Should I Worry About the Bird Flu?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by admin

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

You’ve probably heard the scary news: A new strain of bird flu, known as avian influenza A (H7N9), has been identified in China. Twenty-eight people have been infected and nine have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Full disclosure: The CDC issued a health advisory on Friday to inform clinicians what they should do in terms of testing, infection control, and care if they suspect that someone returning from a trip to China may have the virus. The CDC is also working with vaccine manufacturers to develop a virus seed strain that could be used to produce a vaccine if necessary—as in, if there were evidence of human-to-human transmission.

It sounds scary, but before you call your doctor in a panic because you feel a cough coming on, know this: The CDC says it’s just taking these measures to dot all of its I’s and cross all of its T’s. No travel advisories are currently in effect, and right now there’s no evidence that you can get H7N9 from another person, says CDC press officer Jamila Jones. Direct contact with live poultry in China appears to be the greatest risk factor right now—there haven’t been any cases of the virus strain reported in the U.S., or even outside of China. So assuming you live in America and haven’t interacted with any chicken in China recently, you don’t have to change anything about your normal routine.

Flu viruses do constantly change, so it’s possible that this virus could become more transmissible, according to the CDC. Officials there say they’ll continue to monitor the situation and give updates as needed.

For now, though, you have no reason to worry: “There are no specific steps that people in this country need to take to protect themselves,” said Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, in a telebriefing on Friday. “People can go about their daily lives.” While the numbers of cases and deaths have both risen since the telebriefing—at that time, there were 16 cases and six deaths—the CDC is still offering the same guidance: “Right now we’re still not recommending anything different,” says Jones. The same goes for people in the U.S. who work with poultry: At this time, Jones says you shouldn’t be concerned—and the CDC will send out more information if that should change.

The verdict: Pay attention to updates, but there’s definitely no need to freak out.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
How Long Should a Cough Last?
Flu-Catching Myths
Cold or Flu: Can You Tell?

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How Often Should You Check Your…?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by admin

You probably know how often you can go between manicures, hair cuts, and bikini waxes, but it’s harder to remember when you’re due for certain health screenings. Plus, it seems like the suggested guidelines for common medical check-ups are constantly up for debate. Case in point: A recent study found that getting your blood pressure checked at every doctor’s visit may result in an inaccurate diagnosis for hypertension—not to mention unnecessary stress.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic looked at records for 68 patients with hypertension and 372 patients without high blood pressure. When they looked at the readings from every single appointment, they identified all 68 cases of hypertension, along with 110 mistaken diagnoses for people without high blood pressure. But when they just took one annual reading, the doctors still caught all but five cases of hypertension—and they cut the number of false positives by almost 50 percent.

So should you turn down the test the next time you see your doc? Not necessarily. After all, it’s a free, quick, and painless part of your check-up, says Donnica Moore, MD, author of Women’s Health For Life. That said, she stresses that guidelines should never be set in stone and that you and your doctor can make the best decision about scheduling certain tests more or less frequently than recommended. “That will be based on the guidelines, but also on your personal medical history, family history, and lifestyle and behavior choices,” says Moore.

Need a refresher course on your recommended screenings? Check out our fool-proof guide to help you remember what needs to be checked and when:

Once a Month
Breast self-exam: Check your girls for unusual lumps or bumps monthly so you can stay on top of any changes, says Moore. The best time to do it is a few days after your period ends.

Skin self-exam: The Skin Cancer Foundation strongly recommends that you check out your body once a month for any new or unusual spots or marks. Just remember your ABCDEs: asymmetry, border irregularity, uneven color, diameter bigger than 6 mm, and evolving shape and size.

Every Six Months
Dental check-up: Make sure to hit up the dentist’s chair twice a year for cleanings and other preventative maintenance, but you should only get dental X-rays on an as needed basis to prevent unnecessary exposure to radiation, according to the American Dental Association’s recommendations.

Once a Year
Full physical exam: This annual check-up should include a height and weight check, a blood pressure screening, a clinical breast exam, and any blood tests your doctor deems necessary, says Moore. These may include tests for blood sugar, blood count, hormone levels, and other crucial markers.

Pap smear: If you’ve had three consecutive normal pap smears, are in a mutually monogamous relationship, and have no other risk factors, you could technically go three years between screenings, says Moore. However, most doctors still suggest women see their gynecologist once a year and get a pap smear while they’re there. Your pap tests for any changes or abnormalities in the cells in your cervix, which is a way to screen for cervical cancer, says Alyssa Dweck, MD, co-author of V is For Vagina. For women 21-29, any mild irregularities in the pap test will prompt an HPV test to check for the high-risk strains of the HPV virus, says Dweck. Other than that, you probably won’t get an HPV test until you’re 30. (See below for more info on HPV testing)

Pelvic exam: Even if you aren’t getting an annual pap smear, it’s important to visit your OB/GYN annually for a routine pelvic exam, where she’ll feel around for your uterus and ovaries, says Dweck. This is a way to check for fibroids, cysts or any pain or swelling that might indicate an infection.

HIV tests: Get tested annually at your doctor’s office or a health clinic, says Dweck. The most accurate screening is a still a blood test, though you may get a mouth swab in some cases.

Other STD tests: It’s recommended that sexually active women get tested for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea annually until age 25, says Dweck. These can be run off your pap or with a separate swab of your cervix. After age 25, it’s still recommended that you get tested regularly for the range of STDs—including hepatitis b and c, syphilis, and the lesser-known trichomoniasis—based on your own risk factors, which you should discuss with your doctor. Of course, it’s also a smart idea to get tested before you have a new sexual partner or if you have any usual symptoms.

Eye exams: The American Optometric Association recommends eye exams at least once every two years, though annual exams are suggested for anyone with current vision problems (if you wear glasses or contacts, that includes you).

Every Other Year
Skin cancer screening: Skin cancer is a huge issue for women in their twenties, so see your dermatologist before your biennial appointment if you notice any suspicious marks, says Moore.

Slightly Less Often
HPV test: At age 30, women should start getting an HPV test with their pap every five years, says Dweck. Luckily, it’s relatively quick and painless since the test uses the same cervical swab as your pap. Prior to age 30, you should not be getting tested regularly for HPV unless you have an abnormal pap, since strains of the disease are so common in younger woman and they typically go away on their own, says Dweck.

Cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood count: Your doctor will want to check these at least once in your twenties and once in your thirties, though some physicians give a guideline of testing them once every five years, says Moore.

Thyroid test: Starting at age 35, it’s recommended that you check your thyroid levels via a blood test and have them re-tested ever five years after that, says Moore.

Down the Road
Colonoscopy: This test should come right around your 50th birthday, unless your family history warrants an earlier screening, says Moore. If you have a first-degree relative with colon cancer, it’s recommended that you start your screening 10 years before their age at diagnosis.

Diabetes screening: Routine diabetes screenings (which involve a blood sugar test) start at age 50 and should be done once every three years, says Dweck.

Mammograms: At 40, you’ll want to start scheduling annual mammograms, though your doctor may recommended screening earlier if you have a family history, says Dweck.

Only As Needed
Don’t be shocked if your doctor orders a blood test outside of these general guidelines, since many health checks are done on an as-needed basis. Things like your hormone levels, blood sugar, vitamin D levels, and iron deficiencies can all be seen in a blood test and may be ordered if you come in with certain symptoms, says Dweck.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
8 Essential Medical Tests
DIY Health Tests
Head-to-Toe Health Checks

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Should Tanning Beds Be More Heavily Regulated?

Posted on April 5, 2013 by admin

Think it’s a crime to let children use cancer-causing tanning beds? Actually, now it is—at least in the state of New Jersey. Earlier this week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill into law that prohibits people under 17 from tanning indoors.

Prior to the new bill, children under 14 were prohibited from tanning in state, and minors could fake bake with a guardian’s written consent. But last spring, the media exploded with coverage of notorious “Tan Mom” Patricia Krentcil, who brought her then five-year-old daughter to a Nutley, New Jersey tanning salon and was then charged with child endangerment. While her charges were dropped, the hoopla inspired Christie to toughen up the state’s indoor tanning policy. Now, 16- and 17-year-olds can only tan indoors if their parent or guardian is present every time they purchase a tanning session or package.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, indoor tanning can raise a person’s risk for melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer) by a whopping 75 percent. The risk is particularly high if you use sunlamps before the age of 35.

While we’re all for the ban on indoor tanning at any age, opponents say the Garden State’s new provisions could have serious consequences on tanning salons’ bottom lines. Moreover, they say people should have the right to decide whether they want to subject themselves—or their kids—to indoor tanning.

For the record, the now-infamous “Tan Mom” told TMZ yesterday that she supports the ban because she doesn’t think children should ever tan.

Because the federal government only regulates actual indoor tanning devices and allows local governments to decide who can use them, the same debate persists in other states, too. (You can find your state’s policy here.)

Do you think local governments should regulate indoor tanning? What kind of sunlamp legislation do you think is appropriate? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Should I Worry About Henna Tattoos?

Posted on April 4, 2013 by admin

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

If you were getting a tattoo that involved a needle, you would be beyond careful. But getting a temporary tattoo on the boardwalk or at an amusement park? You might not even think twice about it—but you should.

The FDA recently issued a consumer alert informing the public that it has received reports of serious and long-lasting reactions to a certain type of henna tattoos. We’re talking redness, blisters, raised red lesions, loss of pigmentation, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and even permanent scarring—scary stuff.

Some people have even had to go to the ER because of their reactions, which can occur anywhere from immediately after a person gets the temporary tattoo to three weeks later.

What’s causing the problem? Traditional henna is made from the leaves of a plant called Lawsonia, but black henna—the type that’s been linked to the reported reactions—can contain a harsh chemical called p-phenylenediamine (PPD). PPD results in a darker and longer-lasting tattoo, but it can also lead to an allergic reaction, says Tamara Ward, an FDA press officer.

Although the FDA hasn’t released data on how many people have reported having a reaction to black henna, you should keep in mind that anyone can have an allergic response to PPD—regardless of skin type, says Glenn Kolansky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Red Bank, NJ.

The FDA is advising specifically against black henna, but it’s worth noting that even traditional henna is only approved by the FDA for use in hair dyes—not for direct application to the skin.

The verdict: Since there’s really no telling how your skin will react to henna—and the health consequences can be severe—you’re better off steering clear of it. After all, it’s not that big a sacrifice to not get a temporary tattoo.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Should I Worry About My Vitamin D Levels?

Posted on March 26, 2013 by admin

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

Staying up to date on the latest vitamin D research is practically a full-time job—new studies come out so often. The latest findings? Consuming higher-than-recommended amounts of D may give your immune system a boost—potentially lowering their risk of some cancers, heart disease, and other conditions, according to research published online last week in the journal PLOS ONE. While previous studies have linked adequate vitamin D intake to increases in bone strength and decreases in cancer, depression, and autoimmune disorders such as Type I diabetes and multiple sclerosis, this is the first study to show that exceeding the minimum RDA could be key to better health, explains New York City nutritionist Stephanie Middleberg, RD. So does that mean you should start popping vitamin D like candy—or that a deficiency could be to blame for any health issues you might currently have?

Not so fast. First, the PLOS ONE study was small; it included just eight subjects, and even its authors concede that more research needs to be done to back up their findings. What’s more, vitamin D’s link to cancer and heart disease is unclear: A 2010 Institutes of Medicine report that investigated the connection uncovered mostly inconsistent or inconclusive results. That same report also stated that most people in the U.S. are already meeting their D needs—in part because our bodies are like vitamin D factories, absorbing UV light from the sun and synthesizing it into the nutrient. Odds are you’re getting enough, but if you suffer from unexplained symptoms such as fatigue and bone or joint pain, you should consider seeing your MD for a blood test.

As for consuming more vitamin D than the 400 IU the average adult woman needs, be careful. Like many vitamins, D can become toxic if taken in large amounts, says Kassandra Munger, PhD, a research associate in the department of nutrition at Harvard University School of Public Health. And unfortunately, it’s not exactly clear exactly how much qualifies as toxic.

Bottom line: Though taking excess amounts might one day prove to be beneficial, for now, just make sure you meet the current daily D requirement of 400 IU. “Many foods pack decent amounts of it—for example, fatty fish like salmon, nuts, and fortified milk and orange juice—but this nutrient can be hard to get via your diet alone,” says Munger. “Play it safe by taking a daily supplement, and you’ll be covered.”

And though our bodies ares designed to make vitamin D from sunlight, you don’t want to rely on that. Depending on the time of year and your skin tone, it can take 10 to 20 minutes a day in the summer for UV rays to be turned into vitamin D. Problem is, for the UV rays to be absorbed, you likely have to forgo sunscreen, which increases your risk of skin cancer—not to mention fried, damaged skin.

The Verdict: Vitamin D holds promise as a key to improving immunity and preventing conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. But until more research confirms vitamin D’s health-boosting rep, don’t OD on it—just make sure you get the recommended amount (400 IU), ideally through your diet and a daily supplement.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Should I Worry About Getting an STI From My Bikini Wax?

Posted on March 22, 2013 by admin

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

As if you need another reason to dread your bikini wax: Grooming your nether-regions could make you more susceptible to certain STIs, according to a new French case study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Case study author François Desruelles, MD, a dermatologist at Archet Hospital in Nice, France, asked 30 of his patients infected with molluscum contagiosum (a pox virus marked by painless, wart-like sores) about their pubic hair-removal habits. Turns out, 93 percent of them participated in some kind of private-part maintenance. Seventy percent shaved, 13 percent clipped, and 10 percent waxed away unwanted hair.

Here’s the thing: Since your pubic hair acts as a layer of defense against all types of infections, including any STIs you may come into contact with, removing it makes you more vulnerable. Healthy skin is another barrier against infection. But since most hair-removal methods, when done improperly, could cause microscopic wounds, irritations, and (if you wax) burns and inflammation, you risk making yourself more vulnerable to infection when you get rid of down-there hair, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Don’t cancel your bikini wax just yet, though. Keep in mind that the study only looked at patients already infected with molluscum contagiosum. Tons of people tend to their pubic hair but don’t contract an STI, says Tracy Zivin-Tutela, MD, an infectious disease expert at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and a member of the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

In reality, getting professionally waxed is safer than shaving and riskier than laser hair removal—but any hair-removal method is pretty benign when done properly. If you’re a waxer, make sure to pick a salon that’s hasn’t violated any health codes, says Desruelles. The clinician should use new or sterile equipment, and they shouldn’t double dip applicators into the wax during the treatment (since that can spread infection, says Zivin-Tutela).

If you do end up with any kind of cuts, redness, inflammation, or irritation post-hair removal, use an OTC cortisone cream or bacitracin to get rid of the problem ASAP, says Zeichner. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of sexual contact until your skin heals fully, he says. Holding off for a few days may be hard, but protecting your sexual health is so worth it.

The verdict: Almost any hair removal technique can result in skin damage that makes you more susceptible to STIs—but as long as your skin is in good shape, infection is still pretty unlikely. When it comes to waxing, stick to a sanitary salon to further reduce your risk.

photo: iStockphoto/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

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Should I Worry About BPA?

Posted on March 8, 2013 by admin

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

Some of the scariest news we’ve seen recently: Prenatal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in some plastics and cans, may affect the way cells function during brain and central nervous system development, according to a study recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

To mimic the effects of prenatal BPA exposure, researchers examined male and female mouse and human nerve cells and exposed them to the chemical. They found that BPA slowed the cells’ regulation of chloride levels—especially among female neurons, which appear to be more susceptible to the chemical.

These new findings join hundreds of studies that suggest BPA can seriously affect cells and systems in the body.

Other recent study results show intra-uterus exposure to BPA can predispose children to behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and social issues, resulting in autism or even a more severe version known as Rett Syndrome. BPA has also been linked to an increased risk of obesity, cancer, and recently, asthma.

“BPA isn’t lethal, but evidence of its harm is strong,” says Wolfgang Liedtke, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine/neurology and neurobiology at Duke University and lead author of the PNAS study. Researchers still don’t know whether low amounts are just as harmful as high amounts, he says. It may be the case that BPA is like a light switch that turns off your genes—so more of it wouldn’t necessarily “turn off” more lights or do more damage.

It’s nearly impossible to keep your life a 100 percent BPA-free zone: The Food and Drug Administration permits BPA in food and beverage packaging without warning, and the chemical can be found in air, dust, water, medical devices, dental sealants, CDs, and more, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

You can, however, limit your exposure to BPA by shopping at a farmers market when possible, avoiding plastic containers, ditching canned food, and getting electronic copies of receipts (the paper ones have a BPA-based coasting).

The verdict: BPA does appear to have some scary side effects, but you could drive yourself crazy trying to prevent any sort of contact with the chemical. Do what you can to minimize your exposure—especially if you’re pregnant—but there’s no need to go overboard trying to avoid it altogether.

Additional reporting by Emily Main for Rodale.com

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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Should I Worry About Driving With a Hands-Free Cell Phone?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by admin

You’re driving with both hands on the steering wheel, and your eyes are on the road ahead. All good, right? Not if you’re on a hands-free cell phone and your route involves a left-hand turn (we’re guessing it does). According to a new study published in the open access journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, making a left-hand turn in a busy intersection requires a huge amount of brain activity, and talking on a hands-free cell phone at the same time is more than the brain can handle.

For the study, researchers put a driving simulator—steering wheel, pedals, and all—inside a high-powered functional MRI. Young adult participants navigated straight roads, right-hand turns, and left-hand turns. During some of the steering, the participants answered simple true or false questions (for example, if a triangle has four sides) by pressing buttons on the steering wheel—a lot like the way current hands-free phone technology works. When they did so during a left-hand turn at a traffic-filled intersection, something major happened: “Brain power was allocated to the frontal cortex, which allows you to make decisions and hold that conversation,” says lead study author Tom Schweizer, PhD, a neuroscientist and the director of the Neuroscience Research Program at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “The visual part of the brain—the back end of the brain—started to shut down.”

So what exactly makes turning left so complicated? Think about everything you have to process: the traffic light, oncoming cars (which are probably going pretty fast), pedestrian and bicyclists to the left. “You have to take in all of that visual information and then calculate a safe driving maneuver,” says Schweizer. “We found that a huge amount of brain is required to pull that off.” When you add some chatting to the equation, “something in the brain’s gotta give,” explains Schweizer. “There are only so many brain resources to go around. And it just so happens that what gives is the visual system.”

Many states already ban novice drivers and bus drivers from using hands-free devices while driving.

Marcel Just, PhD, director of the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University, was not involved in the study but has done separate research on driving while listening. His 2008 research found that even just listening to a person reduces the brain activity focused on driving by 37 percent. “What people tend to underestimate is the draw on cognitive resources of even having a conversation or listening to someone speak,” says Just. “I don’t want to be crossing the street while a driver is coming towards me and talking on a cell phone, even if it’s hands-free.”

The verdict: Hands-free doesn’t mean danger-free. Don’t chat on the phone when you’re behind the wheel!

photo: Edyta Pawlowska/Shutterstock

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Should You Try the Paleo Diet?

Posted on January 25, 2013 by admin

2013 is the year of the caveman diet—at least so far. During the first week of January, “Paleo diet” was the most searched-for diet on the web, according to Experian Marketing Services data.

Typically, searches for diets peak at the beginning of the year (think: resolution time) and predict what diets will be popular through the year, according to Experian Marketing Services. “People are looking for answers to lose weight and manage their health, and people tend to gravitate toward the Paleo diet because a lot of it intuitively makes sense,” says Cynthia Wu, RD, Ph.D., outpatient dietician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

The Paleo (short for Paleolithic) diet is simple: Eat a strict hunter-gatherer diet of meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. That means grains, dairy, legumes, salt, processed foods, and refined sugars are off the menu. Proponents of the diet maintain that obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are consequences of a modernized diet, and returning to pre-civilization eating habits will prevent their occurrence.

But even if a fat caveman is impossible to find, is the diet right for 2013? Here, we weigh the pros and cons of the Paleo diet:

PALEO DIET PROS

It Eliminates Processed Foods Processed foods, which are outlawed on the Paleo diet, are high in refined sugars. Stripped of their vitamins and minerals and reduced to quickly digested calories, refined sugars can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Meanwhile, about 75 percent of the average American’s sodium intake (which is almost twice what it should be!) comes from commercially prepared foods, contributing to high blood pressure, heart disease, stomach cancer, weak bones, and water retention, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

It Increases Lean Protein High-protein diets minimize post-meal sugar spikes, reduce fat storage, improve appetite control, and help maintain lean muscle, says Wu. A diet in which about a quarter of the calories come from lean protein sources reduces blood pressure, LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and triglycerides better than traditional diets, according to research from Johns Hopkins University.

It Promotes Fruits and Vegetables While fruits and vegetables contain simple sugars, they also contain micronutrients and appetite- and blood sugar-stabilizing fiber. A diet rich in produce can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, Wu says. And a recent study from the University of Warwick and Dartmouth College found that happiness and mental health are highest among people who eat seven portions of fruits and veggies a day.

PALEO DIET CONS

It Cuts Out Healthy Food Groups Research shows that the nutrients in legumes, whole grains, and dairy—all of which are taboo on the diet—can help to lower the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, reduce blood pressure, and promote a healthy weight, Wu says. Cutting dairy, the primary source of calcium and vitamin D in modern diets, is especially troubling to women who want to keep their bones strong for decades to come, she says.

It Includes Too Much Meat While not only impossible for vegetarians, the diet requires more animal protein than Wu advises her patients consume. Fresh fish and meat from grass-fed cows, chickens, and pigs are lean, but as they can be difficult to find and afford, so many Paleo dieters end up eating less-than-lean meats, she says. In one study, researchers from the Imperial College London found that an extra 250 grams of meat a day (about equal to a small steak) leads to an additional weight gain of 5 pounds over five years, even without adding calories.

It’s Very Difficult If you haven’t guessed by now, eating only meats and produce requires a lot of planning, prep-time, and dedication. “The diet isn’t sustainable over the long term, and can result in intense cravings,” Wu says. What’s more, as it allows for only fresh meats and produce—both of which tend to be expensive—the diet can get costly very quickly.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While the Paleo diet has a lot of nutritional benefits, it falls short on do-ability and—if you aren’t a supplement connoisseur—on nutrients. Instead of subscribing to an all-or-nothing Paleo approach, Wu suggests taking the diet as a starting point, swapping out Flintstones-worthy slabs of meat for healthy, nutrient-rich (but Paleo-banned) foods, such as whole grains, dairy, and legumes. And since milk, cheese, yogurt, beans, and lentils are excellent sources of protein, you can get the benefit of a protein-packed diet without all of the meat.

photo: Spike Mafford/Photodisc/Thinkstock

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Tag Archives: Should

Should I Worry About the Bird Flu?

How Often Should You Check Your…?

Should Tanning Beds Be More Heavily Regulated?

Should I Worry About Henna Tattoos?

Should I Worry About My Vitamin D Levels?

Should I Worry About Getting an STI From My Bikini Wax?

Should I Worry About Superbugs?

Should I Worry About BPA?

Should I Worry About Driving With a Hands-Free Cell Phone?

Should You Try the Paleo Diet?