May 5, 2002- Oil Change
If you're not a fan of eating fish, supplementing your diet with fish oil may provide similar heart-protective benefits.

In a study of cardiac patients, people who supplemented their diets with 1 gram of fish oil per day were 45% less likely to die of sudden, heart-related causes during the study's follow-up period. Speak with your doctor if you would like to find out if fish oil is right for you.

Eating a low-fat diet--and eating healthy unsaturated fats when you do eat fat--can help reduce your chances of cardiovascular diseases.
SOURCE: Real Age Health Systems, ©2002

May 12, 2002- Oil Change
Using good posture at the computer can help keep your spine from growing old before its time.

Research suggests that certain body positions may help reduce a computer user's risk of musculoskeletal disorders, such as low back pain or carpel tunnel syndrome. To keep your spine in line, use a chair with armrests, place your keyboard below elbow level, and position your monitor so that you do not have to tilt your head up or down when looking at the screen.

Talk to your doctor if you have posture questions.  He/she will be more than happy to explain the best way for you to work throughout the day.
SOURCE: Texas Back Institute, ©2002

May 19, 2002- Eat Breakfast
Researchers at the University of Colorado found that 40 percent of older men failed to take in the recommended daily amount of folic acid, a vitamin that helps prevent heart disease. The reason? They weren't eating breakfast. Most cereals are fortified with folic acid (often in the form of folate, which confers the same benefits). Make sure the cereal you choose is also fortified with B12, a vitamin that helps the body absorb folic acid. While you're at it, make sure the cereal is high in fiber and low in sugar, too. Here are five that measure up: Wheat Chex, Cheerios, Whole Grain Total, Wheaties, and All-Bran.
SOURCE: Men's Health, ©2002

May 26, 2002- Walk-Away Winner
Take a brisk, 30-minute walk three times each week and your blood pressure will thank you for it.
That's all the walking it took to produce a beneficial effect on the blood pressure readings of a group of caregivers in a recent study. Study participants who walked for 30 or 40 minutes at least three times per week experienced a significant reduction in stress-induced blood pressure spikes.
Doing stamina-building exercises for at least 60 minutes per week can help reduce your chances of cardiovascular diseases.
SOURCE: InteliHealth, ©2002