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Health-eheadlines Consumer Health News

Got milk?
There are plenty of different liquids you can drink after heavy exercise of an hour or more, but research in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism shows that drinking 2% chocolate milk after athletic exertion is a great way to replenish your body of lost nutrients. The study among adults found that drinking chocolate milk after intense physical activity aids recovery and restores energy to the depleted body better than sugary sports drinks.

Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2010, Write On, Inc.

Mind power
Forget computer games, try an old-fashioned jigsaw puzzle to challenge your brain, suggests PositScience, an organization that studies brain research and promotes brain health. Completing a puzzle of at least 500 pieces requires fine visual judgments about where pieces belong. You shift from rotating small pieces to visualizing the "big picture." And when you slip the right piece into place, your brain rewards you by producing dopamine — a brain chemical that improves learning and memory.

Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2010, Write On, Inc.

Stop bug bite itch
Don't scratch that mosquito bite. Dab a bit of roll-on antiperspirant directly on the bug bite and the itching will stop, says Ken Haller, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Saint Louis University. The aluminum salts in the antiperspirant help the body to reabsorb the fluid in the bug bite. The swelling goes down and the itching goes away.

Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2010, Write On, Inc.

Food on the floor — what's the rule?
What's the rule in your house for food dropped on the floor? Pick it up within 10 seconds and it's okay to eat?

Actually, you can wait 30 seconds and sometimes more before food dropped on normal floors picks up bacteria. Student researchers at Connecticut College found that apple slices dropped during their test in the dining hall and snack bar started to pick up germs after 30 seconds. Skittles candy took about 5 minutes before becoming contaminated.

Don't wait too long. Some dogs are fast.

Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2010, Write On, Inc.

"I'm fine" and other excuses men use (not to see a doctor)
For some men, taking care of the yard or the car might come more naturally than paying attention to their health. Physicians with Baylor Health Care System recommend that men take care of their bodies with regular checkups too.

A physical exam helps identify risk factors and early signs of disease before problems develop. Baylor doctors recommend men start with a baseline exam at age 18, then one every 2 to 3 years if a man is healthy.

But are men following these guidelines? Not according to a survey by the American Academy of Family Physicians. More than half of all men surveyed had not seen their doctors within the past year. Even though 4 in 10 had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, cancer or diabetes. Half of men had never received colon cancer screening.

More than 1 in 4 men said they wait "as long as possible" before seeking help when they feel sick or are in pain or are concerned about their health. What's your excuse?

Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2010, Write On, Inc.