LIFE LINES.Bananas for Your Bones Dietary calcium, vitamin D vitamin D Any of a group of fat-soluble alcohols important in calcium metabolism in animals to form strong bones and teeth and prevent rickets and osteoporosis. It is formed by ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) of sterols (see steroid) present in the skin. , and weight-bearing exercise are well-known contributors to strong bones. But a new study shows that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is another important lifestyle contributor to greater bone mass. Researchers tested more than 600 men and women and found that volunteers had greater bone mass as the amount of dietary potassium and magnesium they consumed increased. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of potassium. Bananas and orange juice are also rich in magnesium. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Clinical nutrition The use of diet and nutritional supplements as a way to enhance health prevent disease. Mentioned in: Naturopathic Medicine ) Pointers About Lasers Personal laser pointers may be the latest must-have gadget among teenagers, but they are definitely not toys. The light energy some of these pointers can deliver to the eye may be more damaging than staring directly into the sun. Even momentary exposure to the beam can cause temporary visual impairment Visual Impairment Definition Total blindness is the inability to tell light from dark, or the total inability to see. Visual impairment or low vision is a severe reduction in vision that cannot be corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses and similar to being blinded by a flash of light or oncoming car headlights. Never look directly into a laser pointer beam, don't allow children or irresponsible teens or adults to use a pointer, and never point a laser at another person. (American Optometric Association The American Optometric Association (AOA) represents optometrists nationally in the USA. It consists of State Optometric Associations, which are made up of local Optometric Societies. ) Keep Your Cool For the first time, a major population study has revealed a strong relationship between anger and stroke. Researchers found that strokes were twice as common among Finnish men who scored high on an anger scale compared with those who reported the lowest levels of anger. (Stroke/American Heart Association) Dress That Salad Oil- and fat-free aren't always the healthiest choices when it comes to salad dressings. After studying the diets of more than 76,000 women for more than 10 years, researchers found that women who ate oil-based salad dressings at least five times per week were about half as likely to die from heart disease as women who rarely consumed oil-based dressings. Alpha-linolenic acid--an omega-3 fatty acid omega-3 fatty acid n. Any of various polyunsaturated fatty acids that are found primarily in fish, fish oils, vegetable oils, and leafy green vegetables, and that seem to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. that has proven in other studies to lower risk of cardiovascular disease--is the key contributing component to the findings. Flaxseed flaxseed /flax·seed/ (flak´sed) linseed. , canola canola see brassicanapus. , and soybean oils are good sources. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) A Sweet Tooth You Don't Want Tell your dentist if you have diabetes, and use extra time to take special care of your teeth. Persons with poorly controlled diabetes can have higher glucose levels in their saliva. This can help bacteria thrive, resulting in more dental plaque dental plaque n. A film of mucus and bacteria on a tooth surface. Also called bacterial plaque. and an increase in cavities and gum disease gum disease Dentistry Gingival disease, often in the form of gingivitis and bone loss 2º to toxins produced by bacteria in plaque accumulating along the gum line Clinical Early–painless bleeding; pain appears with advanced GD as bone loss around the . (UC Berkeley Wellness Letter) Dehydration a Year-round Risk No matter what the temperature is outside, dehydration is always a risk for senior citizens. "The ability to feel thirst declines with age, while the need for fluid remains constant," says Bernadette Latson, a registered dietitian registered dietitian, n See dietitian, registered. and instructor at Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School. "Drinking six to eight glasses of water or other non caffeinated beverages a day should be a priority." Dehydration results in weakness, exhaustion, and delirium delirium Condition of disorientation, confused thinking, and rapid alternation between mental states. The patient is restless, cannot concentrate, and undergoes emotional changes (e.g., anxiety, apathy, euphoria), sometimes with hallucinations. . At any age, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already behind in your water consumption. (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) Workout for Your Mind Exercise is an effective but underused remedy for mild to moderate depression. Nonaerobic exercises such as strength training are as effective as aerobic exercises when dealing with depression. And regular exercise has proven more effective than placebo pills in reducing anxiety in people. (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice) RELATED ARTICLE: Tastes Great! Less Salty! More than three quarters of dietary salt comes from processed foods, and bread is the single largest source. And while you may want to cut down on salt to help keep blood pressure in check, what about low-salt bread's taste? Well, a group of 60 people found no difference in taste when rating standard whole-grain bread and two reduced-salt versions. So compare labels and try breads with lower sodium contents. Your palate shouldn't be disappointed! (Lancet) |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion