Brook West Chiropractic Quarterly Newsletter-April 2nd.

April 9, 2000-Celebrate National Pecan Month
Feast on a few pecans--and help your heart. Researchers have discovered that eating a few pecans may be as beneficial to your blood vessels as cooking with cholesterol-friendly olive oil.

It's true, pecans are high in fat, but almost 90 percent of the fat in pecans is heart-healthy. Pecans have a high concentration of a fatty acid that's found in olive oil and other monounsaturated fats. These monounsaturated fats can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and preserve HDL (good) cholesterol. And HDL helps fight heart disease.

So, celebrate National Pecan Month this April by sprinkling pecans on salads, poultry, or pasta. A tablespoon of pecans adds heaps of flavor and crunch for only 45 calories. It's the perfect time to please your palate and your heart.
SOURCE:  Real Age Health Systems, ©2000

April 16, 2000-Make Mine Mashed
Looks like cooked veggies have gotten a raw deal. We've heard for years that raw veggies have it over the cooked kind for health benefits, but new research suggests that the opposite may be true.

A study done at the University of California, San Diego, showed that we absorb as much as five times the amount of disease-fighting antioxidants when we eat cooked, mashed vegetables as opposed to raw. Apparently, cooking vegetables, such as carrots and spinach, breaks down the plant cell walls that contain the antioxidants, making them easier to absorb.

If you really want to knock the nutrient level up a notch, puree the veggies afterwards.
SOURCE:  InteliHealth, ©2000

April 23, 2000-Timely Tooth Tunes
We all know that we should brush our teeth at least twice a day, but studies show that most people don't brush nearly long enough. Researchers say that the average tooth-brushing session lasts a mere 10 to 12 seconds, which isn't enough time to get your teeth and mouth clean. Ideally, you should brush for a full 3 minutes--about as long as the average CD track--twice a day.

So, for healthier teeth, turn on the tunes---and brush along to your favorite song.
SOURCE:  Real Age Health Systems, ©2000

April 30, 2000-Take a load off your back by using a footstool at work.
Low back pain is a common problem for those people who sit for long periods of time. Experts recommend keeping your knees slightly above your hips to reduce your risk of back pain. To do this, place your feet flat on the floor while you are sitting and make sure your knees are above your hips. If not, rest your feet on a book or low stool. This will ease the pressure on your lower back.
SOURCE:  InteliHealth, ©2000