Doctor's Orders: Jan. 30, 2006

WATCH LETTERMAN, OR HAVE SEX? Is your love life going down the tubes? It may be because you're paying more attention to your television set than to your partner, according to a survey by a team of Italian psychologists. Its poll of 523 couples, ages 18 to 65, found that those with TVs in the bedroom had sex half as often--four times a month vs. eight--as those without. What the couples watched seemed to affect passion as well. Violent shows and reality TV dampened romance; news programs, for some reason, seemed to encourage lovemaking.

28% Percentage drop in the occurrence of ovarian cancer in women who regularly take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil or Aleve, according to a new study in Epidemiology. Aspirin users had the lowest risk--37% lower than that of nonusers.

TRY THIS SPICE TO SETTLE THE STOMACH A new study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggests that taking 1 g of ginger can cut the risk of postoperative nausea 31%. Caveat: ginger works for only about 65% of people who take it.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT--AND DRINK Danish scientists staked out grocery stores and found that people who buy wine instead of beer also buy healthier foods. Wine buyers purchased more olives, fruits, vegetables, poultry, low-fat milk and lean meat. Beer buyers rang up more cold cuts, chips, sausages, butter and sodas.