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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.
A Busy B—Maybe Too Busy
The B vitamin folate has gotten lots of publicity in recent years. Abundant in leafy greens and other vegetables, beans, some fruits, and wheat germ, folate is essential to healthy cell growth and thus is especially important during pregnancy. Actually, what has attracted the most attention is folic acid, the synthetic form of folate used in enriched wheat flour, fortified foods, and supplements. Besides preventing birth defects, this vitamin has been linked to heart health and cancer prevention. But lately some studies have linked folic acid to an increased risk of some cancers. Is folic acid a nutritional chameleon, as one scientist put it—protective in some circumstances, dangerous in others? Full
Story
Cataract Facts
True or false:
1. A cataract is a growth in the eye.
2. Everybody can expect to have vision loss from cataracts.
3. Cataract surgery requires a stay in the hospital.
4. Your vision will never be quite right again after a cataract is removed.
All these statements are false. Here is what you need to know about cataracts
Can Yogurt Do Everything?
Yogurt can do almost everything these days—alleviate constipation, prevent colds, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, even help keep you young. That is, if you believe what the labels and ads say—or boldly imply. No question, yogurt is a healthy food. But does it live up to its new super-food status?
Massage: Hands-on Advice
One of the oldest hands-on therapies, massage has been used worldwide, so far as is known, since the invention of aches and pains. Therapeutic massage is now a billion-dollar business. Nearly everybody likes a good massage. You can get one from a certified professional with years of training or from your roommate or spouse—or even at a nail salon. While some techniques can be momentarily painful, massage usually feels good and is relaxing. In addition, many claims are made about its health benefits.
The ABCs of MSG
Though it may sound like some industrial additive cooked up in a chemical factory, monosodium glutamate, or MSG, is as natural a flavorant as you can find. It is about 78% glutamate (also called glutamic acid) and 12% sodium. The former is an amino acid (a building block of protein) that occurs in human cells and many foods. That plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce probably has more glutamate than a similar quantity of Chinese food. Nevertheless, many Americans fear MSG. Should you avoid it?
That’s Exertainment
“Exergaming” or “exertainment” is the latest video game craze, which allows you to play sports “virtually” and perform other activities using new interactive computer technology. You can, for example, box, bowl, play tennis, shoot hoops, snowboard, even walk a tightrope, all from the comfort of your living room. Several companies make these active gaming systems, but the most popular is Nintendo Wii. Using a hand-held controller with digital motion sensors, you simulate the movements needed to perform the activity, as an onscreen character depicts your movement in real time. It sounds invigorating, but is it real exercise or just fun and games?
An “Energy” Glut
Wandering through the convenience store, are you attracted by such drinks as 5-Hour Energy, Daredevil Lighter Fluid, Rock Star, Jolt Endurance Shot, Sex Drive, RoBoosto, X Energy, and Wired? How about Cocaine? Blow? These are “energy” drinks—a fast-growing billion-dollar market. Red Bull was the first of these brands in 1997, and they have multiplied. The beverages contain, or claim to contain, a variety of “energy boosters,” such as tyrosine, phenylalanine, taurine, and other chemicals. Many boast of antioxidants, “green-tea based energy,” and megadoses of B vitamins, as well as ginseng and other herbs. Some are sold as “shots” or “vials” to add some phony swagger. But there are potential problems.
ASK
THE EXPERTS
Our readers ask: I read that a type of blood cholesterol called Lp(a) increases the risk of heart attacks—should I have it measured? Is the oil from New Zealand green-lipped mussels better than the fish oil in other capsules? Can inulin boost calcium absorption, as some yogurts claim? What is whole white wheat flour? Full
Story
WELL & INFORMED
Tips, Short Takes, and Other News You Can Use
Six traits that help you stay sharp . . . food for thought about family eating habits.
WELLNESS TIPS
• Adults age 19 to 65, as well as teenagers, should be revaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis), according to the CDC, since the effect of childhood vaccination wears off after about 10 years. This can be done via a combination vaccine that also protects against tetanus and diphtheria.
• Eating fish may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, suggests a recent study from Tufts University.
• A nutty way to lower your cholesterol: eat walnuts. Harvard researchers recently reviewed 13 studies and found that walnut-rich diets lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by about 10 points, on average, over the course of one to six months, as well as improve other coronary risk factors.
• Call your doctor for test results—don’t assume that no news is good news. A recent study found that 7% of abnormal test results are not reported to patients, and that is probably an underestimate.
• Don’t believe ads for supplements stating that selenium can prevent prostate cancer. Recently the FDA warned that this is the most that marketers can say: “Two weak studies suggest that selenium intake may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. However, four stronger studies and three weak studies showed no reduction in risk. Based on these studies, FDA concludes that it is highly unlikely that selenium supplements reduce the risk of prostate cancer.”
• If you’re a woman taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, stopping the hormones briefly before a mammogram, as is sometimes recommended, won’t improve the accuracy of the results.
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