QUESTION: My mother keeps complaining of dizziness and she says her glasses, which she got six months ago, need to be strengthened. I’ve read that these may be two signs of a mini-stroke, which can be the forerunner of a full stroke. Is that true? E.G., WeaverANSWER: Good thinking. Make that appointment right away, said the physician we spoke with about your question. Sometimes a mini-stroke comes before a massive stroke and should be checked by a physician as soon as possible so that preventive measures can be taken, the physician said. In addition to the symptoms you’ve mentioned, other tell-tale signs of a possible mini-stroke, referred to as a TIA, include sudden development of numbness and tingling in various body parts, general weakness, slurred speech, change in gait that looks like staggering, weak knees often causing a fall, obvious confusion and sometime partial facial paralysis. The onset of these symptoms usually begins suddenly and last for a few minutes or, in some cases, up to a whole day. Then, all of a sudden, the symptoms disappear. Beware, however, they may return in a day or two and should be checked out before that happens. What can reduce the occurrence of TIAs and even strokes? Keep high blood pressure in check, avoid heavy use of alcohol, stop smoking, avoid excessive and unnecessary stress and cut way back on the use of caffeine.
Substance in milk fat fights cancer cells
QUESTION: I’ve been giving my family skimmed milk for years. Now I hear it’s best to drink milk that has at least 1 percent milk fat in it. The fat supposedly contains something contains something that fights the growth of cancer cells. It that true and, if so, what is it? N.W., AnnistonANSWER: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a substance in milk fat that has been found to be one of the most potent natural cancer fighters researchers have found, said the food scientist we consulted, who based his statement on the findings of Dr. Dale Bauman of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. The little bit of fat left in 1 percent milk isn’t going to add that many grams of fat to your diet if you drink milk in moderation, like a couple of glasses a day, but may give your body a needed boost in fighting cancer, he said.
Increase fiber in your diet, decrease others
QUESTION: My physician told me I need to rely more on food to get enough fiber in my daily diet without having to rely as heavily as I do on commercial fiber products. He gave me a few suggestions, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, but I’d also like to use oat bran because it is also supposed to be a cholesterol inhibitor. How do other people add oat bran to their diets without everything tasting like sawdust? K.P., OxfordANSWER: Some people add bran to their food by the tablespoon or to taste in meat dishes such as meat loaf, salmon croquets and all kinds of casseroles. You’ll never know it’s there. They also sprinkle bran over salads, usually those that already contain nuts or seeds, which are also excellent sources of dietary fiber. Many homemade bread products favorably accept the addition of bran, including pancakes, muffins and even biscuits. Bran is usually tasteless, or has a mild nut-like flavor, which shouldn’t interfere with what you mix with it. Just don’t go overboard. Look on packages of oat and wheat bran that you’ll find on your grocer’s shelf for suggested amounts per serving and for recipes, but in the end, use the amount that tastes good to you.
Tips
St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and we’re told that it’s a day when everybody wants to be Irish. In case that just happens to be true, here are a few tips for Thursday, March 17, which deal with all things Irish. What is considered good luck on St. Patrick’s Day? We found these tidbits on the Internet at Elaine’s St. Patrick’s Day Page and other sources:— Four-leaf clovers are well known for their luck, but according to the Irish, they are not found but rather make themselves known to the lucky person.
— Leprechauns are out in numbers on St. Patrick’s Day and are usually up to a lot of mischief. Can’t find your car keys? A leprechaun has moved them. Who drank all your tea when you left it unattended for just a minute? A leprechaun, of course.
— Wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day will bring good luck, the Irish say. If you don’t wear green, a leprechaun or two may pinch you.
— Eat green also. Serve or order foods that are green, or nearly green, such as pickles, green vegetables, guacamole dip, honeydew and green olives. They’ll bring you good luck, perhaps even a pot or purse of gold.
— And, of course, kiss the blarney stone, if you can take a trip to Ireland on March 17, and have the dexterity to touch that hard-to-reach gem (You have to lay on your back and kiss it with your head upside-down and drooping into a hole.)
Remember, we’re suppose to be getting organized at home, at the office and other places we frequent that need order brought to them. Before cleaning out closets, file cabinets, desk drawers, kitchen cabinets and so on, here is a good tip from Mrs. T.R. of Anniston:
"Don’t begin until you have three containers set before you," she suggests. "One should be for miscellaneous items you will want to save. It should be durable and see-through, if possible. Another should be for items you want to give away, and the last should be for things you want to throw away. Before replacing anything in the closet or cabinet or whatever you’re cleaning out, take the throwaway items to the trash immediately. That way you won’t be tempted to go through it again to retrieve something. Take the give-away items to the people or charities you want to have them and then come home to re-arrange your possessions where you want them to be."
