Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Health : Health Buzz: Whole-Fat Dairy May Thwart Type 2 Diabetes

Health : Health Buzz: Whole-Fat Dairy May Thwart Type 2 Diabetes

Health Buzz: Whole-Fat Dairy May Thwart Type 2 Diabetes

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 02:13 PM PST

Can Dairy Fat Lower the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?

Whole-fat dairy products may protect against type 2 diabetes, but experts warn the findings are not strong enough to recommend snubbing skim milk just yet, HealthDay reports. Researchers analyzed data on more than 3,700 adults who were part of a national heart health study; they found that those who had the highest blood levels of trans-palmitoleic acid—a fatty acid that dairy products contain in varying degrees—appeared to be 60 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes over 20 years than those with the lowest levels of the fatty acid. The amount of trans-palmitoleic acid in a product is proportional to the amount of dairy fat it contains, so whole milk has more of it than 2 percent, which has more than skim milk; it would take roughly three to five daily servings of dairy, depending on the products' fat content, to achieve levels of trans-palmitoleic acid similar to what the "high" group had, Dariush Mozaffarian, study author and an associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, told HealthDay. The findings were published Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dairy aside, a number of other foods might also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, U.S. News's January Payne reported in June.

From: Brown Rice and 4 Other Foods That Can Help Prevent Diabetes

1. Nuts

Nuts help dampen hunger and provide healthy fats, magnesium, and fiber. Peanuts and other varieties are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease and help improve cholesterol levels. Some research suggests that eating nuts may reduce the risk of diabetes. Because of this, people with diabetes should consume nuts to help reduce their cardiovascular risk, according to a study published in 2008 in the Journal of Nutrition. A common myth is that nuts should be avoided by those who want to lose weight because they're thought to be fattening. Not so, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, which suggests consuming nuts, which are high in calories, in small portion sizes—say, a half-ounce of mixed nuts, totaling about 84 calories.

2. Green leafy vegetables

A 2008 Diabetes Care study found that women who ate more green, leafy vegetables in addition to fruit had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Eating lots of veggies such as spinach, kale, and collards, which are low in calories and carbohydrates, may also help accomplish a key goal of weight loss: Consuming less calories than one expends, says dietitian Elizabeth Mayer-Davis, president-elect for healthcare and education at the American Diabetes Association. 

3. Fish

Choose fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, Mayer-Davis recommends. But shy away from fish that is deep fried or breaded, the ADA suggests. A study published this month in Diabetes Educator found that people with diabetes who consume more fish may have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as improved cholesterol levels and a lower risk of cardiac death.

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For Addiction Help, Hire a 'Sober Coach'

Posted: 21 Dec 2010 01:30 PM PST

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Health Buzz: Echinacea Does Not Cure Colds

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 10:53 PM PST

 Echinacea Shows Little Benefit As Cold Remedy

 If you're sniffling and sneezing, forget the echinacea: New research suggests the herbal remedy does not alleviate the common cold, contrary to previous findings. In a clinical trial of more than 700 children and adults, participants were broken into four groups; some were given no pills, some were given a placebo, and two other groups took echinacea tablets for five days. Those who took the herb experienced only negligible relief—slightly milder symptoms and a half-day reduction in the duration of their weeklong cold. But the benefits were so minor, they could have occurred by chance, according to a study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "Any underlying benefit of echinacea is not large and was not demonstrated by our results," the researchers wrote. The herb—a perennial purple coneflower—is marketed as an immune booster that helps fight infections. And it's a top-seller: Last year, sales climbed 7 percent to $132 million in the U.S., Bloomberg reports. But echinacea is also linked to an array of side effects, including stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. And past research suggests it may interfere with certain medications, including birth control pills and those used to treat allergies and cholesterol.

 15 Gift Ideas Under $50 for Fitness Buffs

 Whether you're wrapping up some last-minute Christmas shopping for the fitness buff on your list or wondering how you'll tackle your exercise resolutions in 2011, you can't go wrong with one of these budget-friendly fitness buys:

 iPod Shuffle, $49 (Apple Store). Hardy and feather-light, the simple 2-gigabyte iPod Shuffle is a gym staple. The built-in clip means no fussing with an armband. Personalize it by having a message engraved when you order online or by uploading a favorite workout playlist, fitness blogger Chelsea Bush writes for U.S. News.

 Philips Earhook Headphones, $23 (Amazon). Want relief from standard ear buds? The soft caps of these headphones fit comfortably even in small ears, and flexible over-the-ear hooks keep them in place through sweat and rigorous workouts.

 Swiss ball, $32 (Amazon). Everyone should have an inflatable balance ball for improving core stability, according to Seattle-based trainer John Verd. They're versatile, portable, and easy to use, and no one will mind having an extra ball for the office or the road. [Read more: 15 Gift Ideas Under $50 for Fitness Buffs.]

 Too Many Kids Don't Have a Doctor

 One million American children don't have access to pediatricians and family doctors in their home towns making it difficult for their parents to find them good healthcare.

 And that's not because there aren't enough doctors to go around, writes U.S. News contributor Nancy Shute. The nationwide supply of pediatricians increased by 51 percent between 1996 and 2006, and the number of family doctors increased by 35 percent. At the same time, the number of children in the United States rose by just 9 percent.

 The problem is that doctors all too often don't live where many children do; in small towns, rural areas, and in lower-income neighborhoods. That's the grim news from a new study in Pediatrics, which compared databases of doctors and children, and came up with these distressing results. The study authors proposed solutions, such as giving doctors financial incentives to practice in underserved areas. But those are long-term goals that won't help desperate parents now. What's more, parents can have an even harder time finding a doctor who takes their health insurance, whether it's private or Medicaid. Or the doctor takes their insurance, but hasn't taken new patients in years. If you're in that kind of pickle, here are six strategies to help you find healthcare for your family. [Read more: Too Many Kids Don't Have a Doctor.]

 

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Health Buzz: Breast-fed Boys Score Higher on Tests, Study Shows

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 03:27 PM PST

Boys Do Better in Math, Reading, Spelling, and Writing

Moms who breastfeed their newborns, especially boys, seem to give them a long-term leg up in school, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. In following more than 1,000 children, researchers found the 10-year-old boys fared better on standardized tests in math, reading, spelling, and writing if they had been breast-fed for at least six months as infants when compared to bottle-fed counterparts, HealthDay reports. They couldn't say the same for girls who were breast-fed the same amount of time, though; although breast-fed girls appeared to do slightly better in reading than formula-fed girls, that difference may have been due to chance, the researchers say. Researchers hypothesized that the gender difference they observed may have to do with boys, more than girls, relying on their moms when acquiring cognitive and language skills. That could explain why boys benefit more from the maternal relationship they form through breastfeeding. While this new research points only to benefits for boys, experts say it should not discourage moms from breastfeeding girls. Breast milk contains a certain type of fatty acids that's necessary for optimal brain growth and that may not be found in formula milk, the researchers wrote. Breastmilk is also easier for infants to digest and helps prevent ear infections and chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It's not just the little ones who benefit from breastfeeding, U.S. News's Deborah Kotz reported in August. Nursing moms may be protected against a slew of life-threatening diseases, including:

From: 4 Breastfeeding Benefits for Mom

1. Reproductive cancers. It's well established that women who have their first baby after age 25 or who have fewer than four children are more likely to get breast cancer than their counterparts who give birth at a young age or have a lot of kids. But research has shown that nursing for six months or more negates these risks. Prolonged nursing also lowers a woman's lifetime risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, probably because it suppresses ovulation—and the ovulatory hormones that play a role in these cancers—during those first few months that she nurses exclusively.

2. Heart disease. Last year, researchers found that women who nursed for at least 24 months over the course of their reproductive lifespan had a 23 percent lower risk of developing heart disease. While the reason is still unknown, researchers theorize that it could be due to the beneficial effects that nursing has on the body's metabolism of sugar and fats. Nursing may also decrease visceral fat—the dangerous kind that collects around the abdominal organs—and promote healthier fat storage on the hips and thighs. One thing nursing doesn't appear to do: trigger weight loss. While it takes plenty of calories to produce breast milk, nursing moms usually find that their appetites increase, causing them to eat more.

3. Rheumatoid arthritis. A number of studies have linked breastfeeding to protection against rheumatoid arthritis. One from Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital found that nursing for a total of two years decreased the risk by 50 percent, while nursing for 12 to 23 months lowered risk by 20 percent. Nursing seems to permanently alter levels of female sex hormones, like estrogen and certain androgens, thought to play a role in this debilitating condition.

4. Diabetes. The latest study adds to evidence that nursing protects against type 2 diabetes. That's likely because lactation makes cells more sensitive to the hormone insulin. (In fact, diabetic mothers who breast-feed usually require less insulin when they nurse.) It could also be due to nursing's effect on where fat is stored: on the hips and thighs rather than on the belly. Excess abdominal fat, often acquired during pregnancy, is a key risk factor in adult diabetes.

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Kids Visiting? How to Quickly Childproof Your Home

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 03:15 PM PST

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Too Many Kids Don't Have a Doctor

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 02:56 PM PST

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Do Breast-Fed Baby Boys Grow Into Better Students?

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 06:00 AM PST

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Health Buzz: Tap Water Tainted With Cancer-Causing Metal

Posted: 20 Dec 2010 12:35 AM PST

 Hexavalent Chromium Detected in 31 of 35 Cities

 Millions of Americans may be drinking tap water containing the cancer-causing metal made famous by the movie "Erin Brockovich." Researchers analyzed the drinking water in 35 U.S. cities and detected hexavalent chromium, aka chromium-6, in all but four of those towns. The chemical can seep into groundwater through erosion of soil and rock, and it's often discharged by steel and pulp mills, metal-plating facilities, and tanneries, according to a report published today by the Environmental Working Group, a research and advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. In 2008, the National Institutes of Health labeled chromium-6 a "probable carcinogen," and animal studies have linked it to cancer and other health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently deciding whether to regulate its presence in the nation's tap water; last year, California became the first state to propose its own safety limits as part of a public health initiative. "This chemical has been so widely used by so many industries across the U.S. that this doesn't surprise me," Brockovich told The Washington Post ; in 1993, she accused a gas and electric company of leaking chromium-6 into her California town's groundwater."Our municipal water supplies are in danger all over the U.S. This is a chemical that should be regulated."

 Talking to Teens About Marijuana—9 Do's and Don'ts

 Mary Jane won the popularity contest at your kid's school this year. Students in a national survey said they strongly prefer marijuana to other drugs, and more junior high and high schoolers say they're toking up.

 The rise in 2010 was small but stood out because it registered across all three age groups sampled in the 36th annual "Monitoring the Future" survey of 46,000 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders. It also turned up at every level of use—in the last day, month, year, or ever, U.S. News's Kurtis Hiatt reports. Seventeen percent of 8th graders, 33 percent of 10th graders, and 43 percent of 12th graders said they'd lit up at least once in their life, about one percentage point higher in all groups than in 2009. And one in 16 12th-graders got high 20 or more times in the previous month compared with about 1 in 20 last year, a jump of 25 percent. [Read more: Talking to Teens About Marijuana—9 Do's and Don'ts.]

 Kids Are Getting Amped on Caffeine, Even at Age 5

 Most school-age children drink caffeinated drinks, and many of them are imbibing enough caffeine to give adults the jitters, writes U.S. News contributor Nancy Shute. And their sleep is suffering. That's the news from the Journal of Pediatrics, which surveyed parents on their children's caffeine habits.

 It turns out that 5- to 7-year-olds on average drink 52 milligrams of caffeine daily, or the caffeine equivalent of one Coke. That may not sound too bad, but the 228 parents in the new study admitted their 8- to 12-year-olds drink the caffeine equivalent of almost three Cokes daily. And the more caffeine the kids took in, the less they slept.

 It's hard to imagine parents thinking double lattes are a good choice for kids, but the fact is that 75 percent of the 228 parents surveyed by the researchers, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, said their kids down caffeinated drinks daily. Soft drinks are the biggest culprit; they're also a bad choice for kids because they're high in sugar, with zero nutritional value. Schools don't always help on this. A recent study found that 14 percent of public elementary school students and 38 percent of private elementary school students can buy sugar-sweetened beverages at school. And kids often don't realize that Gatorade and other sports drinks are just soft drinks in disguise. [Read more: Kids Are Getting Amped on Caffeine, Even at Age 5.]

 

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