Screening for osteoporosis might become something you start at an even younger age.
Back in 2002, the US Preventative Services Task Force released guidelines stating that all women over 65, plus those 60 to 64 at a higher risk for fracture, should get bone density tests. These tests are used to determine how thin a woman's bones are and whether she should start treatment.
But in this latest release, they are now saying that younger women might need a bone density test as well. They say all younger postmenopausal women should get checked if their risk of a broken bone is the same or greater than the average 65 year old.
Some factors that can increase their risk include low weight, certain drugs, smoking and heavy alcohol use. Also having a parent who broke a hip make having osteoporosis more likely.
If a woman has these higher risk factors, the task force is recommending she get the same screening as a 65-year-old, regardless of how young she is.
This task force did stop short of recommending screening for men, although other groups, including the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the American College of Physicians both recommend the screening of men if they meet certain criteria.
Currently, this task force, which received plenty of heat for its prior recommendation to delay mammograms for some women, are releasing their recommendations in draft form only. They are seeking public comment.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Get Flu Shot When Pregnant
There is new information out about one way mom's to be can protect their newborn once that happy day arrives---get the flu shot.
This year the CDC has recommended the flu shot for most people 6 months old and on. And for years they have recommended pregnant women get the vaccine. A new study shows just how important that vaccine during pregnancy can be for a baby once it arrives.
During most flu seasons, babies less than 6 months old get some protection from their mom's natural antibodies. But during severe flu seasons that doesn't seem to be enough since more of them get hospitalized and die from flu complications than older babies do.
This new study found that when a mom to be gets the flu vaccine while pregnant, the chances of her baby getting hospitalized or getting a respiratory illness during those first six months was much lower. Babies blood tests also showed they had more antibodies to the flu during this same time period. According to the researchers involved in this study, these finding give more support to the benefits of a mom's flu vaccine protecting infants from the flu virus up to the age where they can get the shot themselves.
This year the CDC has recommended the flu shot for most people 6 months old and on. And for years they have recommended pregnant women get the vaccine. A new study shows just how important that vaccine during pregnancy can be for a baby once it arrives.
During most flu seasons, babies less than 6 months old get some protection from their mom's natural antibodies. But during severe flu seasons that doesn't seem to be enough since more of them get hospitalized and die from flu complications than older babies do.
This new study found that when a mom to be gets the flu vaccine while pregnant, the chances of her baby getting hospitalized or getting a respiratory illness during those first six months was much lower. Babies blood tests also showed they had more antibodies to the flu during this same time period. According to the researchers involved in this study, these finding give more support to the benefits of a mom's flu vaccine protecting infants from the flu virus up to the age where they can get the shot themselves.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
New Weight Loss Information
When it comes to losing or gaining weight there is more information about what it takes to keep slim and trim.
We are talking about 2 new studies. One shows just how important sleep is to dieting and the other overturns some common thinking about fat cells in our body.
In the first study, researchers found that not getting enough sleep can sabotage your weight loss efforts. Even though all participants in the study lost the same amount of weight, those getting enough sleep---around 8 hours---lost the most amount of fat. The ones getting less sleep ended up losing more muscle mass which means they ended up with more body fat just by not sleeping enough.
Researchers have also started to overturn the common belief that adults don't make new fat cells. We used to think we have the same fat cells as adults we had as children, just that these fat cells grew in size as we gained more weight. But in this new study participants that gorged on food ended up developing new fat cells on their thighs. Also contrary to what we used to think, both men and women gained weight in their thighs at the same rate.
The important take home points from these studies is that gaining and losing weight is a very complicated process inside our bodies, and that's why simple dieting won't work long term. Instead your best bet is a lifestyle change that includes better eating and exercise.
We are talking about 2 new studies. One shows just how important sleep is to dieting and the other overturns some common thinking about fat cells in our body.
In the first study, researchers found that not getting enough sleep can sabotage your weight loss efforts. Even though all participants in the study lost the same amount of weight, those getting enough sleep---around 8 hours---lost the most amount of fat. The ones getting less sleep ended up losing more muscle mass which means they ended up with more body fat just by not sleeping enough.
Researchers have also started to overturn the common belief that adults don't make new fat cells. We used to think we have the same fat cells as adults we had as children, just that these fat cells grew in size as we gained more weight. But in this new study participants that gorged on food ended up developing new fat cells on their thighs. Also contrary to what we used to think, both men and women gained weight in their thighs at the same rate.
The important take home points from these studies is that gaining and losing weight is a very complicated process inside our bodies, and that's why simple dieting won't work long term. Instead your best bet is a lifestyle change that includes better eating and exercise.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Kids & Junk Food
Just about every kid likes junk food. But the amount they eat every day might astonish you.
So, how bad can an occasional snack be for them? Occasional is the key word here. It seems like most kids are eating what are called empty calories more often than most of us thought.
Empty calories are just that, food that can help add calories to a daily diet but won't do much for a kids health. As a matter of fact, these empty calories, or junk food, are one big reason we're seeing heavier children than ever.
A new government study found almost half of what a kid takes in to their body every day comes from just six different types of food that experts have called empty calories. They are soda, sugary fruit drinks, grain desserts like cake and cookies, dairy desserts like ice cream, and whole milk, which is much fatter than skim.
It's hard to blame just one source for this bad diet. Kids don't always have the best lunches at school, fast food is readily available and cheap and kids are bombarded with commercials advertising these empty calorie choices. But the head of the CDC is calling the current obesity epidemic a "winnable" battle and getting this empty calorie issue under control is one way to start off on the right foot.
So, how bad can an occasional snack be for them? Occasional is the key word here. It seems like most kids are eating what are called empty calories more often than most of us thought.
Empty calories are just that, food that can help add calories to a daily diet but won't do much for a kids health. As a matter of fact, these empty calories, or junk food, are one big reason we're seeing heavier children than ever.
A new government study found almost half of what a kid takes in to their body every day comes from just six different types of food that experts have called empty calories. They are soda, sugary fruit drinks, grain desserts like cake and cookies, dairy desserts like ice cream, and whole milk, which is much fatter than skim.
It's hard to blame just one source for this bad diet. Kids don't always have the best lunches at school, fast food is readily available and cheap and kids are bombarded with commercials advertising these empty calorie choices. But the head of the CDC is calling the current obesity epidemic a "winnable" battle and getting this empty calorie issue under control is one way to start off on the right foot.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Magnesium Benefits
You've heard of vitamin C and D being important for your health, but what about magnesium.
Magnesium is one of those minerals that's important to keep our bodies healthy. It's used for anything from keeping our muscles and nerves working well to supporting a strong immune system. But now it looks like it might also help prevent us from getting diabetes.
A new study found those of us who consumed the most magnesium either in foods or from a vitamin supplement developed diabetes only half as often. The researchers involved in this study think the diabetes risk is lower with magnesium because it helps our body process sugar.
There are a variety of ways to get this important mineral. Your best food sources are green leafy vegetable, nuts and seeds, some beans and unrefined grains--like whole wheat. You can also get it from most multivitamins. But like always, the more you get from natural sources the better.
The current recommendations for women depend on age and pregnancy, but are around 310 to 350 mg per day. For men around 400 to 420. Most of this should come from food. But you also need to be careful and not take in too much from supplements or vitamins. Overdosing on magnesium can cause problems like weakness and an irregular heartbeat.
So your best bet is to load up on the green leafy vegetables. A salad a day can help keep the diabetes away.
Magnesium is one of those minerals that's important to keep our bodies healthy. It's used for anything from keeping our muscles and nerves working well to supporting a strong immune system. But now it looks like it might also help prevent us from getting diabetes.
A new study found those of us who consumed the most magnesium either in foods or from a vitamin supplement developed diabetes only half as often. The researchers involved in this study think the diabetes risk is lower with magnesium because it helps our body process sugar.
There are a variety of ways to get this important mineral. Your best food sources are green leafy vegetable, nuts and seeds, some beans and unrefined grains--like whole wheat. You can also get it from most multivitamins. But like always, the more you get from natural sources the better.
The current recommendations for women depend on age and pregnancy, but are around 310 to 350 mg per day. For men around 400 to 420. Most of this should come from food. But you also need to be careful and not take in too much from supplements or vitamins. Overdosing on magnesium can cause problems like weakness and an irregular heartbeat.
So your best bet is to load up on the green leafy vegetables. A salad a day can help keep the diabetes away.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Kids Need More Water
It's free, readily available, but something most of us don't use as much as we should. We're talking about plain old water. There is one group that needs to drink more H2O.
It's the kids. They aren't drinking as much water as they need too and that can have some long term consequences.
A new study, just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that only up to 60 percent of boys and just over half of girls aged 2 to 19 drank the minimum amount of water that was recommended by the US Institute of Medicine. Researchers found that instead, children are obtaining much of their needed water intake from sweetened beverages. That means they are also taking in more calories during the day they don't need---which helps contribute to the ongoing obesity epidemic.
We can't live without water, but the secret is to make sure all of us, but especially our children, are drinking plain old water instead of other drinks during the day. One way to do this is to get rid of other sweetened drinks in the house---and I'm not just talking about sodas, but any kind of sweetened beverage, even sweetened juices. The goal is to get them back on a "water to quench my thirst" habit and away from the countless sodas they tend to drink.
It's the kids. They aren't drinking as much water as they need too and that can have some long term consequences.
A new study, just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that only up to 60 percent of boys and just over half of girls aged 2 to 19 drank the minimum amount of water that was recommended by the US Institute of Medicine. Researchers found that instead, children are obtaining much of their needed water intake from sweetened beverages. That means they are also taking in more calories during the day they don't need---which helps contribute to the ongoing obesity epidemic.
We can't live without water, but the secret is to make sure all of us, but especially our children, are drinking plain old water instead of other drinks during the day. One way to do this is to get rid of other sweetened drinks in the house---and I'm not just talking about sodas, but any kind of sweetened beverage, even sweetened juices. The goal is to get them back on a "water to quench my thirst" habit and away from the countless sodas they tend to drink.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sitting & Eating Dinner With Kids
We celebrate many different holidays throughout the year. Today has been declared National Family Day, and in particular, a day to eat dinner with your children.
Study after study has shown the great benefit of something we used to take for granted---the family meal. Sitting down with your kids and talking about the day is a great way to keep connected with them and find out what's going on in their lives. It also helps in more ways than you'd probably think. Children who eat at least 3 sit-down dinners with their family every week are also less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs. They also tend to do better in school and are less likely to have sex at an early age.
Granted, we all have busy schedules and with a busy day at work, hectic after school activities and homework, it gets harder to sit down together and eat a meal. The important part isn't what's served but what's talked about at the table. Use this as an opportunity for your children to share what "they" want to. They might not want to talk about everything that went on that day, especially if something is particularly bothering them so don't push the issue. Just let them know your there to listen. And when they do bring up controversial subjects, like drugs or sex---don't judge them since that will just cause them to tune out, but give them your beliefs and then listen. So, tonight sit down with the rest of the county and enjoy a meal with the most important people in your life.
Study after study has shown the great benefit of something we used to take for granted---the family meal. Sitting down with your kids and talking about the day is a great way to keep connected with them and find out what's going on in their lives. It also helps in more ways than you'd probably think. Children who eat at least 3 sit-down dinners with their family every week are also less likely to smoke, drink or use drugs. They also tend to do better in school and are less likely to have sex at an early age.
Granted, we all have busy schedules and with a busy day at work, hectic after school activities and homework, it gets harder to sit down together and eat a meal. The important part isn't what's served but what's talked about at the table. Use this as an opportunity for your children to share what "they" want to. They might not want to talk about everything that went on that day, especially if something is particularly bothering them so don't push the issue. Just let them know your there to listen. And when they do bring up controversial subjects, like drugs or sex---don't judge them since that will just cause them to tune out, but give them your beliefs and then listen. So, tonight sit down with the rest of the county and enjoy a meal with the most important people in your life.
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