I don’t argue that sound research does seem to show that the antioxidants in red wine have a beneficial effect on the heart and this wine, says Sainsbury’s, has 32% more than the average red wine.

There’s no doubt, however, that the beneficial effects of drinking red wine are limited to a very moderate intake. Too much and you’re scuppered.

As this has 14% alcohol, go easy. It costs pounds 4.99.

I take heart from recent research that shows that the tannic red wines of South-West France are also especially high in antioxidants.

APPEALING FRUIT

WHETHER or not it’s good for me, Kendermann’s Pinot Grigio/ Chardonnay 2005 (pounds 6.99 at Tesco) is delicious drinking ( clean and fresh with lots of ripe apple and melon fruit.

Most attractive!

(c) 2007 The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Dr. Thriveni Sanagala of the Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Ill., advises women that if 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise is not possible, try 10- to 15-minute segments.

Many women cannot imagine finding an extra 90 minutes every day for themselves, she says.

The most important thing is don’t disregard all the guidelines if you cannot meet a few; the new guidelines are a very important challenge and well worth it.

To reduce their risk of heart attack, women should be as meticulous about checkups for their heart as they are about scheduling their Pap test or mammogram, according to Sanagala.

Blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose and body mass index should be checked because abnormal levels are risk factors for heart disease.

Men often experience the traditional symptoms of heart attacks such as squeezing chest pain or pressure, while more subtle symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or vomiting and back and jaw pain are more likely in women, said C. Noel Bairey Merz, medical director of the Women’s Health Program and the Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Getting immediate, appropriate care is the single most important thing you can do to help lessen the damage of a heart attack, advises Bairey Merz.

If a heart attack is suspected:

– Call 9-1-1 immediately. Don’t try to reach your doctor, don’t drive yourself or someone else to the hospital — every minute of delay means more heart muscle is damaged.

– Chew one aspirin. Most heart attacks are caused by blood clots in the arteries, and aspirin reduces the growth of these clots.

– If the person is not breathing, start cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Contact: Mark Forstneger, Public Relations Manager of American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, +1-773-693-9300 ext. 1306, forstneger@acfas.org

CHICAGO, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The barrier to a perfect golf swing could lie in your big toe. Or your heel. Or on the ball of your foot. Experts with the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) say these are the three areas of your feet most likely to cause pain that can ruin your golf swing.

Behind these pain-prone spots can lie stiff joints, stretched- out tissues and even nerve damage. But pain relief is possible and frequently does not require surgery.

The three most common painful foot conditions that can ruin your golf swing are heel pain, arthritis and pinched nerves.

– Arthritis can cause pain in the joint of your big toe that makes it difficult to follow-through on your golf swing.

– Heel pain typically results from an inflammation of the band of tissue

that extends from your heel to the ball of your foot. People with this

condition compare the pain to someone jabbing a knife in their heel.

Heel pain can make it uncomfortable for golfers to maintain a solid

stance during crucial portions of their golf swing.

– Neuromas, according to FootPhysicians.com, are nerves that become

thickened, enlarged and painful because they’ve been compressed or

irritated. A neuroma in the ball of your foot can cause significant

pain as your body transfers its weight from one foot to the other in a

golf swing.

Several other painful conditions can also make the perfect swing difficult. Ankle arthritis or ankle instability can affect the proper weight shift during the golf swing. Some athletes and former athletes develop chronic ankle instability from previous ankle sprains that failed to heal properly. Achilles tendonitis can also contribute to balance-threatening instability during your golf swing. Ill-fitting golf shoes may cause corns and calluses that make standing uncomfortable.

For the majority of golfers and other patients, treatments are simple and involve custom orthotic devices (shoe inserts), stretching exercises, changes to your shoes, medications, braces or steroid injections and physical therapy, depending on the condition and its severity. However, if these conservative measures fail to provide adequate relief, surgery may be required.

“Foot pain is not normal. With the treatment options available to your foot and ankle surgeon, a pain-free golf swing is clearly in view,” says Daniel J. Hatch, DPM, FACFAS, president-elect of the ACFAS. “When your feet aren’t in top condition, your golf swing won’t be either.”

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional society of more than 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, the College’s mission is to promote research and provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty, and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the foot and ankle through its consumer website, http:/ /www.footphysicians.com.

SOURCE American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

(c) 2007 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

If the foot becomes painful and/or it becomes difficult to wear shoes, some type of treatment is appropriate, according to Dr. Steven L. Haddad, an orthopedic surgeon with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Many patients do very well in an athletic-type shoe with an orthotic device, according to Haddad.

Conservative treatment is used almost exclusively with children, though some children with severe flat feet require surgical reconstruction to improve their quality of life.

Haddad presented finding at the 74th annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Diego.

Feb. 11–You can pop a pill. Or slap a contraption around your midsection. And now, a shoe company claims it can help you lose weight, too.

Marketers at Foot Solutions stores in Plantation, Boynton Beach and Coral Springs are offering customers $3 for each pound they lose by wearing their high-end shoes, called Chung Shis (rough Chinese translation: “time to balance”).

The shoes are elevated in the middle, so they literally keep you on your toes — or heels. That means you’re constantly working your abdominal muscles (core) and elongating your legs, and burning calories, they say.

In other words, they’re basically exercise shoes. Pricey exercise shoes. They cost $200 to $300. Mick Jagger’s ex, Jerry Hall, wears Chung Shis, and Desperate Housewives Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria have been spotted wearing them.

Common sense tells us that the weight-loss claim is another marketing stretch: the shoes may motivate you to walk, but you’re still the one doing the work. What’s worth looking at is their assertion that the shoes are good for your posture, balance and core.

Foot Solutions gave me a pair of Chung Shis, which I wore for two weeks. But it will be the only two weeks.

Initially I bought in to their idea of elongating the hamstrings and activating the core every second I stood or walked — no way a person can work it too much, I figured. But having to walk with the exaggerated heel-to-toe motion aggravated my lower back, requiring three trips to the chiropractor. After a week off, I tried them again, then reached for my heating pad.

The shoes just put me in a consistently gawky state, and they required too much leg and back compensation with every step.

To make sure I’m not just a whiner, I showed a pair to Dr. Robert Sheinberg, a foot, ankle and leg specialist with the South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine. He told me to stick with my brand-name running shoes (I like New Balance and Brooks), and keep using my orthotic insert. (I’m a little flat-footed.)

Abrupt changes in the musculoskeletal system may aggravate underlying lower extremity and spine problems, he said.

“For most people, the body is not able to adapt to a drastic change in their gait,” he said. “In almost every case good running shoes work great.”

He also didn’t like the exaggerated curvature in the middle of the shoe, which marketers call a “balance bar.” It’s designed to force wearers to constantly realign their posture, a “walking pilates,” they say. A 15- to 20-degree angle from the bar to the toe and heel of the shoe forces you to “roll” your foot with each step.

Foot Solutions’ Robert Feldman said Chung Shi complications like mine can sometimes be adjusted, and he points to endorsing medical studies and doctors, including local podiatrist Arthur Segall. And some customers also praise the shoes.

“The constant pain I used to have from walking is gone,” says Kathy Noce of Davie, who is recovering from an automobile accident. “It’s like a miracle drug. Everything is in alignment.”

Noce, who bought her shoes Dec. 8, says she now enjoys 2-mile fitness walks, which were impossible before because her back hurt too much.

“I didn’t buy them to lose the weight,” she says, and hasn’t lost anything. “But by walking more, I’m in better shape.”

OK, I’ll buy that. But if you have a solid exercise routine, you don’t need a pair of shoes to do your core work for you. There’s sit-ups, crunches, lunges, planks, toe raises — all of which cost nothing, except effort.

Coming Feb. 25: Completing a half-marathon is one thing, but what if you’re also responsible for other runners’ success? We examine the benefits of being a fitness pacer.

Nick C. Sortal has been a triathlete and local basketball coach for 20 years and a weekend warrior for even more. He can be reached at nsortal@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7906.

ONLINE

To see how Chung Shis work, go to www.sun-sentinel.com/shoes

—–

Copyright (c) 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

All the experts agree we should all be eating more superfoods. Ranging from blueberries and broccoli to tea and tomatoes, these are foods packed with nutrients that promise to make us healthier, maintaining young-looking skin and protecting us against heart disease. Established superfoods include blueberries, spinach and salmon. Sales of blueberries soared following claims the fruit could help protect the body from a range of illnesses. Nutritionists say blueberries are bursting with vitamin C and offer one of the best sources of the antioxidant anthocyanin, believed to help keep the heart healthy and maintain youthful skin.

In summer 2004, US Department of Agriculture researchers revealed blueberries could help lower cholesterol.

Blackcurrant growers in Wales hit back with a campaign to promote the benefits of their bumper crop of ‘forgotten fruit’, saying the berries contained more antioxidants than their foreign-grown rivals.

Salmon and other oily fish provide a good source of protein and Omega 3 fats, said to help protect against strokes, heart attacks, asthma and depression.

Eating spinach, as the cartoon character Popeye recognised, has myriad benefits.

Rich in Vitamin C, calcium, beta-carotene and antioxidants, it is said to prevent eye problems, combat cancer and strengthen the immune system.

Tea is also a good source of antioxidants, and research shows that it protects against a range of cancers - although it has been suggested that adding milk negates its benefits.

Other frequently mentioned superfoods include beans, pomegranates, walnuts, mangoes, broccoli, oats, oranges, pumpkin, soya, turkey and yoghurt.

Last September Tesco started selling the Tibetan Goji berry, which is said to boost energy levels and even enhance sex drive. The Goji berries are packed with 500 times more vitamin C weight- for- weight than oranges.

While new superfoods are emerging, old ones are making a comeback.

Last year Tesco also tipped beetroot as ‘the next big superfood’, saying it contained soluble fibre which can help to reduce high blood cholesterol levels.

The year also saw the return of apples, rhubarb and asparagus as foods we cannot afford to leave on the shelves.

A record number of new grocery products hit shelves last year, with ‘healthy’ products seeing the sharpest increases.

1 Soya bean

A high source of protein, it can help reduce coronary heart disease, ease the menopause and reduce risk of breast cancer.

2 Oily fish - salmon/ mackerel/sardines

Rich in Omega 3 healthy fats that can help prevent heart disease.

3 Berry fruits - blueberries, blackberries, gooseberries

Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, they can help to prevent heart disease and cancer.

4 Leafy vegetables - watercress, spinach, broccoli

A natural source of iron for the blood and fibre that helps maintain a healthy gut. Spinach is also good for the eyes.

5 Yoghurt

Good source of calcium and probiotic varieties can aid digestion.

6 Oats

Porridge oats are a good way to start the day, maintaining good blood sugar levels and fighting cholesterol.

7 Walnuts

A good source of the right type of Omega 3 fatty acids that are shown to reduce cholesterol.

8 Wholegrains

Contains soluble fibre, iron and vitamin B, helps in the use and release of energy in our body and helps maintain healthy blood, skin, and nervous system.

9 Olive oil

Rich in monosaturated fat that is good for the heart in small amounts.

10 Tea

Rich in antioxidants that protect us from heart disease and certain types of cancer.

(c) 2007 Western Mail. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

The study, led by Dr. Charles Shey Wiysonge of the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health, found beta-blocker users have a slightly higher risk of death and cardiovascular disease than do patients who use calcium channel blockers such as Norvasc and Cardizem to manage their blood pressure.

Wiysonge also found patients taking diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide or a group of drugs called RAS inhibitors, including Altace, Lotensin, and Cozaar, have risks similar to those taking beta-blockers.

The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library.

Feb. 20–Nearly all American women are in danger of heart disease or stroke and should be more aggressive about lowering their risk — including asking their doctors about daily aspirin use, the American Heart Association said Monday in new guidelines. Key advice (in no particular order):

1 EXERCISE: Get at least 30 minutes most and preferably all days; 60 to 90 minutes if you need to lose weight.

2 DIET: Eat mostly fruits and vegetables, whole grain and high-fiber foods, fish at least twice a week, more low-fat dairy products and little salt.

3 FAT: Limit saturated fat to less than 10 percent of calories, 7 percent if possible, and trans fats to less than 1 percent.

4 ALCOHOL: No more than one drink a day.

5 SMOKING: Don’t. Quitting smoking is a top-priority. Use nicotine replacement products or other forms of smoking-cessation therapy if needed to stop.

6 WEIGHT: Keep body-mass index under 25.

7 SUPPLEMENTS: Consider omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) if you already have heart disease. Do not take extra folic acid or antioxidants like vitamins E, C and beta carotene, for heart disease prevention.

8 BLOOD PRESSURE: Keep it under control, with medicine if necessary.

9 CHOLESTEROL: Keep LDL or bad cholesterol under 100 if at high risk of heart disease and under 70 if at very high risk. Use medications if necessary.

10ASPIRIN: Consider it for preventing stroke unless a health condition or bleeding risk makes this unwise. Consult a doctor first.

Grim statistics — In Oklahoma: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, with about 7,000 dying each year.

– Nationally: Tthe lifetime risk of dying from cardiovascular disease is nearly one in three women, a much higher rate than for men, according to the heart association.

Oklahoma reaction OU Physicians Drs. Thomas Hennebry and Robin Germany, both cardiologists, said Monday that doctors need to be more aggressive in preventing and treating women for heart disease.

Women’s heart attack symptoms differ from men’s, and they often don’t seek treatment as soon as men, Germany said.

The report says “disparities in care have been suspected as a key culprit for differences in heart attack deaths between genders.”

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Daily Oklahoman

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

davinwhite@wvgazette.com

Who’s cooking with capers and feta cheese? More exotic ingredients might add flair to a special meal, but Wilma Styers of Princeton says they’re not practical for your average diabetic’s Wednesday dinner.

Styers’ husband was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago. Soon afterward, at a hospital’s diabetes-education program, a chef from The Greenbrier offered up the green flower buds and crumbly cheese as part of a suggested meal.

“It was as if someone had given me a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle and said, ‘now you fix it,’” said Styers, who found herself frustrated and confused after that demonstration.

“You have to get to people’s level,” she said. “We want what’s on hand.”

In educating diabetics, the creative and realistic needn’t clash, health officials say.

Kevin Lewis helps run a long-standing diabetes education powwow for children, “Camp Knokoma,” at Camp Virgil Tate each July. Most of the children have Type 1 diabetes.

Lewis, president of the camp’s board of directors, said the summer outing promotes healthy eating habits and independence.

“They see other kids doing the exact same things as they’re supposed to do,” he said. Self-administered insulin shots are one example. Eating the proper portion of carbohydrates is another.

“One of the things the camp promotes is independence,” Lewis said.

He also described its value as “more of a lived experience than getting instructional papers and sent out the door.”

In South Charleston, floppy rubber pork chops, eggs, a “slice” of whole-wheat bread, dessert and more decorate Richard McGinnis’ office. As the program coordinator for the Diabetes Education Center at Thomas Memorial Hospital, he runs grocery store tours to better illustrate healthy food options in a real-life setting

During one-on-one sessions with patients, McGinnis uses his rubber food models to demonstrate square meals.

If the patient wants a slice of pizza, it could replace the wheat bread and side of rice, he shows.

He often works one-on-one with illiterate patients or those with poor eyesight.

Also, four-part diabetes classes at Thomas are slated for every Thursday morning and afternoon this April. Eligibility for the Thomas program is through physician referral, McGinnis said.

As part of the classes, patients count their daily carbohydrate, saturated fat and sodium intake.

Patients do a good job keeping up with this “homework,” McGinnis said. “They’ll say, ‘I’m really keeping that sodium where it’s supposed to be,’” he said.

Topics addressed start with basic nutrition and the science of a diabetic’s body. That leads to a run-down of medications, exercise and glucose monitoring, diabetes complications, eating on sick days and restaurant food.

Patients often ask what McGinnis eats. Although he doesn’t suffer from diabetes, he has a family history of the disease.

“I had to go to McDonald’s the other day with my granddaughter,” he said. She munched on chicken nuggets and fries.

“I hated it,” he said. “I know in the back of my mind all the bad stuff that’s in there.”

McGinnis and Lisa Mitchell, an agent with the WVU Extension Service, also monitor blood-sugar levels with Hemoglobin A1c tests, which gauge levels over the past three to four months.

Mitchell focuses on the “plate method,” as Wilma Styers calls it, with patients in Mercer, Wyoming and McDowell counties.

As part of the WVU Extension Service’s Dining with Diabetes program, Mitchell’s favorite part is preparing food for her students.

The program also checks patients’ blood pressure, cholesterol, eyesight and more.

Patients with poor vision now read take-home recipes in a larger, 14-point font, “because we’ve had complaints,” Mitchell said.

The next classes at Princeton’s First Baptist Church are slated for May.

For one, Styers was very pleased with Dining with Diabetes. “They just make it so clear there’s not any question,” she said.

Her daughter’s friend in Florida fretted over the health problems his mother experienced.

The Albanian woman became burdened with diabetes, and had few answers.

In a three-way phone call, with the woman’s son interpreting, Styers offered a nutritional plan.

“It was so simple to tell her, ‘Here’s your plate, and this is what you have on it,’” she said.

Peggy Adams, manager of the West Virginia Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, said programs such as Dining with Diabetes serves an important need in rural West Virginia.

“The reason for that is they don’t have all the facilities that people have in an urban area,” she said.

To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348- 1254.

(c) 2007 Charleston Gazette, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.