Understand recreational marijuana use
Q: Can you help me convince my 27-year-old son that recreational marijuana is not completely benign? I am worried that he’s risking his health. — Janine G., Boulder, Colorado
A: We’re just beginning to understand the vices and virtues of recreational marijuana and the medical use of its active ingredients.
Cardiovascular problems: A new statement from the American Heart Association highlights studies that have found a possible link between cannabis use and heart woes.
■ Six percent of folks under the age of 50 who’ve had a heart attack also are cannabis users.
■ People age 18 to 44 who are frequent marijuana users are two and a half times more likely to have a stroke than nonusers.
■ Even using once in the past 30 days raises your risk of stroke by over 75 percent.
Risky medication interactions: Another new study shows cannabinoids can interact with prescription medications and block or amplify the effects of everything from blood thinners and heart medicines to antifungals and antibiotics.
Driving dangers: Recreational pot legalization in Colorado has led to 75 more traffic fatalities annually and a whole lot more accidents. Studies show that’s because cannabis (smoked or ingested) increases response time and lane weaving.
Q: Lately I’ve been hearing that artificial sweeteners are not healthful. Aren’t they protecting me from eating added sugars that you always say are so harmful? Explain, please. — Gene F., Muncie, Indiana
A: According to a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Americans are eating fewer foods with added sugars and high fructose corn syrup, which is good, but they’re also gobbling up and drinking more artificial sweeteners.
So what are the risks?
■ One European study of almost a half a million people found that over a period of eight years drinking two sweetened drinks a day (sweetened with either natural or artificial sugars) increased the risk of heart disease and death substantially.
■ Another recent study shows that the real bomb is delivered when you drink something with an artificial sweetener as you eat refined carbs like french fries! That stomps on regulation of your blood glucose.
■ Artificial sweeteners may also make people hungrier and, in turn, eat more. Scientists think that’s because the zero-calorie treats turn on neural pathways that tell us to fuel up.