Food and Medicine Interactions

Milk and dairy foods
If taking an antibiotic called tetracycline (often prescribed for acne), you should avoid milk and dairy products. The calcium and magnesium in these foods combines with the drug, creating a compound that the body cannot break down, Absorption is prevented and the drug won't work properly.

Green Vegetables
If taking the blood thinning drug Warfarin, don't each too much broccoli, spinach or other green, leafy vegetables. They are rich in vitamin K, which counteracts the effect of the drug.


Good Housekeeping, February 2009

AMD - Age-related Macular Degeneration

AMD is a disease of the macula, an area at the back of the eye that is essential for seeing detail, colour and things straight ahead. Although it rarely causes total sight loss, it robs people of central vision, making it hard or impossible to read, drive, identify faces, watch tv, do fine tasks, navigate stairs and many other everyday tasks.
In dry AMD macular cells are damaged due to lack of nutrients and debris known as drusen builds up; it usually progresses slowly. Wet AMD occurs when new blood vessels form under the macula, which can leak leading to scarring and rapid loss of vision.
Risk factors are: age, gender, genes and lifestyle. AMD is most common in the over-60s and women. Blue-eyed people are most at risk, while smoking, sun exposure, unhealthy eating and possibly alcohol all increase risk.
Treatment. Wet AMD is treated using injectable medications. Dry AMD cannot be treated, but using magnifiers to read and techniques like 'eccentic viewing' which trains patients to use remaining peripheral vision (e.g. looking slightly to one side of a tv screen) can help. Clinical trials are investigating drops or tablets for wet AMD and stem cells for dry AMD.
Eating for eye health. Lutein and zeaxanthin (two members of the carotinoid family) may offer some protection.

Healthspan magazine, Spring 2014

Honey

Honey crystallizes over time. To reverse this, place the jar - with lid on - in a bowl of hot water and leave until the crystals dissolve.

Workout Mistakes

You may not realise it, but the way you exercise may make it less effective.

Mistake #1 Not resting. To get stronger, muscles need time to repair, which they can't do if you hit the gym every day. Over-training also triggers an increase in cortisol, which can result in a sluggish metabolism. The Fix: If you train 5 to 6 times a week, make each session a maximum of 45 minutes. If you exercise less often (say once or twice a week) you can exercise for longer, but do nothing the day after a long session.

Mistake #2 Over-stretching before your workout. Static stretching (when you stand still and stretch) can reduce muscle strength by 5% as it loosens muscles so much that they struggle to spring into action (imagine an over-stretched elastic waistband). The Fix: Jumping jacks and squats are a better way to prepare your muscles and joints as they get blood pumping around the body. Work on your flexibility after a workout instead.

Mistake #3 Using your neck. When doing crunchies (sit-ups), a lot of women use their neck muscles instead of their abdominals to roll up. This makes the move ineffective and you risk injury. The Fix: Draw in your belly button towards your spine to engage your core. If your neck is still taking the strain, stick out your tongue: it stops you clenching your jaw, so you can't rely on those muscles to do the work.

Mistake #4 Scoffing an energy bar at the gym. Because they are often packed with quick-release carbohydrates, your body will fuel itself with the sugar these carbs release into your bloodstream, rather than breaking down the triglycerides ( a type of fat) store in your fat cells. Simply put: you won't burn as much fat. The Fix: Power your session with protein and slow-release carbs (such as brown rice or sweet potato) eaten two hours before your workout.

Mistake #5 Doing full push-ups too soon. Half push-ups (kneeling) are often considered inferior, but you're better off doing them than attempting a full press-up too soon. Strained shoulder, chest and arm muscles can take weeks to heal. The Fix: Even better than half push-ups are incline push-ups, where you keep legs stretched out but place your hands on a step. Start on a high incline and when you can comfortably do 15, gradually lower the step until you're down on the floor. You'll progress every six weeks if you practise two to three times a week.

Glamour magazine (2013?)

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) can be exhausting with nightly disturbance of sleep. A reader of supplements magazine reported having suffered this for many years. At some later point she was then prescribed statins, and decided to also use co-enzyme Q10 to maximise their effectiveness. After starting taking co-enzyme Q10, she found she no longer suffered with RLS. While this is a single instance, it might be worth trying.

Reader's letter to Healthspan magazine, September 2011