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Health Tidbits: Page Six

 

 

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Get Healthy America!
Get ready to "Get Healthy America!" by eating more colorful fruits and vegetables during National 5 A Day Month in September. This year's "Get Healthy America!" theme encourages consumers to actively engage themselves in today's nutrition debate over America's most pressing health issues: chronic disease, overweight and obesity. National 5 A Day Month aims to stimulate a lasting commitment to consume 5 to 9 colorful fruits and vegetables every day as the smart and easy way to get healthy.

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Hormone Found to Reduce Appetite
A recent study at London's Imperial College found that a hormone produced by the intestines, called peptide YY3-36 (PYY), could curb the appetite and help obese people lose weight. Previous studies had shown that PYY curbed the appetites of normal weight individuals, but it had been unclear if the hormone would also work for obese people. Leptin, a hormone that works in similar way as PYY, only seems to reduce food intake in normal weight individuals, not in obese people. The researchers noted that this was first time a hormone caused a long-term reduction in calorie intake in obese volunteers. The new findings appear in the September 3, 2003 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

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Public Roundtable on Preventing and Treating Obesity
Public Roundtable on Preventing and Treating Obesity Join your friends and neighbors for a meeting with leading experts to learn about the latest on preventing and treating obesity. This program is free of change and is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. The program will cover topics on: the latest and best treatment options for obesity; why exercise is important, is surgery right for you?
October 11, 2003
10:00 am -12:00 noon
Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

National Medicine Cabinet Check-up Week is September 28th to October 4th.

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Prescriptions: Get Tips
There is more to taking medicine than swallowing a pill. Some medications do not mix with certain foods, sun exposure or even driving. But many people do not know what to ask their doctors about concerning side effects. The American Pharmacists Association sponsored National Pharmacy Week, October 19 to 25th, can help: Participating pharmacies will offer a variety of health information, such as brochures on understanding food/drug interactions. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they are participating. See also: Medicines: The Good and the Bad

130
Redefining Breakfast
Pastries, eggs, fried meat, sugary cereals - are these really the best we can do for breakfast? The American Institute for Cancer Research says it is time Americans take a radical look at the first meal of the day. According to a new brochure offered by the institute - "The New American Plate for Breakfast" -- breakfast should be regarded as one of three meals per day that supply the energy, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals we need to stay healthy and reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease. The free 39-page brochure offers a number of healthier breakfast menu suggestions, as well as 13 recipes for dishes such as strawberry-melon smoothie, pumpkin-spice muffins and vegetables pita pizzas. Call (800) 843-8114, Ext. 10, weekdays from 7 AM to 3:30 PM, to order a copy.
*NOTE: Offer may no longer be available.
See: BellyBytes.com: The Importance of Breakfast

131
Snacking and Kids
Today, children and young adults snack more than they did 20 years ago. But the problem is not so much that they are snacking more - the problem is that they are snacking on more high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar, high-calorie, low-fiber, low-nutrient foods like soft drinks, sweets and chips. The result is kids that are taking in more calories than they did several decades ago. They are also getting less exercise. The end result of all this is an epidemic of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. See also:
See also: Play to Get Fit!
10 Tips to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity For Youth
Healthy Cooking for Kids

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Make a Difference Day
Join the millions of others who will simultaneously help millions of others on October 25, the 13 Make A Difference Day. For more information, call 800-416-3824 or visit MakeADifferenceDay.com

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Quaker Stuffed with Meatloaf Recipes
It is the quintessential American comfort food for winter: Meatloaf. The Quaker Oatmeal Kitchen offers six distinctly different recipes in a free brochure. Tips for preparing the perfect meatloaf are included. For a copy, send your name and complete address to:
Favorite Meatloaf Recipes from Quaker Oats
PO Box 487
Chicago, IL 60690-0487
Allow two to three weeks for delivery. You can also view 24 recipes at QuakerOats.com
*NOTE: Offer may no longer be available.

134
Overweight Equals Less Pay?
Being overweight could mean a skinnier paycheck. On average, obese people earn about 2.5-percent less than their thinner counterparts, according to a new study. For women who are obese, it is even worse - with earnings averaging 4.2-percent less. Obese is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. Fair - absolutely not!

135
Antibiotic Alert
Resist the temptation to wash down your antibiotics with orange juice. Research shows that added calcium may cut the amount of the drug you absorb by up to 40-percent. Take your medication with water on an empty stomach at least one hour before or two hours after eating foods fortified with extra minerals, unless otherwise directed.

136
Cranberry Sauce
Sweet-sour cranberry sauce, or cranberry jelly, was on the first Thanksgiving table and is still served today. The Indians used the fruit to treat infections. They used the juice to dye their rugs and blankets. Did you know that before the berries are put in bags to be shipped, each individual berry must bounce at least four inches high to make sure they are not too ripe? See also: BellyBytes.com Good Eats: Cranberries

137
Atkins Diet Safe or Not?
One of the diets currently very much in vogue in the US is the Atkins diet which advocates eating low-carbohydrate, high-protein and high-fat foods as the way to lose weight. Although the diet has been publicized for the last 30 years and can produce impressive weight loss in the short run, it has never yet been determined how long a person can safely remain on the Atkins diet. Theoretically, any diet that promotes high-fat intake will result in unhealthy blood lipid levels and an increased risk of heart disease. A nutrition advocacy group said recently the popular Atkins diet has caused heart disease and could have killed a teen-age dieter and urged the U.S. government to monitor the high-fat weight loss approach. If you practice this diet, do monitor your cholesterol levels and see your doctor regularily!
See also: The Low Carb Diet Debate

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Quaker Strive for Five Program
This easy-to-use, five step family nutrition program was developed by Quaker Oatmeal in collaboration with the American Dietetic Association. The program is organized in weekly calendars that offer simple daily tips and interactive tools based on the leading recommendations of childhood overweight research and ADA member dietetic experts.

139
Fat Fact
Did you know that the average weight gain during the holidays is a little over a pound? That may not seem like much, but according to the National Institutes of Health most adults keep the weight on and, over the years, it can lead to significant weight gain. Visit the Healthy Holiday Recipes and see if you can't find some recipes to trim things down this holiday season!

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Be Wary of Ephedra Substitutes
With the ban of Ephedra, you are more than likely to see more and more "Ephedra-free" supplements offered. Ephedra is now officially linked to heart attacks, seizures, stroke, nausea and emotional problems. Ephedra has been directly associated with at least 155 deaths, along with over 60,000 adverse reaction reports - and substitutes could have the same consequences. The most common names for Ephedra subtitutes are:
Synephrine (or "bitter orange")
Phenylethylamine
Octopamine
These may have the same adverse effects of Ephedra due to the similar effects of a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. Until these substitutes are proven safe, people are strongly advised to avoid them completely. Especially since there is very little evidence that they even work.