REDHEAD ALERT Natural-born redheads may be extinct by 2100. According to researchers from the United Kingdom’s Oxford Hair Foundation, the recessive gene for red hair is being dominated by darker shades through genetic intermingling. Less than 4 percent of the world’s population now has natural crimson coloring.
-Prevention
MAKE THIS LIST Although 68 percent of Americans keep an up-to-date record of their prescription drugs, only 46 percent include their OTC medications and vitamins, according to a new American Pharmacists Association survey. Even more alarming, only 20 percent list the herbs on which they rely. Some OTC products interact with prescription drugs; for example, garlic may interfere with blood-thinning medications. Keep your record complete to help doctors and EMTs prevent med problems during an emergency.
-Prevention
DO KIDS NEED SUPPLEMENTS Today, 32 percent of U.S. children take supplements, according to the National Institutes of Health. “Clearly, some parents just don’t think their little ones eat a balanced diet,” says Frank Greer, M.D., chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. For picky eaters, a commercial multivitamin isn’t a bad idea—just make sure it includes nutrients kids are most likely to be short on and discuss brand and dosage with your child’s pediatrician. Infants need vitamin D and iron, starting with a daily dose of vitamin D shortly after birth if breastfeeding; at six months, switch to a supplement with iron also. Children 2 to 11 need vitamin D and zinc, found in fatty fish and red meat. If your child won’t eat those, look for a
multivitamin. Kids 12 to 18 need vitamin D and calcium—have them take a supplement if they stop drinking milk.
-Fitness
BLAMING AUNT MATILDA? MYTH OR FACT? Some people are born with a sluggish metabolism. FACT. That’s true, but it’s possible to beat your genes. The Pima Indians of Arizona have high rates of obesity and diabetes, but their genetic cousins in Mexico exercise more and eat fewer processed foods—and have healthier body weights. The key to reviving your slow system, says Christopher Bell, Ph.D., assistant professor of health and exercise science at Colorado State University, is to eat small servings of healthy, whole foods and exercise regularly (both cardio and strength training).
-Health
FATIGUE REALLY STINKS You know that wonderful aroma of hazelnut French roast? Here’s a surprise: Instead of charging you up, that smell may actually make you sleepy. British researchers found that everyday smells like coffee can trigger feelings of fatigue (and even stomachaches, backaches and chest pain). And the stronger the aroma, the more intense the feeling. It’s not clear why, but researchers think your brain may associate the smell of coffee with a feeling you have when you drink it—like a.m. grogginess. Here are the five most common smells that triggered the symptoms:
