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MATURE MARKET HEADLINES POSTED 05/29/98
Brain Chemistry Undermines Low-Fat DietThat forthcoming high school reunion has got you scrabbling for ways to shed your portly posterior. And you don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that going on a diet might be the only way to avoid buying your new reunion wardrobe in the "husky" section of the department store. But there's something you should know.People who lower their fat or carbohydrate intake in an attempt to lose weight might be in for a bigger battle than they expected. A new study sponsored by the National Dairy Council found that people who ate low-fat or low- carbohydrate lunches compensated by eating more fat or carbohydrates at other meals. The result was that participants consumed similar levels of fat and carbohydrates each day, regardless of how healthy their lunch was, said John Allred, leader of the study and professor of nutrition at Ohio State University's Department of Food Science and Technology. The findings suggest that the brain's biochemical signals may play a major role in people's food choices, at least where fat, carbohydrates and total calories are concerned, Allred said. The study followed 25 male college students for three weeks. Allred studied men only because women's menstrual cycles can affect appetite and eating behaviors. Each student was given shake for lunch every day. Some shakes were made with whole milk, and contained 614 calories. Some were made with skim milk, and contained 516 calories. Some were made with skim milk with added sugar, to increase the calories to 614 calories, without the added fat from whole milk. The students kept food diaries of the food they ate for the rest of the day. The findings were clear. Students who drank the higher-fat drinks for lunch compensated during the rest of the day by increasing their carbohydrate intake and decreasing their fat intake. Students who had the lower- fat, higher-carbohydrate drinks compensated by eating more fat and fewer carbohydrates during the day. Students who had the skim-milk-based drinks without the added carbohydrates increased total calorie consumption throughout the rest of the day. "There seem to be biochemical signals that, unknown to you, regulate calorie, carbohydrate and fat intake," Allred said. "It says to me that our bodies are much more in control of our food choices than we think they are." Hmmm. Investing in that treadmill as a last ditch attempt at weight loss may not be such a bad idea after all. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP Food Fears Prompt Elder MalnutritionAn April 1998 national survey of older Americans, sponsored by the American Egg Board's Nutrition Center, suggests that a lack of knowledge about nutrition in general, and misconception about cholesterol in particular, may contribute to the inadequate diets of many older Americans. An inadequate diet makes older adults, whose immune systems are less effective, more susceptible to short-term health problems as well as chronic illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease and osteoporosis."Research now shows that many of the signs of growing older that we used to attribute to aging are actually due to diet," explains Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, Professor of Nutrition at Tufts University. "Therefore, it is important to choose nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, and eggs to help prevent chronic disease, promote optimal health, and thus, independence in our later years." Many factors contribute to poor eating habits among older Americans including decreased appetite and caloric needs; low income; difficulty with chewing; digestive disorders; and persistent physical and psychological problems such as arthritis, loneliness, and depression. The American Egg Board's (AEB) survey of over 1,000 older Americans nationwide sheds light on another possible contributor, a lack of knowledge regarding the special nutritional needs of older adults accented by unfounded food fears. "Older Americans are nutritionally vulnerable in part because of long-held misconceptions about foods," says Dr. Blumberg. "For example, many think that milk is just for kids and eggs contain too much cholesterol, when the truth is both of these foods contain many essential nutrients that could help reduce the risk for chronic disease." Regarding the concerns about cholesterol, Dr. Blumberg argues that "Cholesterol in foods should be a minor concern for most healthy older adults, compared to maintaining adequate nutrient intake." In support of Dr. Blumberg's position, the American Egg Board reports that a large body of scientific research shows that dietary cholesterol does not significantly raise blood cholesterol levels for most people. The main culprit appears to be saturated fat. Nevertheless, misconceptions continue. For example, the AEB survey reports that while 93% of older Americans say they like eating eggs, 52% still limit the number of eggs they eat in a week. Source: Aronow & Pollock, New York. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP Doc Dispels Cardiac Myths In A Heart BeatDr. Howard H. Wayne, M.D. clears up some common misconceptions about heart disease in his new book, "Living Longer with Heart Disease" (Health Information Press, 1998). These misconceptions, says Dr. Wayne, cause many people to worry unnecessarily. What follows is Wayne's list of eight common misconceptions about heart disease.1. MYTH: If your parents or other family members had heart disease, you will get it, too. REALITY: If you share one or more of the major risk factors, then you are more likely to suffer from heart disease. These risk factors include: hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise. 2. MYTH: You will not have a heart attack if you don't have any risk factors. REALITY: From 20-50% of heart attack victims do not have any of the well known risk factors for the disease. 3. MYTH: If you are obese, you are a high risk of dying prematurely form a heart attack. REALITY: If you are obese or simply fat, your greatest danger is from lack of exercise and an increased likelihood of developing hypertension. 4. MYTH: Stress has no effect on the development of heart disease. REALITY: Stress has a profound effect on the heart and may result in a heart attack and even sudden death. 5. MYTH: Eggs, meat, and butter (high cholesterol foods) are bad for your heart. REALITY: There is no evidence that a low cholesterol diet will reduce the risk of heart disease. 6. MYTH: Irregular heart beats are dangerous. REALITY: The sensation of an irregular or premature heart beat, though disturbing, is harmless and not uncommon. It is those that you do not feel that are more likely to be a sign of poor cardiac function. 7. MYTH: Severe narrowing of a coronary artery means you are about to have a heart attack. REALITY: Obstructive lesions in the arteries can be present for years without being a threat. 8. MYTH: If you have a heart attack, your days are numbered. REALITY: If you have a heart attack at a relatively young age (40's to 50's) and you are able to eliminate risk factors, such as smoking, lack of exercise, and hypertension, you can greatly reduce your risks of having another heart attack. The heart has a tremendous amount of reserve and recovery powers. Give it a chance and it will provide you with a long life. Dr. Howard Wayne's new book is available at bookstores nationwide or directly from the publisher, Health Information Press at: 1-800-MED-SHOP. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP Is Longevity An Equal Opportunity Event?University of Georgia researchers have spent the past decade searching for the secret to living an active, meaningful life beyond the age of 100. But instead of a secret formula, they've found an equal-opportunity phenomenon."Perhaps the most interesting issue that emerged among the centenarians is the large variability of their functioning, abilities and personality traits," said Leonard Poon, director of the UGA Gerontology Center. "We interpret these results from the optimistic perspective that any person may have a chance of living a long and productive life." In 1988, Poon and other faculty members began examining the lives of 157 mentally and physically active people who had attained the age of 100 as part of the Georgia Centenarian Study. In all, the team sifted through the lives of more than 350 people in their 60s, 80s and 100s to determine how and why some people become "master survivors." The UGA study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, found that centenarians exhibit a large variety of characteristics. Few of these characteristics or markers have turned up what could account for all long life spans. "When we relate these markers of successful aging with longevity, it is difficult, if not impossible, to reliably identify a few major contributors," Poon said. "Rather, some predictors are pertinent for some centenarians, but no major predictor is most pertinent to all." The UGA Gerontology Center is planning an international centenarian study to identify culture-common and culture-specific markers of adaptation and longevity. Centenarians in France, Germany, Sweden, England, Japan and the United States will take part. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP Long Term Health Care Information HotlineThe American Health Care Association (AHCA) is launching a toll-free consumer hotline to give families information that will help them make informed decisions about long term health care decisions. "By offering families helpful information, we hope to make the decisions of admitting a family member into a nursing home or assisted living facility as comfortable as possible with less stress and emotional turmoil", says Dr. Paul Willging, executive vice president of AHCA.Studies show that nearly half of all Americans will need long term care at some point in their lives. As the baby boom generation approaches retirement, the number of seniors requiring long term health care is expected to more than double to 77 million by the year 2030. The new AHCA consumer hotline is: 1-800-555-9414. By calling the information line, consumers can request, free-of-charge, several pamphlets outlining the wide array of long term care options available to meet specific needs. The information line's operating hours are Monday through Sunday from 7 AM to 10 PM, Eastern Standard Time. Types of information available include: how to plan for long term care services, consumer tips on long term care insurance, and a checklist for assessing the need for long term care. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP Need for PAP Test Grossly UnderestimatedWomen ages 65 and older greatly underestimate their chances of developing cervical cancer, do not know how often to get a PAP test, and are unlikely to be tested regularly, according to a survey conducted in part for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The national annual mail survey, known as Healthstyles, gathers data regarding the health-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of American adults.According to the survey, only 34 percent of women ages 65 and older said they knew that as a women ages, she continues to be at risk for cervical cancer. In addition, only 21 percent of women ages 65 and older said they were concerned about getting cervical cancer. Diane Solomon, M.D., senior medical officer at the NCI, says "These findings are particularly troubling in light of older women's continued risk for cervical cancer". Solomon cited data indicating that nearly 25 percent of the cases of cervical cancer and 41 percent of the cervical cancer deaths occur in women ages 65 and older. The Pap test, in which cervical cells collected during a pelvic exam are placed on a slide and then examined under a microscope, is considered the most effective screening procedure for detecting abnormal cells in the cervix. Since the early 1970's when PAP testing became common medical practice, both incidence and mortality rates for invasive cervical cancer have declined about 40 percent. Despite this medical progress, one-half of women in the U.S. with newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer have never had a PAP test, and another 10 percent have not had a PAP test in the past five years. "This is a disease that is largely preventable if we can encourage women to be tested regularly," Solomon said. "And women ages 65 and older should be tested at least once every three years." To increase awareness about PAP tests and cervical cancer, NCI's Cancer Information Service provides the public and health professionals with free cervical cancer educational publications through its toll-free number: 1-800-4-CANCER. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP |