Healthy you equals healthy breast milk

There's one Oregon woman on YouTube who has a condition called hyperlactation and produces 1.75 gallons of milk daily. Over the past few years, she has...

Healthy you equals healthy breast milk

There's one Oregon woman on YouTube who has a condition called hyperlactation and produces 1.75 gallons of milk daily. Over the past few years, she has donated more than 700 gallons to moms and babies in need.

Being breastfed clearly offers benefits: It's linked to a lower risk of teen metabolic syndrome, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes; it's protective against weight gain in kids who seem to easily pack on pounds; it helps with immunity; and aids digestive health.

But research also shows that not all breast milk is created equal. One study found that breast milk from obese women contains excess fat (altering an infant's microbiome), and another found that when moms drink sugary beverages, they produce more sugary breast milk (a setup for a child's future health problems).

The lesson? If you're going to breastfeed or are breastfeeding, avoid sugary drinks and try to maintain a healthy weight. If you can, breastfeed for six months or more. Remember, moms should never be demonized for needing to provide an infant with an all-formula diet. (However, a recent study found soy-based formulas cause changes in reproductive cells in infants - and long-term effects should be studied.)

If, on the other hand, you consider using donated breast milk, call your state health department to find out about local banks that certify the safety of their milk. The Food and Drug Administration warns that unmonitored sources pose "risks for the baby ... [including] exposure to infectious diseases, including HIV, to chemical contaminants [and] ...some illegal ... and ... prescription drugs."

© 2018 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Finding buddies, becoming healthier

If you Google the word "buddies," you get 412 million responses - a testimony to just how greatly folks value the concept of a supportive pal. Bu...

Finding buddies, becoming healthier

If you Google the word "buddies," you get 412 million responses - a testimony to just how greatly folks value the concept of a supportive pal. But many of you try to reach your health and wellness goals alone and become frustrated or (can we say it?) lazy.

Multiple studies show that if you're aiming to upgrade your life, doing it with a buddy or in a group makes it more achievable and sustainable, because companionship bolsters motivation. It's the most important choice for starting a healthy routine, according to Dr. Mike.

Whatever healthy-living ambitions you have - lowering your cholesterol, losing weight, learning to cook a plant-based diet - there are buddies who can help you succeed in those challenges.

You can enlist your co-workers, family and friends to join your efforts, but sometimes it's more effective to join a large "buddy up" organization where there's someone new to offer you encouragement and fun! Meetup.com offers nationwide support groups (structured, group-organized events are safest): For example, there are New York and Los Angeles hiking groups with tens of thousands of members. Metro Detroit Workout (4,000+ members) and Women of Color in Atlanta (7,000+ members) provide support for weight loss and physical activity. Local Y's and commercial businesses dedicated to weight loss and fitness also provide group support. You even can have a workout buddy through your computer (check out the challenge groups at www.sharecare.com/static/challenges). Research shows that having a buddy also increases motivation and enjoyment over exercising alone.

© 2018 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Bite these! Four foods to lower cholesterol

On an episode of "The Office," Dwight Schrute gladly switches to a new company health insurance plan, which doesn't cover anything. When ...

Bite these! Four foods to lower cholesterol

On an episode of "The Office," Dwight Schrute gladly switches to a new company health insurance plan, which doesn't cover anything. When asked why, he says: "Never been sick. Superior brain power. Through sheer concentration, I can raise and lower my cholesterol."

"Why would you want to raise your cholesterol?" an officemate asks.

"So I can lower it," Dwight responds.

High LDL cholesterol is not, in fact, a laughing matter. It ups the risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease. And no one possesses Dwight's lipid-loopy powers. So be conscientious, and rely on diet - even when taking statins - to help keep your lousy LDL cholesterol under 70 milligrams per deciliter and your good HDL above 50 milligrams per deciliter. The best bites? A diet rich in plant protein, viscous fiber, plant sterols and nuts, say researchers in the latest metastudy, published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Plant protein comes from whole grains, soy, legumes and a variety of fruits and veggies. Viscous fiber is found in oats, barley, psyllium, eggplant, apples, oranges and berries. In this study, plant sterols came mostly from enriched margarine - you also can get them from broccoli, Brussels sprouts, apples, avocados, tomatoes and vegetable oils. Nuts, especially walnuts, deliver heart-lovin' omega-3s, and almonds deliver monounsaturated fats.

That plant-centered diet reduced high blood pressure and inflammation, and lowered lousy LDL cholesterol by 5 to 10 percent - as much as taking 20 mg of lovastatin did! Those folks lowered their 10-year risk of coronary heart disease by 13 percent. So, now you have a heart-protecting power far more reliable than Dwight's!

© 2018 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.