As a family
practice doctor, many of my patients ask me about recent health studies they
see on the news or read about. After reviewing these studies I don’t always
advise my patients to follow these tips, but here are five health findings
that I do recommend to my patients. Some of these might surprise you.
Increase your nut
consumption.
One serving of any type of nut daily reduces mortality
rates by 20 percent, as well as your chances of a heart attack, cancer and
diabetes. Although peanuts are technically a legume, they were also found to be
mildly beneficial.
Take a daily probiotic.
Whether you get
your probiotics from a capsule or by eating yogurt, taking a probiotic daily was found
to reduce the chances of getting a cold or needing antibiotics by 40-50 percent
in both adults and children.
Chocolate is good! And healthy!
Despite the extra
calories, eating a few servings of chocolate every week has been shown to
reduce weight, blood pressure, heart attack risks and improve mood. Dark
chocolate is more beneficial than milk chocolate and in this case more is not
better; no more than the equivalent of 2-3 Dove squares is recommended.
Drink a cup of java.
Coffee drinkers
who drink four to five cups per day, reduces mortality by 10 percent in
men and 15 percent in women, and reduces stroke and diabetes risk. Decaf was
found to be just as beneficial as regular coffee.
Drink a little wine.
If you drink red or
white wine every day or two there’s a slight increase in the risk of your
chances for breast and colon cancer, but reduced risk of other cancers such as
esophageal and lymphoma. Drinking a glass a day also reduces the risk of heart
attack, type two diabetes, dementia, stroke, high cholesterol and macular
degeneration. More than one glass daily for women or two for men is not
recommended. Note that most of the benefit of wine comes from the alcohol; a
beer or mixed drink is almost as effective as wine.