health magazine june 2008 - Healthy Living

Your Better Beach Day Starts Here!

June 10, 2008

By Stephanie Tomei
From Health magazine

Health wants to ensure that your day at the beach is, well, a day at the beach. Here, see our great finds to guard against sunburn, sore feet, and more. Read More

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Body and Soul: Stress-Relieving Sex

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

You know that sex is good—especially for bonding, relaxing, and relieving stress.

But did you know that if your husband picks up a mop, you might both get more nookie? Men are doing more housework than ever before, but it’s still about 20% less than the amount done by women. “A woman is held to a higher standard for the way her home looks, which is why she stresses out more when it’s messy,” says Joshua Coleman, PhD, author of The Lazy Husband. Most women aren’t in the mood for sex when they feel overwhelmed, Coleman says, but the odds of having the time and energy for it go up when men help out around the house. And, according to Coleman, this also raises the desire factor in another way: “To the wife, the husband helping with housework not only reduces stress but also can feel like an act of affection.” Read More

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Body and Soul: Bone-Building Action

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

If you are a woman, you start losing bone density in their late 30s, and it can go downhill from there. You also know your risk of getting osteoporosis during your lifetime is a huge 50%.

But you don’t have to be a runner or heavy-duty weight lifter to build bone mass. Any weight-bearing activity—walking up the stairs, carrying a baby or a load of groceries—can help prevent bone loss.

Here’s your plan to get more bone strength. Read More

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Body and Soul: Good-for-You Iodine

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

Did you know iodine intake has dropped approximately 50% in the past 20 years? Blame that decrease on popular “designer” salt blends and kosher and sea salts that usually don’t contain iodine. In fact, a recent study found that more than half of iodized table salts didn’t meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommendations for iodine levels. That’s a big deal, says Robert Utiger, PhD, an endocrinologist with the Harvard Institutes of Medicine, because “iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormone.” Read More

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Body and Soul: Heart-Healthy Oils

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

You know that these fatty acids are good for your heart and can ward off diabetes and dementia—and you should eat more fish to get them.

But did you know you could get more by simply cutting back on certain foods? Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in highest concentrations in plant leaves, battle for dominance in our cells with omega-6s, which are predominant in most seeds and can cause an increase in blood pressure. “If there are too many 6s in your diet, then there aren’t going to be as many 3s in your tissue,” says Susan Allport, author of Queen of Fats. “And right now, the 3s are being outnumbered.” This is partly because our diets have become richer in omega-6s, thanks to changing eating habits and the fact that livestock are now fed grains instead of grass. Read More

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Body and Soul: Cheers for Your Heart

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

One in three women die of heart disease, which can be warded off with good health practices like exercising and staying away from 14-ounce steaks and French fries. But picking up a (light!) drinking habit might actually fight off heart disease. Middle-aged nondrinkers who began consuming moderate amounts of alcohol had a 38% lower chance of having a heart attack or stroke than their nondrinking counterparts, a recent study showed. “The even more remarkable thing is that those who drank a glass of wine had a 68% lower risk of heart disease,” says lead study author Dana King, MD, professor of family medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Read More

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Body and Soul: Fight Cancer with Veggies

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

You know that some people are more genetically prone to getting breast cancer than others.

But did you know that eating broccoli and cauliflower might reduce your risk of breast cancer if you carry a certain genetic sensitivity? In a recent study performed in China, women who were genetically inclined to get breast cancer lowered their risks by about 50% through eating a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, etc.) “These vegetables are the major source of some chemicals thought to be important for cancer protection,” says study author Jay Fowke, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and cancer epidemiologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “Since this gene is not something you can go out and easily get screened for, the take-home message for all women right now is just that eating these vegetables is good for everyday health.” Read More

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Body and Soul: Sunscreen for Wrinkle-Free Lips

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

You probably know you should wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 every day to prevent wrinkle-causing sun damage and protect yourself from skin cancer. But did you know your lips are also vulnerable to sun damage? They’re actually more susceptible to premature aging and cancer than the rest of your skin. “When skin cancer occurs on the lower lip it has the potential to be much more aggressive and metastasize to surrounding lymph nodes,” says Christine Brown, MD, a dermatologist on the medical staff at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. Even more alarming is that less than one in four people are protecting their lips properly, according to a recent study. Read More

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Body and Soul: Brain Power

June 3, 2008

By Allison Avery
From Health magazine

You know that your morning cup of coffee or afternoon soda can do wonders for perking you up.

But did you know that becoming emotionally involved in an issue can make you sharper too, sans the caffeine? “When you’re engaged in something, your brain forms new neural connections—and the more and longer you get involved, the more those changes occur,” says John Roache, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio. “It’s a use-it-or-lose-it situation,” he says. “The brain is always changing, turning over, and getting rid of unused neural circuits and tracks.” There is even some existing evidence that being actively engaged in something long-term can ward off dementia. Read More

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