A Different Breathalyzer Test for Heart Failure S


imply blowing up a balloon may help doctors test heart function, according to a new study from the Cleveland


Clinic. Although such examinations usually require expensive and sometimes invasive procedures, the new test can be done in a doctor’s office in 30 seconds, according to the research findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The patient simply breathes into a Mylar balloon, similar to a party version, and the air is passed through a machine to produce an individual “breathprint”. Researchers determined that exhaled breath contains volatile organic compounds that can be easily analyzed to determine potential heart failure.


Zinc Orchestrates Immune Response M


any have heard that zinc can stop a cold in its tracks, and new research from Ohio State University tells us


why; it turns out that zinc gently taps the brakes on immune responses, slowing them down and preventing inflammation from spiraling out of control.


The researchers’ work with human cells and animals found that zinc serves to balance the immune response within the cells so that the consequences of insuf- ficient zinc at the time of an infection include excessive inflammation. Of all the zinc contained in our bodies, only about 10 percent of it is readily accessible to help fight off an infection, notes Daren Knoell, professor of pharmacy and internal medicine and lead author of the study, published in Cell Reports. The research team suggests that proper zinc balance is especially important in battling serious and potentially deadly infections. Zinc deficiency affects about 2 billion people worldwide, including an estimated 40 percent of the U.S. elderly.


Happy Marriage, Healthier Lives A


FDA Moves to Ban Trans Fats H


eart-clogging trans fatty acids may soon be a thing of the past. The


U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken the first step to re- move trans fats from its GRAS (gener- ally recognized as safe) list, effectively banning their use in food products. Trans fats, also known as hydro-


University of Missouri expert says that people in happy marriages are more likely to rate their health better than their peers as they age. Evidently, engaging with one’s spouse builds a strong relationship that can improve spirits, promote feelings of well-being and lower stress. Analyzing data from 707 continuously married adults that participated in the Marital Instability Over the Life Course panel study, a 20-year na- tionwide research project begun in 1980, researchers found that married people have better mental and physical health and are less likely to develop chronic conditions than their unmarried, widowed or divorced peers. Thus, researchers recommended involv- ing spouses and families in treatment for any illness. They further suggested that in cases of a strained marital relation- ship, improving marital harmony would also improve health.


genated vegetable oils, can be found in many processed foods, including baked goods, microwave popcorn, peanut butter, frozen pizza, marga- rine and coffee creamers. Created by adding hydrogen to liquid oils to turn them into a solid form, trans fats have been used to improve the texture, shelf life or flavor of foods. For more than a decade, numerous scientific studies have documented that trans fats raise dangerous LDL cholesterol and lower good HDL cholesterol. The FDA’s proposed ban would require the food industry to gradual- ly phase out all trans fats, likely over several months or years, noting their threat to health. Commissioner Mar- garet Hamburg said the move could prevent 20,000 heart attacks a year and 7,000 deaths. Many food man- ufacturers have already phased out trans fats since new nutrition label- ing requirements were introduced by the FDA in 2006; plus an increasing number of local laws have banned them.


natural awakenings February 2014 9


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