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Little Progress Made in Making Fast Food Healthier

by Bob Curley on May 14, 2013

McDonaldsKeoniCabralFlikrAwareness of the high fat, salt, and sugar content of restaurant food has grown in recent years, and restaurant chains are under increased pressure to disclose the nutritional content (or lack thereof) of the food they serve. However, those trends have not added up to fundamentally healthier choices being available on most restaurant menus, Time reported May 14.

Research on meals served at eight leading fast-food chains found that the nutritional quality of menu items improved just 3 points on a 100-point healthy eating scale (from 45 to 48) between 1997 and 2010. Another study found that overall sodium content fell by an average of 3.5 percent in 402 processed foods, but actually increased 2.6 percent in fast-food meals. And a third found that the average fast-food meal contains 1,128 calories (more than half the 2,000 calories recommended for an entire day, 151% of recommended daily sodium intake, 89 percent of your daily fat intake, 83 percent of daily saturated and trans fats, and 60 percent of suggested daily cholesterol intake.

On the positive side, restaurant have lowered the amount of trans fats in their food, and more offer healthier menu options alongside their traditionally unhealthy meals.

High levels of sodium, fat, and sugar in processed food is a major contributor to problems like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Studies show that the average American family spends 42 percent of their food budget on meals prepared outside the home.

(Photo © Keoni Cabral via Flickr)

 



Summer Is Almost Here: Time for Sunscreen!

by Bob Curley on May 17, 2013

sunscreenTomNewbyPhotographyFlickrWith the arrival of warm weather comes an increased need to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, and Health.com has seven important rules to follow when buying and applying sunscreen:

  • Get a sunscreen you love — one that’s not too pasty, thick, or smelly — so that you’ll actually use it.
  • Use a sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30, and choose SPF 50 or higher if you’re in the tropics or have a family history of skin cancer.
  • Make sure your sunscreen is labeled “broad-spectrum” or at least has ingredients that include zinc or avobenzone.
  • Use two layers of sunscreen: most people don’t apply enough.
  • Give your nose extra attention when applying sunscreen: it’s the body part most likely to get sunburned. Your feet, hair part, ears, chest, and the backs of your hands and legs are other areas that commonly get missed when applying sunscreen.
  • To reduce sun damage from rays that get through your sunscreen, get more antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and green tea, found in food, supplements, and in some sunscreens and skin lotions.
  • Don’t rely solely on sunscreen for protection: wear a hat and protective clothing, and stay in the shade when possible.
  • It’s never too late to start being sun-smart, especially since your skin repairs itself more slowly as you age.

(Photo © Tom Newby Photography via Flickr)



Report Says People Seem to Use Pools as Pottys

by Bob Curley on May 17, 2013

kidswimhoyasmegFlickrA report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that traces of E. coli bacteria — found in feces — was disturbingly common in public swimming pools. The news is pretty gross, although there’s small consolation in the fact that no outbreaks of bacterial illness were reported at the pools tested.

The old joke about “no P in the OOL” is bad enough, but while urinating in the pool isn’t exactly unheard-of, researchers were disturbed to find that some people might be defecating in the water, too, NBC News reported May 16. Researchers found traces of E. coli in 58 percent of water samples taken from pools in four Florida counties.

“We don’t know how it got in there. It either washed off somebody’s body or somebody had a bowel movement in the pool,” says Michele Hlavsa, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Swimming Program. “It is time to stop treating the swimming pool as a toilet. Nowhere else except for the pool is it acceptable to poop in public or pee in public. In other places if we did this in public, we’d be arrested.”

Hlavasa said the fecal matter could be accumulating as the result of poor hygiene among swimmers. “Let’s imagine 1,000 kids go to a water park. They have as much as 10 grams of feces on their rear ends,” she says.  “We are now talking about 10,000 grams or 10 kg. That translates to 24 pounds of poop in the water.”

Outbreaks of disease at public pools do occur — anywhere from 20 to 80 are reported annually in the U.S., says Hlavasa. Apart from not swimming in public pools, you can protect yourself from possible illness with one simple precaution — don’t swallow pool water when you are swimming.

(Photo © hoyasmeg via Flickr)



To Friend or Not to Friend: Facebook Tips for Parents

by Bob Curley on May 17, 2013

FacebookRobertSDonovanFlikrFacebook use has become ubiquitous among people of all ages, but parents should resist the urge to “friend” everyone in their lives — or their children’s lives — Parenting.com reported May 16.

Friending your child’s teacher is a no-no, for example, and connecting on Facebook with the babysitter probably isn’t the best idea, either, says Andrea Bonior, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and author of “The Friendship Fix.” Online friendships with teachers can become awkward if conflict arises at school, and you may see something not meant for your eyes on your babysitter’s site that could disrupt an otherwise perfectly good working relationship, says Bonior.

On the other hand, selectively friending the parents of other children at your kids’ school can help spark new friendships and help you keep on top of your children’s activities.

Bonoir also warns married parents against friending old boyfriends or girlfriends (which can lead to misunderstanding or hurting your spouse’s feelings) and even against having a Facebook relationship with your doctor. “Facebook isn’t the avenue for medical communication, and unless you go out for drinks regularly with your kid’s doctor, she simply shouldn’t be a part of your social life — period,” she says.

(Photo © Robert S. Donovan via Flickr)

 



Exercise May Protect Against Cancer

by Bob Curley on May 17, 2013

cityjoggerAdaminaFlickrA study of 17,000 men conducted over a 30-year period found that those who exercised the most were 68 percent less likely to get lung cancer and 38 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer than the most sedentary men, CNN reported May 16.

Further, even when men did get these cancers, regular exercise was shown to reduce the risk of death, according to researchers at the University of Vermont.

The research was slated to be unveiled at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, where other researchers were set to report that:

  • new drugs are using the body’s own immune system to fight cancer
  • higher doses of radiation don’t appear to be more effective in killing off cancer cells

(Photo © Adamina via Flickr)

 



Five Ways to Ease Arthritis Pain Without Drugs

by Bob Curley on May 16, 2013

20th FSS swimming as a workout optionPain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs are the typical remedies for arthritis flareups, but there are some ways to ease the pain and swelling of arthritis without drugs, Fox News reported May 15.

Columnist Manny Alvarez, M.D., says that natural arthritis-management techniques include:

  • Regular exercise, including range-of-motion exercises, strength training, and aerobic or endurance exercise.
  • Eating a healthy diet with a variety of foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, vitamins and minerals, and moderate amounts of fat, cholesterol, salt, and alcohol.
  • Try dietary supplements like ginger, willow bark, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for pain, or fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids to reduce swelling and soreness.
  • Control your stress.
  • Try applying heat and cold to your aching joints.

“Patients should always exercise caution when considering any other alternative therapies,” cautions Alvarez. “Before beginning any alternative or complementary therapy, talk with your doctor to see if it is right for your particular situation, and ask about possible side effects and harmful interactions, especially if are taking any additional medications for other conditions.”

(Photo © U.S. Air Force via Flickr)



Smart Steps to Summer Weight Loss

Working on your swimsuit body can be a worthy goal, but as Jennifer Taitz writes for Fox News, you need to approach the task with a positive mental attitude if you want to succeed. Taitz, a clinical psychologist who has written about weight loss, advises: Don’t let your current weight hold you back from doing [...]

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Soon, Even Fewer Drinks Could Get You Pulled Over

In the minds of many, drunk driving is bad but “buzzed” driving is acceptable. Those distinctions may soon be blurred to the point of meaninglessness, however. The New York Times reported May 15 that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended lowering the presumptive standard for drunk driving from .08 percent blood alcohol content [...]

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Report Questions Sodium Reduction Recommendations

It’s important for Americans to lower their salt intake, but perhaps not to the low levels currently being recommended, according to a new report from the prestigious Institute of Medicine. NBC News reported May 14 that and expert panel convened by the government research institute concluded that ample evidence exists to support reducing daily sodium [...]

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Angry Outbursts Raise Risk of Heart Attack

We’ve all heard the saying about being so angry you’ll burst a blood vessel, but researchers say the real danger of rage may be to your heart. Reuters reported May 14 that researchers found that coronary patients who reported flying into a rage during the past year were twice as likely to have had their [...]

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Make the Most of Face Time with Your Doctor

Healthcare is expensive and time-consuming, so if you’re going to waste time sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, you’ll want to make sure you get your money’s worth when it’s finally your turn. CNN reported May 14 that you can maximize the brief time you’ll actually spend face-to-face with your doctor by: Doing your homework [...]

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