YOUR HEALTH

HERE'S HOW TO 'GO NUTS' WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT

It's no wonder that we like nuts. Scientific evidence shows it's a hereditary human characteristic passed down from the Stone Age to prehistoric nomads and Egyptian kings. Some modern doubters say they do believe that nuts have great vitamin and protein content, but they are also high in fats. They think nuts can make them gain weight.

Doctors at Tufts University say it's true that eating a handful of nuts each day can boost your daily calories by 10 percent or more. But people who eat more nuts typically don't weigh more. A 2011 Harvard University study shows that, over a period of 20 years, nuts ranked second only to yogurt as a food linked to weight loss. Note that potato chips were found to be the top food causing weight gain.

Here are some nutty facts for you to consider:

• Almonds, peanuts and pistachios have the highest protein content of almost all nuts.
  
  
  
• Macadamias, Brazils, and pecan halves have the highest monounsaturated fat content as in olive oil.
  
  
  
• Almonds, cashews and pistachios have the highest levels of potassium.
  
  
  
• All nuts have magnesium, zinc, copper, vitamin B6, folate, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin E and calcium. You don't have to eat a whole handful to get benefits. You can sprinkle nuts on steamed vegetables, stir-fries, ice cream, frozen yogurt and salads.

ED TREATMENT APPROVED FOR ENLARGEMENT OF THE PROSTATE GLAND

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved tadalafil (Cialis) for urinary problems associated with an enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic say tadalafil has beneficial effects, but by itself it probably isn't enough for more severe symptoms.

For men who have both erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms of BPH it's worth trying. The risk of side effects with tadalafil is relatively low, with backache and headache being the most common. The downsides of tadalafil include cost since there is no generic equivalent. Additionally, tadalafil can't be used by men who take nitrate medications for heart problems.

Traditional treatment for BPH includes alpha blocker drugs and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors or a combination of the two. It is not known whether tadalafil in combination with one of these drugs would be more beneficial.

HYPERTENSION NAMED 'PUBLIC HEALTH ENEMY NO. 2'

In many cases, high blood pressure has no symptoms which could be why more than half of the 67 million Americans who have hypertension are doing little or nothing to control it. CDC Director Thomas Frieden has labeled high blood pressure "public health enemy No. 2." It's right behind tobacco.

High blood pressure is defined as a reading greater or equal to 140/90. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. Moderately high blood pressure is 120 to 139 over 80 to 89.

In hypertension, blood flows through your arteries with too much force. It stretches arteries past their healthy limit causing microscopic tears, says the American Heart Association. Scar tissue that forms to repair the tears traps plaque and white blood cells which can lead to blockages, clots and hardened or weakened arteries according to the AHA. Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States. It causes more than 1,000 deaths every day.

About 36 million people have uncontrolled high blood pressure; 26 million have seen a doctor for it, but 22 million still don't have it under control. Many of these patients take medicine for hypertension, but it may be that their treatment plan isn't right, or maybe they aren't taking their pills faithfully. Medicine for high blood pressure works for nearly all patients. Millions of Americans have high blood pressure but don't know it.

STAYING WELL

Antioxidants and Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers have found a striking relationship between antioxidant rich food and a lower risk of pancreatic cancer. The 2011 study, recently reported in the journal Gut, analyzed the 10 year food diaries of 49 pancreatic cancer sufferers who were part of another large research effort and compared them with healthy study participants. The analysis found that people with high levels of vitamins C and E, selenium, and antioxidants were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer, an especially deadly cancer since it is rarely diagnosed early.

The findings suggest that there might be a causal relationship between antioxidants and pancreatic cancer and researchers say antioxidants should be measured in future studies of pancreatic cancer.

ENROLL IN MEDICARE AT 65

For those still working and with coverage on their jobs they don't have to sign up at 65. But many workers benefit from enrolling, especially when they can take parts A and B at different times:

• Part A: Taking Part A at age 65 is obvious. It's usually free and covers hospital bills, including those your work insurance does not.
  
  
  
• Part B: Signing up for Part B, which covers doctor visits, while you're still working makes sense for those working at small companies and for anyone whose insurance has a high deductible. It costs about $100 a month.
  
  
  
• Caveat: If you have a health savings account you have to stop making deposits after signing up for Part B.
  
  
  
• For those working at large companies with benefits, signing up for Part B offers few benefits your job coverage does not.
  
  
  
• When to enroll in Part B: You must enroll in Part B within eight months of your last month of work even if you have retiree benefits or COBRA. If you miss that date your coverage won't kick in for three to 15 months. You'll also pay a 10 percent premium penalty for every 12 months you delay. For example, a man who retired at age 67 decided to stay with his company insurance and COBRA. As COBRA was about to expire, he learned that he would have to pay a Medicare penalty of 20 percent in higher premiums. Even worse, he was left without insurance coverage for 10 months.
  
  
  
• If you're on a spouse's benefits: If you're 65 or older and get insurance benefits from your spouse's job, remember that the same rules apply to you when your spouse retires. You must sign up for Part B within eight months of your spouse's final month.

© 2013 TLC Magazine Online, Inc.