July 22, 2002 - "A part of the brain involved in processing sounds is larger and more active in professional musicians than in non-musicians, researchers in Germany report. Whether the musically inclined are born with these differences or develop them during childhood is uncertain, but the research may have implications for music education, according to the study's lead author." Story

July 22, 2002 - "Those supersize portions at fast-food outlets may look like bargains, but they cost Americans billions of dollars in obesity-related illnesses, consumer and health groups said on June 18, 2002. Americans are being manipulated by the food industry into eating far more than they need, or even want to, said the groups, which collectively call themselves the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity. People think they are getting bargains but they are just getting calories, said Melanie Polk, a registered dietitian at the American Institute for Cancer Research. 'Value marketing' is manipulation,' Polk told a news conference." [Story deleted at Yahoo! source]

July 22, 2002 - "From the frail woman in a nursing home found with bruises on her face and hands to the man whose son set him on fire, more than a million older Americans have been abused, Congress heard on June 18, 2001. Yet information on such cases is only piecemeal, and policies on how to deal with it vary from state to state, experts told a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. One thing the experts agreed on: Someone at the federal level needs to take charge of the situation, gather statistics and try to find a way to deal with a problem which will only grow worse as the population ages. 'Based on the best available estimates, between 1 million and 2 million Americans 65 or older have been injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care and protection,' the National Research Council said."

July 22, 2002 - "Choosing to become a Mr. Mom can be a heartbreaking decision. Literally. New research presented today at an American Heart Association forum in Honolulu found that househusbands had a death rate from heart disease that was 82 percent higher than men who worked outside the home. Lead researcher Elaine D. Eaker also found that women in high-pressure jobs -- such as corporate executives -- were at almost three times the risk of death from heart disease as other women." [Story deleted at Yahoo! source]

Wed Jul 24, 5:51 PM ET - (Reuters) Older adults who maintain their weight over time may have a lower death risk than those who either gain or shed pounds, a new report suggests. 4,500 adults aged 60 were studied over a period of 4.5 years, on average. It was found that weight stability during this time was associated with a lower death risk, while weight loss of at least 1.5 pounds a year was tied to an increased death risk--as was weight gain of at least a pound per year. [Story deleted at Yahoo! source]

Multivitamin supplement tablet brands were studied by Yale New Haven Hospital, recently. Of the 257 different supplements that were examined for adequacy, balance and completeness, 80% failed the testing. (October 1998)

For the health of your car, it may be better to park far away from the crush. The extra physical activity involved in your longer walk to your destination, however, travels hand in hand with the realization that humans were made to move. Your health is bound to benefit from endeavoring NOT to make life convenient for yourself.

A study of Old Order Mennonites, reported in the August 1998 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, showed that although their diet was higher in fat (40% versus 34%) and cholesterol (650 mg versus 300 mg for men) than the average American, their body fat, blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels were lower than expected. The higher physical activity of the Mennonites is being indicated as responsible for these factors.

July 2002 - The number of children killed in auto crashes last year was the lowest since the government started tracking traffic deaths 36 years ago, according to figures released Monday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 2,658 children under 16 died in 2001, down 5.4 percent from the previous record low of 2,811 set the previous year." (Story deleted at Yahoo! source.)Story

July 2002 -From heartburn to food poisoning to more serious gastrointestinal diseases, Americans' bellyaches cost an estimated $85.5 billion a year. New research that appears in the May issue of Gastroenterology calculated the price tag for the most significant gastrointestinal ailments and liver diseases that commonly afflict Americans, and found the toll on the nation from such conditions is heavy. The most prevalent digestive diseases include: non-food-borne gastroenteritis, 135 million cases per year; food-borne illnesses, 76 million cases; gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), 19 million cases; and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 15 million cases." (Story deleted at Yahoo! source.)