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BodyTek Briefs

There’s truth to the phrase “Stress can Kill”

A team of Ohio State University researches found high amounts of the chemical Interleukin – 6 in blood of people under stress.
The results came from a study of 119 men and women whose spouses suffered from dementia.
These men and women were compared with people of similar ages but who did not have to deal with the stresses of such caregivers.
The caregivers showed high increases in Interleukin- 6. Research shows that this chemical is tied to diseases such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes and several types of cancers.
The study was headed by professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University, Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, along with her husband, Ohio State University professor of molecular virology, immunology and medical genetics Ronald Glaser.
Kiecolt-Glaser said Interleukin-6 in blood can be reduced by exercise and sleep.

Kids get stressed too

Don’t think junior can take it just because he’s young.
According to KidsHealth.org, a website that provides doctor-approved health information for kids, says stress can affect anyone – even young ones.
Preschoolers, for example, can suffer from separation anxiety from parents.
Older children have to deal with academic and social pressures.
Death of a loved one, illness and divorce can also cause stress for children.
And the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have some children concerned about safety.
Here are some signs that you child is stressed:
Mood swings, stomachaches, headaches, acting out and bedwetting.
Here’s what you can do to help relax your child:
Don’t let your child hear about family troubles and financial troubles.
Don’t fight with your spouse in front of your child.
Regulate what your child watches on television.
Be careful about pushing too hard for your child to excel or enrolling him/her in too many activities.
Do talk to your child about what concerns them.
Do make sure you child eats a balanced diet and gets plenty of exercise.
For more information log onto www.kidshealth.org and type the word “stress” in the search menu.

United States Department of Health & Human Services officials in January released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.

The new guidelines are the federal government’s science-based advice to Americans – nearly two-thirds of whom are overweight or obese and more than half of whom get too little physical activity - to get fit and live a healthy lifestyle.
“If you eat 100 more calories a day than you burn, you’ll gain about 1 pound in a month. That’s about 10 pounds a year. The bottom line is that to lose weight, it’s important to reduce calories and increase physical activities,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website, www.fda.gov.
Here are some highlights of the report that strongly emphasizes reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity:
- Eat more dark green vegetables such as kale, black beans and broccoli
- Daily eat at least three ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers or rice.
- Eat lean protein such as fish and chicken. Bake, broil or grill your meats or poultry.
- Eat foods that are low in saturated fats, trans fats, sugar and salt. Do not consume more than 1 teaspoon of salt a day.
- Do at least 30-minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week.
- At least 60 to 90 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity should be done every day for weight loss in adults.
To get more information or to read the new guidelines log onto www.fda.gov. Click onto “food” and then click onto “what’s new.”