About Those Health Benefits: Women with jobs report better health than those who are unemployed, regardless of how many hours they work or how they combine work with family obligations. Income is probably the source of work's salutary effect. Interestingly, having a young child at home does reduce the health benefits of employment for women-but not for men.
When in Rome: Europeans eat less of the most dangerous, cholesterol-raising fats than Americans do, according to a new report. Called trans fats, some occur naturally in beef, lamb and dairy products. But most are in the manufacture of solid margarine or shortening. When in Rome, even McDonald's follows suit: the chain's European restaurants use a healthier oil to make those famous fries.
Don't Stop Quitting: Smokers who are trying to kick the habit can double their chances of success by using patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers or nasal sprays containing nicotine. Yet most people who use these products don't end up quitting, in part because they use them too little or for too short a time. Better to err on the aggressive side: Using gum or a nasal spray along with a patch is more effective than using either product alone.
