Dr. Steve Info: Wednesday

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Today Steve talked to us about anti-oxidants, PSA tests, and a new stem cell break through.\

7:00am Segment Info:
The PSA blood test is used to detect prostate cancer in men. PSA stands for prostate specific antigen - a protein that goes up when there's prostate trouble, but being overweight or obese can make that test somewhat unreliable. Now doctors think they know why. They say obese men have a larger blood volume, which dilutes the protein. Recent research has revealed that PSA levels are 20 percent to 25 percent lower in overweight and obese men than in men of normal weight. This finding explains why obese or overweight men tend to have lower PSA levels.

So should obese men not get the PSA test?

WATCH THE VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

Not at all, it's just that doctors have to know how to interpret it and may need to adjust it. The PSA test is very important. Prostate cancer strikes one in six men, mostly those over the age of 65. This same phenomenon may also be true for other blood tests for cancer. Some critics of the study say the results are flawed because they only looked at men with advanced prostate cancer.

In other news, a little o-j may boost your green tea.

If you're a green tea drinker you should know that you have to drink a lot to really reap the benefits of all those antioxidants. Or you can have a little orange juice or vitamin c with it. A new study finds drinking citrus or adding vitamin c to green tea boosts the potency of antioxidants called catechins. The results are preliminary. Catechins are believed to be the main antioxidants in green tea that may reduce the risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke.

Finally, there's a big breakthrough in stem cell research.

Two teams of researchers have reprogrammed human skin cells to act like stem cells, which have the potential to turn into any cell in the body. Many scientists believe stem cells will be the answer to cure many diseases and can even allow people to grow organs that can be implanted into them. That would make drugs that suppress the immune system unnecessary. This advance virtually wipes out the debate over using embryonic stem cells for research. Scientists say there are still some hurdles that they have to get over. But they are calling this a major breakthrough.

8:00am Segment Info:

Dr. Steve answers your questions...

I am in the end of my pregnancy and now all of a sudden I have this craving to eat ice cubes. Is it bad for my teeth? If so can you offer me a safe and healthy alternative?
Melanie from Jersey City

The urge to chew ice can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia, which is very common in pregnancy, so check with your doctor. You may need more iron. Once you get to the root of the problem and get your iron level to where it's supposed to be the craving should go away. Chewing ice cubes can cause damage your gums and even fracture your teeth. To satisfy your need to crunch try some baby carrots or apple chunks instead.

After drinking a couple of glasses of water I feel so heavy, so how can one be expected to drink 8 glasses a day?
Christopher from queens

Here’s the good news, you really don't need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. No one knows exactly where that number came from... doctors now recommend that you drink enough water to make your urine slightly yellow. If it's clear you're drinking too much.. if it's dark yellow you're not drinking enough. That will still have you drinking lots of water. Remember, juice and coffee count, so drink a little throughout the day this way you won't feel too bloated.

I sit at my desk all day and my back is starting to hurt, but I do not know if that is what it is from. Is it possible?
Paul from New York

Your posture at your desk can definitely affect your back. When you're sitting all day make sure that your feet are flat on the ground and your thighs are parallel with the floor. Don’t slouch and keep your behind in the back of the chair with your back straight and your shoulders back. Make sure your computer screen is at eye level or slightly below, this way you won't slouch. Finally, get up and walk around or stretch every so often. Sitting in one position for a long time can cause pain.

Are there some alternative foods that I can eat the morning to gain some extra energy?
Kristen from long beach

The first thing you have to do is dump the empty calories in the morning. You know what I’m talking about, the muffin, the giant danish and the bagel. Instead, make sure you have a balanced breakfast with protein, healthy fats and crabs. I go for protein in the form of eggs, non-fat cottage cheese, non-fat yogurt, or even a protein powder that I’ll add to a shake. Mix in some fruit and get some whole grains like whole grain toast and you should notice a big difference in how you feel. You also won't be hungry an hour later.