Why we did it: Bacteria, prostates and the beach

Topping this week's Health offerings is a story on the almost-overnight plethora of probiotic-laced food, another on new treatments for enlarged prostates, and a feature on the wealth of exercise possibilities at the beach. An odd mix perhaps -- but that's the point. It seems unlikely that all readers would be interested in every story, so we try to offer a variety, increasing the chances that at least one story will have an effect.

Probiotics: Unless shoppers ignore all food advertisements, never venture into grocery stores or simply refuse to eat, they've likely been the target of healthful-bacteria-will-change-your-life marketing. These pitches are everywhere -- and not just in my overstuffed inbox. Consumers, we figured, deserved to know whether this rapidly growing category of products lives up to the increasingly adamant hype. Read story

Prostates: As a general interest publication, we don't often focus on specific conditions. They're all-important to the folks who have them and the organizations promoting awareness of them, but the numbers just don't add up for a general interest publication. Most readers simply do not share a common health problem. But half (or almost half) the population has a prostate and, sooner or later, it's likely to become enlarged. Of course -- as a news outlet, not just a general interest one -- we also have to focus on what's changed. With treatment of enlarged prostate, it turns out, much has changed. New drug treatments, less invasive surgical procedures ... today's treatment options are far different and better than yesterday's. And likely to improve further. Read story

Beach exercise: It seems most people want (or believe that they should) get more activity in their lives. But they seem to think that doing so requires an exercise routine that would bore organisms living outside hamster cages. Not so. To prove it (and help get Southern Californians moving because, let's face it, they need to), we went to one of the area's most enviable offerings -- the beach. (The relatively high risk of being flattened by inebriated stars or their pursuing paparazzi doesn't count as enviable. Though I suppose there could be a dodge-'em-if-you-can workout opportunity there. Think of the cardio benefits! The core training! The improvements in reflexes!) In doing so, we give readers a taste of some of the options open to everyone -- and highlight the non-life-endangering fun that can be had at the same time. Read story

What these stories have in common is that they each have the potential to improve readers' health. So whether you want to eat healthfully, avoid having to visit the bathroom every hour; or would rather dodge rush-hour traffic on Pico than hit a treadmill, we hope you find one, or more, useful.

-- Tami Dennis

Photo: Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times