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

CAN GLUTEN-FREE AID WEIGHT LOSS? – a gluten-free diet (one where you cut out foods that contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) may help people lose weight because people who go on the diet tend to eliminate foods like bread, muffins, and pastries – baked goods and desserts that often pack unhealthy refined carbohydrates, and instead opt for meals that emphasize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains like quinoa.

            On the other hand, if all you do is swap your usual snack foods for their gluten-free counterparts, you might actually end up gaining weight.  Gluten-free muffins, breads, and crackers are much higher in sugar and fat and they tend to have more calories.

            If you are looking for a way to drop weight, a no-gluten diet is not the solution, especially if you are eating gluten-free junk food.  You will get better results by eating whole grains (including those with gluten), fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources.  A gluten-free diet is beneficial to the one percent of Americans who have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the lining of the small intestine in response to ingesting foods containing gluten, plus the 6 or 7 percent of Americans who have gluten sensitivity – meaning they have celiac-like symptoms (abdominal pain, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, persistent diarrhea) but test negative for celiac disease.  Health 11/11.

Get Your Vitamin D - More than three-quarters of cancer patients have insufficient levels of vitamin D and the lowest levels are associated with more advanced cancer. The five most common primary diagnoses were breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and colorectal cancer. 77 percent of patients had vitamin D concentrations either deficient or sub-optimal. American Society for Radiation Oncology, 10/11.

Diet: A Slice Of Watermelon - Watermelon reduces atherosclerosis in animals. The study involved mice with diet-induced high cholesterol. By week 8, animals given watermelon juice had lower body weight, due to decreased fat mass. They experienced no decrease in lean mass. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower, with modestly reduced intermediate and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.
University of Kentucky, 10/ 11.

VITAMIN B FOR ANTI-AGING – especially for women.  Bananas are rich in vitamin B, something that the body needs more of as you age. Tufts University researchers found that women of childbearing age, particularly those taking oral contraceptives, are much more likely than men to have inadequate amounts of vitamin B6.  The nutrient is necessary for estrogen metabolism and the Pill adds more estrogen to your body.  B6 is also vital for red blood cell function, a healthy immune system, and normal brain activity – low levels can lead to a form of anemia.

            Boosting levels of another B vitamin – B12 – may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Bananas, baked potatoes, and chicken are good sources of B6.  Eggs, meat, and milk are high in B12. Health 10/08.

MORE LIKELY TO CATCH A COLD ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT? – cabin air in commercial aircraft is no more likely to spread colds and other infections than the air in similar crowded, enclosed spaces, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.  People often blame poor ventilation, especially the recirculation of cabin air, but the air is refreshed and filtered many times every hour (much less so when sitting on the ramp or taxiway). Simple human proximity is the real culprit – passengers get sick on planes by sitting near people who are sneezing or coughing.  For colds, hand-to-hand contact via contaminated objects is also a risk.  Frequent hand washing is the best defense.

Additionally, staying active can help ward off colds, according to a Swedish report.  The study of 1,500 people found that the most active folks were 18 percent less likely than infrequent exercisers to develop upper-respiratory infections during the 15-week study period.  The effect was even stronger with those who indicated high stress.  Exercise temporarily releases immune cells into the bloodstream.  Maximum benefit was derived from one hour of exercise a day. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 02/11, Men’s Health 11/11.

Y CHROMOSOME RISK – a Columbia University study of 40,000 men found that the dads who had only daughters were 40 percent more prone to prostate cancer than the men with at least one son.  A mutation on a man’s Y chromosome may reduce his odds of having a boy and raise his cancer risk.  Men’s Health 5/07.

ACETAMINOPHEN WARNING – if you take acetaminophen, make sure you are not taking too much.  It is easy to take too much since this pain reliever (Tylenol and generics) is also found in many headache and cold/flu remedies (such as Excedrin and Theraflu) and other over-the-counter drugs, as well as in some prescription pain relievers.  Overdosing with acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.  Adults should not take more than 4,000 milligrams a day from all sources (equal to eight Extra-Strength Tylenol). Read the ingredients list carefully.  Drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen greatly increases the risk of liver problems.  University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 02/11.

BROCCOLI FOR YOUR PROSTATE – a test-tube study conducted by Oregon State University revealed that a phytochemical in broccoli may kill prostate-cancer cells.  Surforphane inhibits enzymes that allow cancerous cells to grow.  Clinical trials are planned to see if the effects would be similar in humans.  Men’s Health 11/11.

Remember Your Fluids - Drinking plenty of fluids may provide men with protection against bladder cancer as the fluids may flush out potential carcinogens before they have the opportunity to cause tissue damage that could lead to the cancer. High total fluid intake (more than 2,531 milliliters per day) was associated with a 24 percent reduced risk for bladder cancer among men. Cancer Prevention Research 10/11.

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GOOD TO START EARLY – there is good reason to start measuring cholesterol at age 20 and take steps to improve undesirable results.  People in their twenties and thirties who have elevated cholesterol are at increased risk for developing signs of coronary artery disease in midlife, according to a large, long-term study in the Annuals of Internal Medicine.  Researchers repeatedly tested cholesterol levels in people age 18 to 30 for two decades and also measured calcium deposits in coronary arteries, an indicator of plaque build-up (atherosclerosis). Those with high LDL (bad) cholesterol when young were three to five times more likely to have calcification at age 45 than those with low LDL levels.  University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 01/11.

Fish And Alzheimer's Risk - 5.1 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease. Eating fish once a week is good for brain health, as well as lowering your risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease and mild cognitive impairment. This is the first study to establish a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer's risk. Consuming baked or broiled fish promotes stronger neurons in the brain's gray matter by making them larger and healthier. This simple lifestyle choice increases the brain's resistance to Alzheimer's Disease and lowers risk for the disorder. Eating dried or fried fish does not seem to help preserve brain volume or lower Alzheimer's risk. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 12/11.

WHY VEINS “POP” DURING EXERCISE – when you exercise, the heart beats faster and stronger, raising blood pressure.  Arteries and veins are flooded with fast-flowing blood.  The extra pressure in the blood vessels forces water out of the contracting muscles and into the compartments of muscle groups encased in fascia (strong connective tissue). The water causes the muscle compartments to swell and become dense and heavy.  This swelling of the compartments pushes veins towards the skin surface so they appear to bulge.  The veins remain there for about 30 minutes after exercise, when blood pressure drops and water returns to the muscles.  Men’s Health 5/07.