Chirpractic Care For All Over Better Health

Most everyone thinks of chiropractic for the care of back or neck pain. Some may turn to chiropractic for sport and leisure activity injuries.  Truth be told the benefits of regular chiropractic care are so far reaching is is one of the best kept secrets of the healthcare world.

Even our friends at TTAC understand how chiropractic helps the body function better to be healthier.

Check out the link below.

10 Reasons You Should Consider Chiropractic Therapy

Calcium Channel Blockers and Breast Cancer

More than 60 million Americans have high blood pressure (high BP), high BP is a major risk factor for a
heart attack or stroke.  This "disease", which is largely lifestyle in origin, is reaching epidemic proportions.

In past studies, calcium channel blockers have been shown to lower the risk of stroke, they have also been shown to produce an increased risk for heart attacks.


A new study indicates that women that use of calcium-channel blockers for 10 or more years had a  significantly higher risks, 2.5 times higher (250%), of both ductal breast cancer and lobular breast cancer. This connection did not vary much by the type of calcium-channel blocker used. In contrast, use of diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors were not associated with risk of breast cancer.  According to the National Cancer Institute more than 232,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year.

Cancer risks aside, calcium channel blockers still produce some mild side effects including constipation, allergic reactions, fluid retention, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and impotence (about 20% of users). More serious side effects include disturbances of heart rate or function, heart failure, and angina.

Examples of calcium-channel blockers include:

• amlodipine (Norvasc)
• diltiazem (Cardizem CD, Cartia, Dilacor Xr, Diltia Xt, Tiazac)
• felodipine (Plendil)
• lacidipine (Motens)
• lercanidipine (Zanidip)
• nicardipine (Cardene, Carden SR)
• nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL)
• nimodipine (Nimotop)
• nisoldipine (Sular)
• nitrendipine (Cardif, Nitrepin)
• verapamil (Calan, Covera-Hs, Isoptin, Verelan)

The Take Home Message

Although chemical intervention can effectively control blood pressure, the longer term risks associated with these drugs lead to other health concerns and complications.

So, what to do?  As I mentioned at the start of this article, high blood pressure is most often a result of lifestyle.  High blood pressure can respond nicely to conservative lifestyle changes.

These changes can include:

• Regular exercise/activity
• Weight management
• Nutritional supplementation:
• magnesium
• arginine
• and others
• Avoid NSAID's (over the counter pain relievers)
• Increase intake of antioxidant foods
• Reduce/stop smoking
• Relaxation practices
• Increasing intake of water (if there is no history of kidney disease)
• Chiropractic care to address postural problems that can compress the chest cavity

These are possible suggestions for natural control of your blood pressure.  Not all these possibilities are appropriate for everyone.  You should discuss these with a knowledgeable provider in natural therapies.  You should not stop your blood pressure medication without monitoring by your doctor.

For your better, long term, health,

Dr. Heller

Watermelon's Remarkable Health Benefits

 If you are like me, this is your favorite season of the year.  Not because of the heat and humidity that we enjoy in the Midwest, but because of the abundance of fresh produce available for consumption; especially melons.   Watermelon is one of my favorite treats during the summer heat and now I can feel even better about making a meal out of water melon.

It turns out that this food that appears to be little more than sweet juicy snack in a rind, is actually quite a nutritious food.

Our friends at greenmedinfo.com have written an article based on studies they have reviewed.

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Let Fruit Be Your Medicine: Watermelon's Remarkable Health Benefits

Written By: Sayer Ji, Founder

Watermelon is so much more than just a highly refreshing summertime treat. From the perspective of a growing body of clinical research, it is a truly medicinal food.
Only this month, research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found watermelon juice is an effective remedy for reducing the recovery heart rate and muscle soreness in athletes who were given 500 ml of watermelon juice (16.9 oz) containing 1.17 grams of the naturally occurring amino acid L-citrulline.[1]

Additional research indicates watermelon may possess the following health benefits:

• Boosting Your Antioxidant Levels: Watermelon is exceptionally rich in lycopene (hence its red color) and other carotenoids such as lutein and beta carotene.[2] A 2003 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that regular watermelon juice consumption resulted in significant increases in blood plasma concentrations of lycopene and beta carotene.[3] Keep in mind that lycopene has been found to have over 40 potential health benefits, and beta carotene (especially in its natural, food-complexed form) equally plentiful health benefits, adding extra significance to this finding. Also, the watermelon-induced increase in plasma antioxidant levels may lend explanation to why an epidemiological study of the Chinese found greater watermelon intake to be associated with a lower risk of cancer.[4]
  
  
• Reducing Blood Pressure/Improving Arterial Health: A 2012 study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that middle-aged obese subjects with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension who were given 6 weeks of treatment with a watermelon extract containing 6 grams of L-citrulline and L-arginine daily, experienced reduced ankle blood pressure and altered carotid wave reflection, an indication of improved arterial function.[5] The inability of the blood vessels to dilate and function properly is known as endothelial dysfunction, and is likely the most well-known initiating step in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. If watermelon can ameliorate or reverse this process, it would certainly provide a breakthrough alternative to many of the drugs used for primary prevention, such as the cholesterol-lowering statin drug class, whose side effects, numbering in the hundreds, include heart muscle dysfunction and damage.
  
  
• Increasing Plasma Arginine Concentrations: A 2007 study published in the journal Nutrition found that watermelon juice consumption increases plasma arginine concentrations in adults, proving that the L-citrulline from this plant origin was effectively converted into arginine. This is a highly significant finding because arginine has a great number of health benefits, especially for ameliorating the aforementioned cardiovascular problem known as endothelial dysfunction. There are at least 20 studies in the biomedical literature documenting its therapeutic role in improving endothelial dysfunction, but you can view over 150 potential health benefits of arginine on the GreenMedInfo database.
  
• Combatting Metabolic Syndrome: A promising preclinical study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2007 found that watermelon pomace, a rich source of L-citrulline, significantly improved metabolic syndrome in diabetic, overweight rats.[6] This study is of particular interest because it lends support to relatively new research showing that fruit consumption is not harmful for type 2 diabetics.[7] The new study results were described as follows: " These results provide the first evidence to our knowledge for a beneficial effect of watermelon pomace juice as a functional food for increasing arginine availability, reducing serum concentrations of cardiovascular risk factors, improving glycemic control, and ameliorating vascular dysfunction in obese animals with type-II diabetes."
  
  
• Watermelon Seeds, a Rich Source of Protein:  It behooves us to mention the fact that all parts of the watermelon have something to offer. The seeds, in fact, are an excellent source of protein. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology found that "The good nutritional and functional properties of watermelon seed meal proteins suggest their potential use in food formulations."[8]  While seedless watermelon are far more convenient to eat, keep in mind that they can not reproduce without human intervention and so there are several good reasons to choose seedless varieties.

So, next time you are in the mood for watermelon, and are concerned about its notorious sugar content, 'weight-promoting effects,' and therefore possible diabetogenic and cardiotoxic properties – think again. Quality and moderation are the only things to make sure you are careful about when deciding to consume watermelon. Otherwise, enjoy it (remember Vitamin P(leasure))and know that it may just be as good for you as it tastes.

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So enjoy the summer, enjoy your watermelon, and as always, enjoy your best possible health; naturally.

Yours for better health,

Dr. Heller

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[1] Martha Patricia Tarazona-Díaz, Fernando Alacid, María Carrasco, Ignacio Martínez, Encarna Aguayo. Watermelon Juice: A Potential Functional Drink for Sore Muscle Relief in Athletes.J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jul 17. Epub 2013 Jul 17. PMID: 23862566

[2] U G Chandrika, K S S P Fernando, K K D S Ranaweera. Carotenoid content and in vitro bioaccessibility of lycopene from guava (Psidium guajava) and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) by high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009 Nov;60(7):558-66. PMID: 19817635

[3] Alison J Edwards, Bryan T Vinyard, Eugene R Wiley, Ellen D Brown, Julie K Collins, Penelope Perkins-Veazie, Robert A Baker, Beverly A Clevidence. Consumption of watermelon juice increases plasma concentrations of lycopene and beta-carotene in humans. J Nutr. 2003 Apr;133(4):1043-50. PMID: 12672916

[4] Cai-Xia Zhang, Suzanne C Ho, Yu-Ming Chen, Jian-Hua Fu, Shou-Zhen Cheng, Fang-Yu Lin.Greater vegetable and fruit intake is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer among Chinese women. Int J Cancer. 2009 Jul 1;125(1):181-8. PMID: 19358284

[5] Arturo Figueroa, Marcos A Sanchez-Gonzalez, Alexei Wong, Bahram H Arjmandi. Watermelon Extract Supplementation Reduces Ankle Blood Pressure and Carotid Augmentation Index in Obese Adults With Prehypertension or Hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 2012 Mar 8. Epub 2012 Mar 8. PMID: 22402472

[6] Guoyao Wu, Julie K Collins, Penelope Perkins-Veazie, Muhammad Siddiq, Kirk D Dolan, Katherine A Kelly, Cristine L Heaps, Cynthia J Meininger. Dietary supplementation with watermelon pomace juice enhances arginine availability and ameliorates the metabolic syndrome in Zucker diabetic fatty rats. J Nutr. 2007 Dec;137(12):2680-5. PMID: 18029483

[7] Christensen AS, Viggers L, Hasselström K, Gregersen S. Effect of fruit restriction on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes--a randomized trial. Nutr J. 2013 Mar 5;12:29.

[8] Ali Abas Wani, Dalbir Singh Sogi, Preeti Singh, Idrees Ahmed Wani, Uma S Shivhare.Characterisation and functional properties of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seed proteins. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2011 Feb;137(2):279-86. Epub 2010 Apr 18. PMID:20824684

Walking For Health

Another article from our friends at thePowerofpositivehabits.com discussing the health benefits of brisk walking. *************************************************************   Benefits of Brisk Walking By Dan Robey "Not running, not jogging, but walking is your most efficient exercise and the only one you can safely follow all the years of your life." – Executive Health Organization Walking as a daily exercise habit can truly be a life-changing positive habit and is one of the most powerful habits for reaching your goal of a healthy trim and fit body. Over the past 20 years, there have been dozens of studies that have proven the benefits of brisk walking. Thousands upon thousands of people have improved their health and lost weight by the diligent habit of walking. If you think that walking does not provide the same benefits as other more vigorous exercises, think again. A study published by the New England Journal Of Medicine showed that postmenopausal women who walked regularly lowered their risk for heart disease just as much as women who did more vigorous exercise, such as playing sports or running. This study suggests that walking is just as good for your heart as heavy exercise. I spoke with study author Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, Chief of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Professor of Medicine, at Harvard Medical School. She said, “The study provides compelling evidence that walking and vigorous exercise provide similar heart benefits, about a 30% to 40% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease with 30 minutes per day of either activity.” I also asked her about the benefits of making brisk walking a positive habit, and she responded, “they could surely walk away from heart disease and several other chronic diseases. We have also found that brisk walking for at least 3 hours a week can lower the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer. No pain, no gain, is an outdated notion; exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous or uncomfortable. It can be easy and enjoyable.” Even though the study consisted solely of women, it is likely that men would experience similar benefits from the positive habit of brisk walking. Here are additional benefits you will receive from your habit of brisk walking: * Walking burns calories and helps you lose weight and burn excess body fat. * Walking can help to improve your posture. * Walking requires no special equipment or gyms. * Walking can help lower blood pressure and help prevent circulatory and heart disorders. * Brisk, aerobic walking will give you the benefits of other exercises, such as jogging and cycling, but without the risk of injuries. * Walking at night can help promote better sleep. ***************************************************************   So get out and walk during the summer evenings.  Your body will thank you for it.   For your better health, Dr. Heller

Chiropractic: Health and Wellness

Enjoy this brief video with some very interesting information regarding the studies done which found Chiropractic care to beneficial in so many ways other than back and neck pain.

Wishing you great health,
Dr. Heller

What a Pain in the Neck!

Many people suffer from chronic neck pain. Some suffer from chronic lower back pain...and some, unfortunately, suffer from both! And...unfortunately, untreated neck pain can potentially cause far more damage than untreated back pain.

Neck pain can be experienced in two ways – as actual pain, like that caused by a disc problem, or as "pins and needles," numbness or weakness, making walking difficult, creating balance issues or neck stiffness. It may originate as a result of a whiplash injury due to an automobile accident, the aging process, stresses of everyday living, job-related repetitive movements, spinal tumor, compression of vertebrae, discs or nerves, or obesity.

<< Read more >>

Beating Holiday Stress

It's a stressful time of year. In addition to performing the duties associated with all of your other responsibilities, you have added responsibilities that the holidays require. Where are we celebrating? Who will be there? What do I have to do/bring? Is my shopping done? Do I have enough money for gifts? Will the children be happy? This time of year can really pack on the stress!


How do you deal with that kind of stress? Well...you should put some of the focus on yourself and do something you really enjoy this time of year.

<< Read More >>

Beware of Soda Consumption

According to the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA), consumption of soft drinks is now over 600 12-ounce servings (12 oz.) per person per year. Since the late 1970`s the soft drink consumption in the United States has doubled for females and tripled for males. The group with highest consumption is males between the ages of 12 - 29; they average 1/2 gallon a day or 160 gallons a year.

 Doctors, nutritionists and health clinics urge us to take control of our soft drink consumption to improve our health. It is highly recommended that each of us drink 6-8 glasses of water each day to keep your body well hydrated. Proper hydration of internal organs enables them to function properly, removing waste and toxins from the body. Hydration of the skin keeps it with good elasticity and will help keep you looking younger longer. Water is the best way to quench your thirst and keeping your body healthy.

 The graphic below shows the numerous negative impacts of soft drinks on the body.  If you have difficulty reading the graphic simply hold down the "ctrl" key and tap the "+" key" to zoom in.

Your Blood Type Can Affect Your Heart Health.

A 2011 study from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston published in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology found that people who have blood types A, B, or AB have a slightly higher risk of heart disease compared to those with type O, the most common kind.  The new study involved about 90,000 men and women in two observational health studies that cover more than 20 years.

The increased risk for type A was 8 percent; type B, 11 percent; and type AB, 20 percent.

Those who know they are at higher risk may be more motivated to make changes to lower their chances of heart disease, said Dr. Lu Qi, senior author of the study.  "We cannot change blood type but we can change lifestyle," said Qi, who led a study released last year that showed blood type may affect stroke risk.

No matter what blood type, Harvard's Qi said everyone should pay attention to risk factors they can change, including smoking, weight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a sedentary lifestyle.

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Diet and exercise are extremely helpful in maintaining cardiovascular health.  Both can help maintain a healthy weight.  A diet high in antioxidants can also lend an extra protective level with its inflammatory fighting capabilities. There are many things you can do to promote longevity.

Another often overlooked or even unconsidered factor in heart health is posture. 

Probably the most common postural problem we find in American society is the Forward Head Posture.  This is simply where the head is carried forward on the shoulders as determined by a "plumb line" that runs through the ear to the shoulder.  Not only is it the most common but probably also the most detrimental.

Forward head posture results in loss of vital capacity of the lungs. Lung capacity is depleted by as much as 30%.  This shortness of breath can then lead to heart and blood vascular disease.

Even without pain, spinal postural problems can cause health issues down the road.  Just as we get preventative checkups at the dentist and eye doctor it is wise to have periodic spinal postural checkups with your doctor of chiropractic.

Are Those Magic Beans?

If you are a coffee lover like myself, you may now have reason to treat yourself to another cup or three.   

A  recent Medscape Medical News slideshow reviews the potential medical and psychiatric benefits of coffee consumption.    These mental and medical benefits include reducing your risk of brain neuron degeneration and depression and cancer and cardiovascular disease.  I have recapped that slide show here:

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that coffee consumption lowered all-cause mortality by over 10% at 13-year follow-up.^[1]

To say that caffeine, a substance known to increase blood pressure can benefit the cardiovascular system  may seem counterintuitive.  When caffeine is consumed as coffee, lengthy elevations of blood pressure are small and cardiovascular risks may be offset by other protective properties. Coffee beans contain antioxidant compounds that reduce formation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. A reduced concentration of inflammatory indicators in the blood has also been seen with coffee consumption.^[2-7]  Several studies have indicated that moderate coffee intake was associated with a lower risk for coronary heart disease as far out as 10 years,^[3] and new data suggest that an average of 2 cups a day protects against heart failure.^[8]   This really should not surprise us since other studies have found the cardiovascular protective effects of antioxidant containing juices of fruits.

The vascular benefits of coffee are not lost on the brain. According to a 2011 review of studies, consuming between 1 and 6 cups a day reportedly cut stroke risk by 17%.^[9]   Coffee's impact on stroke risk in those with vascular disease is still in question, a review presented at the European Meeting on Hypertension 2012 found that 1 to 3 cups a day may protect against strokes caused by blockages in the general population.^[11]

Despite its association with increased blood pressure, coffee appears to benefit other aspects of what is known as “metabolic syndrome.”  This is a dangerous cluster of elevated blood pressure, high blood sugars, abnormal blood lipid levels, and increased body fat. Numerous studies have linked regular coffee drinking with improved glucose metabolism, insulin secretion, and a significantly reduced risk for type 2 diabetes.^[12-14]   Early data from an ongoing study also suggest that coffee consumption can promote weight loss. In this study, overweight patients treated with raw,  unroasted coffee beans in supplement form lost an average of 17 pounds over 22 weeks.  The authors suspect that this effect may be due in part to coffee containing a plant compound with antioxidant properties thought to reduce blood sugar absorption.^[15]

With so many food products thought to increase cancer risk – soda, grilled meat, any thing pickled – at least we can rest easy when it comes to coffee (according to recent data, anyway). Evidence suggests that moderate to heavy coffee consumption can reduce the risk for numerous cancers, including endometrial (> 4 cups/day),^[16] prostate (6 cups/day),^[17] head and neck (4 cups/day),^[18,19] basal cell carcinoma (> 3 cups/day),^[20] and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer (> 5 cups/day).^[21]   These benefits are thought to be in no small part due to coffee's antioxidant and antimutagenic properties.^[16,18]

Many of us find that morning cup of coffee to be effective for  alertness , but new research also links coffee with longer lasting effects on cognitive well-being.   One study showed that patients with mild thought and memory impairment and blood levels of caffeine of > 1200 ng/mL – which is about 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day – avoided progression to dementia over the following 2 to 4 years. ^[22]    Other data showed that 3 cups of coffee a day may help prevent the neurologic  damage caused by Parkinson’s Disease.   

A 2011 study suggests that coffee consumption might also benefit our mental health^[26]: Women who drank 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day had a 15% decreased risk for depression compared with those who drank less than 1 cup per week. For those who drank 4 cups or more per day, a 20% decreased risk was seen.  The effect of coffee on mood in the short term may be due to altered serotonin and dopamine activity, and on the antioxidant activity in the long term.^[26-29]

Evidence suggests that coffee consumption slows the  progression of liver disease.  Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis C reduced the risk of developing primary liver cancer.^[30-33]

Other research suggests that coffee consumption may help dry-eye syndrome by increasing tear production,^[35] that it may reduce the risk for gout,^[36] and potentially fight infections.^[37] Coffee and hot tea consumption were found to be protective against one of the medical community's most concerning bugs, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ^[37], typically pronounced Mursa.   It is unclear whether the beverages have antimicrobial activity through out the body, but study participants who reported any consumption of either were approximately half as likely to have MRSA in their nasal passages.

Now, with all the validated benefits of coffee we may have a tendency to see it as a health panacea, but coffee is not a totally innocuous beverage.  Coffee consumption certainly has negative medical and psychiatric effects to consider. Besides the previously mentioned increase in blood pressure, coffee can cause or worsen anxiety, insomnia, and tremor and has the potential to  increase glaucoma risk^[38] for those so predisposed.  Also, due to the potential severity of its symptoms, “caffeine withdrawal syndrome” is under consideration for inclusion in the forthcoming DSM-5^[39] , a manual published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that includes all currently recognized mental health disorders.

As always be aware of the total affects of what you put into your body.  Enjoy and good health to you.

For your better health,

Dr. Heller

References

1.        Freedman ND, Park Y, Abnet CC, et al. Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortality. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:1891-1904. Abstract

2.        Larsson SC, Orsini N. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;174:993-1001. Abstract

3.        Wu JN, Ho SC, Zhou C, et al. Coffee consumption and risk of coronary heart diseases: a meta-analysis of 21 prospective cohort studies. Int J Cardiol. 2009;137:216-225. Abstract

4.        Natella F, Nardini M, Belelli F, et al. Coffee drinking induces incorporation of phenolic acids into LDL and increases the resistance of LDL to ex vivo oxidation in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86:604-609. Abstract

5.        Gómez-Ruiz JA, Leake DS, Ames JM. In vitro antioxidant activity of coffee compounds and their metabolites. J Agric Food Chem. 2007;55:6962-6969. Abstract

6.        Nardini M, D'Aquino M, Tomassi G, et al. Inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein oxidation by caffeic acid and other hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. Free Radic Biol Med. 1995;19:541-552. Abstract

7.        Montagnana M, Favaloro EJ, Lippi G. Coffee intake and cardiovascular disease: virtue does not take center stage. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2012;38:164-177. Abstract

8.        Mostofsky E, Rice MS, Levitan EB, Mittleman MA. Habitual coffee consumption and risk of heart failure: a dose–response meta-analysis. Circ Heart Fail. 2012;DOI:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.112.967299. http://circheartfailure.ahajournals.org

9.        Larsson SC, Orsini N. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Am J Epidemiol. 2011;174:993-1001. Abstract

10.     Larsson SC, Virtamo J, Wolk A. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. Stroke. 2011;42:908-912. Abstract

11.     D'Elia L, Cairella G, Garbagnati F, et al. Moderate coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of stroke: meta-analysis of prospective studies. J Hypertension. 2012;30 (e-Supplement A):e107.

12.     Huxley R, Lee CM, Barzi F, et al. Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:2053-2063. Abstract

13.     Sartorelli DS, Fagherazzi G, Balkau B, et al. Differential effects of coffee on the risk of type 2 diabetes according to meal consumption in a French cohort of women: the E3N/EPIC cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:1002-112. Abstract

14.     Floegel A, Pischon T, Bermann MM, et al. Coffee consumption and risk of chronic disease in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)–Germany study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;95:901-908. Abstract

15.     Vinson JA, Burnham B, Nagendran MV, et al. Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a green coffee bean extract in overweight subjects. Program and abstracts of the 243rd American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition; March 25-29, 2012; San Diego, California. Abstract 92.

16.     Je Y, Hankison SE, Tworoger SS, et al. A prospective cohort study of coffee consumption and risk of endometrial cancer over a 26-year follow-up. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2011;20:1-9.

17.     Wilson KM, Kasperzyk JL, Rider JR, et al. Coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk and progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011;8;103:876-884.

18.     Turati F, Galeone C, La Vecchia C, et al. Coffee and cancers of the upper digestive and respiratory tracts: meta-analyses of observational studies. Ann Oncol. 2011;22:536-544. Abstract

19.     Galeone C, Tavani A, Pelucchi C, et al. Coffee and tea intake and risk of head and neck cancer: pooled analysis in the international head and neck cancer epidemiology consortium. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010;19:1723-1736. Abstract

20.     Song F, Qureshi AA, Han J. Increased caffeine intake is associated with reduced risk of Basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Cancer Res. 2012;72:3282-3289. Abstract

21.     Li J, Seibold P, Chang-Claude J, et al. Coffee consumption modifies risk of estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2011;13:R49.

22.     Cao C, Loewenstein DA, Lin X, et al. High blood caffeine levels in MCI linked to lack of progression to dementia. J Alzheimer Dis. 2012;30:559-572.

23.     Hamza TH, Chen H, Hill-Burns EM, et al. Genome-wide gene-environment study identifies glutamate receptor gene GRIN2A as a Parkinson's disease modifier gene via interaction with coffee. PLoS Genet. 2011;7: e1002237.

24.     Ross W, Duda J, Abbott R, et al. Association of coffee caffeine consumption with brain Lewy pathology in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. Program and abstracts of the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology; April 21-28, 2012; New Orleans, Louisiana. Abstract #S42.005.

25.     Duru C. Caffeine is a modifier of age at onset in Huntington's disease. Program and abstracts of the 15th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders; June 5-9, 2011; Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Abstract 180.

26.     Lucas M, Mirzaei F, Pan A, et al. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of depression among women. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171:1571-1578. Abstract

27.     Pasco JA, Nicholson GC, Williams LJ, et al. Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein with de novo major depression. Br J Psychiatry. 2010;197:372-377. Abstract

28.     Ng F, Berk M, Dean O, Bush AI. Oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders: evidence base and therapeutic implications. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008;11:851-876. Abstract

29.     O'Connor A. Coffee drinking linked to less depression in women. New York Times. February 13, 2012. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/coffee-drinking-linked-to-less-depression-in-women/ Accessed January 11, 2012.

30.     Molloy JW, Calcagno CJ, Williams CD, Jones FJ, Torres DM, Harrison SA. Association of coffee and caffeine consumption with fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and degree of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatology. 2012;55:429-436. Abstract

31.     Gallus S, Tavani A, Negri E, La Vecchia C. Does coffee protect against liver cirrhosis? Ann Epidemiol. 2002;12:202-205.

32.     Molloy JW, Calcagno CJ, Williams CD, et al. Association of coffee and caffeine consumption with fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and degree of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatology. 2012;55:429-436. Abstract

33.     Modi AA, Feld JJ, Park Y, et al. Increased caffeine consumption is associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis. Hepatology. 2010;51:201-209. Abstract

34.     Birerdinc A, Stepanova M, Pawloski L, Younossi M. Caffeine is protective in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012;3576-82.

35.     Arita R, Yanagi Y, Honda N, Maeda S, et al. Caffeine increases tear volume depending on polymorphisms within the adenosine A2a receptor gene and cytochrome P450 1A2. Ophthalmology. 2012;119:972-978. Abstract

36.     Choi HK, Willett W, Curhan G. Coffee consumption and risk of incident gout in men: A prospective study. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;56:2049-2055. Abstract

37.     Matheson EM, Mainous AG, Everett CJ, King DE. Tea and coffee consumption and MRSA nasal carriage. Ann Fam Med. 2011;9:299-304. Abstract

38.     Pasquale L. Program and abstracts of the American Glaucoma Society 22nd Annual Meeting; March 1-4, 2012; New York, New York. Abstracts 23 and 83.

39.     Compton WM, Budney AJ, Hasin D. New approaches to substance and related diagnoses in the DSM-5. Program and abstracts of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) 22nd Annual Meeting and Symposium; December 8-11, 2011; Scottsdale, Arizona. Workshop B2. Presented December 9, 2011.