Closing Out 2019

• 3 new items of interest to bring 2019 to an end.

• Green Tea Extract (GTE) as a supplement has been used by a lot of postmenopausal women to try and lower their breast cancer risk. A NIH-funded study found that instead of reducing cancer risk GTE actually raised the risk when compared to a group taking a placebo whose risk went down. A separate study had previously found that high-dose GTE in weight-loss supplements can cause liver damage.

• The second item is that there is an increased risk of Dementia associated with a class of medication called “anticholinergics” (I mangle the pronunciation of that word in the podcast). Those medications vary from the well known, Benadryl, Paxil, & Dimetapp, to a number I’d never heard of including Toviaz, Urispas, Desyrel, & a few others. If you are taking an anticholinergic drug then you should go and talk to your doctor about changing to another medication if possible.

• Number three I included in honor of the New Year – Should you make New Year’s resolutions if you are likely to break them? The answer isn’t a clear yes or no. It depends on whether you keep making the same one each year and never get it done. In that case you should probably look at what is stopping you from achieving your goal and address that first. Starting the new year with a new goal can improve your mood by activating your brain’s pleasure centers. But in general, you should be able to set and achieve goals any time of the year. 

• Lastly, I shared my intention for 2020 which is to start doing interviews with other people who are in Health & Wellness. That includes not just people involved with Health but also others who work in Wellness, as in improving one’s overall life which would then also improve your Health. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead! I’m glad you’re here and would appreciate you telling your friends and family about the podcast. I really want to expand and improve the Healthy Tips After 50 Podcast!

  Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2020!!