Weekly Health Tip for November 7th- Two Types of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most important antioxidant vitamins. People who take 400 IU of vitamin E daily are far less likely to experience premature aging of the arteries and the immune system. But does the form of vitamin E make a difference? Yes.

Two studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last year concluded that natural vitamin E supplements are twice as effective as the synthetic versions because natural E is absorbed more readily by the body. Natural vitamin E is in the chemical form of d-alpha-tocopherol. Synthetic vitamin E is the form of dl-alpha-tocopherol.

Therefore, when you buy Vitamin E supplements, make sure they contain the "d" form of Vitamin E and not the synthetic "dl" form.
SOURCE: InteliHealth, ©1999

Weekly Health Tip for November 14th, 1999- Smoking may keep you in the hospital longer.
From the patient viewpoint, there are two truths about hospitals: you don't want to be there, and you want to be out as quickly as possible.  A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health demonstrates that the length of hospital stays for smokers is significantly longer than non-smokers.

The average increase in hospital days for female smokers versus non-smokers is 49% more.  While for male smokers, there was an incredible 70% extension in hospital stays over non-smokers.  Aside from the direct health risks smoking imposes, there are many indirect factors as well.
SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health, ©1999;  Vol. 89:  691-698

Weekly Health Tip for November 21, 1999 - Back Out of Bed
Hurt your back? Well, don't go to bed. It is well demonstrated that not only does longer bed rest fail to provide relief from back pain, it can often do more harm than good. Bed rest for more than five days leads to reduced muscle strength, which prolongs pain and delays recovery. If muscle function gets worse, the back pain can become chronic.

More than three-quarters of all adults will experience back pain at some time. If you want to learn more about what you can do to prevent or treat back pain, or if you want to determine your risk for developing back pain in the future, check with one of the doctors at Brook West Chiropractic Clinic.
SOURCE: Real Age Health Information Systmes, ©1999

Weekly Health Tip for November 28, 1999 - Fish Oil Without the Fish
The Omega-3s in fish have long been known to protect against cardiovascular disease, but what if you don't have the time, or inclination, to eat the recommended two servings of fish a week? Try fish oil supplements. A recent study in Italy found that heart attack survivors who took fish oil supplements had 45% fewer fatal heart attacks than those who didn't take the supplement.

Although there are no standard guidelines for fish oil supplements, many experts suggest taking 1 gram of DHA and EPA, the primary Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish. If you have heart problems already, talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
SOURCE:  Real Age Information System, ©1999