Why It’s Healthy To Be Cool: Why Anger Can Kill!

November 24, 2006

305336650.jpgDriving well in the Philippines takes courage, expertise and coolness.  One can’t miss a day without somebody cutting you off in traffic without regard to safety.  We hear stories about fights due to parking and even to the point of murder due to the lack of “COOLNESS…” We have workers in our workplace or household helpers that can be triggers of our anger.

But the next time somebody or something bad triggers a reaction of ANGER… think and pause for a moment and contemplate on what scientific studies have shown. 

A recent review done by Harvard researchers concluded that literally… “Anger Can Brake Ones Heart.” It is estimated that being angry is synonymous to putting ones heart at 3x the risk of developing heart attack and 14 fold increase in risk of stroke. 

An interesting study by researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine on anger showed that after tracking 1,055 medical students for 36 years, ” the hotheads were six times more likely to suffer heart attacks by age 55 and three times more likely to develop any form of heart or blood vessel disease than the cooler heads.”

I am sure you know of friends or relatives that being angryis already part of their daily lives.  It may be their natural reaction to something that irritates them.  These are the people that may require some help.  The Harvard researchers recently found as published in Harvard Mens Health Watch, September issue, that a single low-dose (81 mg) pill can reduce anger-caused heart attacks by 40 percent. In other words, a daily aspirin may cut the risk of breaking an angry heart by almost half.  Do you need Aspirin?  Your own family doctor can advise you better.

So the next time something stresses you out or somebody irritates you…think twice before you act…

Protect Your Heart… Be COOL!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures | 3 Comments »

The Danger of Drinking Too Much Cola?

November 23, 2006

639176267.jpgWomen who are trying to lose weight use diet sodas to fill them up without eating the right food.  As part of their regimen to lose weight, I know of some friends who can consume up to 8 cans a day.  I usually allow my patients to drink  diet soda but at a minimum of 1 can a day.  It may be less in calories but again everybody should realize that a soda contains other substances that may actually be harmful to ones body… 

Women after menopause at increased risk of bone loss and develop a disease called osteoporosis.  It is now considered a silent killer since this condition remains asymptomatic for life until such time that ones bones are so brittle and thin that a fracture happens with minimal trauma.  It is estimated that once a fracture occurs…one out of 6 will die within 6 months…most likely due to complications arising from being bedridden due to the fracture.

In a recent report published in the October issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition... regular consumption of carbonated cola drinks (>1 can a day) was shown to affect the integrity and the strength of bone such that women who drink soda daily had lower bone mass as measured by the Bone Mineral Densitometry compared to women who drink soda infrequently like < 1 can per month.  

The most likely culprits in sodas that can affect the bone are caffeine and phosphoric acid such that cola intake was associated with lower BMD at each hip site in women… and fortunately not in men.

637275227.jpgSo for those who use Diet Cokes to lose weight…take note… you may end up getting a worst disease than keeping yourself trim in a wrong way.

Take Care Of Your Bones… Limit Your Soda!

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Is There A Magic Pill To Stop Aging?

November 22, 2006

images1.jpgOne of the most popular specialties in medicine nowadays is cosmetic surgery.  It’s not the usual form of “advocacy” medicine because it has become a big and very competitive business.  You see ads on restorative surgery, liposuction, and face lifts…all in the name of beauty.  Everyone hates the wrinkles and abhors looking old!  But not all can afford the surgery …so here comes the business of antiaging pills!  But Do they work?

One supplement touted to have the antiaging property is DHEA.  Shop around the malls and you’ll see this product marketed to make you look young again!  The beauty of marketing is that it attracts people of all ages to believe in what they say and buy the products they advertise without checking the truth behind the claim!

The truth however now finally came out on DHEA published in the New England Journal of Medicine. My mentor at the Mayo Clinic… DR Nair studied 87 elderly men and 57 elderly women for 2 years… and his results dispelled the fallacy of this antiaging pill because in-spite of achieving a high normal level of DHEA in the blood, the pill had:

It is therefore unlikely that this pill will have any effect at all in preventing or stopping aging.  It should in fact be a regulated drug rather than sold as a supplement where anybody can just grab and take it with no apparent benefit!

Remember…anything that is marketed as a supplement should riase doubts in terms of its effectiveness.  DHEA is one example of a….

A True Quackery of this Magic Pill!

Posted in Medical News Bits | 1 Comment »

A Tip To Stay Trim

November 21, 2006

11502699.jpgDue to work overload, we simply put off the time to eat.  We always feel obliged to finish our work until such time we don’t realize that it’s past 2 in the afternoon and you start feeling jittery… simply because you’re hungry.  Once that happens…the urge to eat is so compelling that you tend to think of whatever simple flavor and fat rich food you can grab… probably the yummy fried chicken or the delicious cheese burger.

Shy away from that practice of indulging late lunch or dinner.  If you can find the time, eat small portion snacks in between meals.  Try to stay away from simple carbohydrates and eating plenty of fiber as this tip has been shown in one Danish study published in October in American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition to help women avoid packing on pounds as they get older.

When doctors talk of glycemic index- it actually a measure of how quickly a food causes blood sugar to rise.  Subsequently an rapid increase in blood sugar stimulates your pancreas to produce insulin which in turn can shut down the fat burning machine of the body.  High GI foods also make you feel hungry faster thus the craving for more food is always a turn off! 

Examples of foods with high glycemic index which we recommend one to avoid includes: refined sugars and simple starches, like candy and white bread.  Low glycemic index foods include those with greater fiber content, such as vegetables and whole grains.

In our busy practice, we just dont find the time to look for what is healthy once we’re hungry.  So let me share with you one practical solution to the busy people out there trying to stay fit is to grab this low calorie low glycemic index snack cereal bar which I recommend to all my diabetics trying to lose weight.  You can put it inside your pouch or carry it with you when you’re on the road.  It was developed by Nestle for several years to come up with a healthy alternative to snacking called Nutren Balance.  It’s a low calorie cereal bar and oatmeal based so you don’t feel hungry fast.  You can also use it for meal replacement.  I usually tell my patients to grab for one anytime they feel hungry.

I am not advertising this product for a fee but am just sharing what I know works well with my patients to my readers.  Hope this will work for you too.

Stay Trim…Stay Healthy!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Personal Thoughts, Weight Loss Tips | 2 Comments »

Increasing Your Chances Of Having A Baby!

November 20, 2006

2929363525.jpgStress from work is the most common cause of infertility worldwide…thus the inability to conceive or get pregnant is becoming one problem that we never thought of as one.  We know of many married couples who have difficulty in conceiving such that after 1 year of unsuccessful pregnancies, they leave their jobs or resort to artificial means.  And yes…clinical practice involving artificial conception methods is becoming a booming business worldwide.  As an endocrinologist, two common conditions that are often blamed for infertility include uncontrolled blood sugar and thyroid diseases while the less common one includes- a prolactin producing tumor of the pituitary gland called prolactinoma.  They’re easy to treat as long as diagnosis is made.

Unknowingly for many… the infertility from not ovulating properly may actually just be simple lack of iron.  A new study by Harvard researchers offers great hope for these women.   This study intrigued me because this is the first study that looked at iron as the culprit.

Published in the November issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harvard researchers looked at data on more than 18,500 married, premenopausal women who were participating in the Nurses’ Health Study II and followed them for 8 years.

The clinical implication of the study is:  women who are trying to get pregnant should consider having greater amounts of iron in their diet from non-animal sources or from a  multivitamin supplement! 

It may be simple solution but it is a measure that is often not followed!  An iron pill a day to boost nutrition may be worth the wait.

Iron…A Simple Measure For A Lasting Bliss!

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The Harm of Being Obese, Having Bad Breath and Gum Bleeding!

November 18, 2006

736552470.jpgThe moment you wake up and brush your teeth, you may have noticed gum bleeding.  You may take it for granted but if the bleeding or your bad breath is due to a gum disease then take note and see your dentist.  

So far this year… I was able to diagnose two cases of the fatal but rare disease called pancreatic cancer which unfortunately up to now has little to offer in terms of treament.  Almost always by the time it is detected… it has already spread beyond the pancreas.  So far only 5 % of those diagnosed can survive up to 5 years.

So what’s the relationship between gum disease, obesity and cancer?

Apparently based on recent studies, The American Association for Cancer Research states that gum disease and pancreatic disease are closely linked even among those who have never smoked.

In a study from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston involving 52,000 male doctors in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study:

  • men with a history of gum disease had a 63-percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer relative to men without periodontal disease.
  • Those who never smoked with gum disease had a 2-fold increased risk in developing pancreatic cancer.

The harmful bacteria that is present in individuals with gum disease apparently can result in producing harmful substances in the mouth and the gut especially the cancer causing product called: Nitrosamines.

On a side note… the same institution using the same data also showed…obesity as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer noting that…obese people were 72% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than normal weight counterparts.

So… Be Fit and Have Healthy Gums!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, The Truths on Obesity | 4 Comments »

A Healthy and Stress-Free Way To Travel

November 17, 2006

616661748.jpgI’ve been away for 6 days… but this time travelling with my wife in a cruise was not only relaxing but likewise stress- free! This is the second time we’ve gone on a cruise together and I will always look forward to having one again in the future.  My other travels entail a lot of airplane and airport layovers… and if you travel to different places using the land either by bus or car… this will entail a lot of packing and unpacking which can in reality sometimes outweigh the fun of the travel itself!  So I strictly adhere to the principle that if I mean to travel to have fun…it should be fun!

This is the first time we had the Asia Cruise which brought us to Singapore then Penang Malaysia then to Phuket Thailand.  It was not the place but the fun and the experience while inside the ship.  

In comparison to Land or Air travel-  The Cruise can offer healthy options while on board: You can rest easy in your comfy bed… then wake up to walk around the deck, enjoy the sun or take a swim or go to the gym before you eat breakfast at your own pace.  It’s healthy because… you get the right rest from a good night sleep and you get to exercise!  Just be careful with their buffets for breakfast , lunch and dinner…but my wife and I settled for the ala carte menus which stopped us from endulging in too much food!

Just got home not only relaxed but ready to work.  I hate those vacations where after the trip, you need to rest for few more days to recover! 

If you feel stressed out or just want to travel… I would strongly recommend to travel in style stress free…and that would be the Cruise!

Star Cruise Virgo Cruise was not only fun but the handling of our luggages and the services were excellent.  354754932.jpg

We had a great balcony suite with a huge sliding door so anytime we can sit and enjoy the view of the sea and the sun….

In life…it is how you handle and appreciate little things in this world and enjoy them!

Please do check my other website… The Travel Rules Travelogue … where soon I’ll have more details of the Star Cruise for those interested in having one such relaxing trip.

Relaxed and Stress Relieved…Now Am Ready To Work!!!!

Posted in Lifestyle Measures, Personal Thoughts | 2 Comments »

Tip On How To Cook Your French Fries Safely!

November 10, 2006

124541481.jpgWe know the story of french fries…but I myself am guilty of indulging in it once in a  blue moon.  Kids just love the sight of it!  So how can we make our french fries healthier especially if we cook them ourselves.  One study has showed us the way….

“Precooking your French fries in the microwave before you fry them reduces levels of a suspected cancer-causing substance called acrylamide“.

Apparently…deep frying the french fries can lead to the formation of a substance called acrylamide. The US FDA Fact Sheet states that ” Acrylamide has been shown to cause cancer in animals in studies where they were exposed to the chemical at very high doses.  Acrylamide has also been shown to cause nerve damage in people who have been exposed to very high levels at work. ” Apparently the FDA still has to make a determination as to how levels of this substance can have an impact on public health and is formulating an action plan on this matter.

But one study published in the Journal of Science of Food and Agriculture, found that by the simple technique of microwaving French fries before frying can not only reduce frying time but in turn, can cut down the formation of acrylamide. By microwaving at 190 degrees cut down acrylamide formation by as much as 60%.

This information is also new to me.  As this health issue is evolving.. I will be updating my post.  This indeed has a major public health impact as this now relates to our way of cooking things especially frying.

So The Next Time You Ask For French Fries…

Think Again!

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The Danger of Nasal Decongestants

November 8, 2006

images.jpgIt’s the cold season and your family may have contracted the virus spreading around your house.  The problem then comes when with nasal congestion where the usual reflex is to grab an over the counter drug decongestant.

Certain decongestants have already been pulled out in the US market due to the bad side effect profile.  I thought of writing this post to warn the readers after my wife was taking decongestants 2 x a day in the past 2 days due to congested nose.  Interestingly, the drug contained the banned substance but still being sold in our country is really amazing!

Here’s an FDA Fact sheet on this banned substance called Phenylpropanolamine:

What is phenylpropanolamine?Phenylpropanolamine is an ingredient used in prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug products as a nasal decongestant to relieve stuffy nose or sinus congestion and in OTC weight control drug products to control appetite.

Why is phenylpropanolamine unsafe when this product has been in use for many years?

On May 11, 2000, FDA received results of a study conducted by scientists at Yale University School of Medicine that showed an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding of the brain) in people who were taking phenylpropanolamine. Phenylpropanolamine has been used for many years and a very small number of people taking the drug have had strokes. The Yale study helped show that the number of people having strokes when taking phenylpropanolamine was greater than the number of people having strokes who were not taking phenylpropanolamine. Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA has significant concerns because of the seriousness of a stroke and the inability to predict who is at risk. Because of continued reports to the FDA of hemorrhagic stroke associated with phenylpropanolamine and the results of the Yale study, we now feel that the risks of using phenylpropanolamine outweigh the benefits and recommend that consumers no longer use products containing phenylpropanolamine.

Are there any population groups at higher risk when using products containing phenylpropanolamine?

The Yale University study showed that the risk of hemorrhagic stroke was found mostly in women; however, men may also be at risk.

What types of products contain phenylpropanolamine?

Phenylpropanolamine is found in some prescription and OTC nasal decongestants and cough/cold products and OTC products for weight control.

So before you grab another tablet of a decongestant…be sure it does not contain the label”phenylpropanolamine”!

Be Safe…Always Read The Label !

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits | 19 Comments »

Healthy Food Tips For The Family

November 7, 2006

29874014331.jpgI came accross this simple regimen to our life long struggle to find better ways to serve best foods for the family.  “Struggles with food and obesity frequently start in childhood” and therefore addressing these early results in long term gains.

Here’s some pointers from the Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center.

“Here are some ways you can help your child avoid a weight problem:

  • Never put your child on a low-calorie deprivation diet. You can lower dietary fat, but maintain calories by increasing the consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals, and breads.
  • Children who eat full meals do better nutritionally than children who merely snack. Your child should come to the table hungry, learn how to control hunger, and wait for his meal to be served.
  • Remove snack temptations around the house.
  • Don’t use desserts and sweets as rewards.
  • Have family meals, and set a good example by eating a wide variety of foods.
  • Make mealtime pleasant. Don’t use this time for criticizing and scolding. ” 

Simple… Common sense… but take note of them for they may help you…

Build better and healthier families…

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Beware of The Weight Loss Myth

November 6, 2006

1458670218.jpgIt is often said that losing weight is as difficult as maintaining weight.  It is therefore not surprising that out of frustration..maybe… that a lot of patients then resort to over the counter drugs, herbal supplements or even chinese teas just to lose weight.  It is for this reason that I thought of sharing with you a survey presented in the Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society in Boston this year.

In that survey, more than 60 percent of the 1,444 respondents, had misconceptions of weight loss drugs.  They mistakenly said that:

  •  such supplements have been tested and are proven to be safe (65 percent)
  • over the counter weight loss drugs are effective (63 percent).
  • Over half (54 percent) wrongly stated that such supplements are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It is important to note that there are currently no over-the-counter drugs for weight loss approved by the FDA.  FDA approval of drugs require rigorous research and testing to prove the drugs are not only effective but also safe!  These supplements may have a label in them as “approved by FDA or BFAD in our country” AS SUPPLEMENTS and therefore are not required to test their drugs for safety and efficacy!

Be careful with misleading claims especially if they pertain to your health. A “claim all” drug too unrealistic to believe is not worth even a penny from your pocket!  The same advise I can give in those that are based solely on testimonials or publications in “throw away” journals most likely published by the same company that made the drugs!

Be Vigilant When It Comes to Drugs!

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A Guide To Healthy Parenting

November 4, 2006

1012478201.jpgI just read this heart warming story about values formation in practice in a post… in Teaching Values.  And while reading the local papers yesterday, 2 teens returned nearly P200,000 they found while riding a bike.  I believe that a developing mind is critical to a child as well as our obligation as parents on teaching values… and what a way to have tested this trait than from the kids mouth of what being truthful is all about.  The bonding formed between the child and the parents is critical to acquiring these values.  And that I honestly believe… our kids will be kids for only a short time before they grow up and their time with us is merely borrowed that we need to utilize all we have with them to share and enjoy.  As a parent of 3 kids, I thought of sharing with you a survey done on what kids think about their parents and maybe we can all learn from it.  The information was sourced from Family Doctor  a website of the Academy of Family Physicians.

  • Most kids said their parents love them — big time. Nearly 90% of kids said their mom loves them a lot.
  • Far fewer kids — only 8% — said their mom only loved them some and 4% said their mom loved them a little or not at all.
  • When it came to dads, nearly 90% of kids said their dad loved them a lot.
  • Again, fewer kids (8%) said their dads loved them only some and another 8% said their dads loved them a little or not at all.
  • About 73% said they like doing stuff with both parents, while 12% preferred to spend time with mom only and 9% liked being only with dad.

Majority of parents seldom see our kids wake up and go to school.  But the 2 most likely times that we can spend quality times with our kids would be during meals and during school activities. In that same survey,

  • about half of kids said they have meals with their parents at least once a day. The rest of the kids said they have family meals a few days a week (28%) or hardly ever or never (19%). 
  • Forty percent of kids said they’d like their parents to be more involved at their school. That could include chaperoning field trips, coaching a sport, volunteering for class events, or helping in tutoring. 

Since I start work early so I can get home early too , my bonding time with my kids start around 5PM when it’s study time for my eldest kid and have fun learning together.  Literally…a fun bonding time with him.  It was a rewarding experience for me therefore when his name was posted in the bulletin board as first honors in the first quarter of his Grade 1 class!  It was an experience better than me getting a good grade.

Teaching values to the kids require time from us.  Again who is not busy these days but the outcome of all these hard-work we spend with our kids will soon make us realize that we are responsible for shaping the future of these kids… and being honest is one trait that will bring these kids to future success!

Kudos to Parents Who Spend Time With Their Kids!

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Tips on How To Talk To Your Doctor

November 3, 2006

2777525239.jpgSetting up an appointment to see a doctor can be a daunting task for some. Many patients will tell me that their blood pressure usually shoots up the moment they enter the office. Many times, its the thought of missing something that they really want to ask…or may not understand.  So I thought of writing these tips so you can be prepared to see us anytime you deemed necessary.

  • Personal information like allergy or are you stressed?
  • Any family or past illnesses or surgery.
  • Any medicines you are currently taking.  Make sure you can remember the names and strength.
  • Any side effects you experienced while taking the medicine(s).  To include any vitamins or supplements you take.
  • Any laboratory workups done  including Xrays.

When you are inside the doctor’s office…don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s important for you to let your doctor know if you don’t understand something.

  • Ask every time you don’t understand something.
  • Write down your questions ahead of time.
  • React and ask for explanations if you missed something
  • Ask what the drugs are for and what the expected side effects are and for how long will they be taken.

Remember the following Important Points:Understanding ones disease is key to helping you feel better and managing your disease. These are the times you should call us:

  • Never stop a drug if you were not told to stop or if in doubt… ask your doctor.
  • If you start to feel worse or have problems with your medicine…call your doctor.
  • If you had tests and haven’t gotten the results… call your doctor

Lastly…know when your next check up is.  Remember… as doctors we want to know if the drug we’re giving is working well to help you feel better.  A follow up visit is very essential to help us manage your disease better!

There You go… Simple Tips to make your doctor’s visit smooth and easy

What You Tell Us Helps Us Treat What You Have!

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An Easy Way To Avoid The Common Cold

November 2, 2006

15112982.jpgIt’s the “colds” season again. The rainy season factor in the increasing trend of people catching colds. The problem with colds is that it is highly contagious and the virus is airborne and stays in the air for quite sometime to infect other people.  We are always told to cover out noses when we sneeze and definitely to wash hands when handling objects not ours or just by touching door knobs.  It can be also transmitted by a simple handshake.  So my practice has always been to have a hand sanitizer on my side and use it to clean my hands after every patient that I see and touch.

A new study published in November issue of the American Journal of Medicine showed that moderate daily exercise can actually help fend off the common cold. We know being physically healthy can really boost one immune system but this is the first time that exercise per se is looked at in relation to preventing colds.

In that study “older women who walked for a half-hour daily for a year reported half the number of colds as women of similar age who didn’t exercise.” The Fifty-three of the women were assigned to the exercise group spent 30 minutes daily, five days a week, doing moderate-intensity activity like brisk walking. These are activities we can always do at home.

This adds to the long list of benefits we get from exercise….

Preventing Colds Thru Exercise!

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The Benefits of Red Wine

October 31, 2006

1084423113.jpgThe low rate of heart disease in France despite a diet that includes plenty of butter and cheese has come to be known as the French paradox. The same observations have been noted in other wine drinking countries suggesting that the difference in heart disease risk maybe due to the red wine! More and more benefits in red wine consumption include a reduction in the risk to develop various forms of cancer like leukemia, breast and prostate… this I call The Wine Magic!

Now comes a new study presented in The Healthfinder of the US Dept of Health and Human Servicesthat showed drinking more than three glasses of red wine a week reduced the incidence of abnormal growths and cancers of the intestinal tract by two-thirds or approximately 68% reduction compared to non drinkers. Interestingly, drinking white wine did not have the same protective effect.

What is responsible for the benefits? A single product or a combined action of substances? Whatever it is… Wine Drinkers don’t care….

In the future I would suspect that we will have more data to support the recommendation of taking a glass of red wine to prevent heart disease and cancer just like asking people now to drink milk to prevent osteoporosis.  Until that time comes…I strongly discouraged people to start drinking wine for health benefits. For now… don’t substitute healthy activities and healthy food choices with a glass of wine! However… if you drink… then better choose Red wine.

Cheers to Red Wine!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits | 2 Comments »

If You Are At Risk For Diabetes: Lessen Your STRESS!

October 30, 2006

1321931401.jpgThat’s True: Stress can increase ones blood sugar through the effect of the so called stress hormones.  You may have friends or parents who when gets stressed have higher sugar values.  But Can Stress cause one to become a diabetic?

One study says YES!….In this study published in October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine showed that individuals with high stress and high hostility levels have a higher likelihood of developing insulin resistance.

Insulin Resistance is the main defect present among diabetic patients.  This is a state where our body’s insulin production is affected because our body does not interact with the insulin being produced.  If this state remains unabated… it will tire out the pancreas which is the organ responsible for producing insulin leading to its failure to produce the product.  Once this happens, your blood sugar then shoots up because there is no more enough insulin that can bring sugar inside the muscle.  Our thrust in the treatment therefore of diabetes in 2006 is to combat this insulin resistance state through increase physical activity or drugs.

 This study found that there is a statistical interaction between hostility and stress level in predicting insulin resistance. Likewise other components associated with hostility like cynicism was found to strongly increase insulin resistance.  And one preventive strategy therefore for those of us at risk of diabetes  aside from increase physical activity should now include stress management.

At Risk for Diabetes?…embrace this saying… This has been and will always be my motto in life:

LIFE IS TOO SHORT… Enjoy! 

Don’t Let Stress Take that away from you! Know what stresses You Out…Then

 … Know How to Handle The Stress…

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A Way To Stop Memory Loss!

October 28, 2006

923762090.jpgHave you misplaced our keys… or may have forgotten the name of somebody you just met… signs of aging? or just becoming forgetful? Aging is one process we cant avoid but now we have reason to be hopeful that there may actually be a way to prevent the signs of forgetfulness…and the solution is just within our reach!

Have you heard of the “Mediterranean” diet? It is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, cereals and fish. All of which except for olive oil are in abundance in our region. This diet as published in the October issue of Archives of Neurology showed that people on this diet had lower risk of being forgetful. The apparent benefit is “by protection from oxidative stress or by reducing inflammation in the brain.”

The study showed thta if you really closely follow the diet regimen, your risk of developing memory problem later on in life can be reduced by 68 percent.

The plus benefit of following the Mediterranean diet is the other benefits we can get from it as proven in other studies: protective for heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, obesity and a series of cancers.

The question of whether the benefit is due to Omega three fatty acids?  Most likely… but NOT from taking supplements sold in the market!   In one study from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the researchers found no advantage in taking the omega-3 fatty acids supplements at different doses compared to placebo.

What does this study tell us?…Fish Vegetables and Fruits are great for meals… and great for health.  The earlier we intervene in any disease through prevention, the better.

Memory Loss is Better Prevented than Treated!

Read My Other Related Post on Forgetfulness:

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Butter or Margarine? What Is Better?

October 27, 2006

9114985031.jpgI myself have been intrigued by this question: which would I recommend to my patient… margarine or butter?  During medical school, it has been taught to us that margarine as a safer heart healthy alternative to butter. Butter apparently is unhealthy because it contains too much fat as well as cholesterol and therefore bad for the heart.  On the other hand we were taught that margarine  is better since it is being made from unsaturated vegetable oils, and as such it is healthier!

But lately  research has shown otherwise especially with the knowledge we have now of trans fat! Margarine – specifically the hard stick margarine – contains large amounts of trans fats and as such WORSE than butter!  In the study published in Journal of American Medical Association,  women who ate 4 teaspoons of stick margarine a day had a 50 percent greater risk of heart disease than women who ate margarine only rarely.

So, what ‘s my recommendation ? If you can avoid both…much better.  If you want to use margarine… read the label… use those that are trans fat free or non-hydrogenated and if you chose a soft margarine, chose a product that is low in saturated fat.

Butter or Margarine…Neither!

Posted in General Health Tips, Nutrition Health Tips | 2 Comments »

How Much Alcohol Is Acceptable?

October 26, 2006

5484476551.jpgThe debate on the merits and demerits of drinking alcohol has been with us for centuries.  We drink to have fun, or for some… too much fun!  The question always is how much alcohol is safe for me? Or Can I drink?

So far, more than 100 prospective studies show that drinking alcohol in MODERATION can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and sudden cardiac death by as much as 20% to 40%.  These heart benefits we all know are the reasons why we drink!

However the risks associated with alcohol intake begin to exceed benefits until middle age, when cardiovascular disease begins to account for increasingly large share of the burden of disease and death.  The Harvard Health Study Group has given these guidelines as follows:

  • For a person with liver disease, and people taking one or more medications that interact with alcohol, moderate drinking offers little benefit and potential risks.
  • For a 30-year-old man, the increased risk of alcohol-related accidents outweighs the possible heart-related benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
  • For a 60-year-old man, a drink a day may offer protection against heart disease that is likely to outweigh potential harm (assuming he isn’t prone to alcoholism).
  • For a 60-year-old woman, the benefit/risk calculations are trickier. More than ten times as many women die each year from heart disease than breast cancer! However, studies show that women are far more afraid of developing breast cancer than heart disease, something that must be factored into the equation.

So what’s moderate drinking? That’s 1-2 drinks a day. 

and What’s a Drink?  Its….12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey).  Each of the them delivers about 12 to 14 grams of alcohol.

Yes…You can drink… but my recommendation is:

Drink in Moderation! 

Posted in General Health Tips | 83 Comments »

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

October 25, 2006

30465829701.jpgWater is probably one of the most essential elements for daily living.  It is important for our body to function properly…it flushes out toxins , moists our mucosal membranes in the throat, and helps deliver important nutrients to the different cells in the body. It is actually free and available but are we taking enough?

We lose water from our perspiration and breathing… we also lose at most 1.5 liters from the urine.  Together with water from our food , it is estimated that at least 8 cups of water per day should suffice to replenish what is lost daily.  Replacement is important because the body will not function properly if water is deprived.

What is an acceptable recommendation as proposed by the Institute of Medicine is the following:

  • Men should consume roughly 3 liters per day or 13 cups  of water daily
  • Women should consume 2.2  liters per day or 9 cups of water daily

So… how many of us are following this guideline? How many think drinking 3 glasses of water a day is enough because anyway one is not thirsty?

Some symptoms that you will feel if you’re not taking enough water include: dizziness, lightheadedness, muscle weakness, dry mouth and headache.

You will also know that you’re taking enough water if you are producing 1-2 liters of colorless or slightly yellowish urine.

My Healthy Practice Tip: drink one glass of water before and after each meal and at bedtime.  Plus a couple more in between!  That should do the trick.

Drinking Enough Water Can Make A Difference!

Read My Other Healthy Practice Tips Posts:

Posted in General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips | 4 Comments »

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