Q. I drink several cups of my own carbonated beverage throughout the day, which I make from carbonated water, fresh-squeezed lime juice, pomegranate juice and grated ginger. But a friend told me that drinking lots of carbonated water leaches calcium from my bones and will cause osteoporosis. I've also heard that carbonated drinks could be bad for my heart. Is this true? – Anonymous
A. Your friend probably remembers studies that found people who drank carbonated sodas excreted more calcium in their urine and were more prone to fractures related to osteoporosis than people who drank other things. But the culprit wasn't the bubbles; it was the phosphoric acid in colas.
Carbonated sodas have been linked to obesity and diabetes, too, but again, it's not the fizz that's at fault; it's the sugar. Similarly, drinking a daily can of soda is associated with heart disease, but the bubbles even get a pass on this one. People who linger in the soda aisle may spend too much time in the snack aisle as well. So your homemade carbonated drink is largely benign, with one caution: The citric acid in it can erode the enamel on your teeth. Use a straw, and then enjoy.
Q. I crave sweets. I get the same kind of longing for them as I did for cigarettes when I stopped smoking. Is there a physical reason for this? – Susanne, Sacramento, Calif.
A. Some people call themselves sugar addicts, with good reason: Sugar seems to tickle the pleasure centers of the brain just the way narcotics do, though it's not addictive in exactly the same way. Lab rats who get a kick from cocaine, morphine and nicotine get that same high when they nibble sugar. And the meds that quash narcotic cravings also knock out the need for a sugar fix.
There's also a biological answer for your need for sweets: Since the body requires sugar as fuel, we may all be hard-wired to crave it, a tendency that's exacerbated when you're tired, stressed, overly hungry or when your blood sugar is low.
You don't have to be ruled by your need for a fix. Try these tips:
Eat regularly and enough. Skipping meals or starving yourself can send you on a manic hunt for cookies because you crave the quick energy sugar brings.
Munch on complex carbohydrates. Fruits, veggies and whole grains contain sugar, too, but it's absorbed slowly and steadily, so you don't get a "sugar crash." Refined carbs (the sweets you love) cause a rapid rise in blood sugar that gives way to an equally rapid plunge. That sends a "more, more, more" message to your brain.
Reduce stress. Yes, that's a tall order. But even this can help: A few times a day, focus on taking some slow, deep breaths. That's no-frills meditation, and it has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress.
Chew sugar-free mint gum. Studies show that chewing gum can help stifle cravings, and that the scent of peppermint helps boost energy.
Q. I work in a busy radiology breast imaging center. My co-workers and I all seem to be gaining weight as we age. Our jobs have become less physical, and we always seem to be nibbling. How can we lose some of the pounds we've put on and become more conscious of our eating habits, without feeling deprived? – Joan C., via e-mail
A. Your solution is right there in your letter: Form your own support group. People who diet together lose more weight than people who go it alone. One reason: Less stress. In one study, women dieters who attended a weekly support group had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol – which can mess with your waist – than solo dieters did. In another study, big losers who never stopped going to bimonthly support meetings kept off more than 30 pounds for more than a year, while those who didn't gained half of it back. Make a pact with your co-workers to follow a diet (you can choose your own), meet weekly to talk about how you're doing, and plan healthy snacks to bring to the office. On morning and afternoon breaks and at lunchtime, take walks together. There's strength in numbers; use it.
The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen, are authors of "YOU: On a Diet."
News
Can carbonated sodas hurt your health?
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RCCF Education Fund Grants awarded
The Rush County Education Fund Grants Committee recently met to review grant applications for the 2012 grant cycle and to make their recommendations to the Rush County Community Foundation's Board of Directors.
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Commissioners hear of feasibility study
The Rush County Commissioners met earlier this week and heard a report regarding a feasibility study currently underway regarding the city possibly running an ambulance service out of the Rushville Fire Department.
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Pool open
Waggener Community Pool will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed Monday and Tuesday and then open again Wednesday as was originally scheduled. Information: 932-7100.
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Farmers Market
The Rush County Farmers and Artisans Market kicks off the 2012 season at 9 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of East Third Street in downtown Rushville!
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Good Samaritan recognized for heroic efforts
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Lion Project showing community pride
If you've been paying attention, you'll have noticed that new concrete lions are showing up all over town.
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Waggener Pool opening Saturday and Sunday
In an update to this story, the City announced plans today to open Waggener Community Pool earlier than originally planned due to expected high temperatures over Memorial Weekend. Mayor Mike Pavey has asked that the pool be open this coming Saturday and Sunday. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The pool will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day and Tuesday, and open again Wednesday, May 30, as was originally scheduled.
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Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.
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Collision lands driver in Indy trauma center
A Milroy woman sustained serious injuries in a single vehicle accident on SR 244 west of Milroy that was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.
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Todd resigns
Bill Todd (center) is pictured during a recent meeting of the Rush County Commissioners at which he formally announced that he had turned in his resignation as the Rush County Area Plan Director. Todd has served in the capacity of APC director since 1998.
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