Daily Health News Blog

Spinach, the big-time cancer fighter, has many benefits Popeye the Sailor Man smoked a pipe. Lucky for him, he also ate lots of spinach.  We can only hope he downed the juice as well. Of all the vegetable juices, spinach juice is said to be the best for the prevention of cancer cell formation.  Spinach also boasts an extraordinarily high vitamin C content. It is rich in riboflavin, vitamin A, folate, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins E, B6, and thiamin. Like other greens, it shrinks a lot when it's cooked. A pound of leaves can be reduced to about a cup. The water can be added to soups. A treat for your heart, the folate and vitamin B6 in spinach helps to control homocysteine levels. Studies at Tufts University in Boston and the Framing Heart Study show that high homocysteine levels are a big heart attack risk. Microwaved spinach, they say, is your best bet for managing homocysteine. Eating spinach and other dark leafy greens throughout your life will protect your e

This is the perfect time of year for garage and yard sales. There are bargains galore, if you know how to shop wisely. To make your trips to garage sales fun and productive, take heed of these tips from some yard sale pros! Plan Ahead Use the newspaper classifieds to plan out your garage sale schedule. Having a good map is a plus. But don't forget to be flexible too. Many yard sales are not advertised in the paper, so keep your eye out for signs posted in the neighborhoods you are visiting. Try to arrive early, but not before the posted start time. Early birds are not always welcome. If you are looking for the lowest prices, consider visiting garage sales later in the day, when prices generally start to drop. Have the Right Equipment Wear comfortable shoes that can get dirty and wet-you never know what you might run into. Bring several bags or boxes in your car to place your items when you are ready to take them home. Have old newspapers to wrap breakable items, as many sellers don

Summer Salad 8 ounces nonfat plain yogurt 2 tablespoons thawed orange juice concentrate 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves 1 tablespoon honey 1 small head iceberg lettuce cut into 8 wedges 8 fresh apricots, halved and pits removed 1 pint basket fresh strawberries 1 cantaloupe, seeded, sliced and rind removed 1/4 cup shelled and chopped natural pistachios To make dressing, in bowl whisk yogurt, orange juice concentrate, basil, and honey. To assemble salad, on individual serving plates (or on platter) arrange remaining ingredients, dividing equally. Serve dressing on the side. Fruit Salad with Strawberries and Cream 1 pint strawberries, stemmed and halved 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh mint or 1/2 teaspoon dried mint 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/2 cup light sour cream 2 cups fresh fruits in season (blueberries, sliced peaches, kiwifruit or raspberries) To make strawberry dressing: In a blender, puree enough of the strawberries (about 1/2 cup) to make 1/4 cup pur

Imagine having the hiccups for almost your whole lifetime! Charles Osborne of Anthon, Iowa, did, hiccupping for over 68 years. He started hiccupping in 1922. Two wives and eight children later, in 1990, his hiccups finally went away. Thankfully, this type of condition is incredibly rare. Believe it or not, hiccups are somewhat of a mystery to the medical profession. Although many causes of hiccups are understood, such as eating spicy foods or drinking too much, many cases are unexplained. Hiccups can also be a symptom of a stroke or a tumor. But many times, the cause is just "nothing." Hiccups have been studied for thousands of years, since the time of Hippocrates. In fact there is even a technical term for hiccups, "singultus." But as of yet, there is no known cure. There are, however, many home remedies. Some involve stimulating the back of the throat, like sipping ice water, swallowing sugar, or sucking on a lemon. Others interrupt normal breathing, like holding

To prevent skin cancer:  FDA pushes for more-informed daily sunscreen use. Even the most dedicated daily sunscreen users may not be using the right kind of product, and many are not using enough of what they do use, says the Food and Drug Administration. Three types of products are involved: Sunscreen. A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays. It should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. People with fair skin should use SPF 30. Antioxidant cream. Face cream containing antioxidants helps to prevent the sun's rays from causing free-radical damage, which can accelerate aging and wrinkles. Some sunscreens also have antioxidants. Makeup. Cosmetics with SPF act as an extra shield against the sun, especially when their SPF comes from a natural sunscreen like zinc oxide. Dermatologists quoted in The Wall Street Journal suggest applying makeup before sunscreen. * FDA guidelines say any product with an SPF of 14 or lower and pr

Summer is a great time to travel. If you or a loved one is a senior, you should be aware of some extra precautions to take before hitting the road. Check with your doctor before you leave. Ask if you should take any special precautions while away. Your doctor may ask you to come in for a check-up and will be able to suggest any vaccinations you may need if you are leaving the country. On your trip, you should bring a list of your current medications, copies of your prescriptions, and details of any medical conditions you have. You should also pack a list of contact information for not only family, but also all of your physicians. All of your medications should be placed in your carry-on bag and should be kept in their original containers. This can help you get through customs more easily and is helpful in the event you need a refill while you are away. Finally, enjoy some of the perks of being a senior. Ask about special shuttle services, early boarding procedures, and discounts for se

Overeating is the result of habits and if you can target those habits and resolve them then the overeating and subsequent weight gain will be a thing of the past. Humans are habitual beings and most things we do in life are the result of habits. The problem with habits is the fact that they generally start with very small changes in our life and more often than not we don't even notice them. Once they become habits though it is very hard to break the cycle and make changes. Many people who are overweight have a number of habits that all combine to create the state that they find themselves in. And what makes matters worse when food is involved is the way that it reacts with our body and in particular those foods that are low in nutritional value causing hunger and the need for ever increasing quantities in an attempt to keep us satisfied. How often do you find yourself eating due to the particular emotional state of mindthat you are in?  It is common for people