Tuesday, January 31, 2012
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...
The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.
FUN FACTS - AND A GREAT WAY TO MAKE EXTRA INCOME AND LOTS OF IT - AND - CHECK OUT " WWW.MELODY'SHAPPYWORLD.COM " FOR A FREE WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS, LOVE AND HOPE TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN!!
* There are only 14 blimps in the world. *
* The Queen Mary - the grandest vessel of her day - had many of her vital components made by car manufacturer Skoda! *
* The oil used by jewelers to lubricate clocks and watches costs about $3,000 a gallon. *
* The normal static electricty shock that zaps your finger when you touch a doorknob is usually between 10,000 and 30,000 volts! *
* The life boat was patented in 1845! *
* The IRS processes more than 2 billion pieces of paper each year. *
___________________________________________________________________________
WWW.MELODYSHAPPYWORLD.COM - "True happiness is not looking back with regret, but looking forward to the future and creating your own exciting, magnificent destiny and masterpiece, YOUR LIFE!"
MELODY JENSEN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON AND THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN I KNOW. CHECK OUT MELODY'S HAPPY WORLD, IT'S FREE!!
ASSOCIATIONS:
WWW.MELODYSSECRET.COM
WWW.MJHLC.COM
* The Queen Mary - the grandest vessel of her day - had many of her vital components made by car manufacturer Skoda! *
* The oil used by jewelers to lubricate clocks and watches costs about $3,000 a gallon. *
* The normal static electricty shock that zaps your finger when you touch a doorknob is usually between 10,000 and 30,000 volts! *
* The life boat was patented in 1845! *
* The IRS processes more than 2 billion pieces of paper each year. *
___________________________________________________________________________
WWW.MELODYSHAPPYWORLD.COM - "True happiness is not looking back with regret, but looking forward to the future and creating your own exciting, magnificent destiny and masterpiece, YOUR LIFE!"
MELODY JENSEN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON AND THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN I KNOW. CHECK OUT MELODY'S HAPPY WORLD, IT'S FREE!!
ASSOCIATIONS:
WWW.MELODYSSECRET.COM
WWW.MJHLC.COM
Cyberknife Radiation Relieves Pain
Using a Cyberknife – a device that delivers a focused beam of radiation – significantly reduces the stabbing pain from a facial nerve condition, new research has found.
The small study, published online in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, found the Cyberknife to be very effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia, which strikes about five in every 100,000 people.
The condition is named after the trigeminal nerve, the source of the pain, which causes brief but sharp episodes of stabbing or burning sensations in the jaw or cheek.
The condition is usually treated with pain medication, but that does not provide lasting relief and can have serious side effects, health experts note. Some patients also undergo surgery, but not all patients can tolerate anesthesia or are willing to opt for such an invasive procedure.
The new study involved treating 17 patients with trigeminal neuralgia with Cyberknife radiosurgery between 2007 and 2009. The patients – aged 36 to 90 years - had suffered symptoms for between one and 11 years and had not responded to other treatment options.
After treatment, the patients were monitored for about a year. Researchers found 14 of the study participants experienced complete or partial relief from their symptoms after treatment with the Cyberknife.
The small study, published online in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, found the Cyberknife to be very effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia, which strikes about five in every 100,000 people.
The condition is named after the trigeminal nerve, the source of the pain, which causes brief but sharp episodes of stabbing or burning sensations in the jaw or cheek.
The condition is usually treated with pain medication, but that does not provide lasting relief and can have serious side effects, health experts note. Some patients also undergo surgery, but not all patients can tolerate anesthesia or are willing to opt for such an invasive procedure.
The new study involved treating 17 patients with trigeminal neuralgia with Cyberknife radiosurgery between 2007 and 2009. The patients – aged 36 to 90 years - had suffered symptoms for between one and 11 years and had not responded to other treatment options.
After treatment, the patients were monitored for about a year. Researchers found 14 of the study participants experienced complete or partial relief from their symptoms after treatment with the Cyberknife.
Cocoa Prevents Colon Cancer
Not only is chocolate a sweet treat for the stomach, new research suggests that cocoa can help protect against intestinal diseases like colon cancer.
In what they claim is the first study of its kind in relation to intestinal pathologies, a research team out of Spain has concluded that cocoa can act as a defense system for the body by interrupting the cell-signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, a process which results in the formation of tumors.
Their study also found that a cocoa-rich diet can help increase a natural process known as apoptosis or cell death, in which the body eliminates old, unhealthy cells, to make way for new ones — a "chemoprevention mechanism" that helps ward off cancer advancement.
For eight weeks, researchers fed rats a cocoa-rich diet — 12 percent — and then induced the effects of cancer.
Results showed that the rats that consumed a diet high in cocoa had significantly reduced aberrant crypts, a common manifestation of colon cancer. Crypts are tube-like glands found in the lining of the colon and rectum and, when functioning normally, renew the lining of the intestine and produce mucus.
Scientists also noted an improvement in the rats' antioxidant defenses and a decrease in oxidative damage induced by the carcinogens.
According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and is the fourth most common cancer after lung, stomach, and liver.
Cocoa, a major ingredient of chocolate, is rich in flavonoids and antioxidant properties.
A study published last year in the British Medical Journal also found that high levels of chocolate consumption could be associated with a reduced risk of developing heart disease by up to 37 percent.
The Spanish study was published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research and announced January 24.
In what they claim is the first study of its kind in relation to intestinal pathologies, a research team out of Spain has concluded that cocoa can act as a defense system for the body by interrupting the cell-signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, a process which results in the formation of tumors.
Their study also found that a cocoa-rich diet can help increase a natural process known as apoptosis or cell death, in which the body eliminates old, unhealthy cells, to make way for new ones — a "chemoprevention mechanism" that helps ward off cancer advancement.
For eight weeks, researchers fed rats a cocoa-rich diet — 12 percent — and then induced the effects of cancer.
Results showed that the rats that consumed a diet high in cocoa had significantly reduced aberrant crypts, a common manifestation of colon cancer. Crypts are tube-like glands found in the lining of the colon and rectum and, when functioning normally, renew the lining of the intestine and produce mucus.
Scientists also noted an improvement in the rats' antioxidant defenses and a decrease in oxidative damage induced by the carcinogens.
According to the World Health Organization, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and is the fourth most common cancer after lung, stomach, and liver.
Cocoa, a major ingredient of chocolate, is rich in flavonoids and antioxidant properties.
A study published last year in the British Medical Journal also found that high levels of chocolate consumption could be associated with a reduced risk of developing heart disease by up to 37 percent.
The Spanish study was published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research and announced January 24.
For Dieters, Calories Count But Source Doesn't Matter
People trying to lose weight may swear by specific diet plans calling for strict proportions of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, but where the calories come from may not matter as much as simply cutting back on them, according to a study.
Researchers whose results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found there were no differences in weight loss or the reduction of fat between four diets with different proportions of fat, carbohydrates, and protein.
"The major predictor for weight loss was 'adherence'. Those participants who adhered better, lost more weight than those who did not," said George Bray, at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who worked on the study.
Earlier research had found that certain diets — in particular, those with very low carbohydrates — worked better than others, Bray told Reuters Health in an email, but there had been no consensus among scientists.
Bray and his colleagues randomly assigned several hundred overweight or obese people to one of four diets: average protein, low fat and higher carbs; high protein, low fat, and higher carbs; average protein, high fat, and lower carbs; or high protein, high fat, and lower carbs.
Each of the diets was designed to cut 750 calories a day.
After six months and again at two years after starting the diets, researchers checked participants' weight, fat mass, and lean mass.
At six months, people had lost more than 9 pounds of fat and close to 5 pounds of lean mass, but they regained some of this by the two-year mark.
People were able to maintain a weight loss of more than 8 pounds after two years. Included in this was a nearly 3-pound loss of abdominal fat, a drop of more than 7 percent.
But many of the people who started in the study dropped out, and the diets of those who completed it were not exactly what had been assigned.
For example, the researchers had hoped to see two diet groups get 25 percent of their calories from protein and the other two groups get 15 percent of their calories from protein. But all four groups ended up getting about 20 percent of their calories from protein after two years.
"If you're happier doing it low fat, or happier doing it low carb, this paper says it's OK to do it either way. They were equally successful," said Christopher Gardner, a Stanford University professor uninvolved in the study.
"They did have difficulties with adherence, so that really tempers what you can conclude," he added.
In the end, he said, people should choose the diet that's easiest for them to stick with.
Researchers whose results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found there were no differences in weight loss or the reduction of fat between four diets with different proportions of fat, carbohydrates, and protein.
"The major predictor for weight loss was 'adherence'. Those participants who adhered better, lost more weight than those who did not," said George Bray, at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who worked on the study.
Earlier research had found that certain diets — in particular, those with very low carbohydrates — worked better than others, Bray told Reuters Health in an email, but there had been no consensus among scientists.
Bray and his colleagues randomly assigned several hundred overweight or obese people to one of four diets: average protein, low fat and higher carbs; high protein, low fat, and higher carbs; average protein, high fat, and lower carbs; or high protein, high fat, and lower carbs.
Each of the diets was designed to cut 750 calories a day.
After six months and again at two years after starting the diets, researchers checked participants' weight, fat mass, and lean mass.
At six months, people had lost more than 9 pounds of fat and close to 5 pounds of lean mass, but they regained some of this by the two-year mark.
People were able to maintain a weight loss of more than 8 pounds after two years. Included in this was a nearly 3-pound loss of abdominal fat, a drop of more than 7 percent.
But many of the people who started in the study dropped out, and the diets of those who completed it were not exactly what had been assigned.
For example, the researchers had hoped to see two diet groups get 25 percent of their calories from protein and the other two groups get 15 percent of their calories from protein. But all four groups ended up getting about 20 percent of their calories from protein after two years.
"If you're happier doing it low fat, or happier doing it low carb, this paper says it's OK to do it either way. They were equally successful," said Christopher Gardner, a Stanford University professor uninvolved in the study.
"They did have difficulties with adherence, so that really tempers what you can conclude," he added.
In the end, he said, people should choose the diet that's easiest for them to stick with.
Protect Yourself from Foodborne Illness - Salmonella, E. coli and Other Dangerous Bacteria
Do you know if what you’re eating is safe? From food recalls to salmonella-tainted eggs, we've all seen the outcome of foodborne illness in the news. Find out how to protect yourself from food poisoning - and what to do when an outbreak occurs...
Eggs, unfortunately, aren't the only source of foodborne illness.
A farm grows alfalfa sprouts next to a chicken coop, exposing them to poultry feces. A filthy truck contaminates a load of spinach.
Or a worker at a cookie-dough factory doesn’t wash his hands after visiting the bathroom.
Do you know how or even think about how food is handled before it gets to your table? Probably not.
Trouble is, what you don’t see can be hazardous to your health.
Foodborne illnesses costs the U.S. $152 billion in health-related expenses every year.
An outbreak can wreak havoc on our public food safety system, make favorite foods the enemy and even take lives.
But you can't rely on the government to protect you.
That's why we've asked top food-safety experts about how you can avoid food poisoning.
What’s Making You Sick?
Many different bacteria can leave you wishing you’d never touched that peanut butter sandwich.
The three most commonly linked to food poisoning are salmonella, campylobacter jejuni (“Campy” or C. jejuni), and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli).
All are found in underprocessed foods – including unpasteurized milk and uncooked poultry or red meats – and can easily travel to fruits and vegetables.
These bacteria stem from feces and can linger on hands and skin unless washed off, says Sam Beattie, Ph.D., a food safety specialist at Iowa State University.
They can easily contaminate almost anything, from spinach touched by fecal run-off to poultry crowded into filthy sheds.
Here’s a rundown on all three bacteria:
Salmonella
The most frequent cause of food poisoning, salmonella causes about 40,000 complaints to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 400 deaths annually.
Symptoms of food poisoning show up within 6-48 hours of eating a contaminated food. Salmonella causes “copious, watery diarrhea,” Beattie says. It can dredge up stomach cramps, fever and vomiting too.
Salmonella infection usually doesn't kill, but it can be deadly if it enters the bloodstream and spreads to tissues throughout the body. Then it can lead to other serious infections, such as:
Meningitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord
Endocarditis, which targets the lining of the heart or its valves
Osteomyelitis, which seeks out the bones or marrow
It can also lead to reactive arthritis, which can cause painful joints and urination, and irritated eyes.
C. jejuni
These unpleasant bacteria, the second-leading cause of food-borne illness, don’t receive much media attention since most outbreaks are sporadic and isolated. The bacteria enter the cells of the gut, causing severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.
The illness will usually begin 2-5 days after eating a contaminated food, and recovery can take up to 10 days, a long time for food poisoning.
In rare cases C. jejuni leads to a rare autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the body attacks its nerves, possibly resulting in temporary paralysis and requiring intensive care.
E. coli
This bacteria, usually associated with ground beef, vegetables and fruits, has been responsible for the most Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls and receives the most media attention. Yet it infects only about 1 out of every 100,000 people exposed to it.
High-profile outbreaks have involved organic bean sprouts (Germany, 2011), cookie dough (Nestle Tollhouse, June 2009), ground beef (JBS Swift Beef Co., June 2009), green onions (Taco Bell, 2006) and bagged spinach (Mission Organics, 2006).
E. coli 0157:H7, the most common infectious strain of the bacteria, causes severe bloody diarrhea, pain, vomiting and usually little to no fever.
Infected people can also develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which E. coli bacteria enter the blood stream and destroy red blood cells. The damaged cells clog the tiny renal blood vessels, leading to kidney failure.
Protect Yourself
Even if you don't know how your food is processed or grown, you can ward off foodborne illnesses.
Here are seven food safety tips to outsmart the harfmul microbes lurking in your food:
1. Turn Up the Heat
Cook poultry to 180 degrees and meat to about 160 degrees, advise Purdue University food safety experts.
“Cooking to the recommended temperatures will kill" the bad organisms, Beattie says.
But use a food thermometer, not your eyes, to be sure it's done, says Catherine H. Strohbehn, Ph.D., a food-safety specialist and professor at Iowa State University. “Color is not a true indicator of ‘doneness.’”
Most fish should be cooked to 140 degrees, but tuna, swordfish and marlin only have to be cooked to 125 degrees.
2. Chill It Right
Protect meat before it hits the grill, advises Jeff Nelken, a food-safety expert and coach who works with restaurants and the Los Angeles Health Department.
“Invest in a $3 or $4 thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure it’s working at the right temperature,” he says.
Bacteria multiply rapidly at 45-140 degrees, so set your fridge to 41 degrees or lower. And always store raw meat and poultry separately from foods that won’t be cooked. Leave them on low shelves in the fridge, to prevent juices from spilling into other food.
Eggs can be carriers of foodborne illness, so handle them with care. Under new federal proposals, egg producers would be required to test regularly for salmonella, buy chicks from suppliers who do the same and keep eggs refrigerated on the farm and during shipment. (Only half of the egg industry currently takes these measures voluntarily.)
Here are some food safety steps to take at home:
Buy refrigerated grade AA or A eggs with clean, uncracked shells and keep them in a refrigerator no warmer than 40 degrees.
Use raw-shell (uncooked) eggs within five weeks of purchase and hardboiled eggs within one week of cooking.
Avoid keeping raw or cooked eggs and foods containing eggs (like dough or potato salad) out of the refrigerator for more than two hours (including time for preparing and serving).
Remember to wash eggs – even if you’ve just been handling the uncracked shell – since contamination is usually found on the shell. That’s because an egg exits a hen’s body through the same passageway as feces.
3. Avoid Cross-Contamination
After Nestle recalled its cookie dough in 2009, the FDA advised people not to eat or even cook the dough. Cooking would have killed the bacteria, but getting dough on your hands or kitchen counters would still be dangerous.
Surfaces you cook and cut on can harbor bacteria from contaminated food. To avoid cross-contamination, keep raw and cooked meat separate.
Iowa State’s Strohbehn, for example, carries the meat to the grill on a cutting board covered in wax paper. Then she tosses out the wax paper and carries the cooked meat back on the clean board (or you can use two plates). You can also:
Designate specific platters, cutting boards and utensils for raw meat only.
Clean all hard surfaces that come into contact with raw meat. Use hot, soapy water or try a chlorine mixture of one tablespoon bleach to one gallon of water.
Buy new cutting boards when they develop cuts or grooves that are hard to clean. Bacteria will multiply in those areas.
Also, disinfect sponges − which Nelken calls “bacteria traps” − in the dishwasher or a bleach solution at least every other day, and replace them every week or two. Sponges transport bacteria: Say you sponge off the plate that held raw chicken breasts. Then you wipe down your counter or a set of glasses and voila! The bacteria in the chicken is now smeared all over those surfaces.
4. Scrub Your Hands
The best food-safety tip: Wash your hands before cooking and eating. But “splash-and-dash” won’t cut it, Strohbehn says. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and lather for 15 seconds − sing a verse or two of your favorite song − before you rinse.
5. Wash Uncooked Food
Wash food you’re working with, especially fresh produce - even the pre-washed kind, Strohbehn advises. “There are always certain levels of bacteria present on it.”
The FDA advises washing produce thoroughly under running water just before eating and cutting away damaged or bruised areas.
That even includes vegetables you plan to peel. Firm produce, like melons and cucumbers, should be scrubbed with a produce brush, available at most grocery stores.
Although the FDA doesn’t recommend washing produce with regular soap or detergents, special “produce washes” can be slightly more effective than water alone.
But you can save your pennies by using a vinegar or lemon juice spritz, followed by running water. To reduce bacteria even more, dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel. Here are more food safety techniques for produce:
Buy unbruised and undamaged fresh produce (even if it’s discounted). Bacteria thrive in those cracks and moist places.
If fruit is pre-cut (like a fruit salad or half a watermelon) make sure it’s refrigerated or packed in ice.
6. Understand Your Risk
Children under 9 years old, pregnant women, people with HIV or compromised immune systems and people older than 65 are vulnerable to complications from foodborne infections, such as severe dehydration, and may have to be hospitalized.
Pregnant women and the elderly should avoid packaged lunchmeats and egg dishes that might have runny undercooked yolks, Strohbehn says. And children should never drink unpasteurized apple juice or milk drinks on field trips to farms or county fairs.
Anyone at high risk should see a doctor if they suspect food poisoning, says Walid Alali, Ph.D, a professor at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.
Also, check the FDA’s Web site frequently for warnings of outbreaks. And know that most foodborne illnesses can be prevented at home with a little common sense and good hygiene.
7. If You Still Get Sick, Know How to Respond
In most cases, foodborne infections go away in several days with a little R&R – rest and rehydration.
“Rehydration is critical when vomiting and diarrhea are involved,” Beattie says. But don’t overwhelm your system with liquid, which might make you vomit more. Sip water slowly but frequently.
You may want to reach for Imodium (loperamide hydrochloride), a drug to control diarrhea, but first speak to a doctor, the CDC says. Medications for diarrhea slow digestion, allowing bacteria to remain in your body longer and raising the risk of kidney infection.
Call your doctor if blood appears in your stool or if your diarrhea or fever lasts more than two days.
Antibiotics won’t help E. coli infections. They may work for salmonella, but many strains have become resistant to them, says Alali.
If you believe you have a foodborne bacterial infection, alert your local health department, Nelken says. Officials may open an investigation, particularly if others have reported similar health issues.
What’s Your Food Safety IQ?
Food poisoning, whether contracted in a restaurant or in your own home, is never fun. Are you unnecessarily putting yourself at risk?
Eggs, unfortunately, aren't the only source of foodborne illness.
A farm grows alfalfa sprouts next to a chicken coop, exposing them to poultry feces. A filthy truck contaminates a load of spinach.
Or a worker at a cookie-dough factory doesn’t wash his hands after visiting the bathroom.
Do you know how or even think about how food is handled before it gets to your table? Probably not.
Trouble is, what you don’t see can be hazardous to your health.
Foodborne illnesses costs the U.S. $152 billion in health-related expenses every year.
An outbreak can wreak havoc on our public food safety system, make favorite foods the enemy and even take lives.
But you can't rely on the government to protect you.
That's why we've asked top food-safety experts about how you can avoid food poisoning.
What’s Making You Sick?
Many different bacteria can leave you wishing you’d never touched that peanut butter sandwich.
The three most commonly linked to food poisoning are salmonella, campylobacter jejuni (“Campy” or C. jejuni), and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli).
All are found in underprocessed foods – including unpasteurized milk and uncooked poultry or red meats – and can easily travel to fruits and vegetables.
These bacteria stem from feces and can linger on hands and skin unless washed off, says Sam Beattie, Ph.D., a food safety specialist at Iowa State University.
They can easily contaminate almost anything, from spinach touched by fecal run-off to poultry crowded into filthy sheds.
Here’s a rundown on all three bacteria:
Salmonella
The most frequent cause of food poisoning, salmonella causes about 40,000 complaints to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 400 deaths annually.
Symptoms of food poisoning show up within 6-48 hours of eating a contaminated food. Salmonella causes “copious, watery diarrhea,” Beattie says. It can dredge up stomach cramps, fever and vomiting too.
Salmonella infection usually doesn't kill, but it can be deadly if it enters the bloodstream and spreads to tissues throughout the body. Then it can lead to other serious infections, such as:
Meningitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord
Endocarditis, which targets the lining of the heart or its valves
Osteomyelitis, which seeks out the bones or marrow
It can also lead to reactive arthritis, which can cause painful joints and urination, and irritated eyes.
C. jejuni
These unpleasant bacteria, the second-leading cause of food-borne illness, don’t receive much media attention since most outbreaks are sporadic and isolated. The bacteria enter the cells of the gut, causing severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.
The illness will usually begin 2-5 days after eating a contaminated food, and recovery can take up to 10 days, a long time for food poisoning.
In rare cases C. jejuni leads to a rare autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the body attacks its nerves, possibly resulting in temporary paralysis and requiring intensive care.
E. coli
This bacteria, usually associated with ground beef, vegetables and fruits, has been responsible for the most Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls and receives the most media attention. Yet it infects only about 1 out of every 100,000 people exposed to it.
High-profile outbreaks have involved organic bean sprouts (Germany, 2011), cookie dough (Nestle Tollhouse, June 2009), ground beef (JBS Swift Beef Co., June 2009), green onions (Taco Bell, 2006) and bagged spinach (Mission Organics, 2006).
E. coli 0157:H7, the most common infectious strain of the bacteria, causes severe bloody diarrhea, pain, vomiting and usually little to no fever.
Infected people can also develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which E. coli bacteria enter the blood stream and destroy red blood cells. The damaged cells clog the tiny renal blood vessels, leading to kidney failure.
Protect Yourself
Even if you don't know how your food is processed or grown, you can ward off foodborne illnesses.
Here are seven food safety tips to outsmart the harfmul microbes lurking in your food:
1. Turn Up the Heat
Cook poultry to 180 degrees and meat to about 160 degrees, advise Purdue University food safety experts.
“Cooking to the recommended temperatures will kill" the bad organisms, Beattie says.
But use a food thermometer, not your eyes, to be sure it's done, says Catherine H. Strohbehn, Ph.D., a food-safety specialist and professor at Iowa State University. “Color is not a true indicator of ‘doneness.’”
Most fish should be cooked to 140 degrees, but tuna, swordfish and marlin only have to be cooked to 125 degrees.
2. Chill It Right
Protect meat before it hits the grill, advises Jeff Nelken, a food-safety expert and coach who works with restaurants and the Los Angeles Health Department.
“Invest in a $3 or $4 thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure it’s working at the right temperature,” he says.
Bacteria multiply rapidly at 45-140 degrees, so set your fridge to 41 degrees or lower. And always store raw meat and poultry separately from foods that won’t be cooked. Leave them on low shelves in the fridge, to prevent juices from spilling into other food.
Eggs can be carriers of foodborne illness, so handle them with care. Under new federal proposals, egg producers would be required to test regularly for salmonella, buy chicks from suppliers who do the same and keep eggs refrigerated on the farm and during shipment. (Only half of the egg industry currently takes these measures voluntarily.)
Here are some food safety steps to take at home:
Buy refrigerated grade AA or A eggs with clean, uncracked shells and keep them in a refrigerator no warmer than 40 degrees.
Use raw-shell (uncooked) eggs within five weeks of purchase and hardboiled eggs within one week of cooking.
Avoid keeping raw or cooked eggs and foods containing eggs (like dough or potato salad) out of the refrigerator for more than two hours (including time for preparing and serving).
Remember to wash eggs – even if you’ve just been handling the uncracked shell – since contamination is usually found on the shell. That’s because an egg exits a hen’s body through the same passageway as feces.
3. Avoid Cross-Contamination
After Nestle recalled its cookie dough in 2009, the FDA advised people not to eat or even cook the dough. Cooking would have killed the bacteria, but getting dough on your hands or kitchen counters would still be dangerous.
Surfaces you cook and cut on can harbor bacteria from contaminated food. To avoid cross-contamination, keep raw and cooked meat separate.
Iowa State’s Strohbehn, for example, carries the meat to the grill on a cutting board covered in wax paper. Then she tosses out the wax paper and carries the cooked meat back on the clean board (or you can use two plates). You can also:
Designate specific platters, cutting boards and utensils for raw meat only.
Clean all hard surfaces that come into contact with raw meat. Use hot, soapy water or try a chlorine mixture of one tablespoon bleach to one gallon of water.
Buy new cutting boards when they develop cuts or grooves that are hard to clean. Bacteria will multiply in those areas.
Also, disinfect sponges − which Nelken calls “bacteria traps” − in the dishwasher or a bleach solution at least every other day, and replace them every week or two. Sponges transport bacteria: Say you sponge off the plate that held raw chicken breasts. Then you wipe down your counter or a set of glasses and voila! The bacteria in the chicken is now smeared all over those surfaces.
4. Scrub Your Hands
The best food-safety tip: Wash your hands before cooking and eating. But “splash-and-dash” won’t cut it, Strohbehn says. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and lather for 15 seconds − sing a verse or two of your favorite song − before you rinse.
5. Wash Uncooked Food
Wash food you’re working with, especially fresh produce - even the pre-washed kind, Strohbehn advises. “There are always certain levels of bacteria present on it.”
The FDA advises washing produce thoroughly under running water just before eating and cutting away damaged or bruised areas.
That even includes vegetables you plan to peel. Firm produce, like melons and cucumbers, should be scrubbed with a produce brush, available at most grocery stores.
Although the FDA doesn’t recommend washing produce with regular soap or detergents, special “produce washes” can be slightly more effective than water alone.
But you can save your pennies by using a vinegar or lemon juice spritz, followed by running water. To reduce bacteria even more, dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel. Here are more food safety techniques for produce:
Buy unbruised and undamaged fresh produce (even if it’s discounted). Bacteria thrive in those cracks and moist places.
If fruit is pre-cut (like a fruit salad or half a watermelon) make sure it’s refrigerated or packed in ice.
6. Understand Your Risk
Children under 9 years old, pregnant women, people with HIV or compromised immune systems and people older than 65 are vulnerable to complications from foodborne infections, such as severe dehydration, and may have to be hospitalized.
Pregnant women and the elderly should avoid packaged lunchmeats and egg dishes that might have runny undercooked yolks, Strohbehn says. And children should never drink unpasteurized apple juice or milk drinks on field trips to farms or county fairs.
Anyone at high risk should see a doctor if they suspect food poisoning, says Walid Alali, Ph.D, a professor at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.
Also, check the FDA’s Web site frequently for warnings of outbreaks. And know that most foodborne illnesses can be prevented at home with a little common sense and good hygiene.
7. If You Still Get Sick, Know How to Respond
In most cases, foodborne infections go away in several days with a little R&R – rest and rehydration.
“Rehydration is critical when vomiting and diarrhea are involved,” Beattie says. But don’t overwhelm your system with liquid, which might make you vomit more. Sip water slowly but frequently.
You may want to reach for Imodium (loperamide hydrochloride), a drug to control diarrhea, but first speak to a doctor, the CDC says. Medications for diarrhea slow digestion, allowing bacteria to remain in your body longer and raising the risk of kidney infection.
Call your doctor if blood appears in your stool or if your diarrhea or fever lasts more than two days.
Antibiotics won’t help E. coli infections. They may work for salmonella, but many strains have become resistant to them, says Alali.
If you believe you have a foodborne bacterial infection, alert your local health department, Nelken says. Officials may open an investigation, particularly if others have reported similar health issues.
What’s Your Food Safety IQ?
Food poisoning, whether contracted in a restaurant or in your own home, is never fun. Are you unnecessarily putting yourself at risk?
11 Natural Ways to Stop a Crohn's Disease Flare - How Certain Foods Can Help and Hurt Your Colon
You may have been told eating a bland, low-fiber, white-flour diet is unhealthy. But when symptoms of Crohn’s disease flare, it can lead to relief. What are some other ways to avoid and soothe symptoms of the disease? Read on for 11 tips from top experts. Plus, how well do you understand Chron’s disease?
It’s important to eat a rainbow-like variety of high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, right? Not if you have Crohn’s disease. Those foods might actually aggravate your condition, dietitians say.
Potato products, bread and bananas were least likely to cause problems for people suffering symptoms of Crohn’s disease, according to a 2006 study from Utrecht University and University Medical Center, Netherlands.
“It sounds really unhealthy, but it’s only temporary,” says Susie Ofria, R.D., a registered dietitian at Gottlieb Memorial in Melrose Park, Ill. “Once you’re out of your flare, you can start reintroducing whole grains and raw veggies into your diet one item at a time.”
Besides white foods, “eating smaller meals and avoiding certain foods also can dramatically decrease pain and symptoms,” says Laura Jeffers, R.D., M.Ed., outpatient nutrition manager at the Cleveland Clinic.
Read on for 11 ways to minimize pain and discomfort during a Crohn’s disease flare.
1. Consult a doctor or dietitian who specializes in Crohn’s treatment.
The pain and inflammation of Crohn’s disease can ruin your appetite and make it hard to digest and absorb nutrients, says Armen Simonian, M.D., a Trenton-based gastroenterologist at Capital Health Regional Medical Center and director of the Center for Digestive Health in New Jersey.
That’s why women with Crohn’s disease are sitting ducks for nutritional deficiencies.
Dietitians can order blood tests to help you correct nutritional problems and pinpoint foods that exacerbate symptoms.
“A dietitian can help you figure out which foods are safe to eat and those that cause symptoms,” says Nicole Kuhl, R.D., a registered dietitian in Santa Monica, Calif.
2. Determine what triggers your flares.
Triggers can vary, says Susy Weems, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
That’s why Crohn’s patients are advised to “keep a food diary to track what you’re eating and how you feel,” advises Lisa Moskowitz, R.D., a New York-based dietitian.
Write down everything you eat for a month or two, including quantity, time and the symptoms you have. That will help you and your doctor or dietitian create a balanced diet that avoids foods that exacerbate symptoms of Crohn’s disease, like cramping, gas and diarrhea, she says.
“If a certain food bothers you, remove it from your diet for about a month and see if symptoms of Crohn’s disease improve,” Kuhl says.
Experts agree, however, that when symptoms flare, forget about normal healthy eating and stick to a “Wonder Bread” diet.
3. Don’t skimp on calories.
You’ll lose necessary nutrients if you have chronic diarrhea and possibly vomiting, according to the Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Foundation (CCFA), a nonprofit organization for people with these digestive disorders.
That’s why your body needs more calories to fight Crohn’s disease.
Medications also work better if you’re well nourished, says the CCFA.
“With Crohn's disease, you need to eat a high-calorie, high-protein diet, even when you don't feel like eating,” Simonian says.
But big meals can overstress your digestive system, increasing gas, pain and diarrhea.
That’s why Weems advises sticking to “five or six small meals daily to ensure you get enough protein, calories and nutrients to replenish and repair your body.”
To aid digestion, take small bites of food and chew it really well, says Ofria.
“Also take vitamins and minerals that your physician recommends,” Weems says.
4. Cut back on fiber.
High-fiber foods like fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains are not your friends during Crohn’s flare, says Jeffers.
“Stick to a low-fiber diet that revolves around white bread and other refined white flour products, smooth and bland cooked cereals like Cream of Wheat, white rice and pastas, and well-cooked or steamed veggies (not cruciferous) that are soft enough to cut with the side of a fork,“ she says.
Here are more tips from Jeffers:
Avoid vegetables like lentils, beans, legumes, cabbage, broccoli and onions. They’re difficult to digest and cause gas, bloating and pain.
Avoid crunchy foods, such as raw veggies and fruits, which irritate your intestines and increase diarrhea.
Steer clear of anything with hulls or seeds, such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, strawberries, watermelon, grapes and crunchy nut butters. (Smooth nut butters are an excellent alternative and a great source of protein.)
Limit fruit to bananas. (Avoid fruits with skins, such as apples.)
Canned fruit is fine if it doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, which can aggravate diarrhea.
Avoid dried fruit, which is hard to digest and may get stuck in the intestines.
Steer clear of citrus fruits, which have seeds and are also very acidic, because these may increase pain and irritation.
5. Eat healthy fats.
Foods rich in polyunsaturated fats (walnuts, olive, flaxseed oils and butters) and omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna and mackerel), can promote healing, says Christian Renna, D.O., an integrated medicine physician who specializes in autoimmune diseases with Lifespan Medicine in Santa Monica, Calif.
The anti-inflammatory nature of omega-3 fatty acids eases Crohn’s symptoms, according to a 2011 study conducted at the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at St. Panteleimon General Hospital in Nicea, Greece.
6. Drink plenty of liquids.
“People with Crohn’s disease are at increased risk for diarrhea, so drink lots of water with and in between meals to avoid dehydration,” says Jeffers, who also offers these tips:
For each pound you weigh, drink one half-ounce of water per day, in addition to water-based foods, such as soups.
Also avoid highly acidic fruit juices made with citrus, cranberries and pineapple, which increase inflammation.
You may be able to tolerate low-acid juices made with bananas, pears, mangoes, grapes, watermelon, coconut and apricots. Avoid fruit-flavored juices and drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup, which also increases inflammation.
Sip beverages rather than gulp them. Gulping introduces air into the digestive system, causing discomfort.
Avoid carbonated beverages like soft drinks and sparkling waters because they increase gas and flatulence. Most soft drinks also contain high fructose corn syrup.
Avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea and chocolate-based drinks, which increase inflammation and exacerbate diarrhea.
Stay away from alcohol, including beer, wine and hard liquor, which irritates intestines and increases pain.
So what can you drink? Sip homemade chicken or vegetable broth.
“You’re getting a really nutritious drink that’s easy to digest,” Kuhl says.
7. Focus on lean protein.
Your body needs protein to build and heal tissue. If you have Crohn’s disease, you may not absorb enough to promote healing and prevent muscle wasting, says Moskowitz.
To reduce pain, gas and other symptoms, try these tips:
If red meat makes you feel queasy and exacerbates diarrhea, switch to leaner cuts like sirloin or ground round, or stick to fish or poultry without the skin, says Moskowitz.
Avoid fatty hot dogs, sausage, pork and anything with a tough skin. The fat can cause diarrhea and their skin can be difficult to digest, says Jeffers.
Liquid formulas like Ensure, Glucerna and Pulmocare, which are absorbed in the upper rather than in the lower intestine, help some Crohn’s patients, says Jeffers.
8. Watch out for dairy products.
You may feel better if you limit or avoid dairy products during your flare.
“They may cause gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea in some women with Crohn’s,” says Jeffers.
Can’t live without your milk mustache? Try lactose-free varieties or add an enzyme product, such as Lactaid, which breaks down lactose, suggests the CCFA.
Or for a healthy, easy-to-digest protein, eat plain yogurt. It contains acidophilus, a probiotic that has been shown to ease Crohn’s symptoms.
9. Get plenty of vitamin D.
Vitamin-D deficiency, which is more common in northern climates that get less sun, can lead to Crohn’s disease, according to a 2010 study conducted at McGill University and the Université de Montréal.
If Crohn’s disease runs in your immediate family, you may be able to ward it off by getting enough vitamin D, the study advises.
If you already have Crohn’s, this powerful anti-inflammatory vitamin and hormone can relieve inflammation and ease symptoms, says Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University Medical School, prominent vitamin-D researcher and author of The Vitamin D Solution (Penguin).
The Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, recommends getting 600 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D daily.
The best source of vitamin D is the sun, which activates the body’s production of vitamin D, says Holick.
If you don’t get enough sun, eat foods rich in vitamin D, including beef liver, egg yolks, sardines, salmon, shrimp, cod and, if you’re able to, fortified milk. Also take a vitamin-D supplement.
10. Avoid hot spices and fake sugar.
Spicy foods like four-alarm Mexican, Thai or Indian cuisine, as well as whole spices, can irritate the lining of your intestines and increase pain, says Jeffers.
Avoid hot spices like chili powder, ginger, horseradish, Chinese mustard and black pepper.
But if you’re going to use whole spices in cooking, make sure they’re very mild and finely ground,” Jeffers says.
And avoid artificial sugar substitutes.
“Sorbitol, found in sports drinks, soft drinks and many processed foods, can really put you over the edge if you have Crohn’s disease,” Moskowitz says.
That’s because sorbitol can damage the intestinal mucosa, trigger spasms and increase inflammation, according to a 2009 Brown University study.
11. Embrace probiotics, not prebiotics.
Pro- and pre-biotics are all the rage for improving digestion, but will they relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease? Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in your gut and aid digestion, while prebiotics help stimulate the growth of the beneficial bacteria, says the Mayo Clinic.
A 2011 study conducted by the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Saint Panteleimon General Hospital in Nicea, Greece found that probiotics relieved Crohn’s symptoms.
But prebiotics appear to add fuel to the fire. A 2010 Harvard study found that prebiotics didn’t ease Crohn’s symptoms, and increased flatulence.
How Well Do You Understand Chron's Disease?
A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease comes as a shock for many people, some who never suspected their abdominal discomfort could be something serious. This inflammatory disorder has far-ranging – and often serious – symptoms.
It’s important to eat a rainbow-like variety of high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, right? Not if you have Crohn’s disease. Those foods might actually aggravate your condition, dietitians say.
Potato products, bread and bananas were least likely to cause problems for people suffering symptoms of Crohn’s disease, according to a 2006 study from Utrecht University and University Medical Center, Netherlands.
“It sounds really unhealthy, but it’s only temporary,” says Susie Ofria, R.D., a registered dietitian at Gottlieb Memorial in Melrose Park, Ill. “Once you’re out of your flare, you can start reintroducing whole grains and raw veggies into your diet one item at a time.”
Besides white foods, “eating smaller meals and avoiding certain foods also can dramatically decrease pain and symptoms,” says Laura Jeffers, R.D., M.Ed., outpatient nutrition manager at the Cleveland Clinic.
Read on for 11 ways to minimize pain and discomfort during a Crohn’s disease flare.
1. Consult a doctor or dietitian who specializes in Crohn’s treatment.
The pain and inflammation of Crohn’s disease can ruin your appetite and make it hard to digest and absorb nutrients, says Armen Simonian, M.D., a Trenton-based gastroenterologist at Capital Health Regional Medical Center and director of the Center for Digestive Health in New Jersey.
That’s why women with Crohn’s disease are sitting ducks for nutritional deficiencies.
Dietitians can order blood tests to help you correct nutritional problems and pinpoint foods that exacerbate symptoms.
“A dietitian can help you figure out which foods are safe to eat and those that cause symptoms,” says Nicole Kuhl, R.D., a registered dietitian in Santa Monica, Calif.
2. Determine what triggers your flares.
Triggers can vary, says Susy Weems, Ph.D., R.D., director of nutrition sciences at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
That’s why Crohn’s patients are advised to “keep a food diary to track what you’re eating and how you feel,” advises Lisa Moskowitz, R.D., a New York-based dietitian.
Write down everything you eat for a month or two, including quantity, time and the symptoms you have. That will help you and your doctor or dietitian create a balanced diet that avoids foods that exacerbate symptoms of Crohn’s disease, like cramping, gas and diarrhea, she says.
“If a certain food bothers you, remove it from your diet for about a month and see if symptoms of Crohn’s disease improve,” Kuhl says.
Experts agree, however, that when symptoms flare, forget about normal healthy eating and stick to a “Wonder Bread” diet.
3. Don’t skimp on calories.
You’ll lose necessary nutrients if you have chronic diarrhea and possibly vomiting, according to the Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Foundation (CCFA), a nonprofit organization for people with these digestive disorders.
That’s why your body needs more calories to fight Crohn’s disease.
Medications also work better if you’re well nourished, says the CCFA.
“With Crohn's disease, you need to eat a high-calorie, high-protein diet, even when you don't feel like eating,” Simonian says.
But big meals can overstress your digestive system, increasing gas, pain and diarrhea.
That’s why Weems advises sticking to “five or six small meals daily to ensure you get enough protein, calories and nutrients to replenish and repair your body.”
To aid digestion, take small bites of food and chew it really well, says Ofria.
“Also take vitamins and minerals that your physician recommends,” Weems says.
4. Cut back on fiber.
High-fiber foods like fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains are not your friends during Crohn’s flare, says Jeffers.
“Stick to a low-fiber diet that revolves around white bread and other refined white flour products, smooth and bland cooked cereals like Cream of Wheat, white rice and pastas, and well-cooked or steamed veggies (not cruciferous) that are soft enough to cut with the side of a fork,“ she says.
Here are more tips from Jeffers:
Avoid vegetables like lentils, beans, legumes, cabbage, broccoli and onions. They’re difficult to digest and cause gas, bloating and pain.
Avoid crunchy foods, such as raw veggies and fruits, which irritate your intestines and increase diarrhea.
Steer clear of anything with hulls or seeds, such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, strawberries, watermelon, grapes and crunchy nut butters. (Smooth nut butters are an excellent alternative and a great source of protein.)
Limit fruit to bananas. (Avoid fruits with skins, such as apples.)
Canned fruit is fine if it doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, which can aggravate diarrhea.
Avoid dried fruit, which is hard to digest and may get stuck in the intestines.
Steer clear of citrus fruits, which have seeds and are also very acidic, because these may increase pain and irritation.
5. Eat healthy fats.
Foods rich in polyunsaturated fats (walnuts, olive, flaxseed oils and butters) and omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna and mackerel), can promote healing, says Christian Renna, D.O., an integrated medicine physician who specializes in autoimmune diseases with Lifespan Medicine in Santa Monica, Calif.
The anti-inflammatory nature of omega-3 fatty acids eases Crohn’s symptoms, according to a 2011 study conducted at the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at St. Panteleimon General Hospital in Nicea, Greece.
6. Drink plenty of liquids.
“People with Crohn’s disease are at increased risk for diarrhea, so drink lots of water with and in between meals to avoid dehydration,” says Jeffers, who also offers these tips:
For each pound you weigh, drink one half-ounce of water per day, in addition to water-based foods, such as soups.
Also avoid highly acidic fruit juices made with citrus, cranberries and pineapple, which increase inflammation.
You may be able to tolerate low-acid juices made with bananas, pears, mangoes, grapes, watermelon, coconut and apricots. Avoid fruit-flavored juices and drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup, which also increases inflammation.
Sip beverages rather than gulp them. Gulping introduces air into the digestive system, causing discomfort.
Avoid carbonated beverages like soft drinks and sparkling waters because they increase gas and flatulence. Most soft drinks also contain high fructose corn syrup.
Avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea and chocolate-based drinks, which increase inflammation and exacerbate diarrhea.
Stay away from alcohol, including beer, wine and hard liquor, which irritates intestines and increases pain.
So what can you drink? Sip homemade chicken or vegetable broth.
“You’re getting a really nutritious drink that’s easy to digest,” Kuhl says.
7. Focus on lean protein.
Your body needs protein to build and heal tissue. If you have Crohn’s disease, you may not absorb enough to promote healing and prevent muscle wasting, says Moskowitz.
To reduce pain, gas and other symptoms, try these tips:
If red meat makes you feel queasy and exacerbates diarrhea, switch to leaner cuts like sirloin or ground round, or stick to fish or poultry without the skin, says Moskowitz.
Avoid fatty hot dogs, sausage, pork and anything with a tough skin. The fat can cause diarrhea and their skin can be difficult to digest, says Jeffers.
Liquid formulas like Ensure, Glucerna and Pulmocare, which are absorbed in the upper rather than in the lower intestine, help some Crohn’s patients, says Jeffers.
8. Watch out for dairy products.
You may feel better if you limit or avoid dairy products during your flare.
“They may cause gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea in some women with Crohn’s,” says Jeffers.
Can’t live without your milk mustache? Try lactose-free varieties or add an enzyme product, such as Lactaid, which breaks down lactose, suggests the CCFA.
Or for a healthy, easy-to-digest protein, eat plain yogurt. It contains acidophilus, a probiotic that has been shown to ease Crohn’s symptoms.
9. Get plenty of vitamin D.
Vitamin-D deficiency, which is more common in northern climates that get less sun, can lead to Crohn’s disease, according to a 2010 study conducted at McGill University and the Université de Montréal.
If Crohn’s disease runs in your immediate family, you may be able to ward it off by getting enough vitamin D, the study advises.
If you already have Crohn’s, this powerful anti-inflammatory vitamin and hormone can relieve inflammation and ease symptoms, says Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University Medical School, prominent vitamin-D researcher and author of The Vitamin D Solution (Penguin).
The Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, recommends getting 600 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D daily.
The best source of vitamin D is the sun, which activates the body’s production of vitamin D, says Holick.
If you don’t get enough sun, eat foods rich in vitamin D, including beef liver, egg yolks, sardines, salmon, shrimp, cod and, if you’re able to, fortified milk. Also take a vitamin-D supplement.
10. Avoid hot spices and fake sugar.
Spicy foods like four-alarm Mexican, Thai or Indian cuisine, as well as whole spices, can irritate the lining of your intestines and increase pain, says Jeffers.
Avoid hot spices like chili powder, ginger, horseradish, Chinese mustard and black pepper.
But if you’re going to use whole spices in cooking, make sure they’re very mild and finely ground,” Jeffers says.
And avoid artificial sugar substitutes.
“Sorbitol, found in sports drinks, soft drinks and many processed foods, can really put you over the edge if you have Crohn’s disease,” Moskowitz says.
That’s because sorbitol can damage the intestinal mucosa, trigger spasms and increase inflammation, according to a 2009 Brown University study.
11. Embrace probiotics, not prebiotics.
Pro- and pre-biotics are all the rage for improving digestion, but will they relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease? Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in your gut and aid digestion, while prebiotics help stimulate the growth of the beneficial bacteria, says the Mayo Clinic.
A 2011 study conducted by the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Saint Panteleimon General Hospital in Nicea, Greece found that probiotics relieved Crohn’s symptoms.
But prebiotics appear to add fuel to the fire. A 2010 Harvard study found that prebiotics didn’t ease Crohn’s symptoms, and increased flatulence.
How Well Do You Understand Chron's Disease?
A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease comes as a shock for many people, some who never suspected their abdominal discomfort could be something serious. This inflammatory disorder has far-ranging – and often serious – symptoms.
Monday, January 30, 2012
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...
They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
- Confucius
- Confucius
FUN FACTS - AND A GREAT WAY TO MAKE EXTRA INCOME AND LOTS OF IT - AND - CHECK OUT " WWW.MELODY'SHAPPYWORLD.COM " FOR A FREE WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS, LOVE AND HOPE TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN!!
* The cigarette lighter was invented before the match. *
* Thomas Alva Edison patented almost 1,300 inventions in his lifetime! *
* Surgeons who grew up playing with video games make 37 percent fewer mistakes. *
* The technology contained in a single game boy unit in 2000 exceeds all the computing power that was used to put the first man on moon in 1969. *
* Whale oil was used in automobile transmissions as late as 1973. *
* To have your picture taken by the very first camera you would have had to sit still for 8 hours! *
__________________________________________________________________________
WWW.MELODYSHAPPYWORLD.COM - "True happiness is not looking back with regret, but looking forward to the future and creating your own exciting, magnificent destiny and masterpiece, YOUR LIFE!"
MELODY JENSEN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON AND THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN I KNOW. CHECK OUT MELODY'S HAPPY WORLD, IT'S FREE!!
ASSOCIATIONS:
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* Thomas Alva Edison patented almost 1,300 inventions in his lifetime! *
* Surgeons who grew up playing with video games make 37 percent fewer mistakes. *
* The technology contained in a single game boy unit in 2000 exceeds all the computing power that was used to put the first man on moon in 1969. *
* Whale oil was used in automobile transmissions as late as 1973. *
* To have your picture taken by the very first camera you would have had to sit still for 8 hours! *
__________________________________________________________________________
WWW.MELODYSHAPPYWORLD.COM - "True happiness is not looking back with regret, but looking forward to the future and creating your own exciting, magnificent destiny and masterpiece, YOUR LIFE!"
MELODY JENSEN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON AND THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN I KNOW. CHECK OUT MELODY'S HAPPY WORLD, IT'S FREE!!
ASSOCIATIONS:
WWW.MELODYSSECRET.COM
WWW.MJHLC.COM
How toilets spread disease
Putting the toilet lid down isn't just good manners -- it could also save a life, and, no, I don't mean from drowning.
British researchers recently conducted a series of tests on toilet seats -- and before you dismiss this as a bit of wacky and unnecessary research, check out what they learned: Toilets can spread potentially deadly bacteria when the lid is up.
That's because each time you flush, a cloud of tiny water particles rises up out of the toilet.
It's a gross enough thought -- but the researchers found that those water droplets can harbor Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a gut bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, colitis, blood infections and more.
A series of flush tests at the Leeds Teaching Hospital found that the C.diff-contaminated toilet water can rise 10 inches out of the toilet and land on the seat -- and up to 90 minutes later, the bacteria was still alive...and waiting for someone to sit there.
Now, this study is more than just a funny bit of research about bathrooms, because the one place where you might be most likely to encounter C.diff is also the one place where you're most likely to be hurt by it: in a hospital.
C.diff is rapidly becoming a scourge of hospitals and nursing homes, spreading like wildfire and often resistant to medication when it does break out -- especially because most of the patients who suffer a C.diff infection have already taken one or more antibiotics.
The drugs wipe out nearly all the bacteria in the stomach, even the good ones, leaving tough-as-nails C.diff as the only survivor. And because these patients are already sick, a C.diff infection could quickly turn deadly.
As a result, an estimated 28,000 people die of C.diff infections every year -- and nearly all of them picked it up in a hospital or nursing home.
Why is this important -- and what does this have to do with toilets? Because in many of these facilities, you can't put the lid down even if you want to: The toilets don't have them.
C.diff is notoriously tough to kill -- but fortunately, it still has one natural enemy: bleach. If you or anyone you love is in a hospital or care facility, make sure the bathroom positively reeks of bleach.
And if it doesn't, demand a cleaning crew and a bucket of bleach... especially on and around the toilet seat.
On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls
British researchers recently conducted a series of tests on toilet seats -- and before you dismiss this as a bit of wacky and unnecessary research, check out what they learned: Toilets can spread potentially deadly bacteria when the lid is up.
That's because each time you flush, a cloud of tiny water particles rises up out of the toilet.
It's a gross enough thought -- but the researchers found that those water droplets can harbor Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a gut bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, colitis, blood infections and more.
A series of flush tests at the Leeds Teaching Hospital found that the C.diff-contaminated toilet water can rise 10 inches out of the toilet and land on the seat -- and up to 90 minutes later, the bacteria was still alive...and waiting for someone to sit there.
Now, this study is more than just a funny bit of research about bathrooms, because the one place where you might be most likely to encounter C.diff is also the one place where you're most likely to be hurt by it: in a hospital.
C.diff is rapidly becoming a scourge of hospitals and nursing homes, spreading like wildfire and often resistant to medication when it does break out -- especially because most of the patients who suffer a C.diff infection have already taken one or more antibiotics.
The drugs wipe out nearly all the bacteria in the stomach, even the good ones, leaving tough-as-nails C.diff as the only survivor. And because these patients are already sick, a C.diff infection could quickly turn deadly.
As a result, an estimated 28,000 people die of C.diff infections every year -- and nearly all of them picked it up in a hospital or nursing home.
Why is this important -- and what does this have to do with toilets? Because in many of these facilities, you can't put the lid down even if you want to: The toilets don't have them.
C.diff is notoriously tough to kill -- but fortunately, it still has one natural enemy: bleach. If you or anyone you love is in a hospital or care facility, make sure the bathroom positively reeks of bleach.
And if it doesn't, demand a cleaning crew and a bucket of bleach... especially on and around the toilet seat.
On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls
High-tech doesn't mean low-risk
I wouldn't wish prostate surgery on my worst enemies.
Not only is it often completely unnecessary since prostate cancer isn't nearly the killer it's been made out to be -- but the treatments themselves are often worse than the disease and come with more risks than your surgeon will ever let on.
And that's true even if your surgeon happens to be made of metal.
Robot-assisted prostate surgeries have become all the rage in recent years, involved in up to 85 percent of all procedures in the United States.
But that's not a triumph of technology so much as marketing: Many patients agree to them because they've been led to believe robo-surgeries are safer and better than traditional surgeries.
They're not.
Researchers asked 600 Medicare patients who had undergone prostate surgery about their side effects, and a full 90 percent of them reported moderate to severe sexual dysfunction 14 months later.
It didn't matter if they were among the 400 patients who got a robot-assisted procedure... or the 200 who got the traditional surgery. The results were the same either way.
And in both groups, about a third of the patients reported incontinence problems -- with slightly more men in the robot group battling the leakage.
This isn't some groundbreaking study, either. In fact, the research has been consistent: These high-tech procedures don't lower the risks of side effects or even improve outcomes.
But while robots aren't bringing better results to the OR, they're delivering big on the balance sheet: Hospitals charge up to $2,000 more for robot-assisted surgeries.
They have to. The machines alone can cost several million dollars, not to mention training and maintenance fees.
Most hospitals have to take out loans to cover it all -- and when you've got payment deadlines coming up, you've got extra pressure to make sure the machine starts bringing in cash the moment it's plugged in.
That's why hospitals that buy robots launch big, misleading ad campaigns -- and that's why studies have shown that facilities that get the machines begin doing more procedures almost overnight, even in areas where prostate surgeries in general are on the decline.
In a nutshell, that means hospitals and surgeons are aggressively pushing patients to not only get a surgery that research shows they don't actually need, but a more expensive high-tech version of the procedure that doesn't improve outcomes or even decrease the risk of side effects.
And people wonder why the healthcare system is a mess!
On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls
Not only is it often completely unnecessary since prostate cancer isn't nearly the killer it's been made out to be -- but the treatments themselves are often worse than the disease and come with more risks than your surgeon will ever let on.
And that's true even if your surgeon happens to be made of metal.
Robot-assisted prostate surgeries have become all the rage in recent years, involved in up to 85 percent of all procedures in the United States.
But that's not a triumph of technology so much as marketing: Many patients agree to them because they've been led to believe robo-surgeries are safer and better than traditional surgeries.
They're not.
Researchers asked 600 Medicare patients who had undergone prostate surgery about their side effects, and a full 90 percent of them reported moderate to severe sexual dysfunction 14 months later.
It didn't matter if they were among the 400 patients who got a robot-assisted procedure... or the 200 who got the traditional surgery. The results were the same either way.
And in both groups, about a third of the patients reported incontinence problems -- with slightly more men in the robot group battling the leakage.
This isn't some groundbreaking study, either. In fact, the research has been consistent: These high-tech procedures don't lower the risks of side effects or even improve outcomes.
But while robots aren't bringing better results to the OR, they're delivering big on the balance sheet: Hospitals charge up to $2,000 more for robot-assisted surgeries.
They have to. The machines alone can cost several million dollars, not to mention training and maintenance fees.
Most hospitals have to take out loans to cover it all -- and when you've got payment deadlines coming up, you've got extra pressure to make sure the machine starts bringing in cash the moment it's plugged in.
That's why hospitals that buy robots launch big, misleading ad campaigns -- and that's why studies have shown that facilities that get the machines begin doing more procedures almost overnight, even in areas where prostate surgeries in general are on the decline.
In a nutshell, that means hospitals and surgeons are aggressively pushing patients to not only get a surgery that research shows they don't actually need, but a more expensive high-tech version of the procedure that doesn't improve outcomes or even decrease the risk of side effects.
And people wonder why the healthcare system is a mess!
On a mission for your health,
Ed Martin
Editor, House Calls
PSA Test Questionable
For many years, the mainstay of prostate cancer diagnosis has been the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, which measures the levels of a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. However, newer studies have shown the PSA test is not as accurate as originally assumed.
In fact, a number of benign conditions, such as prostate inflammation, can cause elevated levels of PSA. Even so, an elevated PSA is an important indicator of problems, current or future, as one of the main causes of all cancers is chronic inflammation. (For a detailed discussion on inflammation and its role in many diseases, see my newsletter "Inflammation: The Real Cause of Most Diseases.")
When diagnosing prostate cancer, newer guidelines give more weight to a progressively increasing PSA as a marker of cancer, rather than a static high level. It has also been found that PSA is more than just an indicator of prostate trouble — what was formerly believed to be merely an indicator has been revealed to be a cause of cancer growth and spread. (For information on fighting cancer, read my special report "Prevent Cancer Before It's Too Late.'')
The main way to lower your PSA is to add some specific supplements that are known to reduce prostate inflammation. They include:
• Saw palmetto
• Pumpkin seed extract
• Beta-sitosterol
• Quercetin
• Nettle extract
If you have an elevated PSA, it is important to have your prostate examined. A transrectal ultrasound is highly accurate and relatively painless. Hopefully, you’ll rule out prostate cancer and you can proceed with a supplement and diet program. In my experience, these supplements effectively lower PSA levels in most men.
In fact, a number of benign conditions, such as prostate inflammation, can cause elevated levels of PSA. Even so, an elevated PSA is an important indicator of problems, current or future, as one of the main causes of all cancers is chronic inflammation. (For a detailed discussion on inflammation and its role in many diseases, see my newsletter "Inflammation: The Real Cause of Most Diseases.")
When diagnosing prostate cancer, newer guidelines give more weight to a progressively increasing PSA as a marker of cancer, rather than a static high level. It has also been found that PSA is more than just an indicator of prostate trouble — what was formerly believed to be merely an indicator has been revealed to be a cause of cancer growth and spread. (For information on fighting cancer, read my special report "Prevent Cancer Before It's Too Late.'')
The main way to lower your PSA is to add some specific supplements that are known to reduce prostate inflammation. They include:
• Saw palmetto
• Pumpkin seed extract
• Beta-sitosterol
• Quercetin
• Nettle extract
If you have an elevated PSA, it is important to have your prostate examined. A transrectal ultrasound is highly accurate and relatively painless. Hopefully, you’ll rule out prostate cancer and you can proceed with a supplement and diet program. In my experience, these supplements effectively lower PSA levels in most men.
10 Men's Health Symptoms Your Guy Shouldn't Ignore - Skin Cancer, Chronic Acid Reflux and 8 Other Medical Issues To Check
Men are notorious for ignoring health symptoms and avoiding the doctor's office. Broken pinky? Just use duct tape. But not all medical issues can be fixed so easily. What may be a pesky problem to a man could be erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, prostate cancer and more. Here are 10 health symptoms your guy – and you – should take seriously...
Even when a man finally admits to feeling crummy, getting him to schedule a doctor’s appointment is like getting a cat to agree to a bath.
“American men make 130 million fewer [doctor] visits each year than women,” says Will Courtenay, Ph.D., California psychotherapist who specializes in treating men.
According to a 2007 Harris Interactive poll, 92% of men surveyed wait at least a few days before seeing a doctor when they have a health concern – just in case the problem gets better on its own; 29% wait "as long as possible."
But your man isn’t invincible.
Delaying check-ups and treatment until he’s seriously ill is a gamble nobody should take, especially because not all ailments have symptoms.
That’s where you come in. Women can help their men spot trouble. Here are 10 danger signs to watch out for:
Danger sign #1: He has a big gut.
If his waist is bigger than his hips, he raises his risk for disease.
“A man should maintain a measurement under 40 inches,” says Walter Gaman, M.D., of Executive Medicine of Texas. “If the waist size exceeds that, the risk for diabetes and heart disease increase.”
A large belly can also contribute to stroke, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis, he says.
Here’s how to check if your man measures up:
1. Measure his waist where the point of his elbow falls when his arms hang at the sides. Have him first breathe out and then take shallow breaths as you measure.
2. Measure his hips at the widest part of his buttocks, as seen from the side. The measuring tape should be snug, but tight.
3. To calculate his waist-to-hip ratio, divide his waist measurement by his hip measurement. Men are considered at risk if the result is 90% or more.
A moderate diet and exercise program can help your guy cut the belly fat and his risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Cutting out sodas (even diet drinks) and alcoholic beverages can be an effortless way to lose 10 pounds over a year, Gaman says.
Plus, get him off the couch and into workout gear.
Daily exercise – aerobic exercise and strength training – is best, says Isaac Eliaz, M.D., director of research at Amitabha Clinic in Northern California. Encourage him to slowly increase the length and intensity of the workouts – but by no more than a 5% increase in weights every couple weeks.
Danger sign #2: He's frequently constipated.
Tell him to save grunting for the weight room. Too much straining from constipation can lead to painful, itchy and downright uncomfortable hemorrhoids.
After age 50, constipation tends to worsen in men and women, says Cynthia Yoshida, a gastroenterologist in Charlottesville, Va. Blame diet changes, decrease in exercise, medications, certain diseases or prolonged bed rest after an accident or illness.
Occasional constipation can be relieved with an over-the-counter remedy. Yoshida recommends MiraLAX, because it doesn’t have side effects that other remedies do, such as bloating, cramps, gas or a sudden urge to go.
Most important, don't let him shrug off chronic constipation as a nuisance. It can signal a tumor in the lower bowel that’s blocking waste from exiting the body.
In fact, any change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea) that last two or more weeks should be evaluated. Both can signal colorectal cancer, which is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in men, Yoshida says.
Other symptoms to watch for: bloody or narrow stools, unexplained weight loss or fatigue, cramping and bloating, Yoshida says.
“Colorectal cancer can be present for several years before symptoms develop,” she says. “So it’s important to see a doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.”
Danger sign #3: He can't "get it up" or keep it there.
A bruised ego isn't the only problem your fellow has to face if he's having trouble getting or maintaining erections.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a side effect of some medications (for example, high blood pressure drugs and diuretics) or smoking, says Dennis Lin, M.D., sex psychologist and attending physician at the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.
But it also may mean he’s twice as likely to die of a heart attack, according to a German study of 1,519 men. ED is also linked to high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, vascular disease and neurologic disease, Lin says.
And don’t forget about possible psychological factors: Stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure cause 10%-20% of ED cases. So when is it time to get a doctor’s help?
“When erection problems prevent you from having a healthy sex life,” Lin says. “There should be a low threshold to see a doctor.”
Danger sign #4: He loves to bake in the sun.
When it comes to men and cancer, you hear a lot about prostates and colons. But skin cancer is the No. 1 diagnosed cancer in men and women.
“Skin cancer rates are skyrocketing – it’s the most rapidly increasing cancer in the U.S.,” Courtenay says. “And the death rate from melanoma – the deadliest form – is twice as high for men as it is for women.”
The majority of skin cancers occur in Caucasian men over age 50, says D.J. Verret, M.D., a head and neck surgeon in Dallas.
Other risk factors include:
Being older than 40
Fair skin, red hair or blue eyes
An inability to tan
Increased UR exposure (outdoor activities or work)
Sunbathing or use of tanning beds
A history of radiation therapy
Personal or family history of skin cancer
An impaired immune system
Protect your man – plus yourself and the kids – by applying broad-spectrum sunscreen (which blocks both ultraviolet A and B rays) every 2-3 hours.
Select an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30, she says, and look for these active ingredients on the label: zinc, titanium and avobenzone.
Skin cancer can develop any place that’s exposed to UV radiation, so don’t overlook his ears, nose, lips, scalp, forehead, neck and shoulders. Check out more sun slip-ups.
Stash a facial moisturizer with sunscreen in your man’s toiletry bag, and tuck a sunscreen stick in his workout bag and glove box for last-minute applications.
Danger sign #5: Antacids are his best friend.
Unfortunately, indigestion, or acid reflux, is a frequent unwanted guest at game-night parties with pepperoni pizza, spicy chili, onion rings and beer.
Occasional heartburn is nothing to worry about, but chronic acid reflux – two or more times a week, especially at night – suggests he has gastro-esophogeal reflux disease (GERD), Eliaz says.
Left untreated, GERD can lead to inflammation, bleeding and ulcers of the esophagus and even esophageal cancer.
Most cases of heartburn are easily treated.
“Changes in eating habits and daily routines can [reduce] the number of future episodes,” Eliaz says.
Start by avoiding these:
Trans fats
Processed meats
Sugars
Highly processed foods
Carbonated beverages
Acidic fruits and juices
Alcohol
Peppermint
Chocolate
Nuts
Caffeinated food and beverages
Oily foods
Raising the head of the bed 4-6 inches – not with pillows but by putting blocks under its legs – also may help ease discomfort, Eliaz says. Plus, nag him to lose weight, stop smoking and eat smaller meals. For more remedies, check out 15 Dos and Don’ts of Heartburn.
If those steps don’t help, over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) often can relieve frequent heartburn, says Michael Rahmin, M.D., a gastroenterologist in Ridgewood, N.J. He suggests Zegerid OTC – the most recent PPI to receive FDA approval. It offers 24-hour relief with one dose a day as part of a 14-day treatment.
If the burn still persists, your man needs to see a doctor. If the esophageal lining is constantly aggravated by leaking stomach acids, inflammation can occur and develop into a precancerous disease called Barrett’s esophagus, Eliaz says. One in 50 of those with Barrett’s develops esophageal cancer.
Danger sign #6: He's always thirsty.
An unquenchable thirst is a symptom of diabetes, an incurable metabolic disease that raises blood sugar levels. So are frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain, nausea, blurred vision, sores that are slow to heal, frequent infections, ED, and tingling in the hands and feet, Eliaz says.
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Risk factors include:
Being older than 45 years of age
Having a parent or sibling with diabetes
Being overweight
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
History of vascular disease
Habitual physical inactivity
A simple yearly blood test at his doctor’s office can measure glucose levels and diagnose diabetes, Gaman says.
If he’s having symptoms, he may need a more advanced blood test called a hemoglobin A1C that tracks glucose levels over a longer period.
Danger sign #7: He snores.
If a chainsaw or Mack truck can’t compete with your sweetheart’s nightly noises, don’t run for cover in another room. Get help: Chronic snoring can be serious.
Severe snoring accompanied by breathing lapses are signs of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), Verret says. If untreated, it increases the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke and sudden death.
A poor night's sleep can also contribute to daytime drowsiness, which boosts his risk of accidents. Unintentional injuries are the third-leading cause of death in men, according to the CDC.
If you're lucky enough to sleep through the snoring, watch for other sleep apnea signs, such as feeling tired during the day, thrashing arms and legs while sleeping, decreased libido, mood swings and sometimes depression, Verret says.
Changing sleep positions, losing weight (as little as 10 pounds) and avoiding alcohol, sedatives and large meals before bedtime may help stop the noise.
If they don't, schedule a doctor's visit and consider other treatments, such as surgery, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – a device that blows air into the nose while he’s asleep – or a dental appliance to pull the jaw and tongue forward at night, Verret says.
It could save his life – or at the least your relationship.
Danger sign #8: He's short of breath, wheezes or coughs up mucus.
Shortness of breath, wheezing and a persistent cough can stem from several health conditions, such as asthma, obesity and heart disease. But it also signals chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fifth leading cause of death in men, according to the CDC.
“COPD is almost always caused by smoking,” says Edward T. Bope, M.D., family medicine residency director at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Second-hand smoke, chemical fumes, air pollution and dust can also cause the disease.
Its symptoms shouldn’t be ignored because COPD gets worse as time goes by, Bope says.
Danger sign #9: He feels pain while peeing.
In women, “it hurts when I pee” usually means an annoying bladder infection. In men, it signals an enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer.
“If they live long enough, most men are going to have to deal with the symptoms of an enlarged prostate,” says Janet Farrar Worthington, co-author of The Prostate: A Guide for Men and the Women Who Love Them (Grand Central Publishing).
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, may be caused by hormone changes in aging men, Eliaz says.
“Fifty percent of men in their 60s and as many as 90% in their 70s have it,” he says.
But painful urination is a sign of a more serious problem: prostate cancer, which 1 in 6 men will develop, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Your man’s risk increases if he's over age 50, overweight, doesn't exercise or African-American and has one or more first-degree relative (father, brother, son) with a history of prostate cancer. A new study published yesterday also linked not drinking enough coffee to increased prostate cancer risk.
Another risk factor: a vasectomy, Eliaz says. Some studies have shown a link between the surgical birth control method and prostate cancer, but the increase in risk is relatively small, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The earliest stages of prostate cancer often have no symptoms, so routine screening for prostate specific antigen levels is important. Plus, get your man to a doctor immediately if he has any sign of prostate trouble.
Common symptoms of prostate cancer and BPH include trouble urinating, a weak urine stream, blood in urine or semen, pelvic pain or discomfort and frequent urinary tract infections.
Danger sign #10: He's depressed or has thoughts of suicide.
We all deal with work stress, money worries and other anxieties, but not all men can cope well. Suicide ranks eighth among the CDC's top 10 causes of death in men.
Here are some signs that your mate may be suicidal, Lin says:
Suddenly visits friends or family (one last time)
Sudden, significant decline or improvement in mood
Gets affairs in order, including making a will
Buys items that could be used to carry out suicide, such as a gun, rope or medications
Talks about suicide
Writes a note threatening suicide
“Depression is a serious medical illness like diabetes or asthma,” Lin says. “If he feels depressed, have him see a doctor right away. Waiting for too long can be deadly.”
Counseling, medication and other therapies could save his life.
Shanna Thompson Zareski contributed to this article.
How Much Do You Know About Depression?
Many people still are in the dark when it comes to the facts surrounding depression.
Even when a man finally admits to feeling crummy, getting him to schedule a doctor’s appointment is like getting a cat to agree to a bath.
“American men make 130 million fewer [doctor] visits each year than women,” says Will Courtenay, Ph.D., California psychotherapist who specializes in treating men.
According to a 2007 Harris Interactive poll, 92% of men surveyed wait at least a few days before seeing a doctor when they have a health concern – just in case the problem gets better on its own; 29% wait "as long as possible."
But your man isn’t invincible.
Delaying check-ups and treatment until he’s seriously ill is a gamble nobody should take, especially because not all ailments have symptoms.
That’s where you come in. Women can help their men spot trouble. Here are 10 danger signs to watch out for:
Danger sign #1: He has a big gut.
If his waist is bigger than his hips, he raises his risk for disease.
“A man should maintain a measurement under 40 inches,” says Walter Gaman, M.D., of Executive Medicine of Texas. “If the waist size exceeds that, the risk for diabetes and heart disease increase.”
A large belly can also contribute to stroke, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis, he says.
Here’s how to check if your man measures up:
1. Measure his waist where the point of his elbow falls when his arms hang at the sides. Have him first breathe out and then take shallow breaths as you measure.
2. Measure his hips at the widest part of his buttocks, as seen from the side. The measuring tape should be snug, but tight.
3. To calculate his waist-to-hip ratio, divide his waist measurement by his hip measurement. Men are considered at risk if the result is 90% or more.
A moderate diet and exercise program can help your guy cut the belly fat and his risk for heart disease and diabetes.
Cutting out sodas (even diet drinks) and alcoholic beverages can be an effortless way to lose 10 pounds over a year, Gaman says.
Plus, get him off the couch and into workout gear.
Daily exercise – aerobic exercise and strength training – is best, says Isaac Eliaz, M.D., director of research at Amitabha Clinic in Northern California. Encourage him to slowly increase the length and intensity of the workouts – but by no more than a 5% increase in weights every couple weeks.
Danger sign #2: He's frequently constipated.
Tell him to save grunting for the weight room. Too much straining from constipation can lead to painful, itchy and downright uncomfortable hemorrhoids.
After age 50, constipation tends to worsen in men and women, says Cynthia Yoshida, a gastroenterologist in Charlottesville, Va. Blame diet changes, decrease in exercise, medications, certain diseases or prolonged bed rest after an accident or illness.
Occasional constipation can be relieved with an over-the-counter remedy. Yoshida recommends MiraLAX, because it doesn’t have side effects that other remedies do, such as bloating, cramps, gas or a sudden urge to go.
Most important, don't let him shrug off chronic constipation as a nuisance. It can signal a tumor in the lower bowel that’s blocking waste from exiting the body.
In fact, any change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea) that last two or more weeks should be evaluated. Both can signal colorectal cancer, which is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death in men, Yoshida says.
Other symptoms to watch for: bloody or narrow stools, unexplained weight loss or fatigue, cramping and bloating, Yoshida says.
“Colorectal cancer can be present for several years before symptoms develop,” she says. “So it’s important to see a doctor if you have any of the above symptoms.”
Danger sign #3: He can't "get it up" or keep it there.
A bruised ego isn't the only problem your fellow has to face if he's having trouble getting or maintaining erections.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a side effect of some medications (for example, high blood pressure drugs and diuretics) or smoking, says Dennis Lin, M.D., sex psychologist and attending physician at the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.
But it also may mean he’s twice as likely to die of a heart attack, according to a German study of 1,519 men. ED is also linked to high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, vascular disease and neurologic disease, Lin says.
And don’t forget about possible psychological factors: Stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure cause 10%-20% of ED cases. So when is it time to get a doctor’s help?
“When erection problems prevent you from having a healthy sex life,” Lin says. “There should be a low threshold to see a doctor.”
Danger sign #4: He loves to bake in the sun.
When it comes to men and cancer, you hear a lot about prostates and colons. But skin cancer is the No. 1 diagnosed cancer in men and women.
“Skin cancer rates are skyrocketing – it’s the most rapidly increasing cancer in the U.S.,” Courtenay says. “And the death rate from melanoma – the deadliest form – is twice as high for men as it is for women.”
The majority of skin cancers occur in Caucasian men over age 50, says D.J. Verret, M.D., a head and neck surgeon in Dallas.
Other risk factors include:
Being older than 40
Fair skin, red hair or blue eyes
An inability to tan
Increased UR exposure (outdoor activities or work)
Sunbathing or use of tanning beds
A history of radiation therapy
Personal or family history of skin cancer
An impaired immune system
Protect your man – plus yourself and the kids – by applying broad-spectrum sunscreen (which blocks both ultraviolet A and B rays) every 2-3 hours.
Select an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30, she says, and look for these active ingredients on the label: zinc, titanium and avobenzone.
Skin cancer can develop any place that’s exposed to UV radiation, so don’t overlook his ears, nose, lips, scalp, forehead, neck and shoulders. Check out more sun slip-ups.
Stash a facial moisturizer with sunscreen in your man’s toiletry bag, and tuck a sunscreen stick in his workout bag and glove box for last-minute applications.
Danger sign #5: Antacids are his best friend.
Unfortunately, indigestion, or acid reflux, is a frequent unwanted guest at game-night parties with pepperoni pizza, spicy chili, onion rings and beer.
Occasional heartburn is nothing to worry about, but chronic acid reflux – two or more times a week, especially at night – suggests he has gastro-esophogeal reflux disease (GERD), Eliaz says.
Left untreated, GERD can lead to inflammation, bleeding and ulcers of the esophagus and even esophageal cancer.
Most cases of heartburn are easily treated.
“Changes in eating habits and daily routines can [reduce] the number of future episodes,” Eliaz says.
Start by avoiding these:
Trans fats
Processed meats
Sugars
Highly processed foods
Carbonated beverages
Acidic fruits and juices
Alcohol
Peppermint
Chocolate
Nuts
Caffeinated food and beverages
Oily foods
Raising the head of the bed 4-6 inches – not with pillows but by putting blocks under its legs – also may help ease discomfort, Eliaz says. Plus, nag him to lose weight, stop smoking and eat smaller meals. For more remedies, check out 15 Dos and Don’ts of Heartburn.
If those steps don’t help, over-the-counter proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) often can relieve frequent heartburn, says Michael Rahmin, M.D., a gastroenterologist in Ridgewood, N.J. He suggests Zegerid OTC – the most recent PPI to receive FDA approval. It offers 24-hour relief with one dose a day as part of a 14-day treatment.
If the burn still persists, your man needs to see a doctor. If the esophageal lining is constantly aggravated by leaking stomach acids, inflammation can occur and develop into a precancerous disease called Barrett’s esophagus, Eliaz says. One in 50 of those with Barrett’s develops esophageal cancer.
Danger sign #6: He's always thirsty.
An unquenchable thirst is a symptom of diabetes, an incurable metabolic disease that raises blood sugar levels. So are frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain, nausea, blurred vision, sores that are slow to heal, frequent infections, ED, and tingling in the hands and feet, Eliaz says.
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Risk factors include:
Being older than 45 years of age
Having a parent or sibling with diabetes
Being overweight
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
History of vascular disease
Habitual physical inactivity
A simple yearly blood test at his doctor’s office can measure glucose levels and diagnose diabetes, Gaman says.
If he’s having symptoms, he may need a more advanced blood test called a hemoglobin A1C that tracks glucose levels over a longer period.
Danger sign #7: He snores.
If a chainsaw or Mack truck can’t compete with your sweetheart’s nightly noises, don’t run for cover in another room. Get help: Chronic snoring can be serious.
Severe snoring accompanied by breathing lapses are signs of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), Verret says. If untreated, it increases the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, stroke and sudden death.
A poor night's sleep can also contribute to daytime drowsiness, which boosts his risk of accidents. Unintentional injuries are the third-leading cause of death in men, according to the CDC.
If you're lucky enough to sleep through the snoring, watch for other sleep apnea signs, such as feeling tired during the day, thrashing arms and legs while sleeping, decreased libido, mood swings and sometimes depression, Verret says.
Changing sleep positions, losing weight (as little as 10 pounds) and avoiding alcohol, sedatives and large meals before bedtime may help stop the noise.
If they don't, schedule a doctor's visit and consider other treatments, such as surgery, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – a device that blows air into the nose while he’s asleep – or a dental appliance to pull the jaw and tongue forward at night, Verret says.
It could save his life – or at the least your relationship.
Danger sign #8: He's short of breath, wheezes or coughs up mucus.
Shortness of breath, wheezing and a persistent cough can stem from several health conditions, such as asthma, obesity and heart disease. But it also signals chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fifth leading cause of death in men, according to the CDC.
“COPD is almost always caused by smoking,” says Edward T. Bope, M.D., family medicine residency director at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Second-hand smoke, chemical fumes, air pollution and dust can also cause the disease.
Its symptoms shouldn’t be ignored because COPD gets worse as time goes by, Bope says.
Danger sign #9: He feels pain while peeing.
In women, “it hurts when I pee” usually means an annoying bladder infection. In men, it signals an enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer.
“If they live long enough, most men are going to have to deal with the symptoms of an enlarged prostate,” says Janet Farrar Worthington, co-author of The Prostate: A Guide for Men and the Women Who Love Them (Grand Central Publishing).
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, may be caused by hormone changes in aging men, Eliaz says.
“Fifty percent of men in their 60s and as many as 90% in their 70s have it,” he says.
But painful urination is a sign of a more serious problem: prostate cancer, which 1 in 6 men will develop, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Your man’s risk increases if he's over age 50, overweight, doesn't exercise or African-American and has one or more first-degree relative (father, brother, son) with a history of prostate cancer. A new study published yesterday also linked not drinking enough coffee to increased prostate cancer risk.
Another risk factor: a vasectomy, Eliaz says. Some studies have shown a link between the surgical birth control method and prostate cancer, but the increase in risk is relatively small, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The earliest stages of prostate cancer often have no symptoms, so routine screening for prostate specific antigen levels is important. Plus, get your man to a doctor immediately if he has any sign of prostate trouble.
Common symptoms of prostate cancer and BPH include trouble urinating, a weak urine stream, blood in urine or semen, pelvic pain or discomfort and frequent urinary tract infections.
Danger sign #10: He's depressed or has thoughts of suicide.
We all deal with work stress, money worries and other anxieties, but not all men can cope well. Suicide ranks eighth among the CDC's top 10 causes of death in men.
Here are some signs that your mate may be suicidal, Lin says:
Suddenly visits friends or family (one last time)
Sudden, significant decline or improvement in mood
Gets affairs in order, including making a will
Buys items that could be used to carry out suicide, such as a gun, rope or medications
Talks about suicide
Writes a note threatening suicide
“Depression is a serious medical illness like diabetes or asthma,” Lin says. “If he feels depressed, have him see a doctor right away. Waiting for too long can be deadly.”
Counseling, medication and other therapies could save his life.
Shanna Thompson Zareski contributed to this article.
How Much Do You Know About Depression?
Many people still are in the dark when it comes to the facts surrounding depression.
5 Expert Tips for Easier Dieting
Indulging in sweet splurges, ordering that appetizer, taking a snack break - these are actually dieting do's that can help you shed pounds fast. Read on for 5 easy and surprising expert tips to long-lasting weight loss...
Ask anyone who has dropped pounds on a diet (or anyone who tried but couldn’t!), and she will confirm that long-term weight loss is tricky.
The major hurdle for most wannabe losers: getting over a “last supper” mentality, which starts with a binge and ends with buckling down.
“Many of my patients come in and say, ‘I’m ready to turn myself over to you,’” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., L.D., a dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Wellness Institute and national media spokesperson in Chicago for the American Dietetic Association.
“They look at weight loss as all-or-nothing, a last binge then hard times and deprivation ahead. That just doesn’t work.”
What will work is moderation and small compromises.
With slight changes to your daily routine, you’re much more likely to get results – without having to resort to drastic diet schemes.
Read on for experts’ top 5 tips for a doable diet that really works.
1. Replace a meal… with a replacement.
Substituting a protein bar, shake or low-fat frozen dinner for one meal each day is a convenient, inexpensive and often delicious way to lose weight.
As long as you use them to replace a meal, not as a between-meal snack (as many women do).
But remember, these replacements are only half the meal, Blatner stresses.
You need fruits and veggies to make it more filling and nutritious.
Aim for a total calorie count (for the replacement plus fruits or vegetables) between 250-400 calories, enough to keep you going for a few hours.
Here are some of Blatner’s favorite meal replacements. (Note: All have at least 10 grams of protein to keep hunger at bay.)
Bars: Kashi GoLean Rolls (200 calories, 1.5 grams sat fat, 12 grams protein, 6 grams fiber) and Balance Bar Trail Mix Energy Bars (210 calories, 3 grams sat fat, 14 grams protein, 3 grams fiber)
Shakes: Slim Fast Optima Shakes (190 calories, 2.5 grams sat fat, 10 g protein, 5g fiber)
Frozen Entrees: Most offerings from Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones or Healthy Choice.
Check out more options here.
2. Schedule meals and snacks.
Hunger always trumps common sense.
If you let yourself get famished, you’re likely to reach for anything within reach, like donuts, chips or corn nuts.
“Having a daily routine for meals and snacks will prevent unhealthy bingeing,” says Jennifer Ramos Galluzzi, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition and science at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Conn.
It also stops subconscious worrying about food, because you’ll know when you’re having your next meal.
To avoid that afternoon cookie craving, plan to eat three well-balanced meals, with two 100-200 calorie snacks between them.
Here’s a sensible schedule with healthy snack suggestions:
7:30 a.m.: Breakfast
10:30 a.m.: 100-200 calorie snack: medium apple (72 calories) with a stick of string cheese (80 calories); or a nonfat flavored yogurt (125-150 calories) with half a pink grapefruit (37 calories)
1 p.m.: Lunch
3:30 p.m.: 100-200 calorie snack: 1/2 cup shelled soybeans (120 calories); 4 cups lite microwave popcorn (120 calories); 1 cup 1% cottage cheese (163 calories) with 10 baby carrots (40 calories)
7 p.m.: Dinner
3. Say “yes” to an appetizer.
But only if it’s a healthy soup or salad.
Filling up with one of these as an appetizer will make you consume less in the meal.
Soup is your best bet for controlling calorie intake.
“You almost can’t go wrong as long as it’s not cream-based,” Blatner says.
“Research has shown that you’ll eat at least 100 fewer calories at the main meal," she says.
Opt for chunky minestrone (1 cup: 127 calories), lentil (1 cup: 126 calories) or even split pea (1 cup: 180 calories).
Salad is a good second choice, although it isn’t as effective as a broth- or bean-based soup.
Although it can pare a meal’s calorie toll, a plain salad won’t fill you up as much as soup will.
Plus, “dressing, croutons and dried fruit can really pack on calories,” Blatner says.
4. Eat more to weigh less.
To drop pounds, nutrition experts believe you need to pay more attention to the caloric density of what you’re eating.
“A lower caloric density indicates that it has fewer calories per gram,” Galluzzi says.
“Foods with a high fiber and water content usually have lower caloric density," Galluzzi explains.
In other words, the lower the caloric density of a food, the more of it you can eat and still lose or maintain weight.
To determine caloric density, divide the number of calories in a serving by the number of grams in a serving (both can be found on nutrition labels).
Here’s an example: A small, 280-calorie cheeseburger weighs 100 grams, so its caloric density would be 2.8.
For the same 280 calories, you can enjoy a plateful of rice and roasted vegetables along with a bowl of miso soup.
The weight of the second lunch is a hefty 500 grams, making the caloric density a much lower 0.6.
If that math seems too daunting, here’s an easier way to eat more foods with a lower caloric density: Add more water-based foods to your diet.
“I use what I call the ‘wet-foods challenge’ with my patients,” Blatner says.
“I ask them to eat four small crackers as a snack one day and a large apple the next, both being about 100 calories," she says.
They always come back saying they believe in wet foods," she says.
Still having doubts? Here’s another example of a low versus a high-caloric-density afternoon snack.
Both have approximately the same number of calories. Which do you think would be more filling (not to mention nutritious)?
A Chicken and Vegetables with Vermicelli Lean Cuisine frozen entree with a caloric density of 0.8 (252 calories divided by 297 grams)
OR
A 1.45 oz Hershey’s Special Dark bar with a caloric density of 5.6 (230 calories divided by 41 grams)
5. Satisfy your sweet tooth.
That’s right, we’re giving you permission to quench your cravings for something chocolatey, sugary or simply yummy.
In fact, even the new USDA Dietary Guidelines allow for sweets and other discretionary calories.
The key is portion control and smart choices.
“I call them ‘sensible splurges,’ ” Blatner says.
“But it’s vital to keep them under 150 calories," she warns.
Try any of these low-cal yet soul-satisfying treats:
Skinny Cow Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Cone: 150 calories
CocoaVia Chocolate-Covered Almonds: 140 calories per pack
Healthy Choice Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Sandwich: 140 calories
Skinny Cow Cookies ‘n’ Cream Ice Cream Bar: 120 calories
Nonfat pudding (chocolate, vanilla, banana): 100-130 calories
CocoaVia Original Chocolate Bar: 100 calories
See’s Candies Gourmet Lollypops (butterscotch, chocolate, vanilla, café latte): 80 calories
Fudgesicle: 65 calories
Big Stick Popsicle: 60 calories
Nancy Gottesman is a health and nutrition writer in Santa Monica, CA.
Adapted from an article originally published in Viv magazine.
For more information, tips and eating ideas, visit our Weight Loss Healthy Eating Guide.
Are You Ready to Lose Weight?
Losing weight is a commitment to diet, exercise and behavioral changes. You know you could stand to lose some of those unwanted pounds, but are you ready to make this life-long commitment?
Ask anyone who has dropped pounds on a diet (or anyone who tried but couldn’t!), and she will confirm that long-term weight loss is tricky.
The major hurdle for most wannabe losers: getting over a “last supper” mentality, which starts with a binge and ends with buckling down.
“Many of my patients come in and say, ‘I’m ready to turn myself over to you,’” says Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., L.D., a dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Wellness Institute and national media spokesperson in Chicago for the American Dietetic Association.
“They look at weight loss as all-or-nothing, a last binge then hard times and deprivation ahead. That just doesn’t work.”
What will work is moderation and small compromises.
With slight changes to your daily routine, you’re much more likely to get results – without having to resort to drastic diet schemes.
Read on for experts’ top 5 tips for a doable diet that really works.
1. Replace a meal… with a replacement.
Substituting a protein bar, shake or low-fat frozen dinner for one meal each day is a convenient, inexpensive and often delicious way to lose weight.
As long as you use them to replace a meal, not as a between-meal snack (as many women do).
But remember, these replacements are only half the meal, Blatner stresses.
You need fruits and veggies to make it more filling and nutritious.
Aim for a total calorie count (for the replacement plus fruits or vegetables) between 250-400 calories, enough to keep you going for a few hours.
Here are some of Blatner’s favorite meal replacements. (Note: All have at least 10 grams of protein to keep hunger at bay.)
Bars: Kashi GoLean Rolls (200 calories, 1.5 grams sat fat, 12 grams protein, 6 grams fiber) and Balance Bar Trail Mix Energy Bars (210 calories, 3 grams sat fat, 14 grams protein, 3 grams fiber)
Shakes: Slim Fast Optima Shakes (190 calories, 2.5 grams sat fat, 10 g protein, 5g fiber)
Frozen Entrees: Most offerings from Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones or Healthy Choice.
Check out more options here.
2. Schedule meals and snacks.
Hunger always trumps common sense.
If you let yourself get famished, you’re likely to reach for anything within reach, like donuts, chips or corn nuts.
“Having a daily routine for meals and snacks will prevent unhealthy bingeing,” says Jennifer Ramos Galluzzi, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition and science at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport, Conn.
It also stops subconscious worrying about food, because you’ll know when you’re having your next meal.
To avoid that afternoon cookie craving, plan to eat three well-balanced meals, with two 100-200 calorie snacks between them.
Here’s a sensible schedule with healthy snack suggestions:
7:30 a.m.: Breakfast
10:30 a.m.: 100-200 calorie snack: medium apple (72 calories) with a stick of string cheese (80 calories); or a nonfat flavored yogurt (125-150 calories) with half a pink grapefruit (37 calories)
1 p.m.: Lunch
3:30 p.m.: 100-200 calorie snack: 1/2 cup shelled soybeans (120 calories); 4 cups lite microwave popcorn (120 calories); 1 cup 1% cottage cheese (163 calories) with 10 baby carrots (40 calories)
7 p.m.: Dinner
3. Say “yes” to an appetizer.
But only if it’s a healthy soup or salad.
Filling up with one of these as an appetizer will make you consume less in the meal.
Soup is your best bet for controlling calorie intake.
“You almost can’t go wrong as long as it’s not cream-based,” Blatner says.
“Research has shown that you’ll eat at least 100 fewer calories at the main meal," she says.
Opt for chunky minestrone (1 cup: 127 calories), lentil (1 cup: 126 calories) or even split pea (1 cup: 180 calories).
Salad is a good second choice, although it isn’t as effective as a broth- or bean-based soup.
Although it can pare a meal’s calorie toll, a plain salad won’t fill you up as much as soup will.
Plus, “dressing, croutons and dried fruit can really pack on calories,” Blatner says.
4. Eat more to weigh less.
To drop pounds, nutrition experts believe you need to pay more attention to the caloric density of what you’re eating.
“A lower caloric density indicates that it has fewer calories per gram,” Galluzzi says.
“Foods with a high fiber and water content usually have lower caloric density," Galluzzi explains.
In other words, the lower the caloric density of a food, the more of it you can eat and still lose or maintain weight.
To determine caloric density, divide the number of calories in a serving by the number of grams in a serving (both can be found on nutrition labels).
Here’s an example: A small, 280-calorie cheeseburger weighs 100 grams, so its caloric density would be 2.8.
For the same 280 calories, you can enjoy a plateful of rice and roasted vegetables along with a bowl of miso soup.
The weight of the second lunch is a hefty 500 grams, making the caloric density a much lower 0.6.
If that math seems too daunting, here’s an easier way to eat more foods with a lower caloric density: Add more water-based foods to your diet.
“I use what I call the ‘wet-foods challenge’ with my patients,” Blatner says.
“I ask them to eat four small crackers as a snack one day and a large apple the next, both being about 100 calories," she says.
They always come back saying they believe in wet foods," she says.
Still having doubts? Here’s another example of a low versus a high-caloric-density afternoon snack.
Both have approximately the same number of calories. Which do you think would be more filling (not to mention nutritious)?
A Chicken and Vegetables with Vermicelli Lean Cuisine frozen entree with a caloric density of 0.8 (252 calories divided by 297 grams)
OR
A 1.45 oz Hershey’s Special Dark bar with a caloric density of 5.6 (230 calories divided by 41 grams)
5. Satisfy your sweet tooth.
That’s right, we’re giving you permission to quench your cravings for something chocolatey, sugary or simply yummy.
In fact, even the new USDA Dietary Guidelines allow for sweets and other discretionary calories.
The key is portion control and smart choices.
“I call them ‘sensible splurges,’ ” Blatner says.
“But it’s vital to keep them under 150 calories," she warns.
Try any of these low-cal yet soul-satisfying treats:
Skinny Cow Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream Cone: 150 calories
CocoaVia Chocolate-Covered Almonds: 140 calories per pack
Healthy Choice Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Sandwich: 140 calories
Skinny Cow Cookies ‘n’ Cream Ice Cream Bar: 120 calories
Nonfat pudding (chocolate, vanilla, banana): 100-130 calories
CocoaVia Original Chocolate Bar: 100 calories
See’s Candies Gourmet Lollypops (butterscotch, chocolate, vanilla, café latte): 80 calories
Fudgesicle: 65 calories
Big Stick Popsicle: 60 calories
Nancy Gottesman is a health and nutrition writer in Santa Monica, CA.
Adapted from an article originally published in Viv magazine.
For more information, tips and eating ideas, visit our Weight Loss Healthy Eating Guide.
Are You Ready to Lose Weight?
Losing weight is a commitment to diet, exercise and behavioral changes. You know you could stand to lose some of those unwanted pounds, but are you ready to make this life-long commitment?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
FUN FACTS - AND A GREAT WAY TO MAKE EXTRA INCOME AND LOTS OF IT - AND - CHECK OUT " WWW.MELODY'SHAPPYWORLD.COM " FOR A FREE WAY TO BRING HAPPINESS, LOVE AND HOPE TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN!!
* Common pesticides such as roach, termite, and flea insecticide can be found in the bodies of the majority of Americans. *
* Children are more allergic to cockroaches than they are to cats! *
* A person infected with the SARS virus, has a full 95-98% chance of recovery. *
* To have your picture taken by the very first camera you would have had to sit still for 8 hours! *
* The technology contained in a single game boy unit in 2000 exceeds all the computing power that was used to put the first man on moon in 1969. *
* Windmills always turn anti-clockwise. Except for the windmills in Ireland! *
__________________________________________________________________________
WWW.MELODYSHAPPYWORLD.COM - "True happiness is not looking back with regret, but looking forward to the future and creating your own exciting, magnificent destiny and masterpiece, YOUR LIFE!"
MELODY JENSEN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON AND THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN I KNOW. CHECK OUT MELODY'S HAPPY WORLD, IT'S FREE!!
ASSOCIATIONS:
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* Children are more allergic to cockroaches than they are to cats! *
* A person infected with the SARS virus, has a full 95-98% chance of recovery. *
* To have your picture taken by the very first camera you would have had to sit still for 8 hours! *
* The technology contained in a single game boy unit in 2000 exceeds all the computing power that was used to put the first man on moon in 1969. *
* Windmills always turn anti-clockwise. Except for the windmills in Ireland! *
__________________________________________________________________________
WWW.MELODYSHAPPYWORLD.COM - "True happiness is not looking back with regret, but looking forward to the future and creating your own exciting, magnificent destiny and masterpiece, YOUR LIFE!"
MELODY JENSEN IS THE MOST WONDERFUL PERSON AND THE GREATEST HUMANITARIAN I KNOW. CHECK OUT MELODY'S HAPPY WORLD, IT'S FREE!!
ASSOCIATIONS:
WWW.MELODYSSECRET.COM
WWW.MJHLC.COM
Beware of Statins, Top Doctor Says
Statins, a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, have recently made headlines for supposedly having other beneficial health effects. But are Lipitor, Torvast, Zocor, and other common statins really the wonder drugs that pharmaceutical companies seem to make them out to be? Newsmax Health contributor Dr. Erika Schwartz, one the nation’s top experts on aging and the author of four best-selling books, doesn’t think so.
She says statins shouldn’t be pitched as a panacea, and that health consumers should be leery of any pharmaceutical company marketing the medications that way.
And while many people take statins to help lower their high cholesterol levels in an effort to prevent heart disease, medical studies raise serious questions as to whether this always makes sense, she says.
“We don’t even know that high cholesterol necessarily represents a danger for heart disease,” she notes. “And actually in all the studies, it was the people who had heart disease who seemed to have higher cholesterol levels, which doesn’t translate into — if you have high cholesterol you have heart disease — it’s actually the other way around.”
What’s more, it is clear that many people have lived to an old age despite having high cholesterol levels, she says.
“If you look anthropologically and look at different areas of the world, you see that people live with very high cholesterol levels and they have no incidence of heart disease and they die in their 90s. So it certainly raises the question of the validity of treating everybody with high cholesterol as though they are on the brink of getting a heart attack just because their cholesterol (level) is over 200.”
The best way to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease is a eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, not taking statins, she says.
Slashing animal fat intake, boosting fruits and vegetables consumption, eliminating sugar substitutes, and decreasing the amount of alcohol we drink are critical steps toward heart health, she says. Combine that with exercise that works the heart and builds muscle, she advises.
“Strength-building and cardio are really the way to really protect ourselves from heart disease, which is what supposedly lowering cholesterol will accomplish,” she says.
Dr. Schwartz also takes issue with a recent study that links statins to a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer. The evidence that taking a statin prevents death from aggressive prostate cancer isn’t there, she says, and men should not be encouraged to take statins for that reason.
“We should stop taking these drugs just on the say-so of the drug companies, and the doctors should stop listening to the drug companies who are trying to enforce their way of thinking and making money and using us as guinea pigs.”
She says statins shouldn’t be pitched as a panacea, and that health consumers should be leery of any pharmaceutical company marketing the medications that way.
And while many people take statins to help lower their high cholesterol levels in an effort to prevent heart disease, medical studies raise serious questions as to whether this always makes sense, she says.
“We don’t even know that high cholesterol necessarily represents a danger for heart disease,” she notes. “And actually in all the studies, it was the people who had heart disease who seemed to have higher cholesterol levels, which doesn’t translate into — if you have high cholesterol you have heart disease — it’s actually the other way around.”
What’s more, it is clear that many people have lived to an old age despite having high cholesterol levels, she says.
“If you look anthropologically and look at different areas of the world, you see that people live with very high cholesterol levels and they have no incidence of heart disease and they die in their 90s. So it certainly raises the question of the validity of treating everybody with high cholesterol as though they are on the brink of getting a heart attack just because their cholesterol (level) is over 200.”
The best way to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease is a eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, not taking statins, she says.
Slashing animal fat intake, boosting fruits and vegetables consumption, eliminating sugar substitutes, and decreasing the amount of alcohol we drink are critical steps toward heart health, she says. Combine that with exercise that works the heart and builds muscle, she advises.
“Strength-building and cardio are really the way to really protect ourselves from heart disease, which is what supposedly lowering cholesterol will accomplish,” she says.
Dr. Schwartz also takes issue with a recent study that links statins to a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer. The evidence that taking a statin prevents death from aggressive prostate cancer isn’t there, she says, and men should not be encouraged to take statins for that reason.
“We should stop taking these drugs just on the say-so of the drug companies, and the doctors should stop listening to the drug companies who are trying to enforce their way of thinking and making money and using us as guinea pigs.”
Wintertime Fatigue
Question: Why do I get tired every winter?
Dr. Brownstein's Answer:
The body makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun, so during the winter we get less of the “sunshine” vitamin. During the colder months, our levels of vitamin D can fall by more than 50 percent in the northern climates. Even in the South, the sun is not as strong in the winter and vitamin D levels can fall.
I recommend checking your vitamin D levels because if they are low, that could be contributing to your fatigue. Vitamin D is also important for bone health because it helps the body absorb calcium. If levels are below 50 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl), supplementing is a must. My experience is that 2,000 to 5,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day is a safe and effective dose for most people.
You can periodically check your levels (known as the 25-hydroxy D3 levels) to ensure you are not taking too much. Adequate levels of vitamin D range from 70 to 100 ng/dl. A good source of vitamin D is Carlson’s cod liver oil (1.5 teaspoons per day) or Bio-D-Mulsion Forte available from Viotron at (800) 437-1298.
Dr. Brownstein's Answer:
The body makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun, so during the winter we get less of the “sunshine” vitamin. During the colder months, our levels of vitamin D can fall by more than 50 percent in the northern climates. Even in the South, the sun is not as strong in the winter and vitamin D levels can fall.
I recommend checking your vitamin D levels because if they are low, that could be contributing to your fatigue. Vitamin D is also important for bone health because it helps the body absorb calcium. If levels are below 50 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl), supplementing is a must. My experience is that 2,000 to 5,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day is a safe and effective dose for most people.
You can periodically check your levels (known as the 25-hydroxy D3 levels) to ensure you are not taking too much. Adequate levels of vitamin D range from 70 to 100 ng/dl. A good source of vitamin D is Carlson’s cod liver oil (1.5 teaspoons per day) or Bio-D-Mulsion Forte available from Viotron at (800) 437-1298.
Dietary Supplements for Type 2 Diabetes
Besides medication and lifestyle changes, certain dietary supplements can help control symptoms of type 2 diabetes. Read on to learn which ones the latest research found most effective and what you should know before taking supplements...
Some people with diabetes take dietary supplements in efforts to improve their blood glucose control, manage symptoms and lessen the risk of developing serious complications such as heart problems.
Here’s what’s currently known about a few of the supplements used for diabetes – especially those that have been tested in clinical trials.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA, also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is an antioxidant – a substance that protects against cell damage.
ALA is found in certain foods, such as liver, spinach, broccoli and potatoes.
Some people with type 2 diabetes take ALA supplements in the hope of lowering blood glucose levels by improving the body’s ability to use insulin.
Others use ALA to prevent or treat diabetic neuropathy (a nerve disorder that can lead to pain, numbness and serious health problems).
Supplements are marketed as tablets or capsules.
ALA has been researched for its effect on insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and diabetic neuropathy.
Some studies have found benefits, but more research is needed.
In some supplements, ALA is paired with L-carnitine, an amino acid that may help diabetics handle glucose.
Studies on rats have found that the two substances could have added health benefits when taken together.
Because ALA might lower blood sugar too much, people with diabetes who take it must monitor their blood sugar levels very carefully.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral – that is, the body requires small amounts of it to function properly.
Some people with diabetes take chromium in an effort to improve their blood glucose control.
Chromium is found in many foods, but usually only in small amounts; relatively good sources include meat, whole grain products, and some fruits, vegetables and spices.
In supplement form (capsules and tablets), it’s sold as chromium picolinate, chromium chloride and chromium nicotinate.
Chromium supplementation has been researched for its effect on glucose control in people with diabetes.
Study results have been mixed. Some researchers have found benefits, but many of the studies haven’t been well designed.
Additional, high-quality research is needed.
At low doses (usually about 50-400 micrograms per day), short-term use of chromium appears to be safe for most adults.
But people with diabetes should be aware that chromium might cause blood sugar levels to go too low.
High doses can cause serious side effects, including kidney problems – an issue of special concern to people with diabetes.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that come from foods such as fish, fish oil, vegetable oil (primarily canola and soybean), walnuts and wheat germ. Omega-3 supplements are available as capsules or oils (such as fish oil).
Omega-3s are important in a number of bodily functions, including the movement of calcium and other substances in and out of cells, the relaxation and contraction of muscles, blood clotting, digestion, fertility, and cell division and growth.
In addition, omega-3s are thought to protect against heart disease, reduce inflammation and lower triglyceride levels.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been researched for their effect on controlling glucose and reducing heart disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes.
Studies show that they lower triglycerides but don’t affect blood glucose control, total cholesterol or HDL (good) cholesterol in people with diabetes.
In some studies, they also raised LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Additional research, particularly long-term studies that look specifically at heart disease in people with diabetes, is needed.
Omega-3s appear to be safe for most adults at low-to-moderate doses (usually about 1-3 grams per day).
Safety questions have been raised about fish oil supplements, because some species of fish can be contaminated by substances such as mercury, pesticides or PCBs. (Many brands are filtered for these impurities.)
In high doses, fish oil can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and drugs used for high blood pressure.
Polyphenols – antioxidants found in tea, dark chocolate and dark-colored fruits, among other dietary sources – are being studied for possible effects on vascular health (including blood pressure) and on the body’s ability to use insulin.
Laboratory studies suggest that EGCG, a polyphenol found in green tea, may protect against cardiovascular disease and have a beneficial effect on insulin activity and glucose control.
However, a few small clinical trials studying EGCG and green tea in people with diabetes have not shown such effects.
No adverse effects of EGCG or green tea were discussed in these studies. Green tea is safe for most adults when used in moderate amounts.
However, green tea contains caffeine, which can cause, in some people, insomnia, anxiety or irritability, among other effects.
Green tea also has small amounts of vitamin K, which can make anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin, less effective.
Other supplements are also being studied for diabetes-related effects.
For example:
Preliminary research has explored the use of garlic for lowering blood glucose levels, but findings have not been consistent.
Studies of the effects of magnesium supplementation on blood glucose control have had mixed results, although researchers have found that eating a diet high in magnesium may lower the risk of diabetes.
There is not enough evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 supplementation as an alternative therapy for diabetes; studies of its ability to affect glucose control have had conflicting findings.
Researchers are studying whether the herb ginseng and the trace mineral vanadium might help control glucose levels.
Some people with diabetes may also try botanicals such as prickly pear cactus, gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre), Coccinia indica, aloe vera, fenugreek and bitter melon to control their glucose levels.
However, there’s limited research on the effectiveness of these botanicals for diabetes.
If You Have Diabetes and Are Thinking About Using a Dietary Supplement:
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Medicines for diabetes and other health conditions may need to be adjusted if a patient is also using a dietary supplement.
Women who are pregnant or nursing, or people who are thinking of using supplements to treat a child, should consult their health care provider before using any dietary supplement.
Don’t replace scientifically proven diabetes treatments with alternative treatments that are unproven.The consequences of not following your prescribed medical regimen for diabetes can be very serious.
Be aware that the label on a dietary supplement bottle may not accurately reflect what’s inside. Some tests of supplements have found that the contents didn’t match the dose on the label, and some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated.
Adapted from “Diabetes and CAM: A Focus on Dietary Supplements” by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
Here are more resources:
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine provides information on supplements and other alternative treatments, including publications and searches of federal databases of scientific and medical literature.
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse responds to inquiries, offers diabetes publications and makes referrals.
For an alphabetical list of publication topics, go to www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/a-z.asp.
The National Diabetes Education Program is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with many federal, state and local partners. Its services include information and publications on diabetes.
Learn more about how women with diabetes can benefit from supplements for diabetes here.
And don’t forget to check out our Diabetes Health Center.
How Much Do You Know About Diabetes?
In the United States alone, 23.6 million people have diabetes. And 5.6 million of them don’t even know it. Unfortunately, misinformation about diabetes is rampant – and mixing up the facts about this disease can have dire consequences.
Some people with diabetes take dietary supplements in efforts to improve their blood glucose control, manage symptoms and lessen the risk of developing serious complications such as heart problems.
Here’s what’s currently known about a few of the supplements used for diabetes – especially those that have been tested in clinical trials.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA, also known as lipoic acid or thioctic acid) is an antioxidant – a substance that protects against cell damage.
ALA is found in certain foods, such as liver, spinach, broccoli and potatoes.
Some people with type 2 diabetes take ALA supplements in the hope of lowering blood glucose levels by improving the body’s ability to use insulin.
Others use ALA to prevent or treat diabetic neuropathy (a nerve disorder that can lead to pain, numbness and serious health problems).
Supplements are marketed as tablets or capsules.
ALA has been researched for its effect on insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and diabetic neuropathy.
Some studies have found benefits, but more research is needed.
In some supplements, ALA is paired with L-carnitine, an amino acid that may help diabetics handle glucose.
Studies on rats have found that the two substances could have added health benefits when taken together.
Because ALA might lower blood sugar too much, people with diabetes who take it must monitor their blood sugar levels very carefully.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral – that is, the body requires small amounts of it to function properly.
Some people with diabetes take chromium in an effort to improve their blood glucose control.
Chromium is found in many foods, but usually only in small amounts; relatively good sources include meat, whole grain products, and some fruits, vegetables and spices.
In supplement form (capsules and tablets), it’s sold as chromium picolinate, chromium chloride and chromium nicotinate.
Chromium supplementation has been researched for its effect on glucose control in people with diabetes.
Study results have been mixed. Some researchers have found benefits, but many of the studies haven’t been well designed.
Additional, high-quality research is needed.
At low doses (usually about 50-400 micrograms per day), short-term use of chromium appears to be safe for most adults.
But people with diabetes should be aware that chromium might cause blood sugar levels to go too low.
High doses can cause serious side effects, including kidney problems – an issue of special concern to people with diabetes.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that come from foods such as fish, fish oil, vegetable oil (primarily canola and soybean), walnuts and wheat germ. Omega-3 supplements are available as capsules or oils (such as fish oil).
Omega-3s are important in a number of bodily functions, including the movement of calcium and other substances in and out of cells, the relaxation and contraction of muscles, blood clotting, digestion, fertility, and cell division and growth.
In addition, omega-3s are thought to protect against heart disease, reduce inflammation and lower triglyceride levels.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been researched for their effect on controlling glucose and reducing heart disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes.
Studies show that they lower triglycerides but don’t affect blood glucose control, total cholesterol or HDL (good) cholesterol in people with diabetes.
In some studies, they also raised LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Additional research, particularly long-term studies that look specifically at heart disease in people with diabetes, is needed.
Omega-3s appear to be safe for most adults at low-to-moderate doses (usually about 1-3 grams per day).
Safety questions have been raised about fish oil supplements, because some species of fish can be contaminated by substances such as mercury, pesticides or PCBs. (Many brands are filtered for these impurities.)
In high doses, fish oil can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and drugs used for high blood pressure.
Polyphenols – antioxidants found in tea, dark chocolate and dark-colored fruits, among other dietary sources – are being studied for possible effects on vascular health (including blood pressure) and on the body’s ability to use insulin.
Laboratory studies suggest that EGCG, a polyphenol found in green tea, may protect against cardiovascular disease and have a beneficial effect on insulin activity and glucose control.
However, a few small clinical trials studying EGCG and green tea in people with diabetes have not shown such effects.
No adverse effects of EGCG or green tea were discussed in these studies. Green tea is safe for most adults when used in moderate amounts.
However, green tea contains caffeine, which can cause, in some people, insomnia, anxiety or irritability, among other effects.
Green tea also has small amounts of vitamin K, which can make anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin, less effective.
Other supplements are also being studied for diabetes-related effects.
For example:
Preliminary research has explored the use of garlic for lowering blood glucose levels, but findings have not been consistent.
Studies of the effects of magnesium supplementation on blood glucose control have had mixed results, although researchers have found that eating a diet high in magnesium may lower the risk of diabetes.
There is not enough evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 supplementation as an alternative therapy for diabetes; studies of its ability to affect glucose control have had conflicting findings.
Researchers are studying whether the herb ginseng and the trace mineral vanadium might help control glucose levels.
Some people with diabetes may also try botanicals such as prickly pear cactus, gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre), Coccinia indica, aloe vera, fenugreek and bitter melon to control their glucose levels.
However, there’s limited research on the effectiveness of these botanicals for diabetes.
If You Have Diabetes and Are Thinking About Using a Dietary Supplement:
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Medicines for diabetes and other health conditions may need to be adjusted if a patient is also using a dietary supplement.
Women who are pregnant or nursing, or people who are thinking of using supplements to treat a child, should consult their health care provider before using any dietary supplement.
Don’t replace scientifically proven diabetes treatments with alternative treatments that are unproven.The consequences of not following your prescribed medical regimen for diabetes can be very serious.
Be aware that the label on a dietary supplement bottle may not accurately reflect what’s inside. Some tests of supplements have found that the contents didn’t match the dose on the label, and some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated.
Adapted from “Diabetes and CAM: A Focus on Dietary Supplements” by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.
Here are more resources:
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine provides information on supplements and other alternative treatments, including publications and searches of federal databases of scientific and medical literature.
The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse responds to inquiries, offers diabetes publications and makes referrals.
For an alphabetical list of publication topics, go to www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/a-z.asp.
The National Diabetes Education Program is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with many federal, state and local partners. Its services include information and publications on diabetes.
Learn more about how women with diabetes can benefit from supplements for diabetes here.
And don’t forget to check out our Diabetes Health Center.
How Much Do You Know About Diabetes?
In the United States alone, 23.6 million people have diabetes. And 5.6 million of them don’t even know it. Unfortunately, misinformation about diabetes is rampant – and mixing up the facts about this disease can have dire consequences.
Ask Suzy Cohen: What’s the Best Prescription Muscle Relaxer? - Our Expert Pharmacist Weighs In on Holy Basil, Hemorrhoid Relief and More
Muscle injuries are not easy to treat, and sometimes the pain can be debilitating. So what will bring relief? Expert pharmacist Suzy Cohen has some remedies, both prescription and natural, to relieve aches. Plus, read more advice on easing hemorrhoid pain, getting ready for hurricanes and other natural disasters and more...
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I was in a car accident and have been taking medicine for muscle aches and pain. Once the drug wears off, though, my pain returns. What are the best prescription muscle relaxers, and are there natural alternatives?
-K.B., Los Angeles
Dear K.B.,
Muscle relaxant drugs offer temporary relief for a pulled muscle, sprain, strain, stiff neck or other muscle problem. Medications are fine for a little while, but most people will need to tease out the underlying cause of their pain.
Many of you suffer with muscle spasms and may not realize that you take a drug that depletes a nutrient from your body, which then causes chronic muscle spasms or cramps. That could cause pain and frustration, and might force you to take muscle relaxant drugs forever!
Hundreds of drugs can cause muscle aches and pains, including blood pressure drugs. In my book, Drug Muggers: Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients – and Natural Ways to Restore Them (Rodale), I list medications that deplete nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, CoQ10, vitamin D and vitamin B6, and may potentially cause weakness, cramps and spasms.
Also, see a physician and consider physical therapy, gentle chiropractic care and massage.
The following popular herbs and medications temporarily relieve pain. All can cause brain fog, drowsiness and dizziness. Please don’t take these and drive.
Baclofen (Lioresal), prescription: Used for muscle spasms. It improves levels of our natural GABA, which calms our nervous system. Often used in multiple sclerosis and amazingly, it could help reduce cravings for alcohol.
Cramp bark, herbal supplement: This herb may reduce leg cramps, spasms and pain resulting from a stiff neck, as well as menstrual cramps. It’s sold in health food stores as tea, tincture and capsule. Be careful, it can lower blood pressure.
Metaxalone (Skelaxin), prescription: This blocks pain sensations temporarily. It helps with all sorts of muscle aches and pains, and one advantage over other drugs is that there is much less potential for abuse.
Valerian, herbal supplement: Often used for insomnia and anxiety, but it also relaxes muscles. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), prescription: This is related to antidepressants and can cause dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation and dizziness.
Carisoprodol (Soma), prescription: It blocks the transmission of signals in the brain and spinal cord. It makes you terribly sleepy so you don’t feel pain. I’ve seen a lot of abuse with this drug.
Kava kava and passionflower, herbal dietary supplements: Both support muscle health and cause relaxation. Take one or the other, sold at health food stores, but not together.
Methocarbamol (Robaxin), prescription: It’s related to a cough syrup called guaifenesin. It has no direct effect on striated muscle or nerve fiber, but may help temporarily. Take with lots of water.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I’m concerned about diabetes. I’m overweight, and it runs in my family. My sister has your book, Diabetes Without Drugs: The 5-Step Program to Control Blood Sugar Naturally and Prevent Diabetes Complications (Rodale) and said you recommend Holy Basil, among other herbs and nutrients. Is that the same as regular basil and would you tell me more?
-A.L., Rockwall, Texas
Hi A.L.,
Holy Basil a fabulous herb. It has been prized for centuries and is considered a sacred plant. It is related to other types of basil, but not the same as the fresh basil you buy in American supermarkets (which is great too) or the dried spice form.
Holy Basil is also called “Tulsi” in Ayurvedic medicine; both terms refer to the herb known in Latin as Ocimum sanctum. Whatever you call it, it delivers!
Holy Basil acts as an “adaptogen” in the body, meaning it helps you adapt. It protects cells, improves endurance and helps you cope with stress by supporting adrenal and thyroid function.
Compounds in Holy Basil have been shown in clinical trials to nourish the pancreas, and specifically help generate healthy new beta cells. These beta cells are the body’s insulin-production factories, and insulin lowers blood sugar.
Holy Basil helps other cells in your body open up their receptor (their door), which welcomes insulin like a long lost friend. This is a beautiful thing, because it lightens the load on your liver and precious adrenal glands. You may notice fewer cravings for sweets.
Listen up if you have high cholesterol or triglycerides. Conventional medicine might call for statin drugs to reduce these markers. Studies suggest that Holy Basil can help reduce blood fats, which contribute to heart disease and remain a devastating complication of diabetes.
Holy Basil also is a potent antioxidant, sweeping away damaged cells that could run amok. Tulsi also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Consider using Holy Basil this fall to reduce the risk of cough and cold.
I drink Holy Basil every day in the form of tea (called Tulsi tea). I keep the tea bags in my purse, so when at restaurants, I just ask for a cup of hot water and steep it at my table.
Holy Basil is stronger when taken as an oral supplement.
Organic India, New Chapter and Source Naturals all make commercial brands.
It’s been used for eons and has an impressive track record.
But because it lowers blood sugar, don’t combine it with prescribed diabetes medication unless you closely monitor your blood sugar and are supervised by doctors so they can reduce medication dosage when necessary.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
What are the best treatments for hemorrhoids, both internal and external? My wife and I suffer from these.
-S. D., Gainesville, Fla.
Dear S.D.,
In the U.S., about half of all people will suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in life, usually between 20 and 50 years old. It’s not necessarily a problem of the elderly or constipated.
Hemorrhoids – internal or external – are caused by weak veins that swell from pressure. If these occur on the legs, they’re called “varicose” veins. The blood pools, causing veins to swell and engorge.
Many situations can cause this, including obesity, pregnancy, lifting heavy objects or boxes, straining on the toilet, coughing, sneezing, standing or sitting for long periods. People who eat a high fiber diet and stay well hydrated are less likely to suffer with hemorrhoids. People who eat processed foods will eventually feel it.
The primary difference between internal and external hemorrhoids is pain.
With internal hemorrhoids, there’s no pain because the swollen veins are higher up in the rectum where there are no nerves. You may experience no symptoms or have bleeding after a bowel movement.
For some that may be the first and only sign of internal hemorrhoids. Others may have a thin stool and the urge that you’re not finished your bowel movement yet.
External hemorrhoids hurt like crazy and, if untreated, can thrombose, meaning it can turn purplish-blue and bleed. They can itch, burn and irritate the anus, and you can feel them easily.
No matter the type, don’t sit too much, or let your butt fall asleep on hard chairs!
Here are some ideas for hemorrhoid relief:
Witch hazel: A natural astringent that helps with the swelling and pain.
Hydrocortisone or calendula cream: Apply externally to ease pain.
Preparation H suppositories: Perfect for internal hemorrhoids.
An ice cube or pack: Apply to the painful spot, but wrap it in a paper towel first to avoid ice burns in sensitive areas.
Ibuprofen: An anti-inflammatory can do a lot to reduce inflammation and pain.
Quercetin: A dietary supplement related to vitamin C that may help improve vein strength. Take 300-1,000 mg three times daily.
Warm sitz baths: 10-20 minutes.
Butcher’s Broom and horse chestnut: These two herbs have a long history with hemorrhoids. Butcher’s Broom contains ruscogenin, which helps tighten blood vessels. Horse chestnut contains aescin, which tones vein walls and is commonly used in Europe.
Aloe vera juice: It may help constipation.
Please see a specialist, who can make sure that pencil thin stools, bleeding or other symptoms are related to hemorrhoids and not something more serious. Physicians also can offer many helpful treatments.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I just dealt with the ramifications of an earthquake in Virginia, and then a hurricane barreled toward us. What tips can you offer?
-T.R., Richmond, Va.
Hi T.R.,
Depending on where we live, we might face earthquakes, tornadoes, power outages, flash floods, fires or hurricanes. Climate-related disasters give us little or no time to think about medications, because we are focused on protecting our family, property and staying safe.
The following tips should help with your emergency preparedness:
Have a written list of all your medications that includes dosage, directions, your local pharmacy and physician and their phone numbers. Include both generic and brand names. Pharmacies can actually print you a comprehensive list, but make sure it’s current.
Be ready to grab your medications and dietary supplements, and go! Buy a toiletry or make-up bag, and store a 10-day supply of medications in it. Put your name and contact information in it.
Only take important medicine, for example, those used for epilepsy, blood pressure, pain, heartbeat rhythm, asthma, migraines, and diabetes. Keep the drugs in their original pharmacy container. Rescuers and relief team members may dispense your medications to you, so it must be correctly labeled.
Include a water bottle so you can take your medicine when needed, a flashlight and a spare set of eyeglasses. Have a little first-aid kit.
If you take refrigerated medications, like insulin, you have two options to keep it cool during a power failure: One, buy an ice pack and keep it frozen, preferably in a sealed baggie. When the power goes out, grab the pack from your freezer, drop it in that toiletry or tote bag, and go.
Or purchase a ready-made cooling case, usually sold in the diabetes section of pharmacies and online. This stores insulin, and might also fit antibiotic suspensions, suppositories, growth hormone or epoetin (Procrit, Epogen). Two popular cooling cases are made by Frio and Medicool. These are great for regular travel too.
If you live in a region where fires are common, keep a 10-day supply of medications in a fire safe box. In a quick Internet search, I found two companies, Sentry and First Alert, that sell fireproof and waterproof boxes. Another option: Purchase a plastic waterproof container from the boating section of a sporting goods store.
If you’re prone to floods, or live in a hurricane zone, water purification tablets are good idea. They use chlorine dioxide to destroy microorganisms within 15 minutes, killing Giardia, Cryptosporidium and other pathogens. Hikers and campers often carry these. A popular brand is Katadyn Micropur tablets. These tablets are usually available in sporting goods stores and online.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I was in a car accident and have been taking medicine for muscle aches and pain. Once the drug wears off, though, my pain returns. What are the best prescription muscle relaxers, and are there natural alternatives?
-K.B., Los Angeles
Dear K.B.,
Muscle relaxant drugs offer temporary relief for a pulled muscle, sprain, strain, stiff neck or other muscle problem. Medications are fine for a little while, but most people will need to tease out the underlying cause of their pain.
Many of you suffer with muscle spasms and may not realize that you take a drug that depletes a nutrient from your body, which then causes chronic muscle spasms or cramps. That could cause pain and frustration, and might force you to take muscle relaxant drugs forever!
Hundreds of drugs can cause muscle aches and pains, including blood pressure drugs. In my book, Drug Muggers: Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients – and Natural Ways to Restore Them (Rodale), I list medications that deplete nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, CoQ10, vitamin D and vitamin B6, and may potentially cause weakness, cramps and spasms.
Also, see a physician and consider physical therapy, gentle chiropractic care and massage.
The following popular herbs and medications temporarily relieve pain. All can cause brain fog, drowsiness and dizziness. Please don’t take these and drive.
Baclofen (Lioresal), prescription: Used for muscle spasms. It improves levels of our natural GABA, which calms our nervous system. Often used in multiple sclerosis and amazingly, it could help reduce cravings for alcohol.
Cramp bark, herbal supplement: This herb may reduce leg cramps, spasms and pain resulting from a stiff neck, as well as menstrual cramps. It’s sold in health food stores as tea, tincture and capsule. Be careful, it can lower blood pressure.
Metaxalone (Skelaxin), prescription: This blocks pain sensations temporarily. It helps with all sorts of muscle aches and pains, and one advantage over other drugs is that there is much less potential for abuse.
Valerian, herbal supplement: Often used for insomnia and anxiety, but it also relaxes muscles. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), prescription: This is related to antidepressants and can cause dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation and dizziness.
Carisoprodol (Soma), prescription: It blocks the transmission of signals in the brain and spinal cord. It makes you terribly sleepy so you don’t feel pain. I’ve seen a lot of abuse with this drug.
Kava kava and passionflower, herbal dietary supplements: Both support muscle health and cause relaxation. Take one or the other, sold at health food stores, but not together.
Methocarbamol (Robaxin), prescription: It’s related to a cough syrup called guaifenesin. It has no direct effect on striated muscle or nerve fiber, but may help temporarily. Take with lots of water.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I’m concerned about diabetes. I’m overweight, and it runs in my family. My sister has your book, Diabetes Without Drugs: The 5-Step Program to Control Blood Sugar Naturally and Prevent Diabetes Complications (Rodale) and said you recommend Holy Basil, among other herbs and nutrients. Is that the same as regular basil and would you tell me more?
-A.L., Rockwall, Texas
Hi A.L.,
Holy Basil a fabulous herb. It has been prized for centuries and is considered a sacred plant. It is related to other types of basil, but not the same as the fresh basil you buy in American supermarkets (which is great too) or the dried spice form.
Holy Basil is also called “Tulsi” in Ayurvedic medicine; both terms refer to the herb known in Latin as Ocimum sanctum. Whatever you call it, it delivers!
Holy Basil acts as an “adaptogen” in the body, meaning it helps you adapt. It protects cells, improves endurance and helps you cope with stress by supporting adrenal and thyroid function.
Compounds in Holy Basil have been shown in clinical trials to nourish the pancreas, and specifically help generate healthy new beta cells. These beta cells are the body’s insulin-production factories, and insulin lowers blood sugar.
Holy Basil helps other cells in your body open up their receptor (their door), which welcomes insulin like a long lost friend. This is a beautiful thing, because it lightens the load on your liver and precious adrenal glands. You may notice fewer cravings for sweets.
Listen up if you have high cholesterol or triglycerides. Conventional medicine might call for statin drugs to reduce these markers. Studies suggest that Holy Basil can help reduce blood fats, which contribute to heart disease and remain a devastating complication of diabetes.
Holy Basil also is a potent antioxidant, sweeping away damaged cells that could run amok. Tulsi also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Consider using Holy Basil this fall to reduce the risk of cough and cold.
I drink Holy Basil every day in the form of tea (called Tulsi tea). I keep the tea bags in my purse, so when at restaurants, I just ask for a cup of hot water and steep it at my table.
Holy Basil is stronger when taken as an oral supplement.
Organic India, New Chapter and Source Naturals all make commercial brands.
It’s been used for eons and has an impressive track record.
But because it lowers blood sugar, don’t combine it with prescribed diabetes medication unless you closely monitor your blood sugar and are supervised by doctors so they can reduce medication dosage when necessary.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
What are the best treatments for hemorrhoids, both internal and external? My wife and I suffer from these.
-S. D., Gainesville, Fla.
Dear S.D.,
In the U.S., about half of all people will suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in life, usually between 20 and 50 years old. It’s not necessarily a problem of the elderly or constipated.
Hemorrhoids – internal or external – are caused by weak veins that swell from pressure. If these occur on the legs, they’re called “varicose” veins. The blood pools, causing veins to swell and engorge.
Many situations can cause this, including obesity, pregnancy, lifting heavy objects or boxes, straining on the toilet, coughing, sneezing, standing or sitting for long periods. People who eat a high fiber diet and stay well hydrated are less likely to suffer with hemorrhoids. People who eat processed foods will eventually feel it.
The primary difference between internal and external hemorrhoids is pain.
With internal hemorrhoids, there’s no pain because the swollen veins are higher up in the rectum where there are no nerves. You may experience no symptoms or have bleeding after a bowel movement.
For some that may be the first and only sign of internal hemorrhoids. Others may have a thin stool and the urge that you’re not finished your bowel movement yet.
External hemorrhoids hurt like crazy and, if untreated, can thrombose, meaning it can turn purplish-blue and bleed. They can itch, burn and irritate the anus, and you can feel them easily.
No matter the type, don’t sit too much, or let your butt fall asleep on hard chairs!
Here are some ideas for hemorrhoid relief:
Witch hazel: A natural astringent that helps with the swelling and pain.
Hydrocortisone or calendula cream: Apply externally to ease pain.
Preparation H suppositories: Perfect for internal hemorrhoids.
An ice cube or pack: Apply to the painful spot, but wrap it in a paper towel first to avoid ice burns in sensitive areas.
Ibuprofen: An anti-inflammatory can do a lot to reduce inflammation and pain.
Quercetin: A dietary supplement related to vitamin C that may help improve vein strength. Take 300-1,000 mg three times daily.
Warm sitz baths: 10-20 minutes.
Butcher’s Broom and horse chestnut: These two herbs have a long history with hemorrhoids. Butcher’s Broom contains ruscogenin, which helps tighten blood vessels. Horse chestnut contains aescin, which tones vein walls and is commonly used in Europe.
Aloe vera juice: It may help constipation.
Please see a specialist, who can make sure that pencil thin stools, bleeding or other symptoms are related to hemorrhoids and not something more serious. Physicians also can offer many helpful treatments.
Dear Suzy Cohen,
I just dealt with the ramifications of an earthquake in Virginia, and then a hurricane barreled toward us. What tips can you offer?
-T.R., Richmond, Va.
Hi T.R.,
Depending on where we live, we might face earthquakes, tornadoes, power outages, flash floods, fires or hurricanes. Climate-related disasters give us little or no time to think about medications, because we are focused on protecting our family, property and staying safe.
The following tips should help with your emergency preparedness:
Have a written list of all your medications that includes dosage, directions, your local pharmacy and physician and their phone numbers. Include both generic and brand names. Pharmacies can actually print you a comprehensive list, but make sure it’s current.
Be ready to grab your medications and dietary supplements, and go! Buy a toiletry or make-up bag, and store a 10-day supply of medications in it. Put your name and contact information in it.
Only take important medicine, for example, those used for epilepsy, blood pressure, pain, heartbeat rhythm, asthma, migraines, and diabetes. Keep the drugs in their original pharmacy container. Rescuers and relief team members may dispense your medications to you, so it must be correctly labeled.
Include a water bottle so you can take your medicine when needed, a flashlight and a spare set of eyeglasses. Have a little first-aid kit.
If you take refrigerated medications, like insulin, you have two options to keep it cool during a power failure: One, buy an ice pack and keep it frozen, preferably in a sealed baggie. When the power goes out, grab the pack from your freezer, drop it in that toiletry or tote bag, and go.
Or purchase a ready-made cooling case, usually sold in the diabetes section of pharmacies and online. This stores insulin, and might also fit antibiotic suspensions, suppositories, growth hormone or epoetin (Procrit, Epogen). Two popular cooling cases are made by Frio and Medicool. These are great for regular travel too.
If you live in a region where fires are common, keep a 10-day supply of medications in a fire safe box. In a quick Internet search, I found two companies, Sentry and First Alert, that sell fireproof and waterproof boxes. Another option: Purchase a plastic waterproof container from the boating section of a sporting goods store.
If you’re prone to floods, or live in a hurricane zone, water purification tablets are good idea. They use chlorine dioxide to destroy microorganisms within 15 minutes, killing Giardia, Cryptosporidium and other pathogens. Hikers and campers often carry these. A popular brand is Katadyn Micropur tablets. These tablets are usually available in sporting goods stores and online.
Cholesterol Expert Q&A
Does high cholesterol alone mean you’ll develop heart disease? Is there an ideal cholesterol reading? A top cardiologist answers some common questions about cholesterol levels and shares details about some exciting new treatments on the horizon.
Is cholesterol as bad as many of us think?
It’s linked to heart disease: People with high total cholesterol– one of every six adults in the U.S. –run twice the risk of heart disease as those with optimal levels, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But is cholesterol solely to blame?
And does a high cholesterol level automatically equal heart disease?
We spoke to cardiologist Prediman K. Shah, M.D., director of the cardiology division at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and Medical Center in Los Angeles, to get answers– as well as learn about promising research that may give high cholesterol levels the boot for good.
Some people claim cholesterol isn’t linked to heart disease. Can you shed some light on this?
There’s absolutely no question that cholesterol is linked to heart disease. Research clearly shows that cholesterol leads to formation of plaque, the substance the blocks the arteries. Without cholesterol, you can’t get arterial blockage. But cholesterol alone is not the cause of heart disease.
Something else besides a high cholesterol level creates heart disease?
Yes. Some people have high cholesterol and never have plaque. Some people with average cholesterol will have extreme plaque.
Besides cholesterol, inflammation also produces the plaque that builds up in arteries and contributes to heart disease. Without inflammation, cholesterol doesn’t convert into plaque.
People differ in terms of susceptibility to inflammation, which affects their likelihood of developing plaque and heart disease. So cholesterol causes arterial blockage, but not by itself.
What do we know about the inflammation process then?
A certain type of cholesterol – LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol– is implicated in inflammation. When LDL cholesterol gets trapped in an artery, it oxidizes – that is, converts to an irritant. This irritant causes inflammation, which contributes to thickening of the arterial wall and more cholesterol deposits and plaque formation.
Compelling research shows that if we eliminate certain inflammation genes in a mouse with high cholesterol levels between 1,000 and 2,000 [mg/dL], very little plaque develops in the arterial walls. So inflammation is necessary to transform high cholesterol into plaque. We can’t do those same studies in humans, but we believe it’s a similar process.
Are the same genes that prompt other types of inflammation – arthritic inflammation, for example – also responsible for inflammation in arteries?
Some genes involved in inflammation in the heart are common to other diseases, and some are very specific to the arterial wall.
People generally think bad LDL cholesterol should be below 100 and the good HDL should be 60 and above. What is an ideal cholesterol reading?
It’s actually a little complicated. Those are good guidelines, but what is ideal for you may be bad for me. No two people with the same cholesterol levels will have the same degree of plaque.
My body might respond with an inflammatory response to lower cholesterol levels . If you have a less responsive inflammatory system, you might escape heart disease, despite having higher cholesterol. So there’s a lot of individual variability.
How can you find out how responsive (or not) your inflammatory system is? Is there a test?
Unfortunately, there is not a test to find out if you are a plaque-former or not. But a CT scan of the heart and an ultrasound of carotid arteries are very useful tools.
If you’re over 60 years old with elevated cholesterol, yet a CT scan of the heart and an ultrasound of the carotid arteries show you’re free of plaque, we know something is protecting you.
If your grandparents or parents didn’t suffer from heart disease, are you free and clear?
No, not at all. Children don’t automatically inherit the blunting effect.
If someone is 60-plus and you find through imaging they don’t have high cholesterol levels, what then?
I tell them there’s no need to take medication, but they should still follow a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Should everyone have a CT scan of the heart and ultrasound of the carotid arteries to determine if they should take medication?
No, that’s not necessary. You have to consider the risk profile. If a patient is ultra-low risk, I wouldn’t do imaging or give medication. And if the patient is ultra-high [risk], I’d just prescribe medication regardless. It’s really the in-between people with whom we use imaging.
I helped develop the SHAPE [Screening for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication] guidelines that clarify this. These were guidelines recommended to the public in 2006. At that time, they were not widely accepted. But now, the American Heart Association and others are also recommending imaging for intermediate-risk patients.
Why wouldn’t everyone want these tests to check for high cholesterol levels, though? Are they risky or expensive?
The test is not expensive anymore. At Cedars-Sinai, it’s less than $200.There is some degree of radiation involved, though.
You don’t want to do anything with radiation willy-nilly. You want to use it only in people who are most likely to benefit. That said, the level of radiation is actually coming down, because technology is always getting better.
Can you explain the risk categories for cardiac disease?
Ultra low is someone with no family history of cardiac disease, LDL below 100, normal HDL, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, doesn’t smoke, is physically active and isn’t obese. If, under these circumstances, you have cholesterol clog an artery, it’s like lightning striking – extremely rare.
High risk would be somebody who is a smoker, diabetic, has high cholesterol levels, is obese and has high blood pressure. The vast majority of these people will automatically be prescribed medication [to lower their cholesterol].
But in between is a very large group. That’s where we can use imaging to decide whom to treat aggressively with medication and who doesn’t need it.
When you’re considering cholesterol-lowering medication, cost is not the only factor. You’re also considering a lifelong treatment of drugs that do carry some side effects.
What kind of side effects?
The most common side effects of statins include muscle aches and muscle weakness. One of 10 people who take statins will have muscle soreness or stiffness. This side effect usually goes away if you change medication or dose. But there are some reports of neuro-muscular side effects persisting years after drug cessation.
People always worry about liver damage, but fewer than one of 1,000 will experience any negative side effects that have to do with the liver.
Still, statins are the most effective treatment to lower LDL cholesterol. Research backs up the claim that lowering cholesterol reduces cardiac risk, but statins haven’t eliminated heart attacks and strokes. And not everyone can take them.
People on immuno-suppressants and antiretroviral medications, for example, have to be careful because there could be a drug-to-drug interaction. People with liver disease also can’t take them.
Recently, the National Institutes of Health halted a study that was testing statins to lower LDL, along with niacin to raise HDL. Apparently the treatment for high cholesterol levels wasn’t working and even perhaps may slightly increase stroke risk. Are you concerned about this common practice of doctors combining niacin with a statin?
We shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon of demonizing this treatment quite yet. I’ve been a big prescriber of niacin [with a statin] because all prior data was supportive. So I was a bit puzzled and surprised when the study was stopped. I would like to see the data. It will probably take a few months before we understand what happened.
You have some exciting research going on right now. Can you tell us about it?
We’re working on a number of issues related to atherosclerosis and cholesterol. One involves the concept of vaccinations against LDL cholesterol buildup. We’ve developed this vaccine over the last 15 years in collaboration with Dr. Jan Nilsson, a Swedish scientist.
LDL contains a protein called ApoB-100. There’s evidence that ApoB-100 contains the antigen to LDL cholesterol. That is, it triggers an immune response that can reduce [bad] cholesterol and plaque in arteries.
We’ve been taking antigens from ApoB-100, making synthetic copies in the lab and using them in vaccinations to reduce inflammation and plaque in animal models. We’re hoping to complete these studies by the end of year.
How important might a cholesterol vaccine be?
It could be a game-changer. Imagine if you could vaccinate children against heart disease. It’s a possibility.
And your other cholesterol research?
The other idea is based on a mutant gene that occurs in about 40 families in Limone Sul Garda in Italy. The gene has a protein– ApoA-1 Milano– that was discovered to have a protective effect on the heart. When injected, it stops plaque formation in rabbits and mice. So it can halt and reverse plaque buildup.
A 2003 study showed the reversal of plaque in coronary arteries within five weeks of an ApoA-1 Milano protein injection. It’s a very difficult protein to produce, though. We’ve been trying three different ways, and at least one may go to human trials in the next couple of years.
Are you optimistic that vaccinations to fight high cholesterol levels may someday be widely used?
I’m cautiously optimistic.
In the meantime, what’s your advice to people regarding cholesterol?
Choose your parents wisely! There’s a genetic propensity to high cholesterol. Other than that, eat healthy and exercise. Don’t smoke. See your doctor to get your cholesterol checked. And, for now, take your statin medication if you need it.
For more information and expert advice, visit our Cholesterol Health Center.
How Well Do You Understand Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is much maligned, yet many people don’t understand this essential substance and how it works in our bodies. Do you know your HDL from your LDL? How about which lifestyle choices influence cholesterol levels?
Is cholesterol as bad as many of us think?
It’s linked to heart disease: People with high total cholesterol– one of every six adults in the U.S. –run twice the risk of heart disease as those with optimal levels, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But is cholesterol solely to blame?
And does a high cholesterol level automatically equal heart disease?
We spoke to cardiologist Prediman K. Shah, M.D., director of the cardiology division at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and Medical Center in Los Angeles, to get answers– as well as learn about promising research that may give high cholesterol levels the boot for good.
Some people claim cholesterol isn’t linked to heart disease. Can you shed some light on this?
There’s absolutely no question that cholesterol is linked to heart disease. Research clearly shows that cholesterol leads to formation of plaque, the substance the blocks the arteries. Without cholesterol, you can’t get arterial blockage. But cholesterol alone is not the cause of heart disease.
Something else besides a high cholesterol level creates heart disease?
Yes. Some people have high cholesterol and never have plaque. Some people with average cholesterol will have extreme plaque.
Besides cholesterol, inflammation also produces the plaque that builds up in arteries and contributes to heart disease. Without inflammation, cholesterol doesn’t convert into plaque.
People differ in terms of susceptibility to inflammation, which affects their likelihood of developing plaque and heart disease. So cholesterol causes arterial blockage, but not by itself.
What do we know about the inflammation process then?
A certain type of cholesterol – LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol– is implicated in inflammation. When LDL cholesterol gets trapped in an artery, it oxidizes – that is, converts to an irritant. This irritant causes inflammation, which contributes to thickening of the arterial wall and more cholesterol deposits and plaque formation.
Compelling research shows that if we eliminate certain inflammation genes in a mouse with high cholesterol levels between 1,000 and 2,000 [mg/dL], very little plaque develops in the arterial walls. So inflammation is necessary to transform high cholesterol into plaque. We can’t do those same studies in humans, but we believe it’s a similar process.
Are the same genes that prompt other types of inflammation – arthritic inflammation, for example – also responsible for inflammation in arteries?
Some genes involved in inflammation in the heart are common to other diseases, and some are very specific to the arterial wall.
People generally think bad LDL cholesterol should be below 100 and the good HDL should be 60 and above. What is an ideal cholesterol reading?
It’s actually a little complicated. Those are good guidelines, but what is ideal for you may be bad for me. No two people with the same cholesterol levels will have the same degree of plaque.
My body might respond with an inflammatory response to lower cholesterol levels . If you have a less responsive inflammatory system, you might escape heart disease, despite having higher cholesterol. So there’s a lot of individual variability.
How can you find out how responsive (or not) your inflammatory system is? Is there a test?
Unfortunately, there is not a test to find out if you are a plaque-former or not. But a CT scan of the heart and an ultrasound of carotid arteries are very useful tools.
If you’re over 60 years old with elevated cholesterol, yet a CT scan of the heart and an ultrasound of the carotid arteries show you’re free of plaque, we know something is protecting you.
If your grandparents or parents didn’t suffer from heart disease, are you free and clear?
No, not at all. Children don’t automatically inherit the blunting effect.
If someone is 60-plus and you find through imaging they don’t have high cholesterol levels, what then?
I tell them there’s no need to take medication, but they should still follow a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Should everyone have a CT scan of the heart and ultrasound of the carotid arteries to determine if they should take medication?
No, that’s not necessary. You have to consider the risk profile. If a patient is ultra-low risk, I wouldn’t do imaging or give medication. And if the patient is ultra-high [risk], I’d just prescribe medication regardless. It’s really the in-between people with whom we use imaging.
I helped develop the SHAPE [Screening for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication] guidelines that clarify this. These were guidelines recommended to the public in 2006. At that time, they were not widely accepted. But now, the American Heart Association and others are also recommending imaging for intermediate-risk patients.
Why wouldn’t everyone want these tests to check for high cholesterol levels, though? Are they risky or expensive?
The test is not expensive anymore. At Cedars-Sinai, it’s less than $200.There is some degree of radiation involved, though.
You don’t want to do anything with radiation willy-nilly. You want to use it only in people who are most likely to benefit. That said, the level of radiation is actually coming down, because technology is always getting better.
Can you explain the risk categories for cardiac disease?
Ultra low is someone with no family history of cardiac disease, LDL below 100, normal HDL, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, doesn’t smoke, is physically active and isn’t obese. If, under these circumstances, you have cholesterol clog an artery, it’s like lightning striking – extremely rare.
High risk would be somebody who is a smoker, diabetic, has high cholesterol levels, is obese and has high blood pressure. The vast majority of these people will automatically be prescribed medication [to lower their cholesterol].
But in between is a very large group. That’s where we can use imaging to decide whom to treat aggressively with medication and who doesn’t need it.
When you’re considering cholesterol-lowering medication, cost is not the only factor. You’re also considering a lifelong treatment of drugs that do carry some side effects.
What kind of side effects?
The most common side effects of statins include muscle aches and muscle weakness. One of 10 people who take statins will have muscle soreness or stiffness. This side effect usually goes away if you change medication or dose. But there are some reports of neuro-muscular side effects persisting years after drug cessation.
People always worry about liver damage, but fewer than one of 1,000 will experience any negative side effects that have to do with the liver.
Still, statins are the most effective treatment to lower LDL cholesterol. Research backs up the claim that lowering cholesterol reduces cardiac risk, but statins haven’t eliminated heart attacks and strokes. And not everyone can take them.
People on immuno-suppressants and antiretroviral medications, for example, have to be careful because there could be a drug-to-drug interaction. People with liver disease also can’t take them.
Recently, the National Institutes of Health halted a study that was testing statins to lower LDL, along with niacin to raise HDL. Apparently the treatment for high cholesterol levels wasn’t working and even perhaps may slightly increase stroke risk. Are you concerned about this common practice of doctors combining niacin with a statin?
We shouldn’t jump on the bandwagon of demonizing this treatment quite yet. I’ve been a big prescriber of niacin [with a statin] because all prior data was supportive. So I was a bit puzzled and surprised when the study was stopped. I would like to see the data. It will probably take a few months before we understand what happened.
You have some exciting research going on right now. Can you tell us about it?
We’re working on a number of issues related to atherosclerosis and cholesterol. One involves the concept of vaccinations against LDL cholesterol buildup. We’ve developed this vaccine over the last 15 years in collaboration with Dr. Jan Nilsson, a Swedish scientist.
LDL contains a protein called ApoB-100. There’s evidence that ApoB-100 contains the antigen to LDL cholesterol. That is, it triggers an immune response that can reduce [bad] cholesterol and plaque in arteries.
We’ve been taking antigens from ApoB-100, making synthetic copies in the lab and using them in vaccinations to reduce inflammation and plaque in animal models. We’re hoping to complete these studies by the end of year.
How important might a cholesterol vaccine be?
It could be a game-changer. Imagine if you could vaccinate children against heart disease. It’s a possibility.
And your other cholesterol research?
The other idea is based on a mutant gene that occurs in about 40 families in Limone Sul Garda in Italy. The gene has a protein– ApoA-1 Milano– that was discovered to have a protective effect on the heart. When injected, it stops plaque formation in rabbits and mice. So it can halt and reverse plaque buildup.
A 2003 study showed the reversal of plaque in coronary arteries within five weeks of an ApoA-1 Milano protein injection. It’s a very difficult protein to produce, though. We’ve been trying three different ways, and at least one may go to human trials in the next couple of years.
Are you optimistic that vaccinations to fight high cholesterol levels may someday be widely used?
I’m cautiously optimistic.
In the meantime, what’s your advice to people regarding cholesterol?
Choose your parents wisely! There’s a genetic propensity to high cholesterol. Other than that, eat healthy and exercise. Don’t smoke. See your doctor to get your cholesterol checked. And, for now, take your statin medication if you need it.
For more information and expert advice, visit our Cholesterol Health Center.
How Well Do You Understand Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is much maligned, yet many people don’t understand this essential substance and how it works in our bodies. Do you know your HDL from your LDL? How about which lifestyle choices influence cholesterol levels?
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