Year-End Rally?

Many indicators are at or close to the April highs. Since the indicators are inverse, they are telling us that a statistical chance of a strong, high-volume advance is low, but the chance of a mild correction is high. Thus, short-term caution is advised with day traders taking positions on rallies up to intraday resistance lines. But, as I said before, the long-term and intermediate-term technical readings remain bullish.

If the market can extend the rally till the end of December, I don't think a correction can be avoid in January

 Nasdaq closed at 2637.54, S&P closed at 1240.4 on Friday. They are coming very close to our target 2650 and 1250. Market may not drop before holiday, however, now is the time to lighten your long holding. If the market can extend the rally till the end of December, I don't think a correction can be avoid in January.

There is a possibility of major indices and the Dow non-confirmation, coupled with very poor sentiment numbers and overbought internal indicators, I remain a very cautious bull. The market is quite sensitive to news, and the internal numbers show a definite lack of commitment, while the Nasdaq is the strongest, indicating that the public is chasing lower quality stocks. That, too, is nasty.

The sovereign debt problem in Europe is a crisis that is not going away, and will not end well, so it will be ongoing headline news that will affect the markets periodically.

All in all, tighten your seat belt and get ready for a roller coaster ride in January.

Market may top off at Nasdaq 2650 and S&P500 1250

The stock market this week so far is very strong and bullish. Investors were encouraged by a preliminary agreement between the White House and Republican leaders on a tax package that would extend the current Bush cuts for two years. A reduction in payroll taxes for a year, an extension of jobless benefits, and a reinstatement of the estate tax at 35% are also part of the plan.

Stock markets are going back up testing their recent highs, just as we indicated last week. Some markets have gone into new 52 week highs already.

So we have to keep our eye on the charts, and when the longer up trend breaks down, then I have to be ready to exit the market. Upside potential is probably limited by the overhead trendline that has been in play all year long. So if we reach Nasdaq 2650 or S&P500 1250 this week, that will be a very good selling price. So I am ready to sell near Nasdaq 2650, or S&P500 1250.

Enjoy you bull run and lighten your investment

The market rallied again on last Friday. The bulls finally crushed the S&P 500 resistance line at 1210 yesterday, with a close that was 11 points higher than that important number and just 4 points off of November’s high. So the only remaining barrier for the indices is their November highs, which is 11506 for the Dow, 2593 for the Nasdaq and 1127 for S&P500.

You should cash in some good profit since my bullish alert last Sunday. Although December is the most bullish month of the year. I suggest you lighten your long position at this level.

B Vitamins Protect Aging Brains

New research suggests B vitamins may help lower homocysteine levels, possibly offsetting further decline in people with mild thinking (cognitive) impairment and preventing progression to more serious forms of dementia.

The brain loses some of its mass with age, even in otherwise healthy people. This progressive “brain atrophy” is more pronounced in people with mild cognitive impairment that doesn’t interfere with normal functioning, but is characterized by some problems related to memory, thinking, language, and judgment. Brain atrophy is much accelerated in people with advanced dementia, like that seen in Alzheimer’s disease.

The homocysteine connection
Higher blood levels of homocysteine, a toxic byproduct of an amino acid, is one risk factor for brain atrophy and Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamins are needed to break down homocysteine, so it’s been suggested that if they help lower homocysteine levels, they might also be able to slow the rate of brain atrophy.

The new study, which was published in the journal, PLoS ONE, involved 168 people over 70 years old with mild cognitive impairment. The participants were given 0.8 mg folic acid, 0.5 mg vitamin B12, and 20 mg vitamin B6 or placebo every day for 24 months. At the beginning of the study and after two years, MRIs of their brains assessed changes in brain mass.

Blood levels of homocysteine dropped by 23% in the people taking B vitamins, and the rate of brain atrophy per year was almost 30% lower in the B-vitamin group than in the placebo group at the end of the study.

“It is tempting to suggest that this finding is consistent with the view that raised homocysteine is a direct cause of atrophy,” the authors commented. “However, it does not exclude that homocysteine is only a marker for low-normal levels of the vitamins, which are themselves the causal factors.”

Tips for top brain function

Try these tips to keep your brain going strong.

• Use it or lose it. Studies have shown that staying mentally active is vital to keeping brain synapses healthy. Try learning a new instrument or craft, and branch out with different kinds of brain-teaser games.

• Move your body. Physical exercise is just as important as the mental kind when it comes to preserving healthy brain function. Aim for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Intense exercise is best, but you’ll still reap benefits just from walking.

• Eat your way there. Blueberries, wild salmon, and nuts and seeds all provide essential nutrients that have been shown to help preserve healthy brain function. Keeping your heart healthy with foods like whole grains, legumes, olive oil, and avocados has the added benefit of improving circulation to the brain.

• Take a multivitamin. Many comprehensive multivitamins contain B vitamins in the dosages used in the new study. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new medication or supplement.

We may even launch into December with a meaningful rally

It’s impossible to predict the outcome or full impact of the North Korean attack on its neighbor, so uncertainty hung like a cloud over trading last week, and we all know how Wall Street feels about that. However, not only did stocks have a modest day down on Friday but they ended the day with a small rally. That's a good sign for bulls.

The S&P 500 support at 1174, and the 50-day moving averages of the major indices held. That is an encouragement to the bulls, and the fact that we got through the holiday week with little damage, we may even launch into December with a meaningful rally.

Vitamin E Tocotrienols Show Immune-Boosting Potential

Daily supplements rich in vitamin E tocotrienols may boost the immune response and immune function in healthy women following a vaccination.

According to findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, women who received daily supplements of a palm tocotrienol complex for one month prior to a single tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine experienced improvements in their immune response, compared with women who received placebo prior to the vaccine.

Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E that have traditionally been in the shadow of the more popular vitamin E form—tocopherols.
Overall, there are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc) is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol (gamma-Toc) is the most common form in the American diet.

Tocotrienols (TCT) are only minor components in plants, although several sources with relatively high levels include palm oil, cereal grains and rice bran.

To test the effects of the tocotrienol-rich palm fraction on immune function, Malaysia-based scientists recruited 108 healthy non-smoking women aged between 18 and 25 years. The women were randomly split into two groups: One group received 400 mg of the palm tocotrienol complex per day, and the other group received placebo (400 mg per day of soy oil), each for two months.

Blood samples were analyzed at the start of the study, and again after 28 and 56 days. After 28 days of supplementation all of the participants received a single shot of tetanus toxoid vaccine.
Results showed significant increases in levels of the anti-TT antibody, interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 in the tocotrienol group, compared with placebo.

“This study provides evidence that daily supplementation of 400 mg tocotrienol-rich fraction can have a beneficial role in enhancing the immune response of healthy subjects following an immunogenic challenge such as vaccination,” stated the researchers.

Furthermore, blood levels of tocotrienols increased, compared with placebo, with the greatest increases in alpha-T3, followed by gamma-T3 and delta-T3.

Antioxidant Alpha-Carotene

High blood levels of the antioxidant alpha-carotene appear to be associated with a reduced risk of dying over a 14-year period, according to a report posted online November 22 that will be published in the March 28 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Oxygen-related damage to DNA, proteins and fats may play a role in the development of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer, according to background information in the article.

Carotenoids -- including beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and lycopene -- are produced by plants and microorganisms and act as antioxidants, counteracting this damage. Carotenoids in the human body are obtained mainly through eating fruits and vegetables rich in the nutrients, or through antioxidant supplements.

Although studies suggest eating more fruits and vegetables is associated with lower risk of chronic diseases, randomized controlled trials have not shown any benefit for beta-carotene supplements, the authors note. "Therefore, carotenoids other than beta-carotene may contribute to the reduction in disease risk, and their effects on risk of disease merit investigation," the authors write.

Chaoyang Li, M.D., Ph.D., of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and colleagues assessed the relationship between alpha-carotene and the risk of death among 15,318 adults age 20 and older who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Follow-up Study. Participants underwent a medical examination and provided blood samples between 1988 and 1994, and were followed through 2006 to determine whether and how they died.

Over the course of the study, 3,810 participants died; the risk for dying was lower with higher levels of alpha-carotene in the blood. Compared with individuals with blood alpha-carotene levels between 0 and 1 micrograms per deciliter, the risk of death during the study period was 23 percent lower among who had concentrations between 2 and 3 micrograms per deciliter, 27 percent lower with levels between 4 and 5 micrograms per deciliter, 34 percent lower with levels between 6 and 8 micrograms per deciliter and 39 percent lower with levels of 9 micrograms per deciliter or higher.

Higher alpha-carotene concentration also appeared to be associated with lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer individually, and of all other causes. "The association between serum alpha-carotene concentrations and risk of death from all causes was significant in most subgroups stratified by demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and health risk factors," the authors write.

Alpha-carotene is chemically similar to beta-carotene but may be more effective at inhibiting the growth of cancer cells in the brain, liver and skin, they note. "Moreover, results from a population-based case-control study of the association between the consumption of fruits and vegetables and risk of lung cancer suggest that consumption of yellow-orange (carrots, sweet potatoes or pumpkin and winter squash) and dark-green (broccoli, green beans, green peas, spinach, turnips greens, collards and leaf lettuce) vegetables, which have a high alpha-carotene content, was more strongly associated with a decreased risk of lung cancer than was consumption of all other types of vegetables," the authors write.

The results support increasing fruit and vegetable consumption as a way of preventing premature death, and suggest a need for clinical research into the health benefits of alpha-carotene, they conclude.

I still suggest traders or investors to lighten their stock holding on the way up of this rally

The current stock market is very susceptible to news, because the lack of conviction on the part of both buyers and sellers. This leaves the daily moves in the hands of traders who bounce the indices from support to resistance in days, resulting in extended periods of range-bound trading. If the pattern continues, a solid move in either direction could be postponed until next year.

From August to November, A lot of rallies has been forced by liquidity, and once that injection of cash stops, I suspect the market's ability to launch another rally.

Jobs are still missing in this rally, housing prices are still relatively weak, earnings were better because the projection was so low, and ultimately, there's not a real big reason to buy stocks.

Ireland has formally requested substantial "financial assistance" from the European Union. The money is required to avoid the collapse of Irish banks, which have seen a major outflow of funds over the last year.

Personally, I still suggest traders or investors to lighten their stock holding on the way up of this rally.

Whole Grains cut Diabetes risk

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health investigated the diet records and blood samples of nearly 1,000 healthy middle-aged adults. They measured levels of insulin and hemoglobin A1C as well as homocysteine and cholesterol levels.

Data showed a lower risk of diabetes and heart disease in people eating a diet high in whole grains. The results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on February 1, 2006.

Just a month ago published in the same medical journal, another group of researchers from the Tufts University released a similar finding. Scientists found that as whole grain intake increased in older adults, fasting blood sugar levels and body mass index (BMI) were lower.

Results also showed that people who consumed a high intake of  refined grains had twice the risk of having diabetes and heart disease than those people who consumed the least refined grains.

Prior to these two recent studies, a few large-scale trials have already been published with the same findings. For instance, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study of 43,000 male health professionals published in September 2002 found that those who consumed the most whole grains were 42 percent less likely to develop diabetes.

Another study involving 4,300 middle-aged Finns published in March 2003 found that people eating highest amounts of whole grains were 35 percent less likely to develop diabetes.

Scientists don't know exactly which nutrients in whole grains prevent diabetes, but they generally recommended eating 3 servings daily based on the results of their studies. This recommendation is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 which recommends that all adults eat half their grains as whole grains - that's at least 3 servings of whole grains a day.

Most of the calories in grains come from carbohydrate, and carbohydrate is the type of nutrient that affects bloods glucose level the most after meals. For that reason, people with diabetes are advised to monitor their carbohydrate intake and to match the amount of carbohydrate they eat with the amount of  insulin they take before meals or the amount of insulin their pancreas can secrete.

For a person with Type 2 diabetes, high blood glucose levels after a meal may indicate that the meal contained more carbohydrate than the pancreas could handle. Changes in either food choices or medication may be in order to maintain blood glucose control.

Most nutrition experts agree that including carbohydrate-containing foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and low-fat milk in a diabetes meal plan is good for both good health and effective diabetes management. Such foods are important sources of energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Choosing whole grains over refined grains may help with blood glucose control since the soluble fiber found in some grains slows digestion, and any kind of fiber helps to fill you up, so you may consume fewer calories overall.

People who include whole grains in their daily meals have been found to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases, including heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. But even if you already have Type 2 diabetes, consuming at least three servings of whole grains daily may help you with weight management and reduce the likelihood of constipation.

For women planning a pregnancy, eating grains fortified with folic acid before as well as during pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects in the fetus during development. Why not go with the whole grain? You and your health will only benefit.
 
We need to eat at least three ounces of whole grains every day, according to the 2005 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” . They say that at least half of the grains that we eat should be whole.

I do not expect the marke drop lower than 1130 without a significant rebound

The major indexes tumbled in a broad sell-off Tuesday, as concerns about a slowdown in China and Ireland's debt problems appeared to weigh on the market. European debt worries and China rate-hike fears slammed U.S. stocks, adding to the market's bearish trend.

Traders on Wall Street have been holding back on buying recently, as they await more clarity on the economic outlook for the United States, Europe and China. 

Technically, S&P 500  may get a short term rebound at today's support  1173 or next support at 50 days moving average 1150-1160, the last sand of line will be 1130. However, I do not expect the market drop lower than 1130 without a significant rebound.

I expect the market near term sell off will pause after this week. You may want to cover some of your short positions when market hit the major supports I mention above.

With the high bullish sentiment number, what the bears need are some bad news and catalysis to trigger the selling

The AAII Sentiment numbers were released today and showed a huge bullish jump of 9.3% to 57.6%. This is the highest bullish sentiment number since January 2007. And with Wednesday’s Investor Intelligence (II) Advisors Sentiment Survey at the highest levels since April of this year, and stocks at annual highs, it is time to go on the defensive for the short term.

Even though the sentiment numbers and our own internal indicators are very overbought, the charts of the major indices are still strong. Friday’s late rally pulled the intraday lows out of the zones identified as immediate support. Nevertheless, sentiment readings like those from AAII and II are clear warnings that something more serious may be coming.

I will be watching Europe very closely, the markets were giving a great amount of importance to the midterm elections and the Fed's new plan last two months, but now the market could face sovereign debt concerns again. With the high bullish sentiment number I mention above, what the bears need are some bad news and catalysis to trigger the selling.

EGCG - potent extract of green tea against cancer

If you drink green tea, you are providing your body with protection against a host diseases brought about by free-radical damage. Several large studies have shown that the antioxidant effects of green tea can help lower the risk of developing cancer of the digestive system, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer in women.

Studies have also shown that green tea also protects against heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and preventing the blood clots that can lead to atherosclerosis (clogged arteries).

Women experiencing hot flashes associated with menopause may find that drinking green tea morning and night may help reduce their frequency. Limited studies report that green tea helps balance estrogen levels, and which can help prevent not only hot flashes but discourage certain types of breast cancer as well.

Green tea has also been used to prevent tooth decay, increase air low to the lungs in asthma patients, and increase mental alertness (the last two effects are probably due in some part to the caffeine that is naturally found in all teas). Also, several small have shown that green tea extract (GTE) is an appetite suppressant and promotes weight loss in humans. It is now widely available in pharmacies and even some grocery stores in dietary supplements designed to help you lose weight. 

The cancer-protective effects of green tea have been reported in several population-based studies. For example, cancer rates tend to be low in countries such as Japan where green tea is regularly consumed. However, it is not possible to determine from these population-based studies whether green tea actually prevents cancer in people. Emerging animal and clinical studies are beginning to suggest that EGCG may play an important role in the prevention of cancer. 

It has been suggested that EGCG and other tea catechins suppress tumor promotion by inhibiting the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which is believed to stimulate tumor promotion and progression of initiated cells as well as premalignant cells. Furthermore, EGCG was shown to reduce specific binding of both the 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type and the okadaic acid-type tumor promoters (the two major classes of tumor-promoting agents) to their receptors. This "sealing" effect of EGCG is achieved by its interaction with the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane. 

When non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells were transplanted into mice, green tea prevented 50% of the tumors from taking hold and significantly inhibited growth of the tumors.

Bladder cancer

 
A few studies have examined the relationship between bladder cancer and green tea consumption. In one study that compared people with and without bladder cancer, researchers found that women who drank black tea and powdered green tea were less likely to develop bladder cancer. A follow-up study by the same group of researchers revealed that bladder cancer patients (particularly men) who drank green tea had a substantially better 5-year survival rate than those who did not.

Breast cancer

 
Studies suggest that EGCG inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells, both in live animals and test tubes.

A Japanese study comparing 472 women with breast cancer who drank differing amounts of green tea indicates that EGCG may decrease both the severity of the initial diagnosis and the likelihood of recurrence. The researchers found that the women with Stage I, II and III breast cancers that drank five or more cups of green tea per day were less likely to have cancer that spread to the nymph nodes. In addition, the greater consumption of green tea by women with Stage I or II breast cancer was associated with lower incidence of recurrence. No correlation was shown with women who had Stage III cancers. Another Japanese study showed less overall incidence of cancer among 8,000 people who drank ten or more cups of green tea a day.

Colorectal cancer

 
 A study at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University on mice that were genetically predisposed to develop tumors in their intestines revealed after 12 weeks of treatment that mice that were given green tea had significantly fewer tumors than mice that received no treatment (Carcinogenesis, February 2003).

Phenol sulsotransferases are involved in cancer growth, and EGCG was shown to inhibit this activity in a human colon cancer call line (Biol Pharm Bull 2000 Jun;23(6):695-9).

Chinese scientists discovered that EGCG inhibits angiogenesis (the production of new blood vessels) in mice inoculated with human colon cancer. This blocking of new blood vessel growth may be an important part of the overall anti-cancer action of polyphenols, since it impedes tumor growth. 

Esophageal cancer Studies in laboratory animals have found that green tea polyphenols inhibit the growth of esophageal cancer cells. However, results of studies in people have been conflicting. In fact, some evidence suggests the hotter the tea (or any other hot beverage), the greater the risk of developing esophageal cancer. However, researchers reporting on a case-control study, found that Chinese men and women who drink green tea have a reduced risk of up to 60 percent of developing esophageal cancer (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, June 1, 1994).

Lung cancer

 
Consumption of green tea was found to be associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer among non-smokers but not among smokers. Also among non-smokers, the risks of lung cancer decreased with increasing tea consumption. (Epidemiology 2001 Nov; 12(6):695-700).

Treatment of human lung cancer cell line A549 cells with EGCG significantly inhibited the expression levels of hnRNP B1 mRNA and the elevated levels of hnRNP B1 protein, both of which are constitutively elevated in cancer cells. Furthermore, both EGCG inhibited the promoter activity of hnRNP A2/B1 gene expression, preventing lung cancer (International Journal of Onclology 20: 1233-1239, 2002).

Pancreatic cancer

 
Researchers in Japan determined whether EGCG affects proliferative and invasive activity of human pancreatic carcinoma cells. The results indicate that the growth of all three pancreatic carcinoma cells (PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3) was significantly suppressed by EGCG treatment in a dose-dependent manner. EGCG may be a potent biologic inhibitor of pancreatic carcinoma, reducing their proliferative and invasive activity (Pancreas, July 2002).

Prostate cancer

 
In my opinion, EGCG is the most important component of green tea to the prostate cancer patient. The first evidence of its ability to induce prostate cancer apoptosis (programmed cell death) was published in Cancer Letters back in 1998 (130(1-2):1-7 1998 Aug 14).

Its pharmacologic activity extends beyond its action as an anti-oxidant. EGCG acts against urokinase, an enzyme often found in large amounts in human cancers, inhibits ornithine decarboxylase (a rate-limiting enzyme closely associated with tumor promotion), and blocks type 1 5-alpha reductase (5AR). Inhibitors of 5AR may be effective in the treatment of 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone-dependent abnormalities, such as benign prostate hyperplasia, prostate cancer, and certain skin diseases.

Urokinase breaks down the basement membrane of cell junctions which may be a key step in the process of tumor cell metastasis as well as tumor growth. EGCG attaches to urokinase and prevents these actions.

EGCG was shown to inhibit growth and induce regression of human prostate and breast cancers in athymic mice (Liao S, Umekita Y, Guo J et al. Growth inhibition and regression of human prostate and breast tumors in athymic mice by tea epigallocatechin gallate (Cancer Letters 96:239-243, 1995).

Skin cancer

 
Studies suggest that EGCG and green tea polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties that may help prevent the onset and growth of skin tumors. Topical application of EGCG may prevent UV-B-induced immunosuppression and precancerous cell changes after UV-B exposure (J Leukoc Biol. 2001;69:719-726).

Stomach cancer

 
Laboratory studies have found that green tea polyphenols inhibit the growth of stomach cancer cells in test tubes. The exposure of human stomach cancer KATO III cells to EGCG led to both growth inhibition and the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis)

The short and medium term momentum of the market is still in bullish mode, there is no way for swing traders to short this market successfully until the major support of 1080 or 1030 is broken

The S&P 500 Index rested on its 10-day trendline as an intraday springboard, erasing an early deficit to finish 5.3 points, closed at 1218.71.

As I said on last post that the S&P 500 will test the 10 days moving average at 1200. Today's low is at current 10 days moving average 1204, a reversal that takes the S&P through its major support at 1200. you should cover your short today at 1204 which started two days ago.

Some of you may use this pullback as the buying opportunity that you had hoped for. The favorite groups are still technology and precious metals stocks. But manufacturing and solid dividend-paying blue chips should also be on the list for buyers of quality issue. I suspect stocks will stay in a range, largely directionless, leading into the weekend

The Fed did QE1 and there was no tangible results, so now they are doing QE2 which seems to be an act of desperation, because they wouldn't be doing it unless the reality was more negative than we are aware of after the QE1. The Fed continues to manipulate the equity market higher, push the USD down, which in turn sends stocks and commodities sharply higher. The market is extremely extended, but it can remain that way longer than most of the investors think.

The majority of investors appears to be in almost total denial mode about the economic depression start from 2008. They seems to believe that this market has already found the bottom, so it will be a tough road the next two years, I expect another significant down market cycle starting sometime in 2011. However, the short and medium term momentum of the market is still in bullish mode. Most of the short term investors are still riding this bull-express train. There is no way for swing traders to short this market successfully until the major support of 1080 or 1030 is broken.

Short this overbought market, target is 10 days moving average 1194-1200.

All three of the major market indexes are at year-to-date highs and at levels not seen since September 2008.

At this overbought level, you should take the profit and wait for another opportunity. I will not long this market unless there is 3% to 5% correction and a resume rally shortly after.

If you want to short this overbought market, you should have done that on last Friday because the 2 day RSI on most of the indices are over 99. It may take 2 to 3 days to digest this overbought situation. Target is 10 days moving average 1194-1200. S&P500 closed at 1125.85 on Friday, there will be 25-30 points profit if it hit 1194-1200 in the next few days.

However, patient investors may want to wait one more week before shorting this market because the momentum still on the way up. Your successful rate will be higher if the market is on the way down instead.

For a Healthy Heart, Don’t Skip Breakfast!

Prior research suggests that breakfast eaters may be healthier than people who skip breakfast, and now a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests a nutritious breakfast may be especially good for your heart. Specifically, the recent study shows that regular breakfast eaters may reduce risk factors linked to heart disease.

 

Breakfast eaters reduce heart disease risk factors

While prior research has shown that skipping breakfast may lower a person’s energy level and increase the risk of weight gain, less is known about the effects of skipping breakfast on other body organs and functions.

In this study, 2,184 participants, 9 to 15 years old, initially filled out a questionnaire about diet and physical activity and stated whether they usually ate breakfast before school or not. Twenty years later, one third of the original participants filled out a meal frequency questionnaire, had their waist size measured, and had blood levels of triglycerides, total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and fasting insulin (insulin levels after no food has been eaten overnight) checked. Participants were then classified into four groups:

• skipped breakfast in neither childhood nor adulthood,
• skipped breakfast only in childhood,
• skipped breakfast only in adulthood, or
• skipped breakfast in both childhood and adulthood.

Results showed that people who skipped breakfast in both childhood and adulthood had a larger waist size and total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels compared with people who ate breakfast in both childhood and adulthood. They also had higher fasting insulin levels, which indicates they have insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease.

Breakfast skippers also tended to be single, have a lower education level, and were more likely to smoke, watch TV, get less physical activity, and have a less healthy diet compared with breakfast eaters.

The authors comment, “Skipping breakfast was associated with a larger waist circumference, cardiometabolic risk factors, poorer diet quality, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.” They add that promoting the benefits of eating breakfast may be an important public health message.

More reasons to be a breakfast eater

There are many good reasons to eat breakfast, and prior research has shown that compared with breakfast skippers, breakfast eaters tend to have:

• Better habits. People who eat breakfast tend to have healthier diets and get more physical activity.

• A more nutritious diet. Breakfast eaters tend to eat less daily fat and cholesterol and more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

• A healthier weight. Some studies suggest that breakfast eaters have a lower weight compared with breakfast skippers

55 Facts About Blood

1. 4.5 million Americans will a need blood transfusion each year.
2. 43,000 pints: amount of donated blood used each day in the U.S. and Canada.
3. Someone needs blood every two seconds.
4. Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood – less than 10 percent do annually.**
5. About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood.
6. One pint of blood can save up to three lives.
7. Healthy adults who are at least 17 years old, and at least 110 pounds may donate about a pint of blood – the most common form of donation – every 56 days, or every two months. Females receive 53 percent of blood transfusions; males receive 47 percent.
8. 94 percent of blood donors are registered voters.
9. Four main red blood cell types: A, B, AB and O. Each can be positive or negative for the Rh factor. AB is the universal recipient; O negative is the universal donor of red blood cells.
10. Dr. Karl Landsteiner first identified the major human blood groups – A, B, AB and O – in 1901.
11. One unit of blood can be separated into several components: red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate.
12. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
13. Red blood cells live about 120 days in the circulatory system.
14. Platelets promote blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other cancers a chance to live.
15. Plasma is a pale yellow mixture of water, proteins and salts.
16. Plasma, which is 90 percent water, makes up 55 percent of blood volume.
17. Healthy bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells, plasma and platelets.
18. Blood or plasma that comes from people who have been paid for it cannot be used to human transfusion.
19. Granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, roll along blood vessel walls in search of bacteria to engulf and destroy.
20. White cells are the body's primary defense against infection.
21. Apheresis is a special kind of blood donation that allows a donor to give specific blood components, such as platelets.
22. Forty-two days: how long most donated red blood cells can be stored.
23. Five days: how long most donated platelets can be stored.
24. One year: how long frozen plasma can be stored.
25. Much of today's medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors.
26. 3 pints: the average whole blood and red blood cell transfusion.*
27. Children being treated for cancer, premature infants and children having heart surgery need blood and platelets from donors of all types, especially type O.
28. Anemic patients need blood transfusions to increase their red blood cell levels.
29. Cancer, transplant and trauma patients, and patients undergoing open-heart surgery may require platelet transfusions to survive.
30. Sickle cell disease is an inherited disease that affects more than 80,000 people in the United States, 98 percent of whom are of African descent.
31. Many patients with severe sickle cell disease receive blood transfusions every month.
32. A patient could be forced to pass up a lifesaving organ, if compatible blood is not available to support the transplant.
33. Thirteen tests (11 for infectious diseases) are performed on each unit of donated blood.
34. 17 percent of non-donors cite "never thought about it" as the main reason for not giving, while 15 percent say they're too busy.
35. The #1 reason blood donors say they give is because they "want to help others."
36. Shortages of all blood types happen during the summer and winter holidays.
37. Blood centers often run short of types O and B red blood cells.
38. The rarest blood type is the one not on the shelf when it's needed by a patient.
39. There is no substitute for human blood.
40. If all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event (The current average is about two.).
41. If only one more percent of all Americans would give blood, blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.
42. 46.5 gallons: amount of blood you could donate if you begin at age 17 and donate every 56 days until you reach 79 years old.
43. Four easy steps to donate blood: medical history, quick physical, donation and snacks.
44. The actual blood donation usually takes about 10 minutes. The entire process – from the time you sign in to the time you leave – takes about an hour.
45. After donating blood, you replace the fluid in hours and the red blood cells within four weeks. It takes eight weeks to restore the iron lost after donating.
46. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
47. 10 pints: amount of blood in the body of an average adult.
48. One unit of whole blood is roughly the equivalent of one pint.
49. Blood makes up about 7 percent of your body's weight.
50. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in his body.
51. Giving blood will not decrease your strength.
52. Any company, community organization, place of worship or individual may contact their local community blood center to host a blood drive.
53. Blood drives hosted by companies, schools, places of worship and civic organizations supply roughly half of all blood donations across the U.S.
54. People who donate blood are volunteers and are not paid for their donation.
55. 500,000: the number of Americans who donated blood in the days following the September 11 attacks.

Timing and confirmation is essential to short the current market with such a extreme bullish momentum

The S&P 500 Index settled at a two-year peak, adding 23.1 points at 1121.06 by the close. What's more, today marks the broad-marke finish north of the 1200 level since May 2010.

The Fed’s plan to buy $600 billion in bonds in an effort to drive down interest rates and induce more lending, this let the investors have  optimism that the global economy would not worsen and corporate profits would increase. However, the Fed can’t on its own resolve all of the country’s economic troubles. We still have a lot of uncertainty in this market.

Technically, today we reach S&P 1220 eventually, market is extremely overbought, its the time we should think about shorting this market. I still waiting for the big sell off day with high volume combine with bearish candlestick signal. Timing and confirmation is essential to short the current market with such a extreme bullish momentum.

The risk reward ratio is definitely favor the bears base on the 1200-1220 resistances and the current overbought market

The market seems to have high hopes for the outcome of this week's key events, as stocks shot higher right out of the gate this morning.

The S&P 500 Index add 9.2 points, closed at 1193.57 to mark its best daily close since May. However, the SPX is at potential pressure zone in the 1200 region. 200 weeks moving average is at 1193.12 , 80 months moving average is right above 1200. April high is at 1220.

In the meantime, the risk reward ratio is definitely favor the bears base on the 1200-1220 resistances mention above and the current overbought market. However, the momentum is still up, timing is everything. I will not suggest to short the market right now.(short the market on the way up), instead I will wait for the first significant down day and the candlestick sell signal for confirmation before enter any short position. (short it on the way down)

There is certainly enough news this week to create either a breakout or a breakdown

Stock market had strength in the early morning trading near its five-month high, but the mix of a stronger dollar, technical resistance, and uncertainty ahead of this week's major events left stocks to slide and nearly finish with a loss. S&P500 was up 1.12 points, closed at 1184.38.

In addition to the elections and the Fed meeting, the monthly jobs numbers will be released before the opening on Friday. There is certainly enough news this week to create either a breakout or a breakdown. The best thing to do is to wait until the the next buying panic combine with extreme overbought signal which will force all the bears to surrender, then you may start to short this market.

Election, Fed meeting and unemployment report is the catalyst of the market this week

We will have another rally to S&P500 1200, or as high as 1220 before the election and Fed meeting on Wednesday. And I think the market will take a short break to digest these few months gain shortly after this rally. The fact is that a rally with an angle up that is as steep as this just can’t be sustained. A rest will most likely take the form of a mild correction first. It will bring the market to the first support 1170, then 1150 and 1130.

 However, until the SPX closes at least below the 5 WK EMA, which is 1169.35, the direction remains up, and not a short play.

Soy after Menopause: A Healthy Choice

Women who eat more soy foods during menopause, hoping to get some relief from symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, might reap an additional benefit.

A new study found that obese African American women who supplemented with a soy-based shake after menopause lost weight, and white women experienced a shift toward healthier body fat distribution.

According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 39 obese postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to add drink a dairy-based or soy-based supplement shake to their regular diet, twice a day for three months.

Black and white women benefit differently from soy

Several important differences between the groups were found at the end of the trial:

• Abdominal fat, sometimes called “belly fat,” decreased by 7.5% in the women taking the soy shake, but increased by 8.8% in women taking the dairy shake. This type of fat is closely associated with cardiovascular disease.

• Visceral fat, which is distributed on the organs and is the most dangerous type of fat, decreased by 2.5% in the soy group and increased by 5.3% in the dairy group, however, this difference was not statistically significant.

• The researchers found that, when taking race into account, only the white women lost abdominal and visceral fat; African American women taking the soy shake did not experience improvement in body fat distribution.

• African American women on the soy shake lost weight while white women did not.

• Small changes in blood markers in the women using the soy shake suggested that they may have had slight improvements in blood sugar metabolism and generalized inflammation.

“Soy supplementation reduced abdominal fat in obese postmenopausal women,” the study’s authors said of their findings.

Reaping soy’s rewards

In addition to weight loss or better body fat distribution, women who eat soy may see other health improvements:

• Reduced menopausal symptoms. Women from societies where soy is eaten regularly are less likely to suffer from hot flashes, and several studies have found that adding soy to a Western diet can decrease symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

• Lower blood pressure. Soy protein has been found to lower blood pressure in both men and women.

• Lower cholesterol levels. Eating soy foods such as tofu, tempeh, miso, and soy nuts can reduce total and LDL-cholesterol levels.

• Stronger bones. Some, but not all, studies have found that soy foods and supplements can preserve bone density in postmenopausal women.

Never short a dull market

The S&P 500 Index erased most of its losses by the close, giving up just 3.2 points, closed at 1182.45. The SPX continues to consolidate near the 1180 neighborhood.

Market is consolidating at 1180 area. A minor day to day correction will set up another rally to the top of 1120 range by the week of election and Fed meeting. It is not wise to short the market at this time.

Never short a dull market. If you are the fans of bear camp, I suggest you to get ready by the second week of November. When the excitement of the Fed's money printing game and the election is over, watch out the bulls by taking profit and run away.

You should lighten your long position or grab the next rally as a shorting opportunity right before the election at Nov, 2 and Fed meeting at Nov, 3

The S&P 500 Index was up 0.02 point, closed at 1185.64. Stocks kicked off the session on a sour note today, as the Street digested disappointing earnings reports from some of market heavyweights. However the positive consumer confidence report gave market a good excuse to bounce back to the positive zone.

With the Nov. 2 elections approaching and the Federal Reserve's next policy meeting on schedule early next month, the possibility of a correction is imminent.

The Fed has said it could take more policy actions to stimulate growth in the form of an additional purchase of Treasury securities. That's what will be the result of next Fed meeting at Nov, 3. But the market has already anticipated that, and the move has already been priced into the market.

Traders have to be very alert and cautious. If you are a prudent investors, you should lighten your long position. Aggressive traders should grab the next rally as a shorting opportunity, especially the rally right before the election at  Nov, 2 and Fed meeting at Nov, 3.

Market is at a a chronic buying panic stage

The S&P 500 Index gave back most of its lead by the close, finishing with a gain of 2.5 points, closed at 1185.62. Stocks shot higher right out of the gate this morning, However, investors' initial optimism somewhat deflated in afternoon trading.

Market keep trying to test resistance 1200, we are entering the end of month which is usually bullish. If you are still holding your stock, there is no reason to sell it until November or the market tell you to do so. However, a tight stop to protect your profit is necessary.

Traders recent trading strategy is buy low and sell high, buy high and sell higher. That mean they will buy this market no matter what happen. I look at this as a chronic buying panic situation. A real big storm is coming soon. After the November, 3 Fed's meeting and the midterm election, and if dollar find a footing and rebound. Watch out the bears! Anyway if market can resist the gravity on bullish months November and December, in my opinion, I think it will find some excuse and catalyst to sell off on January.

The recent trading was directly related to the movement in the dollar

On Friday the S&P 500 spent several hours of the session confined to a three-point trading range. It was up 2.82 points, closed at 1183.08.

The recent trading was directly related to the movement in the dollar. Stocks gained on a weaker dollar, and when the dollar began to firm, stocks turned south. It could be said that each of the major indices reflected an inverse move in the greenback.

Dollar is down 0.61% by this time and S&P 500 future is up 8 points. Guess we have another gap up open tomorrow. I don't think the Fed and traders will let this market down before the election, just enjoy your bull ride and set your stop loss tight.

Fish may offer protection to men with prostate cancer

A man’s diet may affect his prostate cancer risk, and a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that fish may offer protection to men with prostate cancer. Men who eat an abundance of fish may have a lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer or dying from prostate cancer compared with men who eat very little or no fish.

Adding fish slows disease progression

The incidence of prostate cancer varies throughout the world, and prior research suggests that diet may affect the incidence of cancer and the number of deaths caused by prostate cancer. For instance, populations who eat a lot of fish such as people in Japan and Alaskan Eskimos have a lower incidence of prostate cancer than people who eat typical Western diets. In this review, researchers examined data from a total of 31 observational studies and looked at the association between the amount of fish men ate and incidence of death from prostate cancer. Because of the many studies included in this meta-analysis, the men ate a wide variety of fish, including fatty fish, lean fish, and even fried fish. Results showed:

• Men who ate more fish had a 44% lower risk of having advanced or metastatic prostate cancer compared with men who ate less.

• In addition, men who ate more fish also had a 63% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with men who ate less.

• In this particular analysis, eating more fish was not associated with a significantly lower incidence of prostate cancer, but it did lower incidence of advanced prostate cancer. The authors comment, “In our study, fish consumption was not associated with a lower incidence of all prostate cancer, but it may be related to decreased aggressive, clinically relevant disease. Fish consumption may decrease cancer-specific mortality by preventing metastatic disease.”

While the authors don’t state how much fish a man should eat for the protective benefits, one epidemiological study referenced in the article found that men who ate fish more than three times per week had a lower risk of prostate cancer and especially metastatic cancer than men who ate less.

Fish-ful thinking

• Get important nutrients. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D and other vitamins, minerals, and protein.

• Protect against cancer. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in laboratory studies. Inflammation is thought to play a significant role in cancer development and studies have demonstrated that fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects as well. As we see from the results of the above study and others, further research is needed to understand the role of dietary fish in cancer prevention.

• Make it part of a balanced diet. Eating fish is recommended by a number of health organizations to help prevent a variety of medical conditions. For instance, The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week for heart health. But more isn’t necessarily better in this case.

Astaxanthin May Help Quell Reflux Syndrome

The pigment that gives salmon its pink color may reduce the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn, according to a new study.

A high dose (40 mg) of the carotenoid astaxanthin was found to significantly reduce heartburn, and the effects were mostly pronounced in people infected with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium that causes stomach ulcers, according to research published in the journal Phytomedicine.

"This is the first randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the antioxidant astaxanthin used for treatment of functional dyspepsia," wrote lead author Limas Kupcinskas from Kaunas University of Medicine in Lithuania.

"We can hypothesize that the stronger response in H. pylori positive patients is due to reduced oxidative stress in the stomach by the astaxanthin treatment and hence also less oxidative stress in the esophagus, resulting in ameliorated symptoms," Kupcinskas added.

Researchers recruited 132 people with indigestion (dyspepsia) and randomly assigned them to receive 15 or 40 mg per day of astaxanthin or placebo for four weeks. The study was a controlled, prospective, randomized and double-blind design. People were classified as positive or negative for H. pylori infection.

At the end of four weeks, Kupcinskas and co-workers found no significant differences between the three groups regarding overall measures of abdominal pain, indigestion and reflux syndromes. However, when they focused on only reflux syndrome, they found a significant benefit in the group receiving the high dose astaxanthin supplement, compared to the other groups. Moreover, the benefits were higher in the people who also tested positive for H. pylori.

Investors should expect a cooling-off period and a modest pullback to the breakout triple-top at S&P 1130

The S&P 500 Index ended a volatile session with a gain of 2.1 points, closed at 1180.26. The stock market climbed as much as 1% to set a new five-month high, but a rebound in the dollar failed a morning rally.

Stocks had weakened in the afternoon as the dollar strengthened. The market is trading a lot counter to what the dollar’s doing, but investors  expected stimulus support from the central bank are unlikely to let stocks slide too far. Quantitative easing is a nice support and I also think the potential for some more pro-business news in the election coming up is helping to stabilize the market too. However, market also moved up pretty substantially and you get into some of these questions about whether all these positive news and numbers were priced in.

As long as the support zone of S&P 500 1150 to 1175 holds, the chances of a challenge to the April high is still possible this year. But after such a sustained rally from the August low, investors should expect a cooling-off period and a modest pullback to the breakout triple-top at S&P 1130.

Investors are most likely to buy the rumor and sell the fact

The bulls came back today with a dramatic recovery from Tuesday's sell-off. The S&P 500 Index was up 12.3 points, closed at 1178.17 and regained the support of its 10-day moving average at 1172.

Thanks to a weaker dollar and some upbeat earnings reports, stocks rebounded from the prior session's distribution. Most major averages recouped Tuesday's losses. But the rally only regained just over 70% of Tuesday’s losses and failed to reach the volume levels of the sell-off with just 1.1 billion shares yesterday compared to 1.3 billion on Tuesday. And Tuesday’s decline was the second time that the S&P has failed to punch through the resistance at 1185, which is just 10 points under its 200-week moving average.

Tuesday’s 165-point Dow plunge, down volume was greater than up volume. And these negative volume numbers are what technicians consider to be important indicators that a normal pullback could be about to occur. That is an early sign of distribution. 'Watch Out'

The dollar surged 1.7% in the prior session, but was dumped this session for a 1.3% loss. as I mention in last two posts that the consistent downtrend of dollar is the the main catalysts for the strength of the markets lately. Tuesday dollar up, stock down, Wednesday vice versa.

The Fed's monetary policy has been in focus as investors anticipate the central bank's launch of a new round of quantitative easing at the conclusion of its meeting on Nov. 3. I am very sure most of the bullish factors has already price in the market. Investors are most likely to buy the rumor and sell the fact. Just remember to lighten your stock exposure on the way up of this rally. I suggest you not to hold more than 20% stocks when approaching Nov. 3 Fed meeting and midterm election.

If the dollar really begins to bounce, this could suggest today's pullback will continue

The S&P 500 Index ended on a drastic drop of 18.8 points, but the index found a floor in the 1160 neighborhood, closed at 1165.9.  Stocks on Tuesday marked their biggest one-day drop since the market confirmed its rally seven weeks ago. Volume surged and most leaders stumbled.

Disappointment in the tech sector, China's interest rate hike and a higher dollar slammed U.S. stocks Tuesday. However, in Asia the market may have some mild consolidation. But I don’t think this interest-rate hike from China will have any big impact. It’ll attract liquidity flows into Asia, particularly Hong Kong and China. I think the people over there will see any correction as an opportunity to buy.

On Monday, the S&P 500 hit a new closing high for the current rally, but with the internal indicators at overbought level, I cautioned in yesterday's post that a failure of any kind could reverse a near-term trend and drive stocks down. Today's major jump in the U.S. dollar was the true bearish catalyst. The key to everything is the U.S. dollar, A lower dollar has been driving the market higher, but if the dollar really begins to bounce, this could suggest today's pullback will continue.

For the NYSE composite, Tuesday marked its fourth heavy-volume hit since the Sept.1 follow-through signal. Four or five distribution days over several weeks can signal that a market has topped. Leaders were mostly lower.

The next support will be 1050-1055, then 1040-1030,

The counter-trend rally in the dollar may curtail stock's bullish momentum

The S&P 500 Index extending its rally throughout the session to end on a gain of 8.5 points, closed at 1184.71. A big rebound by bank stocks on the upbeat report from Citigroup helped drive the broader market higher Monday.

While it is likely that the current rally has further to go, however, there are some factors that warn us to be cautious. I believe the probability of a pullback is rising. One of the main catalysts for strength of the markets lately has been the consistent downtrend in the U.S. Dollar Index. I think a counter-trend rally in the dollar is approaching and believe this will take away some fuel from the rally.

Tech has been holding the market up as financials fell last week. With tech showing weakness, we could be getting ready for a bigger correction. Nevertheless, Charts are still not showing a topping pattern on the SPY but I will look for that closely to see whether it’s time to look at short opportunities again.

Traders are waiting for minor correction to jump in this overbought market in order to enjoy the year end rally

S&P 500 index closed at 1176.19, up 2.38 points. Stocks gave up early gains and finished mixed after a wave of headlines Friday. Fed Chairman hinted at more action, while most economic reports beat expectations. Stocks ended mixed Friday as weakness in the banking sector dragged on the Dow, while technology shares stayed strong.

One of the internal indicators, the slow stochastic, flashed a short-term sell signal. And the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) survey was released yesterday, showing a drop in bullishness by 1.9% to 47.1%, which is still much too high for this contra-indicator. AAII points out, "This is the sixth consecutive week that bullish sentiment has been above its historical average of 39%."

Now all of this may mean little and even seem overly cautious. And the market could continue to make a run at the next significant resistance, which is 1200 for the S&P 500.

As for trading strategies, when approaching an area of significant resistance, like S&P 1200, it is wise to cut down on the size of new positions and take smaller profits rather than going for the home run. Such resistance zones are there because investors sold at these zones before.

In the mean time, I think most of the traders are waiting for minor correction to jump in this overbought market in order to enjoy the year end rally.

Lutein Slows Vision Loss

A diet rich in dark-green leafy vegetables is essential for eye health, and specific nutrients such as lutein that are found in these foods may have particular benefits for people who suffer from eye disorders. A new study in the Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that supplementing with lutein may slow vision loss in people who suffer from an eye disease known as retinitis pigmentosa.

Lutein plus vitamin A protects peripheral vision

Retinitis pigmentosa refers to a group of hereditary diseases that affect the retina of the eye. The condition often starts in adolescence and slowly progresses through adulthood leading to partial vision loss or sometimes blindness.

In this study, 225 non-smoking people aged 18 to 60 who had retinitis pigmentosa were randomly assigned to receive 12 mg of lutein or a control tablet (providing no treatment), and all participants received daily vitamin A (as 15,000 IU of retinyl palmitate). During the first year of the study participants were also advised to eat two 3-ounce servings of oily fish per week after a study showed benefit of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation for retinitis pigmentosa.

Researchers followed the people in the study for four years, collecting information from annual eye exams and monitoring of blood serum lutein levels. Results showed:

• People who took lutein had a slower decline of side (midperipheral) vision loss compared with the control group. Vision loss was significantly slower among those with the highest serum lutein levels compared with those who had the lowest.

• There was no significant difference or treatment effect on the course of degeneration of central vision loss between the lutein and control group.

The study authors point out that a daily dietary recommendation for lutein has not been established and that most Americans eat 1 to 2 mg per day. Prior studies, however, have shown that 6 mg per day of lutein supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

The long-term safety of taking lutein supplementation has yet to be established. There are also a number of risks of taking high-dose vitamin A, so it is important to check with your doctor before taking dietary supplements in order to learn more about the risks and benefits.

Tips for eye health

• Eat a balanced diet. Along with other nutrients, lutein is important for healthy vision and is found in dark-green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, kale, and spinach. This new study is another good reason to strive for those five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

• Avoid unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Smoking and drinking alcohol in excess may damage eye health, and both habits are also associated with lower serum lutein levels according to the study authors.

• Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun can be damaging to healthy eyes but especially for people who suffer from eye disorders. Wear protective glasses and provide glasses for your children while enjoying the sunny outdoors.

Dermatologists Think it's Time to End Our Reliance on the Sun as a Major Source of Vitamin D

Vitamin D levels have dramatically decreased among Americans in the past two decades, according to a recent study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine. "We found a marked increase in vitamin D deficiency over the past two decades," said lead researcher Dr. Adit Ginde, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. "Over three out of every four Americans now have vitamin D levels below what we believe is necessary for optimal health.

It is now recognized that vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are common in elderly people, especially those who are not exposed regularly to sunlight due to infirmity or those who live at northern latitudes where there is insufficient sunlight-mediated vitamin D exposure in the winter months.

The primary function of vitamin D is to keep serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations within the normal range to support strong bones and maintain vital cellular functions. In children, vitamin D deficiency causes the bone-development disorder known as rickets. In adults, insufficient vitamin D can cause weakened bones (osteomalacia) or brittle bones (osteoporosis), increasing the risk of bone fractures.

For most people, the primary source of vitamin D is casual exposure to sunlight. During sunlight exposure, ultraviolet B photons (UVB) transform a form of cholesterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) found in the skin into previtamin D-3, which, in turn, is transformed via thermal isomerization into vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol).

This natural production of vitamin D varies with the levels of skin exposure to UVB, which can be influenced by latitude, season, time of day, and air pollution. In northern latitudes, there is insufficient sunlight during the winter months for the skin to produce significant amounts of vitamin D. And because glass absorbs UVB radiation, exposure to sunlight through windows does not result in any production of vitamin D. Sunscreens also block the skin's absorption of UVB radiation, and studies have shown serum vitamin D levels in subjects who use sunscreen to be significantly lower than control subjects who did not use sunscreen.

A new review by dermatology experts suggests that supplements and diet, rather than sunlight, should be one’s source of vitamin D. The dermatologists suggest that the trade-off between obtaining vitamin D from sunlight exposure and the effects of photo-aging and skin cancer was sensible in our past, when life spans were not long. But in today's society, where life spans have doubled, and potentially 30% of Caucasians will develop skin cancer, the trade-off no longer makes sense. The conclusion is partly in response to recent research that proposed 10 to 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to midday sun as a good source of vitamin D.

Vitamin D supplements such as fish liver oil or multivitamin supplements supplying at least 400 IU of vitamin D per day may be the most practical way to ensure adequate levels of this essential vitamin.

Enjoy the bull run and set your stop loss tight

The S&P 500 Index ended on a mild loss of 4.3 points, closed at 1173.81. Bulls backed away from the market today, spooked by a surprise rise in jobless claims and a foreclosure crisis in the financial sector.

Data had little influence on trade. Among the items released, initial jobless claims for the week ended October 9 totaled 462,000, which is more than the 450,000 claims that had been expected.

It's the action in the Financial Sector that's important. As long as the financial sector lags, it will be tough for the overall market to really get going.

In yesterday post, I mention about the market may have a mild correction that will bring the market to 1165 to 1170. Today's low 1166 may act as a short term support. The next support will be 1155-1160. Google's outstanding earning report may give market some support tomorrow.

It is time to be sensitive to the possibility of a moderate reversal

The S&P 500 index rose 8.33 points, closed at 1178.1. U.S. stocks climbed for a fourth session Wednesday after upbeat earning results from several industry giants and signals from the Federal Reserve about more monetary easing in the near future. For real, the thought of a one (1) Trillion Dollar money printing rescue mission was simply irresistable to the Institutions, as they bid up stocks severely today.

Stocks settled north for the fourth straight session. Things continue to look great for the bulls, but there are always concerns. The continued relative weakness in financials and housing are big issues for me, but if those two areas can get things going, we could have a very nice end-of-year rally in store.

The psychological target of 1,200 is just 22 points away, the trend is up with volume increasing and breadth at solid pre-breakout levels. So the question is not whether we break to new highs, but when. With our indicators now at overbought levels, it is time to be sensitive to the possibility of a moderate reversal that could take prices back to the first line of support at S&P 500 1165-1170, and then into the support zone at 1155-1160.

New positions should be protected with tight stops since a reversal from the current area could be quick and brutal. Maintain some cash to take advantage of a pullback since any consolidation should be viewed as a buying opportunity.

Current stock market is in a complacency environment, market participants are in buying panic mode and the markets are in the ‘bad news is good news’ mode

With a general lack of major earnings or economic releases to drive the day's action, stocks settled almost completely flat today. The S&P 500 Index adding on just 0.2 point, closed at 1165.3.

Friday’s employment report showed the U.S. economy creating fewer private-sector jobs in September than anticipated, Wall Street climbed on the belief that the data raise the chances of the Fed buying more debt.

I think market participants are in the buying panic mode and the markets are in the ‘bad news is good news’ mode, meaning that the poor employment report of Friday, showing private-sector job gains remain very weak, would increase the likelihood that the Fed would continue injecting money into the financial system. Traders are afraid to miss the chance of the next bull market rally, or at least the year end rally, so they keep buying this overbought market.

In the meantime, most of the market participants are very optimistic, they think we’re not going to have a double dip, but slow growth. And with interest rates so low, equities is one of the few places to generate returns. Personally, this scenario is pretty scary and it make me worry and nervous. It looks to me that the current stock market is in a complacency environment.

If you look at the big picture, the secular bear market is still with us, and history tell us that in a bear market investors should sell on rallies in extreme complacency. I am not sure if we are exactly at the 'extreme complacency' zone, and frankly speaking, there is no one can pinpoint the exact point of extreme complacency. Therefore I highly suggest you to lighten your stocks holding now and on the way up of this rally to get ready for next down leg when all the bull cheerleaders retired.

The best bet is that the S&P 500 index drops around 30%, to the 800-range it hit in March of 2009. Then, the PE slipped below 14, and yields were almost 4%. For the first time in almost two decades, stocks became a bargain, and that's what it will take to make them a bargain again.

Traders are in a dilemma

The S&P 500 Index closed at 1165.1, up 7.1 points on Friday. The U.S. lost more jobs than forecast in September as local governments fired educators and other workers to make up for declining tax revenue. lack of jobs is causing difficulty in consumer spending, the biggest part of the economy, limiting growth heading into 2011.

The larger-than-expected job losses raised hopes for more Fed action to boost the economy. Even though the jobs data failed to meet economists' expectations, stocks are rising because the report is one more piece of evidence showing Fed’s potential second round of easing. Friday’s report was a reminder that the U.S. labor market remains in the dead zone 15 months after the recession officially ended. That increases the odds that the Fed will take new steps to jumpstart the economy at its next meeting on Nov. 3.

Despite the significance of today's headlines, many investors remained on the sidelines. In turn, share volume on the NYSE failed, once again, to meet the 50-day moving average of 1 billion shares. Three months ago the 50-day average was at 1.5 billion.

Traders are in a dilemma. They can't long this market because it is at the overbought area. They don't want to short a market before the mid term election (the track record of the mid term election rally is very strong in that only one has been down in the 34 years since 1913 for the 5-month period starting at 9/30) and with the Fed pumping money in the market at the same time.

The only thing we can do is to wait for a trading opportunity.                        

Review Supports Antioxidants for Fertility and Sperm Quality

Antioxidant supplements, including vitamins C and E and selenium, may improve sperm quality and pregnancy rates, according to a systematic review of evidence.

Evidence from randomized controlled trials was found to support a link between antioxidant supplementation and improvements in male fertility linked to sperm quality, according to the review published in Reproductive BioMedicine Online.

Reviewers led by Tarek El-Toukhy from London’s Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust note however that the evidence is not consistent and more studies are therefore required before antioxidant supplements can be recommended to infertile men.

"It is imperative these studies employ strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and standardized methodology to help understand whether a specific group of infertile men is more likely to benefit from antioxidant therapy," they stated.

The link between antioxidants and fertility measures is not new. Oxidative stress, caused by a disruption to the balance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants, has been reported to reduce the quality of sperm. According to Dr. El-Toukhy and his co-workers, about 15% of couples of reproductive age are affected by infertility issues, with 50% of these cases related to impaired semen.

In order to elucidate if antioxidant supplements may benefit infertility measures, the researchers conducted a systematic review of the literature. They found 17 randomized clinical trials involving vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, folate, carnitine and carotenoids in relation to sperm quality and pregnancy rates.

Data was available for 1,665 men from 17 trials. Results showed that antioxidant supplementation associated with 75% of the trials showed an "improvement in at least one sperm parameter compared with placebo or no treatment." Moreover, 63% of the studies showed significant improvements in sperm motility compared with placebo, while only 33% of trials showed an improvement in sperm concentration.

Regarding pregnancy rates, the London-based reviewers report that antioxidant supplementation was associated with a higher pregnancy rate of 19%, compared with only three percent in placebo/control groups.

"This review shows that oral antioxidant therapy was associated with a significant improvement in spontaneous and assisted conception pregnancy rates in six of the 10 randomized studies identified in the database search," wrote the researchers.

"This finding could possibly be explained, at least in part, by the antioxidant-related improvement in either sperm motility and total motile sperm count—both of which have been reported to predict male fertility—or sperm DNA integrity," they added.

September jobs report coming up tomorrow, market may find a short term top if traders feel it is the right time to take profit.

The S&P 500 Index gave up 1.9 points, closed at 1158.06, but remains well north of its 10-day moving average. We have a muted day on Wall Street because the of September jobs report coming up tomorrow, investors also cautious as companies begin reporting third-quarter financial results.

 "Caution" was the keyword on Wall Street today, with traders holding their breath ahead of the highly anticipated reports.The government will unveil its nonfarm payroll numbers for September early tomorrow morning. With these major market catalysts just over the horizon, traders seemed relatively unmoved

 We have a overbought market and when the market is overbought, traders have ton of reasons to sell their stocks, especially when there is a significant report coming up like the one tomorrow. If you are smart traders, you shouldn't hold your position, especially the long position even though we have a short term uptrend.

As I mentioned couple days ago, market may find a short term top if traders feel it is the right time to take profit.

The market’s looking for a Fed sign of a second round of quantitative easing. However, there is a great deal of legitimate debate still to take place within the FOMC on the subject of quantitative easing, and the pros and cons and costs and benefits of further monetary accommodation. The ‘Legitimate Debate’ is that For $2 trillion, the Fed may buy little improvement in growth, employment or inflation over the next two years.

Just be cautious and lighten your stock holding on the way up of this rally

The S&P 500 Index made an attempt to find positive ground, but couldn't quite make it past the breakeven line. The SPX settled for a fractional loss of 0.8 point, closed at 1159.57. Broader market trade lacked direction in the early going. Stocks were unable to build on the prior session's big bounce mostly because of disappointment over the September ADP Employment Change. The report indicated that private payrolls fell by 39,000 last month

The high-flying technology stocks had a very rough day. Should this be a warning for the rest of the market? Just be cautious and lighten your stock holding on the way up of this rally, and you won't be too wrong about this.

Friday employment report may be the catalyst of short term market top

The S&P 500 Index added 23.7 points, closed at 1160.75. Stocks raced higher right out of the gate this morning, as a surprise rate cut from the Bank of Japan and better-than-expected services data ignited a broad rally. The markets are feeling reassured after Japan's move to ease monetary policy and the fact that the service sector, which accounts for 90% of our economic activity, is stronger than we were expecting.

Technically, it is bullish that 1150 resistance is broken with above average volume. However, another resistance 1160, 1175  will stop the next rally. The wild card is the employment report on coming Friday. Personally, I think of two scenarios will happen. Firstly, market will have another gap up on Friday if the employment report is very bullish. Secondly, the market will gap down if the report is bearish.

The short term market top may happen on coming Thursday or Friday. You may want to short this market with extreme overbought mode at 5, 15 and 60 minutes charts if  market gap up on Friday and the resistances 1160 and 1175 act as a cover. On the other hand if the market gap down, you may want to wait for the first rebound before placing your short order.

 BE CAUTIOUS BEFORE YOU SHORT THE CURRENT MARKET BECAUSE  the track record of the mid term election rally is very strong in that only one has been down in the 34 years [INDU] since 1913 for the 5-month period starting at 9/30.

History tell us that in a bear market investors should sell on rallies in extreme complacency while traders should pursue bearish strategies on the short side of the market.

The S&P 500 Index dropped 9.2 points, closed at 1137.03. Broad-based selling dropped stocks for sizable losses Monday. The slide found support at last week's lows, though. Stocks finished near session lows Monday following a midday sell-off, as investors remain cautious ahead of corporate earnings season and key employment data due later in the week.

Upside volume is light and continues to lag downside volume. This is troubling because the implication of higher downside volume is that the bears are still in control and that the current rally may be failed. The Fed is pumping money into Wall Street through its Permanent Open Market Operations (POMO). This operation allows the Fed to buy Treasuries from primary dealers. The dealers then take this money and pump it into stocks, which in a low-volume situation with few sellers and even fewer buyers creates a run on stocks on low-volume days.

In the meantime, as a rule, you should buy on support, and sell on resistance (buy low, sell high) until the market tell you not to do so. That is, follow this rule until market break either support or resistance with directional move. It sounds simple, but it takes an enormous amount of discipline to consistently apply the rule, especially if you are listening to cross-currents of opinion. Whether you’re a bull or a bear, if you follow your trading rules, you will be a winner.

Look at the big picture, the secular bear market is still with us, and history tell us that in a bear market investors should sell on rallies in extreme complacency while traders should pursue bearish strategies on the short side of the market.

Sell high and buy low in trading range 1130-1150 until market make directional move

On Friday, the S&P 500 Index  finished the day up 5 points, closed at 1146.24,. Traders noted that the S&P 500 has risen above that level in recent days but hasn’t decisively risen above it, adding to the market’s volatility.

Additionally, many investors are holding off on big bets ahead of the midterm elections in November, which will determine control of Congress.

Technically, market still bouncing around 1130-1150, buy low and sell high seems to be the practical strategy lately. We will stick on this strategy until market make a directional move.

Linoleic acid

Linoleic acid is a colorless to straw-colored, liquid, polyunsaturated fatty acid (C18H32O2) of the omega-6 series. Linoleic and another fatty acid, gamma-linolenic, or gamolenic, produce prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are substances that are found in every cell, are needed for the body's overall health maintenance, and must be replenished constantly. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, which means that the body cannot produce it, so it must be obtained in the diet.

Linoleic acid is an important fatty acid, especially for the growth and development of infants. Fatty acids help to maintain the health of cell membranes, improve nutrient use, and establish and control cellular metabolism. They also provide the raw materials that help in the control of blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, body temperature, and other body functions.

Fatty acids are consumed in the greatest quantities in fat. Although many people are encouraged to consume less fat in their diets, fat is still an important component of a healthy body. Fat stores the body's extra calories, helps insulate the body, and protects body tissues. Fats are also an important energy source during exercise, when the body depends on its calories after using up available carbohydrates. Fat helps in the absorption, and transport through the bloodstream, of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Linoleic acid is found in fish oil , meat, milk, and other dairy products. It is also a constituent of many vegetable oils, including evening primrose oil , sunflower oil, and safflower oil. Commercially produced linoleic acid is used in margarine, animal feeds, emulsifying agents, soaps, and drugs.

It's now thought that trans fatty acids or those fats which have been hydrogenated commonly found in commercially packaged goods, vegetable shortening, some margarine, commercially fried food such as French fries and onion rings increase LDL (bad) cholesterol while reducing HDL (good) cholesterol. Such an increase causes a decrease in body pH (a more acidic blood plasma), which subsequently creates an environment that is ideal for cholesterol plaque buildup. Evidence suggests that alpha linolenic acid along with the other Omega 3 fatty acids have been associated with decreasing levels of blood cholesterol, preventing against cardiovascular disease and management of chronic disorders.

One particular isomer in CLA, known as cis-9, trans-11, is linked to anticancer benefits. Studies with animals have shown CLA to reduce breast, prostate, stomach, colorectal, lung, and skin cancers. The CLA may slow the growth of cells that give rise to cancer. A human study has shown an association between linoleic acids and a decreased risk for prostate cancer .

Infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) often have poor weight gain and growth and an inability to absorb fats. Some research suggests that infants with CF can benefit from formula with a high linoleic acid content because it optimizes nutrition, growth, and feeding efficiency.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which demyelination, loss of myelin sheath material, occurs. (The myelin sheath is a fatty substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of some nerve cells.) This leads to disruptions in nerve impulse transmission. Linoleic acid is believed to be helpful because myelin is composed of lecithin, which is made of linoleic and other fatty acids.

Many diets recommended for MS patients include supplements. Patients supplementing with linoleic acid show a smaller increase in disability and reduced severity and duration of attacks than those with no linoleic acid supplement. Evening primrose oil is beneficial because of its specialized fatty-acid content, including linoleic acid. Doses of sunflower seed oil or evening primrose oil to provide 17 grams linoleic acid per day may be beneficial.

One study indicated that low doses of linoleic acid and calcium can reduce the incidence of preeclampsia in high-risk women. (Preeclampsia is the development of hypertension with increased protein in the urine or accumulation of watery fluid in cells or tissues or both, due to pregnancy.) Another study showed, however, that linoleic acid consumption can have a negative effect on fetal growth. Pregnant women should talk to their doctors before taking linoleic acid or any other supplement.

Vitamin E May Protect the Aging Brain

While some research suggests that antioxidants may protect against cardiovascular disease and some cancers, many people are also interested in hearing more about their specific anti-aging effects, which haven’t been as well studied. New research in the Archives of Neurology suggests that people who eat high amounts of food rich in vitamin E may lower their long-term dementia risk by as much as 25%.

E associated with lower dementia risk

Oxidative stress, which is caused by free oxygen radicals, may cause increasing damage to cells and organs as a person ages and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this association, researchers interested in looking at antioxidants’ potential in helping prevent dementia studied 5,395 seniors (55 years old and older) with no dementia. Participants filled out questionnaires about their dietary habits and were monitored for an average of ten years.

Results showed that people who ate higher amounts of foods with vitamin E were 25% less likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, compared with those who ate the least amount of foods with dietary vitamin E. No associations were found between dietary vitamin C, beta carotene, or flavonoids and risk of dementia in this study.

The study researchers comment, “The brain is a site of high metabolic activity, which makes it vulnerable to oxidative damage, and slow accumulation of such damage over a lifetime may contribute to the development of dementia.” They point out that vitamin E is a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that may help protect against this occurence.

Facts about vitamin E

Antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene, and flavonoids play an important role in our health. Here are some further facts about vitamin E:

• Vitamin E actually refers to a number of compounds that are important for cell regulation and the immune system, and that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol are the main forms of vitamin E found in the body, and gamma-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E in the US diet.

• Vitamin E can provide the most benefit to a person’s health when it is part of a healthy, balanced diet. Vitamin E is present in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetables and some fruits, and in fortified foods such as cereal.

Bulls will take charge if closing price is above 1150

The S&P 500 Index finished the day off 3.5 points, closed at 1141.2, but remained above its 10-day moving average. Bulls took the reins early this morning, as the market cheered a  steeper-than-expected drop in weekly jobless claims. However, stocks made a drastic U-turn into negative territory by midday.

The S&P 500 Index continues to have trouble near its January peak of 1150. Although the bulls tested the 1157 in this morning, Traders took profit without any hesitation. We will still watching 1130 down and 1150 up. Today the resistance 1150 was broken, however, only the closing price above 1150 will confirm it.

The trading range between resistance 1150 and support 1130 is the zone sreparate the bulls and bears

The S&P 500 Index recorded a slim daily deficit of about 3 points, but remains comfortably north of its 10-day moving average, closed at 1144.73. Resistance along the top end of recent trading ranges didn t help the case for stocks. Even at their best levels of the day the major averages were hung up near the neutral line.

While the economy may not be headed for a double-dip recession, economic and political uncertainty ahead of midterm elections and new tax policies is making it hard for stocks to keep up their momentum. Markets hate uncertainty, and the government has created a tremendous amount of uncertainty, so that's gotten the market frozen.

In the meantime, the trading range between resistance 1150 and support 1130 is the zone separate the bulls and bears, we still waiting for the market to lead us to the right direction. However, even market breaks 1150, there is another critical resistance right above 1165-1175, so the risk reward ratio still favor the bears in the longer term.

The longer the S&P 500 Index consolidates its breakout atop 1130, the more likely this rally will continue

The S&P 500 Index reversed early losses to end 5.5 points higher, closed at 1147.7, though the index was stopped short at the psychologically significant 1150 level. Stocks shrugged off worse-than-expected housing and sentiment data to finish higher Tuesday. Despite an early slide, stocks were able to settle with solid, broad gains Tuesday.

The Consumer Confidence Index dropped is further evidence that the consumer is still not feeling particularly upbeat about what they see going on in the market or in the foreseeable future, which obviously impacts their spending behavior. That's enough to hold markets back.

Today's market is very impressive, 1130 still act as a very strong support today. The way the market shook off the poor consumer confidence data was rather impressive.There could be even more upward momentum in store, as the longer the S&P 500 Index consolidates its breakout atop 1130, the more likely this rally will continue.

It is very bullish after market broke out at 1130, however, the anemic volume in this rally so far make me cautious

The S&P 500 Index gave up 6.5 points, closed at 1142.16. Resistance near 1150 keeps S&P 500 out of higher ground. It is normal to see periodic short-term market pullbacks after extended rallies. The markets are in rally mode and are likely to continue until we see worse-than-expected economic data with the next major report next Friday – unemployment report.

Yesterday I said this market is on buying panic mode, and I think the next critical resistance will be 1170-1175.  Market may retract few days to digest this overbought situation. However, next time you see market gap up with extreme buying panic, you should pay attention. Technically, it is very bullish after market broke out at 1130, however, the anemic volume in this rally so far make me cautious.

People have been thinking all the economic problems are all fixed but we've still got a long way to go. Painfully high unemployment, home prices and the government's enormous deficit are other issues still weighing on the minds of investors.