Daily Health News Blog

Each family celebrates the holidays in a different way. Each has its own traditions and customs. Some come from the lands in which we, our parents, or grand- parents came from. Others originate in our own families, "new" traditions that we hope will continue through generations to come.  Our question this month is: How does your family celebrate the holidays, and what parts of your traditions do you enjoy most?  Stories about Christmas, New Year's, and Hanukkah celebrations are always fun and colorful to read. Tell us about your ways of celebration.  Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Food for Thought "The idea that Alzheimer's is entirely genetic and unpreventable is perhaps the greatest misconception about the disease," says Gary Small, M.D., director of the UCLA Center on Aging. Researchers now know that Alzheimer's, like heart disease and cancer, develops over decades and can be influenced by lifestyle factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, depression, education, nutrition, sleep and mental, physical and social activity.The big news: Mountains of research reveals that simple things you do every day might cut your odds of losing your mind to Alzheimer's.In search of scientific ways to delay and outlive Alzheimer's and other dementias, I tracked down thousands of studies and interviewed dozens of experts. The results in a new book: 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss Here are 10 strategies I found most surprising. 1.  Have coffee.  In an amazing...

Do you find your belly wiggling like a bowl full of jelly every January? It can be hard to keep from overindulging when you are faced with a December full of buffets, cookies, and holiday dinners. But there are ways to battle the holiday bulge. Exercise is an important part of anyone’s healthy lifestyle. During the holidays it is even more important to include exercise in your busy day. There is a stronger tendency to skip your daily walk, aerobics workout, or swim during winter. There are fewer daylight hours, and there are additional activities that demand your time. Taking time for yourself every day, however, will reduce stress and help you to stay fit and trim. As for the eating, remember that the key to success is moderation. You don’t have to deprive yourself of all those holiday goodies. Just keep portions reasonable and opt for some healthy substitutes. If you are invited to a holiday gathering, try to eat something healthy before you go. You won’t be starving and tempted ...

Christmas morning is exciting and traditionally it goes like this: First the presents: the kids will let nothing stand in the way of their march to the Christmas tree. After everyone has a light breakfast, comes the second-most exciting event of the day ... Christmas dinner.  For some families, taking a walk half an hour to an hour after dinner is traditional. The walk is healthy fun for adults, kids and the family dog.  It can be a leisurely walk or a brisk walk, whatever your group enjoys. An old saying is, "Walk a hundred steps after dinner and you'll live to be 99." Actually, to increase longevity, studies say you need to walk a little more than that, but not a whole lot more.  Walking for 10 minutes on Christmas and other days, can change your body weight, lower your cholesterol and decrease your risk of stroke and other serious diseases. People who benefit most from 10-minute walks are those who normally don't exercise at all.  For them, the 10-minute...

Here are some   updates on recent health and nutrition findings: Veggies improve dining experience According to researchers at Cornell University, adding veggies to your meal will improve your perception of dishes (compared to those served without vegetables) as well as your attitude toward the cook. “The results showed that meals were favored when a vegetable was included, such as steak vs. steak with broccoli, but also received better descriptions such as 'loving' for the same meal. They also chose much more positive descriptors for the meal preparer that served a vegetable, including much more frequent selection of 'thoughtful,' 'attentive' and 'capable,' accompanied by a decrease in the selections of 'neglectful,' 'selfish' and 'boring.'” So make sure to include vegetables in all your meals. Your family and friends will thank you. Green tea can decrease blood sugar spikes Penn State scientists found that when mice...

If you have an elderly parent, you may find it challenging to know what to give for a holiday gift. These ideas will help get you started. Book holder Pill box with built-in timer Gripper socks Battery-powered playing card shuffler Playing card holder Filled photo album Foot massager Hands-free magnifying viewer Jet-powered spa insert Large button phone Weather alert radio Fleece shoulder wrap Electric blanket Telephone amplifier Magazine subscriptions New calendar Assorted greeting cards

Whether you are planning on hosting a crowd for your holiday get-together or you are anticipating a quiet holiday with family and friends, it is nice to have a clean and organized home for the holidays. Get a jump start on your pre-holiday housework and the task will seem more manageable. These tips will help you stay on top of your work, leaving you more time to enjoy the holidays. Tackle the big tasks first Launder and press your holiday table linens. Clean your oven and refrigerator well. Do a thorough dusting of your home, wash your windows, and do a general tidying of all the clutter. Spot clean your carpet. Clean bathrooms well. Move on to the smaller things Gather together the china and silverware you will be using. Plan your holiday menu and prepare any dishes that can be cooked ahead of time. Wash out trash cans as necessary. Sweep and mop floors.  Don't forget the little details On the day your guests are due to arrive, walk through your home and remove any remaining ...