Health Tips for the month of May

May 7, 2006- Water's Top Ten

Water seems to taste best when you're incredibly thirsty, but here are several reasons why you should drink more water, even if you're not extremely thirsty.

The heath benefits, as you will see, are outstanding.

1. It prevents bad breath. It washes away odor-causing particles and bacteria, and keeps saliva flowing.

2. It prevents or reduces symptoms of heartburn.

3. It prevents urinary tracts infections by diluting urine and lowers the bacterial count. It may also reduce the risk of bladder cancer.

4. It prevents constipations. It flushes out toxins and decreases your risk of colon cancer.

5. It prevents headaches. Dehydration is the cause of many headaches.

6. It helps you lose weight.

7. Water aids digestion.

8. It could reduce heart attacks, some studies show.

9. It boosts your immune system and helps fight off colds.

10. It wards off daytime fatigue.

11. It prevents back and joint pain.

May 14, 2006- Playing by the Numbers

Date of birth, Social Security number, PIN. You know so many numbers, but do you know the ones that could save your life? 115/76 is a very important number everyone should remember.

They're your blood pressure numbers. And the lower they are, the better. Need to get yours lower? Consider buying a home blood pressure monitor (about $30 and up). Then, twice a day, write down your readings. People with hypertension who follow this simple routine are more likely than nontesters to get their blood pressure back to healthy levels.

The proven triple play for lowering blood pressure is a combo of diet, exercise, and medication. Here's where home monitoring comes in. Researchers recently found that people with hypertension who regularly test their blood pressure are more likely to follow their treatment plan, and they also check in with their doctors more often. Even better, their doctors stay more involved. So if a patient's blood pressure diary doesn't show much change, docs are more likely to add a second treatment, change the dose, or switch to a new drug altogether until the numbers improve.

May 21, 2006- Margarine Squeeze

Refuse to give up your margarine? It may leave you breathless.

Even adults can develop asthma, and loving your margarine may increase your chances, according to recent research. So toss the tub and enjoy a little pat of butter now and then. Better yet, switch to olive oil. Not only might it help keep your lungs clear, but it'll improve your sauces and sautés, too.

Is margarine ever good for you? It does have less saturated fat than butter, which helps keep cholesterol in check. However, some margarines still contain trans fat, the infamous artery clogger. And that's not all. Although it's not clear why, a high intake of margarine has recently been linked to an increased risk of asthma in adults. Some researchers think that the polyunsaturated fat in margarine may play a role, as eating lots of it can boost inflammation throughout the body, including the lungs. However, other scientists suspect that another fat found in margarine -- known as trans oleic acid -- may be involved.

Either way, the phrase "everything in moderation" seems to fit the bill here, whether you're spreading your bread with butter or margarine or dipping it in olive oil. If you still can't give up the tub, try one of the cholesterol-lowering margarines that contain natural cholesterol-fighters called plant sterols. At least they can help keep your heart healthier while researchers try to figure out exactly how margarine intake affects lung health.

May 28, 2006- Eat a Whole Breakfast

Reduce your risk of metabolic disease with a heartier bowl of cereal in the morning.

Eating more whole grains significantly reduced the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease deaths in people age 60 and older in a recent study. Steer your health clear of these conditions with cereals made with whole grains, such as whole oats or whole wheat. Low-sugar cereals that contain 5 grams of fiber per serving are another smart choice.

Examples of whole grains include whole-grain bread, whole-grain cereal, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice. You'll have to check ingredient labels to make sure a product is made from 100 percent whole grain. Although bran is not considered a whole grain, it also is a smart grain choice because it is a fiber- and nutrient-rich part of the wheat kernel. In a study of over 500 healthy people age 60 to 98, researchers discovered that people who ate the most whole grains were least likely to develop metabolic syndrome or die from cardiovascular disease over a 10-year period. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors that increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. People in the study who ate the highest amounts of whole grains also were more likely to have lower body mass indexes compared to people who ate the least amount.