Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Stars Hollow Health and Fitness weekly diary. It will publish on Saturday afternoon and be open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Kohlrabi: A Dinner Ally in Disguise

Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos

It’s a member of the brassica family, those nutrient-dense cabbages (as well as kales, brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower) whose phytochemicals are highly regarded for their antioxidant properties. Kohlrabi is an excellent source of potassium and a good source of vitamin C and fiber, and it’s low in calories. The purple variety that some farmers grow also contains anthocyanins, another phytonutrient with antioxidant potential.

If you can get kohlrabi with the greens attached, cook them as you would turnip greens or kale. The greens are never quite as copious as the greens on a bunch of turnips, but they make a nice addition to most kohlrabi dishes. It’s important when you cook with kohlrabi to peel it thoroughly. Beneath the thick, hard skin is another fibrous layer, which should also be peeled away. The fibers will not soften when cooked, and they can get stuck in your throat. So peel once, then peel again until you reach the light layer of crisp flesh.

Kohlrabi Home Fries

With the help of a little oil and some bold seasonings, these kohlrabi sticks deliver big flavor.

Kohlrabi and Celery Root Purée

This combination is lighter and more interesting than traditional buttery mashed potatoes, but it’s just as satisfying.

Greek-Style Kohlrabi Pie or Gratin With Dill and Feta

Using grated kohlrabi rather than spinach gives these two classic preparations a twist.

Vegetarian Spring Rolls With Shredded Kohlrabi

Prepared rice flour wrappers are a convenient vehicle for marinated tofu and crisp vegetables and herbs.

Kohlrabi Risotto

Risotto is a welcoming home for just about any vegetable, and this combination is a comforting one.

General Medicine/Family Medical

Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Irregular Heartbeat

by Salynn Boyles

Study Also Suggests a 30% Increase in Stroke Risk

March 8, 2012 — Rheumatoid arthritis patients appear to have an increased risk for developing the irregular heart rhythm condition atrial fibrillation, which is strongly linked to stroke.

In a new study involving more than 4 million Danish adults identified though a national health registry, people with rheumatoid arthritis were 40% more likely to have atrial fibrillation than the general population and 30% more likely to suffer a stroke.

Altered Stem Cells Limit Transplant Rejection

by Salynn Boyles

Approach Could Free Organ Patients From Anti-Rejection Drugs

March 7, 2012 — New research holds the promise of freeing many organ transplant patients from a lifetime of anti-rejection drugs.

In the first study of its kind, eight kidney transplant patients received stem cells from their kidney donors manipulated to “trick” their bodies into accepting the foreign organ as its own.

Transplant recipients who are not perfectly matched with their donors typically take several drugs a day for the rest of their lives to keep their bodies from rejecting the new organ and to treat the side effects of those drugs.

Genetic Makeup of Tumors More Complex Than Thought

New Research Shows ‘Personalized’ Treatment for Cancer Not So ‘Simple’

March 8, 2012 — A small study that shows a surprising complexity of genetic changes within a single tumor has far-reaching implications for the march toward personalized cancer therapy, according to researchers.

A single biopsy from a tumor might not be sufficient to give a full picture of its genetic landscape, a team from the United Kingdom reports.

When the researchers examined 10 biopsies taken from a single kidney cancer tumor, they found “an extraordinary amount of diversity” in the genetic changes that had taken place in different parts of the tumor.

Surgery Often an Overlooked Option for Epilepsy

by Salynn Boyles

Some Patients May Be Surgical Candidates Soon After Failing Drugs

March 6, 2012 — Brain surgery is generally considered a last resort for some epilepsy patients whose seizures are not controlled with drugs, but performing surgery earlier may prevent years of suffering, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Only a small percentage of patients with seizures that can’t be controlled by medications are ever referred to an epilepsy center that offers surgery. Those who are referred have often had uncontrolled seizures for several decades.

Can Herbs Fight Asthma?

by Charlene Laino

Preliminary Research Suggests They Can, but Further Study Needed

March 5, 2012 (Orlando, Fla.) — A traditional Chinese herbal remedy known as kampo helped to relieve daily asthma symptoms in nearly all of more than 200 people studied, Japanese researchers report.

North American allergy experts tell WebMD that although they find the preliminary findings fascinating, further study is needed before they would recommend the herbs.

Relieve Ragweed Allergies Without Shots

by Charlene Laino

Tablets Help Relieve Symptoms Such as Runny Nose, Congestion, Watery Eyes

March 5, 2012 (Orlando, Fla.) — For many allergy sufferers, getting shots is a pesky, even painful part of ragweed season. Now, researchers report success testing an under-the-tongue tablet as an alternative to injections in people with ragweed allergies.

In a study of more than 500 people with ragweed allergies, people who took the experimental tablets had less nasal congestion, eye tearing, and other allergy symptoms than those who took a placebo. Those given the new pills also needed fewer antihistamines and other allergy medications for relief.

Melanoma Patient Tumor Free in T-Cell Clone Study

by Daniel J. DeNoon

Immune Therapy for Late-Stage Melanoma: No More Cancer in 1 of 11 Patients

March 5, 2012 — One of 11 patients facing death from treatment-resistant, late-stage melanoma is cancer free 3.5 years after experimental treatment with clones of his own immune cells.

“The patient is doing fine. He is a teacher in high school, and has been teaching from two or three months after he finished therapy,” study leader Cassian Yee, MD, of Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, tells WebMD.

Despite this dramatic result, the therapy this patient received isn’t ready for prime time. Ten other study patients, who also had failed to benefit from multiple previous treatments, eventually died.

Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines

Questionable Chemicals Found in Household Products

by Kathleen Doheny

Many in Industry Question Study’s Findings, Say Fears Unfounded

March 8, 2012 — Many cleaning and personal care products contain chemicals linked with asthma flare-ups or hormone disruption, according to new research.

On the list: sunscreens, vinyl shower curtains, and fragranced products.

“Consumer products in the home can be a significant source of hormone-disrupting chemicals and asthma-associated chemicals,” says Robin Dodson, ScD, a research scientists at Silent Spring Institute. The research organization studies links between the environment and women’s health.

The study is published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Cancer in Colas’ Caramel Coloring?

by Daniel J.DeNoon

Consumer Group’ s Tests Find ‘Carcinogen’ in Popular Soft Drinks

March 5, 2012 — Lab tests commissioned by a consumer group find that popular colas — including Coke and Pepsi — carry a caramel-coloring chemical that causes cancer in lab animals.

The chemical, 4-methylimidazole or 4-MI, comes from the sodas’ caramel coloring. That color is made not from natural caramel but via a chemical process involving ammonia.

While toxicology studies show that 4-MI can cause cancer in lab animals, it’s not clear whether it’s a human carcinogen — or whether the amounts detected in sodas pose any kind of a threat.

Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters

C. Diff on the Rise: Is Your Doctor to Blame?

BY Daniel J. DeNoon

Not Just a Hospital Problem: Deadly C. Diff in Doctor’s Offices, Clinics

March 6, 2012 — America’s deadly C. diff epidemic is spreading not just in hospitals, but in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other health care facilities, a CDC study finds.

C. diff — short for Clostridium difficile — are spore-forming bacteria that cause diarrhea. Severe cases can result in a life-threatening condition called toxic megacolon. There’s an ongoing epidemic with a particularly nasty, especially toxic C. diff strain.

C. diff kills about 14,000 Americans each year. Half of infections are in people younger than age 65. But 90% of deaths are in people 65 and older.

Women’s Health

 Heart Failure Death Risk Lower for Women

by Salynn Boyles

Risk of Death 31% Higher for Men, Study Finds

March 8, 2012 — Women with failing hearts survive longer than men, according to the largest analysis ever to examine the impact of gender on heart failure deaths.

When researchers analyzed data from 31 studies involving nearly 28,000 men and 14,000 women, they found male gender to be an independent risk factor for death from heart failure.

Past Pregnancies May Protect Against MS

by Brenda Goodman, MA

Study: Multiple Sclerosis Risk May Drop by 50% After First Pregnancy

March 7, 2012 — Pregnancy appears to play a strong role in whether or not a woman may develop the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study.

The study involved more than 800 women between the ages of 18 and 60. Nearly 300 of them had experienced a first episode of MS symptoms. The other women were healthy and were included for comparison.

Estrogen After Hysterectomy Lowers Cancer Risk?

by Brenda Goodman, MA

Experts Say the Decision to Use Hormone Replacement Is a Still Complicated One

March 6, 2012 — There’s good news for women with hysterectomies who are considering taking the hormone estrogen to ease hot flashes and other menopausal complaints.

New results from a long-running government study of the effect of hormones on women’s health show that estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy appears to cut a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer by about 20% and significantly reduces her risk of dying from the disease. Those benefits appear to last for years after the therapy ends.

Pediatric Health

Bullied Over Food Allergies

by Charlene Laino

Surveys: 1 in 3 Kids With Food Allergies Teased or Harassed

March 9, 2012 (Orlando, Fla.) — Parents of kids with food allergies should be aware that their children may be teased or harassed because of their condition, experts say.

Some bullies even chase kids with the allergy-producing food or throw it in their faces, says A. Erika Morris, MD, of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

Farm Life Linked to Fewer Allergies, Less Asthma

by Charlene Laino

Study: Amish Farm Children Have Lower Rates of Hay FeverMarch 7, 2012 (Orlando, Fla.) — Could the older, more rustic Amish lifestyle hold the key to preventing allergies?

An Indiana researcher thinks so. His research suggests that children who grow up on Amish farms are less prone to allergies and hay fever than Swiss youngsters who are raised on more modern-day farms.

“And kids who live in either farming environment have much lower rates of allergies and asthma than children who don’t grow up on farms,” says Mark Holbreich, MD, of Allergy and Asthma Consultants in Indianapolis.

Immaturity Mistaken for ADHD?

by Salynn Boyles

Youngest Kids in Classroom More Likely to Be Diagnosed

March 5, 2012 — Children who are younger than their classmates are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research shows.

The study raises new concerns that some children who are simply immature (compared to their classroom peers) may be misdiagnosed and unnecessarily treated for ADHD, which is characterized by poor attention and impulse control.

Kids’ Snoring Linked to Behavioral Problems

by Rita Rubin

Researchers Say Parents and Doctors Need to Pay Closer Attention to Breathing During Sleep

March 5, 2012 — The more young children snore, breathe through their mouths, or stop breathing while asleep for a few seconds at a time, the more likely they are to develop behavioral problems, a new study shows.

Previous research had suggested a link between these “sleep-disordered breathing” symptoms and such problems as hyperactivity, but the authors of the new study say theirs is by far the largest and most comprehensive of its kind.

Aging

Longer Use of Alzheimer’s Drug May Help Patients

by Denise Mann

Continued Treatment With Aricept Shows Some Merit

March 7, 2012 — The Alzheimer’s drug Aricept helps people with early to moderate signs of the disease maintain a higher level of function, but just how long the drug continues working is not fully understood. A new study may help clear up some confusion.

Aricept is the most widely prescribed medication in a class of Alzheimer’s drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors. Close to 50% of people stop taking it within a year because of side effects such as weight loss, agitation, and fainting, or because they no longer see any improvements in their mental abilities.

1 in 7 People With Alzheimer’s Lives Aloneby Denise Mann

New Report Paints Grim Picture; Disease to Cost $200 Billion in U.S. This Year

March 8, 2012 — One in seven people with Alzheimer’s disease lives alone.

This is one of the more stark findings from the 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, an annual report released by the Alzheimer’s Association.

The new report also looks at the costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. In 2012, this cost will reach $200 billion.

Nutrition/Diet/Fitness

Berries Boost Brain Function

by Jennifer Warner

Eating Berries May Help Prevent Age-Related Memory Loss

March 9, 2012 — Making berries a part of your daily diet may help keep your memory sharp, a new review shows.

The review shows there’s strong evidence that eating berries boosts brain function and may prevent age-related memory loss.

“In addition to their now well-known antioxidant effects, dietary supplementation with berry fruits has direct effects on the brain,” writes researcher Marshall Miller, of the USDA-ARS Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and colleagues in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Do Fruits and Veggies Make You More Attractive?

by Cari Nierenberg

Eating More Fruits and Vegetables Adds More Red and Yellow Tones to Skin Within 6 Weeks, Study Suggests

March 7, 2012 — Need a new reason to boost the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet?

Consider this: Eating more produce is an all-natural way to make your skin look more attractive, a new study suggests. It’s Mother Nature’s way of giving skin a healthy hue.

In fact, Scottish researchers suggest that changes in the redness and yellowness of skin in white people may be linked to the number of servings of fruit and vegetables they eat on a daily basis. These antioxidant-rich foods, which are loaded with plant-based pigments, seem to affect skin tone.