Archive for March, 2010

By Carolyn O’Neil, for the AJC

“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.” — Author unknown

This proverb came to mind when I was answering a request to provide more specific nutritional comparisons of menu items in a restaurant review ranking system — kind of like “order this, not that.”

I agree it is helpful to share where to look for the most fish or eateries with the best selection of healthful items or best attitude toward special diet requests. But I think it’s more helpful to teach strategies to help diners identify the healthiest choices on the menu no matter where they’re eating.

When I discussed the “give a man a fish” concept with registered dietitian Marisa Moore, who is president of the Georgia Dietetic Association, she laughed knowingly. “Too often people don’t want to think for themselves. They want me to catch the fish, cook it up and serve it to them on a plate.”

…

Continue reading Healthy Eating: Learn to plan diet yourself »

If you have trouble sleeping, you are not alone. According to the latest poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, many Americans have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. The results cut across all racial and gender lines, with researchers determining that collectively we sleep almost two hours less per night than we did 40 years ago.

CHRIS HUNT/AJC Special; Styling by Sarah Cox

The 2010 Sleep in America poll indicates that we are indeed a sleepy nation. While insomnia is accepted as a fact of life by many Americans, it can be detrimental to our health. Research suggests that adequate sleep plays a vital role in cardiovascular health. There’s also a connection between insomnia and obesity.

There are other consequences to a poor night’s sleep. The study suggests that always being tired can impact our personal relationships, with over 25 percent of poll respondents indicating they were frequently too tired to have sex with their partners.

Looking for relief from …

Continue reading Are you plagued by insomnia? »

Q: Could you please tell me how to get rid of toenail fungus? — T.D., Wilkes Barre, Pa.

iStockphoto.com

A: Toenail fungus is a very stubborn problem. Fungi enter the nail either through the cuticle or under the tip of the nail. They easily attack the nail, thriving off “keratin,” the nail’s protein substance.

When the tiny organisms take hold, the nail may become thickened, yellow-brown in color and foul smelling.

To get rid of toenail fungus, the best treatment is a three- to four-month course of an antifungal pill like Sporanox or Lamisil. Over-the-counter antifungal sprays and creams just don’t work. Antifungal nail paints like Penlac are not very effective but may be of additional benefit when combined with antifungal pills.

Aggressive debridement of nail fungus by a podiatrist followed by antifungal pills seems to provide additional benefit over antifungal pills alone.

The PinPointe laser system is a new option in treating nails refractory to standard …

Continue reading ASK DR. H: What is best cure for nail fungus? »

Q: I learned a procedure to stop nosebleeds. Determine which nostril is bleeding, remove the shoe from the opposite foot and, with the heel of your hand, give two good thumps to the heel of that bare foot. I have used this tactic many times, in the gym, on field trips, at Little League and even on my wife sitting in the car. My question is, Why does this work?

Nosebleeds can be frightening, especially to children. Photo by JESSICA MCGOWAN/AJC SPECIAL

A: We wish we could tell you. It makes about as much sense to us as dropping keys down the back of the neck to stop a nosebleed. Many readers have shared success stories with that technique. Even though we can’t explain either approach, it will be obvious within seconds whether it has worked.
Drugstore alternatives include Nosebleed QR, NasalCEASE and Seal-On.

Editor’s note: Vaseline may help nose bleeds, but can carry serious health risks.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist, and Teresa Graedon is an expert in medical …

Continue reading PEOPLE’S PHARMACY: Unique cure for nosebleeds »

By Carolyn O’Neil, for the AJC

The notion of healthy cooking usually conjures up a menu of something grilled and something steamed and probably nothing all that exciting to talk about.

That’s why I am so thankful for the inspiration restaurant chefs provide on the plates they serve.

When taking a bite of a simple green salad at Miller Union, I savored the crunch of an ingredient I first thought was bacon; but these savory bits turned out to be crispy oyster mushrooms. Executive chef Steven Satterfield revealed that he seasoned them lightly and crisped them up in his convection oven before tossing them into the salad. What a great idea.

The vegetable place from Miller Union. Photo by BECKY STEIN/AJC Special

Season with herbs
Chefs are trained to coax flavor from foods and create memorable pairings to maximize palate pleasure. This prevents having to add extra salt, butter or cream to make something taste good.

Executive chef Gerry Klaskala’s menu at Aria reads like an …

Continue reading HEALTHY EATING: Chefs’ brighter, lighter ideas »