|
Each month we feature one full
article from the current issue of the WELLNESS LETTER, plus our
Ask the Experts column, in addition to brief summaries of the
other articles, listed below.
Do You Really Need a PSA Test?
Many men who’ve been having PSA tests for prostate cancer must have been surprised to hear last August that men age 75 and older should not be screened. That advice made headlines because it came from the influential U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. What might surprise you even more is that the Task Force waffles about screening for men under 75—not recommending for or against it—because it says there’s no clear evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks at any age. How can a simple early-detection test for cancer not automatically be a great thing? Here are some arguments for and against PSA screening. Full
Story
Hormone Therapy Revisited
In 2002 the findings of the landmark Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study on hormone therapy led millions of women to stop taking hormones for fear of breast cancer and other risks. Now a follow-up WHI study, which continued to monitor the health of the women has yielded some good news. Yes, women taking the hormones (estrogen plus progestin) for at least five years nearly doubled their risk of breast cancer, but when they stopped taking them, the risk quickly dropped. Within a year or two, their risk of breast cancer was close to that of women who never took hormones.
Cyberchondria: Just a Click Away
The Internet is a magnificent advance—a huge, multinational, multilingual electronic library open to everyone with access to a computer and a few basic skills. It’s a bottomless mine of medical information. And like other mines, it can be treacherous. There’s even a newly coined term for one of the pitfalls: cyberchondria (hypochondria in cyberspace), which means searching the Internet for a diagnosis of your symptoms—and confirming your own worst fears.
Long Live Your Liver
Your liver works hard. It helps digest food, regulates cholesterol and fat metabolism, and cleans the blood of impurities, among other essential functions. It’s no wonder then that there are dozens of dietary supplements—pills, powders, and tonics—touted to protect this vital organ. LiverCare, Liverite, Liver Plus, and Liver-Rx are but a few that claim to "neutralize toxins" and repair and regenerate the liver. Some products even claim to alleviate chronic fatigue, food allergies, PMS, and immune problems, as well as increase energy, lower cholesterol, and help you lose weight. We filter out the claims.
The Best of Families
Cruciferous vegetables (from the Cruciferae or Brassicaceae family) are nutritional superstars. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and fiber, as well as unique phytochemicals—all for about 50 calories per cup. While broccoli gets the most attention, all members of the family are worth eating—several times a week. We answer these questions: Which ones are best? What makes them pungent or bitter? Can they really guard against cancer? Do they have any other health benefits? Is it better to eat these vegetables cooked or raw? What are broccoli sprouts? Why do crucifers cause bloating and gas in some people? If you don’t like broccoli, can you just take a supplement?
Putting the Moves on Arthritis
Osteoarthritis need not limit your mobility—at least not if you make an effort to keep moving. It is the most common form of arthritis, and because of joint pain and stiffness, many of the 40 million Americans who suffer from it don’t exercise. Thus the muscles grow weaker and can’t support the joints well, resulting in more pain. You may wonder if exercise will make osteoarthritis worse. Actually, the right exercise, designed with your special problems in mind, is the best thing for osteoarthritis. Here is what you need to know.
Stevia: What’s Old Is New
Stevia, from the South American shrub Stevia rebaudiana, has a long history of use as a sweetener. Now, after years of rejecting industry requests, the FDA has granted GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status to rebiana, a 97% pure extract of one of the plant’s main sweet components. This clears the way for Coca-Cola and Pepsi to use it as a no-calorie sweetener in beverages, under the brand names Truvia and PureVia. Other companies are sure to follow suit. But questions remain about stevia.
ASK
THE EXPERTS
Our readers ask: I see all sorts of sleep-promoting diets on the Internet—what should I eat and drink to get a better night’s sleep? Does grape juice have the same health benefits as red wine? Full
Story
WELL & INFORMED
Tips, Short Takes, and Other News You Can Use
Thirdhand cigarette smoke sticks around. . . 10 tips to keep eye makeup safe.
WELLNESS TIPS
• Watch out for liquid calories. The average American adult drinks 28 ounces (3.5 cups) of sugary soft drinks a day, which supplies nearly 300 calories—about 5 ounces and 46 calories a day more than a decade or two ago, according to a new analysis.
• A reason to keep drinking coffee: it may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. A large recent Finnish study found that middle-aged people who drank coffee had a lower risk of dementia during the next two decades than those who did not drink it.
• If you’re an overweight woman with urinary incontinence, losing weight can greatly reduce the problem. This was confirmed by a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
• Eat colorful fruits and vegetables—among their numerous potential benefits, they may help keep bones strong. Researchers at the Framingham Osteoporosis Study recently found that people who consumed the most carotenoids (especially lycopene) from produce tend to maintain bone mineral density better over the years than those who consumed the least.
• If you have restless legs syndrome, exercise may help you get a better night’s sleep. In a recent Brazilian study, people with restless legs who started a six-month exercise program slept better and had fewer leg movements.
• Fish oil supplements may help middle-aged women with moderate depression. In a recent Canadian study of 120 women age 40 to 55 with depression, those who took 1 gram of omega-3 capsules a day for eight weeks reported reduced depressive symptoms compared to women taking a placebo.
• Don’t think yogurt-covered snacks, like pretzels and raisins, are good for you, despite their healthy image. In most cases, the yogurt coating is predominantly sugar and fat, with little if any yogurt.
|
