Health Notes

This article says, “The most effective diets cut back on carbohydrates and saturated fats, while adding unsaturated fats,” i.e., apparently not the Atkins diet. Moderation is important. “They recommend a diet that includes nuts and seeds, avocados and olive oil, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.”

It seems to me that with something like birth control pills you would want to have all the information about possible side effects that you could get. And yet drug companies are reluctant to do further studies because the results might make them look bad? What about the women who are taking these drugs? Don’t they matter?

Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country. That I did not know. We should all probably test for radon in our homes.

They are cutting trans fat from Crisco, which is great, although apparently 0.5 grams per serving will still remain. That reminds me that if you eat a lot of something that has a little trans fat, then you end up consuming a lot of trans fat. It all adds up.

We have discussed eating disorders recently. Gisele Bundchen says families might contribute to the problem of anorexia. Some scientists say that she’s wrong. This article seems to suggest that Gisele could be right. Some eating disorders have to do with power struggles, according to lead researcher Dr. Linda Gilmore. "Parents should not turn mealtime into a struggle for control” she says, “because some evidence suggests that eating disorders such as anorexia stem from a desire to take control over one's own body. If children are forced to 'sit at the table until they eat it' this turns into a struggle for who has power over the child's eating habits which could well set the scene for later eating problems." Anyone else care to weigh in on this now?

I’m sure I’ve mentioned vitamin D and advanced prostate cancer before. Apparently the name of the medication is Asentar. Hopefully it will prove to be very effective.

This study seeks to eventually reactivate the p53 gene in humans to help fight cancer. So far the results are somewhat promising. Here’s another article.

Hysterectomy is not always the answer for uterine fibroids. Sometimes they try uterine artery embolization.

If you have chronic prostatitis or pelvic pain syndrome, aerobic exercise might help.

The prescription drug varenicline has proven to be very effective in helping people stop smoking. I stopped smoking 23 years ago, without drugs. That is the preferred way to do it, I would think. There is a great deal of satisfaction that comes from overcoming nicotine addiction. Of course smoking is so bad for you that whatever it takes to quit is probably ok.

Officials say we are not as worried about a bird flu pandemic as we should be.

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