| About the Author |
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Along with bringing the latest news and trends about alternative health, Bob will help you get the most of your Internet health research. Bob is the Living Well Columnist for the Seattle Post- Intelligencer. He covers health and quality of life for the Hearst-owned newspaper and writes regularly for national magazines. He is a former syndicated health columnist for the Chicago Tribune twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and author of six books, including “The Good Mood Diet” and “Your Prostate Cancer Survivors’ Guide.” His articles have appeared in Life, Esquire, Parade, Self, Outside and Shape among national magazines. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two 11-year-old kids. |
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| Thursday, September 25, 2008 |
| Stay Younger Longer: Getting Enough Sleep is Not Debatable |
Forget the whole cutesy “beauty sleep” thing. What we need to know about how sleep can keep us younger is crystallized in a study by Eve Van Cauter and colleagues at the University of Chicago.
Van Cauter scared up about a dozen healthy young men, easy enough to do on a college campus. She asked them to stay overnight in the university sleep lab facility for six consecutive nights.
Then she and her fellow researchers methodically disrupted the sleep patterns of these young men, waking them up frequently, turning on lights, requiring certain mental tasks before going back to sleep. The subjects averaged four hours of sleep each night
Which sounds like a typical sleep pattern during finals week.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, anti-aging, bob condor, sleep |
posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 7:24 AM  |
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| Wednesday, September 24, 2008 |
| Stay Younger Longer: Best Workout to Fight Off Fatigue, Aging |
Here’s a hopeful fact about the world’s best marathon runners. They tend to peak in their mid to late 30s, which tells us something about endurance as we get older.
The message? It’s loud and clear that running, walking, swimming, bicycling and using any of the various cardio machines at the gym are good ways to build and maintain endurance well into our older ages. It’s a sure-fire route to staying younger longer. You will feel stronger and less fatigued than, say, your formerly sedentary self.
Endurance training, which is also called cardio or aerobic training, can significantly protect your heart and lungs. It’s not a young person’s domain. Landmark studies conducted at Tufts University in Boston has even revealed that sedentary individuals who are 70 and older can significantly improve endurance—and report feeling younger and more independent—if they take up aerobic training in their eight decade and beyond.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, anti-aging, bob condor, exercise, fatigue |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 9:37 AM |
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| Tuesday, September 23, 2008 |
| Stay Younger Longer: Protecting Your Skin from Wrinkles, Dryness |
You probably know this already, but there is no guaranteed method for keeping your skin younger longer. But research shows there are some documented habits that can keep your skin as young-looking and wrinkle-free as possible. Best of all, these habits will keep your skin healthier longer, which will not only improve what you hope to see in the mirror but also protect the body from illness. After all, the skin is the body’s largest organ. Try these habits as part of any skin care regimen;
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, anti-aging, bob condor, dry skin, skin care, wrinkles |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:12 AM |
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| Monday, September 22, 2008 |
| Too Many College Kids Smoke, Risk Earlier Heart Attacks |
Big Tobacco might have lost some rounds with state government lawsuits, but cigarette companies are running up the score on college campuses like a Top 10 football team playing a weak nonconference opponent. A new report from the American Lung Association shows an “unacceptably high” one of five college students are smokers.
The Lung Association looked at the issue from both sides. It surveyed students at 119 American colleges and kids at 109 schools confirmed they are consistently exposed to tobacco promotions at campus events. Citing last available numbers, the researchers said tobacco companies spent more than $1 million per day, on average, during the 2005-06 school year to fund events and giveaways aimed at college students.
Here’s one reason why Big Tobacco is primed with promotional dollars on campus. Many college kids are social or occasional smokers. Cigarette companies exploit that experimentation and look to make products available in hopes of converting the social smokers into habitual smokers. Bernadette A. Toomey, president and CEO of the Lung Association, said “every college student in American has a target on [his/her] back as far as the tobacco industry is concerned.”
Continue reading... Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, heart attacks, smoking |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 11:41 AM |
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| Simple Head and Body Movements Cure Vertigo |
Anyone who has ever struggled with vertigo, temporarily or long-term, knows it is about as disruptive to daily life as most any condition. Earlier this summer, the American Academy of Neurology offered some hope in a new research-based guideline that a simple series of head and body movements with a therapist or doctor can ease or stop vertigo symptoms.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the official term for what we call vertigo. It is an inner ear disorder that causes dizziness, even while still in bed. Room spinning is the norm, standing or sitting.
Two techniques are recommended by the neurology professional group. One is called Canalith repositioning of the head and body (some practitioners will call the Epley maneuver, and, really, who cares which person gets the credit if it works?). The other technique is the Semont maneuver in which the head through a sequence of four positions. Both therapies are safe for all ages—and beat the alternative of being urged to “wait it out” or try medications.
Continue reading... Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 11:35 AM |
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| Thursday, September 18, 2008 |
| Tai Chi Prevents Falls Among Elders–and It's in Real Life |
For several years, researchers have discovered the Chinese ancient healing art of tai chi can help an older person maintain balance—or regain it—while avoiding the nasty falls that plague a number of our elders. Now the findings are directly helping in communities.
For seniors, those falls can lead to broken hips among other adversities, and often mark the beginning of a downhill slide of health. Any number of us have observed this wrong-way spiral in our own parents or other loved ones.
Some sharp workers at senior community centers in Lane County, Oregon were clearly reading and paying attention to the promising link between tai chi and staying younger—and in one piece. A recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health detailed how seniors in Lane County were avoiding falls and improving their overall health. The Oregon state department of human services was impressed enough to begin tai chi programs in four counties.
Now that’s community organizing.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 10:19 AM |
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| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 |
| Pain Relievers Lower a Man's PSA Screening for Prostate Cancer |
Here’s an provocative new finding about over-the-counter pain relievers and prostate cancer: Researchers found regular use of aspirin or ibuprofen lowers the amount of a specific protein in the blood that is used for prostate cancer screening. The question is, do the pain reliever lower the risk of cancer or simply make it harder for prostate tumors to be detected because a lower number on the blood test might well give both a man and his doctor a false sense of security?
Researchers from the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center who performed the study say they don’t know yet. More research is needed, they write, and by no means does these findings suggests a man should take aspirin or ibuprofen as a preventive strategy for prostate cancer.
There are three factors to raise here. First, long-term and chronic use of pain relievers can greatly disrupt your digestive function and lead to ulcers among other conditions. It is important to remember that painkillers can work wonders for the muscles and joints, but often at the expense of the gut. That tradeoff is rarely worth it.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, cancer, pain relief |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:17 AM |
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| Monday, September 15, 2008 |
| Does the World Have a Drinking Problem? |
Welcome to the weekend. It’s possible you enjoyed a glass of red wine with dinner last night. After all, that is by most research accounts a healthy habit. So, good for you in more ways than one.
Of course, whenever a red wine study is published and, inevitably, covered widely in the media, there is an important proviso: Don’t begin drinking alcohol for the health benefit. What worries researchers is not that a glass or two of wine will be anything but a plus; in fact, there is solid evidence that so-called teetotalers don’t live as long, on average, as moderate drinkers. The problem is when that one glass becomes three, four, five.
Alcohol researchers have duly covered both ends of the age spectrum. Studies show a growing number of seniors (65 and over) are starting “happy hours” early in the afternoon and embarking on a unhealthy mix of cocktails and depression symptoms. Other studies have reported on the disturbing rate of binge drinking among college students; university substance abuse counselors are on the front lines and say it’s never been this widespread.
Continue reading... Labels: alcohol, alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:30 AM |
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| Friday, September 12, 2008 |
| Artichoke Power: The Shunned Veggie Lowers Cholesterol |
The artichoke’s reputation precedes itself. Most people consider the veggie to be more trouble than it’s worth in whole form. A new study says, think again, artichoke avoiders, because the plant’s leaves have cholesterol-busting properties.
But artichokes are a hassle to prepare, right? That’s why you pick up organic artichokes heart flash-sealed in a can or perhaps on the progressive salad bar in your neighborhood.
And, OK, maybe some folks grew up to love steamed artichoke leaves as an appetizer with dip or discovered the same as adults. But let’s just say that artichokes only come before, oh, broccoli, carrots and spinach in the alphabet.
Until now. Researchers at the University of Reading in England reported in the July issue of the journal Phytomedicine that over-the-counter artichoke leaf extract can lower cholesterol in individuals with moderately raised levels of the substance widely associated with plaque buildup and cardiovascular disease. With Americans spending millions on cholesterol drugs, this study offers a natural and money-saving upside.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, cholesterol |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 10:17 AM |
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| Thursday, September 11, 2008 |
| Exercise Can Prevent Cancer's Onset and Recurrence |
A decade ago, physical therapists who started exercise programs for cancer patients were considered avant-garde—and maybe even a little too proactive in helping people recover and prevent recurrence. Some medical doctors were questioning workout programs for patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. There was doubt about whether exercise and physical activity made much of difference in preventing cancer cells from forming or reforming in the body.
Since then, researchers have built a strong case for being physically active. Every cancer care center offers exercise programs or points patients where they can find tailored workouts. A new study puts an exclamation point on the evidence.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, cancer, exercise |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 2:12 PM |
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| Tuesday, September 9, 2008 |
| Most Cancer Patients Use Alternative Therapies; Prayer Tops List |
The results are in, and let’s just say here at the Alternative Health Blog there is no surprise. A new study appearing in the peer-reviewed journal Cancer, a publication of the American Cancer Study, shows that most U.S. cancer patients seek out alternative healing therapies in conjunction with any treatment from MDs.
Some numbers: Sixty-one percent of more than 4,000 respondents said they used prayer and spiritual practice as part of their recovery and prevention. Relaxation techniques checked in at 44 percent, while faith/spiritual healing was 42 percent and nutritional supplements/vitamins rounded out the most popular alt-med options at 40 percent. Fifteen percent said meditation was a cornerstone, while 11 percent said the same about religious counseling or massage therapy. Support groups were used by about 10 percent of the cancer patients. Biofeedback, hypnosis and acupuncture/acupressure all rated one percent or less.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, cancer, massage therapy, religion and spirituality |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 1:00 PM |
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| Daily TV Habit Might Cancel Out Your Exercise Program |
Favorite TV shows, your local professional sportteam, political campaigns, Jon Stewart, even the health segment on the evening news. Question: What do they all have in common?
Answer: Watching these things on TV can add up to a drag on your health goals—and that’s even if you are a regular exerciser. A 2008 study published by Australian researchers in the professional journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, reports that women who moderately or intensely worked out several times per week but also watched 43 to 86 minutes of television per day might have trouble maintaining healthy weight compared to women exercisers who watched little or no TV.
What’s more, those TV-viewing women who worked out experienced higher blood pressure and a jump in the heart disease blood marker triglycerides versus the non-TV watchers who were exercisers.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, exercise, high blood pressure |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 12:59 PM |
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| Weekend Warrior Habit Can Help You Live Longer |
OK, weekend warriors, there is proof that your Saturday and/or Sunday workouts are doing you some serious good. Maybe not as much as several workouts per week but decidedly better than no regular, even once-weekly exercise in your life.
Harvard researcher I-Min Lee published a study in 2004 that tracked more than 8,400 men between the ages of 50 and 70 over a decade. Those men who maintained a weekend exercise habit over the years were significantly less likely to die before the average life expectancy for American males at 78 years old. And that’s even if the man doesn’t move much the rest of the week, perhaps because of job or family obligations.
There are some caveats. The men who lived longer and stronger expended about 1,000 calories from exercise, most of it during fairly intense weekend bouts that were nonetheless considered “recreational” by the men in the study. Lin analyzed the data from the Harvard Alumni Health Study. Also, the men living longer were generally healthy during their adult lives, maintaining normal body weight and experiencing few cardiovascular problems.
Continue reading... Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, exercise |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 12:58 PM |
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| Friday, September 5, 2008 |
| Spicy Science: Saffron Shows Promise to Reduce PMS Symptoms |
Don’t know about you but there never seems to be a reason to pass up a saffron dish on a Mediterranean menu. Now it appears there might be an even better reason than the spice’s delicate yet distinctive taste: A new study shows saffron can ease PMS symptoms. Saffron has long been associated with expense, since it prices out at the highest to purchase among spices. It also has a solid reputation as an antidote for stomach pain and digestive problems, plus recent clinical trials point to saffron as a remedy for mild to moderate depression. Other studies suggest the ancient spice produced from flowers might effectively reduce tumor size and offset chemotherapy side effects. Yet another positive health benefit is saffron might help regenerate brain cells lost to alcohol consumption. We, ahem, are always looking for practical applications to your healthstyle, particularly if a glass of wine is in your near weekend future. Continue reading… Labels: alternative medicine, bob condor, PMS |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:59 AM |
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| Natural Relief for Knee Pain, Arthritis on Horizon |
Anyone struggling with chronic knee pain is all too familiar with the temptation of medications. One capsule a day might turn to, oh, three to control pain, especially if you are active. When a natural pain-relief remedy for knee pain appears on the health horizon, the Alternative Health Blog is eager to report it. So here goes: A new study published in the mainstream Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery shows that the herb Garcinia kola or bitter kola is effective in significantly reducing the pain and swelling of osteoarthritis in the knee joint compared to a control group taking placebo. The study also included volunteers with knee pain who took the prescription drug Celebrex or over-the-counter naproxen (most commonly branded as Aleve). Continue reading… Labels: alternative medicine, arthritis, bob condor |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 8:59 AM |
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| Tuesday, September 2, 2008 |
| Natural high: Runners can prevent heart attacks, disabilities |
Runner’s high? It can last for years, even decades
The runner’s high has long been a way to describe the good feeling you get during a run. It appears that runner’s high lasts a lot longer than that.
The health benefits of a running habit are hard to dispute. Regular physical activity is a plus for any of us. You might be able to say that some runners exercise too often or run through injuries to a fault. But clearly those runners are enhancing cardiovascular health and, not unimportantly, boosting mental health.
Researchers at Duke University Medical School’s behavioral medicine department were the first to show that running and other forms of exercise can reduce symptoms of depression. George Sheehan, a Boston physician and bestselling author of running books during the jogging boom of the 1970s, was fond of explaining, “the first half-hour of my run is for my body; the second half-hour is for my head.”
Now comes new research from Stanford University showing that a regular running habit can provide a physical upside even as those runners grow older and convert from runners to walkers. In fact, running as a young adult can reduce risk for disabilities in middle age and later in life.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, exercise |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 10:11 AM |
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| Who's in control? How to be less stressed out at work |
We all know people who work too much. That might include the one you see reflecting back in the mirror. Here’s hoping Labor Day was an off day in any cas
We also know people who think they work too much, whether that is true or not. There’s room to debate, say, whether the person who logs 10 hours at the office every weekday actually works all 10. Or whether the person jumping online for a time at night is working more than surfing.
So there is perception versus reality in determining work overload, which is fitting because research shows it is perceived lack of control on the job that creates the most stress for workers. A landmark study showed that British civil workers on the lowest rungs of an organizational chart experienced the highest amount of stress. That covers even middle-management supervisors who you might think would feel the pressure from above and below their authority levels.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, stress, work and jobs |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 10:10 AM |
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| Color Code: Eat Blueberries for Brain Power, Greens for Vision |
Every morning James Joseph finds a way to consume at least a half-cup of blueberries. He might eat them with cold cereal or oatmeal, maybe in a smoothie if he is in a hurry to get to his office. As a leading food scientist, Joseph knows that blueberries and other fruits and vegetables with deep pigment is straight and delicious root to better brain health.
Joseph works at the esteemed Tufts University nutrition research center that works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It’s officially called the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts.
What’s more, Joseph might well munch on another four to eight ounces of fresh blueberries as he works on his latest investigations of how the flavonoids or certain plant substances in fruits and vegetables turn on neuron signals to the brain. Joseph, always chipper when the Alternative Health Blog calls, is a pioneering scientists who discovered the deep pigment in produce can have protective effects against cancer and heart disease.
Continue reading...Labels: alternative health, alternative medicine, bob condor, brain, vision |
| posted by Alternative Health Journal Blog @ 10:04 AM |
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