Strive to Thrive!

Hospitals Don't Provide Rest

If you've ever been in the hospital you already know it's not the best place for rest. A study by the Mayo Clinic published in February states that hospital noises during the night can approach the same decibels of noise as chain saws or jackhammers. Steps are being taken to make it quieter, including adding padding to clanking clipboards and quieter folding-towel dispensers.

Forgiveness Is Healthy For Body & Soul

Through a survey of 1,500 people a researcher at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health, N. Krause, discovered that if you tend to forgive easily you will be more likely to enjoy "greater psychological well-being" and be less depressed than those who hold grudges.

No More Bitter Pills!

Sometime in the next year your medicine may start tasting better. Biotechnology companies are working on a special molecule that fools your taste buds into thinking something tastes better. Adenosine 5;-monophosphate, or AMP, can be used in food and drinks too, but the pharmaceutical industry is eager to see it at work in medications.

Are You Lo-Carbing?

Researchers in California have found that a low-carbohydrate, calorie-restricted diet can help people with type 2 diabetes get their blood sugar under control when all else has failed, including the normal dietary changes and medications. The results were published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition Dec. '03. If you're lo-carbing, be sure to check with your physician and have lab work done on a regular basis.

Could Your Doctor Lose A Few Pounds?

Dr. Michael Fleming, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians is on a diet and he's challenging the academy members to get into better shape, encouraging them to commit to some type of physical activity at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for six straight weeks. The academy's drive kicks off what the AAFP hopes will be a 10-year campaign it calls "Americans in Motion," to spread the message of healthy eating and exercise to patients, who make more than 210 million office visits each year.

Dip Your Way to Health

If you're on medications that cause stress on your liver, dip into the guacamole! Studies have shown that eating just one or two avocados each week can boost your liver function in as little as one week. Avocados are a cholesterol-free, sodium-free, low saturated fat food with only 5.0 grams of fat per serving (20% of the fruit). It's believed by some that avocados protect against heart disease and some cancers.

It Could Always Be Worse In 1902. . .

90% of U.S. physicians had no college education; Instead, they attended medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and by the government as substandard. · 14% of the homes had a bathtub · Average life expectancy was 47. · Most women only washed their hair once a month-with borax or egg yolks.