For Sniffles & Sneezes, Think Zinc

New research involving 100 cold sufferers found that those who sucked on experimental zinc “lozenges” recovered nearly twice as fast as those who didn’t. Possible side effects: bad taste and nausea. But stayed tuned . . . some experts believe this could be new hope for beating the common cold.


Your Toes Would Love This

The average adult takes 10,000 steps a day, each putting a quarter ton of pressure on the foot. So chose shoes wisely:
1. Buy shoes at the end of the day, when feed are largest.
2. Choose softer soles for greater shock-absorption.
3. Try to avoid heals higher than 2 1/4 inches.
4. Make sure the "toe box" allows toes to move freely.
5. Never buy shoes that need to be "broken in" –– chances are, your feet will break first.

Why Laughter Is Good Medicine

The ancient Greeks believed humor was essential to the healing process. And studies now show that it’s no joke — laughter is strong medicine. Just look at the many wonderful things a good belly laugh can do for your entire body:

1. Muscles tighten, then relax, which tones them gently and eases tension.

2. You breathe faster, taking in more oxygen and ridding your body of more carbon dioxide, just like when you exercise.

3. Your heart rate, blood pressure and pulse increase, improving circulation.

4. Your immune system may get a boost, too, experts now believe, possibly making your body better able to fight disease.

5. The brain’s chemical transmitters increase, pumping up your ability to stay alert. Laughing also makes your brain release pleasure-producing chemicals called endorphins, which act as natural painkillers.

And that’s not all. Humor helps to develop trust, sell ideas and strengthen relationships at home and work — so there’s productivity in that punch line as well.

HOW CAN YOU GET SERIOUS ABOUT LAUGHING? Read the comics. See a funny movie. Rent a comedy video. Call an old friend who tells great jokes. Just avoid generating a laugh at someone else’s expense. And remember: Those who laugh . . . last!

An Apple A Day . . . It’s True!

Not only may an apple a day help keep the doctor away, it may help you live longer. In a recent British study, people who often ate fruit were far less likely to die from stroke and heart disease than those who ate fruit less than once a day.
 
HOW MUCH FRUIT DO YOU NEED? Nutritionists recommend 2-4 servings daily. You get great-tasting food that’s cholesterol-free, almost always low in fat and loaded with disease-fighting nutrients like vitamins, folic acid and fiber.
 
It’s easier than you may thing to squeeze more fruit into your routine. For breakfast, try fruit spreads instead of butter, margarine or jelly. Snack on dried apricot halves. After lunch, skip dessert and bite into a sweet, juicy mango or cantaloupe wedge. Wash dinner down with a tall glass of juice.


More Than Coping . . . Finding Solutions
Outside Events that contribute to stress and burn out

DIRECTIONS: Check which events you have undergone within the last year. If the event occurred more than once, double the score.

LIFE EVENT STRESS VALUE
1. Spouse dies 100
2. Divorce 73
3. Marital separation 65
4. Detained in jail or institution 63
5. Death of close family member 63
6. Personal injury/major illness 53
7. Marriage 50
8. Fired from job 47
9. Marital reconciliation 45
10. Retirement 45
11. Health change, family member 44
12. Pregnancy 40
13. Sex difficulties 39
14. Gain new family member 39
15. Business readjustment 39
16. Change in financial state 38
17. Death of close friend 37
18. Change in line of work 36
19. Increased disputes with spouse 35
20. Large mortgage 31
21. Foreclosure, mortgage or loan 30
22. Change in responsibilities at work 29
23. Child leaves home 29
24. In-law trouble 29
25. Outstanding personal achievement 28
26. Spouse starts or stops work 29
27. Start or finish school 26
28. Change in living conditions 25
29. Revise personal habits 24
30. Trouble with boss 23
31. Change working hours or conditions 20
32. Change in residence 20
33. Change schools 20
34. Change in recreation 19
35. Change in church activities 19
36. Change in social activities 18
37. Loan on car, major appliances 17
38. Change in no. of family get-togethers 15
39. Change in sleeping habits 15
40. Change in eating habits 15
41. Busy Christmas 13
42. Major Vacation 12
43. Minor traffic violation 10
TOTAL: ________

Normal range . . . less than 150 points.
37% of respondents have health problems with 150-199 points.
50% of respondents were ill within the year with 200-299 points.
80% can experience illness within two weeks of hitting 300 points.
90% of people already had major change in health status with 350+ points.


Simple Tips to Slimmer Waists

Everyone knows that eating right and exercising are the keys to weight control. But not everyone knows these tips to make your efforts pay off fast . . .

1. EAT breakfast. It's true –– regular meals and occasional low-cal snacks help prevent the "famine-then-feast" syndrome. Great start: Fill up first thing in the morning with high-fiber cereal, whole-grain bread or fresh fruit.

2. TAKE your time. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to receive the signal that you're full. So gulping food quickly may lead to overeating. Strategies: Set your silverware down between bites . . . chew slowly . . . savor each flavor and texture. And play soft, soothing background music, which tends to slow the meal.

3. BITE into a pickle or lemon. Advantages: Neither has any calories to speak of, and the sour taste will curb your appetite. Don't have either? Try brushing your teeth.

4. POST a list of small projects on the refrigerator. Then, whenever you're bored and tempted to snack, tackle an item from your list. Result: It will help you ride out crave attacks.

5. SERVE yourself half the amount you usually eat if you tend to eat whatever is in front of you. And make less food look like more by using smaller plates.

6. EXERCISE in the morning. Why: After fasting overnight, two-thirds of the calories burned come from stored fat, which contains more calories than carbohydrates –– the main energy source in afternoon workouts.

7. KEEP calories burning with aerobic exercise, like biking, swimming or rowing. Advantage: A single session burns calories during the workout and for several hours afterward.


Did You Hear That?

Although most noise-related hearing loss is gradual and painless, it's permanent. Here are four self-defense steps for your ears:

1. Avoid loud noise. Prolonged exposure to any noise above 90 decibels, like that of a lawn mower, can damage your hearing. Rule of thumb: If you have to shout to be heard, either move away or wear ear protection.

2. Wear hearing protectors. Ear plugs should be worn on the job if you are near loud equipment. At home, loud tools, the lawn mower, and loud music are also damaging to your ears.

3. Don't play headphones too loud or for too long. Even a cheap set can blast your ears are more than 110 decibels, equivalent to that of a chain saw.

4. Get your hearing tested periodically.


How to Live Longer . . . Better . . . Happier!

Although genetics plays a role in how many years you have left, experts say how you age is mostly a matter of how you live. Here's how to maximize your "health span" as well as your life span:

1. Nurture friendships. Numerous studies have shown that people with close friendships have a lower rate of serious illness following personal crises . . . while those who don't have close friends have more health problems and are unlikely to live as long.

2. Keep moving. The sooner you start exercising –– even 20 minutes every other day –– the lower your risk for major killers like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and possibly certain types of cancer. Idea: Start walking with a friend or family member.

3. Build strength. Weight lifting and other strength builders combat the loss of muscle and bone that occurs as you age. Example: In one study, 70-year-old men were just as strong as 28-year-olds. The difference: The older men had done strength training since middle age; the younger men didn't strength at all.

4. Enjoy nature's best. Eat a variety of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Benefit: They're low in fat and calories, making it easier to achieve healthy weight and avoid major health problems like heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

5. Get regular checkups. Screening tests can detect many diseases in their early stages, when chances for successful treatment are greatest. If you haven't done so already, speak with your doctor about a screening schedule that's right for you.


5 Ways to Prevent Back Pain

Amazing , , , 80% of people will be troubled by back pain at some point during their lives. Here's how to protect against it:

KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT. Your back is always working, even when you're just standing or sitting. So use good posture: Hold your head and chest high, neck straight, pelvis forward and stomach and backside tucked in.

THINK BEFORE YOU LIFT. Bend at your knees, not at your waist, and let your leg muscles do most of the work. Avoid arching or twisting your body when carrying a heavy load. And never lift more than you can safely handle alone.

SHED EXTRA WEIGHT. A "spare tire" strains your back muscles and the disks in the lower back. That helps explain why most obese people have recurring back problems.

WORK OUT WISELY. Regular physical activity is essential for keeping your back strong and injury-free. But some workouts are more back-friendly than others. Good choices: stomach- and back=strengthening exercises, walking and swimming (except for butterfly and breast strokes).

LET YOUR BACK REST, TOO. Don't sleep on your stomach, which causes the back to curve excessively. Lie on your side with your knees bent to relieve pressure on the disks. Like to lie on your back? Put a thin pillow under your head and a larger pillow under your knees.