Life and Fitness Coach

Daily dose: For aspirin, take baby steps

Researchers have studied the dose that most adults take daily to prevent cardiovascular disease and found that less is better. The standard pill is 325 milligrams and a baby aspirin is 81 mg.

The 325 mg dose was arrived at because that's all they could fit into one pill when it was first introduced. The 81 mg pill is a quarter-size dose.

The researchers could find no evidence that higher doses were better and found that it actually was associated with more bleeding.

The findings suggest that the baby aspirin is most beneficial.

Study results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Eyes are windows to your health

Here is some sound advice from the ophthalmologists (and brothers) Marc and Michael Rose in their book "Save Your Sight! : Natural Ways to Prevent and Reverse Macular Degeneration":

Be aware of what makes you sick, be conscious of what you’re eating, drinking and thinking. Eat a variety of fresh, natural foods and cultivate good digestion. Drink plenty of fresh water. Meditate. Take nutritional supplements. Exercise regularly. Minimize your exposure to toxins, poisons and pollutants. Beware of drugs, both street and prescription. Wear good sunglasses. If you use eye drops, choose one that is preservative-free.

The Doctors Rose recommend -- and I use -- Viva Eyedrops by Vision Pharmaceuticals. These are preservative-free and contain antioxidants, the perfect combination for healthy eyes.

Aspirin benefits both sexes

The People's Pharmacy column in the Los Angeles Times addresses the question: "My doctor said that I should be taking an aspirin a day, but my pharmacist said it doesn't protect women like men. Who's right? and what's the best dose?"

A March 2007 study of almost 80,000 women followed for more than 20 years suggests that women do benefit from aspirin. ...

Read the column