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.
Not Your Grandmother's Gratin
A vegetable gratin is a casserole that is baked in the oven in a heavy baking dish until the top and sides are browned, or gratinéed. Roasting vegetables for a gratin adds another level of caramelized flavor to the dish. Roasted winter squash is particularly sweet. Roasting cauliflower coaxes flavor out of this somewhat bland vegetable: the small flowers brown and crisp, and I was hard pressed to save enough for my gratin, so tempting a snack were they. I begin just about any eggplant dish I make by roasting the eggplant, as this method of cooking requires much less oil than frying.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
Potato and Sorrel Gratin
A gratin that is not a typical creamy sliced potato gratin but more like a potato pie.
Roasted Squash and Red Onion Gratin With Quinoa
Roasting the squash results in a sweet layer of flavor in this beautiful gratin.
Fennel, Kale and Rice Gratin
Two different greens provide contrast in this casserole.
Roasted Cauliflower Gratin With Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
A beautiful, light gratin with Middle Eastern spices.
Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper Gratin
A Mediterranean gratin seasoned with cumin and thyme.
Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines
Want to Stay Healthy? Try Washing Your Hands
By Serena Gordon, HealthDay
Dirty digits are the fastest way to communicate infectious germs, experts say
Jan. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Like "Turn out the lights" and "Don't slam the door," being told to "Wash your hands" is one of those universal instructions children hear every day.
But it's more than that.
Hand washing has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to stay healthy.
Why the fuss? Because after you've touched something contaminated with viruses or bacteria, your hands give germs a free ride into your body through your eyes, nose or mouth, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pepsi One and Potential Cancer-Causing Chemical
Jan. 24, 2014 -- Pepsi One has higher levels of a potential cancer-causing chemical than other soft drinks, according to a study released Thursday by Consumer Reports magazine.
Researchers looked at levels of a chemical called 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI), which is found in artificial caramel coloring used in soft drinks. There are no federal limits on the chemical's use, but California requires warning labels on foods or beverages that expose consumers to more than 29 micrograms of 4-MeI a day, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Consumer Reports study said that 12-ounce cans of the low-calorie soft drink Pepsi One bought in California contained as much as 43.5 micrograms of 4-MeI, and that a nonalcoholic malt beverage called Malta Goya had as much as 352.5 micrograms of the chemical, the Times reported.
States Consider Labels for Genetically Modified Foods
Jan. 24, 2014 -- A number of states are considering laws requiring labels on food products that contain genetically modified ingredients. The states are weighing such action because there is no federal regulation.
Currently, only Connecticut and Maine have such laws, but they won't take effect until other states implement their own rules. Bills to require labels on genetically modified foods are expected in more than two dozen states, the Associated Press reported.
One of those states is Rhode Island.
Synthetic Pot Tied to Surge of Emergency Cases
By Brenda Goodman, HealthDay
Colorado patients were delirious, combative, had seizures and breathing problems
Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors in Colorado are sounding an alarm about the dangers of synthetic marijuana after seeing a surge of emergency cases tied to its use.
The products, sold under names like Black Mamba, Crazy Clown, K2 and Spice, sent at least 263 people for emergency treatment statewide over a one-month period last year.
General Medicine/Family Medical
Vitamin D Supplements Don't Help Your Health: Review
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Except in people with a vitamin deficiency, supplements may cause harm, doctor says
Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's little evidence that vitamin D supplements offer substantial health benefits, and several ongoing studies are unlikely to change that, according to a large new review.
Vitamin D supplements are taken by nearly half of American adults, according to the researchers.
The review authors analyzed the findings of 40 studies and determined that taking vitamin D supplements does not reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, cancer or bone fractures in the general population by more than 15 percent.
Fish Oil Might Guard Against Loss of Brain Cells
By Mary Brophy Marcus, HealthDay
Study found women who ate the most omega-3s had greater brain volume
Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The more you consume the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils, the less likely you are to lose as many precious brain cells as you age, a new study suggests.
More research is needed, however, to understand both why this happens and how much of the nutrient brings about the most benefit, the researchers said.
"Our findings support the idea that a higher omega-3 status from fish or supplements is good for brain health," said study author James Pottala, an assistant professor in the department of internal medicine at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine.
Texting While Walking a Dangerous Combo: Study
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Pedestrians who did both had poorer balance, were less able to walk in straight line, researchers say
Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's more evidence that texting while walking can be risky business.
Researchers found that doing both at the same time affects posture and balance, causing people to swerve and walk slower, according to the findings published Jan. 22 in the journal PLoS One.
Blood Test Might Help Spot Pancreatic Cancer Early
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Danish researchers say findings are preliminary, test produces a lot of false positive results
Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new blood test might one day help doctors spot pancreatic cancer in its early stages, Danish scientists report.
The researchers said their testing is still too preliminary to be certain it can accurately diagnose pancreatic cancer in patients whose chances of survival are higher.
There currently is no screening test for pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. It is typically diagnosed at a late stage, making treatment problematic and the prognosis poor.
Sleep During the Day May Throw Genes Into Disarray
By Brenda Goodman, HealthDay
Study might explain why health problems are more common among night workers
Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Sleeping during the day -- a necessity for jet-lagged travelers and those who work overnight shifts -- disrupts the rhythms of about one-third of your genes, a new study suggests.
What's more, shifted sleep appears to disrupt gene activity even more than not getting enough sleep, according to the research.
For the new study, which was published in this week's issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, British researchers put 22 healthy, young volunteers in a dimly lit sleep lab for three days.
Vitamin D May Slow Multiple Sclerosis: Study
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But whether MS patients should take supplements is subject of debate
Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and also reduce harmful brain activity, a new study suggests.
Correcting vitamin D deficiency early in the course of the disease is important, according to the report, published online Jan. 20 in JAMA Neurology.
But some experts say it's too soon to recommend giving vitamin D supplements to people with the central nervous system disorder.
Sunlight Might Be Good for Your Blood Pressure
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Researchers figure out why, suggest not getting enough might raise risk for heart disease
Jan. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Sunlight is known to lower blood pressure, but now a team of British researchers has figured out why.
What they found is that nitric oxide stored in the top layers of the skin reacts to sunlight and causes blood vessels to widen as the oxide moves into the bloodstream. That, in turn, lowers blood pressure.
"This is an unexpected finding, in that the skin has not been considered to be involved in blood pressure regulation," said lead researcher Martin Feelisch, a professor of experimental medicine and integrative biology at the University of Southampton.
Women's Health
First Trimester Appears Crucial for Baby's Heart Health
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study finds slow fetal development linked to later cardiovascular problems
Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Children who were small during the early stages of fetal development may be at increased risk for heart problems, a new study indicates.
The findings suggest that the first three months of pregnancy may be a crucial period for heart health later in life, the Dutch researchers said. They noted that the first trimester includes a period of rapid development when the heart and other major organs begin to form.
First-Time Cesarean Rates Dipped in 2012: CDC
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But doctor says the surgical births are still too commonplace
Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Efforts to curb cesarean birth rates in the United States might be working, with health officials reporting a 2 percent decline in the number of first-time surgical deliveries between 2009 and 2012.
Cesarean delivery rates in 19 states reporting to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention averaged 21.9 percent in 2012, the CDC said in a report released Thursday. This represented a return to the rate last recorded for those states in 2006.
Hormone Therapy & Joint Replacement in Women
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Those who took it after hip, knee replacement saw risk of second procedure drop by about 40 percent
an. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who start hormone replacement therapy after having had hip or knee replacement surgery may cut their risk of needing another procedure in the same joint by nearly 40 percent, a new study suggests.
About 2 percent of those who have a hip or knee replacement need another surgery within three years. Most of these additional procedures are needed because of a complication known as osteolysis, which happens when tiny pieces of the implant seep into the tissue around the implant, causing inflammation that destroys the bone around the implant, the British researchers explained.
Men's Health
Too Much Sitting and Heart Failure Risk for Men
By Mary Brophy Marcus, HealthDay
Study found even exercise did not compensate for sedentary behavior
Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older men who spend a lot of time sitting around are more likely to face heart failure down the road, a new study shows.
The research included more than 82,000 men between the ages of 45 and 69. Those who spent more time being sedentary outside of work hours, even if they exercised, had a higher risk for heart failure, reported the researchers from Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
Pediatric Health
New Autism-Diagnosis Rules
By Brenda Goodman, HealthDay
Study says stricter definition of the condition means fewer children will meet threshold
Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Stricter new criteria for autism may change how frequently the condition is diagnosed, a new study suggests.
The study estimates that if the new diagnostic guidelines had been in place in 2008, they would have lowered the prevalence of the disorder in a nationally representative database to one in 100 children.
The most recent estimate of autism prevalence from this database, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is one in 88 children with the diagnosis.
Concussions in Middle School Girls Playing Soccer
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Many continue to play through symptoms, increasing risk of second injury, experts say
Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Girls who play soccer in middle school are vulnerable to concussions, new research shows.
And despite medical advice to the contrary, many play through their injury, increasing the risk of a second concussion, the study found.
Although awareness has increased about sports concussions, little research has been done on middle school athletes, especially girls, noted study co-author Dr. Melissa Schiff, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle.
Mental Health
Zest for Life Can Be a Moving Experience
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Happier seniors preserved their mobility in greater numbers than their glum peers, study found
Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Happier seniors can look forward to greater mobility as they age than their gloomier peers, new research suggests.
The findings don't prove that happiness preserves mobility. However, "the research suggests that enjoyment of life contributes to healthier and more active old age," said study author Andrew Steptoe, director of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care at University College London. And it's not just because healthier people are happier and more energetic, he said.
Nutrition/Diet/Fitness
This Diet May Lower Risk of Clogged Leg Arteries
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Study of older adults found reduced odds of peripheral artery disease when compared to low-fat diet
Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older adults who eat a Mediterranean diet may lower their risk of developing painful narrowing of the arteries in the legs, new research indicates.
The findings, published Jan. 22 in of Journal of the American Medical Association, come from what's thought to be the first clinical trial to test whether Mediterranean-style eating can ward off cardiovascular disease in people at increased risk.
Chocolate, Tea, Berries May Cut Diabetes Risk
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Substances found in some people's favorite foods appear to benefit blood sugar, inflammation levels
Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A diet that includes substances found in chocolate, tea and berries could help protect people against diabetes and other diseases, new research shows.
The study included nearly 2,000 healthy women in the United Kingdom who completed a food questionnaire and were tested for blood sugar (glucose) regulation, inflammation and insulin resistance.
"Our research looked at the benefits of eating certain sub-groups of flavanoids. We focused on flavones, which are found in herbs and vegetables such as parsley, thyme and celery, and anthocyanins, found in berries, red grapes, wine and other red or blue-colored fruits and vegetables," study leader Aedin Cassidy, of the University of East Anglia in England, said in a university news release.
Could Turning Down the Thermostat Help You Lose Weight?
By Mary Brophy Marcus, HealthDay
Early research suggests slightly cooler temperatures mean more calories burned per day
Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Could your warm and cozy home be hindering your weight-loss efforts?
Dutch researchers say keeping temperatures a little chillier at home and the office might be an additional weapon in the fight against obesity.
"What would it mean if we let our bodies work again to control body temperature?" said study author Dr. Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, an associate professor in the department of human biology at Maastricht University Medical Center.
In the new study, his team explored whether frequent exposure to mild cold temperatures would boost the body's energy expenditure. In other words, would peoples' metabolisms ratchet up a notch -- burning more calories -- if they lived on the cool side?
Quinoa May Be Safe Grain for People With Celiac Disease
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Small study found no ill effects from consumption, although longer-term studies are needed, experts say
Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The grain quinoa seems safe for people with celiac disease, a new British study suggests.
People with celiac disease have an immune response in the small intestine when they eat the protein gluten, which is found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Quinoa is often recommended as part of a gluten-free diet, but prior research in the laboratory had suggested that it might not be good for celiac disease patients.
No Proof That 'Blood-Type' Diets Work: Study
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Matching food choices to your blood type won't make you healthier, research suggests
Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The so-called "blood-type diet" may be trendy, but there's no scientific evidence to support it, a new study says.
The popular diet is based on the theory that a person's nutritional needs vary by blood type. Proponents of the diet claim that eating a diet matched to a person's specific blood type can improve health and reduce the risk of chronic health problems such as cardiovascular disease.