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Each month we feature one full
article from the current issue of the WELLNESS LETTER, plus our
Ask the Experts column, in addition to brief summaries of the
other articles, listed below.
The
Sunshine Vitamin
If you’ve seen the headlines claiming that "sunlight may
prevent cancer," you probably wonder if the world isn’t
going crazy. Sun exposure causes skin cancer, so how can this be?
There is indeed some research showing that a small amount of sun
exposure may reduce the risk of certain cancers, as well as help
keep bones strong. Scientists have found that mortality rates for
some cancers—notably breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate—tend
to be lower in sunnier regions. And some studies have found that
people who get little or no sun exposure tend to have higher rates
of breast and colon cancer. Why? Since sunlight’s ultraviolet-B
radiation is responsible for producing vitamin D in the body, researchers
have wondered if this could be the connection. Full
Story
How Bad Are Tropical Oils?
Perhaps no episode in the great fats debate generated more hysteria
than the fight over tropical oils in the late 1980s. Unlike other
oils derived from plants, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and, to
a lesser extent, palm oil are high in saturated fats. Before the
brouhaha, these oils were sometimes used in this country for frying
and in cookies, crackers, and other processed foods. But concern
was rising about our high consumption of saturated fats. Moreover,
American soybean and corn growers objected to the competition from
imported oils. You may recall Phil Sokolof, the angry millionaire
and victim of a heart attack, who took out full-page newspaper ads
in the late 1980s proclaiming that tropical oils were "poisoning
America." Everybody shied away from tropical oils as if from,
well, poison. Now tropical oils have all but disappeared from the
American diet. However, they have been replaced with something worse—partially
hydrogenated oils containing trans fats. And it turns our that tropical
oils aren’t as bad as they seemed.
Resolutions: Make This the Year
If you or someone you care about is struggling to make changes,
you might like to know that scientists are interested in your problem.
A whole branch of psychology is devoted to the study of behavioral
changes. Making changes is not an event but a process. And it isn’t
easy. Human beings usually don’t take to change gladly. It
doesn’t happen in a day. Years ago James Prochaska, a psychologist
at the University of Rhode Island, described this as a five-stage
process. We tell you how to do it.
HRT—What Are Your Alternatives?
As we reported in October, a definitive study recently found that
hormone replacement therapy (HRT), at least in its most popular
form, Prempro, increases the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular
disease, and that these risks outweigh the treatment’s modest
protection against osteoporosis and colon cancer. Thus, it should
not be used in hope of preventing chronic disease. HRT is very effective
against menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness,
but it should be used only for severe symptoms and for the shortest
time possible. If you want to avoid hormones, you’ve certainly
noticed that the dietary supplements industry has moved aggressively
to persuade you to try a range of herbal and other remedies instead.
In addition, physicians have looked at drugs such as antidepressants
for benefits against menopausal symptoms. Here’s how to navigate
among HRT alternatives.
A Hacker’s Guide
The drugstore shelves are packed with cough medicines—syrups,
lozenges, tablets, and drops. Some contain combinations of ingredients
and promise to solve all your problems at once. Which of these products
should you try? Last year the British Medical Journal published
a review of studies of over-the-counter cough remedies and found
no good evidence that any of them works. Cough remedies, they concluded,
are probably a waste of money. Nevertheless, very few good studies
have ever been done, and the researchers advised caution in interpreting
these negative findings. Coughing can be so trying that it’s
natural to want to do something. And anything that gives you at
least a sense of control may help. Here’s the lowdown.
All in the Family
The Brassica genus, we admit, is not as well loved as it
ought to be. It’s the cabbage family of vegetables, also known
as cruciferous, because their flowers are shaped like a cross. These
vegetables are definitely in the very-good-for-you category. They
are loaded with vitamin C, beta carotene and other carotenoids,
plus lots of fiber; some (the dark greens) contain calcium, too.
In addition, they offer anti-cancer compounds such as indoles. But
the cabbage family is never glimpsed in fast-food restaurants and
seldom sighted in more upscale eateries or American homes (except
as cole slaw). We give you a Brassica roster, along with a few hints
for making them appealing. Prepared simply and with just a little
imagination, all are delicious. Or, at any rate, a lot of us learn
to love them.
No Smoke Is Good Smoke
A fire in a fireplace or a woodstove can be a source of indoor and
outdoor pollution, as well as a potential fire hazard. Like any
other combustion source, burning wood produces carbon monoxide and
nitrogen dioxide, as well as visible and invisible particulate matter.
Wood smoke can cause nose and throat irritation and trigger asthmatic
attacks. Here’s how to make wood heat safer and less polluting:
Quercetin: An Apple a Day
Of the 80-plus supplements included in our online Wellness Guide
to Dietary Supplements, quercetin consistently ranks as one of the
most visited pages. That surprised us, so we decided to see why
people are so interested. For many years now this compound—found
in apples, tea, red wine, and other foods—has been studied
for possible health benefits. Research has been accumulating, and
though it is still in its early stages, many people are jumping
on the quercetin bandwagon. Quercetin is an important member of
a large group of plant compounds called flavonoids, once thought
to be vitamins. Here are some of its potential benefits. Full
Story
ASK
THE EXPERTS
Our readers ask:
I stopped using electric blankets years ago when I heard they cause
cancer —are they safe? Can "Body Solutions" really
dissolve fat while you sleep? If I have a cut on my hands, or chapped
and cracked skin, can I get an infection from handling raw meats?
Full Story
WELL & INFORMED
Tips, Short Takes, and Other News You Can Use
What we’re eating today (less beef, but more grains, cheese,
sugar, and almost everything else) . . . what we say we’re
eating (about 800 fewer calories per day than in reality).
WELLNESS TIPS
• If any drug
or supplement you’re taking produces unexpected side effects
or other problems, take the time to submit
a MedWatch report to the Food and Drug Administration. Your
report can help the FDA get bad products off the market.
• Be wary of claims
made for locally prepared foods labeled "diet," "light,"
or "low-calorie." Surveys show that muffins, cookies,
and other locally made foods often have much more fat and many
more calories than the label says.
• Another reason
to steer clear of garlic supplements: you can’t tell what
you’re getting by reading the labels. Recent testing by ConsumerLab.com
of 14 brands found a 15-fold variation in strength, based on allicin
content.
• Enjoy sauerkraut,
unless you’re on a low-sodium diet. A Finnish study has found
that when cabbage is fermented to make sauerkraut, potential cancer-fighting
compounds are produced.
• Don’t believe
that antiperspirants cause breast cancer, as some emails warn.
Recently a study of 1,500 women has confirmed that antiperspirant
users are not at increased risk for breast cancer.
• If you occasionally
feel faint, especially when you rise from a lying or seated position,
try the following: before standing, cross your legs, flex your
feet, and/or contract your abdominal muscles to circulate blood
that pools in your legs. You can also try raising your arms over
your head.
• For guidance—and encouragement—on
how to start exercising? Consult the free 100-page booklet "Exercise:
A Guide From the National Institute on Aging," produced
in conjunction with NASA. It describes workouts for people over
50, with 45 illustrated exercises focusing on strength, flexibility,
endurance, and balance.
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