( CNN) - - After almost 3, 000 miles of rowing, bouts of seasickness, equipment failure and salt sores, Paul Ridley is back on land. On day 88, Ridley, 25, completed his solo rowing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the youngest American ever to do so. & quot; I' m exhausted.

Overwhelmed with all the excitement from my arrival, & quot; Ridley told CNN. & quot; Physically feeling good but will be feeling a lot better when the soreness starts to heal and once that happens I will be back to fundraising because cancer research is still in need of funding, so we still have a lot of work to do. & quot; For nearly three months, Ridley has been rowing up to twelve hours a day on the 2, 950- mile journey to raise awareness and hopefully raise money for cancer research. His organization & quot; Row for Hope& quot; was inspired by the death of his mother from skin cancer in 2001.

He set out from the Canary Islands off the north African coast in his 19- foot boat on January 1; he landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua at 2: 30 p. m. on March 29. & quot; It was incredible, & quot; he said. & quot; The whole Island of Antigua came out to greet me. The harbor was swarming with boats. A big crowd on dry land. It' s really been an amazing reception. & quot; Only 85 people have attempted the nearly 3, 000 miles east- to- west crossing, according to the Ocean Rowing Society International, but most failed. & quot; I' m definitely suffering from exposure to the elements and I' ve lost 20 pounds. This is definitely different from my life at home. & quot; Ridley told CNN this week before hitting land.

Ridley is the youngest - - and only third American - - to complete the voyage by rowing. Dedicating the trip to the memory of his mother, Ridley' s goal was to cross the Atlantic Ocean with only oars and raise $ 500, 000 for research at the Yale Cancer Center.

While he arrived at his destination, he still has to raise $ 400, 000 to meet his goal. After their mother died, Ridley and his sister Joy Ridley created Row for Hope, a fundraising effort in memory of their mother. & quot; I was a rower at Colgate University. I love the sport.

I' m not a scientist, but I can row, & quot; he said. The project has been three years in the making. For two of those, Ridley worked with a rowing coach and nutritionist. Beginning in March 2008, he trained by rowing up to 10 hours a day, every day. He put on an extra 15 pounds, knowing he would lose weight during the crossing.

He and his sister spent $ 60, 000 of their own savings to have his boat custom built, and he took a leave of absence from his financial services job.

There was no support vessel following in his wake, and his food was largely the same freeze- dried variety as astronauts eat in space. Ridley' s sister and fellow fundraisers tracked his progress via GPS navigation devices and kept in touch via a satellite phone. & quot; I have electricity from a solar- powered electrical system which is how I power the computer and also the satellite phone, & quot; he explained. & quot; That keeps me connected back home and is one of the real mental pick- me- ups I have out here. & quot; Out in the , even when he rested his arms, his fingers were busy documenting his adventure on his blog, transmitted over satellite phone. & quot; My hands may be blistered, my seat is sore but I love the journey, & quot; he wrote. The courage to confront and even embrace his discomfort and the danger from winter ocean weather comes from his mother Katherine. & quot; Her fight was courageous but short, & quot; Paul said. & quot; After she was gone I remember wondering how anyone ever moves on from that kind of loss. & quot; But even once on land, this journey is not over. In fact, it' s just the beginning of a bigger expedition. & quot; We' d like to keep Row for Hope alive to support other athletes who want to take on similar adventures for cancer research, & quot; he said. & quot; We' ve learned a lot in the last several years, and we' ve set up the framework for other people to use. Basically, we want to help people use their big dreams to create big change in the fight against cancer. & quot; All About & bull;

( CNN) - - When Dr. Danielle Ofri first read the headlines, she was horrified: Doctors were prescribing placebos to their patients instead of real medicine.

How awful, she thought. How deceptive. But then, as Ofri read on, she thought, & quot; Wait a second. By the definitions of this study, I' ve prescribed placebos. & quot; Ofri, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University Medical School, says when patients complain about being tired, for example, she' ll sometimes suggest they take a multivitamin, even though there' s no proof they work against fatigue. & quot; First, I' ll do the million- dollar workup on the patient, & quot; Ofri says. & quot; I check them out for anemia, diabetes, cancer, asthma, depression, and other sorts of other things.

When I can' t find anything wrong, I' ll explain vitamins have worked for some of my patients, and there' s no downside. I don' t think that' s being deceptive. & quot; Last week' s study on placebos published in the British Medical Journal has sparked debate: What precisely is a placebo, and might you, the patient, actually in some cases benefit from one? Placebos, it turns out, are in the eye of the beholder. Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, one of the study authors and director of the department of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, says it' s unethical for a doctor to suggest a that hasn' t been proven to work.

Other doctors say it' s OK - - and sometimes beneficial - - to prescribe something that hasn' t been shown to work in studies, as long as it' s not harmful. Perhaps, they reason, the treatment - - say a vitamin, or an aspirin - - could have a physiological effect not yet found in studies. Or maybe a treatment will have & quot; a placebo effect, & quot; meaning it will make you feel better just because you have confidence it will make you feel better.

So how would you even know if your doctor' s prescribing you a placebo? And should you take it? & quot; Not all placebos are created equal, & quot; says Dr.

Christiane Northrup.

Below are four placebos that the study found are commonly prescribed, with advice on questions to ask about each of them.

Vitamins Vitamins have several proven purposes. & quot; If you' re a young woman about to become pregnant, it' s important you take folate.

And Vitamin B12 is necessary to prevent certain medical conditions like anemia, & quot; Emanuel says. Beyond a few solid examples like these, some doctors think vitamins might help for certain conditions, such as fatigue, while others think they don' t.

The solution: Ask your doctor if the vitamin has been proven to help your problem.

If it hasn' t, ask her if she has any reason to think it will work ( perhaps, as with Ofri, she' s had anecdotal success among her patients) . Finally, ask if there' s any downside to taking the vitamin, then make your decision. Over- the- counter painkillers You' ve heard of the saying & quot; take two aspirin and call me in the morning& quot; ?

The most commonly prescribed placebo in Emanuel' s study was over- the- counter analgesics, such as aspirin. In Emanuel' s view, these doctors were prescribing aspirin without any reason other than that that it might elicit the & quot; placebo effect. & quot; But Northrup disagrees. & quot; Why would an over- the- counter analgesic be a placebo? Aspirin' s a powerful anti- inflammatory, and inflammation is an important part of many diseases. & quot; The advice here is similar to the advice with vitamins. If your doctor suggests you take aspirin for what ails you, ask if there' s any proof the aspirin will work. Even if there is proof, ask if the pain reliever could harm you in any way.

Antibiotics Everyone agrees there are cases where doctors prescribe antibiotics when they shouldn' t, often because the patient insists on them. In the NIH study, 13 percent of doctors reported using antibiotics as placebos. & quot; Antibiotics for a viral illness may be dangerous, and it' s not a good idea, & quot; Emanuel says. & quot; If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, ask if you actually have a bacterial infection. & quot; Ofri adds there' s not always a clear answer to that question. & quot; If I had a patient who' s had bronchitis for two weeks, it' s probably because of a virus. But it' s not out of the realm of reasonableness that it could be bacterial, & quot; She says it can tough to detect bacterial infections when someone has bronchitis, so sometimes she' ll prescribe an antibiotic.

Sedatives In the study, 13 percent of doctors also said they' d prescribed a sedative as a placebo. This is the only & quot; placebo& quot; our doctors agreed on: Sedatives can be addictive, and you want to take them only if you have a condition, such as an anxiety disorder, where they' re clearly indicated. & quot; If your doctor prescribes you a sedative, ask them why, and ask if there' s some other treatment, something that' s not addictive, that you could do instead, & quot; Northrup says. All About & bull;

It' s no secret that cold and flu season peaks in winter. And if you' re looking for ways to stay well, one priority, say experts, is simple: Follow a wholesome diet, just as you should any time of year. But that can be a tall order during the busy holiday season, when hectic social schedules and family commitments often interfere with regular meals. Food alone can' t protect against the common cold or influenza, and the science isn' t yet clear on which or how much of some nutrients may help bolster immunity to reduce your risk of getting sick. But experts agree that a rich in a variety of produce, whole grains, lean proteins, and low- fat dairy products - - along with adequate sleep, moderate exercise, and minimal - - contributes to a well- functioning immune system and may promote a faster recovery if you do come down with a cold or flu.

Stay hydrated Water is the largest single constituent of the human body - - contributing to at least half your body weight - - but it' s & quot; also a forgotten nutrient, & quot; says Jennifer K.

Nelson, M. S. , R.

D. , director of clinical dietetics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

This essential nutrient ( meaning it' s one the body can' t produce on its own) promotes healthy muscle, bone, and blood. Adequate hydration is even more important once you' re sick because fluids lost through sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose need replacing. & quot; When you have a mild fever, your body becomes more dehydrated as a result. So drinking plenty of fluids is probably the first line of defense, & quot; Nelson says. The Institute of Medicine ( IOM) recommends an average 11 cups of fluids daily ( from beverages and foods) for healthy women, while men need about 15.

5 cups per day. Water, coffee, tea, and juice, as well as water- filled foods such as fruit, vegetables, and stews all count toward daily hydration needs.

Choose food While it' s known that certain nutrients like vitamins C, E, and A, as well as the mineral zinc, are associated with immune functions, it' s hard to attribute specific immunity- boosting benefits to any one nutrient because of inconclusive research. & quot; Many studies have been done in nutrition and immune function, involving numerous nutrients - - and [ they] come out with different, often contradicting results, & quot; says Dayong Wu, Ph. D. , a scientist in the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory, the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and assistant professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy at Tufts University. Because a nutritional intervention may have different effects on people of different ages or nutrition status as noted in scientific studies, Wu says, it' s difficult to make broad recommendations based on study findings. & quot; In general, it' s easier to see positive, immune- strengthening results by supplementing someone with a vitamin or mineral that he is deficient in, & quot; he says.

The same benefits may not confer to & quot; people with adequate intake. & quot; That' s why Julia Zumpano, R. D. , of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Preventive Cardiology, recommends foods - - not supplements - - to help you stay strong through the winter. & quot; An overall healthful diet rich in vitamins and minerals is your best bet for the cold weather months, & quot; says Zumpano. & quot; You' ll also benefit from other nutrients not typically found in supplements when you eat a whole food. & quot; She encourages plenty of ( for vitamins C and E) ; whole grains, lean meats, and poultry ( for zinc) ; and low- fat dairy products ( for vitamin A) . For example, in addition to vitamin E, a whole grain like quinoa or rye bread offers fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which support overall good health. Fruits, vegetables, and seafood may also help you enjoy a healthier winter.

Pumpkin, and other deep- hued orange produce provide beta- carotene, which is converted in the body to vitamin A.

Choose , like grapefruit, oranges, kumquats, tangerines, and clementines as well as canned tomatoes, chiles, or pineapple for vitamin C. Oysters offer zinc. Check out our gallery for that deliver these healthful nutrients, plus information on how green tea and yogurt may help your immune system this winter. For more tips on making healthy taste great, try Cooking Light - Copyright 2009 magazine.

All rights reserved. All About & bull; & bull;

( CNN) - - After actress Mackenzie Phillips spoke about her sexual relationship with her musician father, online and telephone calls to an anti- sexual assault hot line surged. Her interviews in the past few weeks brought a spotlight to an uncomfortable topic.

Incest, a common but highly stigmatized form of , often leaves the victim ashamed, isolated and unable to tell others what' s happening, because the perpetrator is someone related to him or her, mental health experts said. & quot; For any survivor of sexual trauma, it' s challenging, and it takes a lot of courage to come forward, & quot; said Jennifer Wilson, director of the National Sexual Assault hot line. & quot; With incest survivors, it' s particularly difficult, because not only is there social stigma pressuring them to stay quiet, but also there' s pressure that' s within the family to stay quiet. & quot; The Rape, Abuse & amp; Incest National Network, which calls itself the nation' s largest anti- sexual assault organization, said it had seen an 83 percent increase in activity on its online hot line and a 26 percent increase on its telephone hot line after Phillips' interview with Oprah Winfrey aired last week. & quot; Unfortunately, it' s something we hear everyday in our hot line, so to have somebody speak aloud about it was empowering to a lot of victims and survivors who went through similar situations, & quot; Wilson said. spoke about the taboo nature of incest in her interview with CNN' s Larry King. & quot; There' s very little in this world that is taboo today, but this subject is still, like, shove it under the carpet, sweep it away, protect the abuser, deny the reality. . . . You' re just on your own, & quot; the former child star said. This makes it one of the most under- reported and least discussed crimes, experts said. A U.

Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that of the 60, 000 sexual assault cases reported in 12 states in 2000, about a quarter were perpetrated by family members. About half of the sexual assault cases with victims younger than 11 involved family members.

At times, a victim may feel unable to tell other family members what' s happening. And if he or she tells a relative, that family member may have & quot; a knee- jerk reaction, & quot; refusing to believe it. Relatives may try to protect the offender in order to keep the family together or to avoid the shame and stigma, Wilson said. This takes a devastating toll on a victim. & quot; Their sexual selves are damaged.

Their emotional selves are damaged, because ' who do I trust? ' & quot; said Debra Laino, a sex therapist and counselor. & quot; ' My father did this. My mother did this. Who can I trust if I can' t trust my family? ' & quot; Sometimes the reluctance to report the crime comes from the victim, because he or she doesn' t want to see the family member in jail. Although Phillips called the sexual relationship with her famed father, John Phillips, & quot; wrong, & quot; she said, & quot; I don' t want bad things to happen to him, but I also don' t want bad things to happen to me as a result of this. And I was convinced to let it lie. & quot; Her , a co- founder of the Mamas & amp; the Papas, died in 2001.

Father- or stepfather- daughter incest is the most common form, although it also occurs between mother and child, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. A sexual assault victim could suffer physical effects of the crime such as sexually transmitted infections, genital trauma and urinary tract infections. They could also experience many mental health effects: social withdrawal, isolation, post- traumatic stress disorder and regressive behavior such as bedwetting and thumb sucking. Some become hypersexual and engage in destructive behaviors, experts said.

Humans & quot; have an instinct for avoiding incest or inbreeding, & quot; said Debra Lieberman, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Miami ( Florida) who researches incest. But alcohol, drugs and mental illness may disrupt that instinct. & quot; Under the heavy influence of cocaine or heroin or whatever else you' re taking, your mental boundaries are skewed, essentially, & quot; Laino said. The offender' s sexual frustrations could also contribute to inappropriate actions. & quot; It also depends on his other mating opportunities, & quot; Lieberman said. & quot; What is the quality of his current relationship with the female' s mother? Is she around?

What is the ability for the guy to attract other mates? & quot; The perpetrator, frustrated by the absence of suitable sexual partners, may turn to whomever is around - - even if it' s kin. Recovery from incest can occur, but it often takes years. A victim of incest has to understand that it' s not his or her fault and get professional help, Wilson said. & quot; It doesn' t make you broken, & quot; Phillips said. & quot; It doesn' t make it so that you can' t go on and be - - once you deal with honestly and realistically what you' ve been through, it doesn' t mean that you can' t be counted on or you can' t be well enough to be a part of the world. & quot; All About & bull; & bull;

Ex- editors: James Murdoch ' mistaken' Is Congress less partisan than we think? Octomom: Baby factory is closed forever Kyron Horman' s mom: ' We want answers' Bristol: I' m not accusing Levi of rape Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Terror warning for utility companies Are tabloid papers good for America?

Husband wanted to divorce missing wife Dogs attack shark Congressman battles home invader Mickelson' s science project Is a deal on the debt ceiling in sight? Owling: The new planking Ex- editors: James Murdoch ' mistaken' Young boy fights for kids' health care NFL owners approve labor deal How will a debt deal affect the economy?

What is a social media background check?

Murdoch paper' s controversial cartoon British phone hacking inquiry widened Ridicu. List Classic: Actor, 51, weds teen ' This is no time to compromise' Consequences of not raising debt ceiling School district' s policy under scrutiny Notorious con man to return to prison Neutrality policy impacting bullying? Teenager known as the ' Barefoot Bandit' Ridicu.

List Classic: The best of Snooki Corzine, Fiorina on debt ceiling debate Dems, GOP spew rhetoric on tax issue Why was Norway targeted?

PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations HLN' s Dr. Drew on Amy Winehouse Murdoch' s wife stands by her man Debate over same- sex marriage in N.

Gay marriages begin in New York ' Fake' Apple store in China Four still missing after Norway attacks Norway bombing witness recalls the scene Winehouse' s body taken from apartment Gay marriage lottery winners to wed Behind the horror in Oslo Dr. Drew Bristol Palin: I was on birth control TV producer Al Taylor: I met with Casey Bizarre deaths at millionaire' s mansion Bristol Palin talks teen pregnancy Behind- the- scenes with Bristol Palin Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating? Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone Choi: DADT dead but journey ' not done' Debt talks break down, so what happened? Did James Murdoch mislead Parliament?

Will NFL players agree to owners' offer? Hacking scandal: ' Somebody high up' knew Abrams: Murdochs ' got to be thried' Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Ex- player: NFL abandoned me after injury Ex- insider: ' Murdoch is on the run now' Gergen: Prospects for default above 50% Debt crisis: Whatever happened to jobs? House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Octomom: Baby factory is closed forever Paris Hilton walks off set of GMA Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven? Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit? My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Clinton nudges India, upsets China Docs: Mammograms each year starting at 40 Cops: Law grad' s torso found at apartment Parents of missing triplet mom speak out 5- month- old vanishes in front of mom An initiative that could save lives Missouri mother of three is missing TV producer claims he met with Casey Murray' s defense wants jury sequestered My life as a Baldwin Adam Levine on why he loves Twitter Daniel Baldwin intent on divorce Has America lost its mojo?

Is Congress less partisan than we think? Prince Alwaleed on Apple, News Corp.

Panel judges Murdoch' s performance Cornel West and Tavis Smiley speak out Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Piers Morgan: Behind the scenes Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Murdoch takes pie in the face The history of cocaine ' Mini Darth Vader' talks health care Impact of concussions to brain Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Carrie Underwood earning big Katy Perry' s 9 VMA noms; Gaga snubbed? Ryan Reynolds on the fame game Chris Brown to star in a romantic movie Will Nancy Grace interview ' tot mom' ?

Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Sanders: Cut, cap, balance a ' disaster' Buildings severely damaged in Oslo blast Al- Qaeda uses cartoons to get recruits al- Awlaki: Wanted Dead or Alive?

Musharraf to U. S: Keep your guard up Drone of the future tested Terror warning for utility companies Musharraf: I think Perry will run Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Debt debate gets ugly New TSA body scan less invasive Debt deal dead? Candy' s post- show analysis On debt, GOP wants solution, not a deal Pawlenty on gay marriage Pawlenty: Is President Obama ' chicken' ?

Feinstein on gay marriage, Libya mission Sen. Feinstein: GOP walked out on Obama Geithner: Default is ' unthinkable' Pawlenty' s tax, economic plan Geithner talks averting default crisis Getting To Know Tim Pawlenty SOTU pre- show rundown

( CNN) - - Defending champions Germany were sent tumbling to a stunning 1- 0 extra- time defeat by outsiders Japan in the women' s World Cup Saturday. Japan had never beaten a European team and went into the quarterfinal in Wolfsburg as long- odds outsiders. But the hosts, roared on by a capacity and partisan crowd, could not press home their territorial advantage and grew increasingly frustrated. The winning goal came in the 108th minute as Japan captain Homare Sawa sent away substitute Karina Maruyama who scored with a brilliantly angled shot past Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer. The home side strained every sinew for an equalizer to force penalties, but came up short.

It was the two- time defending champions first defeat in the competition since 1999, having won 14 of their previous 15 matches. Japan will now face either Australia or Sweden, who meet on Sunday, for a place in the final. Earlier, France won a dramatic penalty shootout against England to reach the semifinals of the global competition for the first time. The talented French team will play either Brazil or the United States in the semifinals. The match in Leverkusen ended 1- 1 after extra- time but the French were deserved winners after dominating the latter stages of the match with superior technique and passing ability.

Jill Scott put England ahead just before the hour mark and they looked headed for the last four until the excellent Elise Bussaglia scored the equalizer for France two minutes from the end of regulation play. England had the early advantage in the penalties decider as Karen Bardsley saved the first French effort from Camille Abily. But Claire Rafferty' s weak effort saw the French restore parity and when Faye White blasted her effort onto the crossbar it was the end of England' s campaign, losing the shootout 4- 3. & quot; To get to penalties we did well. It was just unfortunate we missed two, & quot; England coach Hope Powell told BBC Sport. & quot; It was just tired legs. At the end we were dead on our feet.

Unfortunately when it came down to penalties you have to applaud France. & quot; Her side were boosted when Everton midfielder Stt blasted her second goal of the tournament, but her Paris St. Germain counterpart Bussaglia leveled as her shot curled in off the post. England, sporadically dangerous on the break, had the best chance in extra time, but Ellen White shot into the side netting from a a good position.

( ) Meat and poultry can be valuable sources of protein and other important nutrients. But meat and poultry can also be sources of unhealthy fat and cholesterol. Unfortunately, higher fat meat and poultry tend to be tastier & mdash; something celebrity chefs know, which is why they often use higher fat cuts of meat and poultry in their recipes. But before you follow in their footsteps, consider this: With a few simple tricks and tips, you can have it both ways & mdash; taste and health. Learn how to choose the healthiest selections of meat and poultry and how to prepare them using low- fat methods.

With these tips, you can reduce the fat even in higher fat marbled cuts. Selecting meat and poultry Look for lean cuts.

Certain cuts of meat and poultry are lower in fat. Lean cuts of beef include round, chuck, sirloin and tenderloin. Lean pork or lamb includes tenderloin, loin chops and leg. The leanest poultry is white meat from the breast with no skin. Check percentages.

When buying ground beef, look for packages with the highest percentage of lean meat & mdash; 90 percent or higher. Watch the ground. Ground poultry can have as much fat as ground beef has, or more, because it often includes dark meat and skin. To make the leanest choice, choose ground breast meat, or look for low- fat ground chicken or turkey.

Be selective. Choose beef that is labeled " Choice" or " Select" instead of " Prime, " which usually has more fat. If you can' t resist the higher fat choices, use them as an occasional indulgence rather than a regular option. Preparing meat and poultry Trim the fat.

Cut off any visible, solid fat from meat and poultry. This includes the skin on poultry.

When roasting chicken or turkey, it' s OK to leave on the skin for cooking, but remove the skin and the fat underneath before eating. Also, remove any remaining visible fat from pork and beef before eating. Use marinades. Marinades tenderize meat and keep it moist while cooking.

They also can enhance flavor that may otherwise be lost when you trim fat. Choose low- fat marinades, such as mixtures of herbs or spices with wine, soy sauce or lemon juice. Go low. Low- fat cooking methods include grilling, broiling, roasting, sauteing and baking.

Cooking melts away much of the fat in meat and poultry.

So when you cook meat or poultry in your oven, be sure to put it on a rack on a baking pan so that the fat drips away. Skim ahead. Make dishes in which you cook the meat in liquid, such as soups and stews, a day or two in advance and then refrigerate.

As the dish chills, the fat hardens on the top and you can easily skim it off.

Drain the fat. After cooking ground meat, drain the fat from the pan and rinse the meat with hot water.

Blot the meat with a paper towel to remove any remaining fat and the water. Watch serving sizes. Reducing your portion size reduces your fat and cholesterol intake. Don' t exceed 3 ounces ( 85 grams) of meat. That' s about the size of a deck of cards.

Three ounces also equals half of a boneless, skinless chicken breast, or one skinless chicken leg with thigh, or two thin slices of lean roast beef. Eating meat and poultry in moderation The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that most people cut back on meat and poultry. When you do eat them, aim for lean versions. Also, consider eating fish and seafood more often and in greater variety by choosing fish or seafood instead of some meat and poultry. Try a few meatless meals, too.

That' s not to say you can' t enjoy meat and poultry if you choose. But keep it healthy by selecting lean cuts and using low- fat cooking methods.

( ) - - Boys and young men who receive the human papillomavirus vaccine appear to be at reduced risk of contracting the virus and developing the genital warts associated with the common sexually transmitted disease, according to a large international study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In an effort to prevent cervical cancer, which can be caused by HPV, public health officials have been encouraging young women to get vaccinated since the Food and Drug Administration approved the first HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in 2006. The vaccine has been approved for boys and men since 2009, but health officials and doctors haven' t pushed it with the same urgency. & quot; Because the story started with cervical cancer, the studies started with females, & quot; says the lead author of the study, Anna Giuliano, Ph.

D. , of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. & quot; The study of HPV in men is a late bloomer. & quot; Gardasil is given in a series of three injections.

In the study, which included more than 4, 000 sexually active males between the ages of 16 and 26, roughly 0. 5 percent of the boys and men who received all three shots developed genital warts during the subsequent 2 to 3 years.

By contrast, about 2.

8 percent of the study participants who received a placebo vaccine developed warts. The vaccine also reduced the risk of contracting an HPV that persists for at least six months, though not as dramatically. HPV can cause certain cancers of the anus and penis in men, although those diseases are far less common than cervical cancer in women.

The study was designed and funded by Merck, the maker of Gardasil ( also known as Silgard) . The National Institutes of Health also provided funding. An estimated 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Symptoms are rare, however, so most people have the virus - - and pass it on - - without realizing it. & quot; Men are such a vital component of the whole prevention cycle when looking at HPV or any sexually transmitted infection, & quot; says Demetrius Porche, a professor of nursing research and evaluation at the Louisiana State University School of Public Health in New Orleans. Vaccinating men provides a & quot; double benefit& quot; in that fewer men with HPV will also mean that fewer women are exposed, adds Porche, who was not involved in the current study but has researched HPV in men.

Earlier this week, for the first time, the .

Porche and Giuliano also urge boys and men to get vaccinated. Most health insurance plans cover HPV vaccination for both males and females. If a child between the ages of 9 and 18 is underinsured, the federal program Vaccines for Children may be able to provide assistance. Copyright

London, England ( CNN) - - An experimental vaccine for cocaine addicts can help some users kick the habit, according to a new study. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have tested a vaccine that makes people produce antibodies to cocaine. The theory is that high levels of anti- cocaine antibodies can inactivate cocaine before it enters the brain, preventing users from getting high. Dr Thomas Kosten worked on the study at Yale, before moving to Baylor College of Medicine, in Texas.

He told CNN that this is the first time a cocaine vaccine has been tested in people, and that the vaccine approach would be suitable for all kinds of addictive substances, except alcohol. & quot; Antibodies are very large proteins and when the cocaine attaches to those antibodies it can' t get into the brain or heart, so people don' t get high from it, & quot; Kosten told CNN. Because users don' t get high, the thinking is that they will eventually stop taking cocaine. & quot; What was surprising was that we got patients who had limited motivation for stopping cocaine use to basically just run out of money, & quot; said Kosten. Participants received five vaccinations over a 24- week period and their urine was tested for cocaine three times a week. The study, published in the journal of the American Medical Association, found that the vaccine only achieved the desired antibody level of at least 43 micrograms per milliliter in 38 per cent of subjects, and that level was maintained for two months of the study period.

Of the subjects who achieved desired antibody levels, 53 per cent reduced their cocaine use by half, compared to 23 per cent of those with low antibody levels, and significantly more produced cocaine- free urine samples between weeks nine and 16 of the 24- week study than those who were given a placebo, or had low antibody levels. But Kosten told CNN that 75 per cent of subjects had high enough antibody levels to block one or two doses of cocaine, and that should be enough to prevent occasional lapses leading back to addiction.

Icro Maremmani, professor of addiction medicine at the University of Pisa and University of Siena, told CNN he believes the vaccine will be useful, but only for highly motivated patients. & quot; Hard users of cocaine probably will not accept this kind of treatment, & quot; he said. & quot; The situation risks being similar to the use of naltrexone for heroin addicts - - a perfect drug but poor clinical results. & quot; Maremmani said there is also a risk that some patients will increase their intake of cocaine to overcome the antibody effect. Kosten says it usually takes about two years for addicts to become drug- free, and that patients would have to be vaccinated every three months for that period to maintain antibody levels. He says that while the vaccine can stop relapses leading back to addiction, it doesn' t solve the issues that lead to drug use. & quot; The vaccine doesn' t get you new friends, change your depression, get you out of jail, or all the other things that people have trouble with. People could conceivably be on it for the rest of their life if they can' t get it together. & quot;

( CNN) - - Soon after Paul Coskie' s bicycle collided with a car, it became clear to his mother that her son would be sick for a very long time, and indeed he was. The 13- year- old boy went into a coma for a month and spent six months total in the hospital. What his mother didn' t know at the time was that Paul' s collision would eventually claim another victim - - one who was nowhere near the accident scene. After taking care of her son for a year, Dixie Fremont- Smith Coskie started to lose her balance, stumbling at times when she walked. Then she became so weak she couldn' t get out of bed. & quot; I had tingling down my arm and terrible pain in my neck, & quot; remembers Coskie, 50, who lives in Upton, Massachusetts. & quot; I thought I had Lou Gehrig' s disease, but was so frightened I couldn' t even tell my husband. & quot; After performing a battery of tests, her doctor concluded she didn' t have Lou Gehrig' s.

What she had was a reaction to stress. & quot; The tingling in my arm and the pain in my neck - - the doctor explained it was because I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, & quot; says Coskie, who was also tending to the needs of her six other children while caring for Paul. More than 65 million people - - nearly a third of the U. S. population, provide care for a friend or family member during any given year, according to the National Family Caregivers Association. In an editorial in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, psychologist Peter Vitaliano explains that many of these people suffer just as Coskie did. & quot; Thousands of articles have reported greater psychological and physical health problems in caregivers than in noncaregivers, & quot; writes Vitaliano, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

In the same issue, a team led by researchers at the University of Utah studied 1, 221 elderly married couples and found someone was six times more likely to develop dementia if his or her spouse had dementia. It' s not entirely clear why caregiving can make you sick, but researchers believe depression and chronically high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, both of which often accompany caregiving, take a toll on the body' s immune and cardiovascular systems. Coskie says she never dreamed stress could wreak such havoc on her body, but in retrospect it makes sense. For six months, she and her husband, Steven, drove an hour back and forth from their home to Paul' s hospital in Boston.

Then after his discharge, she needed to feed, bathe and dress her son at home. She says she didn' t really feel the stress effects of Paul' s accident until Paul was finally able to go back to school and the demands decreased. & quot; My body just allowed itself to freak out, & quot; she says.

For tips on how to recognize when you' re experiencing caregiver burnout, see Four months of physical therapy put her on the road to recovery, and Coskie didn' t think much more about the physical effects of stress - - until she was forced to about two years later. In 2005, Paul got a diagnosis of leukemia. Once again, she and her husband didn' t know whether Paul would live or die.

Once again, they took daily one- hour trips back and forth to Boston, where Paul spent three months at Children' s Hospital receiving a bone marrow transplant. Then after he came home, the Coskies had to keep Paul' s surroundings sterile because of his depleted immune system. Plus, there was a new stress, one that wasn' t there after the bike accident: in 2004, the couple had a baby, their eighth child. & quot; I knew what happened to me the first time, and this second time around I didn' t want it to happen again, & quot; Coskie says. & quot; My husband and I sat down and decided we needed to do things differently. & quot; In her book, & quot; Unthinkable, & quot; Coskie explains how she and her family minimized stress with Paul' s second illness. Here are some of her tips, along with advice from experts on stress and caregiving. Control the carbs There' s no question: Stress can make you fat, and being fat takes a toll on your health. & quot; Excess cortisol increases insulin, and that changes the way carbohydrates are metabolized, & quot; says Dr.

Christiane Northrup, who writes about caregiving in & quot; Women' s Bodies, Women' s Wisdom, & quot; a new edition of which is being released later this month. & quot; You crave sweets, and that' s why every nurses' station I' ve ever seen has doughnuts and chocolate sitting around. Constant caregiving, so constant sugar cravings, & quot; she says. Eating sweets may make you feel less stressed out temporarily. & quot; Eating sugars and starches has an opiate- like effect on the brain, & quot; Northrup says. & quot; It dulls the pain for a while. & quot; But eventually ( and obviously) a diet of doughnuts will make you gain weight. In his editorial, Vitaliano notes that caregivers had greater calorie and fat intake and were more likely to be obese compared to noncaregivers. After Paul' s leukemia diagnosis, his mother made a deliberate decision to eat better. & quot; The first time, after his accident, I practically lived on coffee and junk food, & quot; Coskie remembers. & quot; When he had cancer, I made sure I actually sat down and ate meals. & quot; 2.

Get rid of the guilt Guilt, like stress, can send your stress hormones skyrocketing, creating a double whammy, Northrup explains. & quot; I' ve had patients who felt so guilty about leaving their loved one they wouldn' t even come in for their own annual exams, & quot; says Northrup, who practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 25 years.

Coskie remembers how after her son' s accident she felt too guilty to do simple things such as go to the movies or take a walk. & quot; How could I possibly think about taking a walk on a beach to escape for a moment when my son could not even walk? & quot; she says. & quot; To feel joy or pleasure or any type of happiness while my son lay incapacitated on a hospital bed just did not feel right. & quot; The University of California, San Francisco, has advice for caregivers - - . Resist & quot; helpless hopeless& quot; That' s Northrup' s term for feeling like you' re stuck and no one can help. & quot; You should assume that help is available, but you just don' t know what form it will take, & quot; she says. When she was 8 years old, Northrup' s baby brother, Bill, was born. He wouldn' t eat, and at a year old weighed just 10 pounds. Northrup' s mother exhausted herself caring for Bill and her four other children. & quot; He needed feedings every hour on the hour, & quot; Northrup remembers. & quot; One day a woman named Edna appeared at our door and said, ' I heard you need help. ' She had the same name and birthday as my mother. & quot; Bill put out his arms and smiled at Edna, who spent years helping care for him.

The key here: Northrup' s mother had been open with people in their community about her tough situation, which is how Edna knew she needed help. Sometimes, it' s hard to say & quot; yes& quot; to help, even when you need it most. & quot; People would say, ' What can I do? ' and I' d think to myself, ' My God, there' s 110 things you could do, ' but I' d say ' Oh no, that' s OK. ' & quot; With Paul' s second illness, Coskie made a deliberate decision to change her ways. & quot; I let down my pride. I knew that if I tried to do this by myself, I' d collapse again, & quot; she says. Coskie advises making a list of the things you need so you can have a quick answer when friends asked what they could do. & quot; You might need help with baby- sitting or carpooling or bringing over a few necessities like milk or bread or eggs. Give them suggestions because they don' t know what to do. & quot; 4.

Reject & quot; hamster head& quot; & quot; Hamster head, & quot; according to psychologist David Coon, is when unhelpful thoughts, worries and anxieties go around and around in your mind. & quot; Write them down and think about positive thoughts you can replace them with, & quot; advises Coon, a professor in the college of nursing and health innovation at Arizona State University who studies caregiving for people with dementia. & quot; Instead of thinking, ' Dad' s really going downhill, ' think about a pleasant interchange you just had with Dad, or remind yourself how you' re doing a great job creating a safe, caring environment for him, & quot; he says. For more advice on caring for someone with dementia, see these strategies from the and the 5. & quot; Surrender, Dorothy& quot; This one is for people who might have disagreements with a parent who needs care. & quot; Right now you have baby boomers caring for people in the World War II generation, and there' s a huge generation gap, because boomers are much more likely to question a doctor' s authority, & quot; Northrup says. For example, a boomer might want a parent to try taking vitamins or some other form of alternative medicine, or to get a second opinion from another doctor, but the parent resists. & quot; It gets abrasive. It' s like sandpaper, & quot; she says. Northrup' s solution: Don' t argue with your parent. & quot; It' s like ' Surrender, Dorothy, ' in ' The Wizard of Oz. ' Just let it go, & quot; she says.

Today, Paul Coskie is 22. His leukemia went into remission and then returned in 2008. He' s receiving daily chemotherapy and his speech is slow and his left side sometimes shakes from his head injury. His mother' s big lesson from her caregiving experience: Try to take time for yourself and meditate. & quot; Be more aware of yourself, & quot; she says. & quot; Be more conscious. & quot; CNN' s Sabriya Rice contributed to this report.

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Dear Sheeza, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties - - you are far from alone in your struggles with postpartum depression. Indeed, up to 20 percent of women become depressed in the six months following delivery, but company doesn' t help much when it comes to depression - - or at least the company we typically provide in the U.

Traditional cultures understood the vulnerability of new mothers and would often surround them with family and friends to help with the significant emotional and practical burdens of coping with the newborn. I am going to make some general recommendations about what you might want to consider doing, based only on the information you have provided above. As always, this should not be taken as specific advice for your actual situation. That kind of advice can come only from a clinician who knows you and is involved in your care.

First and most important, it is very important to continue medication when one is still depressed, so given what you describe, I would counsel against stopping the antidepressant.

It is not clear how long you have been on the Paxil ( generic: paroxetine) , but let' s assume you' ve been on it for at least six weeks. You are on a low dose. A reasonable first step would be to talk with your doctor about raising the dose to 40 mg a day and trying this dose for at least several weeks.

If you see no benefit, there are in general two paths your doctor might recommend ( and I say doctor in the generic sense, given that many folks nowadays see physician assistants or nurse practitioners who often - - in my experience - - do a better job diagnosing and treating depression than do MDs) .

First, your doctor might add a second antidepressant or an atypical antipsychotic to your Paxil. Although they are called & quot; antipsychotics, & quot; these agents ( for example Seroquel, Abilify, Zyprexa) are also widely used to help with severe depression and anxiety and are often quite effective. Second, your doctor might switch you from the Paxil to another antidepressant.

Unfortunately, we have no scientific way of knowing which agent you should switch to - - our best data suggest that they are all about equal. But one thing is clear: Many people who don' t do well with one antidepressant will have a great response to a different one. Anxiety and panic are quite common when one has a bad depression, and they can be more miserable to endure than the feeling of depression itself.

It is unlikely that the low dose of Buspar ( generic: buspirone) you are taking is of much benefit. You might want to discuss with your doctor raising the dose to at least 10 mg three times a day or discontinuing it. The best immediate way to relieve disabling anxiety is through the use of benzodiazepines ( for example lorazepam or clonazepam) .

These medications can be lifesavers, but if you take them for more than three or four weeks your body will become dependent upon them, and should you want to stop, you will have to reduce them slowly under the supervision of a doctor. Let me say a word about exercise. Yes, exercise has been shown in many studies not only to raise a person' s mood immediately, but also to work over time as an antidepressant. Therefore, I strongly recommend adding regular exercise to your treatment regimen.

Try to exercise in the morning, especially when it is sunny.

To get the best effect you will need to work up a sweat.

I find that it is even better if you can exercise in a place with some natural beauty - - as being in nature is itself quite comforting for most of us. I don' t have an answer to your question about how long the depression will last and whether it will ever go away. Everyone is different. We do know, however, that the longer one stays depressed and/ or the more episodes one has had, the harder it is to treat the condition. This is just the frightening truth of the disease, and it really highlights how important it is for you to really get aggressive about your treatment.

My sincere hope is that whatever specific treatment route you follow, you will start feeling like yourself again as quickly as possible.

Finally, whenever I talk about specific pharmacologic treatments I need to disclose that in addition to my academic work I have given lectures for two pharmaceutical companies in the last year: Lilly and Wyeth. I have also served on an advisory board for Lilly in the last 12 months.

Should political debate be about jobs not debt? Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Piers Morgan blasts British MP' s ' lie' Geyser of water lifts car into air Cops: Son parties with parents' bodies in house Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? Gay man turns himself ' straight' Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Cops: Mom admits having teen sex parties Chihuahua chases off robbers Fallout after Murdoch testimony Geyser of water lifts car into air Bolden: NASA is very busy Are fast food calorie counts accurate? Hacking groups' possible agendas Astronauts aboard Atlantis reflect UK vs.

US tabloid culture Talking to teens about health, obesity Welcome home to U. Womens soccer team Could eye exams detect Alzheimer' s? Legal analysis of phone hacking scandal Man faked his identity for decades Murdoch in the hot seat Ex- nuclear plant operator speaks out CNN' s new video experience on i. Pad The Shot: Caption casts spell on Cooper Report: Murdoch to step down as CEO? Prioritizing federal spending Tea Party leader on default threat Could Rick Perry shake up GOP W.

H. race? GOP pushes ' cut, cap, and balance' Anderson Cooper answers your questions Marcus Bachmann defends clinic Famine strikes Somalia 11 million starving in Somalia 9/ 11 families to meet with Justice Dept.

PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations Bachmann questions farmers' claims Mrs.

Murdoch to the rescue Granderson: Debt talks need more women Debt talks - what' s the solution? Murdoch' s wife stands by her man James Murdoch discusses 9/ 11 victims Counting calories while eating out Hacking: ' Who signed the checks? ' Dr. Drew Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash? Preview: Dr.

Drew with Bristol Palin Is Casey Anthony mentally ill? Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating? Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone Debt crisis: Whatever happened to jobs? House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper?

Who is winning debt ceiling debate? Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Abrams: How far will hacking scandal go?

Former editor cites Murdoch son, Brooks Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven? Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit? Larry David: I want to do standup again My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked Will migraines impact Bachmann campaign? Murdoch acting like himself?

Gadhafi: Brega will be ' hell' Republican social issues in 2012 Murray' s defense wants jury sequestered Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony? Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Murdoch takes pie in the face Piers Morgan: CNN host, ' AGT' judge Tom Arnold discusses his dark past Nancy Grace opens up on fiance' s murder Tom Arnold talks Arnold Schwarzenegger Piers Morgan believes Murdoch Murdoch done with newspapers?

Nancy Grace: Jury wasn' t listening to me Nancy Grace speaks about fiance' s murder Claustrophobic fighter pilot Impact of concussions to brain Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Brain injury patient back on the road Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Hollywood hacking outrage J.

Lo and Marc Anthony split shocker Justin and Selena: Wedding crashers? Casey Anthony in disguise? Kim Kardashian' s mom gets facelift Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Debt debate gets ugly New TSA body scan less invasive Hackers turn tables on Murdoch empire Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? ' Nobody proved Murdoch was involved' Computer hackers attack ' Sun' Congressman battles home intruder Murdoch scandal: Who' s next? Herman Cain against proposed mosque?

Bachmann backs ' cut, cap and balance' Warren: " I Really Don' t Get it" Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Candy' s post- show analysis Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now Rudy Giuliani on Murdoch, 9/ 11 and more Candy' s pre- show rundown

Treatment depends on the type of thyroid nodule you have.

Treating benign nodules If a thyroid nodule isn' t cancerous, there are several treatment options: Watchful waiting. If a biopsy shows that you have a benign thyroid nodule, your doctor may suggest simply watching your condition, which usually means having a physical exam and thyroid function tests at regular intervals. You' re also likely to have another biopsy if the nodule grows larger. If a benign thyroid nodule remains unchanged, you may never need treatment beyond careful monitoring.

Thyroid hormone suppression therapy.

This involves treating a benign nodule with levothyroxine ( Levoxyl, Synthroid, others) , a synthetic form of thyroxine that you take in pill form. The idea is that supplying additional thyroid hormone will signal the pituitary to produce less TSH, the hormone that stimulates the growth of thyroid tissue. Although this sounds good in theory, levothyroxine therapy is a matter of some debate. There' s no clear evidence that the treatment consistently shrinks nodules or even that shrinking small, benign nodules is necessary. Surgery.

Occasionally, a nodule that' s clearly benign may require surgery, especially if it' s so large that it makes it hard to breathe or swallow. Surgery is also considered the best option for people with large multinodular goiters, particularly when the goiters constrict airways, the esophagus or blood vessels. Nodules diagnosed as indeterminate or suspicious by a biopsy also need surgical removal, so they can be examined more thoroughly for signs of cancer.

Treating nodules that cause hyperthyroidism If a thyroid nodule is producing thyroid hormones, overloading your thyroid gland' s normal hormone production levels, your doctor may recommend treating you for hyperthyroidism. This may include: Radioactive iodine. Doctors often use radioactive iodine to treat hyperfunctioning adenomas or multinodular goiters. Taken as a capsule or in liquid form, radioactive iodine is absorbed by your thyroid gland, causing the nodules to shrink and signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism to subside, usually within two to three months. Anti- thyroid medications.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend an anti- thyroid medication such as methimazole ( Tapazole) to reduce symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Treatment is generally long- term and can have serious side effects on your liver, so it' s important to discuss the treatment' s risks and benefits with your doctor. Surgery. If treatment with radioactive iodine or anti- thyroid medications isn' t an option, you may be a candidate for surgery to remove your thyroid gland. Surgery also carries certain risks that should be thoroughly discussed beforehand.

Treating cancerous nodules Treatment for a nodule that' s cancerous usually involves surgery. Surgery. The usual treatment for malignant nodules is surgical removal, often along with the majority of thyroid tissue & mdash; a procedure called near- total thyroidectomy.

Risks of thyroid surgery include damage to the nerve that controls your vocal cords and damage to your parathyroid glands & mdash; four tiny glands located on the back of your thyroid gland that help control the level of calcium in your blood. After thyroidectomy, you' ll need lifelong treatment with levothyroxine to supply your body with normal amounts of thyroid hormone. & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

( CNN) - - President Obama embarked Thursday on his first presidential visit to Asia, an eight- day journey that will take him to five cities in four countries. Throughout the trip to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea, Obama will emphasize the importance of Asian nations as vital U. S. partners on major issues such as economic growth, nuclear nonproliferation, the war in Afghanistan and climate change, three officials said in a briefing this week. The presidential itinerary includes formal talks with Asian leaders as a group and individually, a bilateral meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and the first participation by a U.

S. president in a summit of the 10- member Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic alliance. The itinerary also reflects Obama' s personal ties to Asia, where he spent part of his childhood. He will have a bilateral meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, where Obama lived from 1967 to 1971. As the first U. S. president with & quot; an Asia- Pacific orientation, & quot; Obama & quot; understands that the future of our prosperity and our security is very much tied to this part of the world, & quot; said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications.

It won' t be all diplomatic meetings, though. Obama' s first trip to China will include a & quot; town hall& quot; style meeting in Shanghai and sightseeing in Beijing. While in Japan he' ll meet the emperor and empress, according to Rhodes. Obama' s departure was delayed one day to allow his attendance at Tuesday' s memorial service at Fort Hood Army Post in Texas for the 13 people killed in a mass shooting there last week.

The revised itinerary cut a day from the stop in Singapore, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier this week. En route to Tokyo, Obama will take time in Anchorage, Alaska, to speak to troops at Elmendorf Air Force Base during a two- hour layover.

The president will meet with new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio , Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, South Korean President Lee Myung- bak, Medvedev and Yudhoyono, and also will take part in an Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

APEC consists of 21 Pacific Rim nations that make up more than 50 percent of the world' s economic output. The forum sees its goal as & quot; facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia- Pacific region. & quot; Hatoyama and Obama have said they will affirm a strengthening of the bilateral alliance.

But the U. S. president will be greeted by a Japanese leadership that has pledged more independence from the United States and has said it is reviewing a bilateral deal to relocate a U.

Marine Corps base on Okinawa. The agreement was met with fierce local opposition. Increasing U.

S. exports to a region expected to grow by more than 7 percent next year will also be an important topic, said Michael Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. Asia & quot; already takes about a quarter of our exports, and those exports are expected to increase as the region grows& quot; Froman said. The result could be an increase of & quot; hundreds of thousands& quot; in the current 1.

6 million U. S. jobs linked to Asian exports, he said.

The officials were careful to avoid any perception that Obama' s presence at the ASEAN meeting would amount to a bilateral discussion with the prime minister of Myanmar, who also will attend. After years of refusing direct talks with Myanmar, also known as Burma, the United States has indicated a possible re- engagement with the military regime it considers repressive for cracking down on political opposition, including the National League for Democracy led by detained Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. & quot; The statement we' re trying to make here is that we' re not going to let the Burmese tail wag the ASEAN dog, & quot; said Jeffrey Bader, the National Security Council' s senior director for East Asian affairs. & quot; We' re going to meet with all 10 and we' re not going to punish the other nine simply because Burma is in the room, but this is not a bilateral [ meeting] . & quot; In China, Obama will continue efforts to define and strengthen the relationship with the world' s largest emerging economy, which has a growing influence in Asia, Bader said. & quot; We see it as a relationship where we' re obviously going to have differences, where we are going to be competitors in certain respects, & quot; he said. & quot; But we want to maximize areas where we can work together because the global challenges will simply not be met if we don' t. & quot; Bader cited North Korea' s nuclear weapons program, the economy, climate change, human rights and Afghanistan as among the top issues for the China swing. On human rights, Bader said Obama is likely to address & quot; freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of religion, rule of law, and certainly Tibet. & quot; will make clear to Hu that he intends to meet in the future with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, Bader said.

China, which rejects Tibetan aspirations for autonomy, opposes such high- level contacts with the Dalai Lama.

On North Korea, the State Department announced Tuesday that U. S. officials will travel to the country by the end of the year to seek a resumption of broader talks on ending the Pyongyang government' s nuclear program. The Obama administration has claimed initial progress in its strategy of forging an international effort including China, South Korea and other countries to put pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Japan has been asking for a comprehensive solution to North Korea' s missile tests and the abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970s. North Korea and South Korea reported an encounter Tuesday involving gunfire between two of their naval ships off the Korean Peninsula. No casualties were reported, and a State Department spokesman downplayed the significance of the incident.

CNN' s Tom Cohen, Kyung Lah and Ed Payne contributed to this report.

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Observing some kids after a head injury may help doctors decide which ones need a head x- ray, according to a new study published in Pediatrics. That' s important because researchers still aren' t sure whether too many of those x- rays, called computed tomography, or CT scans, might trigger cancer years later. CT scans can help doctors recognize more serious head injuries that need treatment.

But observation is probably a good strategy for kids who have some risk of a serious brain injury, but aren' t showing serious symptoms, said Dr. Lise Nigrovic of Children' s Hospital Boston, who worked on the study.

If a kids shows up at the ER very soon after a head injury, " you may just not have had enough time for symptoms to develop, " she told Reuters Health. Or, a kid " may have some symptoms that make you a little concerned, but you just want some time" before making a decision about doing an x- ray. " We all want to make sure that we use CT scanning in the cases where it' s likely to be positive and that we save children from the radiation for those that we know are very unlikely to be positive, " Dr. Martin Osmond, of the Children' s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, told Reuters Health. " This study adds important new information about who to observe" before making that decision, added Osmond, who has no ties to the new study. Nigrovic and her colleagues reviewed data on over 40, 000 kids with a head injury who were taken to one of 25 different emergency rooms. The original data had been collected by the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network.

Doctors treating the kids made a note in their records about whether each kid was kept in the hospital and observed by doctors and nurses before they decided whether or not to perform a CT scan. About 5, 400 kids - or 1 in 7 - were observed. Those kids were slightly less likely to get a CT scan: 31 percent of them had the head x- ray, versus 35 percent of kids when doctors made that decision right away. In both groups, fewer than 1 of every hundred kids had a serious brain injury. Twenty- six kids who were observed and sent home without a CT scan came back later for an x- ray - and 1 of them ended up having a brain injury diagnosed by the x- ray.

The research team concluded from that finding that observing some kids before making the decision about a CT scan might be a safe and effective way to cut back on the number of those scans. Nigrovic gave the example of a 4- year- old who fell off a swing. " They' re complaining of a headache ( and) they vomited once at home, " she said.

But, they are awake and talking 2 hours after the injury, making doctors less fearful. " That' s a great patient for observation, " she said. Osmond thinks the study is an accurate picture of how doctors are now treating these patients: In severe cases doctors will get a scan right away, in cases where they believe the symptoms are sufficiently mild, they' re likely to send the patients home, but in cases of doubt they' ll observe the child to see if there are any changes, he explained. Still, Osmond added, a few questions remain.

For example, it' s unclear just how long it makes sense for doctors to observe kids before deciding whether or not to do a CT scan or send them home. That, as well as how safe it is to put off CT scans while observing an injured kid, will be the focus of future research, Nigrovic said.

Children who eat less salt consume fewer sugar- sweetened soft drinks and may significantly lower their risks for obesity, elevated blood pressure and later- in- life heart attack and stroke, according to a study in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association from February 2008.

How can you reduce the amount of salt in your kids' diet? Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent: It' s really important to reduce the amount of sodium because it does make a difference. These researchers said that cutting kid' s salt intake by half - - that' s about three grams - - has the effect of reducing soda intake by two soft drinks per week.

Let me give you some examples of how to do that: Staying away from fast food such as pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs is a good idea because these foods are high in sodium. A fast- food hamburger contains about 750 to 800 milligrams of sodium, or about half of what a young child should get on a daily basis, and that' s just one sandwich. Keep them in moderation and certainly don' t sprinkle any more salt on them. There are also lots of low- sodium alternatives to products that tend to contain a lot of salt - - soup and cheese, for example. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always a good way of getting nutrition without salt.

What' s the deal with salt? Gupta: Study author Dr. Graham Mac. Gregor said that salt isn' t really used as a preservative any more, and the amount of salt contained in processed foods is much higher than we need in our diets.

Is soda bad for you? Gupta: Soda is associated with a number of health issues.

For each additional drink per day, a child is 1. 6 times more likely to develop obesity later in life. Studies have also suggested a link between soda and osteoporosis.

( CNN) - - As the rescue capsule brought each Chilean miner to the surface, they sprang from obscurity into the global spotlight - - a type of attention that they never sought. The 33 miners, who had been stuck for nearly 70 days inside a mine near Copiapo, Chile, will likely feel the crush of media requests and offers from book publishers, movie and television producers.

They will probably be peppered with questions from family, friends, neighbors, strangers and reporters. When ordinary people are thrust into the spotlight, it can be disorienting and stressful.

How they handle that attention could progress or hinder their recovery, experts said. Mario Sepulveda, the second miner extracted, said he hoped to maintain a low- key profile. & quot; The only thing I ask, personally, is that you please not treat us like celebrities or journalists. I want to continue being treated like Mario Antonio Sepulveda Espinace, the worker, the miner. I love that, and I think that in some shape, way or form I want to continue working, & quot; he said.

In his book & quot; The Frenzy of Renown: Fame and Its History, & quot; Leo Braudy writes about the effect of sudden fame for unintentional newsmakers. & quot; It' s a great problem for regular people, who are subjected to intense publicity and focus, & quot; said Braudy. Sometimes, it' s ordinary people who' ve done something heroic or rescued someone. & quot; They' re lionized; and for some of them, it destroyed them, & quot; he said, referring to a incident in which a paramedic who rescued baby Jessica Mc. Clure from a Texas well took his life years later.

But everyone responds differently, he said. It could be complicated for the miners to re- enter society and find normalcy in their lives when there' s so much global curiosity. Viewers tuned in around the world to watch their rescue. Ramon Sabella survived a 1972 plane crash in the Andes Mountain. He and his fellow survivors' story inspired the book and movie & quot; Alive. & quot; After his rescue, so intense was the attention from reporters and photographers who followed Sabella that he found cameras in his hospital bathroom.

His advice to the Chilean miners: Spend time with family and friends and try not to be overwhelmed. & quot; Remember, it' s going to be a limited time span. It may be weeks, but then go back to real life. There' s going to be attention, media scrutiny, books, movies - - that' s not normal life, & quot; he said. & quot; Don' t live exclusively for that [ attention] . Tell your story, but live your life. & quot; The publicity could have benefits and harm, said Dr.

John Markowitz, a research psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. & quot; To the extent that publicity made the survivors feel like heroes and cared for by the outside world, it could be supportive, & quot; he said. & quot; We know that social support protects against psychopathology for trauma victims. & quot; & quot; On the other hand, if the survivors felt exploited, intruded upon and then discarded by the media, I imagine that the effect of media coverage could be negative. & quot; After a life- threatening event, people who feel supported are less likely to get , Markowitz said. The fact that the miners survived as a group is a mental health benefit, he said. & quot; One thing is solidarity, & quot; Markowitz said. & quot; They' re not in this alone. They have this kind of social support. & quot; About 8 percent of people who have been through a traumatic event are likely to get PTSD, said Dr.

Katherine Muller, director of psychology training and a clinical psychologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Workers would have to be monitored for PTSD symptoms such as avoidance, nightmares and re- experiences of the trauma, she said. & quot; From my perspective, people who talk about the experience, think about it and discuss it, tend to do better and don' t end up with PTSD. & quot; After a traumatic incident, it' s important to resume day- to- day life, spend time with family and friends and get some normalcy back, she said. It might be difficult to get back to normal as the miners will probably & quot; to be treated for a while like movie stars, & quot; Braudy said. One of the downsides is that the miners may be inundated with requests and pulled in many directions. & quot; That' s a downside, & quot; he said. & quot; People confuse fame with money, fame with richness - - and they want a piece of you. & quot; The point is not to add stress to the miners by prying, said Tyler Cowen, author of & quot; What Price Fame. & quot; & quot; These people didn' t ask to be put in that position, & quot; he said. & quot; There is some right to privacy that might end up not being respected. It' s not like they are performers, who go on stage and deal with reviews.

These people are victims. & quot; CNN' s Mariano Castillo contributed to this report.

( CNN) - - Here' s yet another reason to stay in shape: Thinner people contribute less to global warming, according to a new study. Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine published a study showing that, because of food production and transportation factors, a population of heavier people contributes more harmful gases to the planet than a population of thin people.

Given that it takes more energy to move heavier people, transportation of heavier people requires more fuel, which creates more greenhouse gas emissions, the authors write. & quot; The main message is staying thin. It' s good for you, and it' s good for the planet, & quot; said Phil Edwards, senior lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The study offers this novel approach to the global warming problem as U. S. lawmakers discuss the future of climate change legislation.

This week, the the House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to begin on a comprehensive energy and climate bill. On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that six greenhouse gases pose potential health hazards, an announcement that could prompt the regulation of the gases.

More than 1 billion adults worldwide are overweight, and about 300 million are , the study said. Generally, the body mass index, a measure of obesity, is increasing in most countries worldwide, from China to European countries to the United States.

BMI is going up because of the availability of food and motorized transportation, Edwards said. People are less active now than they were 30 years ago, and the prevalence of fast food has given people less healthy, more energy- dense options. Using statistical models, the authors compared the distribution of BMI in the United Kingdom in the 1970s - - when 3. 5 percent of the population was obese - - with a prediction for the country' s BMI distribution in 2010, reflecting 40 percent obesity. & quot; In terms of environmental impact, the lean population has a much smaller carbon footprint, & quot; Edwards said.

The population with 40 percent obese people requires 19 percent more food energy for its total energy expenditure than the population with 3. 5 percent obese people, the study showed.

This 19 percent increase in food consumption translates into an increase of 270 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the study said. & quot; The findings make sense and highlight an important global co- benefit of losing weight, along with the significant personal health benefits, & quot; said Patrick Kinney, associate professor at Columbia University' s Mailman School of Public Health, who was not involved in the study. In terms of obesity rate, the U. S. population is not far off from the overweight population model in this study. The country has 33. 3 percent obese people, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The study suggests that governments have a responsibility to encourage people to be more physically active, Edwards said. Active transportation, such as cycling and walking, helps maintain a healthy weight but requires safe streets, he said. & quot; If the government wants to promote active transport, which would be good for the environment and for individual health, it needs to make the environment safe to do that, & quot; he said. Although has come into the forefront as a major world problem recently, this is not the first time scholars have thought about the connection between fossil fuel and body fat. In 1978, a year the United States experienced an oil shock, a study in the American Journal of Public Health showed that if all overweight people in the country aged 18 to 79 reached their optimal weight, the resulting energy savings would equal 1. 3 billion gallons of gasoline.

After the dieting period, about 750 million gallons of gasoline would be saved every year, said the authors, Bruce Hannon, professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign, and Timothy Lohman, now professor emeritus at the University of Arizona. Today, research has shown that the obesity epidemic costs the United States about $ 100 billion a year, said Dr. Martin Donohoe of Portland State University, who runs the Web site Public Health and Social Justice. In terms of energy expenditure, the average food product travels 1, 500 miles to get to your table, he said.

Some measures to curb obesity include making healthier meals available in schools, putting nutritional information on food packages and menus, and banning trans fats, he said. All About & bull;