In this issue: Signs of irritable bowel syndrome, sodium nitrate in meat, shingles vaccine and more

HOUSECALL Mayo Clinic is ranked #1 in the nation. Vol. 19, Issue 28 | April 5, 2018   THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES     Alcohol use: If you drink, keep it moderate Moderate drinking offers possible benefits, but it's not risk-free. Here's a look at the connection between alcohol and your health.     Irritable bowel syndrome   Is that cramping, abdominal pain or bloating simply indigestion, or could it be something more? April is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month, so learn the signs of this condition and how to find relief.           EXPERT ANSWERS   Sodium nitrate in meat: Heart disease risk factor? Get the facts on sodium nitrate, a preservative in some meats that may harm your blood vessels and arteries. Natural aphrodisiacs: Do they work? Certain foods and supplements are sometimes claimed to affect libido. Find out what the research says. Shingles vaccine: Can I transmit the vaccine virus to others? Although the shingles vaccine uses a live virus, you won't be able to infect other people when you get immunized.   PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ... Nasal polyps Balance problems Needle biopsy Poor color vision     TRUSTED HEALTH TOOLS   Use our Symptom Checker to explore possible causes of your symptoms based upon Mayo Clinic's patient care experience.   Use these simple calculators and self-assessments for personalized health tips.   Mayo Clinic healthy weight pyramid BMI calculator     MAYO CLINIC PRODUCTS & SERVICES   Answers for a common concern Incontinence affects millions of people. If you're among them, the good news is that most incontinence can be improved or even cured. With Mayo Clinic on Managing Incontinence, you'll discover Mayo Clinic's most successful medical and nonmedical treatment approaches to help men and women improve the quality of their lives. Learn more.     SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT   Answers. Support. Connections. Sleep is essential to your health and wellness. If you have trouble catching quality shut-eye, meet others coping with sleep conditions on Mayo Clinic Connect. Through this online community, you can ask questions, share tips and discover solutions. Visit Connect.MayoClinic.org today.     HEALTHY RECIPES   Italian chicken and vegetable packet Berries marinated in balsamic vinegar Best honey whole-wheat bread   HEALTH TIP   What's the difference between added sugars and total sugars? "Added sugars" is being added to "total sugars" on the Nutrition Facts label. Added sugars are sugars that have been added to a food during processing. Sugars that occur naturally in foods are not considered added sugars. This label change is intended to make it easier to track the amount of sugar in your daily diet. Research has shown that it's difficult to meet your nutrient needs while staying under your calorie limit if more than 10 percent of your total daily calories come from added sugars.   Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.   Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy    |    Opportunities     Help us find the answers Support Mayo Clinic; donate now. Your support changes lives.     Connect with Mayo Clinic For more of our reliable health information and tools, visit us at MayoClinic.org. Or add us to your social network!   Like us on Facebook Follow on Twitter Discover your Network   Watch on YouTube Patient Stories View More Newsletters     © 2018 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. All rights reserved.