November 4, 2001- Dairy Don'ts

Picking the wrong liquid to help wash down your aspirin may reduce the medicine's effectiveness.

If you take aspirin, don't use milk to wash it down. Studies show that milk, along with beer and other kinds of alcoholic beverages, inhibits the body's absorption of the medication. If you need to wash down your non-chewable aspirin, a drink of water is usually your best bet.  Taking too many medications or taking them improperly can be a serious health risk.
SOURCE: Real Age Health Systems, ©2001

November 11, 2001- Speciality Diets

One of the most compelling arguments against following a high-protein diet, is that these diets have not been documented to deliver on their promise of sustained, long-term weight loss. It's important for the public to understand that no scientific evidence supports the claim that high-protein diets enable people to maintain their initial weight loss.

Studies have consistently shown that successful, maintenance of weight loss occurs most often when people follow a nutritionally sound diet and increase physical activity to burn more calories than they consume. Foods emphasized in some of these high-protein and similar diets are from animal sources that are rich in both protein and saturated fat such as meat and eggs. Meanwhile, some of the diets drastically limit consumption of high-carbohydrate foods such as cereals, grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat milk products. Eating large amounts of high-fat animal foods over a sustained period has been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer, he adds.

SOURCE: Robert Eckel, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver, ©2001

November 18, 2001- Sooner or Later

Although several health organizations recommend that men begin prostate cancer screening at age 50, getting screened sooner may have its benefits.

A recent study revealed that men between the ages of 40 and 50 who had higher than normal blood levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were between three and four times more likely to develop prostate cancer. Getting a baseline PSA reading before age 50 may help high-risk men make important cancer-preventive lifestyle changes sooner.

Source: Real Age Health Systems, ©2001

November 25, 2001- High Hopes

If you're trying to lose weight or recover from illness, having high expectations may help you get the results you want.

A recent review of medical literature revealed that patients who have positive expectations tend to fare better than patients who are less hopeful about reaching their goals. Researchers speculate that positive expectations may trigger a physical healing response as well as motivate patients to stick with prescribed therapies.

Taking care of your emotional health and well-being can you live a longer and healthier life.

Source: Lancet, ©2001