What’s Good on the Menu?

While some restaurants do offer hints for health conscious diners, you’re on your own most of the time. you order wisely, here are lighter options and high-fat pitfalls. choices have fewer than 30 grams of fat, a generous meal’s worth for an active, medium-sized woman. choices have up to 100 grams of fat.

Fast Food

Best

Grilled chicken sandwich

Roast beef sandwich

Single hamburger

Salad with light vinaigrette.

Worst

Bacon burger

Double cheeseburger

French fries

Onion rings.

Tips

Order sandwiches without mayo or “special sauce.” Avoid deep-fried items like fish fillets, chicken nuggets, and French fries.

Italian

Best

Pasta with red or white clam

Spaghetti with marinara or tomato-and-meat sauce.

Worst

Eggplant parmigiana

Fettuccine alfredo

Fried calamari

Lasagna.

Tips Stick with plain bread instead of garlic bread made with butter or oil. Ask for the waiter’s help in avoiding cream- or egg-based sauces.

Chinese

Best

Hot-and-sour soup

Stir-fried vegetables

Shrimp with garlic sauce

Szechuan shrimp

Wonton soup

Worst

Crispy chicken

Kung pao chicken

Moo shu pork

Sweet-and-sour pork

Tips Share a stir-fry; help yourself to steamed rice. Ask for vegetables steamed or stir-fried with less oil. Order moo shu vegetables instead of pork. Avoid fried rice, breaded dishes, and items loaded with nuts.

Sandwiches

Best

Ham and Swiss cheese

Roast beef

Turkey

Worst

Tuna salad

Reuben

Submarine

Tips Ask for mustard; hold the mayo and cheese. See if turkey-hamis available.

Mexican

Best Bean burrito (no cheese)Chicken fajitas

Worst

Beef chimichanga

Chile relleno

Quesadilla

Refried beans

Tips Choose soft tortillas with freshsalsa, not guacamole. Special- order grilled shrimp, fish, or chicken. Ask for beans made without lard or fat.

Breakfast

Best

Hot or cold cereal with 2% milk

Pancakes or French toast with syrup

Scrambled eggs with hash browns and plain toast

Worst

Belgian waffle with sausage

Sausage and eggs with biscuits and gravy

Ham and cheese omelette with hash browns and toast

Tips Ask for whole-grain cereal or shredded wheat with 1 % milk or whole-wheat toast without butter or margarine. Order omelettes without cheese, fried eggs without bacon or sausage.

Seafood

Best

Broiled bass, halibut, or snapper

Grilled scallops

Steamed crab or lobster

Worst

Fried seafood platter

Blackened catfish

Tips Order fish broiled, baked, grilled, or steamed-not pan- fried or sauteed. Ask for lemon instead of tartar sauce. Avoid creamy and buttery sauces.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia is the most common STD in the United States, with an estimated 4 million new cases each year. The causative agent is the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia is frequently found with other STDs, such as gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis, and it may be contracted through oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse.

In men the infection is usually manifest by inflammation of the urethra (urethritis). Infected men generally experience a burning sensation during urination and possibly a mild discharge. One third of all men with chronic chlamydia infection develop no symptoms.

Symptoms in women include vaginal discharge, intermittent vaginal bleeding, and ill-defined discomfort or pain on urination. Infected mothers may pass the infection to their babies during the birth process. This may result in conjunctivitis in the child or a more serious condition known as chlamydial pneumonia. More than 30,000 newborns are affected by this condition each year.

When left untreated, chlamydia can lead to arthritis and can damage the heart valves, blood vessels, and heart muscle itself. In men the condition can also lead to sterility. In women the disease can infect the uterus, fallopian tubes, and upper reproductive areas, producing the chronic condition PID. This scarring of the fallopian tubes by PID causes sterility and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (a condition in which the embryo is implanted outside the uterus).

Tetracycline, erythromycin, and doxycyline are the drugs used for treatment. They are taken orally for 1 to 3 weeks. Taking the full course of medication is extremely important because relapse can occur. All sexual partners should be treated, or the disease can be passed among them.

Gonorrhea

Nearly 2 million cases of gonorrhea are reported each year, making it the second most prevalent STD. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which attacks the mucous membranes of the penis, vagina, rectum, throat, and eyes. The disease is spread by vaginal, oral, and rectal contact.

Gonorrhea produces symptoms in 80% of men. The symptoms appear 2 to 10 days (average 3 to 5 days) after contact with the bacteria and include a thick, milky discharge from the penis and a painful, burning sensation on urination. These signs should cause men to seek medical treatment immediately. Untreated gonorrhea can result in sterility.

The symptoms in women are discharge and burning on urination, but they may be so mild that they are unnoticed. The bacteria can survive in the vagina and other areas of the female reproductive system for years. During this time, women can infect any sex partners and their fetus if they become pregnant. Contact by the child with the bacteria during childbirth can lead to an eye infection, resulting in blindness. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to PID, the leading cause of sterility in women. In both men and women, rectal and oral gonorrhea may go unnoticed. The disease can develop into a serious infection, resulting in arthritis; meningitis; skin lesions; and liver, heart, brain, and spinal cord problems.

Gonorrhea is diagnosed by obtaining a smear from the penis or cervix. Penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment. If a person is allergic to penicillin, tetracycline is usually used. Physicians commonly treat for chlamydia when gonorrhea has been diagnosed. Gonorrhea can be completely cured, although there is no immunity to the disease. If a person has multiple sexual partners, medical help and advice must be sought regularly.

ALTERNATIVE NAMES: ARECA NUT, BETAL, BETEL NUT, CHAVICA BETAL, HMARG, MAAG, MARG, PAAN, PAN MASALA, PAN PARAG, PINANG, SUPAI

Taxonomic Class

Arecaceae

Common Trade Names

No known U.S. manufacturers. Betel nuts are sold under various names in ethnic grocery stores in the United States.

Common Forms

Available as betel nuts, oil, and raw leaves.

Source

Betel palm is derived from the raw and sweetened leaves and nuts of Areca catechu, a member of the Arecaceae (Palmae) family. The plant is native to India, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and various parts of Southeast Asia and Africa.

Chemical Components

Several compounds have been identified in leaf and nut extract: arecaidine, arecaine, arecolidine, arecoline (an alkaloid related to tobacco alkaloids such as nicotine), betel-phenol, guvacine, and phenolic compounds. A volatile oil from the leaves contains allylpyrocatechol, cadinene, chaibetol, and chavicol.

Actions

Arecoline, a parasympathomimetic (cholinergic) and sympathomimetic

agent, produces CNS and respiratory stimulation, elevated temperatures, and facial flushing. It also exerts mild psychoactive properties. Betel-phenol and chavicol are counterirritants and salivary stimulants. The dichloromethane fraction from A. catechu was found to inhibit MAO-A in the CNS of rats .

Reported Uses

Only three drugs (caffeine, ethanol, and nicotine) are consumed more widely than betel. About 200 million people throughout the western Pacific basin, Southeast Asia, India, and Indonesia chew betel nuts and leaves. Betel is used as a mild stimulant and digestive aid. An oily extract of leaves that contain phenolic compounds is claimed to be useful for respiratory symptoms and as a gargle for sore throats and cough. Arecoline is a veterinary anthelmintic and cathartic.

Dosage

The betel nut is generally sweetened with lime (calcium hydroxide), wrapped in the leaf of the betel vine, and chewed, similar to the American habit of chewing tobacco. Chewing the “quid;’ as the chewing of betel nuts is called, can take as long as 15 minutes. Users may chew as many as 15 quids daily. Chewing betel leaves and betel nuts releases a highly variable quantity of arecoline.

Adverse reactions

CNS: CNS stimulation.

CV: facial flushing.

EENT: gingivitis, periodontitis (with prolonged use), red staining of teeth and oral cavity (with prolonged use).

Musculoskeletal: resorption of oral calcium and osteomyelitis (dentition; with prolonged use; related to lime) .

Respiratory: exacerbation of asthma.

Other: fever.

Interactions

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco chewing: Increased risk of oral cancer. Avoid use with betel palm.

Antiglaucoma drugs: May increase or decrease effects. Monitor use of betel palm products in patients taking antiglaucoma drugs. Avoid administration with betel palm.

Atropine, propranolol: Abolishes temperature-elevating effects and increases CNS effects of arecoline. Avoid administration with betel palm .

Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin: May increase heart rate-reducing effects. Avoid administration with betel palm.

MAO inhibitors, foods that contain tyramine (such as aged wine and cheese): Increased risk of hypertensive crisis. Discourage using together.

Contraindications And Precautions

Arecaidine use, arecoline use, and betel chewing are contraindicated in patients who are prone to developing oral leukoplakia, fibrosis, or cancer, particularly cancer of the esophagus and squamous cell carcinoma. Avoid using betel palm products in pregnant or breast-feeding patients .

Special Considerations

Ask the patient of Asian or Indian descent regarding his use of this product; betel chewing may be a habit considered innocuous to him.

When betel is chewed, there is copious production of blood-red saliva that can stain teeth and the oral mucosa. After years of chewing, the teeth can become stained reddish brown to black.

Alert Betel chewing may increase one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This was determined from examining anthropometric testing and glycemic control of 993 Bangladeshis .

Alert Diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, seizures, and vomiting (with excessive chewing) similar to toxicity experienced from excessive nicotine use may occur .

Monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of excessive autonomic stimulation, including blurred vision, bradycardia, cold sweats, constipation, cramps, diarrhea, fasciculations, GI stimulation, hallucinations, hypersalivation, hypertension, hyperthermia (sympathomimetic), miosis, mydriasis, pallor, tachycardia, voluntary muscle paralysis, and vomiting. The patient may present with a wide variety of these symptoms.

Alert Caution the patient about the risk of oral and esophageal cancers with prolonged oral use. In a large retrospective study, Pan masala (commercial preparation of areca nuts, lime, catechu, and other undisclosed ingredients) chewing has been directly linked to the development of oral submucous fibrosis, a premalignant state of the oral mucous membrane .

Caution the patient at risk for developing diabetes that betel ingestion may increase the risk.

Advise women to avoid using betel products during pregnancy or when breast-feeding.

Commentary

Betel nut chewing in Asia and Indonesia has been compared with tobacco and alcohol use in the West; the substances are legal but potentially harmful. Chronic betel chewing may increase a persons risk of certain oral cancers and type 2 diabetes. An effort has been made in Canada to outlaw the importation of betel products but has been met with resistance . As with tobacco, there appears to be no appropriate medicinal use for betel.

Who doesn’t get envious on seeing those curvy models walking the ramp? Well, but I think it is high time you stop getting Ms Jealous and start investing in your resources. Yes, I am talking about your weight loss program. If you are aware of your increasing waist hip ratio or raise BMI, you should right away start on a fitness regime including good diet and exercise plan along with good diet pills.

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With the advancement in every field, we have gained numerous things that have kept us going in this world. Along with the latest technologies, people take names of vaporizer as one of the best bet. Well, if you want to have healthy herbal atmosphere in your home, vaporizer is the thing you want to possess. After coming home from polluted world outside, you want to have something soothing to inhale and breathe.

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If you put certain herb that you like into the vaporizer chamber, it will be heated at low temperature and emit amazing fragrance to soothe your senses. It will not give rise to unnecessary gases that are harmful to your health. Thus you can enjoy the fragrance and also save yourself of the harm. Isn’t it wonderful!? Get any type of volcano vaporizer you desire through safe online purchase and let your house emit fragrance of your choice always!

Pearls are all time favorite of jewelry lovers. As it is, jewelry comes first in the list when there is some occasion in everyones life. But among all the jewelry, pearls have taken much upper place due to their stunning beauty and affordability as compared to other jewelry. With different types of cultured pearls available freely everywhere, it is no wonder the jewelry market is soaring high.

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Taxonomic class

Apiaceae

Common Trade Names

Dong Kwai, Dong Quai Capsules, Dong Quai Fluid Extract

Common Forms

Raw root: 4.5 to 30 g (boil or soak in wine)

Tablet (fluidextract): 0.5 g

Also available as capsules, powders, teas and, in some countries, injectable forms.

Source

Active components are obtained from the roots of dong quai (Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis), a fragrant perennial umbelliferous herb that is native to China, Korea, and Japan.

Chemical Components

The volatile oils extracted from the root contain n-butylphthalide, cadinene, carvacrol, dihydrophthalmic anhydride, folinic acid, isosafrole, ligustilide, nicotinic acid, safrole, succinic acid, uracil, and vitamin B12. Coumarin derivatives identified in dong quai include bergapten, imperatorin, osthole, oxypeucedanin, and psoralen. Ferulic acid has also been found.

Actions

Dong quai alters uterine activity in female rabbits. The volatile oil has an inhibitory action on the uterus, whereas the nonvolatile and water-and alcohol-soluble components have stimulatory action.

Studies conducted in rats showed increases in metabolism, oxygen use by the liver, and glutamic acid and cysteine oxidation; these actions may be attributed to vitamin B12 and folinic acid that occur in the herb’s root.

Dong quai extracts, especially alcoholic extracts, were also found to exert quinidine-type effects, prolong the refractory period, and correct atrial fibrillation in animals. Other studies in rats showed that these extracts may prevent atherosclerosis, expand coronary arteries, and increase coronary blood flow. Some coumarins are known to act as vasodilators. Although studies in animals have shown that the volatile oil exerts vasodilatory action to lower blood pressure, the duration of action is short.

Reported Uses

Dong quai is recommended by Western herbalists for many gynecologic disorders, including dysmenorrhea, excessive fetal movement, menstrual irregularities, chronic pelvic infection, and premenstrual syndrome. Most claims are based on data from animal studies or small, uncontrolled human trials, but in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 71 postmenopausal women, dong quai alone was found not to produce estrogen-like responses in endometrial thickness or vaginal maturation and not to be useful in managing postmenopausal symptoms . In traditional Chinese medicine, dong quai is used in combination with other herbs to relieve dysmenorrhea and other disorders. Kotani and colleagues evaluated such an herbal preparation including dong quai in 41 women with dysmenorrhea and found it effective in diminishing symptoms. Because an NSAID was allowed on an as- needed basis, it is difficult to determine the effect of the herbal preparation. Other reported uses include treatment of Buerger’s disease, constipation, headache, hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, herpes zoster, hypertension, malaria, neuralgia, pyogenic infection, Raynaud’s disease, chronic rhinitis, sepsis, toothache, and ulcerous diseases or abscess. None of these uses has been evaluated clinically.

Dosage

Dosage forms, strengths, and extraction forms vary. In a placebo­controlled study evaluating the estrogenic effects of dong quai on endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women, 500-mg capsules taken P.O. t.i.d. (equivalent to 0.5 mg/kg of ferulic acid), for a total daily dose 4.5 g of root, were used.

Adverse Reactions

GI: diarrhea.

Hematologic: bleeding.

Skin: increased photosensitivity (psoralens in herb may cause severe photodermatitis) .

Other: fever.

Interactions

Anticoagulants, antiplatelets: May enhance effects. Avoid administration with dong quai.

Contraindications And Precautions

Safrole, a component of the volatile oil, is carcinogenic and not recommended for ingestion. Dong quai is contraindicated in pregnant or breast-feeding patients because its chemical components may cause fetal harm. Traditional Chinese texts advise against using dong quai in the presence of an acute infection.

Special Considerations

Monitor the patient for potential bleeding.

Ask why the patient is using dong quai and suggest that he seek a health care provider to address these concerns.

Caution the patient that some of the herb’s components have been shown to increase the risk of some cancers.

Instruct the patient who becomes photosensitive to use sunblock and to wear adequate clothing and sunglasses.

Caution the patient against using dong quai for its yet unproven estrogenic effects.

Advise women to report planned or suspected pregnancy and to avoid using this herb during pregnancy or when breast-feeding.

Commentary

Despite numerous therapeutic claims for dong quai, only a few controlled clinical trials and animal-based studies are available to support its use to treat dysmenorrhea. Most claims regarding dong quai are unsubstantiated and need additional investigation. Dong quai appears to have more than 18 active chemical components, many of which exert widely divergent pharmacologic effects. Some components are carcinogens, and adverse effects of others are unknown. Extensive testing of individual components is needed before dong quai can be regarded as safe or effective.

Taxonomic class

Asteraceae

Common Trade Names

Feverfew, Feverfew Glyc, Feverfew Power, Tanacet

Common Forms

Available as capsules (pure leaf, 380 mg; leaf extract, 250 mg), liquid, and tablets. The leaves are commonly used to make infusions or teas.

Source

Feverfew, a plant from Europe naturalized in the United States and Canada, bears yellow-green leaves and yellow flowers from July to October. The leaves of the plant are usually dried or used fresh in teas and extracts. The most commonly cited botanical name is Chrysanthemum parthenium, synonymous with Tanacetum parthenium. Matricaria parthenium, Leucanthemum parthenium, and Pyrethrum parthenium are also used to refer to the plant.

Chemical Components

The leaves and flowering tops of feverfew contain many monoquiterpenes and sesquiterpenes as well as sesquiterpene lactones (chrysanthemolide, chrysanthemonin, 10-epi-canin, magnoliolide, and parthenolide), reynosin, santamarin, tanaparthins, and other compounds. Parthenolide may be absent or occur in variable amounts, depending on geographic and other variables. Interestingly, melatonin has been found in significant quantities in both the feverfew plant and commercial feverfew products. Fresh green feverfew leaf contains 2.45 mcg/g of melatonin, whereas the freeze-dried leaf contains 1.61 mcg/g of melatonin .

Actions

The main active ingredients are the sesquiterpene lactones, particularly parthenolide, which inhibits serotonin release by human platelets in vitro. This may be the mechanism of action for feverfew’s purported efficacy in treating migraine headaches . Parthenolide also inhibits serotonin release and has demonstrated significant cytostatic activity toward mouse fibrosarcoma (MN-1 1) and human lymphoma . Extracts of feverfew contain several chemicals that inhibit activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes (by way of inhibition of the cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathways). In murine studies, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects have been documented for both feverfew extract and parthenolide.

Reported uses

Although the initial enthusiasm for feverfew has waned, plant preparations are again becoming increasingly popular for use in migraine prophylaxis and as an antipyretic. A detailed and systematic review of all trials of feverfew for migraine prevention published before mid-1998 failed to find sufficient evidence to support the use of feverfew in this regard.

Feverfew is also claimed to be useful for treating asthma, insect bites, menstrual problems, threatened miscarriage, psoriasis, rheumatism, stomachache, and toothache. These uses have not been assessed in human trials.

Dosage

For migraine prophylaxis, 25 mg of freeze-dried leaf extract P.O. daily; 50 mg of leaf P.O. daily with food; or 50 to 200 mg of aerial parts of plant P.O. daily.

For migraine treatment, average dose of 543 mcg P.O. parthenolide daily.

Adverse Reactions

EENT: mouth ulcers (common with teas and whole-herb preparations).

Other: hypersensitivity reactions, post-feverfew syndrome (withdrawal syndrome characterized by moderate to severe pain, joint and muscle stiffness, and anxiety).

Interactions

None reported.

Contraindications And Precautions

Feverfew is contraindicated in pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Special considerations

Monitor for allergic reaction.

Monitor for mouth ulcers. Encourage the patient to exercise proper oral hygiene.

Feverfew potency is often based on the parthenolide content in the preparation, which is variable.

Instruct the patient not to withdraw the herb abruptly but to taper its use gradually because of the risk of post-feverfew syndrome.

Inform the patient that several other strategies for migraine treatment and prophylaxis exist and that they should be attempted before taking products with unknown benefits and risks.

Encourage the patient to promptly report unusual symptoms, such as mouth sores and skin ulcerations.

Commercial feverfew products are likely to contain small amounts of melatonin.

Points of Interest

The concentration of parthenolide in the leaves and flowering tops is highest during the summer, before the seeds are set, and drops rapidly thereafter. This has been offered as an explanation for the difference in parthenolide levels between brands of feverfew capsules and tablets.

The Health Protection Branch of the Canadian government has proposed a standard that formulations contain a minimum of 0.2% parthenolide.

Commentary

Although feverfew has been shown to be effective for migraine prophylaxis in at least two clinical trials, further studies are needed to define better dosage guidelines and specific drug interactions and mechanisms of action. For patients in whom standard drug therapy has failed, feverfew may be an agent that can prevent migraine attacks. Although standardized feverfew preparations with dosages based on free parthenolide content have the best experimental support, no consensus on use exists. The presence of melatonin in feverfew and other botanicals emphasizes the need for complete biochemical characterization of herbal medicinals.

Taxonomic class

Poaceae

Common Trade Names

Aveeno Cleansing Bar, Aveeno Colloidal, Aveeno Dry, Aveeno Lotion, Aveeno Oilated Bath, Aveeno Regular Bath, Oats and Honey, Oat Bran, Oat Straw Tea, Quaker Oat Bran

Common Forms

Tablets: 850 mg, 1,000 mg

Whole grains, cereals, wafers: 750 mg

Also available as bath preparations, gels, lotions, powders, soaps, and teas.

Source

Oat extracts are derived from the grains of Avena sativa. Oats are cultivated mainly in the United States, Russia, Canada, and Germany.

Chemical Components

Oats contain saponins, carotenoids, gluten, polyphenols, monosaccharides, oligo saccharides, various minerals (such as iron, manganese, and zinc), fiber, and cellulose.

Actions

Oat products have emollient properties when applied topically to dry and pruritic skin. Oat bran cereals and oatmeal contain significant quantities of soluble and insoluble fiber. Dietary fiber is believed to lower cholesterol levels by binding bile acids and cholesterol in the intestines, thus preventing their absorption. Although insoluble fiber is less effective, both forms of dietary fiber appear to reduce serum cholesterollevels.

Reported Uses

Oat extracts have long been used as topical treatments for minor skin irritations and pruritus associated with common skin disorders. Oat herb teas are claimed to be valuable as antigout agents and sedatives.

Several trials suggest that regular intake of dietary fiber from oats can lower serum cholesterol levels in patients with elevated or normal serum cholesterol levels. When combined with other fiberrich foods, these reductions are further increased . Four trials have provided additional clinical support for the value of oats or oat-derived products in treating hyperlipidemia. A randomized, controlled, 6-week comparison of rice bran and oat bran demonstrated statistically significant reductions in cholesterol and LDL levels of about 13% and 17%, respectively .

No beneficial effects were noted for triglyceride or HDL levels. Rice bran performed in a manner similar to that of oat bran but to a lesser degree. In a trial of both normal and hypercholesterolemic Mexican Illen an 8-week regimen of oat bran cookies produced a significant reduction in LDL levels of about 26%, as compared with that of a psyllium group (23%) and a control group (8%). Both active treatments were found to lower cholesterol levels in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects. No effects were noted for HDL levels, but surprisingly, triglyceride levels were reduced about 28% by the oat bran cookies. Trials conducted by Onning and coworkers demonstrate cholesterol-reducing properties of a novel formulation of oat milk. It has been suggested that the beta-glucans present in oat milk are responsible for the beneficial effects on the lipid profile . These trials also failed to document a significant effect of oat products on serum triglyceride or HDL levels.

Epidemiologic evidence supports a relation between oat bran intake and CV risk as measured by body mass index, blood pressure, and HDL levels . Oat extracts and oat bran bread products also appear to lower blood glucose and insulin levels as well as cholesterol levels but the effects on glucose metabolism have not been consistently demonstrated.

Oat derivatives, such as green oat decoction (tea), may be useful in treating chemical addictions and the extract is being evaluated in smoking cessation programs .

Dosages

For lowering cholesterol, studies used 50 to 100 g of dietary fiber from oat bran P.O. daily.

For topical use, apply once or twice daily.

Interactions

None reported.

Adverse Reactions

GI: bloating, increased urgency of defecation flatulence, fullness, perianal irritation.

Skin: contact dermatitis (oat flour).

Contraindications and Precautions

Oats have been considered to be contraindicated in patients with celiac disease, as are wheat, rye, and barley. Some information suggests that this may not necessarily be the case . Certain oat products may be contaminated with wheat and, therefore, would remain contraindicated for patients with this disorder. Use cautiously in patients with bowel obstruction or other bowel dysmotility syndromes or constipation.

Special Considerations

Advise the patient taking oat bran to regulate bowel habits and drink plenty of fluids.

Advise the patient using colloidal oat products for baths to avoid contact with the eyes and acutely inflamed areas. The products should be washed off with water.

Inform the patient that increased bowel movements and flatulence can occur with ingestion of oat products.

Points of Interest

As with other grains, sometimes oats have been contaminated with aflatoxin, a fungal toxin linked with some cancers.

Commentary

Oats provide an important source of soluble dietary fiber and should be consumed (as with other grains and fibers) regularly as part of a healthy diet. Evidence supports the use of oat extracts and oat products as dietary supplement adjuncts to reduce CV risk factors, but long-term studies examining outcomes are needed. Beneficial effects on total cholesterol and LDL levels are small to moderate, and data on positive effects on HDL levels are lacking. Effects on glucose metabolism are inconsistent. Oatmeal baths may be useful for minor skin irritations, but clinical data supporting this therapeutic application are sparse.