Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.
Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can't, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.
You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.
A Hodgepodge of Muffins, All Gluten-Free
So I put together my own gluten-free flour mix, one without bean flour, and turned to America's favorite Gluten-Free Girl, Shauna James Ahem for guidance. I was already thinking about making muffins and I wanted a mix that could replace the whole wheat flour I usually use in conjunction with other grains or flours. Her formula for a whole-grain flour mix is simple - 70 percent ground gluten-free grain like rice flour, millet flour, buckwheat flour or teff (the list on her site is a long one) and 30 percent starch like potato starch, cornstarch or arrowroot. For this week's recipes, I used what I had, which was brown rice flour, potato starch and cornstarch - 20 percent potato starch and 10 percent cornstarch -- and that's the basis for the nutritional analyses of this week's recipes. I used this mix in conjunction with a gluten-free meal or flour, so the amount of pure starch in the batters is much less than 30 percent.
When you bake anything it is much simpler and results are more consistent if you use grams and scale your ingredients. This is especially true with gluten-free baking, since you are working with grain and starch formulas. Digital scales are not expensive and I urge you to switch over to this method if you like to bake. I have given approximate cup measures so the recipes will work both ways, but scaling is more accurate.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Muffins
These dark chocolate muffins taste more extravagant than they are.
Gluten-Free Cornmeal, Fig and Orange Muffins
A sweet and grainy cornmeal mixture makes for a delicious muffin.
Gluten-Free Whole Grain Cheese and Mustard Muffins
A savory muffin with a delicious strong flavor.
Gluten-Free Buckwheat, Poppy Seed and Blueberry Muffins
The buckwheat flour is high-fiber and makes a dark, richly-flavored muffin.
Gluten-Free Cornmeal Molasses Muffins
Strong molasses provides a good source of iron in an easy-to-make muffin.
General Medicine/Family Medical
'Coming Out' Can Bring Health Benefits, Study Says
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Being open about their sexual orientation offers health benefits for lesbians, gays and bisexuals, according to a new study.
"Coming out is no longer a matter of popular debate but a matter of public health," said study lead author Robert-Paul Juster, of the Centre for Studies on Human Stress at the University of Montreal's Louis H. Lafontaine Hospital.
He and his colleagues looked at 87 men and women, about age 25, who had different sexual orientations (gay, lesbian, bisexual or heterosexual) and found that lesbians, gays and bisexuals who were out to others had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression and burnout.
Some Antidepressants Tied to Irregular Heartbeat
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- People taking certain antidepressants, including Celexa and Lexapro, may have a slightly increased risk of developing an abnormal heart beat.
Researchers say the drugs, which are in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may extend the length of electrical activity in the heart, called a QT interval. A long QT interval is an indicator of abnormal heart rhythms.
"For people who are taking higher doses of citalopram (Celexa) or escitalopram (Lexapro), they should discuss these doses with their doctors," said lead researcher Dr. Roy Perlis, director of the Center for Experimental Drugs and Diagnostics in the psychiatry department at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
Get Married, Cut Heart Attack Risk?
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Marriage appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks for both men and women, according to researchers in Finland.
Other studies have shown that being single or living alone increases the risk for developing and dying from heart disease. Many of these studies, however, were only among men, the researchers said, while this new study includes both sexes.
"Our study suggests that marriage reduces the risk of acute coronary events and death due to acute coronary events in both men and women and at all ages," said lead researcher Dr. Aino Lammintausta, of Turku University Hospital.
Which Cancer Tests Do You Really Need?
by Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health News
Feb. 1, 2013 -- Not all cancer screening tests are helpful, and some are potentially harmful, according to a new Consumer Reports rating.
In the new report, Consumer Reports recommends only three of 11 common cancer screening tests, and then only for certain age groups.
Screenings for cervical, colon, and breast cancer are recommended.
Screenings for cancers affecting the bladder, lungs, skin, mouth, prostate, ovaries, pancreas, and testicles are not.
"The science of prevention and screening has changed," says John Santa, MD, MPH, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. He oversaw the project.
Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines
FDA Panel Wants More Restrictions on Hydrocodone
by Fran Lowry, Medscape Medical News
an. 28, 2013 -- It may become more difficult to get prescriptions for drugs containing hydrocodone combined with other pain relievers.
An FDA panel voted 17 to 10 in favor of reclassifying hydrocodone-containing compounds, such as Vicodin, from Schedule III drugs under the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule II, which means it would be considered to have an even greater potential for abuse.
The drug is also found in prescription drugs Norco and Lortab.
The panel heard testimony for and against the move over two days. Those in favor emphasized hydrocodone's potential for addiction and abuse, and those against warned that millions of legitimate pain patients would suffer if it becomes more difficult to obtain.
Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters
Study: People Emit Flu Germs Up to 6 Feet Away
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- People suffering from the flu can give off small virus particles into the air at greater distances than previously thought, putting the health care workers who treat these patients at increased risk for getting the virus themselves, researchers report.
The investigators, from Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina, suggest that more studies are needed on how the flu is spread. Infection-control guidelines for health care providers may also need to be updated to help these workers protect their health.
The study was published in the current edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Women's Health
CDC to Pregnant Women: Get Whooping Cough Vaccine
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics have released new vaccine guidelines for 2013.
One change is a recommendation for women to receive a dose of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine with each pregnancy. Another is the suggestion that mild egg allergy need no longer prevent people from getting the flu vaccine under certain circumstances.
The guidelines also clarify the use of the pneumococcal vaccine -- which protects against sometimes life-threatening meningitis, pneumonia and blood infections -- in certain vulnerable populations.
Men's Health
Erectile Dysfunction May Signal Heart Disease
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors should look more closely at the overall health of impotent men, a large new study suggests.
Men with even mild erectile dysfunction -- but no known heart problems -- face a major extra risk of developing cardiovascular conditions in the future. And as erectile dysfunction becomes more pronounced, signs of hidden heart disease and earlier death risk grow.
Not surprisingly, men already known to have a heart condition along with severe erectile dysfunction fare worst of all, the Australian researchers found.
For Husbands, Does More Housework Mean Less Sex?
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) -- If you're one of those husbands who thinks taking over some of your wife's household chores will translate into having sex more often, maybe you should think again.
A new study suggests the opposite may be true.
Married men who spend more time doing what many consider traditionally feminine household tasks -- such as grocery shopping, cleaning and cooking -- reported having less frequent sex than do husbands who stick to more traditionally masculine jobs, like gardening or home repair.
When it comes to chores, equality between the sexes doesn't necessarily turn on either the man or the woman, said study author Julie Brines, an associate professor in the department of sociology at the University of Washington, in Seattle.
Pediatric Health
High BP in Kids May Be Less Common Than Thought
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The number of U.S. kids with full-blown high blood pressure could be lower than previously thought, if new research findings are on the mark.
In a study of nearly 200,000 children aged 3 to 17 years, researchers found that only 0.3 percent met the standard for high blood pressure -- elevated readings at three consecutive doctor visits.
That stands in contrast to past studies, which have suggested that anywhere from 0.8 to 4.5 percent of American kids have high blood pressure.
But experts say the "correct" rate among U.S. kids is still unknown. And even if blood pressure is lower than earlier estimates, children should still have their blood pressure measured at routine checkups, said Dr. Stephen Daniels, an expert in pediatric high blood pressure who was not involved in the new study.
Non-Drug ADHD Treatments Don't Pan Out in Study
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Many parents pursue costly and time-consuming treatments to help their children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Now, a new study finds little evidence that non-drug interventions reduce key symptoms of ADHD.
A multinational team of experts identified no positive effects from psychological treatments including mind exercises (cognitive training), neurofeedback and behavioral training (positive reinforcement). And the researchers discovered only small benefits associated with dietary treatments: supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 free fatty acids, and elimination of artificial food coloring.
Still, parents shouldn't be discouraged, said study co-author Dr. Emily Simonoff.
Energy Drinks Pose Risks to Teens, Study Finds
by Randy Dotinga, HealthDay Reporter
Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- A new report warns that popular energy drinks such as Red Bull and Rockstar pose potential hazards to teens, especially when mixed with alcohol.
The report, published in the February issue of the journal Pediatrics in Review, summarizes existing research and concludes that the caffeine-laden beverages can cause rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, obesity and other medical problems in teens. Combined with alcohol, the potential harms can be severe, the authors noted.
Aging
Some Parkinson's Patients Discover Artistic Side
WebMD News from HealthDay
Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Some people with Parkinson's disease discover untapped artistic abilities after their diagnosis -- a phenomenon that seems to be related to their dopamine-enhancing medication.
Over the years, reports have popped up in the medical literature on Parkinson's patients who suddenly discover they are painters, sculptors or writers at heart.
Dan Joseph is one of them. After being diagnosed with the movement disorder a dozen years ago, the former doctor eventually took up painting. But it wasn't because he planned on becoming an artist.
"A friend of mine said, 'You're not doing anything. Why don't you paint?'" said Joseph, a 79-year-old Santa Barbara, Calif., resident.
Mental Health
Heart Problems Tied to Early Signs of Dementia
by Brenda Goodman, MA, WebMD Health News
Jan. 29, 2013 -- Older women with heart problems may be at greater risk for mental changes that are thought to signal the beginnings of a type of dementia, a new study shows.
Called vascular dementia, it is a type of mental decline that's thought to be caused by problems in blood flow to the brain. It is believed to be different from the loss of memory and function that happens in Alzheimer's disease, which is linked to the buildup of proteins in the brain.
The study, which is published in the journal JAMA Neurology, followed 1,450 men and women in the Rochester, Minn., area. At the start of the study, all participants, who were in their 70s and 80s, were free of memory loss or thinking difficulties. Researchers gave them tests to measure brain function every 15 months.
Nutrition/Diet/Fitness
What Food Made You Sick?
by Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health New
Jan. 29, 2013 -- Every year, about 48 million Americans -- 1 in 6 -- get a food-borne illness.
Often, the culprit food is a mystery.
Now, a new CDC report based on a decade of data offers the first comprehensive estimates of which foods are to blame.
Produce accounts for nearly half of the illnesses, and the norovirus is often to blame. Norovirus causes about 20 million cases of "stomach flu" each year. A new strain is going around the U.S.
Poultry is the food source with the most fatal infections. Salmonella and listeria are the common germs causing these infections.
"There is food-borne illness caused by a wide variety of foods," says researcher John Painter, DVM, an epidemiologist at the CDC.
Carrots, Spinach Linked to Lower Lou Gehrig's Risk
by Pauline Anderson, Medscape Medical News
Jan. 29, 2013 -- Eating brightly colored fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants may help prevent the muscle-wasting disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a new study.
"Our findings suggest that [eating] carotenoid-rich foods could help prevent or delay the onset of [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)]," says researcher Kathryn C. Fitzgerald, a doctoral student in the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
This research shows the carotenoids beta-carotene and lutein offered the most benefit. Beta-carotene can be found in carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes. Lutein is in dark green vegetables such as spinach and kale.
Vegetarian Diet May Cut Heart Disease Risk
by Peter Russell, WebMD Health News
Jan. 31, 2013 -- The risk of hospitalization or death from heart disease is almost a third lower in vegetarians than in people who eat meat and fish, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Oxford in England say the health benefits of not eating meat likely stem from having lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
But heart experts caution that following a vegetarian diet is unlikely to be enough to prevent heart disease.
Smaller Snack Portions Just as Satisfying
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter
Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a smaller portion of chocolate and other snack foods will satisfy you just as much as a larger portion, according to a new study.
The study included more than 100 adults who were given small and large portions of the same snack. Those who ate large portions consumed 77 percent more calories than those who ate small portions.
Both groups, however, reported significantly lower snack cravings 15 minutes after eating, according to the study, which was published in the January issue of the journal Food, Quality and Preference.
Weight Loss & Obesity: 7 Myths & 9 Facts
by Miriam E. Tucker, Medscape Medical News
Feb. 1, 2012 -- We know we don't have a "magic bullet" yet when it comes to weight loss, but at least we can count on some old standbys -- like eating a little less each day adds up over time, breastfeeding means lean children, and when all else fails, sex can burn the cheesecake off. Right?
Not so fast.
An article published online in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that some of the most firmly held beliefs about weight loss are unproven or downright untrue, based on analysis comparing what we hear in the popular media to what we actually know from reliable research.