The Saturday Evening Post articles from July 2006

The Saturday Evening Post archives from July 2006

Super grain benefits.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Before starting Salba, my blood sugar fluctuated up and down, usually on the high side. I found that after taking the Salba my blood sugar is more stable, especially during the night. I also feel that my circulation is better and energy level...

Our water shortage.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Dale Wasserman's worries about dwindling (drinking) water resources on the globe ["The Tip of the Iceberg"] are doubtless "real" and "nagging" but not as critical or disastrous at this point, although shortages are localized. True, countless...

Saluting our marines.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I am the author of the poem, "My Marine's Sentinel," which you published in your Nov./Dec. edition of The Saturday Evening Post. I am honored that you selected my poem to appear in your magazine. My son, Sgt. Karl Eisenzimmer, a Marine...

Slightly different view of sprawl.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I must take exception to the basic premise stated in Glenn Harlan Reynold's review of Robert Bruegmann's book, Sprawl: A Compact History. The biggest complaint against sprawl clearly has nothing to do with the author's premise that "... some...

Mules.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I would love to read John Hauer's beautiful book, The Natural Superiority of Mules, that you reviewed in your May issue. How can I buy a copy? Maria Mayer Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Editor's note: The Natural Superiority of Mules is...

Lysine to fight cold sores.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I have valued your magazine for years, first as a kid and now in our own home. Humor and pictures that have included Norman Rockwell, Poor Richard, and cartoons in abundance, often bring a smile. The medical bent you have been taking is also...

Hesburgh standards.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Thank you for including Father Theodore Hesburgh in your Post People page. It is important to honor a man whose standard of excellence as a university president and leader was exceptional. Father H. set a tough example to follow, often working...

Bipolar disorder.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I am writing in response to your request in the Nov./Dec. SatEvePost for information from people with Bipolar Disorder and thyroid dysfunction. I am a 47-year-old female. I graduated from law school in 1982 and was a fairly successful...

Policosanols.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I have always been interested in using nutritional supplements instead of drugs whenever possible. I recently read an article in the SatEvePost, February 2006, "A Sweet Way to Lower Cholesterol" using 10 mg of the supplement policosanol which...

Long time fan.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... I've been a fan of the Post since before all the annoying inventions like ballpoint pens and cell phones etc. The old Post was big and full of stories, articles and cartoons, before and during WWI. I had a cover with Gen. Pershing's...

Bird flu prevention.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... As an enterprising young boy selling magazines door to door nearly three-fourths of a century ago, it was The Saturday Evening Post that I featured in my sales pitch and have enjoyed the wit in every issue since, but mostly appreciate the more...

Good move.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2006... Your article about Maurice Ashley and his crusade to help young people through chess was excellent and accurate. He is everything your writer portrayed--enthusiastic, highly intelligent, and genuine--and kids love him. Two years ago I had...

Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health.(Book review)
July 1, 2006... Good Night: The Sleep Doctor's 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health by Michael Breus, Ph.D., 383 pages, Dutton Adult, 824.95 Fast food, huge portions, lack of exercise, and computers have all been blamed for the huge explosion...

The Quote Verifier: Who Said What, Where, and When.(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The Quote Verifier: Who Said What, Where, and When by Ralph Keyes, 343 pages, St. Martin's Griffin, $13.95 "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!" "History is bunk." "We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang...

If These Are Laugh Lines, I'm Having Too Much Fun.(Book review)
July 1, 2006... If These Are Laugh Lines, I'm Having Too Much Fun by Rose Mula, 128 pages, Pelican Publishing Company, $10.95 Rose Madeline Mula does not readily give out her age, but the title of her new book, If these are Laugh Lines, I'm having Way too...

The World Is Flat: A Brief History of The Twenty-First Century.(Book review)
July 1, 2006... The World is Flat: A Brief History of The Twenty-First Century by Thomas L. Friedman, 488 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $27.50 While sitting outside a CEO's office near Bengalore, India, writer Thomas L. Friedman suddenly realized that...

Who should be tested?(HEART HEALTH: ASK DR. ZIPES: A noted cardiologist answers your questions.)
July 1, 2006... Reader: My 30-year-old sister, who has had a heart murmur since she was a teenager, has recently been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Six years ago, my father passed away suddenly at age 45; they say it was his heart. It has...

Sleep apnea may affect heart.(HEART HEALTH: ASK DR. ZIPES: A noted cardiologist answers your questions.)
July 1, 2006... Reader: I am writing this letter on behalf of my wife, who is experiencing racing of her heart when she awakens at night, which occurs four to five times. This also occurs during the day if she takes a nap. About one year ago, she underwent...

Calculating cholesterol.(blood samples)
July 1, 2006... Reader: How is cholesterol figured? My May 2005 clinical laboratory report says my cholesterol is 211. My test results for cholesterol/HDL ratio, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides are in normal ranges. So how can my cholesterol be high? I am really...

The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: his enduring wisdom leads us to a higher appreciation of his genius.
July 1, 2006... Love and Tooth-ache have many Cures, but none infallible, except Possession and Dispossession. The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest. I have never seen the Philosopher's stone that turns...

Don't forget your eye exam.(Women's Wellness)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Having a complete eye examination helps preserve vision and reduces the risk of eye diseases. Younger women who become pregnant may experience refractive changes or puffy eyelids that obscure side vision due to hormonal shifts. Older women are...

Ovarian cancer: break the silence.(pap test)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... According to a recent survey, most women believe that a yearly Pap test is an effective way to detect ovarian cancer--the leading killer among women's reproductive cancers. Unfortunately, they are wrong. To promote early diagnosis and save...

Choosing a back-friendly mattress.(Women's Wellness)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Buying a mattress is a major investment in your overall health and wellbeing. To select the best mattress for your spine and back, orthopedic experts suggest the following: 1) Choose bedding made of natural fibers (which allows the body to...

More grape expectations.(grape juice helps in slowing down the aging process)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The old grey mare ain't what she used to be? A daily glass of grape juice may be just the tonic. Researchers at Tufts University's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging recently improved the behavioral and cognitive performance of aging rats...

A fresh way to tell what's rotten.(FreshQ)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Meat and poultry shoppers have long had only the dating on the package and their own eyeballs to judge whether store counter meat is fresh. Now a new label is becoming available that can indicate if meat or poultry is spoiled. The Smart Label...

Tips from the kitchen.(FOOD IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Eliminate burnt food odors by simmering 1/4 cup whole cloves in two cups of water. Clean your blender after use by adding a couple drops of dish soap, filling halfway with hot water, and turning on for a few seconds. Then rinse. Clean...

Color counts in grapefruits.(FOOD IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Scientists at Israel's Hadassah Medical School have found all grapefruits may promote cardiovascular health, but red grapefruits, which are higher in beta-carotene than the white version, are better at scavenging for free oxygen radicals and...

Shivani Angappan.(Post People)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Never say that small people can't spell big words! Only six years old, Shivani Angappan correctly spelled tongue-tangling words like "hippocampus," "condyle," "occipital," "meninges," and even "leukoblast" to win the 2006 Jack and Jill...

Erik Weihenmayer.(Erik Weihenmayer inspires people)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... World-class athlete Erik Weihenmayer has conquered the so-called seven summits--the tallest peaks on the world's seven continents--a feat only a fearless few can claim. What is particularly singular about Weihenmayer's achievement, however, is...

James A. Baker III.(Post People)(suction drain safety legislation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... "Little Graeme was an angel on loan to us for seven years," says former United States Secretary of State James A. Baker III of his seven-year-old granddaughter, Virginia Graeme Baker. Graeme died tragically in a hot tub drowning accident in...

Warm-up exercises for young and old: warming up or stretching before exercise helps prepare the mind, heart, muscles, and joints for activities ahead.
July 1, 2006... We read of a man whose only exercise was jogging his memory. This finally led to his getting in such bad shape that when his friends began making unkind remarks about his overhanging belly, he sent away for weights to begin a bodybuilding...

A cutting-edge surgery for prostate cancer: offered several treatment choices, a surgeon opts for the newest, a robotic procedure that is rapidly becoming the gold standard for minimally invasive surgery.
July 1, 2006... "Ralph," the voice on the other end of the phone sounded anxious. It was my urologist. The fact that he was calling me at 7:30 in the morning made me just as anxious. He quickly continued, "The free PSA we drew yesterday is 7.3 percent." He...

If stroke attacks, act FAST.(Neighborhood Heart Watch)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Time lost is brain lost. Stroke experts warn that a one-minute delay could cost you two million brain cells. Knowing the symptoms of stroke and acting fast can make the difference between life and death. Remember F-A-S-T for the most common...

Sleep problems and heart risk.(Neighborhood Heart Watch)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Emerging evidence links obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to the development of top health concerns, including diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Experts estimate that 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, but 90 percent of...

Chamomile + blood-thinner don't mix.(Neighborhood Heart Watch)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... New advice for people taking warfarin (Coumadin) to reduce the risk of blood clots: Stay away from chamomile products. Canadian investigators report that a 70-year-old woman treated with warfarin developed severe internal bleeding after rubbing...

Stroke therapy breakthroughs.(Neighborhood Heart Watch)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Cutting-edge therapies are helping some stroke patients recover and regain function in paralyzed limbs. The Bioness Ness H200 is a device worn on the hand and forearm to help restore function to hands paralyzed by stroke or spinal cord...

Senior moments: sometimes, I think I'm already there.
July 1, 2006... An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for many years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100 percent. The gentleman went back in a month...

New option for GERD.(gastroesophageal reflux disease can be cured with a plicator)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A non-surgical outpatient treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) offers hope to people who cut back on exercise, lose sleep, and limit food intake due to chronic heartburn. During the procedure, doctors use a device called the...

Limit use of nasal sprays.(chronic nasal obstruction)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... While decongestant nasal sprays may shrink nasal tissues and alleviate serious allergy symptoms, specialists warn that frequent use of the over-the-counter products may pose a serious medical risk. According to otolaryngologist Kenneth F....

Magnesium promotes strong bones.(MEDICAL UPDATE: Cutting-edge news from a source you can trust.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Consuming magnesium in foods and supplements is positively associated with bone density throughout the body, particularly in older white adults, according to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Study...

Saving teeth for a lifetime.(MEDICAL UPDATE: Cutting-edge news from a source you can trust.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... It's summertime and people across the country are taking to the parks, riding bikes, and playing a host of outdoor sports. Mouth guards prevent thousands of injuries each year, but even with proper protection, teeth can still get knocked out,...

Unique music therapy research is under way at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston.(Parkinson's Disease News)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Unique music therapy research is under way at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston. Prior studies have shown that music therapy can benefit Parkinson's patients, but neurologist Ron Tintner is studying the use of different rhythms to...

Russian researchers are testing how the brain reacts to a mild electric current delivered through electrodes laid on the scalp of people with Parkinson's disease.(Parkinson's Disease News)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Russian researchers are testing how the brain reacts to a mild electric current delivered through electrodes laid on the scalp of people with Parkinson's disease. Preliminary data suggest that the therapy, called transcranial electric...

SHHH! Silencing hospital noise.(silent hospitals help healing)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Hospitals across the country are putting a lid on steadily increasing noise levels. Research shows the excessive noise disturbs patients and staff, raises the risk of medical errors, and may slow the healing process. Experts stress that...

Preventing drug-induced hearing loss.(MEDICAL UPDATE: Cutting-edge news from a source you can trust.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Promising data show that aspirin may prevent many cases of hearing loss linked to inexpensive antibiotics commonly used in the developing world to fight acute infections and tuberculosis, among other conditions. Researchers studied 195...

Researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland have unraveled the structure of a protein called TRPA1 that may play a key role in our ability to hear.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland have unraveled the structure of a protein called TRPA1 that may play a key role in our ability to hear. In the laboratory, shutting down the protein prevented cells in the...

Discovery of a protein (p11) that affects how the body responds to the mood-regulating chemical serotonin may someday lead to better treatments and understanding of depression.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Discovery of a protein (p11) that affects how the body responds to the mood-regulating chemical serotonin may someday lead to better treatments and understanding of depression. Scientists say that depressed people have lower levels of p 11 than...

Vision aids update.(ELIA Life Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Recent breakthroughs could help people with low vision enjoy more productive and independent lives at home. Developed as an easy-to-learn alternative to Braille, the new ELIA alphabet utilizes 26 symbols based on the shapes of regular print...

Zucchini rice bake.(Health Recipe of the Month)(Chart)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Zucchini Rice Bake Serves 6 6 zucchini, sliced 1/2-inch thick 1 cup boiling water 4 eggs, beaten 1 pound cottage cheese 2 cups cooked white or brown rice 1 onion, finely chopped Salt 1 teaspoon marjoram 1 tablespoon chopped...

Vitamin D may cut cancer risk.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A recent review of 63 studies, including several large clinical trials, suggests that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of colon, breast, and ovarian cancers. Lead researcher Dr. Cedric Garland of the University of...

From the pharmacy. (MEDICAL UPDATE: Cutting edge news from a source you can trust.(Albuterol inhalers)(Evista breast cancer treatment)(products for dry mouth)
July 1, 2006... Editor's Note: Pharmacists are an integral, and sometimes untapped, part of the healthcare maintenance team. If you have a question about medications, please write to: Cara Acklin, Pharm. D.; From the Pharmacy 1100 Waterway Blvd.; Indianapolis,...

Man's best friend: sniffing out cancer: recent research is demonstrating that dogs can tell the difference between people who have cancer and those who don't.
July 1, 2006... DOG, n.--A kind of additional or subsidiary deity designed to catch the overflow and surplus of the world's worship.--Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary They cheer us up when we're feeling blue. Medical studies confirm they bring down...

The post goes to the fair: the best of show from our blue-ribbon illustrators.
July 1, 2006... Ah! The good old country fair, where pickles spend their finest hour, where country smells meet city noses, where freckles flock in droves and faces fresh as buttermilk belie competitive natures tough as bailing wire. Enter our...

What you should know about high blood pressure.
July 1, 2006... THE LOWDOWN ON BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINES Different classes of medicines help control your blood pressure to protect the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. * DIURETICS (OR "WATER PILLS"), considered first-line therapy for hypertension,...

Post editors' picks ...(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Post readers are invited to send in nominations for the funniest greeting card, funniest print advertisement, and the funniest magazine cover. Make us laugh, and you could receive $200. Winner in the greeting card category It's not...

First day of school.(Cartoon)
July 1, 2006... "Our HMO has a great weight loss program. Rates so high, you can't afford food!" "I'm going to have to let you go. It seems you've been rubbing the clients the wrong way."

Diabetes: don't forget the fiber: according to high-fiber advocate Dr. James Anderson, even small increases in dietary fiber reap tremendous gains in lowering cholesterol, losing weight, and managing diabetes. Interview with Dr. James Anderson.(Interview)
July 1, 2006... For more than three decades, the Post has touted the proven benefits of fiber in combating chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Silently and steadily, an epidemic of type 2 diabetes developed, now affecting nearly 21 million...

It's dog's world: unleashing celebrated and memorable quotes about our canine companions.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... "Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. --Dave Barry "Ever consider what they must think of us? I mean, here we...

Where do you think you are?
July 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] East, West, North, or South, each of the areas above appears on the map of a single state or province. Can you identify these locations? If you find the game too easy (but you won't), try to guess this issue's...

The perfect squelch.(mothers)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The talkative new mother monopolized the conversation all evening with unending stories of her one child's cute doings and prodigious activities. Whatever he did, she made clear, was wonderful and unprecedented and far beyond the capacity of...

Cholesterol counts.(Zocor)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Reader: Would you please comment on my cholesterol levels? My HDL has gone from 53 in July 2005 to 43 in March 2006. My LDL has gone from 96 to 91 in the same period. I took a small dose of Zocor and then stopped. I am 69 years old. ...

Options for AF.(atrial fibrillation)
July 1, 2006... Reader: I have had atrial fibrillation for years. Now at age 75, I am getting worse. I used to convert back to a normal rhythm in a couple of days. My last episode lasted about three weeks. Once I passed out when I converted and put a big...

You be the judge.(rescuer sues the women driver)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The absentminded woman driver parked high on a hillside without setting her brakes and walked away. A passerby was horrified to see her car start to roll down after her. Shouting, "Look out!" he leaped into the path of the runaway car and...

Arvella's Rx for osteoporosis: forteo and exercise.(Arvella Schuller )
July 1, 2006... My husband's phone rang while he was out doing his mile on the track. I took the call for him and was pleased to visit with Dr. Bob Schuller. Bob and Arvella Schuller grew up in Iowa as I did. We were Dutch farm kids who survived the...

How much sunshine.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I know we must keep out of the sun to prevent malignant melanoma, but I'm also told that vitamin D isn't activated unless I get some sunshine. That's a real dilemma for shut-ins. How much sunshine, and at what time of...

Virtual colonoscopy.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I would like information on the ultrasound kind of colonoscopy that is painless and doesn't require anesthesia. I hate to take anesthetics. Mary Beth Schuster San Francisco, California Gastroenterologists...

Jewelry for arthritis.(copper jewelry)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I am an avid reader of your articles in The Saturday Evening Post. On several occasions you have given advice on copper bracelets and their effect on arthritis. I have arthritis in some of my fingers and would like to try...

CT scans and kidney function.(creatinine tests)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, My husband needs to have a CT scan. The doctor said he would have to order a creatinine test to be done before scheduling the scan. Why would this be necessary? Marsha Sullivan Chicago, Illinois Your husband...

Hormone therapy for men.(testosterone replacement therapy )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The male hormone testosterone may not actually turn back time, but studies show it may restore strength, memory, and libido in middle-aged and older men. A simple blood test will show whether testosterone levels have dropped below normal. ...

Avoid using steroid cream around eyes.(baby shampoo can be used)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Regarding the letter you featured in The Saturday Evening Post from the woman who regularly uses hydrocortisone cream for blepharitis, it should be pointed out that in addition to thinning the skin and causing an...

MSM for arthritis.(methylsulfonylmethane)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, What is MSM? I viewed the biography on TV of the actor James Coburn a few weeks ago. He had severe arthritis and taking MSM helped him tremendously and he was able to make several more movies. He lived many more years by...

Perplexing ear pain.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, Since my mid-20s, I have been plagued with pain in the outer portion of my ears when I sleep on my side. The pain occurs in the 12:00 to 3:00 position on a clock and wakes me up every hour or two. The pain subsides when I...

Vitreous floaters.
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I am 78 years of age, and have had vitreous floaters since about the age of 12. It's hard to believe with all of the wonderful breakthroughs in medicine that there is nothing to be done about this condition. I know...

Mouth blisters.(lycines cure)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, I am 82 years old and have been experiencing blisters in my mouth. The oral surgeon did a biopsy and told me it was lichenoid mucositis. It is not sore or painful but annoying. A new blister appears every few days then...

Serious sinus problem.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dear Dr. SerVaas, My 17-year-old granddaughter has a very disturbing sinus problem. It affects her sleep, schoolwork, and her disposition. Many, many mornings she vomits from this as soon as she gets out of bed. She runs a low...

High Wire Act.(Poem)
July 1, 2006... High Wire Act As through each state of life I go, I seek to keep the status quo, Utilizing all my talents Keeping everything in balance. As hair grows thinner, waistline thickens. As speech grows slower,...

The real truth.(about war)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A family was driving home from church. The father asked his young son what he learned in Sunday school. The youngster replied: "Well, our teacher told us about when God sent Moses behind the enemy lines to rescue the Israelites from the...

Lessons from Will Rogers.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... 1. Don't squat with your spurs on. 2. Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco. 3. Never kick a cow chip on a hot day. 4. There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works. 5. Never miss a good chance to shut up....

Remote Control.(Poem)
July 1, 2006... Remote Control My spouse and I share every task. One example makes this clear: On a trip, she drives the car. I sit at the wheel and steer.

In the rough.(POST SCRIPTS)
July 1, 2006... My golf instructor says I'm doing "just fine." He says I'm missing the ball much closer than I used to.

Not Even a Whisper?(Poem)
July 1, 2006... Not Even a Whisper? I do my good deeds secretly No words must get about, Still, it is rather annoying When not a word leaks out.

Here, there and everywhere.
July 1, 2006... As I grow older, I find myself thinking more of the hereafter. When I get up in the morning and walk into the kitchen, I find myself wondering, "What am I here after?"

Recovery and re-covering.(mastectomy)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Helping my 75-year-old mother recover from her mastectomy was comfortable because she could always make me laugh. Once she said, "It doesn't make any difference. No one sees me but the doctor, and I have to pay him to look."