Pulse

Healthline

DR. JOHN R. LEE, a pioneer in the use of natural hormone replacement therapy and author of several books that challenge standard health advice for women, will speak this month in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The California doctor is credited with bringing natural progesterone to the public's attention in the late 1970s, when women generally were taking only estrogen or synthetic estrogen/progestin for menopause. Lee's most recent book is What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Breast Cancer (Warner Books, $14.95), co-authored with Virginia Hopkins and David Zava.

Lee will speak at 7 p.m. on three nights. Tickets are $10 in advance (may be purchased by phone with Visa or MasterCard) and $15 at the door for each appearance. Locations and ticket information are:

Feb. 20, Brandon, Crosstown Community Church, 10130 Causeway Blvd. (Tampa). Tickets available at Nature's Health Foods, 401 S Parsons Ave., (813) 681-2444.

Feb. 21, Tampa, A La Carte Event Pavilion, 4050 Dana Shores Drive. Tickets available at Abby's Health and Nutrition, 14374 N Dale Mabry, (813) 265-4951, and Nature's Harvest Market, 1021 N MacDill Ave., (813) 873-7428.

Feb. 22, Clearwater, Clearwater Harborview Center, 300 Cleveland St. Tickets available at Nature's Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St., (727) 443-6703.

AN EXHIBIT of artwork by faculty and patients in the Arts in Medicine program at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will travel to area cities through the summer.

"The Healing Journey" includes works by artists who have received training in art therapy and play music or create art with cancer patients. A connection with the arts "nourishes the inner spirit of patients," says Frances Falk, program coordinator.

The works, many of which are for sale, include oils, watercolors, collages and sculptures. The exhibit will visit St. Petersburg beginning this week through March at Almased USA Inc., 2861 34th St. S, (727) 867-4444. A reception is 6-9 p.m. March 21.

In April and May, the show will be at A New Leaf, 1296 N Palm Ave., Sarasota, (941) 365-4367. A reception is 6-9 p.m. May 2.

The exhibit moves to Pasco County government centers in Dade City, 14236 Sixth St., (352) 521-4274, in June and New Port Richey, 7530 Little Road, (727) 847-2411, in July.

NUTRITION information in the palm of your hand: Now there's a health tip you can carry with you.

Anyone who has a handheld PDA that runs the Palm Operating System can download the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

The database has information about vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in more than 6,000 food items. Users can select a food group from the database, choose a specific food within that group and learn about nutrient content whether they are making dining choices at home, in a restaurant or while grocery shopping.

The information is free and available for downloading at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.