A Healthy White Bread? The Surprising New Food

Q. My taste buds have never really gotten into typical whole-grain or wheat breads. Are whole-grain white breads a good substitute? -- Sandra, Queens, NY

A. The white ones may be even better. White whole grains aren't processed to be that way; they actually start out white. Regular whole wheat comes from red wheat, which has a dark color, a more pronounced (and, to some, bitter) taste, and a chewier texture. White whole wheat, on the other hand, is made from albino wheat, which, until fairly recently, only came from Australia. But now, more and more American farmers are growing this lighter-tasting wheat that produces a more child-friendly bread, making it easier for everyone to get the high-fiber benefits of whole grains without losing the familiar taste and softness of white bread.

A couple of advantages over its darker brother we like: White wheat tastes sweeter, and its kernels produce more flour than the same amount of red-wheat kernels. You don’t have to take a side trip to an organic-food store to find it, either. White whole-wheat products, which include flour, crackers, and baking mixes, are now in many supermarkets. Try it, and let us know what you think.

Q. I read somewhere that consuming olive oil will diminish a woman's risk for breast cancer by 50%. Is that true? -- Anonymous

A. Only 50%? Try 73%. That’s the result of just one of many studies that looked at the link between consuming olive oil and not getting breast cancer. We know, for instance, that women in the Mediterranean region, where olive oil flows like water, have less risk of breast cancer than their neighbors to the north. Many experts think that polyphenol-rich olive oil could be why. These plant components may prevent the cellular damage that triggers cancer. A recent study showed that another olive oil component, oleic acid, turned off a gene associated with a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. Combined with a drug designed to attack this cancer, oleic acid caused cancer cells to commit suicide. This is powerful stuff. Use olive oil to dress salad, to replace butter on bread, or to lightly saute vegetables. Just don’t overdo it: All fat, even the healthy kind, serves up about 45 calories per teaspoon.

Q. I’ve been taking ropinirole (Requip) for restless legs syndrome for 7 years. I'm told the drug crosses into my brain to control my legs, so shouldn’t I be a little concerned about it? Are there any long-term side effects, and is there something less invasive that I can take? -- Diane, Wasaga Beach, Canada

A. Ropinirole is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating restless legs syndrome (RLS), but there are no long-term studies of the drug. It appears to be largely safe and helps reduce the creepy-crawly, urge-to-move feeling in your legs by preventing the loss of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain that helps control muscle movements. But there are some odd side effects. Stay away from casinos -- some studies show that people on dopamine agonists suddenly realize their calling has always been professional gambling. Others turn to compulsive shopping.

There are some other medications and exercises you can do to lessen your symptoms. But first, make sure you need them. If you haven’t been tested for iron deficiency, get screened; lack of iron is a reversible cause of RLS. Otherwise, there's no cure. But you can tame the symptoms with these:

• Consider the drug pramipexole. It also works on the brain’s dopamine system, but it's less likely to produce nausea, vomiting, and dizziness than ropinirole. But if you don't have side effects, you might just stay with ropinirole.
• Combine moderate aerobic exercise -- a brisk walk outside or on a treadmill -- with lower-body strength training. This healthy duo significantly reduced RLS symptoms in one study.
• Begin and end the day by stretching your legs.
• Go to bed later and wake up early -- and maintain this same schedule all the time. This seems to help some RLS sufferers.
• Massage your legs.
• Take up sudoku or crossword puzzles. Mentally challenging tasks can help reduce symptoms.