Healthy Living

with Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom

 

Question of the Month

Q. I've heard about a calorie-free sweetener called stevia. What is it, and is it safe to use?
A. The leaves of the stevia plant have been used for hundreds of years as a noncalorie sweetener for beverages. It's widely accepted and used in South America and Asia, but relatively new to the American market. While it is available in the "dietary supplement" aisle of most local markets, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved stevia as a sweetener to be used in soda and other drinks (that's why it's not in the sugar aisle). Some people regularly use it to sweeten both cold and hot beverages, but unlike other low-calorie sweeteners, stevia does not taste like or have the "mouth-feel" of regular sugar. Until the FDA approves this for general use based on more scientific data, it's probably wise to limit to occasional use.

Exercise: Better Balance Prevents Fractures

Our Pittsburgh winters produce a lot of snow, ice and slippery sidewalks. While it might seem like common sense that being sure-footed would lower your risk of falling, a recent European study recently confirmed this: Poor balance and the risk of breaking a bone from a fall are directly related. Study researchers also predicted that the rate of fractures from falling could be reduced by one-third with better balance. A simple way to become steadier on your feet is to practice standing on one foot. To start, hold on to a sturdy chair or press your palm against a wall. Count slowly to 10 while standing on one foot, trying to stay as steady as possible. Switch legs. Repeat for two to four sets for each leg. As you feel steadier, try to balance on your own without support and increase the number of sets.

Nutrition: Strive for Five

While we all know about the health-promoting effects of abundant fruit and vegetable intake, most of us struggle to keep our consumption up. It's often difficult to get the recommended five (or up to nine!) servings of fruits and vegetables a day in the summer months when local produce is plentiful and flavor is at its peak. What can we do in the middle of winter? Buy fresh seasonal produce such as apples, pears, oranges and bananas, and root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and parsnips. You'll know what's seasonal by a lower price. Nowadays typical summer fruits, such as melons and berries, are available year-round but lack flavor, having been harvested early and often shipped from thousands of miles away. Look for bagged produce with smaller fruits. Check out frozen fruits and vegetables for great value. The nutrient value in these is equivalent to fresh, as they are typically "flash frozen" before bagging and shipping. That's good news for your waistline and for your wallet.

In the News: Working Moms Get Support

If you're a new mom and preparing to go back to the workplace, Pittsburgh is the place to be. The transition can be a challenge, both physically and mentally, but two of our local companies - PNC Financial Services Group and Bayer USA - have made this easier. Working Mother Magazine cited them among the top-100 companies for working mothers. For these companies and others, perks such as flex-time, on-site day-care services, lactation rooms and overall affordability of services help land Pittsburgh on numerous national lists for supporting mothers who work outside the home. That's a major step in the right direction for the overall health of both new moms and their families.

If you have a health question for Dr. Fernstrom, e-mail her at fernstrom@wqed.org.

 

Dr. Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., C.N.S., is the founder and director of UPMC's Weight Management Center. She is the diet and nutrition editor for NBC's "Today Show" and is the author of The Runner's Diet. Also visit "Health Journal with Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom," a health and wellness blog at iVillage.com.