Eat nuts, keep weight gain at bay

How countertops are making people sick

R.Tsubin/Getty Images A Handful Of Nuts A Day May Keep Pounds Away On average, U.S. adults put on one pound of weight every year. Sigh... But here's some good news: Eating a handful of nuts on a regular basis may help prevent excessive weight gain and even lower the risk of obesity, new research suggests. Researchers looked at the diet and weight of some 280,000 adults over more than 20 years. One reason for this may be that people who eat more nuts, chose them in place of foods such as processed meats, refined grains and desserts.  And nuts help us feel full longer, which might offset cravings for junk food. Remember though, we're not talking about piles of nuts — just a small handful a day, say about a dozen almonds or maybe 10 walnuts. Read on to learn about nuts' other health benefits.   danishkhan/Getty Images The People Who Make Kitchen Countertops Are Getting Sick From Silica Dust Jose Martinez, 37, worked for years as a polisher and cutter for a countertop company. He says dust from cutting the slabs to order was everywhere. Now, he's often weak and dizzy and has pain in his chest. Doctors have diagnosed silicosis, a lung disease that can be progressive and has no treatment except for lung transplant. His experience is just one of those described in a new report on 18 cases of illness, including two deaths, among people who cut, grind and polish engineered stone, an increasingly popular material. The fear is that thousands of workers may be inhaling dangerous amounts of lung-damaging silica dust, because engineered stone is mostly made of the mineral silica. Read more about the problem and how doctors are trying to help these workers. Alex Smith/KCUR For Kids With ADHD, Should Parents Try Meds Or Therapy First? When children are diagnosed with ADHD, stimulant medications like Ritalin or Adderall are usually the first line of treatment. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued new guidelines recently that uphold the central role of medication, accompanied by behavioral therapy, in ADHD treatment. But some parents, doctors and researchers who study kids with ADHD say they think behavioral treatment should come first for more children, and they worry that the role of medication in treatment is too large. "I think it's a huge disservice to not just the children that we're trying to treat, but also to the parent who would prefer to have behavioral interventions," says Erika Coles, a psychologist at Florida International University who studies the effectiveness of such treatments. Read more about the debate and the behavioral approaches that some parents are using with their kids. More of this week's health stories from NPR Are "Dank Vapes" behind the rise in vaping illness? How going to the hospital for a simple procedure can lead to a $2,170  "cover charge" How bad is eating red meat really? A new debate emerges We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your Shots editor, Carmel Wroth   What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy