Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Health Tips for November 19

Health Tip: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Maintaining the pounds you've lost through diet and exercise involves watching what you eat, and how much.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions:

  • Plan on four or more daily servings of whole grains -- including whole wheat breads, pastas, crackers and cereals. Servings should be spread throughout the day.
  • Get five or more servings each day of fruits and vegetables, which may include frozen, dried or canned fruits and veggies.
  • Keep protein servings to two or three per day, and stick to lean proteins such as skinless chicken or turkey, eggs, fish or dried beans.
  • Have at least two servings of low-fat dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt or cheese. If you're pregnant or breast-feeding, raise the amount to three or four servings per day.
  • Limit fats, oils and sweets to only a small amount each day.

Health Tip: Conditions That May Affect a Newborn's Skin

A newborn may have noticeable skin conditions that shouldn't affect them much later in life.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of skin changes that may occur as the young infant matures:

  • Babies -- especially if premature -- are often born with a soft, fine hair called lanugo covering the skin. But it should disappear within a few weeks.
  • It's normal for a newborn's skin to be splotchy, peeling or cracking. This also should improve over time.
  • Acne in infants is common, but doesn't usually last more than a few months.
  • Small white spots called milia that occur on baby's cheeks and nose should fade within a few weeks.
  • Small red spots on baby's forehead, eyelids, lips, and neck are caused by stretched blood vessels, and should disappear within about 18 months.

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