REPORTING POINT 04/11
HEALTH NEWS
“Live healthy...Live well”
Dedicated to providing pertinent information on health, fitness, and nutrition to foster a culture of wellness among Southwest Airlines flight crews and their families.
by Larry Kline
email: livehealthy-livewell@cox.net
GRILLING BASICS – grilling meats may expose you to potentially dangerous chemicals, especially when the meat is charred or overcooked.
Grilling, frying, broiling, and other cooking methods that expose meat to extremely high temperatures create potentially cancer-causing compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). When fat drips on the heat source, the plumes of smoke can coat meat with other dangerous chemicals. The worst offenders are fatty, well-done beef, pork, and lamb, but even poultry and fish produce HCAs when seared.
WAYS TO REDUCE THE RISKS
-Choose lean cuts of meat and trim any visible fat.
-Marinate meat. Researchers have found that this can decrease HCAs by more than 90 percent. Use combinations of beer, cider, vinegar, citrus juices, mustard, herbs, and brown sugar.
-Precook in a microwave or oven and finish on the grill.
-Use lower heat. Turn down the gas or wait for the coals to burn less hot. Do not cook directly over the heat source.
-Flip the meat frequently to avoid charring, and grill just until the meat is cooked through and safe to eat. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
-Go vegetarian. When veggie burgers, tofu, and vegetables are grilled, there is little or no formation of HCAs.
-Stay upwind from grills to avoid breathing in smoke which also carries health risk.
AVID EXERCISER? – intense levels of exercise which includes overdoing it at the gym or strenuous cardio-sessions can leave you vulnerable to illness due to stressing the body which decreases the number of cells in the immune system.
A Japanese study has found that consuming a combination of two amino acids could counteract this undesirable side effect.
The compounds, cystine and theanine can be found in two foods: eggs and green tea. Men’s Health 6/10.
WHICH IS MORE SANITARY:
When you're in a public restroom, do you go for the paper towels or the air dryer after you wash your hands? To get your hands cleanest, choose the towels.
A recent study put each drying method to the test and revealed that rubbing hands thoroughly dry with paper towels may give people the best chance of walking out of the restroom with germ-free hands.
Wet and Dirty
No matter which method you choose, you won't be rid of germs unless you dry your hands thoroughly. Germs love water. It's their ideal medium for multiplying and getting around. The recent study found that putting in the time and effort to really dry hands completely will mean way fewer germs. Drying hands vigorously with a paper towel bested rubbing them dry under a blower when it came to germ levels. Seems the skin-on-skin friction created when we rub our hands under the blower somehow releases more germs that live deep in our pores.
High and Dry
If you just can't bear the earth-unfriendly thought of using paper towels, go ahead and use the blower. But don't rub your hands. Hold your hands still, palms up, and leave them there for at least 30 seconds -- but longer is even better. Whatever you do, don't give up and wipe them on your jeans or shirt sleeves. You'll just contaminate your hands. And don't leave them wet. This just allows the "bad" germs to multiply and take up permanent residence with the "good" flora on your hands. (Tests have found that the surfaces of public restroom faucets and door handles are routinely contaminated with E. coli. as well as the viruses associated with colds and the flu. Use a paper towel when touching these areas…LK) Real Age
MAYO CLINIC HOME REMEDIES - experts at the Mayo Clinic have compiled a list of remedies for conditions that may be treated at home, rather than visiting a physician. The remedies include simple solutions such as gentle stretching for back pain, swallowing a teaspoon of sugar for hiccups, trying ginger for morning sickness and using Tylenol for teething. Other solutions offered:
INSOMNIA. Insomnia disturbs more than one-third of adults at some point. Mayo Clinic suggests getting exercise and taking a warm bath one to two hours before bedtime, along with limiting naps to 20 to 30 minutes.
ALLERGIES. The best way to approach managing allergies is to know and avoid your allergy triggers. The most common allergens are inhaled - such as pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander.
When at home and encountering a pollen-allergy reaction, try closing windows and doors, do not hang laundry outdoors, use an allergy-grade filter on home heating and cooling systems, and rising out your sinuses with a nasal rinse.
HEARTBURN. Prevention is the key with maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding food and drinks that can trigger heartburn, including fatty foods, alcohol, peppermint and tomato products, and not eating within two to three hours before bed. Over-the-counter remedies such as antacids and Pepcid can help.
INFLUENZA. If you get the flu, rest, drink plenty of fluids, try chicken soup, which can break up sinus congestion, and consider pain relievers. Preventive techniques include getting seasonal flu shots, washing your hands often, and eating right and sleeping right. Mayo Clinic Home Remedies
SOY FOODS MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF PROSTATE CANCER – according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, data from 14 studies found that men who consumed soy regularly had a 26 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer, compared to those who ate little or none. This benefit was derived only with consuming nonfermented soy foods (tofu and soy milk). Fermented foods such as miso and natto showed neither benefit nor risk (there has been some concern that fermented foods may increase cancer risk). The studies did not look at soy supplements, which are of questionable safety.
BEWARE OF MUSCLE-BUILDING SUPPLEMENTS – the FDA recently warned about muscle-building supplements that claim to mimic or affect hormones such as testosterone or estrogen in the body. Marketed as alternatives to anabolic steroids for building muscle and improving sports performance, these products may contain hidden synthetic steroids or steroid-like substances that can cause kidney or liver damage and other serious adverse effects. The FDA cited eight products made by American Cellular Labs, but said there are many others like them.
ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID TRANS FATS – consuming trans fats may increase the risk of colon cancer. A recent study of more than 600 people who had colonoscopies showed that those who ate the most trans fats were 86 percent more likely to have precancerous polyps in their colon than those who ate the least trans fats. Trans fats raise LDL (bad) cholesterol, lower HDL (good) cholesterol, promote inflammation, and have other negative health effects.
Many packaged foods these days – spreads, chips, baked goods, and microwave popcorn – list zero trans fats on the label. However, whenever hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils are used, the product contains trans fats.
Trans fats are created when liquid vegetable oils are “partially hydrogenated” (hydrogen atoms are added to them, turning them into semi-solid fats that have a longer shelf life). These qualities are favorable to food companies but bad for consumers.
The FDA allows labels to list trans fats as “0” if the food contains less than 0.5 grams per serving. This can add up if you eat more than one serving or if you eat several foods with small amounts of trans fats throughout the day.
There is no daily limit for trans fats in the
Since many consumers know that trans fats are to be avoided, food manufacturers have the ability to list zero trans fats on the packaging, but still the food may contain harmful trans fats if the ingredients label lists “partially hydrogenated” oils or “shortening.” Most food products that contain these ingredients are not that nutritious anyway. American Journal of Epidemiology,
BEANS FOR BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL – an analysis of 41 clinical trials indicated that beans can significantly lower blood sugar and insulin levels as well as hemoglobin A1c, a marker of longer-term blood sugar control, in people with diabetes. All it takes is half a coup of beans a day – chickpeas (garbanzo beans) had the biggest effect.
No comments:
Post a Comment