More risks associated with fake sugars

When Matchbox Twenty sang “I just want to make you go away/ But you taste like sugar,” they could have been talking about saccharine, sucralose, aspartame and acesulfame potassium — and that would have been really smart for the health of the quartet.

Researchers from the University of Queensland recently tested those four common artificial sweeteners and discovered that they actually contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant microbes — very risky stuff — by causing the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes in your intestines.

According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. annually, and over 35,000 people die as a result. But until now, the problem has generally been attributed to the misuse or overuse of antibiotics. This study uncovered another potentially important source of the problem. So read labels on your beverages, candy and baked goods — even wholewheat bread, granola, Greek yogurt and salad dressings — to stay clear of the fake-sugar troublemakers.

Is arthritis pain making you lose sleep? Try this

In the 2002 movie “Insomnia,” Al Pacino plays a Los Angeles detective looking for a suspect in the land of the midnight sun — an Alaskan town named Nightmute. His character, Dormer, is racked with insomnia caused by personal and professional problems and the endless daylight.

For the 32.5 million Americans with osteoarthritis, problems with insomnia hit closer to home. It’s estimated that about 70 percent of them contend with sleep problems because of nagging pain.

A study in JAMA Network shows that cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia delivered over the phone can ease sleep woes, reduce arthritis pain and lessen insomnia-related anxiety. All it takes is six 20- to 30-minute telephone sessions over eight weeks. We suggest you consider adding CBT-I to a routine of other smart ways of easing osteoarthritis pain.

First, talk to your doc about taking the supplement ASU (avocado/soybean unsaponifiables) three times a day. It’s been shown to ease joint pain and stiffness and decrease reliance on NSAIDS and other pain relievers.

Also, try acupuncture and do exercises recommended by your doctor to strengthen muscles surrounding sore joints.

Then, to find a phonebased CBT-I therapist, go to www.findcbt.org.