To Your Health

Going to church ... Good for you?

"We found that patients who attended religious services once a week or more were 56 percent less likely to have been hospitalized during the previous year." This is a quote from an article published in the Southern Medical Journal that analyzed patterns in religious involvement and length of hospital stay.

"In terms of actual number of days hospitalized, patients attending religious services at least several times per month were hospitalized an average of six days in the previous year, compared to 12 days for patients attending services only a few times per year or not at all."

In 1995, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center conducted a study of heart-surgery patients. They found that the best predictor of survival was the degree to which these patients drew strength and comfort from religious faith. Those who didn't have such faith were three times more likely to die.

Other research has demonstrated that churchgoers have lower blood pressure that non-churchgoers, and they half the risk of dying from coronary-artery disease.

Time magazine reports, "Those who were both religious and socially involved in their church had a fourteenfold advantage over those who were isolated or lacked faith."

Researchers followed more than 2,000 elderly Californians for five years, tracking their death rates. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that those who went to church at least once a week lived longer than those who did not attend.

Duke University researchers studied 4,000 elderly and found that people who attended church, prayed or studied the Bible had consistently lower blood pressure than those who did not. The report was published in the International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.

According to a study published in the Journal of Religion and Health, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh followed 40 heart transplant patients for 12 months after surgery. Patients with strong religious commitment had better physical and emotional health and fewer health worries. They also were more likely to follow their doctor's orders.

A study of women recovering from hip fractures found that those who frequently attended religious services and considered God to be important in their lives were less depressed and could walk farther at discharge than patients who lacked a spiritual commitment. The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

In a study published in AIDS 1998, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine found that AIDS patients who are religiously active are less likely to fear death and may have better coping skills than non-religious patients.

House plants ... Clean air machines?

Indoor pollution is everywhere: your furniture, your walls, your carpet, even your clothes; all contain some pollutant or contaminant. Indoor pollution fools us since we can't see the harmful toxins. You may wonder sometimes about the headaches you get, or why your eyes or throat feel irritated. The air trapped in today's sealed-up buildings is up to five times more polluted than the air outside ... Alas, a solution ...

In researching ways to remove indoor pollutants from sealed environments, NASA discovered that house plants are powerful (and natural) air cleaners. In fact, laboratory studies show that plants removed almost 87 percent of air pollution within 24 hours. They do this by absorbing the pollutants through their leaves, roots and the bacteria that live on them. They absorb carbon dioxide, producing oxygen in the process. They also suppress spores and molds, adding moisture to the atmosphere.

So, you ask, what kind of plants do I need to get (and how many)? For the average home, one potted plant for every 10'x10' (100 sq. ft. of floor space) area will help keep the air clean.

Good humor ... Good medicine?

When you're sick or feel stressed, laughter may be the last thing on your mind. But laughing, whether at a joke, a video, or at yourself, can be good medicine.

A hearty laugh can have a profound effect on your body. Laughing can:

1. Increase blood circulation.

2. Clear mucus from the lungs.

3. Ease stress and reduce muscle tension.

4. Distract you from pain.

5. Release endorphins, which fight pain and help you feel hetter.

A good laugh not only helps you feel better in the moment, it can help you sleep better, reduce stress, and fight illness. Laughter can also help you feel better when you're already under the weather.

Alcohol is NOT the key ...

Do you need the alcohol to get heart-healthy benefits from drinking red wine? A new study says you don't.

The cardiovascular benefits of drinking red wine are well-known, but researchers at the University of California at Davis were curious whether it was the alcohol that enhanced the effects of red wine. Researchers wanted to know whether catechins -- antioxidants in red wine -- were weakened or strengthened by alcohol.

In the study, they took blood samples from nine persons after they each had a non-alcoholic red wine drink and, much later, after a glass of regular red wine. Both drinks had the same level of catechins.

Researchers found that the participants' catechin levels rose sharply after drinking both regular red wine and non-alcoholic red wine. But three hours after drinking alcoholic red wine, catechin levels began to drop; the drop-off was slower after a non-alcoholic red wine. Researchers conclude in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that alcohol provides no additional heart benefit to red wine.

Mind your friends ...

Interviews of 2,812 men and women aged 65 and older by the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that social contact can have a positive impact on mental health. In this 12-year study, people with no social ties were twice as likely to show mental decline than those with five or more social ties. The longer the period of isolation, the sharper the decline in mental capacity. Next, researchers will study the effect illness may have on this social/mental connection.

The Same, Yet Different ...

Exercise may be as important as genes in determining body size. A study at St. Vincent's Hospital in Australia compared the diet, physical activity and family history of 970 identical twins, middle-aged and older. Most of the women studied were of healthy weight, 33% were overweight and 7% were obese. Moderate physical activities such as walking or casual sports made the biggest difference in whether twins put on weight. They learned that women who reported some physical activity had 13 pounds less body fat than their inactive sisters. Researchers only studied women, so these results don't necessarily apply to men.

Fight heart disease ... with nuts?

Would you love a doctor's permission to munch on delicious roasted nuts? You've got it! In a major study of Seventh-day Adventists, researchers found that people who snack on nuts at least four times a week cut their risk of fatal heart attacks almost in half! That's right ... Nuts are great for your heart!

There's more to it than milk ...

Milk may do a body good, but a team of British researchers say there are other alternatives to building strong bones.

Scientists at the University of Surrey, in England, studied 62 healthy Scottish women ages 45 to 55 who were screened for signs of osteoporosis. The women's bone health was determined by measuring the density of bones in the neck and spine, and by checking urine and blood samples for signs of bone formation or bone loss. Study participants also had to provide a record of their daily diets.

Women who ate foods rich in zinc, magnesium, potassium, fiber and vitamin C had stronger bones and lower rates of bone loss than women who got lower amounts of these vitamins and minerals. Researchers also found moderate alcohol consumption may have a healthy effect on bone development, but how that works remains unclear. Foods that are the richest sources of zinc, magnesium and potassium include baked potatoes with the skin, green peas, bananas, enriched breakfast cereal and beef. Citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, and fiber is found is most fruits and vegetables.

Researchers say the findings lend more support to the importance of eating a diet heavy in fruits and vegetables. The study is published in the Dec. 30 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.