Cooking Veggies May Not Cut Nutrients

Study: Some Cooking Methods Maintain or Boost Certain Nutrients in Vegetables

Dec. 21, 2007 -- Cooking vegetables may not reduce all of the nutrients in those veggies, according to a new Italian study.

The University of Parma's Nicoletta Pellegrini, PhD, and colleagues bought freshly harvested carrots, zucchini, and broccoli at a local market.

In their lab, the scientists measured levels of various antioxidants in the raw vegetables. Then they boiled, steamed, or fried the vegetables. Lastly, they measured antioxidant levels in the cooked vegetables.

Raw vegetables were loaded with antioxidants. After cooking, their antioxidant levels were a mixed bag.

In some cases, the veggies lost antioxidants to cooking. But not all antioxidants decreased when cooked -- and in some cases, certain antioxidant levels rose when cooked.

For instance, steamed broccoli contained higher levels than raw broccoli of glucosinolate compounds, which may reduce cancer risk. And boiled carrots contained higher levels than raw carrots of carotenoids, which give carrots their bright orange color.

No single method of cooking stood out as being best for all antioxidants.

"Our results suggest that for each vegetable a preferential cooking method could be selected to preserve or improve its nutritional qualities," write the researchers.

courtesy:http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20071221/cooking-veggies-may-not-cut-nutrients

Diabetes Group Backs Low-Carb Diets

FRIDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- For the first time, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has come out in support of low-carbohydrate diets for people with diabetes who want to manage their weight.

The ADA voiced its support of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets in its newly published 2008 clinical practice recommendations.

The recommendations are intended to help physicians guide their patients in diabetes prevention and management.

The ADA estimates that more than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the United States. However, about one-third of those people have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed, according to the association.

Prior to the release of the 2008 recommendations, the ADA did not support low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes management due to a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.

Whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme, according to the association. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets are equally effective in helping people lose weight over a year. However, the recommendations do also include guidelines for monitoring the lipid profiles and kidney health of people who choose a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet.

The recommendations continue to support sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight, obese, living with diabetes or at risk for becoming diabetic.

"The risks of overweight and obesity are well-known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," Ann Albright, president of health care and education for the ADA, said in a prepared statement. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health-care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health-care team support their patients' weight-loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."

Being overweight and physically inactive both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the ADA. Being overweight or obese also make the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult. The 2008 recommendations state that all adults who are overweight and have an additional risk factor for diabetes should be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pre-diabetes can avoid diabetes if they lose 7 percent of their body weight and get more than 150 minutes of activity a week.

Developing and maintaining a disaster kit for diabetes self-management is also included in the new recommendations, along with revised guidelines for care of diabetes in older adults.

courtesy:http://health.msn.com/health-topics/diabetes/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100186121

How Jamie Lynn's News Can Help Sex-Educate Your Kids

All the media hype surrounding the pregnancy of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears (yes, she's Britney's sister) has presented parents with the perfect conversation-starter for that oh-so-awkward topic: sex. It's an opportunity not to be missed, because parents have a lot more influence than they may realize when it comes to delaying kids' sexual activity, improving their contraceptive use, and preventing teen pregnancy and parenthood. "Recent surveys indicate that parents still matter more than peers and popular culture," says Bill Alpert, deputy director at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. "How they behave and how they interact with their kids can make a huge difference." He recommends these tips for what to say after getting past the I-can't-believe-she's-pregnant opener:
1. Be certain of your own values and attitudes. Being clear in your mind about how you feel about casual hookups, contraception, and abstinence until marriage can help you communicate moral guidelines to your child. Think about your own sexual experiences and how they influence your current beliefs.
2. Watch movies and TV shows alongside your kids. Teenage pregnancy and sex occur frequently on TV and in movies, like the current hit Juno. "Parents can use this as a great way to discuss whatever's being portrayed," says Alpert. And with the Web, it's a good idea to surf where they surf.
3. Be a good listener. What does your child think about Jamie Lynn? Would she have made the same choice as the pregnant teen in the Juno movie? Showing that you respect your child's opinion will help foster her respect for yours.
4. Discourage early, frequent, and steady dating. This is not a one-time conversation you should have when your son turns 16 and wants to have sleepovers with his girlfriend. "A lot of parents think this can wait until high school, but it really shouldn't," says Alpert. Parents should lay the groundwork for dating rules when their child is, say, 10 or 11—that is, before it even becomes an issue. Make it clear, if it's the case, that you don't approve of dating before age __ (fill in the blank).
5. Help your kids plan for a bright future. Your child's chances of delaying sex, pregnancy, and parenthood increase if the future holds promise. Setting meaningful goals beyond high school, showing how much you value education, and encouraging involvement in community service can help your child avoid Jamie Lynn's predicament.

courtesy:http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/12/20/how-jamie-lynns-news-can-help-sex-educate-your-kids.html

Topical treatment for age spots

Sun-induced skin damage can cause brown age spots, especially on oft-exposed areas like the hands and face. At one time, the only remedy was to cover them up with cosmetics. Now, there are therapies that help reverse the signs of photoaging at the physiological level. One approach is physical removal by surgery, microdermabrasion, or chemical peel. But many women prefer something gentler, and topical medications can help, reports the December 2007 issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

The topical drugs used for treating age spots work mainly by interrupting the formation of melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning. To get the best results, you should also use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Harvard Women’s Health Watch describes the following commonly used agents.

Hydroquinone. Many dermatologists consider this cream the best choice for treating age spots. You can expect to see results in four to six weeks, with the greatest improvement after four to six months. The most common side effect is irritation or reddening. The FDA recently proposed a ban on over-the-counter preparations containing hydroquinone because studies found that the drug may cause cancer when fed to rats and mice. So far, there are no studies showing any increased risk to humans using the drug topically. The FDA is still responding to challenges from critics who oppose the ban.

Tretinoin. Topical tretinoin was first approved for treating acne, but trials have demonstrated that it also improves photoaged skin. It can take several months to lighten age spots, and side effects include redness, scaling, and itchiness, although these generally subside after a few weeks. Brand names include Retin-A, Renova, and Avita.

Adapalene gel. This prescription drug is approved only for treating acne, but sometimes it is used off-label to improve photoaged skin.

courtesy:http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/topical-treatment-for-age-spots.htm

Dyslexia

What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a brain-based type of learning disability that specifically impairs a person's ability to read. These individuals typically read at levels significantly lower than expected despite having normal intelligence. Although the disorder varies from person to person, common characteristics among people with dyslexia are difficulty with phonological processing (the manipulation of sounds) and/or rapid visual-verbal responding.

Is there any treatment?

The main focus of treatment should be on the specific learning problems of affected individuals. The usual course is to modify teaching methods and the educational environment to meet the specific needs of the individual with dyslexia.

What is the prognosis?

For those with dyslexia, the prognosis is mixed. The disability affects such a wide range of people, producing different symptoms and varying degrees of severity, that predictions are hard to make. The prognosis is generally good, however, for individuals whose dyslexia is identified early, who have supportive family and friends and a strong self-image, and who are involved in a proper remediation program.

What research is being done?

The NINDS and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Mental Health, conduct research on dyslexia. Current research avenues focus on developing techniques to diagnose and treat dyslexia and other learning disabilities, increasing the understanding of the biological basis of learning disabilities, and exploring the relationship between neurophysiological processes and cognitive functions with regard to reading ability.

courtesy:http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dyslexia/dyslexia.htm

All-Nighters All Wrong for Top Grades

Students Who Study All Night Tend to Have Lower Grade Point Averages
Just in time for final exams, a new study shows that pulling an all-nighter to study isn't the wisest idea.
Students who study all night tend to have lower grade point averages than those who don't, according to Pamela Thacher, PhD.
Thacher, an assistant professor of psychology at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., studied 120 college students at a four-year liberal arts college.
Most of the students -- 60% -- reported pulling at least one all-nighter while at college. Those students also had lower GPAs than their well-rested peers.
"You can't do your best work when you're sleep deprived," Thacher says in a university news release.
There were some exceptions. Thacher notes that a minority of students who had pulled more than one all-nighter "maintain excellent GPAs."
But for most students, studying all night "is not an effective practice for learning and achieving academic goals," writes Thacher.
She dug a little deeper to see if procrastination was to blame. But data from 111 students show that the students weren't staying up all night to study because they had blown off earlier study sessions.
Thacher's findings are scheduled to appear in the January 2008 edition of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, according to a St. Lawrence University news release.
coutesy:http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20071207/all-nighters-all-wrong-for-top-grades

A Tip for People With Sleep Problems

Indiplon, a short-acting sleeping medication intended for those middle-of-the-night wake-ups, failed to get the Food and Drug Administration nod yesterday, because the agency wants more research done in the elderly, in pregnant women, and in comparison with other sleeping medications. Meantime, popular sleep medications Ambien, Sonata, and Rozerem, all intended for use right before bedtime, have long been a source of help for people whose sleep apnea, hot flashes, or restless leg syndrome awakes them in the middle of the night, experts say.
None of the three have been studied or approved to be used this way, and people shouldn't try this method without consulting their doctors first, says Jerrold Kram, medical director of the California Center for Sleep Disorders. All three are included in a class called sedative-hypnotic drugs; the concern is that taking a dose with not enough hours left in the night "can leave you with some residual effects," says Kram, who has performed clinical trials of sleeping medications other than Indiplon. A general rule of thumb, experts advise, is to make sure you have at least four hours of sleeping time remaining before you take a sleeping pill. And because individual responses vary, leave yourself some leeway in the morning to see how you feel before becoming active. Anyone who takes a sleeping pill before turning in probably shouldn't take a second pill during the night. One exception may be Sonata, Kram says, but it's important to consult your doctor for individualized advice. Sedative-hypnotic drugs carry risks, including severe allergic reactions and a tendency to act while asleep—driving, making phone calls, and eating while asleep, for example, according to the FDA. Like Ambien and Sonata, Indiplon, if eventually approved, will be used to treat difficulty falling sleep, says Thomas Roth, director of the sleep disorders and research center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. (Roth has worked as a consultant for all of the makers of the various prescription sleep medications, including Indiplon.) The fundamental difference, he says, is that Indiplon has a "very short-acting half-life," meaning that it leaves the body rapidly, and so it can be taken late at night. In a clinical trial sponsored by Indiplon's maker, Neurocrine Biosciences, Indiplon reduced the time it took to return to sleep when compared with placebo, and it also increased the amount of sleep gained following the return to bed. Patients also cited a better quality of sleep.

Recognizing a Sleep Disorder

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, you should consult your doctor about a possible sleep disorder if you experience the following symptoms. This list is for adults; children may experience different symptoms.

* It takes longer than 30 minutes for you to fall asleep at night.

* You wake up several times at night and have difficulty falling back to sleep.

* You're sleepy during the day, take frequent naps, or fall asleep at inappropriate times.

* You've been told that when you're asleep, you snore loudly, gasp, snort, make choking noises, or even stop breathing for short periods.

* You experience tingling, crawling, or creeping feelings in your arms or legs that are relieved by movement or massage, particularly at night when you're trying to fall asleep.

* You're told that your legs or arms jerk frequently when you're asleep.

* You've had vivid, dreamlike experiences when going to sleep.

* You experience sudden muscle weakness when you're afraid, angry, or laughing.

* You feel like you can't move when you first wake up.

courtesy:http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/12/13/a-tip-for-people-with-sleep-problems.html

Eight Ways to Cut Salt Out of Your Diet

While the Food and Drug Administration mulls over whether to set limits on salt content in processed foods—after being strongly urged to do so yesterday by such groups as the American Medical Association and the Center for Science in the Public Interest—you may be wondering how to reduce your own sodium intake to the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams for most healthy people. Here are some suggestions for cutting back on salt, provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Stephen Havas, vice president for science, quality, and public health at the American Medical Association.
Cook from scratch so you know exactly what's in your food. You might be surprised at the sodium content included in that prepackaged meal you love: The CSPI has analyzed a whole range of processed foods and has found ready-made roasted carved turkey containing as much as 5,410 milligrams of sodium per serving; half of a ready-made pepperoni pizza might contain as much as 1,350 milligrams.

• When you do opt for ready-made pizza or other packaged foods, choose products that say they're sodium free, very low in sodium, light in sodium, or unsalted or have low or reduced sodium. If you can't find many, Havas advises asking your local grocery store to start stocking them. Even bread and cereal may surprise you: The CSPI found whole-wheat bread containing anywhere from 150 to 190 milligrams of sodium per slice, depending on the brand; white bread had 115 to 230 milligrams per slice.

• Substitute spices, herbs, and salt-free blends for salt in cooking and at the dinner table.

• Watch for sodium and salt content. Table salt is a form of sodium chloride, but other forms of sodium are also included in foods.

• Avoid instant foods such as pasta, rice, and cereals, which usually include salt. Spaghetti sauce, according to the CSPI, contains 270 to 770 milligrams of sodium per serving, depending on the brand.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables because they have "essentially no sodium," Havas says.

• At restaurants, ask your server which foods the restaurant prepares without adding salt—and order those items. "The more restaurants hear this, the more they're going to change the way they're cooking," Havas says.

• Rinse canned foods to wash off some of the salt.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/11/30/eight-ways-to-cut-salt-out-of-your-diet.html

Treating Mild Acne

Mild acne consists of small lesions, such as blackheads, whiteheads or pustules, which appear at or near the surface of the skin. As such, mild cases of acne can sometimes be controlled at home by:

• Gently washing the affected area(s) with warm water and a mild soap twice a day to remove dead skin cells and excess oil
  

• Using a topical (applied to the skin) over-the-counter acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid

• Following the Acne Skin Care Guidelines

• At-home treatment requires 4-8 weeks to see improvement. Once acne clears, treatment must be continued to prevent new lesions from forming.

• Even mild cases of acne may require the help of a dermatologist. If the acne does not respond to at-home treatment, a dermatologist can assess the situation and determine an appropriate therapy. In these cases, combination therapy (two or more treatments) may be used. Combination therapy may include use of a prescription topical antimicrobial or topical retinoid. These prescription topicals can be
  very effective in clearing mild acne.

  courtesy: http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/treatingmildacne.html

How to Prevent Pre-Diabetes

Pre-diabetes is a serious medical condition that can be treated. The good news is that the recently completed Diabetes Prevention Program study conclusively showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by making changes in their diet and increasing their level of physical activity. They may even be able to return their blood glucose levels to the normal range.
While the DPP also showed that some medications may delay the development of diabetes, diet and exercise worked better. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association is developing materials that will help people understand their risks for pre-diabetes and what they can do to halt the progression to diabetes and even to, "turn back the clock" In the meantime, ADA has a wealth of resources for people with diabetes or at risk for diabetes that can be of use to people interested in pre-diabetes.
Nutrition
Making Healthy Food Choices
ADA's statement for health professionals on nutrition
The American Diabetes Association bookstore has award-winning books on nutrition, recipes, weight loss, meal planning and more.
Exercise
Tips on how to include a healthy amount of physical activity into your daily routine:
Exercise and Diabetes
ADA's statement for health professionals on exercise
You can get fit, reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, and support the American Diabetes Association by participating in America's Walk for Diabetes.
Tools
Small Steps. Big Rewards. Prevent type 2 diabetes.The National Diabetes Education Program has designed a national awareness campaign to target people at risk for type 2 diabetes. The campaign will create awareness that type 2 diabetes can be prevented through modest lifestyle changes and losing about 5 to 7 percent of body weight.

courtesy:http://www.diabetes.org/pre-diabetes/what-you-can-do.jsp

Personalised approach to body image problems

Face to face counseling sessions and Internet based therapy can help women dissatisfied with their body image.

It’s not teenagers and adolescents who are obsessed with their looks any more. More and more adults, especially middle-aged women are also getting conscious about their body image. Women with high levels of body dissatisfaction are seen as developing eating and related mental problems as well. As a result of this, many such women seek counseling and other therapies to get rid of these symptoms.

To assess the efficacy of one on one counseling sessions and Internet based therapy for body image problems, researchers at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia compared the effectiveness of eight weekly small-group therapy sessions led by a therapist when delivered in person or by the internet to 116 women, 18 to 35 years old, all of whom had disordered eating and were highly dissatisfied with their bodies. Forty-two of the women participated in the face-to-face group, 37 received counseling via the Internet, and 37 were assigned to a delayed treatment group that served as a "control" comparison.

The results showed that the traditional in-person therapy is better than the cyber approach for improving both image concerns and disordered eating. Though Internet-based interventions offer the advantage of privacy and anonymity and greater accessibility in comparison to personal care, they can have certain disadvantages as well. These could range from the likelihood of miscommunication due to the absence of nonverbal and auditory cues. Both therapy groups showed large improvements in their scores on tests of body image, shape concerns and eating attitudes and behaviors compared to the control group, although improvements in the face-to-face group were greater. Thus, face-to-face body image interventions and Internet based therapy can benefit women with body image issues. International Journal of Eating Disorders,
November 2007

courtesy:http://www.doctorndtv.com/news/detailnews.asp?id=2925