Daily Dose: March 14, 2013

Posted on March 14, 2013 by admin

Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Like:

The good news about green tea and coffee just keeps rolling in: The latest findings show that drinking them regularly may help lower your risk of stroke. [Consumer Affairs]

Health officials have started using grocery store loyalty cards to track down where food-borne illnesses originate. Genius! [NBC News]

Calling all calorie-counters who love fast food: On April 22, McDonald’s is rolling out the Egg White Delight, a lighter version of the original Egg McMuffin. [The Daily Meal]

Dislike:

The radiation used to treat breast cancer also increases survivors’ heart attack risk. [USAT]

If you answer a text while driving, you may as well be intoxicated: A new study finds that responding to messages behind the wheel is as dangerous as driving while above the legal alcohol limit. [EurekAlert!]

A new Netflix app lets people show their queues to all their Facebook friends…not that you want to know when your ex is watching Love Actually with his new girlfriend. [CNN Money]

Skeptical:

An incredibly obvious new study shows that a physician’s gender doesn’t affect patients’ mortality. The findings aren’t what’s dubious here—it’s the fact that researchers needed a study to prove it. [Medical Xpress]

Incoherent text messages (dubbed “dystextia” by experts) may help doctors diagnose a type of severe stroke—or a type of severe drunkenness. [News Medical]

Apparently, baking companies intensely debate whether people prefer twist-ties or plastic clips to close bread bags. Bet you can’t remember which one’s in your kitchen right now. [Business Week]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Gluten-Free Craze Is Still Going Strong

Posted on March 14, 2013 by admin

Still eating gluten? Even if you are, one of your best friends probably isn’t. About one in three American adults say they’re cutting down on gluten or completely eliminating it from their diets, according to a new survey from The NPD Group.

The company, which conducts consumer market research, polls 1,000 adults every two weeks to ask if they’re at on a diet and, if so, what kind. In 2009, NPD added reduced-gluten and gluten-free diets to the survey for the first time. As of January 2013 (the most recent number for which stats are available), the number of adults who fall into one of the two categories was at an all-time high: 30 percent.

“This shows a huge shift in attitude,” says Harry Balzer, NPD chief industry analyst. “A third of the adult population is trying to cut back on something people had never heard of just five years ago.”

Why is the diet so popular? Eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, can cause serious health problems for the estimated 2.5 million Americans with celiac disease and the other 20 million with gluten sensitivities. For them, maintaining a gluten-free diet isn’t a trend—it’s the only way to avoid digestive distress or even intestinal damage and nutritional deficiencies. “Since the diet has its roots in medicine, many people feel their health would benefit from removing gluten from their diets,” says Heather Bauer, RD, CDN, founder of bestowed.com and author of Bread is the Devil.

If you don’t have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, though, gluten isn’t bad for you—and stripping good-for-you grains from your diet can actually result in nutritional deficiencies, says Bauer. So if you suspect that gluten is behind your stomach trouble, don’t self-diagnose. Talk to your doctor before you make any changes to your diet. Celiac disease shares many symptoms—such as chronic diarrhea or constipation, bloating, and fatigue—with tons of other health conditions. Plus, if you give up gluten before being screened by a specialist, your blood or endoscopy test results may come back negative even if you do suffer from celiac disease.

Still, as more celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz, and Victoria Beckham tout the weight-loss benefits of a gluten-free diet, even more people are jumping on the bandwagon.

“Think about how much healthier a restaurant meal is when gluten is off the menu,” Bauer says. “Your options are a salad, vegetables, fruit, or protein—not a heaping bowl of white pasta.” On the other hand, loading up on gluten-free breads, pastas, and packaged foods—which can be high in fat, sugar, and calories—doesn’t have the same effect.

If you suffer from celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity (or just want to go gluten-free) make sure to eat healthy grains such as rice, quinoa, and sorghum to get enough iron, vitamin B, and fiber. And remember, a gluten-free cookie is still a cookie.

photo: Ron Chapple Studios/Thinkstock

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Should I Worry About Superbugs?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by admin

Every week, the Scoop examines alarming new claims to help you make sense of the latest health research.

It might sound like the plot of a science fiction movie, but drug-resistant “superbugs” are on the rise, according to a recent statement from the Centers for Disease Control. These powerful germs are called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, and, while no specific statistics are available, the CDC has noted that they’re spreading through hospitals and nursing homes across the U.S., especially in the Northeast.

In fact, the director of the CDC went so far as to call them a “nightmare” and a triple threat since they’re resistant to almost all antibiotics, they have very high mortality rates, and they can spread their drug resistance to other more common bacteria (like E. coli). Yikes!

But you don’t need to grab a medical mask and lock yourself indoors just yet. Right now, the cases are contained to hospitals, nursing homes, and in patients who already have a compromised immune system. “We know at this point that CRE doesn’t thrive in healthy people,” says Rosa Herrera, health communication specialist at the CDC. Though the germs are spread by person-to-person contact, it’s very unlikely that they would cause an infection in an otherwise healthy individual (even if you’re visiting a loved one at the hospital or nursing home or are a short-term patient).

That said, if you happen to go to the hospital, make sure to ask any doctor or nurse who touches you to wash their hands, says Herrera. It sounds like a simple request, but it’s currently the best defense to stop the spread of CRE. It’s also a good idea to request that any IVs or catheters not be left in any longer than necessary since these can be portals for bacteria, says Priya Sampathkumar, MD, of the department of infectious diseases at the Mayo Clinic.

In the long run, it’s also crucial to be smart about antibiotics. Only take them when absolutely necessary and only as directed by your physician, says Herrera. That means no demanding an Rx for a run-of-the-mill virus and not stopping your prescription halfway through your pills. “Antibiotics destroy the bad bacteria that they’re supposed to, but they also upset the good bacteria,” says Herrera. So when you’re taking them, you can actually become susceptible to other infections.

The verdict: Superbugs are a major health issue, but it’s very unlikely that you’ll be infected unless you’re hospitalized and have a compromised immune system. However, you can help stop the spread of CRE by washing your hands (diligently!) and making sure to use antibiotics properly.

photo: iStockPhoto/Thinkstock

Slim down in 15 days! Expert Harley Pasternak offers a proven program to shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience in The Body Reset. Order now!

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6 Products That’ll Make You a Better Biker

Posted on March 14, 2013 by admin

Cool-invention alert: Engineers in Austin, TX, have designed a new helmet embedded with tiny cameras so that, if the cyclist wearing it gets into an accident, paramedics have more potentially life-saving details on what happened.

Developers are still in talks about licensing the product, which would retail for about $ 300. In the meantime, check out this gear to make your ride easier, faster, and—of course—safer.

Head gear
The Multidirectional Impact Protection System in this SCOTT Taal helmet allows the liner and the shell to move independently of each other, imitating the movement of the brain inside the skull. This reduces the rotational impact absorbed by the brain during a fall, resulting in a lower risk of head injury and concussion.
$ 75; scott-sports.com

Pedal pushers
Weighing in at just a third of a pound for both pedals and cleats, the Ultralite Sports Nimbus ST pedal system allows you to ramp up your speed since the pedals are so lightweight.
$ 295; ultralitesports.com

Hands-free shades
Constantly readjusting your sunglasses gets old fast. The nose and behind-the-ear grips on the REVO Guide Small keep the glasses from siding down your face, no matter how sweaty you get. Plus, the lightweight polycarbonate lenses have a special coating designed to keep dirt, water and grease from building up.
$ 179; revo.com

Handy gloves
Make your ride more comfortable with the gel palm padding in these Cannondale Women’s Gel Gloves. They also provide added shock absorption in case you hit a pothole and your hands wind up on the pavement.
$ 30; cannondale.com

e-Tracker
The touchscreen Garmin Edge 510 GPS cycling computer comes with an easy-to-install handlebar mount. The device tracks your speed, distance, time, and elevation. Sync it with your smartphone to send links to friends that let them follow your ride in real time. Or you can wirelessly transfer data about your workout to your computer for later review.
$ 330; garmin.com

Fancy pants
Recovery is just as important as performance. These 110% Juggler Knickers not only provide compression for the lower body; they also have ice pockets strategically placed on key muscles that cyclists use—hips, glutes, quads, hamstrings, and knees. Simply freeze the reusable ice packs, then after a long ride, put the pants on and place the packs in their designated pockets. They’ll soothe your aches and pains while you cook dinner, mow the lawn, or just chill out.
$ 150; 100playharder.com

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
A Better Commute: Biking
Ride of the Century
7 Reasons to Start Bike Riding

Slim down in 15 days! Expert Harley Pasternak offers a proven program to shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience in The Body Reset. Order now!

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How to Protect Your Online Security

Posted on March 13, 2013 by admin

The one thing celebrities hope will never, ever be made public? Not talking about sex tapes here, but social security numbers. According to TMZ, an unnamed website posted SSNs, mortgage amounts, credit card info, car loans, banking account numbers, and more for as many as 12 celebrities and political figures, including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Ashton Kutcher.

Of course, you don’t have to be a star or a politician to have your personal information hijacked. In 2012, identity theft topped the list of complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission—and it was the 13th year that identity theft nabbed the No. 1 spot. Lisa Schifferle, an attorney in the Federal Trade Commission’s division of privacy and identity protection, offers these tips to help you keep your private info under wraps:

Watch where you shop
Small online retailers may have cute goods, but be careful where you whip out your credit card online. You should only transfer personal or financial details over secure sites, which you can identify by a lock symbol that appears to the left or right of the URL, or by the fact that its address starts with “https” (as opposed to just “http”). The same goes for sites that ask you to give out bank or medical info (since health insurance can be stolen, too, says Schifferle). If the site isn’t secure, don’t give out your deets.

Beware of wifi
It’s not enough for the site to have a secure connection—you have to have one, too. Never share private information while using a public wireless network, like at a coffee shop or hotel (even if you have to log in to use it). When you’re at home, it’s safer to plug into a wall than to use wifi. If you are hooked up wirelessly, make sure to use a router with WPA2 encryption (the highest level available), to password protect your network, and to name your router (hackers can find routers more easily when they still have their default names). That said, it shouldn’t be your last name, either. “Change it to something unique that only you would know,” says Schifferle.

Avoid mobile banking
Many banks have smartphone apps now, but it’s not a good idea to use them for more than finding the closest ATM. While logging into your account through a mobile network is safer than through a public wifi network, Schifferle says it’s even more secure to log on through an internet connection you know is protected.

Update your anti-virus and anti-malware software
If you can’t remember the last time you checked out your security programs, open them up to make sure everything’s in order. “Even if you have a secure connection, someone could get in if these aren’t up-to-date,” says Schifferle. If you’re installing new software onto your computer, set it to update regularly or to alert you when it needs to be manually updated.

Become a password pro
You probably already know that passwords should be fairly long (the FTC recommends 10 to 12 characters); a mix of letters, numbers and special characters; different for every account; hard to guess; and changed regularly (about every 60 to 90 days). What you may not: Using any kind of program to store or keep track of your passwords is a bad idea. “Keep your passwords in a secure place out of plain sight, and don’t share them on the phone or by text or email,” says Schifferle. Don’t prompt your computer to save them on each site, either. While it may be annoying to type in your password every time you log onto Facebook or your credit card account, it’s not nearly as annoying as dealing with identity theft if your laptop gets stolen.

Keep an eye out for phishers
Even an e-mail that seems like it’s coming from a close friend or family member could be a scam. “A lot of us have probably gotten e-mails saying that a friend is stuck in London and needs money in order to get back or they’re in the hospital and they need money or they were robbed and everything was taken so they need money,” says Schifferle. “It’s really just an identity thief who’s hacked into their e-mail account and sent it out to all their contacts.” Delete the message and try to call the person before you fork over any info.

Be careful what you post on Facebook
Without even realizing it, many people put up information that could be used to answer their security questions and get into their accounts, says Schifferle. Is your mother’s maiden name, the name of your high school, or the name of your childhood pet on your profile? Anything that could be used to gain access to your personal information should only be given out on a need-to-know basis.

photo: Comstock/Thinkstock

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Eating Clean Is About to Get Easier

Posted on March 13, 2013 by admin

Prepare to become a whole different kind of label snob: Whole Foods recently announced that the chain will require labeling on all genetically modified (GM) foods sold in its stores, making it the first U.S. retailer to call out these products. The president of Whole Foods said he plans to roll out this new labeling system within five years, since the process will likely take a while to implement in the chain’s 300-plus stores.

So what exactly are GM foods, and why should you be able to pick them out on a store shelf? They’re essentially foods that have been modified by combining the DNA of two different species. Examples include most soybeans and corn, as well as anything that contains them, like high fructose corn syrup or canola oil. Although the FDA has deemed these products safe, many researchers caution that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) may contain more allergens and health risks than naturally grown foods. Jeffrey Smith, best-selling author of Seeds of Deception, notes that animal studies have found an increased risk of tumors, organ damage, gastrointestinal disorders, immune disorders, and more as a result of long-term GMO consumption.

In Europe, grocery stores have almost completely removed GM foods from shelves—a result of a 2003 labeling requirement similar to the one Whole Foods is proposing, says Smith. “Now there are so few products [in Europe] that say they contain GMOs that it’s as if they’re banned.”

Whole Foods already sells many products labeled “Non-GMO Project Verified” (meaning they don’t contain any GM ingredients), and the store has seen a huge increase in the sale of these foods. “These are signs of a tipping point of consumer rejection,” says Smith. “The Whole Foods announcement was both a reflection of that and something that will propel the non-GMO movement more quickly.”

So what can you do until the new label system is up and running? Smith suggests buying organic whenever possible and looking for existing labels noting that a product is Non-GMO Project Verified. You can also try to cut down on processed foods, which typically contain GM ingredients.

photo: Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock

Slim down in 15 days! Expert Harley Pasternak offers a proven program to shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience in The Body Reset. Order now!

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Daily Dose: March 13, 2013

Posted on March 13, 2013 by admin

Like:

Your last excuse for smoking just went out the window: New research confirms that the health drawbacks of a little post-cessation weight gain are trivial compared to the benefits of kicking a cigarette habit. [U.S. News]

Now that the European Union has banned the sale of animal-tested cosmetics, celebs like Ke$ ha and Colbie Caillat are pressuring the U.S. to do the same. [USAT]

Who needs a sugary drink ban? Americans now consume more water than soda. [AP]

Dislike:

Feeling burnt out at work makes you nearly 80 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease—and those who are the most burnt out face the highest risk. [The Atlantic]

Use your head—but not too much. Suffering just one concussion can affect brain regions that are vital for memory, executive function, and mood regulation, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. [LA Times]

The U.S. is hoarding a new smallpox medicine—enough to treat two million people. You know, just in case terrorists re-engineer the virus in a lab and unleash it on America. [NYT]

Skeptical:

A study from the University of California Riverside claims that sleeping pills can actually improve your memory. Not that being able to remember things is very useful when you’re zonked out. [Daily Mail]

If your man’s not exactly four years and four months older than you, you might want to dump him: A new survey finds that’s the ideal age gap for couples. [Telegraph]

Watch out for 9-month-old babies: Infants enjoy seeing others who are unlike them suffer, according to recent research out of the University of British Colombia. [International Business Times]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Up Your Self-Control ASAP

Posted on March 13, 2013 by admin

There’s a simple way to make the cookie jar less tempting: A new analysis of previous studies found that exercise can boost your self-control—and you don’t have to run a marathon to reap the benefits.

Researchers at VU University Amsterdam reviewed 24 studies that examined the relationships between exercise and brain function. A slew of studies found that a quick workout improves the brain’s ability to carry out high-level tasks—like practicing self-control. Even better: The studies suggest that a short sweat session can improve your memory and ability to plan ahead.

So what’s the secret? Immediately after a quick workout, your brain gets a blood-flow boost that delivers extra oxygen to the prefrontal cortex, the area largely responsible for higher-level functioning, says lead author Lot Verburgh, a professor in the department of clinical neuropsychology at VU University Amsterdam. The result: renewed resolve when you face decisions like whether to order a salad or a pizza.

Most of the studies reviewed tested self-control immediately after acute exercise, so researchers don’t know how long the effects might last or whether longer workouts would deliver the same brain boost. That said, Verburgh speculates that long-distance runners and fans of lengthy workouts are likely to reap similar results—unless they overdo it. After all, when you exhaust your body, you exhaust your brain, which may temporarily impair its ability to function, he says.

Your best bet: Complete one of these quick workouts (or another 10- to 40-minute routine) directly before your willpower typically weakens (like before you go out to dinner or get together with an ex you’re not quite over).

Blast Arm Jiggle

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Tighten Your Tush

Build Strength With Yoga

Tone Your Entire Body

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Slim down in 15 days! Expert Harley Pasternak offers a proven program to shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience in The Body Reset. Order now!

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The New Skin Cancer Fighter

Posted on March 12, 2013 by admin

Headaches aren’t the only thing that over-the-counter pain meds can help crush: Regular aspirin use may help curb the risk of melanoma for women, according to an analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative. The study, published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, was the largest ever to explore ways to reduce melanoma risk. The results suggest that the longer you take aspirin on a regular basis, the more you slash your risk.

For the study, researchers recruited nearly 60,000 Caucasian women aged 50 to 79 and followed them for 12 years, noting which developed skin cancer and which didn’t. They defined regular aspirin use as taking at least two a week. The women who fell into this category averaged a 21 percent lower risk of melanoma than those who didn’t pop the pills. Women who had been taking aspirin for one year saw an 11 percent risk reduction, while those who had been taking it for one to four years saw a 22 percent risk reduction, and those who had been taking it for five or more years saw a 30 percent risk reduction. Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, didn’t have the same effect, and neither did acetaminophen.

The study controlled for variations in skin pigmentation, tanning practices, sunscreen use, and other factors that may affect skin cancer risk.

What’s behind the risk reduction? Researchers think it may be aspirin’s anti-inflammatory properties since inflammation and cancer cell growth are linked. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can ditch your sunscreen and just start popping aspirin instead. The FDA warns that long-term aspirin use is linked to side effects such as, stomach bleeding, bleeding in the brain, kidney failure, and other kinds of strokes. A recent study also suggests that there may be a correlation between prolonged aspirin use and vision loss.

“These results are very interesting and provocative, but the type of study this is shows a strong correlation—it doesn’t prove causation,” says Jean Y. Tang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford University’s School of Medicine. “Because of the side effects, it would be foolish to recommend aspirin for everyone.”

If you’re at high risk for skin cancer—i.e., you’ve had a lot of sunburns in the past or may have even had skin cancer removed—it can’t hurt to see your doctor and assess whether you should add regular aspirin usage to your skin health arsenal. Regardless, it’s a good idea to stay diligent when it comes to using SPF, avoiding tanning beds, and limiting excessive sun exposure.

Additional reporting by Marygrace Taylor

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
What’s Your Skin Cancer Risk?
Skin Cancer at 26
Sunscreen Questions Answered

Slim down in 15 days! Expert Harley Pasternak offers a proven program to shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience in The Body Reset. Order now!

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Could You Have a Seizure?

Posted on March 12, 2013 by admin

Last week, Kelly Osbourne was rushed to the ER after suffering a seizure on the set of her E! show, Fashion Police. And two weeks earlier at the Oscars, Charlize Theron assisted a security guard who was having one. Both headline-grabbing incidents aimed a spotlight on a mysterious medical symptom that can be almost as terrifying to witness as it is to experience. Now out of the hospital, Osbourne says that her doctors still don’t know what caused her episode. But the scary truth is, it’s not uncommon for an otherwise healthy person to have a seizure.

Find out what the signs are, if you might be at risk, and how to handle it if it happens to someone you’re with.

A seizure’s frightening signs:
Seizures are the result of abnormal electrical pulses in the brain. They’re usually characterized by jerky convulsions, body trembling, and muscle contractions that may make a person black out and/or collapse to the ground, as Kelly Osbourne reportedly did. Not all seizures have these obvious physical symptoms; sometimes a sufferer will simply feel confused, blank, or disoriented. And because these tip-offs are so subtle, she may not even realize she’s had a seizure, says Jacqueline French, MD, a professor of neurology at New York University Langone Medical Center and president of the American Epilepsy Society. An episode typically lasts from 30 seconds to three minutes, after which the brain returns to normal.

Who’s at risk:
If you’ve had head trauma in the past—for example, a concussion bad enough to knock you out—you may be more prone to seizures. A family history of seizures, brain infections such as meningitis or encephalitis, and even very low blood sugar can also put you at higher risk. But as in Kelly Osbourne’s case, often no underlying cause is ever ID’d. “If a person has just one seizure, it may be considered an isolated incident,” French says. “But suffering two seizures in any time period meets the definition of epilepsy—a neurological disorder characterized by unprovoked seizures.” Luckily, regular meds can keep epilepsy under control.

What to do if you witness one:
First, call 911. Though the seizure will typically stop on its own after a few minutes and a sufferer will return to normal, don’t take any chances. While you wait for EMTs to arrive, maneuver the person to the ground so she’s lying on her back, then cushion the back of her head with something soft, like a jacket or your purse. Tilt her head to the left, which makes it easier for her to breathe and prevents saliva or vomit from going back into her lungs, French says. Clear the area of sharp objects so she can’t injure herself if she’s convulsing violently, and keep her comfortable until help arrives.

photo: Photodisc/Thinkstock

Slim down in 15 days! Expert Harley Pasternak offers a proven program to shed pounds without sacrificing health or convenience in The Body Reset. Order now!

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Athens Java Hut

Serving Jittery Joe's Coffee, Cecilia Villaveces, Cakes and Italian Gelato

Daily Dose: March 14, 2013

The Gluten-Free Craze Is Still Going Strong

Should I Worry About Superbugs?

6 Products That’ll Make You a Better Biker

How to Protect Your Online Security

Eating Clean Is About to Get Easier

Daily Dose: March 13, 2013

Up Your Self-Control ASAP

The New Skin Cancer Fighter

Could You Have a Seizure?