May 12th, 2008
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 © 2008
Sound sleep solution is right under you
You spend a third of your life sleeping. Spending some time choosing the right mattress may help you sleep better and avoid neck or back pain, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).
When it comes time to purchase a new mattress, the ACA recommends the following:
- Shop for support: Look for a mattress that provides uniform support from head to toe. If there are gaps between your body and the mattress (such as at the waist), you're not getting the full support you need. Mattresses can be too firm. Pay close attention to uncomfortable pressure on prominent body parts such as the shoulders, hips and low back.
- Shop for comfort: When mattress shopping, give each option a good trial run before you buy. Lie down on a mattress for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes to get a good idea of its comfort level. If you cannot find a comfortable position, you probably have the wrong mattress.
- Shop for size: Does the bed provide enough room for both you and your sleeping partner, if you have one, to stretch and roll over? The ideal mattress will also minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other, which means one person shouldn't feel motion as the other leaves the bed.
Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2008
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 © 2008
The sunshine vitamin reduces cancer risk
Most Americans are not getting enough vitamin D, a fact that may put them at risk for developing cancer, according to a landmark study conducted at Creighton University School of Medicine.
The study followed older women for 4 years. During that time, the women who were taking vitamin D supplements had a dramatic reduction in risk for cancer when compared with women who did not get the vitamin.
Vitamin D enhances the body's immune response to potential cancer cells, said Joan Lappe, PhD, RN, professor of medicine and the study's director.
Study participants took 1,100 IU of vitamin D3 (an animal form of the vitamin that is more active and effective in humans than D2, made from plant sources). The dosage is also 2 to 3 times more than the current recommended daily requirement, which the researchers think should be increased for all. Supplements can be taken with or without meals and do not have to be spaced throughout the day. No side effects were noted.
There is a growing body of evidence that a higher intake of vitamin D for both men and women may be helpful in the prevention and treatment not only of cancer, but also high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases, the researchers said.
Humans make their own vitamin D3 when they are exposed to sunlight. In fact, only 10-15 minutes a day in a bright summer sun creates large amounts of the vitamin. But exercise caution because the sun's ultraviolet B rays also can cause skin cancer. Sunscreen blocks most vitamin D production.
Also, the latitude at which you live and your ancestry also influence your body's ability to convert sunlight into vitamin D. People with dark skin have more difficulty making the vitamin. People living at latitudes north of the 37th parallel — Omaha is near the 41st parallel — cannot get their vitamin D naturally during the winter months because of the sun's angle.
The results of the study were reported in the online edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Used with permission from Write On, Inc., publishers of the Consumer Health News Service at www.health-eheadlines.com © 2008
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 © 2008
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 © 2008
"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 © 2008
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