Fw: May Health News Tips from UT Southwestern

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Martha Murdock, Director

National Silicone Implant Foundation

Dallas, Texas Headquarters

----- Original Message -----

From: " Robin Amerine " <Robin.Amerine@...>

<UTSWNEWS@...>

Sent: Friday, April 27, 2001 4:35 PM

Subject: May Health News Tips from UT Southwestern

FRY ME A RIVER: FRIED FISH DOESN'T INCREASE GOOD CHOLESTEROL

Eating two servings of fish weekly may increase your levels of HDL

cholesterol - the " good " cholesterol - but not if the fish is fried, says

Pamela Kent, a clinical instructor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern

Allied Health Sciences School.

" In a recent study of older Americans, individuals who consumed fatty fish -

even just once a week - lowered their risk of a fatal heart attack by 44

percent compared to the risk among those who did not opt for the fish.

However, this benefit did not extend to fried fish. "

Fatty fish include salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and herring. These fish

are composed of omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential for normal human

growth and development, and cannot be manufactured within the body.

Leaner fish such as cod and flounder contain less of these nutrients. Fried

fish is less nutritious because high heat changes the structure of the fatty

acids.

Kent suggests baking or grilling fish to obtain the maximum health benefits.

Media Contact: Amy Shields

CUT THE CAFFEINE TO CUT TRIPS TO THE BATHROOM

If that extra cup of coffee in the morning sends you running for the

bathroom, you might want to rethink your drink, UT Southwestern Medical

Center at Dallas physicians say.

It's not true for everyone, but Dr. Lemack, an assistant professor of

urology, says products with caffeine, like chocolate, tea and sodas, can

cause bladder irritation.

" In patients prone to problems with urinary urgency and frequency, we do

recommend they avoid what causes the problem, " Lemack says. " It's hard to

break people's routines, but if it's affecting your quality of life it's

time to consider changing your habits. "

Caffeine is both a diuretic and a bladder irritant and therefore may result

in increased urine production as well as enhanced bladder sensitivity,

Lemack says. Other foods that might irritate your bladder include citrus

foods, spicy foods and certain cheeses.

Media Contact: Mindy Baxter

DON'T LET DIFFICULT PEOPLE RUIN YOUR DAY

Whether at home or at work we all have to deal with difficult people

sometimes, says Tiner, faculty associate in psychiatry at UT

Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

To deal with them, it's crucial to find what they do " to push our buttons. "

" Try listing the situations in which difficulties arise and analyze the

difficult person's reactions, " Tiner says. " Look for the reasons behind the

person's actions or moods when there is conflict. Can you pick out certain

behavior traits? Is it moodiness, bossiness, selfishness, refusal to listen,

defensiveness or talking behind your back? Does he or she always blame

someone else? Is the person a fault-finder? "

Tiner recommends trying to identify what has - and hasn't - worked to

resolve conflicts in the past. Look for other circumstances and reactions

you can change. Don't tune the person out or walk away. Don't become

irritable or refuse to respond.

Remember: You're probably not going to be able to change the other person,

but your reaction may help diffuse a difficult situation.

Contact: Ann Harrell

ADD NUTRITIOUS SNACKS TO YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE

Before you rush out of the door for an early morning run in the park, stop

and take a minute to eat a banana, or drink a glass of fruit juice or skim

milk.

Eating before and after a workout is crucial, says Lona Sandon, instructor

of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School.

" The muscles need an immediate carbohydrate source to perform at their best.

Exercising on an empty stomach will require the body to make energy from

stored muscle protein, thus breaking down muscle. Decreased muscle mass

results in a decreased metabolism, which is what we are typically trying to

increase with exercise, " Sandon adds.

Eating 30 minutes to an hour before exercise also delays fatigue and results

in a more effective workout. It's equally important to refuel the body after

that exercise routine.

" Whatever time you work out, you should have something high in carbohydrates

and moderate in proteins one to one and a half hours following exercise.

These nutrients are important for providing calories, as well as repairing

the muscle tissue that's broken down by exercise. "

Media Contact: Amy Shields

TAKE HALF A CUP OF BRAN AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING

Constipation is seldom discussed, but it affects just about everyone at one

time or another. In fact, constipation is the most common gastrointestinal

complaint in the United States, resulting in about 2 million annual visits

to the doctor.

" Many people assume that they're constipated when they don't have a daily

bowel movement, " says Dr. Craig Rubin, professor of internal medicine and

head of geriatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. " But

everyone has different bowel habits. A normal pattern for one person may not

be for someone else. "

Constipation occurs when the over absorption of water by the colon causes

hard, dry stools.

To keep regular, gradually add fresh vegetables, fruits and fiber to your

diet. And keep active. Home remedies are an alternative to over-the-counter

laxatives, which can cause bowel inactivity.

" Mix and then refrigerate a half-cup of unprocessed bran and a half-cup of

applesauce with a third of a cup of prune juice. Take two tablespoons after

dinner followed by a glass of water; increase to three to four tablespoons

if needed, " Rubin suggests.

If constipation persists for more than two weeks, consult your primary care

physician.

Media Contact: Ione Echeverria

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For more information, call The Office of News & Publications at

214-648-3404.

This news release is available on our World Wide Web home page at

http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/home_pages/news/