Health briefs: Keep naps short, early

As more people join the ranks of the sleep-deprived, experts say a daily nap may do a world of good. Then again, poor napping habits can leave you groggier than before. The National Sleep Foundation offers this advice: Keep your nap to no more than 30 minutes. Napping longer can make you groggy and disturb your sleep at night. Nap in a comfortable environment that's cool, dark and quiet. Don't nap too late in the day, to avoid interfering with bedtime. Don't nap too early in the day either, as your body may not be ready for sleep again.

Feds drop bomb on POM

A company's ads claiming that pomegranate juice can treat cancer, heart disease or erectile dysfunction are deceptive, U.S. regulators said last week. POM Wonderful LLC violated federal law by making those deceptive claims and must stop making claims of health effects in the absence of "competent and reliable scientific evidence," ruled the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's chief administrative law judge, D. Michael Chappell. The company said the FTC lawsuit "tried to create a new, stricter industry standard, similar to that required for pharmaceuticals, for marketing the health benefits inherent in safe food and natural food-based products." However, the company said the judge upheld its "right to share valuable, scientifically validated information about the health benefits of its safe food with consumers."

-- HealthDay