Julie's Health Club

Health Claims: Resveratrol capsules

Tempo — 2009-11-06T13:42:16-06:00

Part of an ongoing series looking at the reality behind health claims THE CLAIM: Slows the aging process and may help prevent heart disease and cancer. BUYER BEWARE: The evidence is mixed on resveratrol, a chemical that is found in...

Health Claims: Flu fighters

Tempo — 2009-11-04T00:00:00-06:00

Part of an ongoing series looking at the reality behind health claims THE CLAIM: Supplements, pills, inhalers, lozenges, vitamins, air sterilizers, ultraviolet lights, etc., ward off swine flu. BUYER BEWARE: Only two prescription antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, are approved...

Recalled supplements may contain steroids

Tempo — 2009-11-03T20:57:59-06:00

Bodybuilding.com, an online forum and store for bodybuilders, has recalled 65 dietary supplements that may contain steroids, according to this press release issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The products in question may contain ingredients that are currently...

Illinois hospital C-section rates released

Tempo — 2009-11-03T14:38:24-06:00

Three of every 10 women have C-sections Cesarean sections are more common than ever in the U.S. But the rate of C-sections varies dramatically between hospitals—and can be as high as 35 percent--according to the 2008 Illinois Department of Public...

Health claims: Full-body CT scans

Tempo — 2009-11-03T00:00:00-06:00

Part of an onging series looking at the reality behind health claims THE CLAIM: Computed tomography (CT) scans, or three-dimensional pictures of the inside of the body, can help detect a disease early enough to be managed or cured. BUYER...

Health claims: Brain trainers

Tempo — 2009-11-02T00:00:00-06:00

Part of an ongoning series looking at the reality behind preventive health claims THE CLAIM: Brain-training software and books can help keep your noodle young and prevent memory loss. BUYER BEWARE: The more active your brain is, the better. Puzzles...

Health claims: Abdominal trainers

Tempo — 2009-11-01T00:00:00-05:00

Part of an ongoing series looking at the reality behind health claims THE CLAIM: Prevents belly bulge by strengthening ab muscles. BUYER BEWARE: Strong abs can help prevent injuries, ward off back pain and improve your posture. But no exercise...

Health claims: Colon cleansing

Tempo — 2009-10-31T00:00:00-05:00

Part of an ongoing series looking at the reality behind health claims THE CLAIM: Flushing warm water -- sometimes infused with herbs, probiotics or coffee -- through the lower bowel removes stagnant, toxic waste and can enhance overall health, preventing...

Doctors resign from medical group over Coke partnership

Tempo — 2009-10-30T14:49:58-05:00

Nearly 20 Bay Area doctors have resigned from the American Academy of Family Physicians after learning that the group has partnered with Coca-Cola to develop educational materials, according to the Contra Costa Times. Coke will provide funding to help the...

Health claims: Detoxifying foot pads

Tempo — 2009-10-30T00:00:00-05:00

Part of an ongoing series looking at the reality behind preventive health claims THE CLAIM: Wrapping a special detoxifying patch on the soles of your feet at bedtime will help unleash toxins from your body to prevent disease and "promote...

Healthy eating tips for parents

Tempo — 2009-10-29T12:27:24-05:00

In today's article, The road to a healthy family, Chicago Tribune reporter Monica Eng shares her own strategies for eating healthy and being active. When you shop, offer to buy a pound of produce that your children choose. Kids who...

Health claims: Antioxidant drinks

Tempo — 2009-10-29T00:00:00-05:00

An ounce of prevention ... often adds up to a pound of malarkey. Whether it's a tablet to take with alcohol to prevent a beer belly, or a chocolaty, sweetened breakfast cereal that's fortified to "support" your child's immune system,...

The best Halloween candy for your teeth

Tempo — 2009-10-28T00:00:00-05:00

While all Halloween candy worth devouring is packed with calories and refined sugar, some forms do less damage to the teeth than others. “Choose things that melt away and disappear in a short period,” said pediatric dentist Lee Weinstein of...

Latisse: Is an eyelash drug worth the risks?

Tempo — 2009-10-27T16:42:10-05:00

Ads for eyelash drug go too far, says Consumer Reports Adwatch. For about $100 a month, you could have the long, thick, dark eyelashes that you've always wanted. But Latisse, a drug that can treat the new medical condition "inadequate...

The best way to boost your immune system

Tempo — 2009-10-27T13:27:56-05:00

(Hint: It doesn't come in a package.) Airborne, the popular dietary supplement created by a germ-averse schoolteacher, no longer boasts that it can prevent your cold or ease the aggravating symptoms. Instead, the packaging says the effervescent pill helps "support...

10 cheap ways to avoid the doctor

Tempo — 2009-10-26T20:32:08-05:00

If you're ready to take control of your health, start by washing your hands for 15 to 20 seconds, about as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Doing this simple act, while avoiding certain behaviors -- smoking,...

Red yeast rice: A natural approach to high cholesterol

Tempo — 2009-10-26T11:34:30-05:00

When Chicago's Adele Simmons discovered she had high cholesterol and a blocked artery, she chose a drug-free treatment approach that included red yeast rice, the product of yeast grown on white rice. The powdery yeast-rice mixture, a dietary stable in...

Preventive health: Beyond screenings

Tempo — 2009-10-26T11:29:21-05:00

There's more to health than health care By Judith Graham and Julie Deardorff, Chicago Tribune reporters As a young cardiologist, Steve Devries (left) noticed a disturbing pattern: His patched-up heart patients kept returning for repairs. It happened so often that...

Refunds offered for Baby Einstein videos

Tempo — 2009-10-23T17:04:07-05:00

Your smartest move? Read to your child If you were duped into thinking that Baby Einstein videos were helping your baby’s brain, you can now get your money back. Three years after the Walt Disney company stopped claiming the videos...

The top 10 best-selling grocery items

Tempo — 2009-10-23T11:05:28-05:00

The next time you hear that soft drinks shouldn't be blamed for the obesity epidemic, consider the following statistics from Information Resources Inc., a Chicago-based market information services firm. Top 10 best-selling grocery items for the year ending June 14:...