Hidden Fat Trap

A new study in Obesity found that people who eat the most MSG (monosodium glutamate) are twice as likely to be overweight as those who rarely eat foods with added MSG. Dr. Ka He says, "MSG may lower levels of leptin, a hormone that regulates metabolism and hunger." Read your food labels! MSG may be listed as "hydrolized protein" or simply "spices."

One Way to Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the 3rd most common form of disease for women in the United States (skin and lung cancer being the 1st and 2nd). A study from the University of Minnesota found that "women whose diets were richest in red meat and starches had a 48% greater risk of getting the disease than those who ate relatively few of those foods." Certain compounds in the "meat and potato" diet interact and trigger tumor growth. Dr. Michael Thun at the American Cancer Society says that the saturated fat in red meat releases bile into the instestine which then releases harmful substances that damage DNA. He recommends limiting your intake of red meat to 7 ounces (or less) per week and suggests choosing lean cuts of meat.

Chocolate During Pregnancy

Dark chocolate may protect pregnant women against preclampsia (hypertension induced by pregnancy). A recent study by Yale University found that "women with the highest blood levels of theobromine (found in dark chocolate) were 69% less likely to develop the condition than those with the lowest amount." Theobromine has been found in other studies to ease stress on the cardiovascular system and decrease blood pressure. Dr. Elizabeth Triche, research scientist at Yale, suggests limiting your intake of dark chocolate to 1 ounce per day (or 1 cup of hot cocoa).

December Veggie Pick

Try brussel sprouts this month! One cup of brussel sprouts has only 38 calories, but packs in a whopping 75mg Vitamin C, 342mg potassium, and 54mcg folate.

What's Your Life Expectancy?

Check out www.eons.com/calculator to find out what your current life expectancy is and how you can prolong it.

Can Your iPod Cause Hearing Loss?

The Archives of Internal Medicine show 15% of 20- & 30-somethings have early-stage hearing loss. What's the cause? You may not have to look further than your iPod or mp3 player. Dr. Ronald Amedee at Oschner Health System says, "frequent exposure to loud noises, like music, causes damage to the hairs in the inner ear that register sound. That may lead to irreversible hearing loss." Protect your ears by lowering the volume on your mp3 player to no more than 50% of its maximum level.

Do you have more than 1 drink per day?

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that women who drank more than 1 alcoholic drink per day increased their chances of acquiring metabolic syndrome (which includes a series of risk factors that can lead to heart disease).