Here are this weekend's reading diversions for your personal enlightenment. Have a great weekend!
Jay Williams, Ph.D.: Are You a Sinker or a Floater? How to Know If You're Getting Enough Fiber
There are numerous reasons, all scientifically substantiated. For instance, we know that a low-fat, high-fiber diet reduces blood estrogen levels in women. We also know that women on high-fiber diets have a lower incidence of breast cancer. And studies show that a high-fiber diet keeps blood sugar levels balanced, resulting in less hunger and more weight loss.
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Judith J. Wurtman, PhD: The Cause of Weight Gain People Don't Talk About
Unfortunately, relatively few people are aware of the weight-gaining potential of antidepressants and similar medications. Most of us know that if we have to go on prednisone (cortisone) for a medical problem such as severe asthma or Crohn's disease, one of the side effects is weight gain. And when the weight gain occurs, few people would blame it on lack of will power, understanding instead that sometimes the weight gain is unavoidable. But the weight gain caused by treatment with antidepressants, mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotic medication is rarely recognized by physicians, let alone your distant relatives. Indeed, if people were asked about the usual side effects of these medications, they might list dry mouth, impotence and tiredness, but not weight gain.
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9 Food Additives Possibly Linked To ADHD (PHOTOS)
Here's a list of food preservatives and colorings that could aggravate attention problems, although none of them (with the exception of Yellow No. 5) have been studied alone in humans.
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Low-Dose Aspirin May Lower Cancer Deaths, But Caution Is Urged
A new report from British scientists suggests that long-term, low-dose aspirin use may modestly reduce the risk of dying of certain cancers, though experts warn the study isn't strong enough to recommend healthy people start taking a pill that can cause bleeding and other problems.
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HealthWatch: Don’t toast your health with these drinks
Are you harming your family’s health by dropping that big bottle of a soft drink into your shopping cart?
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EatingWell: 4 Foods to Eat If You Overeat
Having a tablespoon of vinegar with your meal, perhaps drizzled on your salad, may temper the spike in blood sugar that occurs after eating a big, carbohydrate-rich meal.
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Randy Taran: Want to Stop the Bullying? It Starts at Home
Parents, it's time to smell the coffee. We're trying to get the schools to teach our kids not to allow bullying, but the problems are escalating; it's no longer enough to leave the responsibility in the schools' hands. No parent wants their child to be bullied. And, no one intentionally teaches their child to become a bully. We all want the best for our kids. This is why it's interesting to take a look at the subtle bullying messages that can come to them on two levels. Here are two powerful and often hidden ways to help nip the problem in the bud -- right at home.
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Dr. Cara Barker: How to Mend Bridges with Estranged Family Members During the Holidays
All we need do is turn to nature and see that this is so, even in December. Because spring always comes again, even after the harshest winter storm, we have faith that what appears barren will blossom once more, given enough patience, nourishment and warmth.
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LIVESTRONG.COM: Four Ways to Tone Your Body at Home (PHOTOS)
The bedroom is a great place to stage your ab workout. For basic ab crunches, lay on your back on the floor with calves resting over an ottoman or side of the bed, so your torso is in a perfect 90 degree angle with your thighs. Place your hands behind your head with elbows out wide, even with the ears. As you exhale, slowly raise your upper body off the floor while contracting the abdominals in towards the spine. Perform 15 to 20 repetitions.
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Mammograms Over 40: Surprise? Half Of Women Over Are Skipping Them
Remember the uproar last year when a government task force said most women don't need annual mammograms? It turns out that only half of women over 40 had been getting them that often to start with, even when they have insurance that covers screening.
