Vonnies Health Spot

AN APPLE A DAY

That old saw “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” probably holds a lot more truth than many of us realize, and for good reason. Read on to find out more about the “miracle” fruit.

Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, in her book Prescription for Dietary Wellness, Second Edition, says one apple, eaten whole with the skin, has about 3.6 grams of fiber, which is about 17 percent of the recommended daily dietary fiber intake. Apples are good for all of us, but especially helpful for people who suffer with the following ailments: acid stomach, arthritis, colon inflammation, diarrhea, enteritis, goiter, gout, herpes, intestinal infections and prostate problems.

She says researchers at Cornell University have found that the phytochemical quercetin in apples has stronger anticancer properties than vitamin C. In its function as an anti-inflammatory, quercetin is noted for its effectiveness in treating prostate problems. Apples help to detoxify metals in the body, protect against heart disease, clean the bladder, protect against the effects of radiation exposure, lower blood cholesterol and blood pressure, maintain circulatory and intestinal health and stabilize blood sugar. Now it seems that the latest research shows that eating apples may help prevent lung disorders.

To get the full benefit it’s better to eat the whole fruit, peeling, pulp and even the core if you’re so inclined. Unfortunately, apples rate high on the list of produce with heavy pesticide residues, so it’s a good idea to wash apples well first. You can use a mild detergent and a vegetable brush. Just be sure to rinse the fruit well after scrubbing.

Key nutrients in apples include:
➢    Vitamins—B6, C, E and folate, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid
➢    minerals—iron, potassium, boron, zinc, copper, manganese
➢    fiber
➢    phytochemicals—beta-carotene, quercetin, phytosterols, pectin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, tocopherol, chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll, catechin, P-coumaric acid, rutin and sinapic acid

Apples are accomplished role changers on the kitchen stage. They can be eaten raw, added to vegetable salads, baked whole, stewed, made into pies … the list goes on and on.

Following is a recipe for a light (without the walnuts, only 114 calories!), delicious winter dessert.

WHOLE, BAKED APPLE

Use one apple per serving, and increase the proportions accordingly for each apple baked.

1 small apple, cored
1 tablespoon raisins
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon shredded coconut
½ teaspoon honey
Sprinkle of ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon water

Pare the apple halfway down. In a small bowl combine remaining ingredients, except for the water. Stuff into the cored apple. Place water in the bottom of an ovenproof custard cup. Add the apple, cover with foil and bake at 350ºF for 35 to 45 minutes.

Note: You can also add some finely chopped walnuts to the filling mixture.

Enjoy!

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THE BIG C FRIGHTENS EVERYONE, SO MYTHS ABOUND

According to a recent survey by the American Cancer Society and published in its journal Cancer, many people hold a lot of beliefs about cancer that are based in urban mythology and not on solid science. For example:

>More than 14 percent thought that shampoos and antiperspirants cause cancer; 15 percent weren’t sure.

>More than 15 percent incorrectly believe that smokers do not reduce their risk of cancer by quitting, or they believe that low-tar cigarettes are safer.

>Nearly 30 percent said they thought electronic devices cause cancer; 25 percent weren’t sure.

>Almost 40 percent said they thought pollution was a greater risk for lung cancer than smoking; another 19 percent weren’t sure.

Ironically, the survey found that the segment of the population most likely to hold misconceptions were older, less educated males who rated themselves as “very informed.”

Many people have a hard time judging risk. They hold unproven or disproved theories about risk avoidance and health. Some urban myths that will not go away include: underwire bras, cell phones or antiperspirants as cancer causes. Yet, on the other hand, people often ignore or minimize the big risks. Though the Internet is a great resource for information, it can also be a source of rumors and misinformation. Make sure the websites you visit are reliable.
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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

SINGING IS GOOD FOR MORE THAN THE SOUL, IT’S HEALTHY FOR THE BODY TOO!

I think most of us sang spontaneously as kids, but as we grew and became more self-conscious, for whatever reason, we dropped the habit little by little. I loved singing so much and so wanted to develop my voice that I took singing lessons for awhile, then speech and vocal lessons. My singing coach told me I had an extraordinary amount of vibrato, which I interpreted as not a good thing, so I quit. My voice coach moved away and I didn’t find a new one. I was busy working and raising a young family, so developing my voice moved to a far back burner. I have always been aware that I have a very soft voice; in a noisy group setting I often have difficulty making myself heard. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I became a writer. Nowadays people often comment on my beautiful, melodic voice, which I find very complimentary … if ironic.

Even today, choral music provides one of my favorite forms of listening music. I find the human voice the most extraordinary musical instrument of all. Now studies are showing that singing is one of those eon-old human endeavors that exhibit a lot of benefits other than simple pleasure. Following are some of the interesting results of recent investigation:

*Human intelligence: Walter Freeman, a neurobiologist at UC Berkeley, believes singing and dancing are genetic in origin and that they helped human brains evolve. These activities also served as a means of transmitting knowledge from one generation to another. Think about learning ABCs as a toddler, it was much easier when it was sung. Right?
*Social confidence: An organization of singing groups called Chorus America conducted a survey a few years ago, and found that more people in the US and Canada participate in choral singing than in any other performing art. Most singers say that singing in a chorus builds their social confidence.
*Breathing health: Studies show that singing helps people with asthma and bronchitis because of deep and controlled breathing, which also gives a variety of muscles, such as the diaphragm, a workout. Some evidence shows that even snoring can be suppressed through singing.
*Immune system health: German researchers found that members of an amateur choir had their antibody levels rise when they sang. Temporary changes in immunity mean very little because many activities produce ups and downs in antibodies and stress hormones, but I think the key here is to view the cumulative factor.
*Healthy aging: Investigators at George Washington University devised a survey called “Creativity and Aging,” which revealed that members of senior chorales in the District of Columbia, San Francisco and Brooklyn reported better health and fewer falls than nonsingers.
*Alzheimer’s: A British branch of the Alzheimer’s Society reports that singing is helpful for patients with dementia. Singing familiar songs and learning new ones can help build self-esteem and alleviate loneliness. And while there is no proof that such activities prevent Alzheimer’s, many experts think that they may help delay the onset.

So find a singing group. Churches and other organizations have choirs and sponsor singing-related activities. Dr. William Pereira, a musician and a member of the editorial board of UC Berkeley’s Wellness Letter says, “Singing energizes your whole body and soul.” Play a CD at home and vocalize while you do housework. Invite others over to have a singalong.

Karaoke here I come!
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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

FATHER OF AEROBICS SPEAKS OUT ABOUT FITNESS

A couple of years ago, Kenneth Cooper, M.D., MPH, and the founder and head of Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas and CooperLife, a residential healthy-living community in McKinney, Texas, broke his leg in a skiing accident. He was 74 years old. Up until that moment in time he had followed a regular, scheduled regimen of exercise. During the recovery period he says, “I became depressed, I gained weight, I felt my quality of life had gone downhill.” But as he slowly returned to his normal level of activity, he started feeling better and better. “I’ve had to substitute fast walking for running, but that doesn’t really make any difference,” he says. “Once I was moving again, my heart rate went down … I returned to my normal weight … my depression lifted. I felt great again.”

He says this proves “Even seniors like me can modify their exercise programs to compensate for injuries and other health problems and continue to stay active. I’m still working 50 to 60 hours a week and exercising at least an hour a day. You can get healthier as your get older. What’s more, to a great extent, you control whether this happens—not your doctor, not your insurance company, not the government.”

“We know from many studies that fitness is the single most important predictor of health and quality of life at any age. In general, people with the highest levels of fitness have the highest quality of life,” avers Cooper.

BENEFITS
Listed below are some of the benefits of fitness:
*Healing—If you’re an older adult who exercises regularly, skin wounds heal faster. It might also help you recover from other ailments.
*Cancer protection—Exercise lowers your risk for every cancer.
*Strong bones—Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or running, lowers your risk of excessive bone loss after age 50.
*Longevity—Being fit can add three years to your life and you are 65 percent less likely to die prematurely than someone who is unfit.
*Mental health—Up your exercise quotient and you’ll improve your mental health.
*Physical function—You can delay by several years the age at which you develop even minimal disability by establishing good health habits today.

MOTIVATION
Dr. Cooper says, “In my many years of medical practice, I’ve heard, over and over again, the same six reason for not exercising, to the point where I’ve developed an acronym for them—TEMMPF. No time, no energy, no motivation, no money, no place, no fun.
*No time—Build exercise into your daily routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, pace while you’re talking on the phone, exercise while watching TV, etc.
*No energy—Just take the first few steps. It will energize you to take the next steps and to keep on going.
*No motivation—A sincere decision to keep your quality of life high is a big motivator. Think about the things you love to do. Getting fit and staying that way means you’re more likely to be able to continue doing them.
*No money—All you have to do is get out and go for a 30-minute walk three times a week. A gym membership or an expensive trainer is not necessary.
*No place—You can walk anywhere, in a mall, in your house or back yard, march in place while watching TV.
*No fun—Saying you’re bored by your fitness program is just an excuse. Find a walking group, listen to music while you walk, dance in your living room.

Cooper says, “Fitness is a journey, not a destination. If you keep it up for the rest of your life, you’ll find that you can build muscle mass and improve your overall fitness at any age, even if you’ve never exercised before.”

*Start your fitness program at any age.
*Continue your program as you age.
*Adjust your program to meet your changing needs and interests.

Dr. Cooper’s latest book, written with his son, Tyler C. Cooper, M.D. MPH, is Start Strong, Finish Strong (Avery, Sept. 6, 2007).

For more information, take a look at www.cooperaerobics.com or click on the amazon.com icon on this page to find out more about his latest book.
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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

NEW LASER SEEMS LIKE SCI-FI, BUT IT’S HERE TODAY!

How would you like to have an energy beam directed on your body that could kill invasive microorganisms that were making you sick? No drugs or antibiotics, just pulses from an infrared laser? Sound like something out of Star Trek? Well maybe so, but we don’t have to wait for the future to reap the advantages, because the device, called the Femtosecond laser, is here now!

Physicists in Arizona State University have designed a revolutionary laser technique that can destroy viruses and bacteria without damaging human cells. The principle is based on the fact that human cells have differently structured protein coats from the invading cells. The Femtosecond laser pulses, through a process called Impulsive Stimulated Raman Scattering (ISRS), produce vibrations in the protein coat of the disease-producing organisms, something like the effect of a high-pitched noise shattering glass. This destroys the bacteria and viruses, leaving the body cells undamaged.

“Although it is not clear at the moment why there is a large difference in laser intensity for inactivation between human cells and microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, the research so far suggests that ISRS will be ready for use in disinfection and could provide treatments against some of the worst, often drug-resistant, bacterial and viral pathogens,” says Professor K.T. Tsen from Arizona State University.

Hospitals could be using the Femtosecond laser now to disinfect blood supply or other biomaterials and for the treatment of blood-borne diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis.

This information comes from Institute of Physics (2007, November 2). Revolutionary Laser Technique Destroys Viruses And Bacteria Without Damaging Human Cells. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071101084950.htm

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Institute of Physics.
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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

A SIMPLE WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM INFECTION

I guess by now most of you have heard media reports about MRSA (or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection being on the rise; some people still refer to it as a “staph infection.” About 10 to 15 years ago a strain emerged that has been dubbed community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). The organism is one that rapidly evolves, outwitting most antibiotics, (Vanomycin is one of the few left that is still effective against hospital strains).

About 30 percent of the population are carriers. That means healthy people harbor colonies of the staph bacteria on their skin and around their noses, yet suffer no ill effects. They can pass the germ on to others, however, who may not have as high an immunity level. Staph bacteria are usually harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound, and even then in healthy people they usually cause only minor infections. But in the population with compromised immune systems, such as older adults, those who are HIV positive, or people on various kinds of immuno-suppressants, MRSA or CA-MRSA can cause serious skin and soft tissue infections and a serious form of pneumonia. By the way, the combination of flu and pneumonia is the eighth-leading cause of death in the USA.

With cold and flu season rapidly approaching [colds and flus are caused by viruses, which lower our immunity and make us more vulnerable to staph and other infectious bacteria], one simple thing that many of us can do to protect ourselves and others is to frequently wash hands or disinfect them with alcohol gels. Studies have shown that despite the proven health benefits of hand washing, many people still don’t practice this habit, even after they use the toilet. You can pick up germs by touching anything that is accessed by the public at large, door handles, gasoline pumps, counter tops, pens, key pads on ATMs, etc.

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following as the proper method of hand washing with soap and water. By the way, you don’t need antibacterial soap; it’s been proven that it is no more effective than regular soap, and its use actually may lead to resistant strains as well.
*Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap [in my opinion liquid soap is safer]. Lather well.
*Rub your hands together vigorously for at lest 15 to 20 seconds. [I’ve found that singing the Happy Birthday song at a normal tempo is just about the right timing.]
*Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
*Rinse well.
*Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
*Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

Sometimes you may not have access to soap and water and that’s when alcohol-based sanitizers come in handy. They are also easier on skin than frequent washing because they contain softeners. Just make sure you’re using a sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Following is the proper technique for using sanitizers:
*Apply about ½ teaspoon to the palm of your hand.
*Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces including your wrists, until they’re dry.
*Teach your children to wait until the alcohol evaporates before they touch anything. (Little ones are often in a hurry.)

To help protect your children and the rest of your family from frequent infections, teach them to wash their hands often and set a good example for them by doing so yourself.

Always clean your hands:
*When they have any visible dirt
* When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations and restaurants
*After using the toilet
*After changing a diaper—wash the diaper-wearer’s hands, too
*Before and after touching a sick or injured person
*Before and after treating wounds or cuts
*After touching animals or animal waste
*Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
*Before eating
*After handling garbage
*After blowing your nose
*After coughing or sneezing into your hands
*Before inserting or removing contact lenses

For more information, click on www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-washing/HQ00407.

________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

HMMM, I SUSPECTED THIS CONNECTION ALL ALONG

It's always so nice when science finds proof of what I thought was just me being a slight hypochondriac. I used to think I was a little weird because I would start choking every time I used a spray cleaner. While I love what spray cleaners do, I am often hesitant to use them because they take my breath away. Now I find out I’m not unusual at all. Researchers at the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology at the Municipal Institute of Medical Research in Barcelona, Spain, have found that “frequent use of household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma.”

Air fresheners, and furniture and glass cleaners had a particularly strong effect. Researchers found that the risk of developing asthma increased with frequency of cleaning and number of different sprays used, but on average was about 30 to 50 percent higher in people regularly exposed to cleaning sprays. “Our findings are consistent with occupational epidemiological studies in which increased asthma risk was related to professional use of sprays among both domestic and non-domestic cleaning women,” says Jan-Paul Zock, Ph.D., who headed up the research. “This indicates a relevant contribution of spray use to the burden of asthma in adults who do the cleaning in their home.”

Two-thirds of the study participants who reported doing the bulk of the cleaning were women, about 6 percent of whom had developed asthma at follow-up. The clinical application is for physicians to be aware of the potential of cleaning products to cause respiratory symptoms and possibly asthma, according to Kenneth D. Rosenman, M.D., professor at Michigan State University.

“The relative risk rates of developing adult asthma in relation to exposure to cleaning products could account for as much as 15 percent of adult asthma cases,” says Zock.

The study is the first to investigate the effects of cleaning products on occasional users rather than occupational users and appeared in the second issue for October of the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The study included more than 3,500 subjects across 22 centers in 10 European countries. Subjects were assessed for current asthma, current wheeze, physician-diagnosed asthma and allergy at follow-up, which took place an average of nine years after their first assessment. They were asked to report the number of times per week they used cleaning products.

The study was not designed to find the biological mechanism behind the increase in asthma. “There is a need for researchers to conduct further studies to elucidate both the extent and mechanism of the respiratory toxicity associated with such products,” Zock says.

In the meantime, play it safe by using cleaners that don’t come in spray bottles, or if you must, wear a dust mask like the ones you find in hardware and drug stores. I know it looks a little extreme, but who cares if it helps to save your lungs?
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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.