Daily Health News Blog

Another reason to get the flu shot this year: It may prevent a heart attack. Heart attack rates rise about 30% during flu season, according to a recent Russian study. Don’t stop eating fish because of recent reports of tainted Chinese imports—the benefits still outweigh the risk overall. But do vary your selections. • If you have acne, avoiding high-glycemic carbohydrates may help. While the role of diet in acne is controversial, emerging research suggests that such foods, which are quickly broken down into sugar in the blood, raise insulin levels, which in turn may increase production of hormones implicated in acne. • Stretching regularly may make your muscles stronger, suggests a new study. Performing regular hamstring stretches (the muscle at the back of the thigh), not only improved flexibility and increased range of motion in young people, it also strengthened their leg muscles. And stronger leg muscles, in turn, can help prevent knee injuries. • It’s increasingly importa...

Spring is in the air – and so are pollen, molds, grasses and dust. Are you one of the millions of people who can’t smell of fresh scents of springtime because your nose is blocked? Over half of all Americans suffer from allergies, so you’re not alone if you’ve been sneezing, coughing or wiping your watery eyes. There are some natural supplements that you can take to help ease allergy symptoms: •Astragalus – A traditional Chinese remedy for allergies, this herb strengthens the immune system. •Butterbur – Taking butterbur supplements may reduce hay fever symptoms. •Evening Primrose – This oil works two ways to suppress allergies. First, allergic reactions cause inflammations and evening primrose oil acts as an anti-inflammatory to decrease the reaction. Secondly, it stimulates the white blood cells that regulate the production of histamines and antibodies. •Gamma Linolenic Acid – GLA has a long history in folk medicine for treating allergies. People who have allergies may requir...

Why is the sun so bad for my skin? The sun's rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays) damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems. Being in the sun often over time, even if you don't burn, can lead to skin cancer. A tan is the body's attempt to protect itself from the sun's harmful rays. Are tanning booths safer? No. Tanning booths use ultraviolet rays. Makers of the booths may claim that they use "harmless" UVA rays. But both UVA and UVB rays cause skin damage. While UVA rays take longer than UVB rays to damage the skin, they go deeper into the skin than UVB rays. On what parts of the body is skin cancer most likely to occur? Most skin cancers occur on parts of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun. These areas include the head, neck, face, tips of the ears, hands, forearms, shoulders, back, chests of men, and the back and lower legs of women.   What are t...

Life looks a little rosier after 50, a new study finds. Older people in their mid- to late-50s are generally happier, and experience less stress and worry than young adults in their 20s, the researchers say. The results, based on a Gallup phone survey from 2008 of more than 340,000 Americans, held even after the researchers accounted for factors that could have contributed to differences in well-being with age, such as whether the participants were married, had children at home or were employed. So if having a partner and getting rid of the kids aren't responsible for the uptick in happiness and general life satisfaction with age, then what is? More studies will be needed to find out, the researchers say. "That can be based on social things, on societal things, on biological things; and for us that is the big question," study researcher Arthur Stone, a psychologist at Stony Brook University in N.Y. Two ways to look at life The findings agree with...

Low-dose resveratrol may slow aging Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine, may mimic the effects of calorie restriction and inhibit various aspects of the aging process, according to a new study. The study adds to a growing body of research linking resveratrol and red wine consumption to a range of beneficial health effects, including brain and mental health and cardiovascular health. Red wine and resveratrol have been lauded as the answer to the “French paradox,” the question that asks why people who live in some regions of France where diets are soaked with saturated fats and washed down with a glass of wine, have a low incidence of heart disease. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies with resveratrol suggest that the compound may help prevent the negative effects of high-calorie diets and have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer potential. Critics of resveratrol’s benefits state that in order to gain support from dietary sources, one would have to drink 350 ...

Magnesium May Decrease Colon Cancer Risk in Men Increased intakes of magnesium may reduce a man's risk of colon cancer by 50%, according to a new observational study from Japan. Intakes of the mineral of at least 327 mg per day were found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 52%, compared to intakes of less than 238 mg per day. No benefits were observed in women. The findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition . Being an epidemiological study, the findings do not prove causality, and additional studies, particularly randomized trials, are needed to confirm the findings, said researchers from Japan's National Cancer Center in Tokyo. Dietary sources of magnesium include green, leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains, nuts, and milk. Earlier dietary surveys show that many adults do not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men). The Japanese researchers recruited 87,117 people with an average age of 57 and follow...

What Should You Believe About Salt? A high salt intake and high blood pressure (hypertension) have been linked for many years, not only by scientific research but in the minds of many health-conscious people. However, the furor about trans fat and carbs has moved salt way down on the list of our dietary villains. Only a few people (7%, according to one survey) ever bother to check labels for salt anymore. As concern has faded, people have been eating more salt. Since the early 1980s, U.S. per capita salt intake has risen by about 50%. In large part, this is because Americans have turned increasingly toward takeout and restaurant meals, fast foods, prepared foods, and snacking. Low-sodium foods don’t sell well. Most packaged foods and restaurant meals are salty—not just at McDonald’s, but also elegant meals on white tablecloths. Portion sizes have increased dramatically, along with the prevalence of obesity and high blood pressure. No connection with salt intake, says the ...