In an experiment, children were presented two separate packages containing the same snack. The packages were identical except for one thing: one had a sticker bearing the likeness of one of three cartoon characters — Scooby Doo, Dora the Explorer, or Shrek.

The children were asked to taste each identical sample and tell the investigator if the two samples tasted the same or, if not, which one tasted better. They were also asked if the loved the food, liked it, disliked it, or hated it.

The experiment was conducted three times with each child: once with graham cracker sticks, once with gummy fruit-flavored snacks, and once with organic baby carrots.

As expected, more children said they preferred the taste of the graham crackers and gummies when the packages bore the likeness of one of the cartoon characters. More kids also said they preferred the taste of the cartoon-branded carrots, but the effect was weaker and failed to reach statistical significance.

Amazing the influence a cartoon character can have on a child’s eating habits. I wonder if the same would work for veggies?

I remember when I was young, my parents would tell me I could grow up to be strong like Popeye if I ate my spinach. I did and I didn’t – grow up with bulging muscles that is.

What are some of the tactics you use to get your kids to eat better?

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The medication is mostly for men who have benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), although some women may be prescribed the medication for urinary retention (unintentional holding back of urine).

Anyway, if you see the ad, you may remember hearing, in the long list of cautions, that the men should tell their doctor that they’re taking Flomax if they’re considering having cataract surgery. Now, how does a drug for your prostate affect cataract surgery? You may be surprised.

Although it doesn’t happen often, men who have taken Flomax and had cataract surgery have a higher risk of certain complications, such as intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS), lens loss, retinal detachment, and inflammation, say researchers in an article published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

This doesn’t mean that you can’t or shouldn’t have cataract surgery if you take Flomax – it just strengthens the warnings that you should mention it to your eye surgeon, so he or she can make adjustments to your surgery to reduce any risks that may be associated with the medication.

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Researchers looked at almost 6000 men, 65 years old or older, for risk factors for falls. At the start of the study, 54% of the men had mild symptoms of infection, 39% reported moderate symptoms, and 7% reported severe symptoms.

The researchers found that the number of men who fell was higher among those who had moderate or severe symptoms, compared with those with those with mild symptoms. This is due to the urgency (strong, urgent need to urinate), frequency (frequent need to void) and nocturia (the need to urinate in the middle of the night). Each one of these problems can contribute to fall risks, but to have all three really increases that risk.

This study was published last year in BJU International.

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Image: MorgueFile.com

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Most people think of 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong when they hear of testicular cancer. And, while the cyclist is the best known face of the disease, it is increasing in incidence, especially among younger men. It’s the most common solid tumor found in men in their late twenties and early thirties.

Other well-known men who had testicular cancer:

• Comedian Tom Green
• Runner Steve Scott
• Newsman Bob Losure
• Football player Brian Piccolo
• Football player Dan Turk
• Football player Josh Bidwell
• Football player Louie Aguiar
• Baseball player John Kruk
• Baseball player Mike Lowell
• Golfer Todd Barranger
• Guitarist Peter DiStefano

As you can see, it touches all walks of life.

Just as women do breast self examinations, men should do testicular self examinations. Here is some information at Lance Armstrong’s site and at this one: how to do the self examination.

While doctors don’t really know the risk factors involved in developing testicular cancer, some links are being found. For example:

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Ok, so I know kids don’t read this, but moms, you could put a bug in your kids’ ear….

Erika Schwartz, MD, Medical Director Cinergy Health, offers 12 tips for kids to help their dads live a healthier lifestyle:

1.  Take Dad for a morning walk after a healthy Father’s day breakfast (egg whites, berry smoothie, chicken sausage and Green tea).

2. Get Dad a set of 20 pound weights to use every day before dinner or at work, if that is feasible.

3. Get Dad a 5 pound bag of apples or other fruit and nuts he likes as snack basket he can enjoy every day for the next week.

4. Get Dad a six-pack of soda water to replace colas, other caffeinated drinks and beer.

5. Get Dad a muscle vibrator that will help relax his shoulders (a better after-work stress reliever than a cocktail)

6. Buy Dad golf lessons or a month’s membership at a gym

7. Find a hiking or biking group and join together (or just get Dad a bike)

8.  Clear Dad’s work materials from his bedroom so he can get a better night’s sleep.

9. Get Dad video on good nutrition

10. Go away for a weekend together on an activity trip (hiking, fishing, boating, camping)

11. Line up Dad’s father or brother to engage in family-designated physical activity days.

12. Give Dad hugs.

Any one of these can help make a Dad’s day and more.

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Images: PhotoXpress.com

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Some men accept their balding scalps graciously and as a matter of course. Some even speed up the process, figuring if they’ve lost most of their hair, they may as well shave off the rest. Others fight it every step of the way, from growing it long and combing it over, to poofing it up as much as they can, to give the illusion of more hair. And, of course, there are the men who spend money on hair pieces, plugs, surgery and many different kinds of potions guaranteed to help regrow your hair.

But what is male pattern baldness?

Everyone who has hair loses it every day. You can see that in the hairbrush in your bathroom or on the shower floor after you’ve washed your hair. It’s estimated that we lose about 10,000 strands every day – after it’s been in your head for about five years or so.

Again, for most of us, the hairs are replaced and the cycle continues. For men with male pattern baldness, this doesn’t happen. The hairs fall out and aren’t replaced, which causes a gradual loss of overall hair. Usually, it begins at the temple (receding hairline) or at the very top (crown) of the head.

Doctors don’t know exactly why men lose hair in this manner, but it is genetic as it isn’t common in women. Testosterone, the “male” hormone, does play a role by combing with an enzyme, which then weakens the hair.

It’s important to understand that male pattern baldness isn’t the same thing as the baldness experienced by people who have an illness that causes hair loss, called alopecia. As well, hair loss from other causes, like chemotherapy, are much more sudden, with clumps of hair coming out.

If you’re concerned about your hair loss, the best thing you can do is speak with your doctor to be sure that it is simply male pattern baldness and if so, to see if there is anything that can be done.

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Image: MorgueFile.com

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If it doesn’t seem a manly enough physical exercise, consider this. Social dancing can

• Help strengthen your bones and muscles
• Tone your body
• Work on improving your balance
• Increase your stamina
• Keep your weight in check

But, that’s just social dancing. If you were to get into more active dancing, like the tango or a salsa, you could be exercising more than you thought you ever would.

Researchers did a study examining the effects of salsa dancing- the results were reported last year at the annual gathering of the American College of Sports Medicine. The researchers examined dancers before they danced and after. The researchers found that the heart rate of the salsa dancers increased to the point that they could consider salsa dancing as a good cardiovascular work out.

So, the next time your partner says she wants to go dancing, you can always look at it as your exercise time that you get to spend with her.

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Image: PHotoXpress.com

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While not all tests are fool proof, many routine tests could help detect a potentially severe or even fatal illness. Here are 7 tests that you should consider asking your doctor about. He or she may tell you that you don’t fall into the risk categories, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

1- Cholesterol levels.

We hear about good cholesterol and bad cholesterol – which is which and what is what? The so-called good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein , or HDL. You want to have this so remember that you want your H DL to be High . The low-density lipoprotein , the LDL, is the so-called bad cholesterol. You want the L DL to be Low .

Your goal should be to have your LDL between 100 and 129 mg/dL. Between 130 and 159 is considered “borderline,” 160 to 190 is high, and over 190 is dangerously high.

2- Rectal digital exam

Ok, this is the one that many men dread but it’s an important one. If you’ve never had one and you don’t seem to have any rectal or prostate problems, ask your doctor when you should have your first one rectal exam. If there is a history of prostate cancer or enlarged prostate in your family, you will likely start having this test sooner than later.

3- PSA test

It’s often recommended that this blood test be done as a baseline (to get a first “read”) when a man turns 40, if he has no symptoms or family history of prostate cancer.

4- Colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in American men . It’s also one of the most curable cancers, with a 90% cure rate if it’s caught early enough. If you have no family history of colorectal cancer, ask your doctor when you should have your first screening test. If you do have a family history, tell your doctor because you’ll want to be screened earlier and likely more frequently.

5- Melanoma screening

Skin cancer is on the rise. Basal cell skin cancer is what is called the benign one – it doesn’t cause harm. But melanoma is deadly. Middle-aged adults and those who are older didn’t have the benefit of knowing how dangerous the sun could be on their skin when they were younger. A baseline check in your 20s and then every few years after if you’re not at high risk will likely be enough. However, if you notice any skin changes or you are at high risk, your doctor may want to see you once a year.

6- Diabetes screening

If you have any risk factors for diabetes (family history, are overweight, don’t exercise, etc), you should consider being screened for diabetes. Ask your doctor how often you should be checked.

7- Glaucoma screening

Glaucoma is a devastating eye disease that can lead to blindness . While it’s not curable yet, its progress may be delayed with treatment. All men should be checked at least once in their life, more often if they’re at high risk.

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Images: MorgueFile.com

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A study from Australia, published last year, found that for men, being taller can translate into earning a better salary. Being about 2.5 inches above the norm could be worth as much as 950 Australian dollars (roughly 760 US dollars) a year.

The authors of the study used information from the 2006 and 2007 results of the  Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA). They looked at both men and women and, although there was a finding that taller women earned more money as well, the results weren’t as strong for the women as they were for the men.

The researchers also looked at other body issues, such as weight and body mass index (BMI) and these didn’t make as much a difference in salary as did height.

Interestingly, the researchers found that the Australian wage/height difference was actually lower than in other places, such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

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Images: Stock.xchng, iStock.com

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So, how can you tell if you’re one of the men who are at risk of developing osteoporosis? Here are the risk factors if you are a man:

• Being Caucasian or Asian – these two groups have higher rates of osteoporosis and low bone mass. However, it is a problem in all races. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

• “Seven percent of non-Hispanic Caucasian and Asian men aged 50 and older are estimated to have osteoporosis, and 35 percent are estimated to have low bone mass.”
• “Four percent of non-Hispanic black men aged 50 and older are estimated to have osteoporosis, and 19 percent are estimated to have low bone mass.”
• “Three percent of Hispanic men aged 50 and older are estimated to have osteoporosis, and 23 percent are estimated to have low bone mass.”

• Having a small bone structure. If you’re considered to be small built, you have a higher risk of thinning bones, just like women do.
• Having low levels of testosterone and estrogen.
• Having had as a child a diet low in calcium.
• Eating a low-calcium diet as an adult.
• Smoking
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• Being physically inactive
• Taking medications like prednisone in high doses and/over a long period of time

These are just a few of the risks. If you feel that you may be at risk, you need to speak with your doctor. There are ways to slow down osteoporosis progression, but only if you are proactive and have this seen to.

Osteoporosis is an invisible disease and you won’t know you have it unless you are tested for it. Sadly, too many people only find out they have osteoporosis once they’ve broken a bone. And, depending on how old they are, their health, the bone broken and the severity of the break, this break could end up affecting their life severely.

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Image: iStock.com

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