November 2008 - Health Focus

Health Focus

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Health Focus - November 2008

Go Bananas for a Healthier Colon

November 21st 2008 10:27

From: Realage available free on the web

What do bananas have in common with corn, eggs, salmon, and spinach? Hint: a vitamin that’s great for your colon.

We’re talking about B6. And science shows that simply getting your share of this nutrient could cut your risk of colon and rectal cancer. A lot.

Big Time B Benefits
In one of the largest studies to date on B6 and colon health, people with the highest intake of the
vitamin -- from food and supplements -- reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 20 to 30 percent. And this study is just one of many showing a benefit. Researchers suspect that B6’s role in the metabolism of folate -- another colon-friendly B vitamin -- might explain the protective effects.

A healthy colon is just one reason to load up on B6-rich foods. The mighty vitamin might also help stave off Parkinson’s disease and depression.

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Olive Oil good for heart and other things

November 19th 2008 09:26

From: Real Age available free on the Web

Olive oil -- the unsaturated fat that’s great for your heart -- is making headlines again. But this time it’s for helping something a little lower down: your stomach.

Research suggests that polyphenols in olive oil may inhibit the bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers.

Heard of H. Pylori?
Antibiotics are the treatment gold standard for Helicobacter (H.) pylori, the ulcer-causing bacterium that’s tough enough to survive the acidity of people’s stomachs. But resistant strains of H. pylori are now found worldwide. Fortunately, some researchers are seeking alternative therapies, and in recent studies, the polyphenols in olive oil showed tremendous potential. Not only could they withstand the harsh gastric juices of the stomach, but they also seemed to kill off H. pylori pretty handily -- even antibiotic-resistant strains.

I guess that has to be good news, readers

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Living healthily cheaply

November 2nd 2008 02:07

The Cheapest Ways to Get Healthy

Keep your eye on that 42-inch flat-screen TV you’ve been wanting. Even though the economy stinks more than an athlete’s socks, you can live healthfully and still have the stuff you want (within reason, of course). Being healthy won’t hog your budget, if you know where to save and where to spend.

We know it’s not always obvious. Take the $1 menu at fast-food restaurants. Sounds like a deal, what with food prices escalating faster than bidding wars for Angelina photos. The trouble is, it’s really a $10 menu, because for each $1 spent there, you need to save $9 more for future costs -- letting out your clothes, dealing with the stress of weight gain, buying diet books, and cleaning up the health-busting inflammation that fatty fast foods instigate.

Here’s where to save and where to splurge, so your wallet stays fat (or that flat screen finally comes home) and your body stays healthy.

Save: Always buy fruit and vegetables in season. This old-fashioned wisdom guarantees the best produce for the least coin. And peak produce is easy to spot. Just look for whatever’s most plentiful at the grocery or farmers market. In season now: The last of summer’s peaches, tomatoes, corn, and peppers. Coming next? Apples, pears, winter squash, yams, and brussels sprouts.

Save: Find a buddy. A health club can easily cost $50 or $100 per month -- plus the gas to get there. Save big by teaming up with a neighbor, a “virtual” Internet workout partner, or a spouse. Who’s a good buddy? Someone who genuinely wants you both to succeed in getting healthier. The accountability and cheerleading you give each other will get both of you up and out when it’s raining, it’s cold, or you’re just plain tired -- and that’s priceless. Alternatively, enlist the bored mutt who’s been gnawing on your slippers: In one study, walking Fido 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week led to a 14-pound weight loss for humans. The canines got healthier, too.

Save: Look for healthy bargains. They’re usually right in front of you. One recent USDA study found that you can get three fruit servings plus four vegetable servings a day for a total of 64 cents -- much less than the cost of a candy bar or a fast-food snack. Other healthy, low-cost choices include oatmeal instead of expensive boxed cereals; beans instead of red meat; and frozen orange juice concentrate instead of fruit punch, soda, or bottled OJ.

Save: Quit smoking. There are scores of reasons to do this, but the one that fits this column is that the average price of a pack of cigarettes is $4.22, and as much as $7.50 to $10 in places like Chicago and New York City. If you’re a pack-a-day smoker, quitting will put an extra $1,540 or more per year in your pocket while it removes all kinds of gunk from your lungs.

Splurge: Treat your feet. The 26 bones in your feet get a pounding every day. Take care of them with well-cushioned, well-fitted walking or running shoes and they’ll take care of you. Always wear them when you’ll be walking or standing for long periods of time; replace every 6 to 9 months. Get measured, wearing your favorite sports socks, at least once.

Splurge: Spring for a pedometer. For the price of two movie tickets and some popcorn, you can own a powerful fitness tool: a step counter. A good one costs $15 to $20 (supercheap models are notoriously inaccurate). Clip it on and set out. Goal 1: Walk 30 minutes a day, every day. Goal 2: Work up to 10,000 steps a day (Dr. Mike does 12,000). As you progress, watch your blood pressure plummet and your body’s physical age -- your RealAge -- grow younger. Brands widely recommended for accuracy include Yamax and Accusplit. We YOU Docs find that our patients like the Omron HJ-112 Digital Premium pedometer for its tough-to-lose strap, reliability, 7-day memory, and easy-to-read display.

Don’t sit on the couch or turn on that flat screen until you’ve hit 10,000 steps each day. It will make you not only younger but also richer, because you’ll avoid expensive diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol drugs.

From: Real Age available free on the web

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