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2001 to 2003 FYI's: Page Four

 

 

76
Obesity - Genes or Lifestyle?
An obese child has a 37 percent chance of becoming an obese adult if both parents are slim. But if at least one parent is overweight, the child's chance of becoming an obese adult nearly doubles to 71 percent. Whether this is the result of inherited genes, an "inherited" fat-promoting lifestyle, or some combination of the two remains to be proven.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine

77
Tips for Ear Troubles in Flight
If you're one of the many airplane travelers who experience clogged or painful ears during or after the flight, doctors at the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery have some suggestions for minimizing discomfort. The problem occurs when pressure in the middle ear builds up and cannot be equalized, leading to stretching of the eardrum. This can be painful and also prevents the eardrum from vibrating naturally, which could affect your hearing temporarily. Swallowing and yawning bring relief because they help normalize the pressure in the middle ear. Trying to exhale forcefully through the nose while pinching it shut is another remedy. For a baby, sucking on a bottle or pacifier may help equalize middle-ear pressure. Also, many experienced air travelers use a decongestant pill or nasal spray an hour or so before descent to shrink ear membranes and help them pop more easily.

78
A Worthwhile Thank You
Visit Department of Defense and add your name to the list of folks thanking the men and women of the U.S. military services for defending our freedom. The compiled list of names will be sent out to our soldiers at the end of the month. It's National Military Appreciation Month, so please pass it on to your email friends.
Update: The Department of Defense has a new campaign "America Supports You" which spotlights what Americans are doing all across the land, encourages others to join the team and allows all to tell their stories by giving voice and visibility to their efforts.

79
Migraine Often Mistaken for Sinus Pain
A new study suggests many people may mistake migraine for sinus headaches, which means they could benefit from proven migraine medications. Researchers at the Headache Care Center in Springfield, Mo. found 97 percent of patients who believed they had a sinus headache actually had a migraine. Patients often have a hard time distinguishing between sinus and migraine headaches on their own. Both forms of headache may be brought on by changes in the weather or seasons and both can cause sinus symptoms and nasal drainage. Migraine-specific symptoms include sensitivity to light or sound and nausea or vomiting as well as moderate to severe head pain. Migraine sufferers often are treated with triptans, medications that block the nerve inflammations linked with migraine. The medical investigators presented their findings at an American Academy of Neurology meeting in Philadelphia.

80
Sales Pitches for one - from Toilet Paper Rolls?
Someday soon you may start hearing sales pitches emanating from rolls of toilet paper and cans of tuna. Speakers equipped with a new technology called HyperSonic Sound (HSS) can focus messages at highly specific targets; people outside the beam won't hear a thing. It's as if the sound is in your very own head! HSS speakers emit ultrasonic waves at 100,000 cycles per second - a wavelength beyond the hearing range of humans. When the ultrasonic sound travels through air, it is converted into frequencies humans can hear. By early 2003, vending machines equipped with HSS speakers began transmitting effects like the sound of fizzing soda. Meanwhile, plans are in the works to install systems at gas stations to zap advertisements to folks standing in front of the pumps. And that noise you hear off in the distance? That's the cash register going "Ka-ching!"

81
Chinese Diet Pill Warning
The FDA is alerting the public about Chinese weight loss products that contain fenfluramine, such as Chaso (Jianfei) Diet Capsules and Chaso Genpi. Several people in Japan have become ill and some have died after consuming these products. Fenfluramine and another diet drug, phentermine, were used in combination for weight loss until it was determined that the combination of drugs was linked to valvulopathy, a serious and sometimes fatal heart disease. In 1977, fenfluramine was removed from the market; however, phentermine, when used alone, has not been associated with valvulopathy and remains on the market.

82
Prevent Birth Defects
According to a Gallup survey conducted for the March of Dimes, 93-percent of women are unaware that folic acid should be taken before pregnancy to prevent birth defects. The B-vitamin must already be in your system at the time of conception to offer protection. If you are planning to get pregnant, take a daily multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid and eat a healthy diet packed with folate-rich foods like leafy greens, orange juice, beans and fortified cereals. Call the March of Dimes for more information at 888-M-O-DIMES.

83
Hunger Hormone May Aid in Weight Loss
There aren't many of us who don't know what it is like to try to lose weight and then keep it off. The New England Journal of Medicine reports of a study that shows this may be caused by a hormone called ghrelin, which is secreted by the stomach and believed to trigger appetite in humans. According to the study, people who diet have higher levels of ghrelin (up to 50-percent higher) than do gastric bypass patients, making it more difficult for dieters to lose weight and keep it off. The rise in ghrelin caused by dieting and several other forms of weight loss is part of the body's normal adaptive response. When we lose weight, the body senses this as famine and triggers a survival mechanism to keep our weight constant. Our metabolism drops and we feel hungrier so we eat more. Currently, gastric bypass surgery is the only method known to short-circuit this normal body response, perhaps in part by disabling ghrelin-producing cells. This is not to say gastric bypass is for anyone dealing with this dilemma - gastric bypass is still (and rightfully so) only recommended for the morbidly obese. However, researchers now have reason to hope that these findings will lead to a new generation of effective and safe weight loss drugs for modestly overweight people.
Stomach Pacemaker Suppresses Appetite

59
Candy Creations
This summer, candy lovers get a treat in a great-tasting candy, with no sugar, put on the market by Equal. The candy is called "Perfect Pleasures" and is the first-ever line of sugar-free hard candy under the Equal sweetener brand, made by confectionery manufacturer Simply Lite. The flavors include Intense Fruits, (watermelon, green apple, lemon and cherry), Chocolate Cremes, Caramel Cremes and Mint Trio (peppermint, spearmint and cinnamint). You can purchase Equal Perfect Pleasures at your local area Walmart. Free samples will be distributed at various events in the coming months. The tasty candy will soon be available nationwide at major food, drug and mass retail chains.

84
Romantically Healthy Valentine's Day
Make Valentine's Day romantically healthy this year by cooking dinner at home, using one of three menus created by the American Heart Association. The recipes for all three dinner plans will be posted at the Association's Web site, AmericanHeart.org by Wednesday. (NOTE: May no longer be available!)

85
"Food Police" Offer Handy Calorie Guide
The folks at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, often labeled "The Food Police", seem determined to keep our minds on watching what we eat at restaurants. After publishing the book "Restaurant Confidential", the watchdog group is offering the Restaurant Confidential Slide Guide for $5.00. The guide lists nutritional information on more than 250 restaurant-type foods. It provides serving sizes with total calories and fat, including fats listed as "artery-clogging". The slide guide also highlights good choices. To order, send $5.00 to Restaurant Confidenital Slide Guide, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20009-5728.

86
Sleep Tight
Losing just 10-percent of your body weight can aid the quality of your sleep! Overweight individuals have a higher rate of sleep apnea, or sleep-disordered breathing. Symptoms include waking up often and being tired during the day. If you feel you have this problem, see a doctor. Sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure and serious circulatory problems. In addition, remember - a 10-percent weight loss can give you a 26-percent reduction in symptoms and a better night's sleep.

87
Exercise-loving Genes
Scientists have discovered exercise-loving genes that help prevent heart disease by clearing fat and sugar from the bloodstream. Just 30 minutes of walking can activate these genes, but being inactive for 24 hours can turn them off.

88
Chubby Thighs are Good for Your Health!
Really! In a study that involved both men and women equally, researchers found that thigh flab can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study involved moderately overweight people with a BMI in the 24 to 34 ranges. Those with the most thigh fat were found to have the best blood lipid profile.

89
Sodium and High Blood Pressure
Nearly 50-percent of adults with high blood pressure do not experience a reduction in blood pressure levels when the amount of sodium in their diets is reduced. Elevated levels are much more responsive to calcium- rich meals, leading many researchers to believe that good-for-your-bones calcium plays a major role in the maintenance of near-normal blood pressure levels.

90
Considering trying herbal alternatives? Choose wisely!
Here is some general advice:

91
New Review: Vitamin C
Fifteen vitamin C products (11 adult and 4 children's) were recently tested for their vitamin levels. All met their claims and the tablets disintegrated properly. This is an improvement over what CL found in 2000. The Review (at http://www.consumerlab.com/results/vitaminc.asp )includes 16 additional products that recently passed CL's Voluntary Certification Program.
Read the news release

92
Red Bell Peppers High in Antioxidant Activity
A study of ten different vegetables, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that red bell peppers had the highest total antioxidant activity of those studied. Broccoli, carrots, spinach, Cabbage, yellow onions, celery, potatoes, lettuce and cucumber followed red bell peppers, in that order. According to the study, red bell peppers contain beneficial phytochemicals called phenolics and are also high in vitamin C.

93
Portion Sizes Growing
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, average portion sizes consumed in the United States have been steadily increasing in almost all categories, both outside and inside the home. Between 1977 and 1996, the quantity of salty snacks increased by 93 calories, soft drinks by 49 calories, hamburgers by 97 calories, french fries by 68 calories and Mexican food by 133 calories. The only category that decreased in portion size was pizza. While fast food contributed to the increase, the largest portion sizes for desserts, hamburgers and cheeseburgers were found at home.

94
Fresh Breath with Green Tea
Bad breath? Try gargling with a new mouthwash: Green tea. The tea's anti-bacterial properties have been known in Asian cultures for generations, but recently researchers at the University of British Columbia tested green tea as a bad-breath fighter. They found that the polyphenols in green tea were effective at neutralizing odor-causing compounds and bacteria - better than mints or gum. Even a swig of a green tea drink swished around in your mouth before swallowing can help cut the effects of those onions on your hamburger.

95
False Adverts
Nearly 40-percent of weight-loss advertisements make at least one false statement about their product, according to a U.S. government study. About 55-percent of the ads in this study made statements that were very likely to be false, or lacked adequate substantiation of their promises. "False or misleading claims are common in weight-loss advertising, and based on a comparison of ads, the number of products and the amount of advertising, much of it deceptive, appears to have increased dramatically over the last decade", the report said. So, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. See also: Buyer Beware
Source: U.S. Federal Trade Commission

96
Portion Distortion
In our age of super-size restaurant meals and beverages, and value marketing, it's easy to see how portion distortion can lead to dietary downfall. Yet according to a survey conducted for the American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) to gauge American's knowledge about weight management, three out of four respondents said the type of food is more important to them than quantity. And 26-percent reported that they determine their portions by how much food they are served. To help Americans regain control over portions, AICR has developed the "New American Plate" place mat for at-home use. The colorful, plastic mat features a full-sized plate illustration that delineates proper adult food portions. On the reverse, you will find suggested serving sizes for various foods along with tips for taming portions. The place mats are $2.00 each; to order call AICR at 800-843-8114.

97
Soda
Consuming up to 3 to 5 cans of regular (as opposed to diet) soda in your daily diet can put on noticeably excess weight in only ten weeks. Sugary sodas adds 500 to 700 extra calories per day to your diet. After ten weeks, for the average person, this can add as much as 4 pounds of excess weight. In a recent study of overweight men and women, those who switched from regular soda to diet lost on average, two pounds a week - (some more) with no added dieting or exercise. Watch out for those "hidden calories in soft drinks, sweetened tea, fancy coffee, milk shakes and even juices. If you really don't care for diet sodas, try water, seltzer or sugar-free drinks like Kool-Aid or Crystal Light.
See also:
Can Diet Soda Cause Weight Gain?
Sweet Summer Drinks

98
Hershey Goes Sugar-Free
After 109 years of satisfying the American sweet tooth, Hershey Foods has introduced a line of sugar-free candy. Responding to health concerns for people with diabetes or who are on restricted diets, the Pennsylvania company has created sugar- free Reese's peanut-butter cups and Hershey's chocolate bars. The candies contain a sugar substitute called lactitol and have 19-percent fewer calories than the regular versions. The candies are available in 3.3-ounce bags.

99
Painting a Healthier Diet
Colorful fruits and vegetables carry natural compounds that protect plants, and emerging science suggests these same compounds may also be helpful to humans. People with the highest intakes of fruits and vegetables have the lowest incidence of obesity. That is why the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is launching their "5 a Day The Color Way" campaign to get Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables, and to choose more variety from each color group. The "5 A Day The Color Way" campaign separates fruits and vegetables into five color categories: Reds, greens, yellows/oranges, blues/purples and whites/tans. One of the best health protection measures you can take is to eat regularly from each of the color groups. A simple way to increase your intake is to add a glass of 100-percent juice at breakfast, eat a piece of fruit at lunch and add a green salad at dinner. Other easy ways are by incorporating dried fruit, canned fruit and convenient frozen vegetables into your daily diet. You will be adding more color to your diet, too.

100
Kids and Diabetes
When researchers tested 55 obese four to ten year olds and 112 obese 11 to 18 year olds, they found that 25-percent of the younger children and 21-percent of the older ones had impaired glucose tolerance - sometimes called "pre-diabetes". Four of the older kids were found to have full-blown diabetes.