Weekly Health Tips for the month of May
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May 2, 2004- Keep Tabs on Analgesics

When taking more than one over-the-counter medication, checking all the labels for extra analgesics is a good way to guard your health.

Getting more than the recommended dose of certain over-the-counter pain relievers can increase your risk of harmful side effects. However, straight pain relievers are not the only medications that may contain analgesics. Some multiple formulation products, such as certain cold medicines, may contain them, too, so check all labels.

Taking too many medications or taking them improperly can cause serious drug interactions, illness and possibly death.

Source: FDA/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

May 9, 2004- Ice or Heat?

The most frequently asked question at Brook West Chiropractic Clinic by patients is, "What should I use, ice or heat?"

Usually, if you are experiencing new pain or discomfort and it's a sharp sensation; ice therapy is usually the best for that type of sensation.  The ice will help reduce the inflammation and swelling.  However, if you are battling an old chronic dull achy pain, heat may be the best type of therapy for you.  This will help bring more blood flow to the area and help promote healing.  Again, new sharp pain- ice, old dull achy pain-heat.

Of course, these rules do not apply to everyone.  If you are not sure which therapy is best for you, contact your doctor for further information.  Also, whenever any home therapy is applied, whether it's ice or heat, never apply it for longer than 15 minutes.

May 16, 2004- Fiber for Your Heart

The source of your daily fiber intake may have a big impact on your heart disease risk.

A recent study revealed that diets high in fiber from fruits and cereal grains appeared to be especially protective against the development of heart disease. Add some fresh fruit to your high fiber breakfast cereal in the morning for a double dose of heart disease prevention.

There are two forms of fiber. Insoluble fiber provides bulk to stool. Soluble fiber slows glucose absorption in the bloodstream and can help lower cholesterol levels, thus protecting the heart. Both types of fiber help maintain your health. You can find both types of fiber in a variety of foods. Insoluble fiber is found in whole grains, such as brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and whole-grain cereals. Soluble fiber is found in oatmeal, beans, and certain fruits.

Eating 25 grams (38 grams if you are a man under 50) of fiber per day is recommended.

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine

May 23, 2004- Nix Aging Morning Meals

Skip big, fatty breakfasts and you could protect your body from harmful inflammatory processes that lead to needless aging.
Within an hour of eating a fatty meal, study participants experienced increases in inflammatory proteins that are associated with heart disease. The inflammatory proteins remained elevated for as many as three or four hours after the meal. Lower your health disease risk each morning with a serving of high-fiber cereal, fresh fruit, and skim milk instead.

Other smart breakfast choices include low-fat yogurt with fruit, an egg-white omelet, and whole-wheat toast with peanut butter instead of butter. Fruit smoothies are another healthy morning meal option and are great for when time is scarce. They can be made ahead of time, stored in the freezer, and then thawed slightly and blended when ready to be served.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ©2004

May 30, 2004- Cancer-Fighting Greens

Stock up on Brassica vegetables at the grocery store for some of the best disease-fighting food options around.

The group of Brassica vegetables includes broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Adding a few servings of these vegetables to your menu each week may help you live a longer life. Recent research has revealed that Brassica vegetables are rich in allyl isothiocyanate, a compound credited with inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.

Chop your vegetables up and cook them lightly to help preserve their disease-fighting nutrition. It's easy to sneak more vegetables into your diet by modifying your eating habits only slightly. Add chopped broccoli to pasta sauce. Instead of using iceburg lettuce, add chopped cabbage to sandwiches and tacos. And set raw broccoli and cauliflower next to your favorite low-fat dips, instead of snacking on pretzels or chips.

Source: Carcinogenesis, ©2004

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