Health in a Heartbeat

Going green for your health?

Consumers may be seeing green in a whole new light. A Cornell University researcher recently reported in the journal Health Communication that consumers are more likely to perceive a candy bar as healthier when it has a green calorie label compared to a red one. The study found that even if both labels read the [...]

Veggies can help smokers eat their way out of the habit

Cardiovascular disease. Kidney problems. Weight gain. Cancer risks. And a host of other problems. All of these things are on the list of problems a healthy diet, complete with a diverse array of colorful fruits vegetables, can help you avoid. But a healthy diet can also aid with kicking one of the unhealthiest habits of [...]

Exposure to cleaning chemicals linked with osteoporosis...

Did your husband “forget” to do the dishes again? Tired of scrubbing the tub, doing the laundry and mopping that dirty kitchen floor? Now women have more arsenal for the next time they have to nag family members to pitch in with the chores. A new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that exposure [...]

Feed baby wheat early to avoid celiac disease

In addition to regular vaccinations, dietary supplements and a solid sleep schedule, you might want to add this simple remedy to your baby’s wellness plan: wheat. A new Swedish study suggests that if you want to help your baby avoid developing celiac disease, feeding her wheat while she’s still breastfeeding might help her escape the [...]

Say “See Ya Later, Alligator” to harmful microbes

The modern-day dinosaur, the toothy menace hiding in the retention pond, the scaly substrate for purses and shoes. Most of us would rather keep the American alligator at the opposite end of the swimming pool, but researchers from McNeese State University … deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou … have embraced the crocodilian [...]

Healing the heel

People think an Achilles heel is a weak spot. But there’s practically no tougher tissue in the body. Think of the forces involved in hopping, alone. The Achilles tendon handles hundreds of pounds as it bridges the bones of the heel and the calf muscle. Imagine the strain it receives during explosive athletic activities. Much [...]

Sugary sips could lead to depression

When you’re feeling down, often the first instinct is to reach for something sweet to soothe the pain. Eating too much sugar is likely to lead to weight gain and sipping too much could also lead to a health problem that’s not quite as visible. A new study presented at a conference of the American [...]

Extreme stress amplifies sound sensitivity

Life is loud, both physically and metaphorically. The daily rhythm and sounds of work and home life are enough to cause chronic stress, minus the occasional interruptions like a breakup, a layoff, illness or a death in the family. Turns out stress renders not only your emotional state and your nerves sensitive, but your ears [...]

Sickle cell trait in athletes: Ignorance is not bliss

Concussions are a top concern in the sports world right now, but there’s another medical condition that’s making waves in some crowds. It’s called sickle cell trait. As you might have guessed, it’s related to sickle cell anemia. People with sickle cell anemia have red blood cells shaped like crescents, or sickles, that tend to [...]

Wrinkly when wet

As college students swarm to the shore for warmer weather, many of them will be stricken by an unsightly condition that causes deformity from the tips of their fingers to the ends of their toes. Don’t worry, there’s no need for any brows to wrinkle in revulsion. We are referring to a temporary malady that [...]

Vibrant veggies could help prevent Lou Gehrig’s disease

It’s a terrifying disease that strikes with little warning. Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic (Ay-my-oh-TRO-fic) lateral sclerosis, also known as A-L-S, is an incurable disease that attacks the nerve cells of the brain, causing muscles to wither and die, often resulting in death within two to five years. But the simple habit of eating carotenoid [...]

Extreme stress amplifies sound sensitivity

You might skip breakfast in your mad dash to get out the door in the mornings, but your child definitely shouldn’t. You’ve heard it before and now the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has gone as far as to prove that breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day. The researchers discovered [...]

Go green for life … and beyond

It’s a subject most of us don’t want to face … what will happen to our bodies after we die. But every family ultimately will make these decisions … and what many people don’t realize is that there is a third option besides cremation and traditional burial. Green burials are cheaper, more organic and better [...]

Whole wheat flour power

Most of us have heard by now that whole wheat bread is healthier than the white alternative, but many people still prefer the white stuff. Researchers recently found scientific evidence to explain this phenomenon — while simultaneously revealing the nutritious nature of whole wheat. It seems that it’s all about the bran. To make refined [...]

Emergency rooms visits spike due to energy drinks

The name sounds innocuous enough, but energy drinks provide the consumer with far more than just a dose of get-up-and-go. Studies have long shown associations between the consumption of these drinks and specific behavior problems … like alcohol abuse in underage teens and marijuana use. Now, new evidence presents an even more ominous picture. Energy [...]

Research holds hope for people who lose hearing through...

When it comes to protecting your hearing, you should follow the rule of “toos”: Be careful to avoid noises that are “too” loud, “too” close or “too” long. Noise can become dangerous when its duration, frequency or intensity is too extreme. Those types of sounds — the constant whir of power equipment in a woodworking [...]

Certain professions far more likely to contract asthma

It might begin with a slight shortness of breath or even just a minor cough … but often an asthma attack leaves people feeling suffocated and unable to catch their breath. Asthma is among the world’s most common diseases, with about 25 million sufferers in America alone. Studies have long indicated the correlation between exposure [...]

Yummy yogurt could decrease cholesterol

Yogurt is showing up everywhere and in all sorts of varieties: low-fat, fiber-enriched, Greek-strained, and even cultured from almond, coconut and goat milk for those sensitive to lactose. Yogurt’s main claim to fame is its gut-friendly bacteria, known as probiotics, which aid digestion and boast a slew of health benefits. New research shows it could [...]

Even light smoking poses cardiac dangers for women

There’s nothing positive or fashionable about smoking cigarettes, but many people think that light smoking comes with little risk. But according to the research, this just isn’t true … especially for women. Even women who smoke just one cigarette a day are more at risk for cardiac problems than those who don’t light up. Past [...]

Children satiated by healthy snacks

Any frazzled parent knows the mantra of growing children: “I’m hungry.” And even though it’s not going to earn any parenting accolades, reaching for a fatty, salty snack can be the response guaranteed to satiate a child’s never-waning appetite. But the results of a new study suggest that a healthier snack can be not only [...]

Air pollution could cause memory problems

What was that person’s name you just met? Where are the car keys? You might just be having another senior moment … or you might be able to blame it on the air. That’s right, new research shows that air pollution could cause lapses in memory in older adults. Research has shown that pollution causes [...]

The pursuit of measurements for happiness

Happiness can be elusive. The emotion one person might call “happiness” can feel like “elation” to another or just “mildly pleased” to someone else. And so, in search of measurements for the emotion that can’t be bought and can barely be defined, medical researchers don’t monitor the pursuit of happiness, but rather the pursuit of [...]

Gluten-free beer, anyone?

If you’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, chances are you might want to indulge in a glass or two of beer today. But what do you do if you’re sensitive to gluten? As the number of people who develop gluten intolerance, allergies or celiac disease increases, so does the market for gluten-free products. More of these [...]

Dance helps adolescent girls alleviate stress

Dance is pleasurable, it’s hip, and it’s actually beneficial, not only for your physical health, but apparently for your mental well-being, too. Research has long focused on the physical payback, equating dance with any form of solid exercise. But a study just published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine shows that dance helps [...]

Formula predicts likelihood of childhood obesity

How early is too early to practice preventive health measures? Some say never, taking prevention to a whole new level with a tool that calculates the risk of childhood obesity — at birth. The formula, available as a calculator online, comes just in time for National Nutrition Month. It adds together a child’s birth weight [...]

Mobile phone apps help people lose weight

Those little cell phone apps may be coming to the rescue again. Not only can they show you your way or identify an obscure song, now new research shows that mobile phone applications may also be an important part of a successful weight-loss program. While other studies have shown the benefit in using many hardware [...]

Popular pain reliever gets a closer look

It’s a staple of countless parents: Acetaminophen, better known by brand names such as Tylenol, is the go-to medicine for many moms and dads worried by childhood fevers and pains. But there is some not-so-good news. Scientists are investigating the possibility that the drug may contribute to asthma development in some children. Past research has [...]

Alcohol amps daily calories

So you’re still struggling to lose those five pounds from the holidays despite how strongly you strive to stick to your New Year’s resolutions. Swimsuit season is just around the corner and you’ve sworn off sweets, cut back on carbs and amped up your exercise routine. But something else could be sneaking in calories — [...]

Sleep shortage affects more than just brain function

Not getting quite enough shut-eye? Even if you don’t feel tired, shorting yourself on sleep can affect your ability to function. In a tightly controlled study at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, researchers allowed participants to snooze for just five-and-a-half hours each night. The longer they maintained that sleep schedule, researchers found, the worse [...]

The USDA serves up fresh nutrition guidelines

Meals got a makeover last year. First, the U.S. Department of Agriculture retired the widely recognized food pyramid and adopted a new icon: MyPlate. The MyPlate graphic resembles a dinner plate divided into four sections: fruits, vegetables, grains and protein. A small circle next to the plate represents dairy. With MyPlate, the USDA attempts to [...]

Migraines can alter brain structure

It’s happening again — you start seeing stars and feeling queasy. It’s a migraine, and it seems the only solution is to hole up in a dark room and sleep it off. Now, new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that women who have migraines are more likely to accumulate [...]

Unsocial media

Does being constantly connected through technology actually make us lonelier in the long run? The research indicates yes. Experts say the constant presence of social media and smart phones — and texting in particular — is influencing us in a few significant ways. First, the constant presence of our phones means we are always connected. [...]

Giving hip patients a hand

The pratfall hasn’t evolved much since our primitive ancestors discovered they could get big laughs by tumbling into a tar pit. Over the ages, loose stones and banana peels may have given way to skateboards and motocross bikes, but the principle of an unexpected crash landing has remained comedy gold. But for some segments of [...]

Benefits of green tea keep flowing

It can be easy going green — especially when food scientists keep finding new reasons to add green tea to your diet. The latest research shows that an antioxidant compound found in green tea may help diabetics manage blood sugar spikes. Penn State University researchers fed the green tea antioxidant to lab mice, along with [...]

Entrepreneurs lead healthier lives

Entrepreneurs have the benefit of working for themselves, setting their own schedule and earning their own paycheck. Not only do they answer to no one but themselves, new research shows they may also make fewer visits to do the doctor’s office. A new Gallup report shows that they’re less likely to have chronic diseases like [...]

Give a heart this Donor Day

Department stores and candy shops are abuzz this first half of February as that most loved and dreaded holiday quickly approaches. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and couples, friends and family alike will exchange gifts like flowers, mushy cards and boxes of chocolate. But why not give something that will last longer than [...]

Cheerleading: safe or scary?

So your daughter wants to don a colorful outfit, grab some pom-poms and join her pals on a cheerleading squad. You’re cool with that. At least it’s safer than soccer, basketball or hockey. But wait … maybe it’s not. Cheerleading isn’t the simple ‘rah-rah!’ activity that most people think. With everything from tumbling to big [...]

Twelve-step programs work well for young adults

The scene is a familiar one across the country — 12 chairs arranged in a circle. Adults with addictions or compulsive disorders band together as they seek support and understanding in what are commonly known as 12-step programs. While the substance abuse or behavioral challenges might differ, most of the programs stress the same methods [...]

Try tomatoes to top strokes

Bring on the marinara, sundried tomatoes and caprese salad: The latest research shows the almighty tomato packs a punch when it comes to preventing strokes, thanks to an antioxidant called lycopene (LIE-co-peen), commonly found in tomatoes. A study published in the journal Neurology found that men with the highest levels of lycopene in their blood [...]

Swishing sugary drink can boost brain and willpower

Need a quick hit of sugar to get you through that mid-afternoon meeting or help you decipher that budget report? Maybe you need some extra iron will just to resist having one more chocolate chip cookie? Simply take a swig of sugary soda, swish it around in your mouth … then spit it out. A [...]

Bread tops list of leading sodium sources

Before reaching for that second or third dinner roll, consider this fact from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Bread and rolls are the biggest sources of salt for Americans. According to the CDC, the majority of sodium Americans consume is in processed and restaurant foods. In fact, more than 40 percent of sodium [...]

The power of bedtime

It’s okay to let the kids stay up 30 minutes past their bedtime, right? Wrong. Some parents may have noticed that the less sleep their children get at night, the crankier they become. Well, now there is evidence to prove it. Researchers from the Attention Behavior and Sleep Lab at the Douglas Research Center in [...]

Is it the hospital’s fault?

What good is it for a hospital patient to be discharged, only to return a short while later with the same problem … or even worse, die of it? Unfortunately, this happens often. Does it say something about the quality of care at the hospitals involved? The federal government seems to think so. In 2012, [...]

Decoding the milk aisle

The milk aisle at supermarkets these days can be intimidating. Long gone are the days of simple dairy; the shelves are now lined with a variety of milk options that confuse both the definition of the word milk and the shopper. Today you can buy various types of milk: soymilk, coconut milk, lactose-free milk and [...]

Laugh ’til it hurts (a little less)

What do a morning jog and a Seinfeld rerun have in common? One makes you sweat and one makes you giggle, but they could both increase your tolerance to pain. This is only the latest similarity found between exercise and laughter. For one, laughter can be a form of exercise. We tend to think of [...]

Hormone replacement therapy not so therapeutic after all

Once the hot flashes, mood swings and spotting start, women often turn to hormone replacement therapy, or H-R-T, to quell these symptoms and ease past menopause. H-R-T can also prevent bone fractures from osteoporosis, but the latest research shows that the practice’s risks may outweigh its benefits. A report published in the Annals of Internal [...]

Eating cherries helps prevent gout

The sharp pain brought on by gout has been compared to being stabbed by a hot knife. Almost 4 percent of the American population has, at one time, suffered from such an attack, often concentrated in the big toe. Given the connection between the illness and the consumption of fructose, and the fact that obesity [...]

Tech-distracted teens twice as likely to get hit

Here’s one more reason to put the phone away — and look twice before you cross the street, no matter how old you are. New research shows that teens are twice as likely as adults to get hit by a car because they were distracted by a phone or iPod. Eighteen percent of teen pedestrians [...]

Turn the frown upside down

Philosophers no less learn-ed than Aristotle have pondered the dilemma of the chicken and the egg. They wonder in circles … which came first? … because you can’t have one without the other. Today, let’s look at a variation of the classic “Which came first” dilemma. Do you smile because you are happy or are [...]

Drinking and driving on the decline among high-schoolers

It’s one of the most nerve-wracking moments in parenthood: handing your teen the car keys and watching her drive off … for the first time, alone. You try to ignore the “What-ifs?” and remember that this is part of life. You hope your budding driver will use the blinkers, obey speed limits … and never [...]

Thought-provoking prosthetics

New research is revolutionizing upper-limb prosthetics — a technology that, for many amputees and people with limb deficiency, hasn’t advanced much since World War II. While it’s true that motorized limbs are gaining in popularity over shoulder-powered pulley prosthetics with their hooks or hand clamps, in a few years they may all seem antiquated. The [...]

Sugary drinks increase risk for obesity

Stuffing, cookies and mashed potatoes aren’t the only waist-thickening foods to look out for during the holidays — sugar-laden libations like apple cider, pumpkin spice lattes, mulled wine and hot cocoa are the sneakiest suspects when it comes to weight gain. New research from the Harvard School of Public Health shows that people with a [...]

Miniature greens with maximum nutrition

During the holidays, it can be difficult to eat your vegetables — especially since they’re competing with hot chocolate and gingerbread. So make the veggies you do eat count. Microgreens are leafy salad plants such as lettuce, mustard and kale that are harvested one to two weeks after germination, when they’re only a few inches [...]

Holiday stress can affect kids

The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time, but for some people, the family gatherings, events and frequent disruptions in daily routines can be stressful. If you’re one of those people who are easily stressed out during the holiday season, be careful who is around when you’re stressed, especially if you have children. According [...]

A drink with dangerous curves

This time of year, there are many opportunities to indulge in a flute of champagne or a tumbler of spiked eggnog. But if you’re trying to pace yourself — let’s say, at the office holiday party — you might want to bring your own glass. It’s been well established that people have a hard time [...]

Neti pots could sicken sinuses

Now that cold season is in full swing, you might be trying every remedy out there to get rid of annoying sniffles, coughs, sneezes and sores. You might have even heard of neti pots, the ancient yet futuristic-looking tea kettles that are used to flush the nasal passages free of congestion and nastiness. They’ve gotten [...]

Decoding the milk aisle

The milk aisle at supermarkets these days can be intimidating. Long gone are the days of simple dairy; the shelves are now lined with a variety of milk options that confuse both the definition of the word milk and the shopper. Today you can buy various types of milk: soymilk, coconut milk, lactose-free milk and [...]

Don’t throw that away

Collecting comes in all flavors. For some people, it involves picking up snow globes on business trips. For others, it’s an affinity for hotel shampoos and shower caps. But when it becomes impossible to part with souvenir soap, “collecting” begins to move into the realm of hoarding … especially if the soap resides within a [...]

Children with migraines more prone to behavior issues

It can begin with seeing a flash of light, or maybe a tingling sensation coupled with unusual tiredness. Then the pounding begins. Migraines can be profound and debilitating, and adults are not alone in suffering these most excruciating headaches. Up to one-fifth of kids in their early childhood to adolescent years have been diagnosed with [...]

Teen smokers do damage early on

Teens may think they’re invincible and immune to all sorts of ailments and accidents, but new research shows they’re never too young to get hurt. Researchers at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute found that smokers as young as 8 to age 20 already had damage to their arteries from smoking. Scientists surveyed almost [...]

Snoring in kids linked to behavioral problems later

Snoring is cute when kids do it, but it’s not normal … and it could be the precursor to screams and temper tantrums down the road. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that tots who snore loudly at age 2 were more likely to act out at age 3. The problems include hyperactivity, [...]

Sleep difficulties aren’t just a first-world problem

Nothing beats a good night’s sleep. Medical research has linked quality sleep to everything from fighting obesity and diabetes to warding off depression. But new findings reveal that just as researchers are discovering more about the healing power of sleep, they are also learning just how widespread sleep problems are around the world. Twenty percent [...]

Deep frying your turkey: a recipe for disaster

It seems like a solid recipe for a moist and tasty Thanksgiving turkey: Place a large pot over a propane tank and burner, fill it with oil and deep fry your bird. But the National Fire Protection Association says it’s a recipe for disaster. The organization cites a slew of safety hazards inherent in this [...]

Tired of turkey? Try a Thanksgiving alternative

Like peanut butter and jelly, Halloween and candy, and red, white and blue, Thanksgiving dinner and turkey just go together. But what if you aren’t a fan of turkey or have special dietary restrictions? Can you have a big Thanksgiving feast without the big bird? Over the last few years, the Internet has been abuzz [...]

Butter-flavored popcorn’s harmful ingredient

Popcorn is one of the world’s most popular snack foods. In fact, Americans consume 16 billion quarts of the popped treat every year at movie theaters, ballparks and in their homes. But now, a new study warns that a chemical that puts the buttery oomph in microwave popcorn may also cause Alzheimer’s disease. University of [...]

Lack of siblings linked to obesity

Although siblings can be a source of frustration, there is at least one perk to not being an only child: People with siblings are less likely to be overweight. A recent European study found that being an only child is a risk factor for being obese. In fact, kids who don’t have a sibling have [...]

Gallstones in children linked with obesity

Gallstones normally are an ailment of the elderly, but new research is showing the painful health problem is now affecting more children than ever. Other conditions typically linked to older age are popping up in children, too, such as high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. The childhood obesity epidemic may be to blame. Nearly 20 [...]

New York’s trans fat ban is working

No one likes to be told what to eat, especially if that demand includes giving up some of our most favorite foods. Such was the outcry several years ago when the city of New York placed strict limits on the amount of trans fats that restaurants could serve in their foods. Unlike saturated fats, which [...]

Antioxidants linked to lower risk of pancreatic cancer

With famed celebrities like Steven Jobs, Luciano Pavarotti and Patrick Swayze succumbing to pancreatic cancer, discussions about finding a cure for this dreaded disease have become much more commonplace. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth deadliest cancer. It kills more than a quarter of a million people worldwide each year. Only 3 percent of people diagnosed [...]

Anesthesia could leave kids with language deficits

The top worry when it comes to anesthesia, besides what embarrassing things you’ll do under the influence of laughing gas, is that you won’t wake up again. But anesthesia could cause problems long after its effects have worn off. Researchers from Columbia University found that kids exposed to anesthesia before age 3 were 87 percent [...]

The do’s and don’ts of Halloween candy

Each year when hordes of ghouls, goblins and princesses trudge home lugging pumpkin-shaped baskets stuffed with sweet treats of every stripe, parents are left with the same age-old problem: What do you do with all that candy? Better yet, how do you stop a gaggle of sugar-crazed seven-year-olds from gorging themselves on lollipops and chocolate [...]

Sugar hurts the brain, but omega-3s can help.

It’s time for Halloween — a kid’s invitation to gorge on candy and a health-conscious parent’s nightmare. The swirling media frenzy around the nation’s obesity epidemic reminds everyone that we’re getting fatter. What’s worse — increasing evidence shows a link between excessive fructose and mental health, too. Short of nagging, how can you help your [...]

Are you getting enough vitamin C?

Scurvy in the 21st century? Not quite, but researchers say most of us aren’t getting nearly enough vitamin C in our diets to ward off cancer, heart disease and stroke. Scientists in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition say that the recommended daily allowance for vitamin C should be increased from 75 milligrams for [...]

Psoriasis sufferers have increased risk for diabetes

Dry, flaky skin patches are unsightly, uncomfortable, and might also indicate a person is suffering from psoriasis, a disease characterized by itchy, painful plaque on the skin. Previous studies have shown a correlation between psoriasis and heart disease, and new research now indicates there may be a connection with Type 2 diabetes, as well. In [...]

Mole rats could help humans survive heart attacks and...

They aren’t pretty. But a nearly blind, nearly hairless, buck-toothed rodent called the naked mole rat might know something we don’t about how to protect against heart attacks, strokes and maybe even cancer. Researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Texas are studying the unusual capabilities of these animals, the only mammals [...]

Lie less for better health

If the legend is true, George Washington had it right when he could not tell a lie and owned up to chopping down the cherry tree … and he lived a long life to tell about it. Turns out lying might take more than a toll on your conscience, according to new research from the [...]

Extra iron can give women an energy boost

Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired? As many as a quarter of women who visit primary care doctors report symptoms of fatigue. Typically, a physician’s first course of action involves testing the patient for iron-deficiency anemia, and the small percentage of women found to be anemic are generally prescribed iron supplements. But new [...]

Stop the shedding, ladies

If your brush is full of hair that should be on your head, and you suddenly feel like you’re shedding more than your dog, you may be suffering from hair loss. More than 60 percent of women will suffer from hair loss, and the experience can be stressful and terrifying. By contrast, about half of [...]

Increased presence of dental plaque linked to cancer

Heard of dental plaque? They are the colonizing bacteria that affix to the surface of your teeth. More than 80 percent of Americans suffer from the condition. Plaque often leads to tartar build-up and then pockets, which cause the gums to recede from the teeth, leaving empty space for more bacteria to reside and grow. [...]

Small pieces secret to diet success

Are you ready to hear the simplest diet secret in the world? It doesn’t require starving yourself, forgoing your favorite dessert forever or any sort of sweat-inducing exercise that leaves you gasping for breath. All you need is a knife. A study from Arizona State University found that simply cutting up food into smaller bites [...]

Big babies could bring on breast cancer risk

When moms give birth to a big baby, there’s often a degree of awe and admiration to she who endured such a weighty pregnancy and delivery. But new research suggests such a big bundle of joy could carry some health concerns down the road. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with that, here’s one [...]

Resistance to malaria-fighting ingredient threatens...

Malaria is one of the world’s worst public health problems. The disease is caused by parasites that infected mosquitos spread, and it triggers a slate of nasty ailments, including high fever, sweating, shaking and chills. The World Health Organization estimates that 655,000 people died from malaria in 2010. Medicine has made great strides in controlling [...]

Phone therapy works

The doctor with a black bag knocking on the front door may remain an image of the past. But soon more psychotherapists could be making house calls — appointment sessions by phone, that is. Telephone talk therapy has been around for some time, but there was little research to show how well it worked. Now, [...]

Healthy kids, healthy education

Go low-GI to keep the weight off

When it comes to food, not all calories are created equal. A carbohydrate impacts your body differently from a protein or a fat. It’s the reason a 300-calorie sesame bagel — straight carbs — just doesn’t satisfy you the same way an egg and cheese sandwich on whole-wheat bread does. But striking the right combination [...]

Hollywood technologies help victims of severe facial...

The same technology that helps DreamWorks Pictures bring tender, jovial — even human — facial expressions to an animated green ogre named Shrek is also bringing hope to victims of serious facial injuries. Reconstructing the delicate features of a face can be impossible with traditional surgical methods. Elements we all take for granted — skin, [...]

Keep the flavor and ditch the carbonation

Pop the can, take a sip and savor the flavor. Soda has become an impenetrable part of our society, and some people can’t think of anything as refreshing as a cold glass of Pepsi on a hot day. Even though we constantly hear about all of soda’s negative side effects, it’s hard for people to [...]

Feeding your baby

In recent months, celebrities Hilary Duff and Alicia Silverstone made parenting choices that sent the Internet into a frenzy. Duff fed her 2-month-old son, Luca, a little bit of oatmeal, while Silverstone fed her 10-month-old son, Bear, food she had chewed up in her mouth. Both celebrities made some people wonder: What can and can’t [...]

For older women, low vitamin D could cause weight gain

If better bone health, silky skin and the prevention of a slew of diseases from osteoporosis to schizophrenia, aren’t enough of a sell, here’s one more reason women should be sure to get enough vitamin D in their diet: It can help keep off the pounds post-menopause, when weight seems to creep up no matter [...]

Hold back to gain more

Want to make smarter investments, curb your drinking habits and get better at gambling? Control yourself with a sleight of hand — literally. Researchers at the University of Exeter in England found that stopping your hand from reaching for another beer, for example, can train your brain to control other impulses. The researchers tested the [...]

Belly fat’s not so bad.

If you’re trying to make peace with a little extra fat around the belly, here’s something that might help: the omentum (oh-MEN-tum). The omentum is a lining in the abdomen that serves as a repository for fat tissue, and it has healing properties. That’s been long known — omentum cells are deployed to help repair [...]

Older women still suffer from eating disorders

Teenage and twentysomething girls seem to bear the brunt of the pressure to stay thin, but as it turns out, women don’t outgrow their weight worries as they age. A new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that 62 percent of the women who participated in an Internet survey said their [...]

Soothing sunburn

Most of us know how to avoid sunburn: apply sunscreen and stay out of the sun. But, sometimes, the sunscreen is forgotten or a tan is too tempting, and we find ourselves sporting a bright shade of pink at the end of the day. Painful, peeling skin can be a tough price to pay for [...]

Do you suffer from ‘social jet lag’?

It’s a familiar tune: You wake up early for work all week until the weekend arrives, and then it’s time for fun, friends and sleeping in. But scientists say your social schedule could be skewing your sleep — and could contribute to obesity. The hour or two sleep difference from Saturday to Sunday has the [...]

Shingles vaccine protects older adults from painful rash

If you’ve ever had chicken pox, you could get shingles at any time. The painful rash is caused by the same virus, which can remain dormant in the body for decades. What’s more, once the rash disappears, extreme pain in the affected area can persist for weeks, months or even years. Scientists don’t know exactly [...]

Oximetry test excellent predictor of heart disease in...

As women choose to have children later in life, ultrasound testing during pregnancy has become more commonplace. Generally the practice simply reveals a healthy fetus and identifies the gender, but other times a variety of medical issues become apparent. One of the concerns that an ultrasound may uncover includes congenital heart defects, but over the [...]

Everything old is new again

Medical leeches are making a comeback. That might sound gross, but don’t worry — bloodletting is not on the rise. Rather, a better understanding of what leeches can do for human blood flow and inflammation has defined a clear and useful role for the slimy suckers. Today, in the United Kingdom, leeches are often used [...]

Girls could suffer more severe concussions

Since the establishment of Title Nine, female athletes have leveled the playing field with their male counterparts, starting in childhood. Anything boys can do, girls can do better … except when it comes to recovering from concussions. Researchers already knew that girls are more susceptible to brain injuries, but a new study published in the [...]

Fast food salt content: a world of difference

For fast food lovers, the sight of their favorite chain’s sign can be a symbol of comfort and welcome predictability. No matter how far you are from home, there’s satisfaction in knowing you can walk into your preferred burger chain’s nearest location and get the same juicy taste you enjoy in your hometown. Wait. Is [...]