The Oasis

She Wore Her Heart on Her Sleeve: Women's Cardiovascular Health and Divorce

A new study shows that while mens' hearts escape unharmed, after divorce a woman's heart is more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

The researchers, from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and the University of Texas at Austin, speculate that women are hard hit from both the emotional effects of divorce as well as its economic effects.

While the health benefits of marriage are well documented, this is one of the first studies to examine the effects of divorce on health. The study was published in the August 2006 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family.

The Body Odd

Do you every wonder whether your ear wax is normal? Does pondering why we get goose bumps keep you up at night?

And let's not forget the question that is on everyone's mind...

Why does eating a cold treat, like an ice cream or a frozen Slurpee, cause that sudden rush of head pain known as the Brain Freeze?

Inquiring minds want to know!

So who's got the answer?

None other than Mark Leyner (author of Why Do Men Have Nipples?) and Dr. Billy Goldberg, of The Body Odd, MSNBC's entertaining and informative podcast. You can hear past episodes and even post your own questions at their website.

Tiny Bottles: Hand Sanitizers Come of Age

Have you noticed how the popularity of those liquid gel hand sanitizers seems to have suddenly increased?

Not too long ago, these convenient and easy to use hand cleaners were found exclusively in hospitals or other health care settings. Not any more...

Yesterday, I spotted tiny bottles hanging in the check-out display of the grocery store. Even office supply stores, like Office Max, are carrying them as well. Moms and dads are packing small bottles of the gel in their kids' lunch boxes and stashing a container in the glove compartment of the family car as well.

But do hand sanitizers really work? And can using a hand sanitizer replace good old soap and water?

The answer is...yes and no. It all depends.

If your hands are visibly dirty, with grime and grease (or in the case of health care workers, blood or other potentially germ laden material), then head for the soap and water. Alcohol, which is the active ingredient in hand sanitizers, doesn't do a good job of cutting through grime like this. If you don't have access to soap and water, at least wipe all visible dirt away with a cloth or paper towel before applying the hand sanitizer.

Another caveat...

take a look at the ingredients label of the hand sanitizer you are using or planning to buy.

The FDA states that hand sanitizers MUST have a concentration of no less than 60%, ethanol or isopropanol, the active ingredients responsible for killing germs.

Some brands on the market today contain far less. Plus, a few recipes on the internet for homemade hand sanitizers, use far less alcohol than is recommended.

Tip from your Wellness Coach: Use soap and water as your first choice. If you need to use a liquid gel hand sanitizer, choose one with a concentration of at least 60% alcohol.

How much should you use?

Squeeze out enough of the gel to throughly wet your hands. Rub hands together until they are dry. If your hands are dry within 10 to 15 seconds, you haven't used enough.

Let's Chew the Fat

All right, so you're trying to eat healthier.

You do all the recommended things...

cut back on processed foods, add more whole grains to your diet and add fat to your salads.

Add fat to your salads?! What kind of health advice is this?

Good advice, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition. Turns out that eating fat in salad dressings helps your body increase the absorption of nutrients such as lycopene and beta-carotenoids three to five-fold over salads made with no or low-fat dressing.

Tip from your Wellness Coach: But hold on. Before you dump half a bottle of full fat salad dressing on your Romaine, remember to keep your daily total caloric needs in mind. Make your salad dressing with good quality extra-virgin olive oil or use a no-fat dressing and add avocados, which are high in minerals and mono-unsaturated (good) fat.

Here's a recipe for a wonderful salad dressing made with olive oil:

Uncle Paul's Salad Dressing

Ingredients:
6 fl. oz.  good quality extra-virgin olive oil
juice of one lemon
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt

Simply combine all ingredients and stir well prior to serving. Keeps well in the refrigerator, although you may have to bring the dressing to room temperature prior to serving to make it pourable.

Enjoy!