A guide to grains for eating healthily
Grains can be confusing. We hear “eat more whole grains” and then “cut out grains.” What should we actually be doing? Grains are loaded with nutrients, including B vitamins and carbohydrates, your body’s main source of energy. In addition, whole grains such as oats and brown rice are good sources of fiber, protein and even more vitamins and minerals. It’s recommended that... READ MORE
Our quick guide to grains
Amaranth: Technically a seed, amaranth is high in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals. Barley: Try traditional pearl barley in soups or as a base for a stir-fry. Brown rice: Always a better choice over white rice due to its fiber content, brown rice also contains magnesium and selenium. Buckwheat: Despite its name, this seed is gluten-free. Try it in... READ MORE
When your sense of smell lets you down
We spend our days interacting with the world around us through our senses of sight, sound and touch. But anyone who has developed complete nasal obstruction from an infection or severe allergies has experienced what it’s like to be without one of our most basic senses: our sense of smell. In other animals, the sense of smell is crucial for survival, reproduction and rearing of... READ MORE
Hope for nipping Alzheimer’s in the bud
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to nip Alzheimer’s disease in the bud before it got started — or at least nab it in its early stages? This has, of course, been the dream of researchers and medical professionals for several decades. Now it appears the dream might soon become a reality. Last month, an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences... READ MORE
Gut feelings: How food affects our mood
The human microbiome, or gut environment, is a community of different bacteria that has co-evolved with humans to be beneficial to both humans and the bacteria. Researchers agree that an individual’s unique microbiome is created within the first 1,000 days of life, but there are things you can do to alter your gut environment throughout life. In the relatively new field of... READ MORE
Coming around to cannabis
Dr. Matthew Mintz wasn’t an early proponent of medical uses for cannabis (the scientific name for the plant more commonly known as marijuana). In fact, he said, “I was a little skeptical.” Mintz, a board-certified internist and Washingtonian “Top Doctor,” attended George Washington University medical school and then practiced medicine while serving on GW’s faculty for the... READ MORE
Volunteer for studies of lung health, COPD
Short of breath? Nagging cough? If you’re a former smoker or are suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or another lung illness, Johns Hopkins’ Breathe Center may be able to help. At the same time, you can help others if you enroll in one of the center’s many studies on lung health. The Baltimore Breathe Center, originally known as the Johns Hopkins Center for... READ MORE
Box, dance, sing and repeat
Like many of today’s retirees, Marty Lefstein, a former computer programmer who lives in Parkville with his wife, Gita, leads a busy life. He practices yoga, takes dance and boxing classes, and belongs to a singing group. What’s surprising to many is that Lefstein, 67, has had Parkinson’s disease for the past 24 years. But far from slowing him down, that fact encourages the... READ MORE
Vaccines are more important as we age
Q: I’m over 50. What vaccines do I need? A: The risk of acquiring certain diseases, such as shingles, pneumonia and flu, increases with age. Flu is also a big reason for hospitalizations in patients over 50 years old. Therefore, vaccines for flu and shingles are recommended for everyone aged 50 and older, while vaccines for pneumonia are recommended for those 65 and... READ MORE
Questions, answers on leg pain issues
Q: My legs used to swell occasionally. But now it’s happening every day. Should I be worried? A:It sounds like you have “edema,” swelling in your legs due to fluid in the soft tissues beneath your skin. This usually occurs because the pressure of the fluid inside your veins is high, which forces water out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissues. The most common... READ MORE
Health 2024
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