Happy Valentine's Day!
For Women Only
The value of soy products for menopausal women remains debatable. Foods such as tofu, miso, tempeh, and soy milk are included among phytoestrogens, plant components that are not the same as estrogens produced in the body but that seem to have mild estrogenic activity. Regardless of whether soy may minimize hot flashes or other symptoms, you can't go wrong. Soy foods are excellent sources of protein, containing all of the essential amino acids, while also providing iron and calcium. Remember that if you're having trouble losing weight, despite a healthy diet and exercise, have your hormone levels checked. Estrogen deficiency interferes with appetite control and calorie burning.
Remember Sex?
Many comments made at the recent Women's Health Symposium in New York, in connection with sex during midlife, could apply to both men and women. Physical issues that may affect a couple's sex life include declining hormone levels, which often are accompanied by lower libido that is further diminished by medications for blood pressure, ulcers, and depression. Women and men may worry that they are not as attractive to their partners as they used to be, and they may have unresolved conflicts that crawl under the covers. Long-term relationships can suffer from boredom in the bedroom as well. Dr. Gail Saltz, a New York psychiatrist, suggests indulging in sexual fantasies and sharing them-and your fears-with your loved one.
For Men Only
If you forgot where you left your wife, you may need a hit of testosterone. A study by Oregon Health & Science University researchers found that men undergoing testosterone-deprivation treatment for prostate cancer were more forgetful than healthy men of the same age. Word retention among the treated men decreased rapidly only 2 minutes after they learned words, even though initially they could learn words just as well as their healthy counterparts. Scientists believe that the lack of testosterone affects the function of the hippocampus, the brain area that controls learning and memory. The results were presented at a recent meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
Quote of the Month
"One changes from day to day ... every few years one becomes a new being."
- George Sand
|
|
Q&A
Q: When I've eaten all my Valentine candy, should I swear off sugar?
A: It sure tastes good, but refined white sugar is probably one of the worst substances you can eat. Not only does it pack on "empty" calories, it also spikes blood sugar levels and drains the body of important vitamins and minerals through its negative effects on nearly every organ of the body. Try substituting foods containing natural sugars such as agave (from the agave cactus), barley malt, and rice syrup.
|
|
Healthy and Fit
Was your mother always yelling at you to sit still? Little did she know that you were exercising. According to a new study from the Mayo Clinic, heavy-weight couch potatoes sit still an average of 150 minutes more per day than slim couch potatoes. The difference is that the slim Jims walk, play, fidget, and fuss away 350 calories more each day, just by being antsy. Scientists call the phenomenon exhibited in the obese sedentary sorts NEAT, or non-exercise activity thermogenesis-a biological need to sit more. Dr. James Levine, author of the study, notes that the calories people burn in everyday activities is apparently more important in weight management than previously thought.
|
|
|
|
|
