Weekly Health Tips for the month of March
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March 4, 2007- When pregnant mom eats fish, kids do better

Children of mothers who ate more fish and other seafood while pregnant are
smarter and have better developmental skills than kids of women who ate
less or none, researchers said on Thursday in findings they called
surprising.

The study, sure to be controversial, sought to assess whether it is wise,
as some experts and the U.S. government have recommended, for pregnant
women to limit their seafood intake to avoid mercury, a toxin that can
harm the nervous system of developing fetuses.  That's why supplemental
forms of fish oils that have had all the toxins removed can be much safer
for the mother and fetus.

Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a U.S. National Institutes of Health researcher who
led the study in The Lancet medical journal, said seafood is a key source
of omega-3 fatty acids, important for fetal brain development.

Source: Reuters, ©2007

March 11, 2007- Breathe, Just Breathe

Inhale, exhale. It's easy to take healthy lungs for granted. Don't. Take
vitamin D instead.

The sunshine vitamin may do more than help build strong bones and defend
against certain cancers. Vitamin D may also help put out the fire of
inflammation that leads to chronic lung disease. Along with drinking
D-fortified milk and orange juice.

Many Americans don't get enough vitamin D. And although a shortfall may
not cause chronic breathing problems, scientists found, after testing more
than 14,000 men and women, that the higher their blood levels of vitamin
D, the better able they were to fill -- and empty -- their lungs. One
possible reason: D may calm lung inflammation that contributes to chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The recommended daily dose of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU).
Fortified milk and OJ are great sources, but new government research has
found that some fish, including salmon, are also surprisingly high in D.
Nutrition data won't show the new numbers until later this year, but
salmon may turn out to be in the top part of the chart of foods rich in
vitamin D.

Salmon, 3 ounces                360 IU
Atlantic mackerel, 3 ounces     345 IU
Milk, low-fat, fortified, 1 cup 100 IU
Raisin bran, 1 cup              100 IU
Corn flakes, 1 cup              40 IU
Eggs, one large                 26 IU

Source: Chest, ©2007


March 18, 2007- Better Off Red

Beans may be a near-perfect health food -- especially if they're red.

We already know that beans are a great source of fiber and vegetable
protein. But red kidney beans are also stellar when it comes to packing an
antioxidant punch. In fact, red beans are right up there with blueberries
when it comes to total antioxidant value. So brighten up your salads and
stews by tossing in some crimson-colored beauties.

In addition to red kidney beans, other antioxidant champions include
artichokes, russet potatoes, pinto beans, sweet cherries, plums, and
pecans. What's so great about antioxidants? They help guard against the
cell damage that can lead to cancer, heart disease, and early aging by
swiftly mopping up free radicals -- cell-process by-products that can
damage DNA.

Here are the antioxidant winners in a recent study, which examined over
100 different plant-food sources:

* Fruits: Cranberries, blueberries, blackberries
* Vegetables: beans (red, kidney, pinto, and black), artichokes, and
russet potatoes
* Nuts: pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts


Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, ©2007

March 25, 2007- Your Skin Loves Carrots

For healthy, glowing skin, make like a rabbit and eat your carrots.

The crunchy snack and Bugs Bunny prop is loaded with vitamin A -- a
good-for-your-eyes antioxidant that appears to be great for skin, too. It
helps balance the pH of the skin's surface, making it slightly acidic.
That's good news, because slightly acidic skin fends off bacterial
invaders.

In addition to getting enough vitamin A in your diet, keep an eye on how
much fat you eat. A recent study suggests that eating too much fat will
suck moisture from your skin, which means fine lines and wrinkles have no
place to hide.

Should you drink more water? It can't hurt. Water provides your skin with
more moisture, and it helps balance pH. Water also help other soft tissues
like cartilage.


Source: Free Radical Biology & Medicine, ©2007

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