Community Magazine December 2009

FDAWARNS OF FLAVORED TOBACCO The Food and Drug Administration has begun enforcing laws against flavored cigarettes, but several companies have continued selling them. The FDA issued warning letters to companies that use the Web to sell cigarettes with flavorings designed to mask the taste of tobacco. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed by President Barack Obama in June and put into effect September 22, prohibits selling cigarettes with candy, fruit and spice flavorings, with the exception of menthol cigarettes. The FDA has told the companies to stop selling flavored cigarettes or eliminate the flavorings. SLEEP…ANDCHOCOLATE KEEP SKIN YOUNG Adailyportionof chocolatehelps protect the skin from damage from the sun, and may also lower the risk of skin cancer, researchers at European Dermatology London report. The effects were only found for darkchocolate that is veryhigh inflavanols, the antioxidants that occur naturally in cocoa beans. Studies have highlighted the importance of adequate sleep for maintaining smooth and youthful skin. A lack of restful sleep suppresses the immune system, which can lead to skin-related problems, such as rashes. The ideal amount of sleep is between six and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, during which growth hormones can initiate cell and tissue repair. Dermatologists recommend several tricks to help your skin, such as avoiding heavy or salty meals that are hard to digest before bedtime, and hydrating skin by drinking water and using a moisturizer and night creams. Oral supplements such as Omega-3 can also help maintain a healthy hydration level. COCKTAILSMAY HELP OLDER WOMEN STAYMOBILE For women aged 70 and over, moderate consumption of alcohol may help with mobility, a study from University of Ferrara in Italy noted in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. At the start of the 6.5 year study, all women were mobile. The study subjects were given clinical examinations every six months and the ones who consumed alcohol found it easier to walk up flights of stairs, walk moderate distances (over a quarter mile), and perform daily activities. Moderate alcoholic intake was measured by 4 to 7 glasses of wine per week. The study noted, however, that the subjects who benefited more were those who had healthy body weights and already indulged in regular physical activity. LOWCHOLESTEROL LOWERS PROSTATE CANCERRISK Research has found that men with cholesterol in a healthy range – below 200 – had less than half the risk of developing high-grade prostate tumors than men with high cholesterol. Men with high levels of HDL, or “good cholesterol,” were somewhat less likely to develop any form of prostate cancer than men with very low HDL. The research was published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. Cholesterol levels were only found to be important for those who developed high-grade tumors, the type that grow and spread rapidly, as the chance of developing an aggressive tumor was 59 percent lower among men with cholesterol under 200. The significance of these results, however, remains unclear, as the researchers do not know how many men in the study were taking cholesterol-lowering medicines instead of maintaining low cholesterol levels naturally. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, with more than 192,000 new cases expected to occur this year, leading to an estimated 27,360 deaths. HIGH JOB POSITIONMAY TAKE HEALTH TOLL The top of the job totem pole might have all kinds of perks, but good mental and physical health isn’t generally one of them, according to a recent study in Social Science & Medicine. People in these positions were more likely to report conflicts with coworkers, psychological stresses, frequent anger, and work-related intrusions on their home life. Physical health complaints included problems like headaches, body aches, heartburn and fatigue; psychological complaints included sleep problems, difficulty concentrating and feelings of sadness, worry and anxiety. TEA ISHEART ANDBRAINHEALTHY Caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee and cocoa have been found, in recent research, to increase alertness, feelings of well-being and short-term memory. Previous studies have linked the drinks’ antioxidant properties and high flavonoid content to preventing heart disease and cutting the risk of some cancers. The new research suggests that an optimal intake of 400mg of caffeine a day leads to maximum brain and heart health. Drinking coffee or four cups of tea a day reduced chances of cardiovascular disease. Men who had more than two cups of tea a day reduced their risk of stroke by up to 20 percent. Health 86 Community magazine