Doctor's Orders: Jul. 25, 2005

SODA POP: IT'S CANDY IN A CAN

To curb consumption of sugared soda, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) last week urged the FDA to slap cigarette-style warning labels on these drinks, citing statistics like this: in 2004 the average American drank 37 gal.--60,000 calories--of what CSPI calls "liquid candy."

HOW CURRY FIGHTS CANCER

Curcumin, best known for lending turmeric and curry powder their yellow hue, may also fend off disease, according to a study in Cancer. In lab tests at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, curcumin inhibited the growth of melanoma cells and caused tumor cells to self-destruct.

DRUGS THAT CAN MAKE PATIENTS BETTORS

In rare cases, medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease may trigger compulsive gambling, say Mayo Clinic doctors, who reported the effect in 11 patients in the Archives of Neurology. One patient squandered $100,000 before he was taken off the meds and lost his taste for games of chance.

NO DOUGH FOR BIG JOES

In a study of 56 patients reported in Chest, Dutch researchers found obese men couldn't metabolize carbohydrates as well as obese women. That may explain why the men were less fit and had a higher rate of diabetes.