Zorba Paster on Your Health :: Listen

#1 Trenton, NJ Dorm Room Dangers
Caller is concerned about her daughter who is having an allergic reaction to something in her dorm room. Zorba recommends keeping the room clean, having her build up her immune system, buying an air ioniser, using a fan, and keeping the window open. Z does not think that it is mold.]

#2 OK City, OK Afternoon BP
Caller wants to know why his BP is always higher in the afternoon? Z verifies that Mark does indeed have a family history of hypertension. He then recommends avoiding salt and alcohol. He also recommends buying a home meter and finding out if his BP averages high. If it averages above 90, Z recommends medication.

Topic Teens Beefing Up
Z discusses how more teens than ever are taking muscle-enhancing supplements like protein shakes. Z says protein shakes and exercise are fine, but that they need to be used in moderation. He says that parents should monitor teens’ behavior and discusses the perils of this obsession with body image.

#3 Madison, WI Green Coffee Extract
Z reminds the caller that eczema flare-ups can occur out of nowhere and aren't always associated with food allergies and not to eliminate all fods from her diet just due to a flare-up.

E-mail Smoothies Raise Cholesterol (4 Cent Advice)
Kathy in Buffalo, NY wants to know whether her doc’s advice to go off of fruit smoothies to lower cholesterol is correct? Kathy recently went off her cholesterol meds, and her cholesterol went up, but her doc blames it on the smoothies. Z says the doc is wrong.

#4 Spokane, WA Helpless Hands
Z explain that any sweetener (unless artificial) when taken in the same amount, is going to have the same affect and issues (read: increase in insulin/diabetes). One is not more refined and/or healthier than the other.

#5 LaCrosse, WI Lymph Node in Leg
Z explain that any sweetener (unless artificial) when taken in the same amount, is going to have the same affect and issues (read: increase in insulin/diabetes). One is not more refined and/or healthier than the other.

E-mail Skim Milk (Judge Zorba)
Steve wants to know if skim milk is still a good choice, because he heard that the saturated fat in milk is natural, so not unhealthy. Z disagrees and says that saturated fat is saturated fat is saturated fat and should be avoided.

TOPIC: Creative = Crazy?
Z and T discuss the latest findings that creativity comes with a higher risk of mental disorder. The study was done on 1.2 million Swedish psychiatric patients and their relatives. They found that bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, deression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide were more common for people with artistic/creative jobs (dancers, photographers, authors, researchers...)

#6 Bozeman, MT Pea-Sized Pain
Rod has a pea-sized bump on his finger that hurts when he grips things. It seems to be a Ganglion Cyst – AKA “Gideon Cyst”, because people used to hit it with a bible to cure. Rod only hit his with an encyclopedia – but it didn’t work. Z says sometimes docs will freeze the top of it, put a needle in, pull fluid out and put steroid in. If that doesn’t work, some people will have surgery. Z also says sometimes they go away on their own.]

Mythbuster: Bone Stronger after Break?
T asks Z if bones really heal to be stronger after they break. Z says no – unless you’ve had metal put into you.]

#7 Madison, WI Anti-Inflammatory Foods for Arthritis
Z speaks to Sandra in Madison about whether or not anti-inflammatory foods will help with her arthritis. She heard from a public figure that they were, so Z first asks if that person was selling anything.

E-mail Mythical Licorice (DWTD)
T reads an e-mail from Neil in Madison, WI who takes issue with the fact that Zorba referred to red licorice as “licorice”, when really it’s just red twists. Licorice is a flavor. Z says Neil should write the licorice company.]

11/29/2012 (Cuban Black Bean Soup)