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 Better Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing for dipping makes almost any vegetable more appealing to children, but commercially prepared ranch dressings have nutritional drawbacks. So here's a salad dressing base made with yogurt and white beans that can be the foundation of a healthful ranch dressing as well as a few variants. {..]
I've been making spreads with white beans and yogurt forever, but I hadn't thought about thinning out the mixture for a salad dressing until Ms. (Lisa) Feldman presented 12 dressings using her base at the Culinary Institute of America's "Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids" conference last May in San Antonio. I've adapted several of Ms. Feldman's ideas for this week's Recipes for Health.
~Martha Rose Shulman~
Lisa Feldman's Yogurt and White Bean 'Ranch' Dressing
This dressing can be used as a dip for crudités, or on a crisp salad.
Yogurt and Bean Dressing With Cilantro and Lime
This is a pale speckled-green dressing, slightly zingy.
White Bean and Yogurt Green Goddess
Fresh tarragon is the key to the flavor of green goddess dressing.
Yogurt and Bean Dressing With Thai Flavors
Sriracha sauce, lately popular with chefs, adds spice and pungency to this dressing.
Bean and Yogurt Caesar Salad Dressing
Don't like a raw egg in your Caesar, but want it creamy? The bean and yogurt base is the solution.
Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines
Tick Exposure Can Occur in a Minute in These Areas
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Insect repellant, clothing and daily skin checks best defense against disease-carrying pests, expert says
June 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some areas in the United States have such high tick populations that you can be exposed to the dangerous pests within one minute, an expert warns.
"There are areas in this part of the country that the tick exposure can truly be massive. You can walk into areas and literally encounter dozens or hundreds of ticks," Michael Dryden, a tick expert and professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at Kansas State University, said in university news release.
Sprouted Chia Seeds and Clover Linked to Outbreaks
By WebMD News from HealthDay
June 13, 2014 -- Two outbreaks involving foods made from either sprouted chia seeds or clover have sickened more than 70 people in the United States and Canada, and more than 10 of them have been hospitalized.
A salmonella outbreak has been linked to a powder made from sprouted, ground chia seeds and another product made from sprouted chia and flax seeds, USA Today reported.
The chia products have been linked to 21 illnesses in 12 states and 34 infections in Canada.
Beef Products Recalled Over Mad Cow Concerns
By WebMD News from HealthDayBy WebMD News from HealthDay
June 13, 2014 -- More than 4,000 pounds of beef products are being recalled by a Missouri company due to the slight chance that they may expose people to mad cow disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.
The products were produced by Fruitland American Meat and distributed to restaurants in New York City and Kansas City, Mo., and a Whole Foods distribution in Connecticut, the Associated Press reported.
The beef products could contain parts of the cow's nervous system that can carry properties related to mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- BSE). There is no indication that the cattle used to make the beef products showed signs of the disease, the USDA said.
General Medicine/Family Medical
Can Weight-Loss Surgery Lower Cancer Risk for Some?
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Study found it might cut chances to levels of normal-weight people, but experts view finding with caution
June 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Weight-loss surgery may do more than lower the risk of heart problems and improve type 2 diabetes in obese patients: A new review suggests it may also lower their chances of a cancer diagnosis.
"Bariatric surgery is associated with reduced cancer risk in morbidly obese people [to that of normal-weight people]," the team of Brazilian researchers wrote. Their report was published recently in the journal Obesity Surgery. A morbidly obese person is roughly 100 pounds overweight, with a body-mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher.
Cancer experts in the United States who reviewed the findings were not completely convinced that surgery can reduce cancer risk to that of normal-weight people. But they agreed that obesity raises the risk of certain cancers.
Low Cholesterol Levels & Kidney Cancer Patients
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Study found it was associated with spread of disease, raised death risk
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low cholesterol levels may increase kidney cancer patients' risk of death, a new study suggests.
The findings indicate that cholesterol testing may help guide treatment for kidney cancer patients, the study authors said.
They analyzed cholesterol levels in 867 kidney cancer patients before they had surgery for their cancer and followed them for a median of 52 months after surgery. Low cholesterol levels before surgery were associated with more advanced cancer and greater cancer spread after surgery.
Blacks May Respond Better Than Whites to Metformin
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
In study, medicine seemed to do more to help black patients manage their blood sugar
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blacks with type 2 diabetes may fare better on the widely used drug metformin compared with whites, a new study finds.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 19,600 Americans who were prescribed metformin between 1997 and 2013. The team found that blacks had greater improvements in their blood sugar control than whites.
Study participants underwent at least two A1C blood tests at least four months apart while they took metformin. An A1C test measures a person's average blood sugar level over the previous three months.
Take Heartburn Medicines Before Breakfast
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
Too many patients unaware that timing is key to treatment, study finds
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many people with heartburn aren't taking their acid-reducing medicine at the right time, which makes the drugs less effective and wastes money, according to new research.
Only about one-third of those buying these medications -- such as Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec -- over-the-counter used them properly compared to just under half of those who were prescribed the drugs by their primary care doctor. Those who were given a prescription by a gastroenterologist were most likely to use the drugs as they're supposed to be used, with seven out of 10 taking the drugs properly, according to the study.June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many people with heartburn aren't taking their acid-reducing medicine at the right time, which makes the drugs less effective and wastes money, according to new research.
Only about one-third of those buying these medications -- such as Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec -- over-the-counter used them properly compared to just under half of those who were prescribed the drugs by their primary care doctor. Those who were given a prescription by a gastroenterologist were most likely to use the drugs as they're supposed to be used, with seven out of 10 taking the drugs properly, according to the study.
Tumor-Targeting Agent Attaches to Cancer Cells: Study
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
New molecule may lead to improvements in detection and treatment, researchers say
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new type of tumor-targeting agent may help detect and treat a wide variety of cancers, according to a new study.
This new agent -- dubbed the tumor-targeting alkylphosphocholine (APC) molecule -- can travel throughout the body, even crossing the normally difficult-to-penetrate blood-brain barrier, and stick to cancer cells throughout its journey, researchers say.
Because it attaches to cancer cells and not to healthy ones, it could potentially be used to mark cancer cells for imaging tests or be used to deliver radioactive medication directly to cancer cells.
Drug Shows Promise Against Psoriatic Arthritis
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
New medication improved skin condition, lessened swelling, study finds
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new drug called brodalumab appears to be effective in treating patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis, a study says.
Patients who responded to brodalumab had a significant improvement in their skin and reduction in the swelling of the fingers and toes, a condition called dactylitis that is common in psoriatic arthritis, according to the study's lead researcher, Dr. Philip Mease, a rheumatologist at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle.
Treating Sleep Apnea May Lower Heart Risks
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
For obese patients, weight loss is recommended, too, expert says
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Treating sleep apnea might lead to more than a better night's sleep. It can also reduce blood pressure and other threats to heart health, two new studies show.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which the airways constrict during sleep, leading to repeated stops and starts in breathing. The telltale signs include chronic loud snoring, with periodic gasps or choking -- and, for many people, daytime drowsiness because of poor sleep.
But the effects go beyond fatigue. Studies suggest those pauses in breathing stress the nervous system, boosting blood pressure and inflammation in the arteries.
What's more, people with sleep apnea appear to be at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Scientists Spot New Clues to a Deadly Lung Disease
By EJ Mundell, HealthDay
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis always fatal, but research points to possible cause, potential treatment
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists believe they've found a key biological player in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a uniformly fatal lung disease that kills thousands of Americans each year.
The finding may be another step forward for patients who have typically had a bleak prognosis. Last month, studies revealed that two new medications might offer some hope for the first effective treatment of IPF.
Without a lung transplant, IPF remains an incurable, progressive disease that causes tissue deep in the lungs to stiffen and scar. Seventy percent of patients die within five years.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Way Up for Type 2 Diabetes
Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Study questions value of insulin analogs, but U.S. diabetes expert says they're cost-effective
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Laboratory-engineered "insulin analogs" have become the main type of insulin prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes, significantly boosting their out-of-pocket costs, a new study reports.
Insulin use among those with type 2 diabetes increased by about 50 percent over a 10-year period, with most patients receiving pricey insulin analogs that have nearly doubled the amount of money they pay for their prescriptions, said study author Dr. Kasia Lipska, an instructor in medicine at Yale University School of Medicine.
U.S. Diabetes Cases Jump to 29 Million: CDCBy Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Nearly 1 in 10 people now face higher risks for various ills linked to the blood sugar disease, report finds
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans with diabetes rose from 26 million in 2010 to 29 million -- 9 percent of the population -- in 2012, a new federal government study finds.
One in every four people with diabetes does not even realize it, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Weight-Loss Surgery May Ease Type 2 Long-Term
New 15-year study says these procedures outperform regular care for obese patients
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research finds that weight-loss surgery is more helpful to obese patients with type 2 diabetes over the long term than regular care is.
"This important study demonstrates what many of us in weight-loss surgery have suspected for years: That for those who are suffering from diabetes and severe obesity, weight-loss surgery and a healthy lifestyle works better to control these diseases than medical care alone," said Dr James McGinty, chief of the division of minimally invasive and baratric surgery at Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospitals, in New York City. He was not involved in the new research.
Insulin-Metformin Combo Tied to Poorer Survival
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Other experts dispute the study's conclusions
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The combination of metformin and insulin for people with type 2 diabetes may slightly increase death rates among patients, according to researchers from Vanderbilt University.
However, other experts question the study's conclusions and claim it is at odds with other better-designed studies that show the combination of metformin and insulin is both safe and effective.
Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters/Communicable Diseases
Measles Journey Points Up Risk to Unvaccinated Kids
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Minnesota outbreak began with a toddler traveling overseas, study says
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A measles outbreak in Minnesota offers a case study of how the disease is transmitted in the United States today: An unvaccinated person travels abroad, brings measles back and infects vulnerable people -- including children who are unprotected because their parents chose not to vaccinate them.
That's the conclusion of a report published online June 9 in Pediatrics that details the 2011 outbreak that sickened 19 children and two adults in the state.
Many STDs May Go Undiagnosed, U.S. Report Finds
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Nearly 2 million Americans have chlamydia infection, but about 400,000 don't know it, government estimates
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 400,000 Americans may have the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia, but not know they have it, new research suggests.
The new government report estimates that 1.8 million people in the United States have chlamydia, but that only 1.4 million infections have been reported.
Women, particularly young women, seem to have an even greater risk of harboring this often symptomless infection, according to the U.S. National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention news release.
First Chikungunya Case Confirmed in U.S. Virgin Islands
By WebMD News from HealthDay
June 12, 2014 -- The first locally transmitted case of a mosquito-borne virus called chikungunya has been confirmed in the U.S. Virgin Islands, health officials said Wednesday.
They did not provide any information about the patient, and said a second patient with the virus was infected elsewhere, the Associated Press reported.June 12, 2014 -- The first locally transmitted case of a mosquito-borne virus called chikungunya has been confirmed in the U.S. Virgin Islands, health officials said Wednesday.
They did not provide any information about the patient, and said a second patient with the virus was infected elsewhere, the Associated Press reported.
Women's Health
Moles May Be Harbinger of Higher Breast Cancer Risk
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Studies found that women with more moles on their arms had slightly higher chance of malignancies
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of moles a woman has on her skin may hint at her risk of developing breast cancer, new research suggests.
In two separate studies, American and French scientists found that the more moles a woman had, the greater her average risk of breast cancer. In one study, women with 15 or more moles on a single arm were 35 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than women with no moles.
While the connection between moles and breast cancer is not obvious, experts pointed to one plausible explanation: estrogen.
Breast Cancer Drug Herceptin Linked to Heart Risks
By Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay
But most of these effects reverse after women finish treatment, experts say
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- As many as one in 10 women taking the breast cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) will experience some type of heart problem, according to new research.
The good news from this study is that these problems typically reverse once treatment is finished.
Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women Urged to Eat Fish
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Choose types lower in mercury, such as cod, salmon and tilapia, FDA and EPA say
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Pregnant or breast-feeding women should increase their weekly consumption of fish, as long as it's lower in mercury, according to new advice issued Tuesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The two agencies now recommend that women eat at least 8 ounces and up to 12 ounces per week of low-mercury fish, to support fetal growth and development. That equates to two or three servings.
Men's Health
Cell Phone Exposure May Harm Male Fertility
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Review found sperm were less viable in men who had been exposed to electromagnetic radiation of devices
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men who carry a cellphone in their pants pocket may harm their sperm and reduce their chances of having children, a new review warns.
The research team analyzed the findings of 10 studies that examined how cellphone exposure may affect male fertility. Among men with no exposure to cellphones, 50 percent to 85 percent of their sperm had a normal ability to move towards an egg.
That fell by an average of 8 percent among men exposed to cellphones. Similar effects were seen for sperm viability, which refers to the proportion of sperm that were alive, according to the study published June 9 in the journal Environment International.
Men Who Take Statins May Exercise Less
By Alan Mozes, HealthDay
Activity declined most among those just starting the drug, study finds
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older men taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins appear to be slightly less active than those who don't take them, a new study suggests.
Statin users logged about 40 fewer minutes of moderate activity each week compared to nonusers, according to the study. These findings confirm those of previous studies that found an association between a drop in activity and the use of statin medications such as Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor, Zocor, Lescol and Vytorin, according to background information in the study.
Marriage Pays Health Dividends -- for Him
By Randy Dotinga, HealthDay
Commitment to lifelong relationship appears to be key, study says
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Guys, a loving spouse may save your life, U.S. health officials say. But living with a significant other doesn't appear to confer the same health benefits as marriage.
Single and married men are more likely to see a doctor regularly than those living with a partner out of wedlock, according to a new U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) study.
And compared to husbands or other single men, cohabiting men are also the least likely to report having undergone preventive screenings such as cholesterol and blood pressure tests in the previous year, the researchers said.
Pediatric Health
Combo Vaccine Raises Risk of Seizures in Toddlers?
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Safer to give MMR and chickenpox shots separately for first dose, researchers say
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Toddlers who get a newer vaccine that fights four infections in one jab have a slightly increased risk of fever-induced seizure, a large new study confirms.
At issue is a vaccine that targets measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) in one shot, instead of giving the traditional MMR and varicella vaccines separately.
In theory, one shot sounds better than two. But in the new study, 1-year-olds who received Priorix-Tetra -- the MMRV vaccine used in Canada -- were twice as likely to develop a fever-related seizure as children who got separate MMR and chickenpox shots.
The findings are in line with a 2010 study of the MMRV vaccine used in the United States, known as ProQuad.
Vaccine for Infant Tummy Bug Cuts Hospitalizations
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Fewer children admitted for severe diarrhea tied to rotavirus, researchers say
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Since the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in 2006, the number of kids hospitalized for severe diarrhea has dropped dramatically, a new study finds.
Rotavirus is a common cause of sometimes severe gastrointestinal infections in babies and young children.
However, by 2009-2010, hospitalizations for rotavirus among children under 5 had been reduced by 94 percent due to widespread vaccination, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
Autism's Costs Can Run Into Millions for 1 Person
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Lost wages, residential care and special education are just some of the driving factors, study finds
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The lifetime cost of supporting just one person with autism can range from $1.4 million to $2.4 million, with factors as varied as lost wages, residential care and special education driving up expenses, a new study has found.
Medical care plays a role in pushing these costs, but is not the main factor, said study senior author David Mandell, director of the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
Parents' Sleep May Affect Child's Risk of Obesity
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
All family members need adequate rest to protect against preschoolers' weight gain, experts say
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The amount of sleep parents get may affect whether their children get enough sleep to protect them from becoming overweight or obese, according to a new study.
"We viewed how long parents slept and how long children slept as part of a household routine and found that they really did go together," study author Barbara Fiese, director of the Family Resiliency Center at the University of Illinois in Urbana, said in an university news release.
Researchers assessed the weight of 337 preschool children and their parents, as well as factors that could protect against overweight and obesity.
Childhood Cancer Survivors & Hospitalizations
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Findings show that ongoing health problems follow them long after they've beaten their disease
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Childhood cancer survivors wind up in the hospital more often than other people, a new study finds.
The researchers looked at nearly 1,500 people who were treated for childhood cancer between 1975 and 2005, and a "control" group of more than 7,700 people who never had cancer. All of the cancer survivors were at least five years past their diagnosis at the start of the study.
Gut Bacteria in Kids With Diabetes Show Differences
By Randy, HealthDay
Findings suggest diet might someday play preventive role, researchers say
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that germs in the guts of young children with type 1 diabetes are different from those of other kids.
Bacteria in the guts of kids with type 1 diabetes appear less balanced than bacteria in children without diabetes, Dutch researchers reported in the June 12 issue of Diabetologia. Moreover, the nondiabetic children had higher levels of a usually beneficial kind of germ.
Less Smoking, Sex Among U.S. High School Kids: CDC
By E.J. Mundell and Steve Reinberg, HealthDay
But rates for other unhealthy behaviors, such as texting while driving, are up, agency says
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's good news for parents from a new government report on teen behaviors: The rates of smoking, sex and physical fights among high school students are dropping.
The 2013 survey found that the smoking rate for this age group has now declined to just 15.7 percent -- reaching the U.S. government's "Healthy People 2020" goal of 16 percent or lower seven years early.
According to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teens are also waiting longer now to have sex than in years past. The number who said they had engaged in sexual intercourse during the past three years fell from 38 percent in 1991 to 34 percent by 2013, the CDC found.
Mental Health
Good Heart Health May Keep Your Mind Sharp, TooBy Robert Preidt, HealthDay
Poor heart health linked to mental impairment: study
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Good heart health benefits your brain, a new study suggests.
People with poor heart health are more likely to develop mental impairment than those with healthy hearts, according to researchers.
The study looked at about 17,800 Americans, aged 45 and older, who underwent tests of mental function at the start of the study and again four years later.
U.S. Service Members and Mental Health Disorders
By Amy Norton, HealthDay
Sept. 11, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, along with increased military outreach, linked to the
June 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 3.5 percent of U.S. military personnel were in treatment for mental health conditions in 2012 -- up from just 1 percent in 2000, a new military study finds.
Experts said the rise is likely due to two factors: an actual increase in mental health disorders since Sept. 11, 2001, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; as well as the military's efforts to get more soldiers into treatment.
Nutrition/Diet/Fitness
Many With Breast Cancer Get Too Little Exercise
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
Physical activity linked to improved survival odds, experts say
June 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of women with breast cancer get too little exercise for optimum health, a new study suggests.
After women are diagnosed with breast cancer, they are less likely to meet exercise recommendations that link physical activity with longer survival and better quality of life, researchers report online June 9 in the journal Cancer.
Red Meat May Raise Breast Cancer Risk, Study Suggests
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Eating more fish, nuts, poultry may help, but findings don't prove cause-and-effect
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who ate the most red meat increased their risk for breast cancer by nearly 25 percent, a 20-year study of nearly 89,000 women suggests.
On the flip side, however, replacing a daily serving of red meat with a combination of fish, legumes, nuts and poultry appeared to lower the risk of breast cancer by 14 percent, the researchers said.
Exercise May Spur More Varied Gut Microbes
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay
In turn, that may boost immune system and overall health, researchers note
June 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise can increase the diversity of bacteria found in the gut, possibly boosting the immune system and improving long-term health, British researchers report.
High levels of dietary protein might have the same effect, according to their study, published June 9 in the journal Gut.
Diets Rich in Protein May Lower Stroke Risk
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay
Study found lean animal proteins like fish showed most benefit
June 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Diets rich in protein appear to reduce a person's risk of stroke, particularly if it's a lean animal protein like fish, a new analysis suggests.
People with the highest amounts of animal protein in their diets were 20 percent less likely to suffer a stroke, compared with those who ate little to no protein, said study author Xinfeng Liu, of Nanjing University School of Medicine in Nanjing, China.
For every additional 20 grams per day of protein that people ate, their risk of stroke decreased by 26 percent, the researchers found.
Diet Rich in Plant Antioxidants Helps Blood Sugar
By Michael W. Smith, MD, WebMD Health News
June 11, 2014 -- A substance found in a variety of plant-based foods may improve blood sugar in people at risk for heart disease and diabetes, according to a recent study.
Researchers found that a diet rich in plant antioxidants (called polyphenols) lowered blood sugar. The antioxidants are found in dark chocolate, green tea, coffee, and extra virgin olive oil, among other foods.
Can 6,000 Steps a Day Keep Knee Arthritis at Bay?
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Study links one hour of walking daily with improved mobility
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Walking the equivalent of an hour a day may help improve knee arthritis and prevent disability, new research suggests.
Because of knee arthritis, many older adults find walking, climbing stairs or even getting up from a chair difficult. But these study findings equate walking more with better everyday functioning.
[Hot Dogs, Salami May Raise Men's Heart Failure Risk ]
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
But unprocessed red meat was not implicated in this research
June 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hey, guys, listen up: Steaks may be a safer bet heart-wise than hot dogs and salami, a new study suggests.
Men who regularly eat processed red meats may raise their risk of developing heart failure and dying from it, Swedish researchers say.
And as consumption of processed red meats goes up, the study concluded, so does the risk for heart failure, which means the heart can't pump blood as well as it should.
Men who ate roughly 2.6 ounces a day -- the equivalent of 2 or 3 slices of ham -- of processed red meats had a 28 percent higher risk of heart failure and more than twice the risk of death from heart failure compared with men who ate less than one ounce of processed meat daily, the researchers found.