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POPSScary Sushi This is a frightening find by The New York Times. While most people concerned about mercury levels in food have been focused on avoiding canned tuna, virtually nothing has been said about the raw kind. I'll be thinking twice before I make my next sushi order.
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POPSCancer Survivors=Couch Potatoes? What does it take to get people to adopt healthy lifestyles? According to this HealthDay article, surviving cancer is not the wake up call you might think. While research has shown that eating well, exercising and generally watching your weight can prevent the recurrence of cancer, a new study to be published in the journal, Cancer, found that less than a quarter of cancer survivors are regularly physically active. I don't know about you but I'm consistently amazed at how much people dislike exercise/physical activity... These people have faced life-threatening illnesses and most of them still don't want to get up off of the couch.
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POPSThe New Side Effect Of Watching TV Researchers at Boston University's School of Public Health have determined that the dust on our TVs is the largest source of chemical flame retardants, traces of which are found in most Americans. Scientists are concerned about the synthetic chemical because it's been shown to harm the nervous system and alter the hormones and development of reproductive organs of animals. The most common type has also been linked to cancer in lab rats. While it's always a leap to apply findings from animal studies to humans, this is an interesting finding and one most people probably never considered. If it's got you worried, researchers suggest frequently washing your hands and dusting your house to combat the problem. If you're tempted to get rid of your TV, consider that the move will likely lead to environmental contamination and that flame retardants can travel lengthy distances in the air and water.
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POPSInconsistent Exercise Will Weigh On You Some slightly depressing news from the American College of Sports Medicine. A new study published in the organization's scientific journal says that the weight you gain due to inconsistent exercise can't be lost simply by getting back into your old routine. To take off the pounds, it turns out, you'll have to workout a lot more. Just another reason to stick to those new year's resolutions.
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POPSThe Upside to Rising Food Prices It turns out there may just be an upside to the rising cost of food, according to this NYTimes articles. Not only do higher prices have the potential to make people realize fast food isn't such a bargain -- but they also could help turn the public onto organic and locally grown foods. These items apparently aren't experiencing the same kinds of price hikes. I guess if you're standing in the grocery store staring at three types of milk and they're all expensive, buying the organic, DHA-fortified variety won't feel like such a splurge.
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POPSQuick To Temper, Slow To Heal A fascinating study from Ohio State University shows that people who have trouble controlling their tempers may be slower to heal from injuries due to interference from the stress hormone cortisol. Hotheads, it turns out, were four times as likely as others to take more than four days to heal small blisters on their forearms. Makes you wonder what else stress is doing to hinder our bodies' recovery from daily wear and tear.
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POPSCarbs Are Back, Again Just when you thought that the craze over carbs was over, the LA Tiimes is reporting that the food industry may have found a new angle to dwell on: the health benefits of carbs with 'resistant starches'. Found in navy beans, green bananas and whole-grain breads, these starches contribute to the production of fatty acids and colon health. They may also help lower cholesterol levels and aid in weight loss. The only problem is you may have to eat a lot of these foods to get the health benefits. Pass the bread!
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POPSIn Sickness And In Health This is how you know the country is really facing a health-care crisis. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey is showing that 7% of Americans have themselves or know someone who has gotten married in the last year to get health insurance. I know that health insurance obviously can play a big role in whether people leave or keep their jobs but I had no idea that benefits were affecting major life decisions, like when to get married. Hopefully these insurance carriers also cover the cost of marital counseling.
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POPSAnother Shot in the Arm for Vaccines Another study, just published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, has shown that the MMR vaccine doesn't raise the risk of developing autism. The study, the largest to examine a possible link between the two, should provide some relief to worried parents, myself included. (My little girl gets another round of shots on Thursday.) But until someone comes up with a definitive reason to explain the rise in reported cases of autism over the past decade, I'm sure vaccines will still be a source of concern for lots of moms and dads.
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POPSSick At The Gym? We'd all probably prefer if gym goers feeling under the weather kept themselves and their germs far from the treadmill and shared yoga mats. The sniffly and sick, however, often can't stay away. But are they doing more harm to their bodies than good? This Cox News Service article, written by a certified trainer, says if you have a fever, symptoms below the neck or a hacking cough, exercise could further stress your immune system. If the trainer says to skip a workout, you've got a pretty good excuse for staying home.
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POPSYour Energy Expenditure... The EPA wants to know why you are or aren't biking to work on its blog. It's a decent question. Personally, I'm terrible on a bike and probably wouldn't make it to work in one piece- not to mention I'd be a sweaty mess. But it would be a great way to fit in a workout without taking extra time away from my family and would relieve me of the stress of running to catch the latest possible subway train. Plus, I could stop worrying about fare hikes. But, unfortunately, I don't see myself making the change any time soon. What's your excuse? http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2008/05/12/qotwbikingtowork/
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POPSWhat Fish Are You Really Eating? Detective work by two sushi-loving high school students has shown that New York sushi restaurants and seafood markets are mislabeling their products - often selling cheaper species as more expensive varieties. The duo used a simplified genetic fingerprinting technique to look at the fish DNA and uncover the truth. The study was small, involving just 60 samples, but it's likely that these few restaurants and grocery stores aren't the only ones in on the game. Considering how many people are turning to fish these days for its health benefits, and the fact that those can vary from species to species, this should raise concern.
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POPSHeart-Rate-Zone Training: Off Target? The editor of strengthcoach.com says target-heart-rate zone training isn't all it's cracked up to be because the formula used to calculate the zone won't be accurate for people with unusually fast or slow heart rates. This type of training could actually end up pushing people with unusually low maximum heart rates too hard, he says. It makes sense to me that the formula won't work for everyone, but I'm surprised at how few people it reportedly does apply to. Anyone have a good or bad experience with this type of training?
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POPSPresidential Strokes Interesting factoid: Almost a quarter of the nation's presidents suffered strokes, according to Loyola University Hospital neurologist Dr. Jose Biller. It makes a lot of sense considering that strokes are more common in men and, according to the American Heart Association, your chances of having a stroke doubles for every decade of life beyond age 55. A poor diet and physical inactivity can also play roles. Check out my article examining the negative health effects of running for president, too: http://www.forbes.com/health/2008/02/25/health-hazardous-campaign-forbeslife-cx_avd_0225prezhealth.html
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POPSHooray for Nasal Wash This is great news for parents, coming on the heels of the FDA's recent advisory statement warning about the use of OTC cough and cold medicines for infants and toddlers. Sometimes less is more.
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POPSObesity Shocker Looks like we could soon see people using electrical implants to help stave off hunger and lose weight. With all of the other available obesity-fighting options - exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, weight-loss drugs, gastric bypass - I wonder whom this one will attract.
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POPSSynthetic Turf Declared Safe for Play The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has given the green light for children to play on synthetic athletic fields after evaluating the risks of potential lead exposure. The group noted that while lead was detected on some older fields - confirming parents' fears - it didn't reach levels that would cause harm to kids. But take note: CPSC still recommends that children wash their hands after playing outside, especially before eating. Just in case.
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POPSSugary Breakfasts Boost Boy Births I thought the idea that you could do anything to influence the sex of your child was just a myth. But AFP is reporting on a study today that shows women on low-energy diets are more likely to give birth to girls. Want a boy? Eat at least one bowl of breakfast cereal a week, as well as a wide range of nutrients, according to researchers from the University of Exeter in Britain. I'm very curious about just how big a role diet can play here. Anybody have any anecdotal evidence that supports or shoots down this theory? Do you think women will really start eating more cereal just to up their odds of having a boy?
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POPSNo, Not Fat-Free, BPA-Free It's been a day since the US Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program released a draft evaluation of bisphenol A, acknowledging that the chemical may pose a health threat to infants and children. And as the NY Times reported yesterday, the Canadian government is likely about to declare the chemical, commonly used in plastic baby bottles and cans (food and soda), toxic. Not surprisingly, I'm already getting pitches about BPA-free products, which are sure to see a boost in sales in the coming months. As a new mom and a health reporter, I became aware about many researchers' concerns about BPA last year while working on a story. I have to admit that it frightened me. Whatever the truth is about how big a threat BPA poses, I'm guessing few parents want to risk their babies' health while waiting for further study results. These days, a BPA-free label means a whole lot more to me than most nutrition labels.
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POPSEyeing A Recession The latest way to tell we're in a recession, according to the NYTimes article, is a drop in the number of Lasik eye surgeries being performed. Apparently the surgery's stats also took a dip during the last recession. With the procedure still costing up to $3,000 an eye, it's easy to see why people might back off during tough economic times. Interestingly, though, the ASPS recently reported that the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2007 was up 7% over 2006. Why would people still want a face lift but not Lasik?
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POPSWho's The Daddy? Ever thought your child looks a little too much like the mailman? Confirming your child's paternity is now as easy as taking a trip to your local Rite Aid - and, according to this Philly Inquirer article, they've been flying off the shelves. To use the kit customers have to scrape cells from the cheek of the child, mother and father in question and send it to a lab for analysis, which takes about a week. I was surprised to find out last year just how many different kinds of home-use health tests are available today. You can check everything from the alcohol content in your breast milk to whether you might have colon cancer. Check out the piece I wrote on the topic last year: http://www.forbes.com/health/2007/05/11/health-home-test-forbeslife-cx_avd_0514health.html
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POPSThe Tattoo Health Review It's hard to believe but apparently the FDA has never studied tattoo ink, how it breaks down in the body and whether the skin designs pose a health threat. The Newhouse News Service reports that the agency has just launched its first study, which could lead to regulations aimed at protecting consumers. Better late than never.
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POPSDiscrimination In The Bedroom Yet another study has proven what most of us probably guessed - putting on weight is bad for your sex life. If you want to have a good Valentine's Day, consider sneaking in an extra workout or two and eating light this week...
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POPSHeart Healthiest Places To Live... The American Heart Association says Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco are the three most heart healthy U.S. metros for women. Down at the bottom of the list are Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis and Detroit. The comprehensive ranking took into account 22 different factors that affect women's heart health, ranging from exercise to high blood pressure. So what does this mean for you? In terms of trends, the list shows that if you're a woman living in the South or Midwest you may have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. The experts say the problem in these regions is due to all too many fast-food joints, a tendency to drive rather than walk and high smoking rates. Do you live in one of these cities? What do you think - is this an accurate description? Are you particularly worried about heart disease?
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POPSChocolate Yoga Anyone? Apparently an Arizona-based spa is now offering a yoga class that involves chocolate tasting. The idea is that yoga can heighten the senses and affect your chocolate-eating experience. Part of me thinks, if it gets more people to try yoga, why not? The other part, however, thinks, come on. What's next, wine on the treadmill?
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POPSWhat Recession? Despite all of the financial gloom and doom, the average American still had some money to spend on plastic surgery in 2007, according to a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In total, the ASPS says almost 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, although the highest demand coming for less invasive, hence less expensive, procedures. People may be worried about a recession but this data suggest you might not be able to tell just by looking at them.
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POPSA Better Dollar Menu? The debate continues about whether caffeine is good or bad - see this week's new studies reporting that it may lower a woman's risk of ovarian cancer and double her risk of miscarriage. Either way, it looks like Starbucks plans on making it harder to resist the drug by potentially offering it for $1. It's still better than a cheeseburger, I guess.
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POPSThe Winter Health Threat The studies on the importance of vitamin D - the sunshine vitamin - just keep coming. This Seattle Times article highlights, among others, a recent study of 1,700 Boston-area residents, which showed that the rates of heart attack, stroke and heart failure were about 50 percent higher in those with low levels of vitamin D. But are you convinced that it's time to start taking a vitamin D supplement?
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POPSThe 'Healthy' Office Of The Future In recent years companies have been putting a lot of time, effort and money into encouraging their employees to get fit and, more important, cut health care costs. But does the next step include a re-engineering of the typical office? It could happen sooner than you think. Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, is reporting that after six months, 18 employees in an office with walking tracks, desks attached to treadmills and games lost 156 pounds - an average of eight pounds each. Perhaps even more interesting - despite the lack of traditional desks and seating - no productivity was lost and revenue, in fact, rose.
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POPSWhen $1 Million Isn't Enough This is one of those issues people don't tend to spend much time thinking about until they find themselves or a loved one in need of an organ transplant or costly treatment. But it needs more attention. Given how much even a routine hospital stay can total, it's easy to see that patients fighting serious conditions will quickly blow their $1 million insurance lifetime benefits caps. Are the caps too low, though, or are treatment costs too high?
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