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Are 'Swine Flu Parties' Safe?
Tweet Share on Facebook September 28, 2009 Comment (38)I've heard that some parents are throwing "swine flu parties" for their kids with the intent of exposing them to the virus now, while it's mild, so that kids have enough immunity to fight the virus off. Is this a good idea?
While parents want to protect their children from infections, exposing them to illness is not a prudent practice. I asked Dr. Thomas Sandora, the director of infection control at Children's Hospital in Boston, to give his advice. Here's what he had to say: -
How Much Sugar Is Too Much?
Tweet Share on Facebook September 18, 2009 Comment (16)The American Heart Association has just advised that we limit our added-sugar intake. I don't have a sweet tooth, but what should I be cognizant of as I browse store shelves? How much added sugar is too much, and what's at stake if I don't cut down?
This will be a bit challenging for consumers to put into practice. The first and most important point is that a huge source for millions of Americans is sugary beverages—soda but also fruit drinks or punches. Not consuming these, or if so only rarely, is very important for maintaining health.Then, we should consider that 5 percent of calories from added sugar [the AHA recommendation] means about 25 grams or five teaspoons for a typical person. If you look at the food labels, you can see how the content fits into this total target. This is not perfect, because the label includes natural sugars like those in an orange, which are not counted toward the 5 percent. Metabolically, though, natural sugar behaves the same, so we will be on the safe side by including natural sugar.
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Do Omega-3 Supplements Affect Mood?
Tweet Share on Facebook September 18, 2009 Comment (5)I've been considering taking Omega-3 supplements since I heard they can improve mood. Is there really a link?
Omega-3 supplements can be good for your mind as well as your body. Fish oil is the prime source of two key omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated significant inverse relationships between annual fish consumption and prevalence of major depression: The more fish eaten, the lower the levels of serious clinical depression.Researchers have shown that depressed patients have, on average, lower levels of omega-3 in their blood than nondepressed individuals; furthermore, they have found evidence that greater severity of depression is linked to lower levels of omega-3. A number of well-controlled depression treatment studies have found therapeutic benefits following omega-3 supplementation. Omega-3 fatty acids also benefit patients with cardiovascular disease, and there is a very well-known association between depression and cardiovascular disease that may reflect a common factor for both: deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids.
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