Soccer a megaburn
Be like Beckham and take up soccer if you want to burn a maximum amount of fat, notes a story in the July/August issue of Men’s Health.
An Italian study found that soccer players in a 30-minute pickup game exercised above 70 percent of their maximum heart rate 91 percent of the time. Their heart rates stayed elevated even when they weren’t running as hard because they were constantly changing direction.
You’ll burn even more if you play both offense and defense as a midfielder. An Irish study noted that these players sprinted 60 percent more during soccer games than did the strikers and defenders.
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Battling miscarriage
New tests and treatments can help you lower your risk of miscarriage, according to a report in the July/August issue of Health magazine.
Before trying to get pregnant, ask for a pre-pregnancy checkup to search out potential risk factors such as polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, high blood pressure or diabetes-related problems. All of these are treatable, says Mary Stephenson, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the program on recurrent pregnancy loss at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
If you’ve already miscarried two or more times, ask your physician for a chromosome analysis of fetal tissue. Chromosome problems can cause as many as 50 percent of miscarriages. Other tests include screening for a genetic tendency for blood clots, a weak cervix, a hormonal imbalance or an autoimmune problem such as lupus.
After you get pregnant, keep your stress levels in check; this can reduce miscarriage risk by 60 percent. Try gentle workouts, relaxing with friends or enjoying your favorite television show.
For more information on miscarriage tests and treatments, check the International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination at inciid.org; the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine at smfm.org; and prevent pregnancyloss.org.
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Lung cancer primer
A new educational booklet is available for people with lung cancer. “Living With a Diagnosis of Lung Cancer” was developed by the National Lung Cancer Partnership, a group of physicians and researchers focused on understanding how the disease affects women and men differently.
The free booklet helps those recently diagnosed to answer basic questions about what their diagnosis means and what the treatments might entail.
Also discussed are standard treatments, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy and their possible side effects. The booklet contains an extensive resources section with contact information for the many organizations that support cancer patients in various ways. It outlines, as well, how to get a second or even third opinion, how to be your own advocate and how to accept help from loved ones and support groups.
Get the booklet by sending an e-mail with your name and address to info@NationalLung CancerPartnership.org. An expanded version with more detailed information and links to additional resources can be accessed at NationalLungCancer Partnership.org.
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Cut breast risk
Premenopausal women who consume 30 or more grams of fiber daily can cut their risk of breast cancer in half compared with women who eat less than 20 grams a day, says a report in the August issue of Good Housekeeping. Here’s how to maximize your fiber intake through typical meals:
*Breakfast: Trade the orange juice, Cheerios with milk and banana slices (4 grams) for a large orange, Kashi GoLean Crunch with milk and banana slices (11 grams).
*Lunch: Trade the chunky chicken soup with saltines and grapes (4 grams) for lentil soup with whole-wheat crackers and strawberries (15 grams).
*Dinner: Trade spaghetti with marinara sauce and a green salad (7 grams) for whole-wheat spaghetti with marinara sauce and a green salad (11 grams).
