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.

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.

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.

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.

Develop 6 Pack Abs

We all have ‘em---abs. Abdominals, Core, 6-pack, stomach muscles! Whether you can see them or not is another story. And regardless if you have a 4, 6 or 8-pack, being lean, functional and strong in the mid section is a must. Here are sure-fire ways to develop your abs.

Good attitude. Be optimistic and confident about your body. Visualize your 6-pack as the lean strong muscle it will be.

 Proper nutrition. Eat small meals, eat breakfast, and find the foods that optimize your metabolism.

 Endurance Exercise. Do interval training, cross-training, and classes such as indoor cycling, and classes innovated by the author such as cardio core cross-spin, cardio yoga, etc.

 Resistance Exercise. Keep a steady stream of individualized, intense strength workouts for all muscles.

Isometric Exercise. Include core builders such as high and low planks, bridges, as well as disciplines such as yoga and pilates.

Stability Ball. Use exercise balls for crunches, situps, core balancing and core stretching.

Train the entire core. Do not just train abs, utilize exercise for complete core activation of lower back, obliques, transverse abdominus and pelvic floor muscles.

Breath. Learn how to yogic breath to better activate the abs, utilize the diaphragm and allow the body to lengthen the core.

Using these simple yet important tactics will highlight your 6-pack and also improve your function and overall health and wellness.

 

 Marc D. Thompson BS,VPT is a national innovator of on-line virtual training and group instruction (via Skype). Thompson has 25-years of experience as a fitness trainer and personal coach focusing on medicine and exercise physiology. He has dedicated his life to isolating the physical strengths and weaknesses of each client and matching them with a multitude of fitness disciplines to improve their physical, mental and psychological well-being.

Marc D Thompson, VirtuFit^TM 

Virtual Personal Training, Live & Online^TM

Aquatic Fitness

Aquatic fitness is any healthy activity performed in water. The use of water for fitness is not new but it has many benefits. Water provides a cushion, to keep impact to a minimum. It is soothing and relaxing. Water also maintains our body temperature as we perform high heart rate exercises.

Water allows movement for those with orthopedic limitations that could not be performed safely on land. Here are a few aquatic ideas to discover how water can best enhance your wellness.

1. Aquatic cross training (land and water exercises intervals)

2. Deep water lunging

3. Laps without using arms

4. Laps without using legs

5. Speed strokes

6. Butterfly laps

7. Water yoga

8. Water Tai Chi

9. Water Pilates

10. Surface diving drills

Marc D. Thompson BS,VPT is a national innovator of on-line virtual training and group instruction (via Skype). Thompson has 25-years of experience as a fitness trainer and personal coach focusing on medicine and exercise physiology. He has dedicated his life to isolating the physical strengths and weaknesses of each client and matching them with a multitude of fitness disciplines to improve their physical, mental and psychological well-being.

Flip Flops

Researchers at Auburn University have found that wearing flip-flops alters the way one walks, changing the gait in subtle ways that can lead to serious sole, heel and ankle problems. The toes are designed to balance our body, wearing flip flops forces the toes to act as stabilizers. 

Blueberries and Memory

 Wish you had a better memory? Feel like you just can’t remember things like you used too? What if you found out that popping a few blueberries in your mouth could do the trick?  Well in fact, scientists are saying that among their many nutritional benefits, blueberries might be playing a larger role in our memory then we ever knew before.

Blueberries, which have been coined a super food for many years, may be even more powerful than anyone had first imagined.  Blueberries are known to be rich in antioxidants, an important defender to protect our bodies from cancers.  Not to mention the high fiber content of the blueberry has made it a highly recommended dietary choice for those with a history of irritable bowel, constipation or high cholesterol. 

So what is this about memory? Most recently much attention has been focusing more specifically on a type of antioxidant found in the blueberry called anthocyanins.  These are part of a large group referred to as polyphenols, which are in abundance in most fruits and vegetables. It is however the blueberry that appears to contain the most significant amount of anthocyanins.  

Recent studies have shown that those who consume diets rich in blueberries, and blueberry juice, have greater evidence of anthocyanins in the part of their brain that is involved in improving memory, learning, decision making, comprehension and numerical ability.  It appears that the role of the anthocyanins is related to allowing the neurons of the brain communicate and thus enhance memory.  Studies going one step further have even suggested that increased consumption may help slow the decline in mental status of those who suffer from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and the natural decline seen in aging.

So just how many blueberries will have your brain powered up? Most studies suggest about 3 cups of blueberries, or 2- 2 ½ cups of blueberry juice a day will do the trick!  

Marlo Mittler, MS RD is a Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Consultant, journalist and public speaker specializing in nutrition, wellness and healthy lifestyles. Marlo has been in practice for over 15 years, specializing in Pediatrics, Adolescents and Family Nutrition. Marlo, has appeared nationally on FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS News.

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