HEALTH TIPS FROM THE NEWS

Just this week I have found two interesting articles in my health news reading. The first deals with a subject all of us find attractive-lowering bad cholesterol levels. A recent study conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center showed that when the participants (240 men and women), drank tea, hot or cold, the bad cholesterol levels lowered. They found that green tea was more effective, that is it took less consumption for results. Black tea however, also gave results when consumed in larger quantities. The antioxidants found in tea are also thought to slow the aging process and deter some cancers, according to these researchers. The participants in the study were actually given capsules of concentrated tea, but researchers stated that drinking green or black tea would yield similar results. The study said it was important to steep the tea for at least five minutes in order for the tea leaves to release ingredients best. This study was reported in the medical journals according to CNN health news. Perhaps we should begin the English custom of afternoon tea.

The second article that caught my attention had to do with milk and dairy products. Milk has long been recognized as a strong source of calcium, however this article, also reported on the netscape health news, claimed that milk enhanced the burning of fat and therefore encouraged weight loss. The natural calcium properties found in milk, yogurt, and cheese actually breaks down fat globules and enables the body to burn them more efficiently according to the researchers from this study. Now we have two interesting options. We can do our own study and see if by drinking milk and tea we will look and feel better. It should be a pleasant experiment to try at any rate. This food for thought comes from your own nurse Peggy. I will be doing blood pressures in the A Building next to the beauty shop next week (Wednesday, July 9, 2003, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM). I look forward to seeing you then. Peggy Beckett, RN