Weekly Health Tips for the month of March
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March 6, 2005- Go Bananas
That handy yellow fruit with the slippery peel could help keep your kidneys healthy.

New evidence suggests that eating bananas regularly may help reduce the risk of kidney cancer. Women in the study who ate the most bananas had the lowest risk of kidney cancer. Root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, and leafy green vegetables also appeared to have a protective effect.

Bananas contain vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Many of these nutrients help regulate heartbeat. Bananas also are high in polyphenols -- antioxidants that neutralize disease-causing free radicals. Slightly unripe bananas probably contain the most polyphenols, which produce a slightly bitter taste in the fruit. In addition to eating bananas, another way to protect your kidneys is to avoid smoking. Approximately 31,000 new cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. and 12,000 people die annually from the disease. Signs of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, unintentional weight loss, back pain, and abdominal pain. If you have any of these symptoms, see your healthcare practitioner.

Source: International Journal of Cancer, ©2005

March 13, 2005- Another Healthy Oil
A surprising oil could play an important part in the heart-health picture.

In a study, people who used rice bran oil in their diets experienced significant reductions in both their total and LDL cholesterol. After substituting the oil for other fats in their diets, the study participants experienced a 7 percent reduction in LDL. Use this nutty oil to sauté veggies or as a base for salad dressings or dipping sauces.

Both total and LDL cholesterol are important, modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. High LDL cholesterol levels may lead to the buildup of dangerous artery-clogging plaques. Good ways to keep your cholesterol under control include choosing fats that are mostly unsaturated, such as olive oil and rice bran oil; getting plenty of soluble fiber in your diet (at least 25 grams of total fiber per day); and exercising regularly. Good sources of soluble fiber include whole-grain breads and cereals, dried beans and peas, Brussels sprouts, oranges, prunes, and oat bran.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, ©2005

March 20, 2005- Restroom Sickness
Many people have been getting sick and have continued getting sick this season, or haven't completely resolved from being sick.  Remember there are many simple things you can do to prevent being ill.

Healthy immune system or not, there is much you can do to avoid being a walking, talking deadly virus. Firstly, wash your hands! It is the key to avoiding any germs left from a previous carrier. With hot water, lather up (with soap) for 20-30 seconds, not the one or two ticks you usually spend. Wash your palms and backs of your hand, in between your fingers and under your fingernails. The friction you generated has just killed off the deadliest of bathroom bacteria.

When in the bathroom stall, use your foot to flush a public toliet. The toilet surface is just another place crawling with sickly potential. When you do flush, close the cover, make sure you exit the stall immediately after, or else the airborne particles that fly around after you press the lever can get into your lungs and give you a cough or cold.  Tear off paper towels to open the faucet and open the door when exiting the bathroom, otherwise touching the metallic surfaces negates the thorough washing of hands. These are all straightforward, simple logical steps everyone should take to maintain a more sanitary lifestyle. You can now shake somebody's hand and exchange greetings, instead of disease.

Source: Health Correspondent - Every 2nd Saturday , ©2005

March 27, 2005- Feel-Good Fruit
The small, fuzzy kiwifruit may pack a big punch when it comes to heart health.

Eating kiwifruit every day may help lower triglyceride levels, according to a recent study. Reducing triglyceride levels and other blood fats helps to guard against the buildup of dangerous arterial plaques. The vitamin C, vitamin E, and polyphenol content of kiwifruit may be the reason for its heart benefits.

A diet high in fruits and vegetables provides you with an array of antioxidants that can help your body combat cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and needless aging. Now, a new study reveals that kiwifruit -- a small green fruit encased in a brown fuzzy skin -- may help protect your blood vessels by lowering triglyceride levels and reducing platelet clumping. Platelets are blood components that assist with blood clotting. However, platelets that are too sticky aid in the formation of dangerous arterial plaques, which promotes cardiovascular disease. In a study, participants who ate 2 to 3 kiwifruit per day for approximately 1 month exhibited a 15 percent reduction in triglycerides and an 18 percent reduction in platelet aggregation response, a measure of how quickly platelets clump together. Engaging in 30 minutes of physical activity every day, reducing stress, and limiting your intake of saturated and trans fats are other great ways to balance your blood fats and help maintain your arterial health.

Source: Platelets, ©2005

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