Daily Health Tips: Trusted Medical Information, Health Tips and Advices

Consumer Group Says Dangerous Toys Can Still Be Found on Store Shelves Though progress has been made in recent years in making playthings for children safer, far too many toys remain on store shelves that pose serious risks to America's kids, a consumer watchdog group says in a new report. Some toys contain toxic chemicals and many are choking hazards, according to the report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG). "We've made a lot of progress, but dangerous toys can still be found among our children's playthings," says Liz Hitchcock, U.S. PIRG public health advocate and lead author of the organization's 25th annual Trouble in Toyland report. "U.S. PIRG's report and the resources we offer will help consumers identify and avoid the worst threats and keep their children safe this year." Toxic Substances in Toys The report says many toys contain lead or other toxic substances, pointing to six toys as examples as po...

Proton-Pump Inhibitors Do Not Cause Birth Defects When Used in First Trimester The popular over-the-counter and prescription acid-blocking drugs proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) do not appear to increase risk of birth defects when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, a study shows. In the study, 2.6% of more than 840,000 live births occurring in Denmark from January 1996 through September 2008 involved major birth defects. The study showed that 3.4% of 5,082 infants whose mothers took PPIs during the four weeks before conception through first trimester were diagnosed with a major birth defect. By contrast, 2.6% of 835,886 infants whose moms did not take these acid-reducing drugs during the same time period were diagnosed with a major birth defect. The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers did an analysis of the study data on PPI use limited to the time period during the first trimester of pregnancy. Statistically speaking, ...

Proton-Pump Inhibitors Do Not Cause Birth Defects When Used in First Trimester The popular over-the-counter and prescription acid-blocking drugs proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) do not appear to increase risk of birth defects when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, a study shows. In the study, 2.6% of more than 840,000 live births occurring in Denmark from January 1996 through September 2008 involved major birth defects. The study showed that 3.4% of 5,082 infants whose mothers took PPIs during the four weeks before conception through first trimester were diagnosed with a major birth defect. By contrast, 2.6% of 835,886 infants whose moms did not take these acid-reducing drugs during the same time period were diagnosed with a major birth defect. The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers did an analysis of the study data on PPI use limited to the time period during the first trimester of pregnancy. Statistically speaking, ...

You'll be fitting into those skinny jeans in no time if you adopt this simple habit: pay with cash. Yep, when you hit the grocery store, just leave your credit card  and debit card  at home. A recent study revealed that paying with cash instead of plastic seriously quells the temptation to load up the shopping cart with belly-padding junk food. Pain Points The reason people buy less junk food with cash? More pain. Seems they feel it in their wallets a little more sharply when handing over Benjamins versus bank cards. In fact, shoppers who used cash to fill their grocery carts in a recent study purchased far less unhealthful, fattening foods than the credit- and debit-card users did.    More Slimming Strategies Now, check out this surprising figure: Only 14 percent of people use cash to grocery shop. And researchers suspect this could be one of the many factors behind the current obesity epidemic. Somehow, paying with plastic is less emotionally c...

Ginseng, Fish, Berries, or Caffeine? Listen to the buzz about foods and dietary supplements and you'll believe they can do everything from sharpen focus and concentration, to enhance memory, attention span, and brain function. But do they really work? There's no denying that as we age chronologically, our body ages right along with us. The good news? You can increase your chances of maintaining a healthy brain -- if you add "smart" foods and beverages to your diet. Caffeine Can Make You More Alert There's no magic bullet to boost IQ or make you smarter -- but certain substances, like caffeine, can energize and help you focus and concentrate. Found in coffee, chocolate, energy drinks, and some medications, caffeine gives you that unmistakable wake-up buzz -- though the effects are short term. And more is often less: Overdo it on caffeine and it can make you jittery and uncomfortable. Sugar Can Enhance Alertness Sugar is your brain's preferr...

Whip up a fabulous holiday feast in a hurry I don't know how this happens every year, but before I know it, it's the Tuesday before Thanksgiving! Suddenly, I'm stressing about how many side dishes to make, the appetizers that no one really needs, thawing the turkey, making pumpkin pie for the traditionalists plus "something else" for the dessert rebels ... But remember, the important part of this holiday is enjoying the company of loved ones and taking time to reflect and be thankful. It's not about spending hours making countless Thanksgiving dishes. You know the saying, "choose your battles"? It works for Thanksgiving dinner, too. When your time is limited, choose which dishes you want to make yourself and which you can pull together using convenient products from the supermarket. Dressing Up Store-Bought Products Here are some tips and tricks for dressing up store-bought products so that they'll taste and look special to your ...

More than 60 percent of U.S. households include pets, and while almost every pet owner will tell you that their animal companion enriches their life in countless ways, it turns out that pets actually help prolong their lives, too. Countless studies have shown that having pets helps to lower our stress levels, decrease blood pressure, benefit our cholesterol, improve our mood, and boost our immunity -- in other words, lengthen our life span! While the majority of the studies below focus on dogs and cats, it is true that any animal companion can offer some form of emotional wellbeing. The heart-healthy benefits of animals Our animal friends often warm our hearts, but apparently they also protect them. A study reported in the Medical Journal of Australia found that pet owners, in general, have lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels than people who do not own pets. And having a cat companion could cut your heart attack risk by nearly one third! Accordin...

Debating whether to take a second helping of together time with friends or family today? Go ahead, go back for more. Research shows that being socially connected is about as good for your body as quitting smoking would be if you smoked. That's some pretty powerful bonding! Keep Your Friends Close Yep, researchers reviewed more than 148 different studies and found that the more socially connected people had double the survival odds of less social folks. Their analysis compiled data from more than 300,000 older adults and the results helped prove that supportive relationships are like good medicine for heart, body, and soul.    Friends with Benefits Having good friends and close family in your corner helps you live longer by making it easier to blow off stress and weather tough times (assuming those relationships are solid and not toxic). What's more, feeling more invested in relationships often motivates people to take better care of themselves.

Take an extra helping of this sauce as it heads around the dinner table today: cranberry relish. Your mouth and stomach will thank you. Yep, not all holiday fare has to be an unhealthy affair. Cranberry relish is made of one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits on earth, and studies show these bright red beauties may reduce both stomach ulcers and tooth decay. Holiday Healer Cranberries have a long list of antioxidant superstars to their credit -- more than 150 different health-promoting phytochemicals in fact. And these compounds are probably responsible for the multitude of amazing health benefits cranberries confer, including: Fewer tummy troubles. Cranberry nutrients make it harder for Helicobacter pylori -- a bacterial culprit in stomach ulcers -- to adhere to cells lining the stomach. (Here's an oil that also helps fend off H. pylori .) Healthier teeth and gums. Nutrients in cranberries help reduce plaque by fighting the buildup of bacteria-harboring bi...

Keeping your spirits up through the winter may be as simple as popping a multivitamin. Just be sure yours contains B6 and B12. Research has shown that these two nutrients in particular may help reduce the risk of blue moods. Who knew that popping a pill could help keep a smile on your face? Some Kind of Synthesis In a study tracking the health and lifestyle habits of more than 3,000 older adults for 7 years, researchers found that as people's intake of B6 and B12 went up, their risk of depression took a more southerly turn. And with every 10-milligram increase in B6 and 10-microgram increase in B12 intake, risk for depression dropped another 2 percent. Researchers suspect that because B6 is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, it assists in production of mood-lifting serotonin. And B12 deficiencies have been linked to depression and increased cognitive decline in other research.    B on the Brain Although intake from both food and supplements wa...