamed the FDA’s inconsistent regulation efforts for the spread of unauthorized e-cigarettes that are appealing to teens, among other problems. Commissioned by FDA chief Dr. Robert Califf this summer, the review was done by a panel convened by the nonprofit Reagan-Udall Foundation. “This work is particularly critical as we focus on preventing initiation, while also helping people quit, especially the deadliest form of tobacco use, combustible tobacco products,” Califf said in a news release announcing the release of the report. “Despite meaningful declines in cigarette use over the past several decades, nearly 500,000 Americans still die every year from cigarette smoking. Additionally, with more than 3 million youth reporting current use of a tobacco product in 2022, and e-cigarettes being the most used product, we risk another generation becoming addicted to these products.” Califf added that he plans to review the recommendations and develop an action plan by February. In the report, the experts recommended agency leaders set clear objectives and expectations to prevent more “detrimental” effects on the FDA’s work and staff morale. “Something is wrong if FDA can be given these amazing powers in 2009 and here we are at the end of 2022 and it has yet to…  read on >  read on >

Red may be a traditional holiday color, but no one wants to wear it on their teeth. An expert offers some tips for keeping “wine teeth” at bay during your holiday parties. “When you drink red wine, you’re encountering a triple threat to your teeth’s whiteness: anthocyanins, which are the pigments in grapes that give red wine its rich color; tannins, which help bind the pigment to your teeth; and the acidity found in wine, which etches your enamel, making it more porous and it easier for the stain to stick,” said Dr. Uchenna Akosa. She is a dentist who heads Rutgers Health University Dental Associates in New Brunswick, N.J. “The strength of your enamel and how prone you are to plaque build-up is key to how much your teeth might stain,” Akosa said. Brush before you drink red wine, she advised. And don’t brush immediately after drinking. Plaque can make it look like your teeth are stained, so brushing 30 minutes beforehand can reduce that issue. And toothpaste itself can cause more etching if you brush afterward. Another tip: Don’t drink white wine before red wine, because the extra acid in the white wine will worsen the staining. After drinking wine, swish your mouth with water. This reduces acidity and increases saliva flow, which fights harmful bacteria and maintains the ideal pH in your…  read on >  read on >

Patients with a high-risk bladder cancer now have a new option to treat it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a gene therapy called Adstiladrin, which is designed to work for patients who have what’s called high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that hasn’t responded to the standard treatment, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), but hasn’t spread. BCG is a vaccine typically used for tuberculosis. “This approval provides health care professionals with an innovative treatment option for patients with high-risk NMIBC that is unresponsive to BCG therapy,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release. “Today’s action addresses an area of critical need. The FDA remains committed to facilitating the development and approval of safe and effective cancer treatments.” About 75% to 80% of newly diagnosed bladder cancers have grown through the lining of the bladder, but not yet invaded the muscle. About 30% to 80% of cases recur and risk spreading. Treatment typically involves removing the tumor and using BCG to reduce the risk that the cancer will recur. But for patients whose cancer is unresponsive to BCG, there are few treatment options. Patients will receive Adstiladrin once every three months into the bladder through a urinary catheter. About 57,000 men and 18,000 women are diagnosed with bladder cancer annually, according to the…  read on >  read on >