There’s a diverse array of characters in the health news that caught our eye:

The moustache has made a comeback, and the Movember movement is using it this month to raise money for prostate and testicular cancer research. Props to Christian and Cory, GlobalFit’s very own “Mo Bro’s,” getting fuzzy for a cause.

How aware of your surroundings are you when talking on your cell phone? Aware enough to notice a unicycling clown in your midst? Not likely, according to new research. (ScienceDaily)

How does a 35-pounds-overweight 40-year-old get to be an Ultraman competitor at 42? Rich Roll has some inspiring tips from his amazing fitness journey. (CNN)

The controversy over humans drinking cow’s milk hits a new peak? Find out why, along with the 411 on the soy and almond alternatives. (Washington Post)

Our weekly health news wrap-up starts with a laugh and ends with a fright:

Rodney: “Doctor, every morning when I get up and look in the mirror, I feel like throwing up. What’s wrong with me?”
Dr. Vinnie Boombotz: “I don’t know, but your eyesight is fine.”
If Rodney Dangerfield got no respect from his doctor, could it have been because of his waistline? A new study sheds some light on anti-obesity bias among doctors. (S.F. Examiner)

Do some cancers reverse themselves? A surprising new report indicates that, in rare cases, they do. (New York Times)

While some may question the benefits of stretching (Washington Post), it seems that trying to touch your toes may tell you a lot about your heart’s health. (American Journal of Physiology)

Does posting calories at fast food chains really make us healthier? The preliminary results from NYC are in. (Gothamist)

Yet another study finds that diet and exercise can work better than pharmaceuticals at fighting disease. This time, the disease is type 2 diabetes. (HealthDay, with the official abstract at The Lancet)

And just in time for Halloween comes word that researchers developing new, stronger antibiotics are eyeing their front-porch jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin proteins are showing great promise as anti-fungal agents. (ScienceDaily)

Should you or shouldn’t you? News about health can be confusing, as our two lead stories this week highlight:

The debate over cancer screenings — their advantages and their risks — flared up this week. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that the American Cancer Society is about to revise its screening guidelines. The ACS quickly replied that it “stands by its screening guidelines,” which the Times acknowledged in a follow-up article on the limitations of current screening tools. You can find the current guidelines here.

Confused by the conflicting ‘fish are healthy’/'fish are toxic’ reports? The respected non-profit Monterey Bay Aquarium just issued a list of “Super Green” seafood, choices that are good for our hearts and good for our oceans.

We were fascinated by this case study of a rare adult-onset red-meat allergy, apparently developed in response to a tick bite. (Washington Post)

In the ‘not new but still very cool’ category, check out the Nike Livestrong Chalkbot, spraying temporary inspirational messages on the pavement, and the “I Heart Guts” site, explaining internal organs with cute cartoons and fun text (assuming puns like “Spells Like Spleen Spirit” are to your liking).

Today is the International Day of the Nacho. Legend has it that October 21 was so declared in honor of Ignacio Anaya, the first man to cut tortillas into triangles and serve them warmed with cheddar and sliced jalapeño peppers.

Generally known as fatty pub grub, nachos can be a healthy dish. Start with a base of whole-grain corn chips. Add some lean protein (such as pinto or black beans, chicken strips or even sautéed tempeh), fresh antioxidant-rich salsa and healthy fats from avocado. Then top with low-fat cheese.

Of course, not all chips or salsa are created equally, so be sure to read the labels. This healthy tortilla chip taste test from our friends at EatingWell may be of help.

Experiment on your own, or try these healthy recipes to help you celebrate the nacho’s special day:

* These fresh and simple Nachos with Guacamole are boldly salsa-free. (Vegetarian Times)

* These Bean & Cheese Nachos take the concept close to its simple roots (FoodFit)

* With all due respect to our good friend Robin Miller, this blogger would tweak these Halibut Nachos with Chipotle Aïoli by using low-fat yogurt for her mayo/sour cream aïoli blend.

* These Healthy Nachos feature chickpeas and fresh tomato. (SparkPeople)

* Sherre’s Green & Black Bean Buffalo Nachos are made with actual buffalo meat, which has much less fat and slightly less cholesterol than beef. (The Spokesman-Review)

* The video for Homemade Tortilla Chips & Nachos shows you how to bake your own chips for a great, fresh flavor with no added oil. (About.com)

* These Pork & Pinto Bean Nachos have a smart nutritional profile, with half the calories of their beef/full-fat cheese counterparts. (CookingLight)

* Should we assume that these Chicken Nachos are the same ones that Lance Armstrong eats? (LiveStrong.com)

* Lastly, please remember that this recipe for vegetarian Nachos was posted by a cardiologist, not a food stylist.

1,000 push-ups, 20 rules, 60 minutes, and the countless times we heard ourselves saying what this first story re-confirms:

When your business is benefits for healthy living, it’s no surprise to hear that people perform better on days when they exercise, but it is nice to see it validated by science. (CNN)

We love this video of Stockholm’s Piano Stairs, an imaginative installation that encourages people to use their legs (and their ears) instead of the escalator. (YouTube)

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 1. The new Serve 60 movement encourages us to use the extra hour to volunteer in our communities.

Fitness icon Jack LaLanne is still going strong at 95. And his 1959 record of 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 pull-ups still stands, despite his nephew’s recent failed attempt. (S.F. Examiner)

Location, location, location! It’s the mantra of real estate agents, and perhaps soon, diabetes prevention experts. New research links where you live with your likelihood to get type 2 diabetes. See how your neighborhood stacks up. (Archives of Internal Medicine, or the less technical explanation at the L.A. Times)

“If you are not hungry enough to eat an apple, then you are not hungry,” goes one of the “Rules to Eat By,” a new project from acclaimed foodie author Michael Pollan. We like the clean and fun graphics that accompany that and the 19 other reader-submitted rules. (New York Times)

“Bloggers Bristle at New Blog Regulation” screamed one editorial headline. For the record, this blogger isn’t bristling at the new law requiring full disclosure for paid endorsements. We have no financial ties to the gym, nuts or cell phone case mentioned in this week’s health-news round-up, and anyway, we’re reporting on them rather than endorsing them:

In an era of knitting clubs and home improvement how-to’s, it should be no surprise that the DIY attitude reached the fitness industry. Check out this Washington Post profile for how the Hard Training Club used plumbing pipe and sand-filled basketballs to create a fully functioning, no-frills gym.

Does encouraging people to eat an all-natural, low-fat, low-calorie, protein-rich snack make an acceptable excuse for a teen-pregnancy joke? That’s the question being asked in light of the new pistachio ad starring Levi Johnston, the almost-son-in-law of Sarah Palin.

Worried about the radiation from your cell phone? Maybe you should be. A new interactive database reports on the best and worst offenders (Environmental Working Group), while the Pong cell phone case promises to reduce emissions by up to 85%.

Eating fresh dolmas always puts a smile on my face. Now, research in the Archives of General Psychiatry tells us that the Mediterranean Diet may actually reduce your depression risk. (PhysOrg.com)

This next story, on diagnosing cold symptoms, is concise, informative and health-related, but mainly we’re reporting it because it has ‘green snot‘ in the headline. Just being honest. (New York Times)

Could too many sweets in childhood lead to a life of crime? The research is serious (ScienceNow), but some of the coverage has been quite snarky (LA Times).

Sunday, the best day of the week. The Eagles just manhandled the Chiefs, so I’m a happy camper.  Half-time of the second games seems like the perfect time to test-drive my Vibrams.  Taking the advice of experts, I set out for a one-mile run through my neighborhood.  Sliding them on and strapping them up is not the easiest of tasks.  My toes don’t want to cooperate, and my disfigured big toe on my left foot sticks out rather than fitting into the rubber tip; poor little guy is the victim of a full-speed collision with an outfield wall.

On the unforgiving concrete of Philadelphia, it takes about eight seconds to confirm my suspicion that some changes need to be made to normal running style.  Most runners (me included) land heel first, but in these shoes, heel strikes send pain signals through the legs up to the spine.  Thankfully, I’m prepared for this.  I’ve done my homework on something called “chi running,” and by homework, I mean I watched a one-minute clip online.  Yup, I’m gonna find my center; connect with my inner self one stride at a time.  I bend my knees a bit, maneuver my pelvis forward engaging my abs, get my shoulders, hips, and ankles in line, and lean forward from my ankles not my waist.  This is a lot to keep track of; I have absolutely no idea whether I am chi running or contorting myself into an injury waiting to happen.

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From the serious to the bizarre, here’s what caught our eye in the week’s health news:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Two new studies reinforce the importance of healthy living, specifically a “prudent” diet (Reuters) and vigorous exercise (Science Daily), to lower risk. Plus, a two-part profile takes in intriguing look at a group that makes up about 1% of all breast cancer cases: men. (CNN)

We love “The New (Media) Workout Plan.” It’s a great idea — doing exercises every time you visit popular websites — with fun illustrations.

Why ban smoking in public areas? A new study (confirming the results of earlier ones) found significant and immediate health benefits. (WebMD)

Latte? Cappuccino? I.V. drip? Trendy vitamin cafes in Japan are now offering supplement boosts … directly into your vein. (CNN Europe)

Just as flip-flop season ends, the good folks at Arthritis Care & Research remind us of another footwear health risk, this one for all seasons: high heels. (LiveScience)

Scott models his Vibram FiveFingers

I’m injured, again.  Yup, turns out I have a bone spur, and oh yeah, favoring the foot that plays host to that tiny little bump of unwelcome bone that tears at the surrounding muscles has made my herniated disc very unhappy.  Apparently, I’m not alone.  Experts estimate that roughly eight out of every ten runners will end up on the shelf each year for some period of time with one of the many assorted injuries we inflict upon ourselves with repetitive pavement pounding.

Why are all runners seemingly perpetually hobbled?  That question, coupled with desperation and about five hundred Google search variations, led me to Vibram FiveFingers® footwear.  What they are supposed to do is connect me to our ancient roots when people ran not for sport but for life.  They ran for food, and from becoming food, and they did it (gasp) without expensive sneakers with padding, reflective patches and air shocks.  They did it in bare feet.  Even today, the fastest people on earth — the Tarahumara tribe in Copper Canyon, Mexico — routinely run hundreds of miles without stopping and without padded running shoes, just homemade leather sandals.

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The health news this week comes with a bit of fizz:

A new report linking soda pop and obesity calculated that the average American teenager drinks 39 pounds of sugar a year. (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research) The report added fuel to the debates on a nationwide soda tax (HealthDay) as well as one in California (San Francisco Chronicle).

Besides expanding your waistline, the sugar in those drinks may boost your blood pressure too. The good news comes from the unlikely drug that may help. (American Heart Association)

How do you keep your immune system strong this flu season? Sleep helps for sure (New York Times), but the relationship between food and immunity is a little more complicated. (Washington Post)

The Canadian charity Rethink Breast Cancer aims to raise awareness among young people. To help target guys, they’ve released a sexy new public service announcement that’s been stirring controversy.