You’re likely watching more TV than usual during Christmas vacation. Is that horrible? SEED magazine explores whether TV is really totally evil for your health. Sure, you need exercise, but how does TV fit into the equation? Is some TV good for us? See what SEED thinks in their article, TV’s Unintended Consequences.

Are you looking forward to Christmas so much you might experience disappointment on December 26? Call it the “let down effect.” Psychology Today offers some tips on avoiding the let down effect and potential sickness after the holidays in their article, When the Good Times Make Us Sick.

Is that “healthy food” really healthy? Maybe low-fat dressing isn’t the best choice. And perhaps egg yolks aren’t the horrible things we think they are. Experience Life magazine encourages you to reconsider some of your seemingly wholesome dietary choices in their article, 6 “Healthy” Eating Choices to Rethink.

Maybe you don’t have time for a full hour of yoga during the holidays, but you can still get in a few poses that count! Yoga Journal gives you some practical tips on four quick poses to fit into your busy day in their article, Every Move You Make. Yes, you do have time for a pose or two, especially one called “happy baby pose.”

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Post from: Blisstree

Five Fab Health Reads as the Turkey Roasts

Specifically, Martin, a social researcher, is giving you 10 simple tips for helping to maintain sanity in stepfamilies during the holidays. Martin has appeared as a stepparenting expert on NPR, the BBC Newshour, Fox News and NBC Weekend Today. Her newest book, Stepmonster, is a finalist in the parenting category of the “Books for a Better Life” award. The author is also a regular contributor to Psychology Today.

Martin, stepmother for nearly a decade, lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Her stepdaughters are young adults. Visit Martin’s website to learn more.

Stepfamily Sanity this Holiday Season
By Wednesday Martin, Ph.D.,
Author of Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do

When you think of holidays, you probably think of family.

And that’s what makes holidays so tough for stepfamilies. At this time of year, couples in a remarriage with children might be feeling . . . imperfect. For example, they might be polarized — he misses his kids, while she hopes they won’t treat her like the maid when they show up. She wants to buy her 25-year old’s plane ticket to come for a holiday visit — he thinks she spoils her kids and young adults should pay their own way.

Even if they’re on the same page about their step/kids, both members of the couple likely find themselves facing plenty of misunderstanding from friends and family as visions of sugarplums dance in our collective heads. “His kids won’t be here for the holidays? How come?!” “I can’t believe they’re going to spend only Christmas Eve with you.” “You’re not doing holidays with his ex? How come? Isn’t that the best thing for the kids?”

In the face of all the pressure and misunderstanding, take heart. Here are ten simple tips for stepfamily sanity this holiday season.

1. Give up on “blending.” Stepfamilies come together in their own ways, and in their own time — experts say four to 12 years! Particularly at holiday time, stepkids of any age may feel their loyalty binds more acutely (”Dad’s remarried but mom’s not so I should spend the whole holiday with her”). And sometimes in spite of a stepparent’s best efforts, a stepchild may keep his or her distance, taking a “stand” at holiday time. Don’t expect your stepfamily to resemble an eggnog smoothie during the holidays and you’ll spare yourself and your marriage a lot of aggravation.

2. Let your stepfamily be what it is. One family I interviewed put up two trees every year, because it mattered that much to them all to honor their own traditions. Respecting those differences can help everyone come together in their own way.

3. Know that you and your spouse will probably argue. From deciding how much to spend on gifts for her kids, to reopening old wounds about how the stepkids behaved during holidays past, couples in a remarriage with children are under extraordinary pressure this season. Arguments aren’t signs of failure — they’re opportunities to communicate. Find communication formulas and tips that work for you in Stepmonster and other books for couples with stepchildren.

4. Keep it normal. Whether they’re five or 50, what kids want post divorce and remarriage is a sense of belonging. So skip the red carpet welcome and think “inclusive” and “normal.” Give mom or dad some time alone with his or her kids, and then do the things you do every day and every holiday, inviting the kids to join. Let older and adult stepkids help with holiday meal planning and prep, serving and clean-up. Little ones can make place cards or holiday art for guests. This helps them feel like family, not guests. And when they’re pitching in and happy, stepmom/stepdad won’t feel as depleted or de-centered by their visit.

5. Choose side by side activities. Puzzles, stringing popcorn, baking, and watching a holiday movie all let you spend time together without interacting “head on,” which experts like Patricia Papernow tell us can be more stressful for “steps.”

6. Know your limits. Don’t do or give in a way that will increase your resentment. If your stepkids habitually forget to bring anything for you, or have a history of not writing thank you notes, don’t go overboard with extravagant gifts and efforts. Let them be your guide to avoid martyr syndrome (”I do and I do for them!”) during (and after) the holidays.

7. Strategize ahead of time. Stepfamilies aren’t first families. There may be tensions, and that’s normal. Spouses might have to plan out activities and time alone ahead of time. “I think I’m going to need a break tomorrow. How about a long walk together first thing in the morning?” This is not a failure — just a constructive way of adapting.

8. Remember stepfamily members bond best one-on-one. All-together-now activities can activate stepkids’ anxieties about who’s an insider and who’s an outsider. Give parent and stepparent plenty of one-on-one time with kids and stepkids — and with each other. And don’t forget about yourselves as a couple. You need one-on-one time, too.

9. Get out of the house. For stepmothers especially, there can be extraordinary pressure to create that Norman Rockwell aura over the holidays. Before the pressure gets to be too much, get out to see friends and your own family. Take time to pamper, whether it’s a spa visit or a coffee with pals who understand and don’t judge. Getting out of your own home, away from your stepkids and even your spouse, isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a necessity, rejuvenating you and helping prevent stepparental burnout.

10. Let go of the guilt. Remember that even first families struggle with unrealistic expectations during the holidays. If things don’t go perfectly — if there are squabbles or hurt feelings — have faith that this is normal and won’t damage the kids or your marriage irreparably. Stepfamily members are bound to have differences and even blow-ups. By showing your stepkids that people can argue and then move on, you are modeling the kind of resilience that will serve them well for a lifetime. That might be the ultimate holiday gift.

©2009 Wednesday Martin, Ph.D., author of Stepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do

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Post from: Blisstree

Stepfamily Sanity During Holidays

The advisory panel recommended extended statin usage primarily based upon results from the Jupiter trial, which was funded by AstraZeneca — the people who make Crestor. Am I the only one who feels statins are so poplar mainly because there’s money to be made? Yes, I know that drug companies don’t have the same funding issues as other sources of research funding. And I’m aware of the research supporting statin usage to prevent heart attacks and strokes, but I’m not convinced the benefits outweigh the risks for everyone.

The potential price of taking statins

Most people who have considered the idea of taking a statin for high cholesterol know that the drugs aren’t risk free. They may lower cholesterol, but sometimes at the cost of some serious side effects. And now people with normal cholesterol might take statins too? I’m not a scientist, but it seems like we all need to take a deep breath and get a little less excited about these drugs. They aren’t vitamins, after all.

Some statin side effects impact quality of life. According to Mayo Clinic, muscle pain is the most common side effect reported. It can be tough to put up with muscle pain for the sake of lowering cholesterol if you’re otherwise heart healthy. Some people taking statins may also experience digestive issues. I tried a 40 mg Zocor generic and could barely move from the stomach cramps. Days later, I still felt like my stomach had been used as a punching bag.

In addition to the merely annoying side effects, statins can actually kill you. Rarely, muscle pain can signal a very serious and sometimes deadly side effect of statin use: rhabdomyolysis, muscle damage which may lead to kidney failure and liver damage. It’s this rare, but life-threatening side effect that makes me scratch my head at the thought of taking this serious drug if you don’t have to.

According to Mayo Clinic, you’re at greater risk of experiencing side effects from statin usage if you’re female, have a small body frame, suffer from type 1 ot type 2 diabetes, take multiple cholesterol-lowering medications, or if you’re age 65 or older.

Read more about this issue at CNN: FDA considers statin use for those with normal cholesterol.

Do you think the FDA should approve the use of statins for people without high cholesterol?

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Post from: Blisstree

Statins Aren’t Vitamins

Seniors, those aged 65  years or older, often undergo surgery for various ailments that have either been neglected over time or have developed over the years. And, as the population ages, more surgeries will be done in that age group. According to a study just published in the Archives of Surgery, every year, approximately two million seniors have abdominal surgery.

Abdominal surgeries, any type of surgery that involves the abdomen, are particularly risky for seniors, say researcher from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. The researchers were looking at complication and death rates of 101,318 seniors who underwent common abdominal procedures such as cholecystectomies (gall bladder removal), hysterectomies (removal of the uterus) and colectomies (removal of part of the colon).

Seniors often have multiple medical problems, which could add to surgery risk, and the researchers point out that the seniors may also have a lower ability to tolerate the stress of surgery and any complications that may result. For this reason, the researchers found a complication rate and death rate of:

• 14.6% and 2.5% for patients from 65 to 69 years
• 16.1% and 3.8% for patients from 70 to 74 years
• 18.8% and 6% for patients from 75 to 79 years
• 19.9% and 8.1% for patients from 80 to 84 years
• 22.6%  and 12.6% for patients from 85 to 89 years
• 22.7% and 16.7% for patients who were 90 years or older

~~~

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Post from: Blisstree

Abdominal Surgery Higher Risk for Seniors

However, Dr. Bradley Bale, co-founder of the Bale/Doneen Method, has taken up the cause of healthy giving with his article below. And he has also explained the science behind some of his picks. Most of these gifts can be arranged or bought in a snap, so check your last-minute gift list.

Top 5 Healthy Holiday Gifts for the Ones You Love
By Dr. Bradley Bale,
co-founder of the Bale/Doneen Method and the Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center

Make certain your family and friends start the year off healthy. These gifts are an easy way to give the gift of health in 2010!

1. Gym Membership
Put an extra spring in someone’s step. Offer to cover a friend or family member’s gym membership for a month or a year. According to The Mayo Clinic, individuals who exercise daily find it helps maintain consistent sleep patterns, a consistent body weight, and mental alertness. Check out your local gym for yearly and monthly membership packages.

2. Offer to Attend a Doctor’s Appointment with a Loved One
It can be overwhelming for people to visit the doctor, especially older folks who may have multiple health issues. Use your knowledge about the latest diagnostics and treatments for prevalent conditions to make sure your loved one is getting the best possible care. For example, the PLAC Test is relatively new and goes beyond traditional risk factors in identifying risk for heart attack and stroke. By accompanying your loved one on their next doctor’s visit you can be sure to ask about this test, among others, that might not come up otherwise.

3. Healthy Cookbook
Compile or buy a book of your favorite healthy recipes. Kathleen M. Zelman of WebMD.com recommends Fit Food – Eating Well for Life by Ellen Haas, Healthy Homestyle Cooking by Evelyn Tribole and The Phytopia Cookbook by Barbara Gollman and Kim Pierce for healthy cooking.

4. A Monthly Bottle of Red Wine
Sign up to have a monthly bottle of wine sent to your loved one. According to the Yale-New Haven Hospital, drinking one four-ounce glass of red wine a few times a week can reduce blood clotting, boost HDL (good cholesterol) and reduce LDL (bad cholesterol).¹ Please keep in mind one or more alcoholic beverages a day does increase cancer risk in women.² Also there is evidence individuals who harbor the apoE 4 genotype may have a worsening of their HDL and LDL with daily alcohol.³ Visit wineinsiders.com to find 3 month, 6 month and 12 month wine packages. Or visit wine.com and click on wineclubs for prices.

5. Fruit Basket
What’s healthier than mother nature’s wide variety of desserts that are chock full of antioxidants that help ward off diseases like cancer?

¹ “A glass of red wine a day keeps the doctor away”. March 10, 2005. http://www.ynhh.org/online/nutrition/advisor/red_wine.html
² Allen NE, Beral V, Casabonne D, et al. Moderate alcohol intake and cancer incidence in women.J Natl Cancer Inst 2009; 101:296-305
³ ApoE genotype information. Berkeley HeartLab, Inc. www.bhlinc.com

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Post from: Blisstree

Doctor’s Choice for Holiday Gifts

When’s the last time a candy gave you anything?

Refresh is a new mouth moistening candy with advanced moisture action. It’s specially formulated to help moisten your mouth. In addition to relieving a dry mouth, HALLS Refresh is nice to your teeth as well. It’s sugar-free! HALLS Refresh is available in all the same stores where you usually find HALLS.

The new mouth moistening candy has only 6 calories and 3 grams of carbohydrates per drop. Refresh can be incorporated into the diet of diabetics, but you should consult with your doctor if you have concerns.

To enter, you must have a US mailing address. Leave a comment on this post telling me which flavor of Halls Refresh you would choose! I’m a strawberry gal myself. The three available flavors of HALLS Refresh include Juicy Strawberry, Tropical Wave and Refreshing Mint. Deadline to enter is 11 pm CST on January 4, 2010.

How to Enter More Than Once
Tweet this contest and let me know by commenting again for a second chance to win this great holiday giveaway. You may also become a fan of HALLS on Facebook for a third entry.

The randomly chosen winner will have five days to respond to my request for a mailing address. That means you should check your spam filter on January 5 if you don’t want to lose your prize.

Good luck and happy holidays!

(Images courtesy HALLS)

Post from: Blisstree

Win a $100 AMEX from HALLS Refresh!

Many years ago, when my “baby” sister was a baby, I was minding her while my parents were out. I must have been about 14 or 15 and she was about a year and a half old. We had a piano in our dining room, which was an extension of the living room, where my sister’s playpen was – just beside the Christmas tree. I remember I was practicing the piano while she played in her pen – or so I thought.

At some point, I turned around and her mouth was dripping with blood. In her hand, she was holding a broken, red Christmas tree ball. A broken, red *glass* Christmas tree bulb, that she had been biting and chewing on.

I remember panicking, having no idea what to do. I didn’t know how long she’d been munching on this glass bulb and if she’s swallowed any glass. All I knew was if anything happened to her, I’d be in big, big trouble.

All these years later, this sister is now in her mid-thirties and I remember that incident as if it was yesterday. As far as I know, she suffered no ill effects from the Christmas tree ball incident, but I know I never forgot. My kids were never allowed unsupervised near the tree and I limited the use of the glass bulbs as much as I could. The ones we did have were gifts.

It turns out that my sister’s and my experience isn’t unique. The results of a new study out of Boston and published in the most recent issue of Pediatric Emergency Care (Holiday Ornament-Related Injuries in Children), found that glass ornaments were one of the worst safety hazards of Christmas decorations. Children who were injured were about 2 years old (ranging from 1.17-3.3 years) and with more boys (44.7% were girls).

After examining 76 cases found over a 13-year period, the study’s authors concluded:

Holiday ornament-related injuries primarily involve foreign body ingestions and glass-related injuries. Over half of the injuries involved small light bulbs and ornaments made of glass placed at the level a toddler can reach.

Broken down:

• 56% of the children ingested ornaments or fragments of ornaments or light bulbs into the mouth – only one was not made of glass
• 28% of those who ingested the glass or bulbs experienced bleeding of the mouth or gastrointestinal tract
• 27% of the children sustained lacerations (cuts), most of whom needed surgery to repaire
• 85% of the children needed tests, such as x-rays or scans
• 23% of the time, a specialist had to be consulted, most often for advice or help in removing the object(s)
• 3 children were checked for toxin exposure
• 2 children experienced minor electrocution

~~~

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Post from: Blisstree

Warning: Glass Ornaments & Baby’s Mouths

A new study of more than 5,000 women has found that breast cancer patients who eat more soy are less likely to die or experience a cancer recurrence than women who eat no or few soy products. Yes, that’s a reverse from previous guidance on breast cancer and soy! Read more about the study at CNN: Soy may benefit breast cancer survivors, study says.

Too intimidated to exercise

Published in Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, study findings revealed information on attitudes about exercise. From an online survey, researchers at The George Washington University Medical Center learned that overweight people believed exercise improved self image and appearance more than individuals of normal weight. However, overweight survey participants felt more embarrassed and intimidated about exercising around other people, including young people or fit people. They were also more embarrassed around health club salespeople. Researchers believe that for overweight people, negative emotions surrounding health club exercise could be stronger in controlling regular exercise than intellectual facts, such as known benefits of exercise.

Obesity affects breast cancer outcomes

A study with a 30-year follow-up found that breast cancer patients with a high BMI had an increased risk of dying from breast cancer. Treatment also seemed to lose its effect more rapidly in obese patients. The study included data from almost 54,000 women in the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group database. Researchers suggest that women should make an effort to keep their BMI under 25. The research findings were presented at the CTRC-AACR Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

(Image via flickr/SashaW)

Post from: Blisstree

Health Bits: Soy Benefits, Exercise Intent

Connie Domino, author of The Law of Forgiveness, says you should forgive everyone. She offers some tips on forgiveness, including a visualization technique, in her article, “Ten People You Need to Forgive Now,” which she has shared for you below. Forgiveness can be more simple and easier than you have imagined, and the rewards of forgiveness can be great.

Connie’s article serves to remind us that perhaps we’re making forgiveness more complicated than it needs to be. Plus, she reminds us that forgiveness isn’t the same as a pardon, and it’s the person who forgives who benefits.

Ten People You Need to Forgive Now
By Connie Domino, MPH, RN,
Author of The Law of Forgiveness: Tap into the Positive Power of Forgiveness — And Attract Good Things to Your Life

It’s that time of year when people begin thinking about making their New Year’s resolutions. For those who make resolutions year after year but never succeed, there is good news. This year you can take a whole new approach to making your dreams come true. By using a simple forgiveness technique, you can more easily and quickly meet your goals. Many of you may be surprised to see the words “forgiving” and “meeting goals” in the same sentence. I felt the same way until I began teaching a goal setting workshop for spiritually minded people in 2001. I found that lack of forgiveness was blocking them from meeting goals in every area of life.

One of the first things my workshop participants wanted to know is who they should forgive and how to know when they need to forgive. You may be wondering the same thing. You should forgive everyone you feel anger or resentment for from the sandbox right up until today. Then say one more forgiveness affirmation for anyone you may have forgotten. You do not need to contact anyone. You can forgive right in the privacy of your own home.

Bring each of the people listed below into your mind’s eye one at a time. Visualize them looking happy and peaceful. Then repeat an affirmation of forgiveness to them, something like this. “I forgive you completely and freely. I release you and let you go. The incident that happened between us is finished forever. I wish for you your highest good and I hold you in the light. All again is straight between us and peace be with you.” Then visualize them accepting your forgiveness and walking off a stage or out the door.

Here are ten people you need to forgive now:

Parents

Parents are usually on the top of the forgiveness list for many people. They blame their bad childhood for everything that has gone wrong. Most parents did the best they could with what they had to work with. However, even if they didn’t, you can tie up most of the energy you need to meet dreams and goals in your life by continuing to harbor anger and resentment towards your parents. Forgiveness is not something you do for undeserving people. It does not mean they were correct in their actions that hurt you. Forgiveness is something you do for yourself. It releases the hold the past has on your life, allowing you to meet your dreams and goals.

Spouses/Significant Others

This one is a hot topic in my goal setting and forgiveness workshops. It’s all about Ex’s and money and money and Ex’s — which I found do not make for a good combination. Through romantic novels, movies, and TV some of us may have come to expect more from that one special person in our lives than they can possible deliver. Sociologists who study the history of romance and marriage tell us that there are at least two primary reasons so many of our marriages fail. One is that modern Americans are one of the most marrying societies in written history. We have more marriages than ever recorded leading to more divorces than in the past. In addition, marriage has been so romanticized, we expect our spouses to meet more of our needs as opposed to married or dating people of past generations. The higher your expectations for your spouse or significant other, the greater the chance they will disappoint you. This unique situation requires more communication, more patience and more forgiveness than ever before.

Siblings, and other relatives

Most siblings (especially those born close together) experience some type of rivalry. These verbal and sometimes physical fights as children can take their toll. As adults we may need some professional assistance to discern if the line was crossed between kids having a normal amount of rivalry and whether the relationship was actually abusive. It’s easy for one child to be picked on more than others and parents may not realize the damage this produces if they chalk it up to normal sibling rousting. Forgiveness can provide great healing for anyone who has experienced an abusive relationship with one or more siblings. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting, it means viewing the situation with new eyes. Often adults who didn’t get along with their siblings as children find they can develop loving and supportive relationships as adults. However, it is important to know that you can forgive without reconciling the relationship. It may not even be appropriate to reconcile certain relationships. Forgiveness will still work whether you reconcile or not. You may need to forgive other relatives too. Maybe your children made you angry, didn’t meet your expectations or never call or come to visit. Forgive your children. Life is much too short and they are much too special.

Friends

It can be especially painful when you have been hurt by a friend. Friends are people you have made a conscious decision to be in relationship with. The special relationship we develop with friends usually involves mutual trust. When we are betrayed by a friend, we may begin to question our ability to recognize qualities we hold dear such as loyalty and honesty. We may wonder if we possess some sort of character flaw that makes us susceptible to attracting people who take advantage of our good nature.

Forgiveness is especially important to heal when we are hurt by a friend.

Supervisor/Boss

People who work full time may spend more waking hours at work than at home. When at home, most people have some authority over their routine, but at work, the boss is in control. Those of us fortunate enough to have a supportive, flexible and understanding supervisor are truly blessed. When most people join the working world, it doesn’t take long to discover that a significant number of people in supervisory positions are not cut out for the job. Forgiveness, even on a daily basis, can become an important strategy for making peace with the boss.

Coworkers

If making an effort to get along with your supervisor isn’t enough to spice up your work life, there’s always co-workers to make things even more interesting. There may be days you feel more like you are in junior high school rather than work. By the time most people are adults, they have developed set patterns for establishing their place in the tribal society we call “the workplace.” While many co-workers are actually helpful and supportive, there always seems to be at least one or two who are bent on taking the “fun” out of dysfunctional. If your work environment has become emotionally toxic, forgiveness can provide the scrubbing bubbles needed to clean it up.

Governments/public agencies and organizations

It’s very easy to get mad at a non-personal entity such as a government or other public agency. It has become obvious that too many elected officials seem to have forgotten that it is the people who elected them they represent and not lobbyists and their generous donors. Also, big bureaucracies can seem cold and uncaring. Those trying to receive their services may feel like another number or just a statistic. When forgiving a government or public agency it is important to remember that it is still people who make up the agency. It is still people who need to be forgiven.

Private businesses/agencies/organizations

Many people who lost trust in governments to help solve their problems turned to the private sector and the business world. As baby boomers we were taught by our parents that if we were good, loyal, hardworking employees hired by a reputable company that we could expect to be taken care of by that company with frequent raises, benefits and a nice retirement package. When we were first married, my husband worked for a company that we thought met this description. He had faithfully worked there for 25 years when the company’s leadership announced they were sending his job and others overseas to a contracting company where they could hire cheap labor. Along with many other American workers, we felt betrayed. It took my husband several years of searching to land a job with a similar company. We had both forgiven all the people we could think of from our past and present, but had not thought of forgiving a company. When we fully forgave my husband’s company, the job he wanted hired him within two weeks. Forgiveness works when directed at individuals and just as well when directed at businesses.

God/Higher Power/Religions

I am always surprised by the people who claim to be angry with God or their higher power. They believe that God should intervene constantly in human events, preventing bad things from happening to good people. They may be forgetting that it is free will that makes us distinctly human. This includes the free will to do good or the free will to get into trouble. If given the choice, I believe most people would refuse to relinquish their free will, even if it came with a guarantee of a robotic but more peaceful existence. With any type of freedom comes responsibility. Instead of blaming God, this means accepting responsibility for our actions and holding others accountable for their actions. Forgiveness is not the same thing as pardon, but it does unbind the hold another person may have on your life. It releases the past to make way for a more positive future.

Yourself

Some people have a more difficult time forgiving themselves as opposed to others. They feel guilt and shame for events that have long past. They blame themselves and become their own worst enemy. When you begin working on your forgiveness list, don’t forget to place yourself at the top. Forgiving yourself will lighten your burden and make it so much easier to forgive others.

©2009 Connie Domino, MPH, RN, author of The Law of Forgiveness: Tap into the Positive Power of Forgiveness — And Attract Good Things to Your Life

Author Bio
Connie Domino, MPH, RN, author of The Law of Forgiveness: Tap into the Positive Power of Forgiveness — And Attract Good Things to Your Life, is a nationally acclaimed life coach, trainer, registered nurse, support group facilitator, motivational speaker, and educational counselor who teaches public health nursing at the University of North Carolina.

You can read more about Connie’s forgiveness book at thelawofforgiveness.com.

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Post from: Blisstree

Forgiveness for the New Year

Tea lovers may also rejoice. The same diabetes-reducing association was found for tea drinkers as well. The study results were published recently in Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers found that coffee drinkers enjoyed a 7% reduction in the excess risk of diabetes for each additional cup of coffee consumed in a day. Those who had three to four cups per day experienced 25% lower risk than those who consumed between zero and two cups of coffee each day.

For decaffeinated coffee drinkers who drank more than three to four cups per day, there was a one-third lower risk of diabetes compared to people who never consumed decaf. People who had more than three to four cups of tea had a one-fifth lower risk compared to non-tea drinkers.

Since decaf also curbed diabetes risk, researchers believe that the link probably isn’t solely related to caffeine. The study authors commented that other compounds in coffee and tea, such as magnesium, lignans or chlorogenic acids, may also play a role.

This study is timely as University of Chicago researchers recently projected that diabetes cases could double by 2034.

While this news sounds exciting, further research is needed before docs start prescribing coffee and tea. Plus, some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and would need to consult with their physicians before increasing intake of coffee or tea.

What do you think of the association between reduced diabetes risk and coffee, decaf and tea?

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Post from: Blisstree

Coffee, Decaf & Tea May Lower Diabetes Risk