Health News

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

Past issues of “Health News” are available at http://livehealthy-livewell.blogspot.com/. It includes a search engine; just enter a key word to find past articles. LK

CHOOSE WISELY- (being nagged can kill) – people whose spouses bombard them with demands have higher risks of heart disease (up to three times higher) than those with laid-back mates, researchers in Denmark found. The study’s authors tracked more than 4,500 people for six years and found that high levels of demands and worry can lead to extra stress, which has been linked to heart disease. Men’s Health 4/11.

DON’T BRUSH! – at least not if you have just consumed a soda, wine, citrus fruits, tomatoes, or coffee. Brushing after eating acidic foods like these actually pushes the acid into the tooth enamel more so than not brushing. Over time this can lead to tooth sensitivity and erosion and possibly more cavities.

Instead, dental professionals recommend swishing or rinsing with water first and waiting at least 30 minutes to an hour before brushing. Health 3/11

IF YOU EAT BACON, CHOOSE CANADIAN BACON – in order to cut down on calories and fat. Grilled Canadian bacon, more like ham, has about 50 calories and 2 grams of fat per ounce (one thick slice). Regular bacon has about 165 calories and 14 grams of fat per ounce (four slices). They are equally high in sodium, however, with 450 milligrams per ounce. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 5/11.

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD ­– according to a study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, sitting all day can hurt your heart. People who sit for most of every day are 35 percent more likely to die of heart disease than those who are often on their feet.

The study’s authors stated that, “Your legs are a large part of your total muscle…when they are inactive, you don not break down fat in your blood as well.” They recommend walking for a few minutes every hour. (Or for our profession, whenever you can, be sure to get out of the seat and stretch your legs-LK) Men’s Health 4/10.

HIGH CHOLESTEROL? – certain classes of food chemicals can actively and powerfully lower a person’s bad cholesterol. Two – soluble fiber and phytosterols – have so much science behind them that they have become part of the standard medical prescriptions for treating high cholesterol. Other foods beneficial to lowering high LDL cholesterol levels include regularly eating almonds, ground flaxseed, apples, soy protein and olive oil. Each of these foods works in a slightly different way in lowering cholesterol.

Almonds and olive oil are high in monounsaturated fats, which are thought to blend with LDL molecules in a way that speeds LDL’s clearance from the blood by the liver. Flax is high in both soluble fiber, which lowers LDL by absorbing cholesterol from both food and bile inside the intestines, and omega-3 fatty acids, which studies show have anti-inflammatory effects. Other foods especially high in soluble fiber include oat bran, oatmeal, and apples. (Soluble fiber is different from insoluble fiber, the kind found in whole-grain bread and bran cereal.)

Soy may mimic natural estrogens in their LDL-clearing effects. Phytosterols are the plant version of animal sterols (cholesterol) and lower LDL by competing with it for absorption, into the body. They are found in supplements and phytosterol-enhanced margarines such as Benecol. Cholesterol Down by Janet Brill, PhD, RD.

MORE WHOLE-GRAIN BENEFITS – white bread is missing more than just fiber. Whole grains also contain high levels of disease-fighting anti-oxidants. The anti-oxidants may be bound with the fiber, helping absorption. That may explain why eating whole grains is linked to lower risks of cancer and heart disease. Foods high in antioxidants include popcorn and whole-grain crackers and pastas. Men’s Health 4/10.

PREVENTING RUNNER’S KNEE – you may be able to ward off the soreness known as runner’s knee by following a smart weight-lifting plan. According to research conducted at the United States Naval Academy, strengthening the quadriceps and hamstrings may help prevent this condition, which is caused by abnormal movement of the patella on the thighbone. Researchers who tracked 1,600 midshipmen found that those with weak hamstrings were nearly three times more likely to develop the syndrome, while those with weak quadriceps were 5 ½ times more likely.

Hip raises and lunges can help build those muscles. Men’s Health 4/10.

COLD SORES LINKED TO ALZHEIMER’S – scientists from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Brown University, and House Ear Institute in Los Angeles have developed a new lab technique that helps them observe how herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) infections grow inside cells. HSV1 is a common virus that infects mucous membranes and causes cold sores.

Using the new method, the scientists were able to watch the virus burst out of the cells of a mucous membrane and enter nerve cells. In theory, the virus then could travel to the brain and affect dementia plaques.

Clinicians have seen a link between HSV1 infection and Alzheimer’s disease in patients. Now the lab results seem to confirm a causal link between HSV1 and Alzheimer’s.

The scientists also feel that HSV1 is not the only cause of Alzheimer’s, but one co-factor. Experts advise treating a cold sore quickly to minimize the time the virus is active. USA Today 4/5/11.

TRIGLYCERIDE TROUBLE – besides increasing the risk of heart disease, high triglyceride levels may raise the risk of cancer. In a study from Austria, Norway, and Sweden, people with triglyceride levels of 150 milligrams per deciliter or higher were more likely to develop one or more cancers, including kidney, colon, and lung, than those with low levels. Excess triglycerides may trigger cancer-inducing free radicals. Men’s Health 4/11.

PROTECT YOUR BRAIN – tea and coffee may protect the brain. People who sipped as little as half a cup of coffee or tea a day are 34 percent less likely to develop brain cancer later in life than those who do not. High levels of antioxidants in these drinks may help prevent cancer cells from forming in the brain. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

MORE WHOLE GRAIN BENEFITS – in a study from the University of Aberdeen, people who ate three servings of whole grains a day for 12 weeks lowered their systolic blood pressure by 5 to 6 millimeters of mercury – which reduced their risks of coronary artery disease and stroke by 15 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Avoid consuming white bread and white rice to reap these benefits. Men’s Health 4/11.

BOOST YOUR BRAINPOWER - with fresh foods. Children who ate a mostly processed diet at age 3 had lower IQs (1.67 points lower) by age 8. Conversely, health-conscious eaters (ones who ate more salad, fish, whole-grain pasta, and fruit) gained more than one point by the same age, according to a study in the February 2011 Journal of Epidemiological & Community Health.

MODERATE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION MAY REDUCE RISK OF DEMENTIA – a Finnish study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that, compared to both abstainers and heavy drinkers, light or moderate drinker were less likely to develop cognitive impairment later in life. Besides the amount of alcohol, the pattern of drinking was also important. Binge drinking was found to be an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment, even after controlling for total alcohol consumption. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 5/11.