This is the time of the year when the clocks are rolled back
one hour. It is also the time of year when the common cold makes people
miserable. So we want to ask and answer some common health questions readers
might have.
According to a recent study, Americans spend $8 billion a
year on over-the-counter medicines. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical
Immunology: In Practice found that the active ingredient in decongestants we
take for a cold works no better than a placebo. The effectiveness of phenylephrine
hydrochloride (PE HCl), which is common in OTC meds for nasal congestion, works
no better than a sugar pill. Consumers who want to buy cold medicine with this
ingredient have to ask a store clerk for it since it is no longer on open
shelves. The main ingredient, PE HC1, in bulk, can be used to make meth which
is illegal. Any OTC cold medicine with nasal decongestant will not contain this
ingredient. Health Briefs TV encourages readers to find ways to stay healthy during
cold and flu season. If medication is needed, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Milk – it does a body good. It does and in so many ways. But
milk tends to get bad rep from people who are lactose intolerant, and for its
fat (or fat-free) versions. While there are alternatives for the people who
cannot digest lactose-laden ingredients, milk, in its regular form, is still a
healthy choice. The division among people who say that fat-free or skim milk is
healthier than whole or 2 percent fat milk rages on. Analysis of the European Journal of Nutrition found that whole milk
fills people up more than fat-free milk, therefore leading to feeling satiated
sooner and lowering the risk of obesity and diabetes. The Health Briefs television show also reminds readers that we don’t consume enough milk in one
day to do any harm to our health. Pour a little whole of 2 percent milk in
coffee, tea, and cereals to gain a little more calcium in the daily diet.
