Category Archives: Cancer News

Money-saving tips to stretch the shelf life of your food

The average family throws out nearly 122 pounds of food per month and wastes $590 per year on food that eventually spoils. However, many common perishables remain safe way past their sell-by dates. From milk and eggs to produce, find out which storage tips will do the trick and try these tips to make food last longer. And for an easy reference you can keep on your fridge, download the Make Food Last Longer Guide. Fresh Herbs DO: Wrap in paper towels to absorb moisture, and place in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer. DON'T: Refrigerate basil, which is damaged by the cold; stand it in water on a sunny windowsill. Eggs DO: Store eggs in their original container on a refrigerator shelf. This will make them last for three to four weeks past the sell-by date. DON'T: Store eggs on the door, where eggs are vulnerable to temperature fluctuations. Lunch meat DO: Store meat in the meat compartment—it is specially designed to keep cool air in and can help meat last three to five days past the sell-by date. DON'T: Forget to reseal the package. Tomatoes DO: Store cherry and grape tomatoes in their original containers in the refrigerator. Ripen large varieties on the counter—cold temperatures halt color, flavor, and nutrient development. Once bright red, store them in the fridge. DON'T: Place ripe tomatoes near vegetables, as they give off ethylene. Hard Cheese DO: Wrap in moisture-proof plastic or foil. This will help it keep two to four months past the sell-by date. DON'T: Throw it away at the first site of mold. If the outside of hard cheese has visible mold, trim off the mold and a half-inch area of cheese below it. Yogurt DO: Store yogurt at around 39 degrees F, an appropriate temp for your fridge. This will help it keep 10 to 14 days past its sell-by date. DON'T: Be deterred by separation—simply stir and enjoy. Milk DO: Hit the dairy aisle right before checking out to minimize the amount of time milk is left unrefrigerated, and store it on a shelf pushed far back, where the air is coldest. DON'T: Store it closer to or on the door; the air tends to be warmer there. Alliums (onions, shallots, garlic) DO: Store in a warm, dry place like your countertop. DON'T: Place them near ripening fruits; alliums contain strong sulfur compounds, which taint other produce when kept in close vicinity. Also, don’t store them in the fridge—exposing them to cold and moisture will initiate rotting and rooting. Watermelon DO: Ripen on your countertop for about a week, which nearly doubles the melon’s lycopene and beta-carotene levels, according to a USDA study. Pop it in the fridge a day before eating. DON'T: Store it near other fruits. Watermelon is easily damaged by ethylene, a gas released by fruits that speeds up deterioration. (Ever wonder which is the healthiest summer fruit, strawberries or watermelon? Click here to find out.) Mushrooms DO: Place unwashed mushrooms in a paper bag in your refrigerator. Keeping them cold and dry disfavors bacterial growth and the paper bag protects against dehydration. DON'T: Wash prior to storage. Stone Fruits (nectarines, cherries, plums, peaches) DO: Ripen on the counter and transfer to the refrigerator. To prolong the life of stone fruits, remove their pits and boil the fruits in simple syrup for a few minutes, cool, and store in an airtight container in the freezer. DON'T: Refrigerate these fruits while they’re still firm or they’ll never ripen. Grapes DO: Store in their original ventilated plastic bag, remove bruised or damaged fruit, and wrap with paper towel to absorb excess moisture that promotes mold growth. DON'T: Wash until right before eating; doing so in advance encourages mold development. Leafy greens DO: Pat them dry before storing, as excess moisture contributes to decay. Wrap in paper towels, place in a plastic bag, and store in the crisper. DON'T: Keep them in close proximity to ethylene-producing fruits like tomatoes. Berries DO: Store in their original clamshell containers, which increase ventilation. Remove bruised or moldy berries from the batch; they’ll speed up decay among the rest. DON'T: Wash berries prior to storage for the same reason as grapes. Apples DO: Store in plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper to lock in moisture. Puréed apples mixed with sugar keep well in the freezer, as do slices of apple that have been sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning. DON'T: Store near vegetables, which can be damaged easily by the ethylene the apples produce. Potatoes DO: Keep baking potatoes like Yukon Golds or Russets in a cool, dark place and store smaller varieties like red potatoes in the fridge. DON'T: Store baking potatoes near direct sunlight, which stimulates the growth of a toxin that can be dangerous in large amounts. Also keep smaller-size potatoes away from apples and pears, which will take on the tuber’s earthy flavor. Asparagus DO: Refrigerate them upright with the bottoms wrapped in a damp paper towel and a plastic bag loosely covering them. DON'T: Submerge these green sprigs in water; this method actually increases bacteria growth, hastening decay. Click here for 8 Awesome Asparagus Recipes. Carrots DO: Remove leafy tops to prolong storage. Peeled baby carrots can go anywhere in the fridge, but larger carrots with skins are much more sensitive to ethylene. DON'T: Store large carrots next to fruit—after a week or two they’ll become bitter and nearly inedible due to the ethylene from the fruits. Which packaged goods aren’t packed with preservatives? Find out the 100 Cleanest Packaged Foods.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/20/money-saving-tips-to-help-stretch-shelf-life-your-food/

Olive Oil 101: How to choose oils with the most health benefits

It is well known that extra virgin olive oil is good for the body – boosting heart health and even lowering the risk of certain kinds of cancer.  But not all olive oils are created equal. According to Nicholas Colman, the chief olive oil specialist at Eataly in New York City, olive oil has to be fresh in order to maintain its health advantages. “Even the best producer in the world – if their oil is old, you’re not going to reap the health benefits from it,” Coleman told FoxNews.com. Coleman said it’s important to pick your oil like you would pick your wine – taking into account when it was bottled, the kinds of olives that are in it, and the region from which it came. “When you taste a really, really great olive oil, you might notice a peppery finish build in the back of the throat – this tingle,” Coleman said. “And what causes that is oleocanthal, which is an antioxidant.  The more of that peppery burn you feel, the higher the presence of antioxidants in the oil and the healthier it is for the body.” Oils from Tuscany, Puglia and Sicily have the most antioxidants of the Italian extra virgin olive oils, Coleman said.  And price is an important factor too: Cheap olive oil from the grocery store may not cut it. “Usually they take olives from all over the world, and they buy oil that is left over at the end of the year,” Coleman said. “And they blend it all together and ship it to America.” While the oil’s color doesn’t affect its health benefits, Coleman said the bottle’s color does.  He advised picking a dark, glass bottle or tin, so the oil doesn’t photo-oxidize and degrade. And when you finally cook with your newly purchased olive oil in the kitchen, make sure to warm it slowly to preserve the antioxidants. For more information on how to choose the perfect olive oil, visit http://www.eataly.com/.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/19/olive-oil-101-how-to-choose-oils-with-most-health-benefits/

What you need to know about new PSA screening guidelines

Recently, the American Urological Association (AUA) announced new guidelines for prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing.  These guidelines were designed to help urologists, and ultimately patients, reduce prostate cancer mortality by making informed screening decisions.  These recommendations were based on comprehensive literature reviews and the strength of the existing evidence.   Here is what you need to know: • The AUA recommends against screening in men under age 40.  Such blanket recommendations can increase the risk of younger men being overlooked and potentially resulting in worse disease later in life. Men under 40 need to be educated about prostate cancer and given a clear understanding of their individual risk factors.   Obesity/excess weight, a family history of prostate cancer, and African American race are the driving risk factors of this disease. • The AUA recommends against routine screening in men of average risk aged 40 to 54 years old.  Early diagnosis and treatment are the two most important factors to successfully eliminating prostate cancer. • The AUA strongly recommends careful consideration of the pros and cons of screening for men between the ages of 55 and 69.  The risk of prostate cancer increases significantly by age 65; so it’s wise for men in this age bracket to be screened. These men have the greatest opportunity for early detection and treatment to eliminate their prostate cancer with optimal quality of life. • The AUA suggests screening for prostate cancer every two years rather than annually. PSA is not a perfect test.  Prostate cancer can be an indolent cancer, taking many years to decades before it causes problems or it can behave in a highly aggressive manner. PSA is not able to differentiate these two cases. However, by tracking PSA velocity and density we can more accurately predict one’s risk of cancer. • The AUA recommends against PSA screening in men over age 70 with a life expectancy less than 10-15 years.  Now that such a large percentage of Americans live well into their 80s, prostate cancer screening should be part of overall wellness monitoring for these men. Prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in men, killing approximately 34,000 men each year.  Since the widespread adoption of PSA screening in the early 90s, there has been a 39 percent reduction in prostate cancer mortality rates; so there is no doubt that PSA screening is successful – when used correctly.   Speak with your doctor about your individual risk factors for prostate cancer and your treatment goals.  Through comprehensive education about prostate cancer testing, diagnosis, and treatment options, American men can make well-informed decisions about what’s best for them. Dr. David B. Samadi is the Vice Chairman of the Department of Urology and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He is a board-certified urologist, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of urological disease, with a focus on robotic prostate cancer treatments. To learn more please visit his websites RoboticOncology.com and SMART-surgery.com. Find Dr. Samadi on Facebook.Dr. David B. Samadi is the Vice Chairman of the Department of Urology and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He is a board-certified urologist, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of urological disease, with a focus on robotic prostate cancer treatments. To learn more please visit his websites RoboticOncology.com and SMART-surgery.com. Find Dr. Samadi on Facebook.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/17/what-need-to-know-about-new-psa-screening-guidelines/

Students visiting PSU come home with bedbug bites

Some of 40 chaperones and students visiting Penn State's main campus say they came home with bedbug bites. The school says bedbugs were reported in the Curtin Hall dormitory. Three rooms were treated, and all of the residence hall's rooms are being checked. A university spokeswoman says a pest control service used a heat treatment to get rid of the bugs. Several Pittsburgh high school students staying in the dorm for the Junior Academy of Science State Meet science competition over the weekend say they came home with bedbug bites. Parents say the students were sent home with their luggage and clothes wrapped in garbage bags and information on how to prevent the bugs from spreading to their homes. The students say the rooms were dirty when they arrived.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/17/students-visiting-psu-come-home-with-bedbug-bites/

Organic industry clout grows with consumer demand

The organic food industry is gaining clout on Capitol Hill, prompted by rising consumer demand and its entry into traditional farm states. But that isn't going over well with everyone in Congress. Tensions between conventional and organic agriculture boiled over this week during a late-night House Agriculture Committee debate on a sweeping farm bill that has for decades propped up traditional crops and largely ignored organics. When Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., a former organic farmer, offered an amendment to make it easier for organic companies to organize industrywide promotional campaigns, there was swift backlash from some farm-state Republicans, with one member saying he didn't want to see the industry get a free ride and another complaining about organics' “continued assault on agriculture.” “That's one of the things that has caught me and raises my concerns, is that industry's lack of respect for traditional agriculture,” said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., referring to some organic companies' efforts to reduce the number of genetically modified crops in the marketplace. At the same time, Scott acknowledged that he and his wife buy organic foods. Growing consumer interest in organics has proved tough for some Republicans on the committee to ignore. Eight Republicans, most of them newer members of the committee, joined with all of the panel's Democrats in supporting the amendment, which was adopted 29-17. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, a Missouri Republican who owns a farm equipment business and a corn and soybean farm, said she supported the amendment not only because helping organics is good for agriculture but because many of her constituents eat organic foods. “Organics are a niche market in agriculture with a growing market share, so it makes sense for me to allow farmers to invest some of their own funds to promote their products,” she said. The amendment would allow the organic industry to organize and pay for a unified industry promotional campaign called a “checkoff” that is facilitated by the Agriculture Department but is no cost to the government. These promotional programs have traditionally been limited to individual commodities or crops, producing familiar campaigns like “Got Milk?” and “Beef: It's What's for Dinner.” The amendment would not set up such a program for organics, but it would allow USDA to approve an organic promotional campaign if the industry decided it wanted one. Laura Batcha of the Organic Trade Association says one reason the industry would approve a campaign is that many organic producers are concerned that consumers don't understand that products labeled “natural” aren't necessarily organic, which requires certification. The organic industry has exploded in the last decade, with $35 billion in sales and 10 percent growth just last year. There are more than 17,000 certified organic businesses in the country. Producers of organic crops and conventional crops have long been at odds, as organic products have grabbed market share - more than 4 percent of food and beverage sales in 2011 - and the industry has advertised organic foods as healthier than other foods. Organic products are required to be certified by the USDA and are grown without pesticides and genetically modified ingredients, mainstays of traditional agriculture. Government-managed promotional checkoff programs like the one that would be allowed under the amendment are required to be positive and not disparage other products, and some lawmakers seemed wary that such a campaign would be possible. “How do I present organic pork without disparaging non-organic pork?” asked House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., who opposed the amendment. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, took issue with part of the amendment that would allow the organic producers to opt out of other commodity campaigns, an option that isn't given to conventional producers. “Looks to me like they have a free ride on this thing,” Conaway said, in an at times angry exchange with Schrader. Despite the rancor, the chances that the amendment will become law are good, as the Senate Agriculture Committee added the same amendment to its version of the farm bill. Schrader told his colleagues that embracing organics is essential to appealing to consumers in a time when big farms are often demonized by popular culture. He said that many young people are coming back to farms because of nontraditional agriculture. “American agriculture is under siege,” he said. “Urban folks do not understand where their food and fiber comes from. ... The point here is to hopefully position American agriculture where we're not always trying to catch up to what the American consumer wants.”source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/17/organic-industry-clout-grows-with-consumer-demand/

Experts devise new embryo selection method to boost IVF success

British fertility experts have devised a new IVF technique that takes thousands of snapshots of a developing embryo that they say can help doctors pick those most likely to implant successfully and develop into healthy babies. At a briefing in London before publishing their results, the researchers said they are already using the technique to select “low risk” embryos that are the least likely to have chromosomal abnormalities that could hamper their development. In their study, published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online, the team's chances of producing a successful live birth after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were increased by 56 percent using the new technique compared to the standard method of selecting embryos that look best through a microscope. “In the 35 years I have been in this field, this is probably the most exciting and significant development that can be of value to all patients seeking IVF,” said Simon Fishel, a leading fertility doctor and director at the IVF clinic operator CARE Fertility where the technique is being developed. Independent scientists not involved in the work welcomed it as a significant advance but said full randomized controlled trials - the gold standard in medicine - should be conducted before it is adopted as mainstream practice. “This paper is interesting because we really do need to make advances in selecting the best embryos created during IVF,” said Allan Pacey of Sheffield University, chair of the British Fertility Society. “The idea of monitoring embryo development more closely is being used increasingly in clinics around the world and so it is good to see the science involved submitted to peer review and publication,” he added. “All too often, developments in IVF are trumpeted as advances when they remain unproven.” Experts say that today, as many as 1 to 2 percent of babies in the Western world are conceived through IVF. The standard methods of selecting embryos are based largely on what they look like through a microscope, and many IVF cycles fail because the embryo chosen and transferred to the womb fails to develop. The scientists who led this study said that using time-lapse images, they had found that developmental delays in the embryo at crucial stages are good indicators of likely chromosomal abnormalities that could result in a failed pregnancy. Viewing far more images “In conventional IVF laboratories, embryo development will be checked up to six times over a 5-day period,” said Alison Campbell, Care Fertility's embryology director and the lead researcher on the study being published. “With time-lapse we have the ability to view more than 5,000 images over the same time period to observe and measure more closely each stage of division and growth.” Using this new knowledge, the team developed what they call morphokinetic algorithms to predict success (MAPS). By applying these MAPS to the selection of embryos, they predict they could reach a live birth rate for patients undergoing IVF of 78 percent - about three times the national average. Fishel, whose CARE Fertility clinics are Britain's largest independent provider of assisted conception cycles, with around 3,500 a year, said he is charging around 750 pounds ($1,100) for IVF using the MAPS technique - compared to several thousand pounds for a standard IVF cycle. But Sue Avery, head of the Women's Fertility Centre in Birmingham, said it was too soon for all clinics to adopt it. “Until the new technique is compared to current practice we cannot know whether different embryos are being chosen,” she said. “The IVF community needs a prospective randomized controlled trial to prove that the new approach delivers better results before it can be recommended to patients.”source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/17/experts-devise-new-embryo-selection-method-to-boost-ivf-success/

Lifestyle change may ease heart risk from job stress

Being under stress at work is tied to a higher risk of heart problems, new research confirms - but putting down the beer bottle and going for a walk may help. Researchers found that job strain - defined as having a lot of demands at work, but little control - was tied at a 25 percent higher chance of having a heart attack or dying of heart problems. But heart risks were cut in half among people - stressed or not - who maintained a healthy lifestyle compared to those who drank, smoked or were obese. “For many people avoidance of work stress is unrealistic,” lead researcher Mika Kivimaki, from University College London, said in an email. “Thus, we wanted to ask the question whether adopting an otherwise healthy lifestyle would reduce heart disease risk among those with job strain,” he said. Kivimaki and his colleagues combined the results of seven European studies that surveyed 102,000 people about their general lifestyle habits and health, including how much strain they were under at work. None of those participants had heart disease at the start of the study. Over the next seven years, on average, there were about 1,100 heart attacks or deaths from heart disease across the trials. About one in six people in the studies initially reported being under job strain. Rates of heart problems over a decade ranged from 12 cases per 1,000 generally healthy people without job strain to 31 per 1,000 people with job strain and multiple lifestyle risks, such as rarely exercising or having more than three or four alcoholic drinks a day. Kivimaki's team calculated that close to 4 percent of all heart attacks and heart disease deaths could be attributed to job strain and about 26 percent to drinking, smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. The researchers wrote in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that for people with stressful jobs, adopting a healthier lifestyle may be a strategy to lower heart risks. “We hope this message reaches those who want to reduce their heart disease risk but feel they cannot avoid work stress,” Kivimaki said. One researcher who has studied work stress and heart disease separately said the new review may underestimate the link between job strain and heart disease. OTHER FACTORS? Paul Landsbergis of SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, said other types of job stress that may influence heart risks - such as having low social support and job insecurity - weren't taken into account. The new study doesn't prove pressure at work caused heart problems. But cardiologist Dr. Vincent Figueredo from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia said the results are in line with past studies suggesting that chronic stress, including from job strain, can have negative health effects. “With chronic stress, there's activation of these systems that can have long-term effects on things like insulin resistance, central obesity (and) high blood pressure,” Figueredo, who wasn't involved in the new research, said. What this review adds, he said, is that workers may be able to do something about those extra risks. “It does offer some hope for those people who do have that job strain they can't do anything about at work,” Figueredo said. “If you're stuck being stressed at work, at least go out and exercise, don't smoke and eat healthy.”source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/17/lifestyle-change-may-ease-heart-risk-from-job-stress/

Up to 1 in 5 children suffer from a mental disorder, CDC says

Up to 20 percent of children in the United States suffer from a mental disorder, and the number of kids diagnosed with one has been rising for more than a decade, according to a report released on Thursday by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In the agency's first-ever study of mental disorders among children aged 3 to 17, researchers found childhood mental illnesses affect up to one in five kids and cost $247 billion per year in medical bills, special education and juvenile justice. Children with mental disorders - defined as “serious deviations from expected cognitive, social, and emotional development” - often have trouble learning in school, making friends, and building relationships later in life, the report said. They are more likely to have other chronic health problems, such as asthma and diabetes, and are at risk for developing mental illnesses as adults. “This is a deliberate effort by CDC to show mental health is a health issue. As with any health concern, the more attention we give to it, the better. It's parents becoming aware of the facts and talking to a healthcare provider about how their child is learning, behaving, and playing with other kids,” Dr. Ruth Perou, the lead author of the study, said in an interview. “What's concerning is the number of families affected by these issues. But we can do something about this. Mental health problems are diagnosable, treatable and people can recover and lead full healthy lives,” Perou added. The study cited data collected between 1994 and 2011 that showed the number of kids with mental disorders is growing. The study stopped short of concluding why, but suggested improvements in diagnoses as one possible explanation “Changes in estimated prevalence over time might be associated with an actual change in prevalence, changes in case definition, changes in the public perception of mental disorders, or improvements in diagnosis, which might be associated with changes in policies and access to health care,” the study said. Perou said more research was needed to determine the specific causes of mental disorders, and that greater awareness could lead to an uptick in diagnoses. A host of environmental factors, including chemical exposure and poverty, can also affect a child's mental health, she said. Lead, for example, is known to be “one of the biggest toxins to impact behavior and learning,” Perou said. Poor children are at a higher risk for developing certain conditions, according to the study. The most prevalent mental health diagnosis, as reported by parents, was Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which affects 6.8 percent of children. Also common were behavioral conduct problems (3.5 percent), anxiety, which consists mostly of fears and phobias (3 percent), depression (2.1 percent) and autism spectrum disorders (1.1 percent). Many of these disorders occur together, the report said. Boys were found more likely to have most of the listed disorders except for depression and alcohol abuse, which affect more girls. The study also noted that suicide, which can be precipitated by an untreated mental illness, was the second leading cause of death (after accidents) among children 12 to 17 years old. The CDC report was based on multiple other studies that collected data and interviewed children and their guardians about their diagnoses, habits, behaviors and other factors.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/17/up-to-1-in-5-children-suffer-from-mental-disorder-cdc-says/

Are you working out the wrong way? Common fitness myths debunked

We only have the best intentions when we work out, but sometimes it can be hard to know what exactly is best for our fitness. Luckily the American Council on Exercise debunked eight common workout myths for us so the next time you hit the pavement (or treadmill) you can start to see results. Related: 12 Reasons To Lose Weight Now Myth #1: Stretching before exercise reduces the risk of injury. False: The scientific literature of the past decade fails to support stretching before exercise as a successful strategy for injury prevention. However, research does support stretching at other times, including post-exercise, to reduce injury risk. Myth #2: Walking a mile burns as many calories as running a mile. In our dreams: While walking is a great physical activity, it does not require as much energy as running. Research has shown that running has a 40 percent greater energy cost compared to walking . That means you burn more calories when you run. Related: 15 Delicious Diet Breakfast Ideas Myth #3: Lactic acid causes acidosis and muscle fatigue during exercise.  False: The old myth linking lactate or lactic acid to fatigue is the result of a scientific misinterpretation that has prevailed through the years.  Lactate does not cause metabolic acidosis. Furthermore, it is useful in the performance of exercise at high intensities. Myth #4: Lower-intensity exercise puts you in the fat-burning zone, so it’s preferable to higher-intensity exercise.   Wrong: The “fat burning zone” at low intensities of exercise doesn’t even exist. To burn maximum calories in support of ongoing weight loss, progress to a moderate-intensity/higher-volume exercise program and include interval training. Related: Low-Calorie Desserts to Try Right Now Myth #5: Morning workouts increase metabolism better than workouts performed later in the day. Wishful thinking: The decision to exercise in the morning should be driven by personal preference rather than any false hopes that greater weight loss will be achieved by exercising before breakfast. Myth #6: Muscle weighs more than fat. Not true: Muscle does not weigh more than fat. A pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat. The difference is their density. As we lose fat and gain muscle, weight may change very little, while body volume decreases as we become leaner. Related: Cheap, Healthy Meals Your Family Will Love Myth #7: Women who want to avoid looking bulky should avoid resistance training. False: Resistance training does not cause women to get bulky. In fact, it is virtually impossible for women to get as big (i.e., bulky) as men due to physiological differences, such as lower levels of testosterone. Myth #8: Spot reduction really works, especially if you want six-pack abs. In our dreams: Research shows that if a vigorous, high-volume, core-training program is performed, fat will be reduced in the abdominal area, but not selectively. A lean midsection requires a program of core, resistance and aerobic exercise—not just a focus on the abs.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/16/are-working-out-wrong-way-8-common-fitness-myths-debunked/

Brain makes call on which ear is used for cell phone

The study — to appear online in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery — shows a strong correlation between brain dominance and the ear used to listen to a cell phone. More than 70% of participants held their cell phone up to the ear on the same side as their dominant hand, the study finds. Left-brain dominant people — who account for about 95% of the population and have their speech and language center located on the left side of the brain — are more likely to use their right hand for writing and other everyday tasks. Likewise, the Henry Ford study reveals most left-brain dominant people also use the phone in their right ear, despite there being no perceived difference in their hearing in the left or right ear…