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Ask Us answers archive
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I noticed that when I am working out my feet tend to turn outward. Is this due to not wearing the proper fitness shoes, or is it a foot problem that I need to correct, and how can I correct it?
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Which fruits should diabetics avoid?
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My mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and lives in the Los Angeles area. I was wondering if your publication had ever created or published any lists of top doctors in the area? She's looking for a doctor but isn't sure where to start.
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Any advice for those who are not overweight but whose waistlines keep growing? At age 68, I weigh the same as in college 50 years ago, but my waist is three to four inches larger. I exercise five times a week and eat a healthful diet.
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Because of scant evidence on the success of hypnosis therapy, it should be one part of an overall plan that focuses on diet and exercise.
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Many types of treatments and devices are available
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Sometimes after vigorous exercise, I detect a faint odor similar to acetone. Is this common? What is it telling us?
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In the March 17 Health section, Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon wrote about cinnamon to improve insulin sensitivity. I have type 2 diabetes. After reading the article, I went looking for a water-based cinnamon extract. I have been unable to find any place that sells it. Can you tell me the name of a product and where to buy it?
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I dance ballet, and on one of the jumps, called a tour jeté, I used to land more heavily on my right heel. Done repetitively, it caused some trauma to the left uppermost corner of my right kneecap. I've since modified my technique, but I still land with my weight more on the heel on some of the jumps. Eventually, I feel pain, and it is difficult to kneel on that knee. (I don't have the same experience with my left knee.)
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When I turned 50, it was as if my breasts fainted from the shock. I don't expect a return to perkiness, but I'm looking for a great exercise to help them head at least a little north.
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What is a safe amount of fish to eat per week for an adult female (past pregnancy age) and male in regard to mercury levels?
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I have read many times that vegetables in the cruciferous family are very good for me. Some cruciferous vegetables are dark green, such as the florets on broccoli, and some are white, such as cauliflower. Are they all equally good? Are they good in different ways?
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Are there exercises specific to breast cancer survivors?
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Some studies link dairy consumption and prostate cancer.
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I recently completed a 16-mile city hike on pavement. For the hike, I picked shoes that were comfortable, but by the end of the day I felt like I had bound feet. My toes were rubbing into the shoe uppers. I did, however, wear a great pair of Thorlos socks. Any tips about shoes or other things to consider for long city hikes?
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My son has those large holes in his ears that are so popular now. He wants to "close them up." Is a surgical procedure required? What needs to be done?
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While exercising, perceived exertion can be a better individual gauge than standard charts.
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Intrinsic as well as extrinsic aging occurs, but water loss is an unproven culprit.
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They can give muscles a better workout but can also put more strain on joints. Beware of pain.
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I have horrible shin splints that make aerobic activities such as walking and running incredibly painful. Is there any warm-up I can do that might ease the pain?
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Is there a sleep aid that would help me sleep for two to four hours? I have insomnia where I often wake at 3 or 4 a.m.
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Though I'm very active, doing both cycling and weight training and maintaining a fairly healthful diet, I still need to take medication for low-level high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
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My husband has severe osteo-arthritis in one of his knees. (His other knee was replaced several years ago.) He is in his 70s and doesn't want to undergo another surgery. His doctor has him on a pain-pill regimen. Should he walk for the sake of exercise, or in his case is it best to stay off the knee as much as possible?
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I often read that resistance training is good for your bones. I'm wondering if that means it's good for the limbs that you exercise, or if in a more general way it's somehow good for the whole body. If you work the muscles of your arms, for example, do bones elsewhere in your body benefit?
How many calories are burned sitting in a Jacuzzi? Does the temperature of the water have a bearing?
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My blood pressure readings vary throughout the day. Sometimes they're high and sometimes they're low. So I'm not sure if I have high blood pressure or not.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the supplement nitric oxide?
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What are the latest research findings on the health benefits of virgin coconut oil, whether positive or negative?
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I run on my treadmill for 45 minutes at a quick pace (eight minutes or less per mile) every morning. I am always dripping (and I mean dripping) with sweat, often after only three miles. Is it unhealthy or unusual to perspire so much? Or is it a sign of some kind of condition I should be concerned about? I'm in very good shape, don't sweat excessively during regular activities and don't drink that much water.
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If you are working out with free weights doing a series of exercises (for example, six sets of six repetitions of bench presses, bicep curls, triceps extensions and pullovers), is there any disadvantage to completing half of the workout, then going back two hours later and completing the other three sets?
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If I don't need to lose weight, is there some reason I shouldn't be using sugar? I do watch what I eat to get the best nutrition because I am training to run a marathon. I have sugar in my coffee in the morning. I think it helps during long runs.
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Can cycling (indoor or outdoor) be a weight-bearing exercise? When I do Spinning classes in the gym, we pedal in a standing position much of the time. I have been diagnosed with osteopenia and have been told weight-bearing exercises may help slow down the loss of bone tissue. And I wonder whether cycling works in this way.
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Does having a relatively rapid resting pulse rate (say 90 beats or so per minute) make aerobic exercise more stressful on the heart and respiratory system than having a slower resting pulse rate?
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I have human papilloma virus. Can I still get the shot that just came out — even though I already have the virus?
AND: Would frequent running without orthopedic support (in the arch, mainly) on a hard, flat surface cause some injury?
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Why do my muscles shake involuntarily during certain exercises, especially abdominal ones? Is this a bad sign (perhaps of fatigue, weakness in specific muscle groups or poor nutrition)? Or does this indicate that the muscles are being worked and strengthened?
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If I drink, I drink two beers in a day, as I have been led to believe that this is a healthy amount. If I drink these beers after a meal, they don't have much affect on me at all. If I drink the beers on an empty stomach I can achieve quite a pleasant buzz. The question is, am I "cheating" by drinking on an empty stomach and actually drinking the equivalent of an unhealthy amount of beer?
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I walk a lot in a variety of shoes (long walks with dog in tennis shoes, and dressy shoes, some with heels, for work), and I keep getting a severe pain in the sole of my feet just below the third and fourth toes.
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I'm 46 years old and in good shape. I jog on a treadmill three times a week for 3 miles and lift weights. But I'm always sore and stiff. Lately I've experienced lower back pain and cannot get up to a full sprint on the basketball court because of hip and groin discomfort. What stretching exercises do you recommend?