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Monday, May 6, 2013
Triathlon Training:
While training it is important to have a diet that is made up of a balance of foods. The nutritional breakdown should be: 55-65 percent carbohydrates, 10-20 percent protein and 20-30 percent fat. Prior to training you want to eat an easily digestible meal about 1 to 2 hours ahead of time. If you are working out for longer periods of time, over an hour, you might need an intermittent snack to keep you going. If so this should be no more than 15 grams of carbohydrate, such as a banana or a bar. After a workout you should have a balanced meal within 30 minutes for optimal recovery for the workout. A perfect recovery meal might be chocolate milk or peanut butter on whole grain braid. In terms of fluids you should take in 16 to 20 ounces of fluid two hours prior to exercising. Fluid intake should be about 8 ounces for every 20 minutes throughout your work out. After working out it is critical to replenish your fluid intake.
Skillet Shrimp and Tomatoes with Feta
This one-skillet dish features bold flavors of shrimp, cherry tomatoes, feta, and a few other ingredients for simple elegance prepared in mere minutes. Serve with pasta.
From Holly Clegg’s Gulf Coast Favorites: 30 minute recipes from my Louisiana Kitchen
Recipe from Holly Clegg’s Gulf Coast Favorites!
This and many other great recipes can be found on her website:
http://www.hollyclegg.com
Makes about 4 (1-cup) servings
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved if large
1 pound medium peeled shrimp
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 cup white wine or fat-free chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons crumbled, reduced-fat, feta cheese
1. In large nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, heat oil and sauté onion 3 minutes.
2. Stir in garlic and tomatoes, cook 3 minutes. Add shrimp and oregano, continue cooking and stirring 3 minutes longer.
3. Add wine, parsley, season to taste. Continue cooking until shrimp are done and sauce slightly thickens with tomatoes. Sprinkle with feta, serve.
2. Stir in garlic and tomatoes, cook 3 minutes. Add shrimp and oregano, continue cooking and stirring 3 minutes longer.
3. Add wine, parsley, season to taste. Continue cooking until shrimp are done and sauce slightly thickens with tomatoes. Sprinkle with feta, serve.
Nutritional information per serving:
Calories 196, Calories from fat (%) 25, Fat (g) 6, Saturated Fat (g) 1, Cholesterol (mg) 170, Sodium (mg) 279, Carbohydrate (g) 14, Dietary Fiber (g) 3, Sugars (g) 9, Protein (g) 21, Diabetic Exchanges: 3 vegetable, 3 lean meat
Recipe from Holly Clegg’s Gulf Coast Favorites!
This and many other great recipes can be found on her website:
http://www.hollyclegg.com
Many Stroke Patients Don‘t Call 911
TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-third of people having a stroke don‘t call 911, even though that‘s the fastest route to potentially lifesaving treatment, a new study reports.
"Prompt diagnosis and early management is essential to decrease morbidity and mortality after stroke," said lead researcher Dr. James Ekundayo, an assistant professor of family and community medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. "If about one-third does not arrive by ambulance, the implication is that they will have delayed evaluation and treatment with lifesaving drugs," Ekundayo said.
For patients with ischemic stroke -- a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain -- prior research has shown that administration of clot-busting drugs within two hours of symptom onset greatly reduces the odds of disability three months later. Ischemic stroke is more common than hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel bleeds into the brain.
The study -- published April 29 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes -- looked at how more than 200,000 stroke patients arrived at hospital emergency rooms from 2003 to 2010. About 64 percent arrived by ambulance and the rest used other forms of transportation, the researchers found. Patients who used emergency medical services (EMS) had shorter pre-hospital and in-hospital delays, the study found.
"They arrived early, had prompter evaluation and received more rapid treatment," Ekundayo said. Time to treatment is faster partly because EMS notifies the receiving hospital about the patient, "and the emergency room staff is ready to act as soon as the patient arrives," Ekundayo added.
EMS teams also know which hospitals have advanced stroke care and can take patients directly there.
Calls to EMS were less frequent among minority groups and in rural areas, the researchers found. Dr. Ralph Sacco, past president of the American Heart Association, said this finding shows a need for "more focused education campaigns on the importance of calling 911 among these groups." Sacco, chairman of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said this study "amplifies the need to call 911 if you think you are having a stroke."
Experts say "time is brain," meaning the faster a stroke patient gets to the hospital, the better the outcome. Among patients who arrived within two hours of symptoms starting, 79 percent had come by ambulance. About 61 percent who called 911 got to the hospital within three hours, as opposed to 40 percent who didn‘t call EMS, the study found.
About 55 percent of the ambulance callers had a brain scan within 25 minutes of arrival at the emergency room, compared with 36 percent who didn‘t use EMS. Those eligible for a clot-busting drug received it sooner if they used an ambulance: 67 percent using EMS got the drug within three hours of symptoms starting compared to 44 percent who didn‘t call EMS.
Those who didn‘t call 911 were likely to say they didn‘t want to be a bother, or they didn‘t recognize the severity of the symptoms, the study authors said. Each year in the United States nearly 800,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke. Recognizing stroke symptoms and calling EMS are the best way to improve the outcome, the experts said. Experts recommend using the acronym F.A.S.T. as a simple way to remember the symptoms of a stroke.
Here are the signs:
• Face drooping: Is one side of the face drooping, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile
• Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
• Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, or is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Can the person repeat a simple sentence, such as "The sky is blue"?
• Time to call 911: If any of these symptoms exist -- even if they go away -- call 911 and get the person to a hospital immediately.
More information For more information on stroke, visit the National Stroke Association. Health News Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Attn: Pregnant Women!
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- All pregnant women should be vaccinated against whooping cough, preferably in their last trimester, a panel of U.S. advisers recommended Wednesday.
Getting vaccinated during pregnancy means a mother can pass immunity to whooping cough to her baby, the U.S. government panel explained. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease that attacks the respiratory system.
The recommendation comes at a time when the United States is on track to record the highest number of whooping cough cases since 1959, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, more than 32,000 cases have been reported and 16 people have died, most of them infants.
Of the infants who get pertussis, 30 percent to 40 percent get it from their mothers, and more than half need to be hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, one in five gets pneumonia and one in 100 dies, according to the CDC.
"This is a very good idea," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said of the recommendation. "This vaccine is safe during pregnancy," Siegel noted, with an annual flu shot being the only other vaccination approved for pregnant women.
The pertussis vaccine's protection only lasts 10 years, which may be one reason why there's an epidemic of this respiratory disease, Siegel said. Since infants can only start getting the pertussis vaccine at 2 months of age, they must rely on the immunity passed to them by their mothers, he said.
"The best way to protect the infant is to protect the mother," Siegel said. "If you give vaccine to a pregnant woman you are going to get some degree of protection [for the infant]."
Siegel said that immunity is also passed to the infant through breast milk, a process called passive immunity.
The expert panel, known as Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, specifically recommended that all pregnant women be given a so-called T-dap vaccination, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, for every pregnancy. The CDC typically follows the panel's recommendations.
If a woman wasn't vaccinated during pregnancy, she should get vaccinated immediately after giving birth, the panel added.
If the new recommendations were followed, there would be a 33 percent reduction in cases, a 38 percent reduction in hospitalizations and a 49 percent reduction in deaths, according to CDC spokeswoman Alison Patti.
In 2011, the panel recommended that only pregnant women who had not had a T-dap vaccination be vaccinated, but only 3 percent of pregnant women got the vaccination after that recommendation, Patti said.
Dr. Marcelo Laufer, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Miami Children's Hospital, added that "this is long overdue."
Usually, when a woman becomes pregnant, her immunity against pertussis has worn off since she was probably vaccinated as a teen, which is why it's important to be re-vaccinated, he said.
Laufer also believes that any adult likely to be in contact with a newborn should be vaccinated. This includes fathers, grandparents and other family members, he said.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing that often makes it hard to breathe. After coughing fits, sufferers often need to take deep breaths, which results in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most often affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in infants under the age of 1, according to the CDC.
Financial Reality & Fitness
Any story or study that has the word “poverty” or related words glides onto my radar. As a financial consultant for 5 years at a major Wall Street firm, my Earth-Mother-in-a-Suit nickname was born as a result of focusing on socially responsible investing. In short, that meant finding companies for clients who wanted their investments to be mission consistent with their values. So if clients didn’t support alcohol, animal testing, firearms or tobacco, they didn’t want any part of their portfolio to be a company that did either.
In my working with corporations that were designated by Wall Street as suitable socially responsible investments, I found that some companies didn’t really care about being socially responsible until you could show them that having great employee benefits, or super recycling programs, for example could save the company money.
It was this education that inspired me to write my book. Harry Dent and other gurus have long been predicting a huge economic slow-down as the baby boomers retire. No matter how much you may hear on the news that the economy is improving, many polls show that most Americans believe we may have seen our prime. A growing number believe the studies that show the disparity between the income classes will keep growing; in short, the rich will get richer and poor, poorer. My husband recently saw someone fill up a huge pleasure motorboat at the dock with 1000 gallons of diesel fuel at more than $4 a gallon!
Contrast that with this CBS News survey: one in two Americans are concerned that they will not be able to afford the holiday gifts they would like to buy.
The latest US census figures say that 1 in 6 Americans live below the poverty level of $22,000 for a family of 4. As any financial planner will tell you, 1/4th of your income should go to food. Some stories that say Americans are spending up to half their income on food. Taking the 1/4th percentage, this works out to $4 a day for food. So that means that 1/6th of America is already living on a food budget of $4 a day.
I wrote my book after I saw many stories on the news showing obese women, some on food stamps, loading their grocery carts with Twinkies saying, “You can’t eat well on a budget.”
I spent the past 3 years on the floors of big-box stores tracking food prices. I believed that if you could show how cheaply people could eat, they almost wouldn’t care what it was that they were eating. Show them how much better they would feel, and as a result of feeling better, how much money they could save by avoiding disease, doctors and hospitals, they would flock to the vegan table. The price of dry beans is 1/6th the cost of the cheapest (30% fat) hamburger meat. Add that up over a lifetime, and the savings are significant.
My own family history would appear to be a testimonial to the health of eating this way. I ran my first marathon in 2010 and continue to place in my age group at 5K races. I’ve helped coach our high school girls’ cross-country team.
I’ve only met 2 people who say they have my identical family history. My mom, aunt and both sisters had breast cancer. One of those sisters, both parents and all grandparents had diabetes and major heart disease. My mom, uncle and grandmother had Alzheimer’s. Most adults had osteoporosis, arthritis and varicose veins. I have none of it. I didn’t get all the good genes. Genes take a trigger. I keep asking to be studied. Either I am a genetic freak or I’m doing some things right. But since there’s no money in broccoli, I may be waiting awhile. You’d think doctors and researchers would be pounding a path to my door asking, “What has she been doing differently these past 32 years?” Alas…no money in broccoli, as I say in my talks all over the US and in my book. No broccoli board, association or lobby.
Changing your diet is so much easier than losing a limb to diabetes or having your chest cracked open for heart disease. The money it takes to maintain a healthy lifestyle is much less than the cost of living a debilitating life from diseases that can be easily prevented. Every time I buy running shoes, I think, “It’s cheaper than a co-pay. It’s cheaper than MRI.”
Ellen Jaffe Jones works online and in gyms as a certified personal trainer (AFAA), running coach (RRCA) and the author of the bestseller, “Eat Vegan on $4 a Day.” She can be reached at www.vegcoach.com
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Couples Trying to Conceive
THURSDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers who developed a mathematical model to help predict a couple's chances of becoming pregnant say the method may help determine how long couples should wait before seeking medical help to achieve pregnancy.
The method determines the probability of conception within the next month by using the number of menstrual cycles that have occurred during the time a couple has been trying to conceive. For example, the U.K. researchers found that a 35-year-old woman who has been trying for six months to get pregnant has only a 10 percent chance of conceiving within the next month.
In comparison, the number of months required to reach a conception chance below 10 percent is 10 months at age 30 and 13 months at age 25, according to the study appearing online Oct. 4 in the journal PLoS One.
"Many couples are not aware that chance plays a big role in getting pregnant. People expect to get pregnant when they want to, so finding out that it isn't happening can be a shock. Approaching a doctor about such a personal matter is daunting, so knowing when is the right time to start investigations would be a useful step forward," study author Geraldine Hartshorne of Warwick Medical School, said in a University of Warwick news release.
"We can't work out exactly when, or if, a woman will become pregnant -- but this analysis can predict her chances, and give a percentage estimate of pregnancy in the next cycle," she added.
Common wisdom has been that couples who are trying to get pregnant should have regular sex for a year before seeking help, but this study shows that age also affects this decision.
"Comparatively few young couples have low fertility, and so for these couples, the most likely reason for failing to conceive in the first few cycles is simply bad luck. There is quite a good chance of conception if they keep trying," study author Peter Sozou, of the London School of Economics, said in the news release.
"But older couples are more likely to have low fertility, so it's more likely for them than for younger couples that failure to conceive after a few months is due to low fertility," he noted.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
has more about infertility/fertility.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The method determines the probability of conception within the next month by using the number of menstrual cycles that have occurred during the time a couple has been trying to conceive. For example, the U.K. researchers found that a 35-year-old woman who has been trying for six months to get pregnant has only a 10 percent chance of conceiving within the next month.
In comparison, the number of months required to reach a conception chance below 10 percent is 10 months at age 30 and 13 months at age 25, according to the study appearing online Oct. 4 in the journal PLoS One.
"Many couples are not aware that chance plays a big role in getting pregnant. People expect to get pregnant when they want to, so finding out that it isn't happening can be a shock. Approaching a doctor about such a personal matter is daunting, so knowing when is the right time to start investigations would be a useful step forward," study author Geraldine Hartshorne of Warwick Medical School, said in a University of Warwick news release.
"We can't work out exactly when, or if, a woman will become pregnant -- but this analysis can predict her chances, and give a percentage estimate of pregnancy in the next cycle," she added.
Common wisdom has been that couples who are trying to get pregnant should have regular sex for a year before seeking help, but this study shows that age also affects this decision.
"Comparatively few young couples have low fertility, and so for these couples, the most likely reason for failing to conceive in the first few cycles is simply bad luck. There is quite a good chance of conception if they keep trying," study author Peter Sozou, of the London School of Economics, said in the news release.
"But older couples are more likely to have low fertility, so it's more likely for them than for younger couples that failure to conceive after a few months is due to low fertility," he noted.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
has more about infertility/fertility.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Acupuncture & Breast Cancer
FRIDAY, Nov. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Offering breast cancer patients a relatively short regimen of acupuncture alongside standard treatment can help alleviate some of the crippling fatigue that often accompanies the disease, according to a new study. 
The magnitude of help that patients undergoing acupuncture experienced was deemed by the study team to be "both statistically and clinically important."
"I am quite excited with these results," said study lead author Alex Molassiotis, a professor of cancer and supportive care with the school of nursing, midwifery and social work at the University of Manchester, in England. "They provide some good evidence of an effect of acupuncture for the management of a very debilitating and burdensome symptom for patients."
"The addition of a new treatment approach gives patients and health professionals more options," Molassiotis added, noting that the range of options specifically designed to
address fatigue issues among cancer patients has been limited.
The study appeared online Oct. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
More than 40 percent of breast cancer patients experience significant cancer-related fatigue, according to background information included in the study. For some patients the problem may persist at a moderate or even severe level for years following the cessation of treatment.
To explore the potential of acupuncture treatment, the authors focused on more than 300 women with breast cancer who were being cared for as outpatients at one of nine health care facilities across the United Kingdom.
At the time of the study, participants had been diagnosed with either stage 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer, and all had been experiencing at least moderate levels of fatigue for an average of 18 months. Most were white, and their average age was 53. For a six-week period, all patients continued to receive the same care they had been receiving before the study, and all were additionally given an information booklet that tackled the issue of fatigue management.
However, more than 200 of the patients also were randomly chosen to undergo weekly 20-minute acupuncture sessions that involved needle placement at three different entry points. By the end of the six-week period, those who had received acupuncture appeared to fare better on every measure of fatigue that the team assessed.
Specifically, those in the acupuncture group reported feeling notably better than the "usual-care" group in terms of overall fatigue, physical and mental fatigue, anxiety and depression levels, functional well-being, emotional well-being, social functioning, and overall quality of life.
"Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that not only can have direct effects on the symptom experience of patients, but also ... provide the opportunity [for] patients to be more involved with their symptom management and empower them more," Molassiotis said. "Patients also like 'natural' and 'traditional' approaches to health management."
"[However], we still do not understand how acupuncture may work to manage fatigue," he acknowledged. "Within the results may also be a so-called placebo effect, which is common in many complementary therapies. So in future work we need to look into objective and physiological outcome measures, too, although the patient-reported outcomes used in the current trial are equally very important."
Dr. Laura Kruper, director of the Cooper-Finkel Women's Health Center and chief of the breast surgery service at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif., described the British effort as both "well done" and "strong."
"Acupuncture has been used in a variety of settings within medicine, such as to control chemotherapy-related nausea, post-operative nausea, migraines and chronic pain," she said. "It is still not exactly known how acupuncture works, but that does not mean it does not have therapeutic benefit."
But, while noting that "many patients turn to complementary therapies to bridge the gaps that Western medicine does not fill," Kruper stressed the need "to ensure that these therapies are safe, effective and reliable."
"In the world of medicine, we rely on investigational studies to guide our treatment decisions so that we provide evidence-based medicine," she said. "Complementary therapies need to undergo the same rigorous tests that Western medicine does. This study was exemplary in that it was conducted with adherence to the principles of scientific method, and hopefully a study like this will be the first of many."
Although the study found an association between acupuncture and reduced fatigue in breast cancer patients, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
More information
For more on acupuncture, visit the U.S.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The magnitude of help that patients undergoing acupuncture experienced was deemed by the study team to be "both statistically and clinically important."
"I am quite excited with these results," said study lead author Alex Molassiotis, a professor of cancer and supportive care with the school of nursing, midwifery and social work at the University of Manchester, in England. "They provide some good evidence of an effect of acupuncture for the management of a very debilitating and burdensome symptom for patients."
"The addition of a new treatment approach gives patients and health professionals more options," Molassiotis added, noting that the range of options specifically designed to
address fatigue issues among cancer patients has been limited.
The study appeared online Oct. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
More than 40 percent of breast cancer patients experience significant cancer-related fatigue, according to background information included in the study. For some patients the problem may persist at a moderate or even severe level for years following the cessation of treatment.
To explore the potential of acupuncture treatment, the authors focused on more than 300 women with breast cancer who were being cared for as outpatients at one of nine health care facilities across the United Kingdom.
At the time of the study, participants had been diagnosed with either stage 1, 2 or 3 breast cancer, and all had been experiencing at least moderate levels of fatigue for an average of 18 months. Most were white, and their average age was 53. For a six-week period, all patients continued to receive the same care they had been receiving before the study, and all were additionally given an information booklet that tackled the issue of fatigue management.
However, more than 200 of the patients also were randomly chosen to undergo weekly 20-minute acupuncture sessions that involved needle placement at three different entry points. By the end of the six-week period, those who had received acupuncture appeared to fare better on every measure of fatigue that the team assessed.
Specifically, those in the acupuncture group reported feeling notably better than the "usual-care" group in terms of overall fatigue, physical and mental fatigue, anxiety and depression levels, functional well-being, emotional well-being, social functioning, and overall quality of life.
"Acupuncture is a complementary therapy that not only can have direct effects on the symptom experience of patients, but also ... provide the opportunity [for] patients to be more involved with their symptom management and empower them more," Molassiotis said. "Patients also like 'natural' and 'traditional' approaches to health management."
"[However], we still do not understand how acupuncture may work to manage fatigue," he acknowledged. "Within the results may also be a so-called placebo effect, which is common in many complementary therapies. So in future work we need to look into objective and physiological outcome measures, too, although the patient-reported outcomes used in the current trial are equally very important."
Dr. Laura Kruper, director of the Cooper-Finkel Women's Health Center and chief of the breast surgery service at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif., described the British effort as both "well done" and "strong."
"Acupuncture has been used in a variety of settings within medicine, such as to control chemotherapy-related nausea, post-operative nausea, migraines and chronic pain," she said. "It is still not exactly known how acupuncture works, but that does not mean it does not have therapeutic benefit."
But, while noting that "many patients turn to complementary therapies to bridge the gaps that Western medicine does not fill," Kruper stressed the need "to ensure that these therapies are safe, effective and reliable."
"In the world of medicine, we rely on investigational studies to guide our treatment decisions so that we provide evidence-based medicine," she said. "Complementary therapies need to undergo the same rigorous tests that Western medicine does. This study was exemplary in that it was conducted with adherence to the principles of scientific method, and hopefully a study like this will be the first of many."
Although the study found an association between acupuncture and reduced fatigue in breast cancer patients, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
More information
For more on acupuncture, visit the U.S.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
3d Mammograms
MONDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have developed a new technique to produce 3-D images of breast tissue that they say are two to three times sharper than current hospital CT scans with a lower radiation dose than is delivered currently by conventional mammograms.
"Mammography relies on two-dimensional images," said Jianwei Miao, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a researcher with the university's California NanoSystems Institute.
That may help explain why 10 percent to 20 percent of breast tumors go undetected on mammogram, Miao said.
CT scans are also three-dimensional, Miao said, but are not considered useful for detecting breast cancer, as it requires a larger dose of radiation than a mammogram.
To improve detection of breast cancer, Miao, working with UCLA colleagues and German scientists, developed ''a new way to visualize human breast cancer in three imensions with a radiation dose somewhat lower than that in current mammograms."
To develop the new technique, Miao's team combined a type of X-ray imaging with an image-reconstruction method known by scientists as "equally sloped tomography." One reason the technique may be better for detection is that it measures the difference in the way an X-ray oscillates through normal breast tissue compared to tissue with cancer, the scientists said.
Five independent radiologists have now evaluated the method. They found that it can reduce the radiation dose by about 74 percent compared to conventional methods. It produced images with the highest image quality compared to 3-D images of breast tissues captured through other standard methods.
The report of the technique and evaluation appeared Oct. 22 in the online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The technique won't be available to patients for some time, Miao said.
"Before our technique is available, we need a more advanced X-ray source," he said. The equipment for that source is available now only in large-scale research lab environments.
The X-ray source needs to be smaller so it can fit easily into a hospital or clinic room, he said. It could be a decade or more before the 3-D technique is clinically available.
Any technique that would lower radiation doses from mammograms would be good, said Dr. Debra Monticciolo, chairwoman of the American College of Radiology Quality and Safety Commission.
But she, too, cautioned that the technique is still in the research phase.
"The clinical equipment to develop these 3-D images is not currently available," she said. "It hasn't been developed yet."
Mammograms performed on modern equipment deliver very low doses of radiation, according to the American Cancer Society. For one mammogram, the dose is about 0.1 to 0.2 rads, a measure of radiation. To put that in perspective, that is about the same amount of radiation a woman would receive flying coast to coast on a commercial airplane, according to the society.
More information
To learn more about mammograms, visit the American Cancer
Society.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
"Mammography relies on two-dimensional images," said Jianwei Miao, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a researcher with the university's California NanoSystems Institute.
That may help explain why 10 percent to 20 percent of breast tumors go undetected on mammogram, Miao said.
CT scans are also three-dimensional, Miao said, but are not considered useful for detecting breast cancer, as it requires a larger dose of radiation than a mammogram.
To improve detection of breast cancer, Miao, working with UCLA colleagues and German scientists, developed ''a new way to visualize human breast cancer in three imensions with a radiation dose somewhat lower than that in current mammograms."
To develop the new technique, Miao's team combined a type of X-ray imaging with an image-reconstruction method known by scientists as "equally sloped tomography." One reason the technique may be better for detection is that it measures the difference in the way an X-ray oscillates through normal breast tissue compared to tissue with cancer, the scientists said.
Five independent radiologists have now evaluated the method. They found that it can reduce the radiation dose by about 74 percent compared to conventional methods. It produced images with the highest image quality compared to 3-D images of breast tissues captured through other standard methods.
The report of the technique and evaluation appeared Oct. 22 in the online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The technique won't be available to patients for some time, Miao said.
"Before our technique is available, we need a more advanced X-ray source," he said. The equipment for that source is available now only in large-scale research lab environments.
The X-ray source needs to be smaller so it can fit easily into a hospital or clinic room, he said. It could be a decade or more before the 3-D technique is clinically available.
Any technique that would lower radiation doses from mammograms would be good, said Dr. Debra Monticciolo, chairwoman of the American College of Radiology Quality and Safety Commission.
But she, too, cautioned that the technique is still in the research phase.
"The clinical equipment to develop these 3-D images is not currently available," she said. "It hasn't been developed yet."
Mammograms performed on modern equipment deliver very low doses of radiation, according to the American Cancer Society. For one mammogram, the dose is about 0.1 to 0.2 rads, a measure of radiation. To put that in perspective, that is about the same amount of radiation a woman would receive flying coast to coast on a commercial airplane, according to the society.
More information
To learn more about mammograms, visit the American Cancer
Society.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
53 Ways to Sneak Pumpkin Into Any Meal
Sure, you can carve a pumpkin. But did you know you could also enjoy it in a bowl of oats, between the bun, or in a fancy cocktail? We’ve rounded up 53 ways to enjoy this
super-fruit that comes with as much versatility as it does protein, fiber, and everyone’s favorite fall flavor.
Morning Mealtime
1. Quick breads. Fresh out of the oven, pumpkin bread is a delicious morning treat that makes getting out of bed a breeze. Now, if only eating the whole loaf in one sitting was a good idea…
2. Scones. For a healthified breakfast baked good with a little more crunch than a muffin, try a pumpkin scone with that cup of tea. With a little spice, this morning treat is nothing but nice. Plus, the pumpkin puree adds moisture to these typically dry and crumbly treats.
3. Pancakes. Our favorite Sunday morning tradition got better. Stir some pumpkin puree in pancake batter for an autumnal spin on breakfast. Try some pumpkin protein pancakes to really fill you up with the good stuff.
4. Waffles. Le’go my ego and give me the pumpkin! For a crispier (and healthier) morning meal, one cup of pumpkin puree will spice up any ordinary waffle.
5. Oatmeal. Pumpkin pie for breakfast? We went there. For a creamy bowl of oats, simply add some pumpkin puree. Topped with graham crackers, pecans, and a touch of maple syrup, and it’s basically (almost) pumpkin pie.
6. Yogurt. It may be hard to find pumpkin flavored yogurt in the dairy section, but luckily it’s easy to make at home. Simply combine ½ cup of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt with about ¼ cup canned pumpkin, and add any desired sweeteners and toppings of choice (we’re fans of cinnamon and pecans!).
7. Muffins. Blueberry muffins are so two weeks ago. Pumpkin puree perks up any ordinary breakfast treat. Swap in whole-wheat flour and sprinkle some pumpkin seeds on top for a healthy start to the day!
8. Granola. Pumpkin seeds take center stage in this recipe, packing an extra crunch to an already healthy mix of whole-grains, nuts, and spices. Serve it atop some pumpkin yogurt for one big pumpkin party in your mouth.
9. French toast. Pumpkin puree, plus peanut butter, plus whole-grain bread equals probably the best French toast ever.
10. Biscuits. Skip the gravy and enjoy these biscuits all on their own. Light, fluffy, and oh, filled with pumpkin, it’s near impossible not to resist seconds (or thirds…).
11. Sandwich bread. There’s whole-wheat, multi-grain, 7-seed, and…pumpkin bread! Toast it up, add some jam, or even go crazy and use it to make French toast or in a classic sandwich. (Editor’s note: Try the classic “Thanksgiving” sandwich on this bread! The combo of turkey and cranberry with the pumpkin is perfect!)
Spreads, Snacks, and Sides
12. Mashed potatoes. Potatoes mashed with pumpkin, stirred with spinach, and mixed with almond milk? Yes, please. This out-of-the-box mashed potato recipe is as unique as it is nutritious and damn delicious.
13. Hummus. For a slightly sweeter dip that’s still filled with tahini and chickpeas, just add pumpkin puree. With a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, this spin on the classic Middle Eastern spread will knock your (fall-themed) socks off.
14. “Butter.” Not to be confused with that stuff in the dairy section, pumpkin butter is a great sweet treat to spread on toast or a piece of fresh fruit. Just some stirring over the pan will create a homemade spread that’s better than anything from the jar.
15. Frosting. Want a spread with some staying power? Try mixing canned pumpkin with almond butter, protein powder, and a dash of cinnamon. Perfect on a pita, cupcake, or banana.
16. Dessert dip. For a little indulgence, try this pumpkin dip with Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and of course, pumpkin! Slice up an apple and you’ve got yourself the perfect afternoon snack.
17. Bruschetta. For a snack, appetizer, or side dish, give pumpkin bruschetta a try. Sauté sweet pumpkin, top with goat cheese, and serve on a thinly sliced piece of multi-grain bread for the perfect autumn bite.
18. Party dip. Take a dinner cheese dip up a notch by using pumpkin instead. This recipe is both party-approved and vegan, and is great smothered on whole-grain bread.
19. Pickles. No cucumbers are necessary for this savory, autumn treat! Pickle thick slices of pumpkin instead for a salty, tangy side to any sandwich.
20. Roasted seeds. Pumpkin seeds are another great way to enjoy all this fruit has to offer. Simply roast them in the oven with a little olive oil and salt (or other spices!) for a crunchy snack.
21. Guacamole. If avocados with some cilantro and lime isn’t good enough, how bout’ adding some pumpkin, too? Those tortilla chips won’t know what hit them!
22. Dinner rolls. Sometimes, there’s nothing like a warm roll straight from oven with a drizzle of olive oil! To amp up our favorite carb-treat even more, pumpkin puree does the trick.
23. Pesto. There’s no need for basil in this pesto recipe. (Trust us!) With pumpkin puree, pecans, garlic, and some parm cheese, you’ll end up with a sweet and savory spread that goes great on pasta, crackers, or straight up with a spoon.
24. Garlic knots. Better believe it. Adding some canned pumpkin to homemade dough makes the knots nice and moist, while adding some extra fiber and protein.
Lunch and Dinner Ideas
25. Mac n’ cheese. Our favorite comfort food just got creamier (and tastier!). Add pumpkin puree to the pan and those elbows won’t know what hit it.
26. Soups. For a creamy soup without the cream, head to the pumpkin patch! Cozy up with a bowl-full of pumpkin-apple or Thai-spiced soup — it’s perfect as the weather cools down.
27. Salads. The main crux of a salad doesn’t have to be greens. Adding chopped and roasted pumpkin to the bowl of arugula makes the perfect base for a salad with all the right fixin’s. (Our favorites? Dried cranberries, pecans, and roasted chicken.)
28. Chili. To add some extra spice to a comforting bowl of chili, just add pumpkin. It will add a sweet, nutty flavor to the bowl to satisfy any autumn taste bud.
29. Panini. Skip the mayo and add pumpkin spread to build a perfect fall Panini! A mixture of pumpkin puree, garlic, salt, and pepper compliments an array of veggies and adds a sweet, robust flavor in every bite.
30. Pizza. No pepperoni needed for this killer pie. Making a sweet, tangy pizza sauce with pumpkin is the perfect base for our favorite Italian meal. (Bonus points for impressing dinner guests!)
31. Pasta. Who doesn’t like to occasionally indulge in a bowl of pasta with a comforting creamy sauce? Get that velvety sauce texture without the excess calories by using pumpkin puree as the base combined with chicken stock, almond milk, and seasonal spices.
32. Risotto. This dish is thick and velvety to begin with, so adding pumpkin only intensifies its creamy deliciousness. Top the risotto with roasted pumpkin to really feel like fall! Or, add some pumpkin puree to the simmering mixture.
33. Raviolis. This is a true autumn meal. Wrapping up creamy pumpkin and cheese filling with a pasta shell results in a sweet, comforting dish that makes sure nobody goes home hungry. Go extra healthy and swap the pasta for wonton wrappers.
34. Burgers. To bulk up that veggie burger and add a touch of sweetness, pumpkin is the way to go. This simple recipe combines canned pumpkin with black beans to make a mean burger without the meat.
35. Savory bake. For some baked, autumn goodness, stick a pumpkin in the oven. Baked alongside sweet potatoes and brown sugar, and you’ve got a sweet meal anyone will enjoy.
36. Quesadillas. For a filling Mexican treat, put some chopped, sauteed pumpkin (along with some jalapeños and cheese for good measure) between the tortillas. No sour cream necessary!
Sweet Treats
37. Custard. For a cool and creamy autumn treat, pumpkin custard is the answer. Go the no-bake route to save some time, and mix the pumpkin with Greek yogurt for good measure.
38. Cheesecakes. It’s no Cheesecake Factory, but you will save some calories and still get that pumpkin fix. Mixed with low-fat cream cheese on top of a vanilla wafer crust, there’s no way this pumpkin puree-based dessert will be anything short of a crowd pleaser.
39. Pudding. For a spin on a classic kid’s treat, add pumpkin puree to an instant vanilla pudding mix and throw some fall spices in for good measure. It’s that simple. And delicious.
40. Cookies. Move over snicker doodle, tis’ the season for pumpkin oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies. (We’re stoked, too.) Make em for your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or simply yourself.
41. Pies. Pumpkin pie is a classic, and for good reason: It’s delicious. For a healthier spin, use rolled oats for the crust, and add applesauce and coconut oil to the pumpkin mix.
42. Popsicles. Yep, pumpkin can come on a stick, too! Surprise your friends with this icy treat that’s still great to chow down during the fall.
43. Cakes. Don’t let them eat just any cake, Queen Marie-Antoinette. Pumpkin cake is the way to go for a moist and sweet cake with just the right touch of spice.
44. Whoopie pies. This Maine-born treat needs some pumpkin love. Add a can of pumpkin puree to the pie mix and have yourself an autumn indulgence we all deserve.
45. Brittle. To bring pumpkin seeds back in the forefront, try this pumpkin seed brittle for a salty and sweet treat. With only a few simple ingredients, this is a dessert that’s both easy to make and devour.
46. Sherbet. If you were to take the filling of a pumpkin pie and freeze it, it’d taste just like this pumpkin sherbet. Creamy (without the fat!) and perfectly spiced, we can eat this straight from the tub.
Drinks
47. Hard cider. Cider drinks, don’t sweat it! Now you can have a share of the pumpkin brew fun, too. Try your hand at making it yourself or give one of the newer bottled versions a go.
48. Milkshakes. Pumpkin pie in a glass just happened. Try this pumpkin pie milkshake filled with frozen bananas, low-fat pumpkin fro-yo or pumpkin puree, and a touch of maple syrup, and try not to slurp it down in one gulp.
49. Protein shakes. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a post-workout snack, whip up a pumpkin pie smoothie that’s packed with protein (thanks to protein powder!) for staying power.
50. Coffee drinks. For a cheaper and healthier latte option, make some DIY pumpkin spice syrup to flavor any cup of coffee or latte. You’ll never want to leave home after wrapping your hands around this coffee mug.
51. Hot chocolate. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice is all you need to take hot chocolate up a notch. So give pumpkin spice hot chocolate a whirl to warm up your hands and heart.
52. Beer. Beer lovers, unite! With autumn comes the arrival of pumpkin ales on every store aisle, and for good reason. To go DIY, brew your own pumpkin beer for a non-stop stash.
53. Cocktails. Who says you can’t put pumpkin in that martini glass? Just add a little pumpkin puree to rum, milk, spices, and ice — and blend or shake!
Have some more pumpkin
ideas not on this list? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet the author @lschwech.
super-fruit that comes with as much versatility as it does protein, fiber, and everyone’s favorite fall flavor.
Morning Mealtime
1. Quick breads. Fresh out of the oven, pumpkin bread is a delicious morning treat that makes getting out of bed a breeze. Now, if only eating the whole loaf in one sitting was a good idea…
2. Scones. For a healthified breakfast baked good with a little more crunch than a muffin, try a pumpkin scone with that cup of tea. With a little spice, this morning treat is nothing but nice. Plus, the pumpkin puree adds moisture to these typically dry and crumbly treats.
3. Pancakes. Our favorite Sunday morning tradition got better. Stir some pumpkin puree in pancake batter for an autumnal spin on breakfast. Try some pumpkin protein pancakes to really fill you up with the good stuff.
4. Waffles. Le’go my ego and give me the pumpkin! For a crispier (and healthier) morning meal, one cup of pumpkin puree will spice up any ordinary waffle.
5. Oatmeal. Pumpkin pie for breakfast? We went there. For a creamy bowl of oats, simply add some pumpkin puree. Topped with graham crackers, pecans, and a touch of maple syrup, and it’s basically (almost) pumpkin pie.
6. Yogurt. It may be hard to find pumpkin flavored yogurt in the dairy section, but luckily it’s easy to make at home. Simply combine ½ cup of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt with about ¼ cup canned pumpkin, and add any desired sweeteners and toppings of choice (we’re fans of cinnamon and pecans!).
7. Muffins. Blueberry muffins are so two weeks ago. Pumpkin puree perks up any ordinary breakfast treat. Swap in whole-wheat flour and sprinkle some pumpkin seeds on top for a healthy start to the day!
8. Granola. Pumpkin seeds take center stage in this recipe, packing an extra crunch to an already healthy mix of whole-grains, nuts, and spices. Serve it atop some pumpkin yogurt for one big pumpkin party in your mouth.
9. French toast. Pumpkin puree, plus peanut butter, plus whole-grain bread equals probably the best French toast ever.
10. Biscuits. Skip the gravy and enjoy these biscuits all on their own. Light, fluffy, and oh, filled with pumpkin, it’s near impossible not to resist seconds (or thirds…).
11. Sandwich bread. There’s whole-wheat, multi-grain, 7-seed, and…pumpkin bread! Toast it up, add some jam, or even go crazy and use it to make French toast or in a classic sandwich. (Editor’s note: Try the classic “Thanksgiving” sandwich on this bread! The combo of turkey and cranberry with the pumpkin is perfect!)
Spreads, Snacks, and Sides
12. Mashed potatoes. Potatoes mashed with pumpkin, stirred with spinach, and mixed with almond milk? Yes, please. This out-of-the-box mashed potato recipe is as unique as it is nutritious and damn delicious.
13. Hummus. For a slightly sweeter dip that’s still filled with tahini and chickpeas, just add pumpkin puree. With a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg, this spin on the classic Middle Eastern spread will knock your (fall-themed) socks off.
14. “Butter.” Not to be confused with that stuff in the dairy section, pumpkin butter is a great sweet treat to spread on toast or a piece of fresh fruit. Just some stirring over the pan will create a homemade spread that’s better than anything from the jar.
15. Frosting. Want a spread with some staying power? Try mixing canned pumpkin with almond butter, protein powder, and a dash of cinnamon. Perfect on a pita, cupcake, or banana.
16. Dessert dip. For a little indulgence, try this pumpkin dip with Greek yogurt, brown sugar, and of course, pumpkin! Slice up an apple and you’ve got yourself the perfect afternoon snack.
17. Bruschetta. For a snack, appetizer, or side dish, give pumpkin bruschetta a try. Sauté sweet pumpkin, top with goat cheese, and serve on a thinly sliced piece of multi-grain bread for the perfect autumn bite.
18. Party dip. Take a dinner cheese dip up a notch by using pumpkin instead. This recipe is both party-approved and vegan, and is great smothered on whole-grain bread.
19. Pickles. No cucumbers are necessary for this savory, autumn treat! Pickle thick slices of pumpkin instead for a salty, tangy side to any sandwich.
20. Roasted seeds. Pumpkin seeds are another great way to enjoy all this fruit has to offer. Simply roast them in the oven with a little olive oil and salt (or other spices!) for a crunchy snack.
21. Guacamole. If avocados with some cilantro and lime isn’t good enough, how bout’ adding some pumpkin, too? Those tortilla chips won’t know what hit them!
22. Dinner rolls. Sometimes, there’s nothing like a warm roll straight from oven with a drizzle of olive oil! To amp up our favorite carb-treat even more, pumpkin puree does the trick.
23. Pesto. There’s no need for basil in this pesto recipe. (Trust us!) With pumpkin puree, pecans, garlic, and some parm cheese, you’ll end up with a sweet and savory spread that goes great on pasta, crackers, or straight up with a spoon.
24. Garlic knots. Better believe it. Adding some canned pumpkin to homemade dough makes the knots nice and moist, while adding some extra fiber and protein.
Lunch and Dinner Ideas
25. Mac n’ cheese. Our favorite comfort food just got creamier (and tastier!). Add pumpkin puree to the pan and those elbows won’t know what hit it.
26. Soups. For a creamy soup without the cream, head to the pumpkin patch! Cozy up with a bowl-full of pumpkin-apple or Thai-spiced soup — it’s perfect as the weather cools down.
27. Salads. The main crux of a salad doesn’t have to be greens. Adding chopped and roasted pumpkin to the bowl of arugula makes the perfect base for a salad with all the right fixin’s. (Our favorites? Dried cranberries, pecans, and roasted chicken.)
28. Chili. To add some extra spice to a comforting bowl of chili, just add pumpkin. It will add a sweet, nutty flavor to the bowl to satisfy any autumn taste bud.
29. Panini. Skip the mayo and add pumpkin spread to build a perfect fall Panini! A mixture of pumpkin puree, garlic, salt, and pepper compliments an array of veggies and adds a sweet, robust flavor in every bite.
30. Pizza. No pepperoni needed for this killer pie. Making a sweet, tangy pizza sauce with pumpkin is the perfect base for our favorite Italian meal. (Bonus points for impressing dinner guests!)
31. Pasta. Who doesn’t like to occasionally indulge in a bowl of pasta with a comforting creamy sauce? Get that velvety sauce texture without the excess calories by using pumpkin puree as the base combined with chicken stock, almond milk, and seasonal spices.
32. Risotto. This dish is thick and velvety to begin with, so adding pumpkin only intensifies its creamy deliciousness. Top the risotto with roasted pumpkin to really feel like fall! Or, add some pumpkin puree to the simmering mixture.
33. Raviolis. This is a true autumn meal. Wrapping up creamy pumpkin and cheese filling with a pasta shell results in a sweet, comforting dish that makes sure nobody goes home hungry. Go extra healthy and swap the pasta for wonton wrappers.
34. Burgers. To bulk up that veggie burger and add a touch of sweetness, pumpkin is the way to go. This simple recipe combines canned pumpkin with black beans to make a mean burger without the meat.
35. Savory bake. For some baked, autumn goodness, stick a pumpkin in the oven. Baked alongside sweet potatoes and brown sugar, and you’ve got a sweet meal anyone will enjoy.
36. Quesadillas. For a filling Mexican treat, put some chopped, sauteed pumpkin (along with some jalapeños and cheese for good measure) between the tortillas. No sour cream necessary!
Sweet Treats
37. Custard. For a cool and creamy autumn treat, pumpkin custard is the answer. Go the no-bake route to save some time, and mix the pumpkin with Greek yogurt for good measure.
38. Cheesecakes. It’s no Cheesecake Factory, but you will save some calories and still get that pumpkin fix. Mixed with low-fat cream cheese on top of a vanilla wafer crust, there’s no way this pumpkin puree-based dessert will be anything short of a crowd pleaser.
39. Pudding. For a spin on a classic kid’s treat, add pumpkin puree to an instant vanilla pudding mix and throw some fall spices in for good measure. It’s that simple. And delicious.
40. Cookies. Move over snicker doodle, tis’ the season for pumpkin oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies. (We’re stoked, too.) Make em for your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or simply yourself.
41. Pies. Pumpkin pie is a classic, and for good reason: It’s delicious. For a healthier spin, use rolled oats for the crust, and add applesauce and coconut oil to the pumpkin mix.
42. Popsicles. Yep, pumpkin can come on a stick, too! Surprise your friends with this icy treat that’s still great to chow down during the fall.
43. Cakes. Don’t let them eat just any cake, Queen Marie-Antoinette. Pumpkin cake is the way to go for a moist and sweet cake with just the right touch of spice.
44. Whoopie pies. This Maine-born treat needs some pumpkin love. Add a can of pumpkin puree to the pie mix and have yourself an autumn indulgence we all deserve.
45. Brittle. To bring pumpkin seeds back in the forefront, try this pumpkin seed brittle for a salty and sweet treat. With only a few simple ingredients, this is a dessert that’s both easy to make and devour.
46. Sherbet. If you were to take the filling of a pumpkin pie and freeze it, it’d taste just like this pumpkin sherbet. Creamy (without the fat!) and perfectly spiced, we can eat this straight from the tub.
Drinks
47. Hard cider. Cider drinks, don’t sweat it! Now you can have a share of the pumpkin brew fun, too. Try your hand at making it yourself or give one of the newer bottled versions a go.
48. Milkshakes. Pumpkin pie in a glass just happened. Try this pumpkin pie milkshake filled with frozen bananas, low-fat pumpkin fro-yo or pumpkin puree, and a touch of maple syrup, and try not to slurp it down in one gulp.
49. Protein shakes. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a post-workout snack, whip up a pumpkin pie smoothie that’s packed with protein (thanks to protein powder!) for staying power.
50. Coffee drinks. For a cheaper and healthier latte option, make some DIY pumpkin spice syrup to flavor any cup of coffee or latte. You’ll never want to leave home after wrapping your hands around this coffee mug.
51. Hot chocolate. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice is all you need to take hot chocolate up a notch. So give pumpkin spice hot chocolate a whirl to warm up your hands and heart.
52. Beer. Beer lovers, unite! With autumn comes the arrival of pumpkin ales on every store aisle, and for good reason. To go DIY, brew your own pumpkin beer for a non-stop stash.
53. Cocktails. Who says you can’t put pumpkin in that martini glass? Just add a little pumpkin puree to rum, milk, spices, and ice — and blend or shake!
Have some more pumpkin
ideas not on this list? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet the author @lschwech.
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