Daily Health News Blog

This year when you carve your jack-o-lantern, save those pumpkin seeds. You can make a tasty snack on the cheap that will have everyone asking for more. Try some of these variations this fall season. For each recipe, follow this easy procedure. Remove and clean your seeds. Rinse them well, let them dry and then season them. Spread on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for about 20 minutes in a 350 degree F oven, stirring half way through, until the seeds are crispy and light golden brown. Remove from baking sheet, give them a good stir, and serve once they've cooled. After you've toasted them, you can store them in an airtight container for up to one week. Spicy Garlic Pumpkin Seeds 1 cup pumpkin seeds, cleaned and rinsed 1 tablespoon melted butter 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper Savory Pumpkin Seeds 1 cup pumpkin seeds, cleaned and rinsed 1 tablespoon melted butter 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons

By the age of 70, over half of all Americans will develop cataracts. In fact, the older you are, the more likely it is that you will not escape cataracts. There are effective treatments for cataracts, including surgery. Not only can this type of surgery remove cloudy lenses, it can also improve vision for those who are near- or far-sighted. A surprising benefit of cataract surgery is a lessened risk of breaking a hip in a fall. A study of Medicare patients showed that patients who had cataract surgery had a significant reduction in the number of hip fractures, with a 16 percent decrease in this type of injury. Vision loss is a major factor in seniors' risk of falling, and a reduction in visual sharpness and depth perception can lead to a loss of balance, stability, and mobility. Many people believe that they are "too old" to receive cataract surgery. But researchers have found that you can never be too told. In fact, they found the greatest benefit in terms of reduced hip

Make it on the big day or prepare it days or weeks before A holiday special: Sweet potato casserole This tried and true recipe will be a hit at your holiday dinner. Although the sweet potato relatively low calorie, this recipe includes a lot of sugar, although some substitutions can be made (see below). On the plus side, the sweet potato is loaded with vitamin A, three times your daily value, plus generous amounts of vitamins C and B6. Sweet potato casserole 1 40-ounce can sweet potatoes or 2 1/2 pounds cooked fresh sweet potatoes 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted and cooled 3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup flour 1/3 cup butter or margarine, chilled 1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped With a potato masher or food processor, puree sweet potatoes. Add milk, melted butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. In another bowl, (for the topping) stir together the brown sugar and flour. Slice chil

How officers (and you) can spot a texting driver Texting while driving is illegal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. In most of those states, it's a primary enforcement violation, meaning the officer can stop a motorist solely for texting while driving, says the Governors Highway Safety Association. The laws are having an unintended consequence. Instead of holding the phone up by their face, violators are putting it down in their laps. They think officers, cops and troopers won't be able to see it, says the National Troopers Coalitions, which has 45,000 members. The troopers say these texters are more dangerous because their eyes are off the road for a longer time, but they are just as easy to spot. Generally, they act like drunk drivers, going too fast or too slow for the traffic, weaving or not paying attention when the light turns red or green. Sometimes their heads are down and only one hand is on the wheel. Officers advise motorists to give pl

Early treatment of pre-diabetes can prevent or delay type 2. About 79 million Americans are at high risk for diabetes, because their blood sugar levels are higher than normal. They have pre-diabetes. Now, there's help. A study by Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas shows that intensive early treatment, first with insulin, then with a diabetes drug, preserves the body's insulin-producing capacity, according to Diabetes Care. Previously, the first steps in treatment were to emphasize diet and weight management, then to couple lifestyle changes with the diabetes drug metformin. Another new study published in The Lancet shows that treating pre-diabetes early and aggressively with intensive lifestyle changes and medication could be an effective way to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Study subjects were divided into intensive lifestyle intervention, pre-diabetes medicine (metformin) and placebo groups. The analysis tracked the patients who did

Stress is often a natural reaction to situations that life throws at us when we're not expecting it. However, just because the situation is stressful does not mean we have to actually get stressed. We know that stress can cause physical as well as psychological problems and can sometimes escalate to severe anxiety attacks if the challenges are not dealt with in a calm way, so having tools already in place alleviates the need to go into full blown stress when challenging situations occur. The medical profession often recommends medication for people with severe stress to help alleviate the symptoms they're experiencing. However, there are other ways to handle stressful situations, and medications don't work for everyone. And, there are many people who don't want the side effects medications can cause. So what can you do? Everything is a state of mind so it's necessary to decide in advance how you might be able to handle any kind of stressful situation

Dieting with whole grains reduces abdominal fat When you calculate the calories in your weight reduction diet, be sure to include the value of whole grains. An important clinical study of people age 20 to 65 shows that dieters who included plenty of whole grains not only lost more belly fat, they reduced an inflammation marker linked to diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Over the 12-week study, all dieters got the same weight-loss advice, but half of them ate whole grains instead of refined grains. The two groups lost the same amount of weight, but the whole-grain group lost significantly more fat from the abdominal region than those who ate white bread and other refined grains. The whole grain group also experienced a 38 percent decrease in C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker linked to the risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. The reduction was similar to that seen with the use of statin drugs. Senior researche

(ARA) - Finding the Medicare coverage that best fits their needs and their pocketbooks is challenging for many seniors. Health care plans make changes to their coverage. People's health conditions change. Not keeping on top of these changes can mean problems.  Suddenly seniors may find they don't have needed coverage, their doctor no longer takes their plan, or they face steep medical or prescription drug costs. That's why it's essential to review Medicare coverage and individual needs each year, and to use the Medicare annual open enrollment period to make changes to coverage. Medicare annual open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, with new benefit choices effective the following Jan. 1. “Getting started early is key,” says Mary Dale Walters, senior vice president of the Allsup Medicare Advisor, a Medicare plan selection service. “Choosing Medicare coverage is complicated, even when you have lots of information on the Web. It can be difficult to get c

Achieving your ideal weight can be challenging, but there are many tools that can help you reach your goal. ESSENTIAL OILS CAN SUPPORT WEIGHT LOSS AND WEIGHT MAINTENANCE As a result of his research Dr. Alan Hirsch says that we feel full because of a special mechanism in our brain. Specifically, this satiety response is regulated by what is technically known as the ventro-medial nucleus of the hypothalamus, a portion of the brain that regulates many basic drives including emotions and libido. One reason we stop eating is that this center signals a fullness or a sense of being satisfied. The nose (and inhalation process) is directly connected to the hypothalamus. An odor molecule in the air makes its way to the top of the nasal cavity which is the location of a small area known as the olfactory bulb with millions of scent receptors. The odor molecule then moves through the mucous membrane and binds to receptor sites on the olfactory nerve. These receptors may be very spec

The #1 fear that people have when investing in a home treadmill (or any piece of exercise equipment) is that they won't use it.  You know the story. It gets delivered, you set it up and enjoy it for a few days...and then it sits...and waits.  A few months down the road, you notice how dusty it has become and how much space it's taking up. And you remember how much weight you were determined to lose by using it faithfully every day. But now, unfortunately, it doubles as a clothes rack.  Never fear. This article will help you make sure that DOESN'T happen.  A treadmill provides the best overall cardiovascular workout & it's still the number one exercise machine for those who want to lose weight. So it's an investment in your health that will pay large dividends...if you are prepared to get the maximum benefit from it!  Here are 5 easy ways to get the BEST use from your home treadmill:  #1) Do your research first  Make sure you look at what each trea

RETIREMENT PLANNING YOUR ONLINE GUIDE TO RETIREMENT NEWSLETTER www.retirementplanninginsight.com Are you living day-to-day or from paycheck-to-paycheck? If you are, you are not alone. Many Americans are now finding themselves in a financial  crunch. At that same time, financial advisors are still encouraging Americans to save for retirement. This is where you may feel hopeless. There is, however, good news. That good news is that there are still ways that you can save for retirement, even when experiencing financial problems right now. The first step you should take depends on your age. If you are between the ages of forty and fifty, you will want to closely examine your retirement goals. This includes both your wants and your needs. How much money do you need to retire? To determine an amount, look at your living situation. How much will it cost you to survive with the basic necessities, including food, shelter, health insurance, and transportation? Next, examine you

By Robert Killen  "You get what you pay for" or so common wisdom tells us. Yet numerous examples prove that sometimes paying more actually decreases the richness of our lives. The following examples are 10 of the simplest ways to live a richer life by paying less! 1. Stop the Pop! One of the most destructive health (and money) habits in the US is our addiction to sweets, soda being chief among them. As refreshing as carbonated sweetness poured over ice may seem on a hot summer day, water is the real deal. While soda is linked to diabetes, cancer and all kinds of health nastiness, water is free, healthful and equally refreshing. 2. DIY Snacks The chip/cracker/cookie aisle in your local grocery is a mind boggling assortment of costly treats. While no single package is likely to break the bank, a fully stocked cupboard is an unnecessary expenditure. Make popcorn instead. Spread peanut butter on saltines, or better yet a celery stalk. Munch on a vegetable. Cheaper and

by Josh Green There are many different dieting ideas out there in today's market. The amount of different diets can be very discouraging to many people that are in need of a diet plan that works for them. It can be very disheartening to continually have a diet that may work for someone else and when a person tries the diet for themselves it does not work. The main concept behind dieting is that we should begin to eat a healthy diet consuming the correct foods in order for our bodies to still function but not excessive in order to create a surplus of calories and sugars that are turned into fat and stored in the body. For weight loss to be effective those following weight loss programs need to stick to the diet specified and take regular exercise. There can be no diet that will work for everyone since we are all different and rules can be hard to follow, is there such a thing as fat loss for idiots?. The diet for idiots was created with this in mind. Diet for i

As winter closes in, it is important for seniors and those who care for them to be aware of some simple precautions. Seniors are at risk during the winter months for several reasons. Winter weather and storms may isolate the elderly more than usual. Diseases such as the common cold and the flu are more prevalent and present a particular risk to those who are older or already in weakened health. There are also the dangers that the cold weather itself presents to those who are vulnerable. In response to these circumstances, the American Red Cross has issued its annual winter-preparedness tips for senior citizens. Be sure to arrange to have someone check on older persons regularly. It is also a good idea to have a plan to signal the need for help. For example, a daily phone call to check in might be appropriate. Post emergency numbers near the phone as well. We never know when severe weather might hit. If specialized care, medical supplies, or equipment is needed, plan ahea

Three years ago,   Women's Health was among the first to expose sitting disease . The gist: Too much inactivity can leave you prone to such deadly ailments as heart disease and obesity. The advice: Get moving. But Americans haven't budged much. The only real momentum has been in the lab, where research has found that inactivity can also damage your mind, sleep cycle, and organs. It could even shorten your life: Women who sit for more than six hours a day have a roughly 40 percent higher risk of dying from any cause, regardless of their fitness level, versus those who sit for fewer than three hours.   "The human body evolved to move around," says James Levine, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. "Yes, there are times to sit, but we put our feet up now more than ever. It's unnatural and hazardous to our health." Young women are especially prone: Research shows they spend more time on their bums than others. Devastating news,

There are two kinds of good news about brain power: First, you aren't stuck with the number of brain cells you were born with. And second, it isn't true that brain cells will inevitably die off as you age and can never be replaced. Pumping up your body and mind with extra oxygen from exercise is the magic that gives birth to more brain cells and keeps the ones you already have in top shape. It turns out that aerobic exercise is one key to "getting smart" and staying that way. Neurologist Fred H. Gage was the first to challenge the "no new brain cells" doctrine. A professor at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif., Gage discovered newborn cells in the brains of terminally ill cancer patients. The new cells appeared in the part of the brain associated with learning and memory. In further experiments, Gage shows that the number of brain cells in mice will increase too, but only when the mice run. In 1999, he demonstrated that exercising mice had twic