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| About Dr. Godart | My Child's Teeth | Kid's Corner | Molarettes | Plak Attackers | What's New | In The News | ||
| -If you live or work with smokers and can't persuade them to quit or smoke outdoors, that's all the more reason to eat more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables and to take daily supplements of vitamin C and E. A 1994 study from UC Berkeley showed that nonsmokers regularly exposed to secondhand smoke had blood levels of vitamin C that were, on average, 24% lower than other nonsmokers. (Smokers have even lower levels ov vitamin C -- that's why the RDA for smokers is 100 milligrams of C a day, instead of the usual 60.) Cigarette smoke is a major source of free radicals, which damage cells. Vitamin C and other antioxidants help inactivate these compounds, and are "used up" in the process. This shortfall puts smokers--and those who inhale their smoke--at increase risk for oxidative damage that has been linked to the development of cancer and heart disease. -If you buy canned sardines or herring, compare the labels of various brands. Companies may pack different species and fish of varying sizes or from different locales(those from colder water will have more fat), as well as various added ingredients. The difference between two cans of sardines or herring(even if they're both packed in the same kind of sauce) can be vast--they can have anywhere from 2 to 20 grams of fat in 3 ounces. Canned sardines or herring packed in water sometimes contain as much fat, or even more, than those in oil, since fish are fatty to begin with. Sardines packed in tomato or mustard sauce may contain lots of added oil. -If you're often pressed for time at the health club or gym, try this new form of "circuit training" that combines weight training and aerobic exercise. Instead of resting or merely walking around between sets with free weights or weight machines, as is recommended, hop on the stationary bycycle for vigorous two-three-minute spins. A recent 12-week study at Ithaca College in New York found that such 50-minute combination workouts, done three times a week, increased muscle strength as much as 50-minute weight training sessions and boosted aerobic capacity by 13%(compared to 20% for those cycling for the full 50 minutes). Obviously, this is a very taxing way to work out, so you should be in pretty good shape before attempting it. -Pink grapefruit sometimes costs more than white, but it's worth it. Ounce for ounce, pink and white grapefruits have the same number of calories and amount of vitamin C, but the pink variety has about 25 times more beta carotene. -Don't take an antacid that contains aluminum if you are taking a prescription drug--first consult your doctor or other health-care provider. The labels on such antacids warn about possible drug interactions--notably reduced absorption of the prescription medication. -Try "retro" running or walking--that is, going backwards--if running or walking sometimes makes your knees hurt, or if you're just looking for a change. Backward motion doesn't put as much strain on the knees, and helps strengthen the abdominal and back muscles, as well the hamstrings and quadraceps in the legs. Take some precautions: choose a smooth surface(a track is ideal), and make sure you're not going to propel youself into a street, a tree, or another exerciser. Start slowly. When looking back over your shoulder, alternate sides to prevent a neck cramp. Best idea: work out with a forward-walking partner, who can keep you from bumping into something and help pace you. Then switch off with your partner. -For a change of pace, try broccoflower, a cross between cauliflower and broccoli. It is more nutritious than cauliflower, which it resembles, except that it is green. Like broccoli, it's a nutritional powerhouse: a one-cup serving(raw) contains about as much vitamin C as an orange, plus a fair amount of beta carotene. -Not all coffee is created equal. Plain coffee is virtually free of fat and calories. But add lots of milk or cream and it's a different story. Look at mocha "grande"(16 ounce) at one national chain: 400 calories and 25 grams of fat. Even a merely "tall" cafe latte(12 ounces) containing whole milk has 180 calories and 10 grams of fat. -As many as half of all cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, develop from moles. The average Caucasion American adult has 24 moles(people with dark skin have fewer moles and rarely develop skin melanomas). A new study in the 'Journal of the American Medical Association' confirmed the that the number, size, and appearance of moles all affect the risk of melanoma. Any mole that changes shape, color, or size, any sore that doesn't heal, or any persistent patch of irritated skin or small growth may be a sign of cancer and needs professional evaluation. |
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