People’s Pharmacy: Dealing with post-holiday depression. 2D
T H U R S D A Y , J A N U A R Y 12 , 2012
HealthToday
SECTION D
WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM
NUTRITION
STUDIES
How to diet and stay full
Drunks aware of bad choices
“Diet” means “denial” no matter how you spell it, but “diet” doesn’t have to mean “hungry,” too. But often it does, which may be why so many righteous January resolutions are forgotten by February. A new ebook attempts to tackle the problem, offering ways to lose weight while still feeling satisfied. “But I’m Hungry!,” available for $11.99 at butimhungry.net or on Amazon, promises to help battle “the beast” — hunger — while dropping the pounds and keeping them off. A collaboration of a health writer, a nutritionist and an editor, the ebook promises “the exact combination of healthy foods and lifestyle changes you need to lose weight, feel great and never be hungry again. No more fad diets, just healthy living.” The e-book’s premise is clear: Feeling full and satisfied is the only way to lose pounds and keep them off; paying attention to what types of food you eat, when, and in what proportion will help you succeed in reaching your goal weight. Co-authors Marie Suszynski of Emmaus, Pa., and Crystal Petrello, a registered dietitian based in Las Vegas, along with editor Sue Mellen of Citrus Springs, Fla., make it all seem very can-do-able. They offer a clear explanation of how roller coaster blood sugar levels create feelings of hunger and how the sensible eating of proteins and fats (yes!) bring long-term satisfaction. They discuss how to choose foods that taste good and are healthy, too. The authors cover all the bases from sample menus and shopping tips to physical exercise suggestions and ways to keep yourself psyched for the task. — McClatchy Newspapers
A new study says that people who commit blunders while under the influence of alcohol know they’re doing it; they just don’t care. This means buzzed or drunken people who engage in embarrassing or harmful behavior can’t blame it on not having control, said researcher Bruce Bartholow, associate professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. While this isn’t the fi rst study that shows alcohol alters the behavior of those who consume it, “it’s the fi rst to show they don’t care that they’re making mistakes,” said Bartholow, chief researcher on the study. Brain tests during the study of 67 people in Columbia, Mo., showed that alcohol dulls a mechanism in the brain that tells an individual to put on the brakes when they realize they’re making mistakes. The study involved people between the ages of 21 and 35, students and nonstudents. Then, the groups were given tasks designed to elicit mistakes. Researchers measured changes in participants’ mood, their accuracy in computer tasks and how they perceived their accuracy in the tasks. Nondrinkers had normal activity in the part of the brain that regulated recognizing mistakes. Drinkers had less activity, he said. Researchers also interviewed participants after the tests, which helped affi rm the fi ndings in the computer tests, he said. — McClatchy Newspapers
Studies reveal ha bit-forming nature of smartp hone use B y S ar a P au
ff McC la tc hy N ew sp ap er s
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PREVENTION
Surgery lessens heart problems
STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
W
-TIP HOW TO SNACK
A low-calorie snack can backfi re if it doesn’t fi ll you up, nutritionists say. ■ Be wary of 100-calorie snack packs. They’re good for controlling portion size but tend to be high in refined carbohydrates and low in fiber. ■ Include protein, fiber and healthy fats. ■ Avoid most crackers and cookies. Two exceptions are Melba toast and reduced-fat, whole-grain wheat Triscuit crackers. ■ Go for Greek yogurt. Most brands are high in protein, and therefore filling. ■ Choose granola bars carefully. Look for a bar that provides at least 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. ■ Create diet soda alternatives. Add an orange slice or frozen berries to fruit-flavored sparkling water. — McClatchy Newspapers
CHILDREN
Physical activity less important than safety at many daycares
STAFF FILE PHOTO
Child care centers might not be providing kids enough opportunities to be physically active, finds a study that explored some of the obstacles. The study, released this week in the journal Pediatrics, reports that about three-fourths of children in the U.S. age 3 to 5 are in child care, and 56 percent of them are in centers: nursery schools, preschools and day care centers. Previous studies suggest they may be sedentary the majority of the time. For this study, researchers ana-
lyzed asked 49 child care providers in Cincinnati about what they thought might be keeping the children from getting exercise. Three main hurdles were identified: worries about injuries, budget concerns and an emphasis on academics over activity. While the day care providers recognized that exercise was important, they said that they and parents were concerned about children being hurt during active play. — McClatchy Newspapers
LOS ANGELES | Weight-loss surgery clearly cuts the risk of heart attacks, strokes and death from cardiovascular disease, a new study shows. But the research also raises questions regarding which patients benefit the most from surgery. The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the fi rst controlled clinical trial to measure the effect of bariatric surgery on heart health. The Swedish Obese Subjects study compared 2,010 middle-aged, obese people who had weight-loss surgery with 2,037 similar obese people who received normal medical care, which usually included counseling on lifestyle choices that affect weight. The participants were followed for an average of 14.7 years. Researchers found that weightloss surgery reduced the chances of dying from heart disease or having a non-fatal heart attack or stroke. In the surgery group, 28 cardiovascular deaths were recorded compared with 49 in the control group. Overall, there were 199 cardiovascular events in the surgery group, compared with 234 in the control group. However, further analysis of the data showed that the amount of weight people lost wasn’t related to their later risk of cardiovascular problems. This perplexing fi nding could be the result of the way the study was designed. But it’s also possible that the effect of bariatric surgery on heart health is tied to other factors besides body mass index. For example, the authors said, patients with higher insulin levels before surgery experienced the greatest benefits from surgery. “High insulin may be a better selection criterion for bariatric surgery than high BMI, as far as cardiovascular events are concerned,” they wrote. — From wire reports
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