Olive Oil Seen as Breast Cancer Foe

Life's simpler things often turn out to be among the best. That's a claim that could be made for olive oil, which a new study in Europe indicates can be surprisingly effective in preventing breast cancer.

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that a spoonful of olive oil a day could reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 45 percent. It's described as the most convincing evidence yet of such a link.

The findings were based on studies by researchers of the diets of more than 60,000 women between the ages of 40 and 76. After a period of three years, they found, those who did not develop breast cancer had a higher intake of olive oil.

How Peaches Can Help You Build Muscle

Not that you want Madonna's arms or anything (speaking of which, what do you think of her Gladiator-esq biceps--wow, or whoa?), but who wouldn't like their muscles to be a bit more defined, a bit more toned, a bit more, well, muscular? Apparently, peaches can help.

The potassium rich fruit is loaded with potassium, an ingredient your muscles need to stay svelte. Here's what RealAge had to say on the topic.

"A diet heavy in proteins and cereal grains can cause blood to become too acidic. When this happens, muscle tissue can waste away. Fruits and vegetables, though, make your body's pH more alkaline -- mostly thanks to their high potassium content. So it makes sense that people in a recent study who loaded up on potassium-rich produce had more lean muscle mass than their produce-shirking peers."

HIV Study Shows Gel Helps Prevent HIV & Herpes in Women

A recent HIV study showed progress in the fight against the disease.  A gel with an anti-retroviral drug  used to treat HIV was effective in reducing a woman's risk of HIV and genital herpes, researchers from South Africa said.

Co-principal investigator Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim of the Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa and Columbia University in New York says the microbicide, which contains 1 percent tenofovir -- a common component of the three-drug cocktail used to treat HIV -- was found to be 39 percent effective in reducing a woman's risk of HIV during sex and 51 percent effective in preventing genital herpes.

Health Controversy: Pretzel Ad Declares "You Can Never Be Too Thin"

Oh boy. Some genius copywriter cranked a doozie of a line. In the latest ads for a new line of pretzels, ads declare "you can never be too thin." The outrage, after the jump ...

New ads from Pretzel Crisps in New York City are causing quite a stir. The offending words? "You can never be too thin." Critics say the ads are trying to make people feel bad about their bodies, even encourage disordered eating. Skip lunch and have a few dry pretzels, for instance.

The company released a statement indicating that they're considering "making some adjustments to the campaign"--yeah, probably a good idea guys.

Health Controversy: Is Pot Suddenly ... Hot? (Take Our Poll and Tell Us What You Think)

Is it just me, or has marijuana suddenly gone, well, mainstream? It's been a theme in recent movies ("It's Complicated" and "Inglourious Basterds," for example) and recent pot-fueled plot lines have crept into TV shows such as "One Tree Hill" and "Glee." Medical marijuana is one thing, but suddenly people are opening up about their recreational use (hello Natalie Portman and Whoopi Goldberg! Both have reportedly been partakers). Gals, it's illegal, of course, and comes with a long list of health risks, but we wondered how you would answer this controversial question: In your opinion, is marijuana suddenly becoming a (GASP!) ... do?

Diet and Nutrition Truths

Most of us have read magazine articles on food and dieting while waiting in the market checkout line or while commuting. Some people obtain diet news on a regular basis by subscribing to monthly magazines. But how accurate is the food and nutrition news you read in these publications?

Some magazines have much more truthful nutrition reports than others, says The American Council on Science and Health (ACSH). The ACSH has been tracking magazine nutrition reporting for 15 years. According to their most recent findings, the highest percentage of accurate nutrition information is found in Consumer Reports, which netted a score of 95 percent.

Breakfast at Your Desk: The A.M. Beverage That May Help Your Guy Get Healthier

Do you pause for a moment and have breakfast or coffee with your boyfriend or husband before each of you run out the door? I wish I had time for that, but mornings are *chaos* in my house. But I heard about a some new research linking one beverage with slimmer waistlines for men, and I'm tempted to make my husband a cup (after all, we all know that belly fat is an indicator of heart disease issues, right?) ...

The supposed fat-fighting beverage for men? Tea! Or so say researchers. According to a new study, men who drink two or more cups of tea a day have slimmer waistlines than those who drink coffee or nothing at all.

Boomer Poll Shows High Alzheimer's Anxiety

A new survey of baby boomers shows anxiety over the specter of Alzheimer's and frustration over slow cures.

In releasing the data, patient advocacy group Alliance for Aging Research called for recognition of the brain disease as an urgent national health crisis and urged stepped-up timelines for new therapies.

These survey findings underscore the fact that when baby boomers are asked to address the potential of Alzheimer's in their future, they are clearly not ready emotionally, psychologically or financially, said Daniel Perry, AAR's executive director. Many boomers are currently more focused on health issues like heart disease or arthritis and mistakenly consider AD a problem of their elders. But when asked to consider themselves at age 70 with Alzheimer's disease, there was a visceral reaction and an awakening to the reality of what could await them, he said.

Big Breakfasts Don't Help You Lose Weight

How many times have you heard or read that the key to losing weight lies in eating a solid breakfast?  That you’ll consume fewer calories as the day goes on?

Well, you can toss that advice out the window because a recent study found just the opposite.   Researchers in from the Else-Kröner-Fresenius Center of Nutritional Medicine at the Technical University in Munich, Germany found that people who ate a breakfast with 400 calories more than a small breakfast tended to eat 400 more calories per day.

Hmph.  So, eating a big breakfast is just that: eating a big breakfast!

Their findings suggest that the whole “eating a large breakfast thing” may have actually come about from misinterpretation of research that was saying given a fixed number of calories per day, those people who consumed more of them at breakfast tended to eat less the rest of the day.

Menveo

Menveo

Generic Name: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (me NIN je KOK al KON je gate vax EEN)

Brand Names: Menactra, Menveo

What is Menveo?

Menveo is used to prevent infection caused by meningococcal bacteria. The vaccine contains four of the most common types of meningococcal bacteria.

Menveo works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes your body to develop immunity to the disease. Menveo will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Menveo is for use in children and adults between the ages of 2 and 55 years old.

Like any vaccine, Menveo may not provide protection from disease in every person.

Choosing a Toothpaste: More Than Just Mint

When it comes to plaque removal, it's your toothbrush that does most of the heavy lifting, but toothpaste contributes by removing stains and leaving your mouth fresher. Typically, commercial toothpastes are a concoction of abrasives, foaming agents, water, and binders, with flavor, color, and sweeteners added. They also may contain therapeutic agents such as fluoride or ingredients designed to combat tooth sensitivity. The main difference between gels and pastes is that gels contain more thickeners.

Be Aware of Abrasiveness

An important consideration when choosing toothpaste is its level of abrasiveness. Materials such as chalk, bicarbonate, and silicon or aluminum oxides remove external tooth stains. Polishers are included to restore the luster that abrasive materials dull. Although you want a toothpaste with enough abrasiveness to remove stains, high abrasive content and an incorrect brushing technique can lead to permanent tooth damage, particularly around the gum line. Abrasion also can wear away the fragile gum tissue, causing the gums to recede faster.

Breakfast at Your Desk: My Favorite New Frozen Waffles

Frozen waffles make such a yummy and easy breakfast (or snack!), but a lot of the whole-grain varieties have a cardboardy taste (sorry, at least in my opinion!). But, I finally found a brand that tastes great!

I recently discovered De Wafelbakkers frozen waffles. The "made from scratch" waffles are made with oat bran and spelt, high in fiber and rich in B-vitamins (love that!).

Best part: They taste amazing, especially when topped with sliced bananas and drizzled with a little maple syrup. I found them at Whole Foods, but you can buy them elsewhere too.

Are you a frozen waffle kind of gal? What's your fave variety?

Using Dentists As Dope Dealers

(As Reported By CNN) Kenny Morrison soaked in life from his beachfront home. A top chef at a trendy L.A. restaurant, he served dinner to the Hollywood stars, including A-listers. Kenny Morrison got hooked on painkillers after getting dental work in 2003. "I lost everything," he says.

But within a couple years, he lost it all. He got hooked on pain medication after some dental work. His fix was codeine, Vicodin and OxyContin -- all prescription medications -- to help him get through the day. At one point, he even had a tooth removed unnecessarily so he could get a prescription for pain medicines.