Health Issue: SHORT CUTS

SHORT CUTS: High meat intake tied to early periods:     A new study by Iniversity of Brighton researchers says that girls who eat a lot of meat during childhood start their periods earlier than others. As part of the research, scientists compared the diets of more than 3,000 12-year-old girls. They found high meat consumption at age three (over eight portions a week) and age seven (12 portions) was tied with early periods. A meat-rich diet might prepare the body for pregnancy, triggering an earlier puberty, the study said. First pill for MS gets FDA nod:       Federal health experts said a first-of-a-kind multiple scierosis drug from Novartis is safe and effective for controlling tremors, concertration problems and other symptoms of the debilltaing disease. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Gilenia, manufactured by Novartis, as the first pill for multiple scierosis.