September 23, 2003 [Volume 4, Issue 20]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Laughter Really IS the Best Medicine
• Senior Use of CAM on the Rise
• Mom Was Right: Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables
• Alcohol Consumption May Help Prevent Gallbladder Disease

Laughter Really IS the Best Medicine

Want to ward off colds this winter? Try keeping a positive attitude. A recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that happy people are less likely to catch colds or complain of cold symptoms than those who experience negative emotions, such as depression, nervousness and anger.

Researchers interviewed 334 hundred healthy people over a two-week period to gather information on their positive and negative emotional states, including vigor; well-being; calm; depression; anxiety; and hostility. Following each interview, participants were given nasal drops containing one of two rhinoviruses (cold-causing germs) and monitored in quarantine for the next five days.

Results showed that participants with a positive attitude were less likely to develop cold symptoms, leading researchers to believe that optimistic people are more likely to have healthy lifestyles, which stave off illness. Participants with negative attitudes did not necessarily develop colds; however, they were more likely to report feeling cold symptoms, leading to the conclusion that negativity can influence perceptions toward the body.

So, the next time you feel a cold coming on, think positive! It could mean the difference between spending your winter between the sheets or on the slopes. For more information on natural ways to maintain health, talk to your doctor of chiropractic.

Reference: Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Turner RB, et al. Emotional style and susceptibility to the common cold. Psychosomatic Medicine July 2003: Volume 65, pp.652-57.

To learn more about the benefits of a healthy, positive lifestyle, visit www.chiroweb.com/find/tellmeabout.

Senior Use of CAM on the Rise

As more information about the benefits of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is published, more people are turning to CAM as a safe, natural form of healing. This is particularly true of the elderly population: Studies have consistently shown that nearly half of all adults over the age of 65 use some form of CAM on a regular basis, particularly to relieve pain or help stay fit.

The results of a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Gerontological Nursing are typical of other surveys on CAM use in the elderly. In the study, 42 participants (average age: 77.9 years) completed a questionnaire on their use of and reasons for using CAM; some subjects also participated in an interview session.

Seventy-three percent of the participants reported using some form of CAM. Chiropractic was the most commonly used therapy among elderly patients (61.9 percent), followed by herbal medicine (54.8 percent), massage therapy (35.7 percent) and acupuncture (33.3 percent). Among the reasons for using CAM therapies, 54.8 percent used CAM for pain relief; 45.2 percent used CAM to improve quality of life; and 40.5 percent used CAM to maintain health and fitness.

These findings show that CAM use is alive and well in the elderly population. The authors of the study suggest increased education about CAM is needed for older adults and health professionals, and that CAM practitioners should try to understand why older people choose these therapies and play an active role in educating them about alternative forms of care.

Reference: Williamson AT, Fletcher PC, Dawson KA. Complementary and alternative medicine. Use in an older population. Journal of Gerontological Nursing May 2003: Volume 29, Number 5, pp.20-28.

Learn more about issues affecting senior health at www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/senior.

Mom Was Right: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

Although the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables are well-established, most people still don't eat enough of them. Some people don't like the way they taste or look, and as a result have a hard time incorporating them into their diet; others simply don't know (or ignore) the nutritional value most fruits and vegetables have.

In this study, patients were divided into two groups. One group received nutritional counseling on the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the nutritional value of food and its effects on the body. The other group received behavioral counseling, with emphasis on the importance of eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. In addition to food intake, the researchers measured blood pressure and levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene in the blood. Measurements were taken at the start of the study and at eight-week and 12-month intervals.

After 12 months, both groups reported an overall increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. However, patients receiving behavioral counseling had a higher increase in fruit and vegetable intake (1.5 portions per day) than those who received nutritional counseling (0.9 portions per day), and the percentage of those eating at least five portions per day increased by 42 percent in the behavioral group versus 27 percent in the nutrition group. Behavioral counseling patients also demonstrated significantly higher blood beta-carotene levels.

Health care professionals are well-prepared to speak with you about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. If you'd like to change the way you eat and need accurate advice, talk to your doctor today - you'll be glad you did.

Reference: Steptoe A, Perkins-Porras L, McKay C, et al. Behavioural counselling to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables in low income adults: randomised trial. British Medical Journal, April 19, 2003: Volume 326, pp.855-860.

Alcohol Consumption May Help Prevent Gallbladder Disease

Gallstones, hard stones made up of deposits of cholesterol and other material, usually develop in the gall bladder and can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as 2.5 inches. Most of the time, gallstones produce few or no symptoms; however, when symptoms do occur, they include severe nausea, vomiting, shivers and abdominal pain.

In severe cases, gallbladder disease may develop, at times necessitating surgical removal of the gallbladder. However, a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and spirits, might help lower the risk of symptomatic gallstones and gallstone disease in women.

Women's Health Study participants with no history of gallstones or gallbladder disease were monitored for 20 years for the development of the condition; food-frequency questionnaires (every two to four years) were used to track alcohol intake. Results showed that all alcoholic beverage types were inversely associated with the development of gallstone disease, independent of consumption patterns (e.g., frequency or amount of alcohol consumed).

But before you run out and stock your fridge, the study cautions patients to discuss the potential health effects of alcohol consumption with a qualified health care professional. After all, while alcohol may help prevent gallbladder disease, it can also contribute to liver problems and dependency issues, among other complications. Most experts agree that your best bet in preventing gallstones is to eat a well-balanced diet low in fat and rich in whole grains, lean meat and vegetables.

Reference: Leitzmann MF, Tsai C-J, Stampfer MJ, et al. Alcohol consumption in relation to risk of cholecystectomy in women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition August 2003: Volume 78, Number 2, pp.339-347.

For more information on the benefits of nutrition, go to www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/nutrition.

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