Kittenish Beauty

Health News: Vinegar, Calcium, Palm Oil, and More!

Here are 10 quick and helpful tips from recent news and scientific findings in the world of health.

• Celery, Parsley, Red Wine, Chamomile Tea, and Tomato Sauce Fight Ovarian Cancer

  Women who eat these and other foods rich in the flavonoid apigenin have a 28% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer than those who consume less, report researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

• Vinegar: Metabolism Booster

  The primary substance that gives ordinary vinegar its sour taste and strong odor may fight fat, suggests new research presented at a recent meeting of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science. In a study of 175 overweight Japanese men and women, those who consumed a drink containing either 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar daily for 12 weeks had significantly lower body weight, BMI, visceral fat, and waist circumference than the control group that didn’t consume any vinegar. Researchers credit vinegar’s acetic acid, which may switch on genes that pump out proteins that break down fat.

• Chew More, Eat Less

  People who chewed almonds 25 to 40 times absorbed more healthy unsaturated fat and felt more satisfied than when they finished in 10 chews, finds a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Extra chewing breaks down fiber and sturdy cells, releasing nutrients that would otherwise pass through the digestive tract, explains researcher Richard Mattes, MPH, PhD, RD. Plus, steady chewers felt fuller, which may help promote weight loss.

• Calcium: The Magic Mineral for Weight Loss

  Boosting your calcium intake may help curb your appetite and make slimming down easier, suggests research in the British Journal of Nutrition. When calcium-deficient women took a supplement, they lost 4 times more weight than those who didn’t take the extra calcium. Researchers believe the brain compensates for a calcium shortage by initiating hunger to encourage eating foods rich in the mineral. Since most women fall short on calcium, aim to consume fat-free or low-fat yogurt and milk, beans, and dark leafy greens throughout the day, or talk with your doctor about supplements.

• New Danger Fat: Palm Oil

  As trans fats disappear from margarine, cookies, and other packaged food, another potentially harmful additive is taking its place: palm oil. It was once lauded for a high vitamin E and oleic acid content, but research is turning rancid. Palm oil is loaded with artery-damaging saturated fats and acts much like trans fats in your body. It can raise levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (a protein attached to fat particles that carries bad cholesterol through the bloodstream) by nearly as much as trans fat, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Plus, the production of palm oil is fueling deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, contributing to the extinction of several species.

  • Petition: Protect Tigers and Humans, Stop Illegal Logging in Sumatra
  • Petition: Remove Palm Oil from Cadbury Chocolate
  • Article: Palm oil industry pledges wildlife corridors to save orangutans

  Stick to whole foods, and if you buy processed ones, pick those that have heart-healthy oils like olive and canola on ingredient lists.

• 80% of Dermatologists Think Improper Cleansing Ages Skin

  These face-washing steps from New York City dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD, can help women over 40 beat the clock:

  1. Cleanse only at night. Twice a day is too drying for over-40 complexions.
  2. Use a moisturizing cleansing oil if skin is dry or sensitive. Try Boscia MakeUp-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil ($21, beauty.com). Gently rub it into skin for a few minutes to boost circulation and increase radiance.
  3. Just rinse with cold water in the morning. You’ll brighten skin and make pores look tighter.

  
  Boscia MakeUp-Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil

• Easiest Flu Fighter

  19,500 flu viruses may be expelled in a single cough by someone infected with the flu, according to estimates from Hong Kong researchers. To stop the spread of your germs, cough or sneeze into your sleeve instead of your hand.

• How to Remove Pesticide Residue from Nonorganic Fruits and Vegetables

  Research shows that scrubbing produce in tap water is just as effective at removing pesticides as mild detergents and products made specifically to wash fruits and vegetables. To get the best results, rinse under tap water for 60 seconds while rubbing the outside with your fingers.

• Get 12-Hour Energy!

  A 20-minute walk gives you a blast of pep that lasts all day, reveals new research from the University of Vermont. Though exercise provides an immediate lift, scientists were surprised at the long-lasting effect, because mood-boosting endorphins stay elevated for only a couple of hours. Researchers speculate that the jump-start helps buffer the effects of everyday hassles and stress on your outlook throughout the day.

• The Supplements Exercisers Should Skip

  Popping vitamin C and E supplements may counteract your workout’s ability to protect against diabetes. In a new study, insulin sensitivity did not improve in exercisers given 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E daily (the dose in typical drugstore brands), while those who did the same workouts without the extra antioxidants significantly improved their ability to process blood sugar over 4 weeks. Supplements may prevent the body from producing its own antioxidants, say researchers, hampering exercise’s disease-fighting benefits. Get these vitamins naturally from produce, nuts, seeds, and oils.

– Source: Prevention Magazine, October 2009

For more articles on health, nutrition, and fitness, pick up the October 2009 issue of Prevention at your local newsstand, or save money and sign up for a subscription:

Prevention Magazine

The October 2009 issue of Prevention includes Best Cures for Knee Pain, Walk Off 2 Sizes in 6 Weeks, Play Up Your Brainpower, Is It… Perimenopause?, Smartest Cancer Advice, healthy recipes, and more!