Health Tips for March 31

Acne Prevention
Hormones play a great part in acne, but you can help by keeping a clean face.

Fibromyalgia Myth
Some doctors doubt it exists, but spinal fluid analysis shows changes in neurotransmitter chemicals.

COPD Tip
If you have severe COPD, ask your doctor about the need for home oxygen.

Dental Health Tip
Make sure you get a full soft tissue examination for cancer screening at every dental checkup.

Depression Tip
Daily exercise has been shown to be as effective as antidepressant medications in fighting depression.

Health Tips for March 30

Five More Tips to Look Young and Healthy

Think Positively
Your mental health directly affects your physical health. Adopt a positive attitude towards life. It's the way to look young and healthy.

Morning Walk
A morning walk is a must. It's one of the most effective ways to attain good health and youthful skin.

Carrots and Sweet Potatoes
Carrots contain beta-carotene, a natural ingredient that fights wrinkles and fine lines. Eat at least one carrot daily.

Yoga
Yoga is one of the best exercises for fresh skin and a healthy body.

Health Tips for March 29

Four More Tips to Look Young and Healthy

Benefits of Apple Juice
Drinking apple juice promotes healthy skin. Also, apply fresh apple juice to your skin daily. Apple juice is helpful in removing fine lines and wrinkles.

Use of Glycerin, Lemon Juice and Rose Water
Use glycerin, lemon juice and rose water in equal amounts. Mix and apply to your face, hands and neck, before going to bed at night. This solution is very effective for younger-looking skin.

Aloe Vera Gel
Apply aloe vera gel as a face mask on your face, neck and hands. Let it dry for 20 minutes then wash your face with cool water. If you have dry skin, add vitamin E oil to the gel and blend it well before applying.

Steam Bath
Take a steam bath at least once a week. This will help your body remain healthy and young.

Health Tips for March 28

Four More Tips to Look Young and Healthy

Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet is very important for general health as well as the health of your skin.

Use Natural Skin Products
Use products that contain natural ingredients and herbs which are good for the skin.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most effective anti-aging agents. Enrich your daily diet with foods containing vitamin E. Use skin care products that are enriched with vitamin E.

Vitamin A
Use of Retinol A; a pure form of vitamin A, can help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.

Health Tips for March 27

Four More Tips to Look Young and Healthy

Sunblock
Sunlight damages and dehydrates your skin. Apply a good sunblock, according to your skin type, at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun.

Avoid Smoking
According to medical researchers, smoking enhances the aging factor 45 percent. Avoid smoking to stay healthy and young.

Drink Enough Water
Take plenty of water to have fresh skin. Water helps to hydrate the skin and removes impurities from the body.

Forget Stress and Stay Happy
Stress not only impacts your mental health, it damages overall health. Those who are happy and avoid stress, look younger and healthier.

Health Tips for March 26

Four Tips to Look Young and Healthy

Sleep
Sleep is very important for good health and for healthy skin. If you want to attain and retain fresh and soft skin, get 6-8 hours sleep daily. Enough sleep helps to regulate your body's metabolism and is a natural way to remain young.

Exercise
Regular exercise is a must for good health. If you exercise daily, your body will remain active and function properly.

Olives
Eat green olives daily to look younger.

Eat Fruits and Vegetables
Having enough fruits and vegetables in your diet will surely result in fresh, younger skin and a healthy body.

Health Tips for March 25

Five More Foods to Help You Snooze

Popcorn with Cheese
Popcorn with cheese is a good combination of carbohydrates and dairy. Dairy contains tryptophan which helps in releasing sleep hormones and the carbohydrates in popcorn help to absorb the tryptophan.

Chia Seeds
Eating chia seeds raises the level of melatonin and serotonin in the blood that enhance stable sleep.

Tart Cherry Juice
Tart cherry juice is rich in melatonin which regulates sleep patterns.

Turkey Burger with Spinach on a Whole Wheat Bun
It's a best meal for perfect sleep; plenty of tryptophan and serotonin. And spinach contains iron which is known for the relief of restless leg symptoms.

Valerian Tea with Honey
A cup of valerian tea with honey before going to bed may help you sleep. The tea contains natural compounds that help to decrease the amount of time taken to fall asleep. The glucose in honey helps you to relax.

Health Tips for March 24

Five Foods to Help You Snooze

Warm Milk
A glass of milk can help you sleep better because it contains tryptophan, a sleep-inducing substance. Almost all dairy products are rich in tryptophan.

Whole Wheat Products
Whole wheat products contain magnesium, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. All these nutrients are sleep-friendly.

Vegetables
A German study shows that vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli and kale contain vitamins that fight stress and induce peaceful sleep.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can make you fall asleep sooner by speeding up the release of tryptophan.

Bananas
Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium which help to relax muscles and give a peaceful night's sleep.

Health Tips for March 23

Conception Tip
Keep an accurate calendar of your menstrual cycle to predict ovulation days.

Healthy Skin Tip
Expensive skin creams are not better than classic, inexpensive Nivea cream. Save skin and money!

Osteoporosis Tip
Extension-based exercises such as golf are good for maintaining spinal bone health. Avoid flexion.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Tip
Keep your weight under control. Inflamed joints do not tolerate unnecessary trauma.

Vitamin Tip
Make sure any Vitamin E in your supplements is natural Vitamin E.

Health Tips for March 22

Diabetes Myth
There is no such thing as "mild" diabetes. The important question is, "Is it controlled?"

Eating Disorders Tip
Talk with a therapist. Eating disorders may signify an underlying psychological problem.

Healthy Cooking Fact
About 30% of heart attacks and strokes could be prevented with the Mediterranean diet.

Heart Failure Fact
The most common cause of right-sided heart failure is left-sided heart failure.

Kidney Failure Fact
The leading causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure.

Health Tips for March 21

Acne Fact
Eat what you want. No food has been proven to make acne worse or better.

Fibromyalgia Fact
Fibromylagia means algia (pain) in your fibers (connective) and myofascial (muscle) tissue.

COPD Myth
All people with COPD are smokers. Most are, but there are other causes.

Dental Health Fact
The average person brushes for 45-70 seconds a day. The recommended amount of time is two minutes.

Depression Tip
If you lose all interest in things you normally enjoy, you could be depressed.

Health Tips for March 20

Diabetes Tip
Diabetics should keep their feet moisturized regularly, especially in cold temperatures.

Eating Disorders Tip
Don't listen to the negative comments your mind tells you! Your weight/size does not define you.

Healthy Cooking Tip
Myth: Fat-free is healthy. Fat-free usually means a lot of sugar which can also cause weight gain.

Heart Failure Tip
Asparagus is a natural diuretic.

Kidney Failure Tip
Ask your MD what your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is, and what should it be?

Health Tips for March 19

Acne Tip
Avoid touching your face and further damaging your skin.

Fibromyalgia Myth
A person can simply "get over" fibromyalgia with the passage of time or wishful thinking.

COPD Tip
Coughing plays a protective role in COPD and routine use of suppressants is not recommended.

Dental Health Tip
Teeth with composite bonded fillings are generally less sensitive to hot and cold than amalgams.

Depression Tip
When fighting a bout of depression, structure your time. Have something on the calendar each day.

Health Tips for March 18

Osteoporosis Tip
Don't smoke cigarettes. It decreases bone density.

Peripheral Vascular Disease Tip
Myth: Amputation is inevitable.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Tip
It is not a myth. Falling barometric pressure (usually indicating rain) will increase joint pain!

Tip on Vitamins and Supplements
Myth: That they are always safe to use because they are "natural."

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Tip
Surgery is not inevitable if you are proactive with your inflammatory bowel disease.

Health Tips for March 17

Depression Tip
Regular exercise is a stress reducer and helps to relieve depression. Besides, it is good for you.

Diabetes Tip
Check to see if you can get a free pair of custom diabetic shoes covered through insurance.

Healthy Cooking Tip
In eating healthier, think of meat as a condiment instead of the main part of the meal.

Heart Failure Tip
Proper diet, proper sleep and proper exercise can be beneficial to those with CHF.

Kidney Failure Tip
Doses of many medications must be adjusted for kidney patients, or those with poor kidney function.

Health Tips for March 16

Cardiac Tip
Unless the doctor instructs otherwise, drink eight glasses of water a day while taking water pills.

Kidney Health Tips
Control blood pressure, Consume a low salt diet. Avoid those NSAIDs!

Acne Tip
Wash your face daily or twice daily, but do not scrub. Scrubbing will irritate your skin.

COPD Tip
If you have advanced COPD, ask your doctor if you are a candidate for lung volume reduction surgery.

Dental Health Tip
If you know you clench or grind your teeth, ask your dentist about the use of a night guard.

Health Tip for March 15

Dental Health Tip
Missing teeth should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent shifting and other problems.

Depression Tip
It's true that rainbows; never rise in sunny skies; tears are part of living.

Diabetes Tip
With challenging weather, be sure to have enough diabetic supplies at home and in an earthquake kit.

Eating Disorders Tip
Listen to those that love you. Purging, laxative use, and fear of eating are signs to get help fast.

Healthy Cooking Tip
Cooking vegetables like spinach provides more antioxidants than eating them raw.

Health Tips for March 14

Healthy Cooking Tip
Rather than frying breaded food, try baking in a convection oven.

Healthy Heart Tip
Check the labels of prepackaged foods. You may be surprised at the amount of sodium.

Acne Fact
80% of the population has acne at any given time. You're in good company!

Fibromyalgia Tip
Regular practice of Tai Chi can be more effective than medications for treatment of fibromyalgia.

COPD Tip
Air hunger is not lack of oxygen. It is the build up of carbon dioxide. Breathe out longer and deeper.

Health Tips for March 13

Fibromyalgia Tip
Opioid narcotics are not an effective management tool for the chronic pain of fibromyalgia.

COPD Tip
Oxygen therapy causes dry eyes. Use artificial tears four times a day.

Dental Health Tip
Chewing gum too often may contribute to TMJ pain and discomfort.

Depression Tip
Exercising outside in the morning can help with your depression by exposing you to sunlight.

Diabetes Tip
Take your socks and shoes off so your doctor can look at your feet at every visit.

Health Tips for March 12

Living with Fibromyalgia
A pristine diet, free of sugar, food additives, fried foods and other toxins is needed for fibro treatment

Healthy Cooking
Buy foods in as close to their natural state as possible, not packaged or processed.

Dental Health
Use a soft bristle brush angled against your gums in a circular motion to clean teeth.

Acne Treatment
Benzoyl peroxide 5-10% topical treatments are the best over the counter medicines for acne.

Heart Failure Facts
Survival is improved by beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and aldosterone blockers.

Health Tips for March 11

Eating Disorders
If there is a history of bulimia, be sure to have your teeth checked for enamel damage.

Healthy Cooking
When thickening soups, add pureed (blended) artichoke hearts. They're low fat and healthy.

Kidney Failure
If you have CKD (chronic kidney disease), ask about transplant options long before you need one.

Heart Failure Haiku
Monitor your blood pressure regularly; Take your meds religiously; Cut back on the salt fervently.

Living with Depression
Learn how to nurture yourself by writing a journal, exercising and taking time with good friends.

Health Tips for March 10

Cardiac Care
Be careful of preprocessed foods. Check the sodium content. You will be surprised.

Healthy Cooking
Grilling foods allows the fats to drip out, leading to lower calorie intake.

Living with Depression
Exercise is a natural antidepressant.

Diabetes Care
If you have tingling, burning, numbness or other odd sensations in your feet, ask your doctor about neuropathy.

Skin Care
If your cleanser tingles and stings, that's a bad sign. Do not use the product.

Health Tips for March 9

Heart Fact
Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood to the body.

Healthy Cooking
There is no such thing as a canola plant. Use coconut or olive oil which are healthier.

Diabetes Care
Know your latest Hemoglobin A1c (the lower, the better).

Dental Health
Tie floss in a circle instead of wrapping it around your fingers.

Living with Acne
Lower stress. If you obsess about your skin, you will make it worse.

Health Tips for March 8

Fibromyalgia Fact
A majority of fibromyalgia patients also have sleep apnea.

COPD Treatment
Ask your doctor whether you would benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation.

Dental Health
Have a travel pocket toothbrush and a sample of dental floss with you for midday meals and snacks.

Diabetes Care
At least yearly dilated eye exams are recommended for diabetic patients.

Healthy Cooking
Overcooking your vegetables destroys their nutritional value. Eat your veggies lightly cooked.

Health Tips for March 7

Have Some Honey
Research suggests that honey may be more effective than over-the-counter cough syrup at quelling nighttime coughing. Use a medicinal-grade variety such as manuka honey and take up to 2 teaspoonfuls at bedtime.

Eat Broccoli
For healthy gums, put this green vegetable on your grocery list. It's an excellent source of vitamin C and provides calcium as well, both of which have been linked to lower rates of periodontal disease.

Bone Up on Calcium
Studies have found that supplementing with 500 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily may ease premenstrual symptoms. Other research suggests that getting calcium from foods (low-fat dairy, whole grains, cruciferous vegetables, spinach, and beans) may also ease PMS.

Seek Out Slippery Elm
To soothe a sore throat, try slippery elm, which can help ease pain by coating irritated tissue. Look for slippery elm lozenges and suck on them as needed.

Drink Green Tea
Hot or iced, green tea can help rev up your workout. Its catechins, antioxidants, and caffeine help increase the metabolic generation of heat. Drink a cup about 10 minutes before exercising.

Health Tips for March 6

Find Friendly Fungi
The medicinal mushroom cordyceps has traditionally been used to promote lung strength, and some studies show that it may improve symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Look for capsules or tinctures of cordyceps; follow package directions.

Break Out the Duct Tape
Stick it to warts with this unusual remedy. Some research found that applying the tape over problem areas for about a week helped clear up warts as well as conventional treatment. Duct tape may work by irritating the skin, triggering an immune reaction that fights the infection typically responsible for warts.

Wash Up
To fend off colds, washing your hands well and often is the best step you can take. Use plain soap and water and scrub for as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday to You" twice.

Try a Tincture
For that most unpleasant of stomach upsets, diarrhea, blackberry root tincture can help. This herb contains tannins, substances that have astringent effects on the intestinal lining. Look for the tincture at health food stores or online. Take 1 teaspoon of it in water every two to four hours until symptoms subside.

Chew Some Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds are considered a carminative, a substance that helps relieve gas. Chew and then swallow about half a teaspoon of the seeds after meals.

Health Tips for March 5

Drink Cranberry Juice
Cranberries contain a substance that appears to keep bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract and has been shown to help prevent UTIs. Because cranberry cocktail is high in sugar, drink unsweetened juice diluted with water or take capsules of powdered cranberry extract.

Swab Your Soles
Are you tired of having stinky feet? Kill odor-causing bacteria quickly by soaking a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wiping your soles as needed.

Drink Mint Tea
Ease occasional indigestion by sipping a cup of peppermint tea after your meal. Peppermint improves the flow of bile, which moves food through the digestive tract more quickly. Use peppermint with caution if you have acid reflux; it can make that problem worse.

Get Your Daily D
Get your vitamin D level checked with a simple blood test. D is at least as important as calcium for strong bones, and most Americans don't get enough. Get a minimum of 1,000 IU a day through supplements and food.

Try a Tongue Scraper
To combat bad breath, consider investing in this inexpensive plastic or metal device to remove bacteria from the back of your tongue. Some studies suggest that adding tongue scraping to your regimen may be slightly more effective at eliminating breath odor than just brushing your teeth.

Health Tips for March 4

Watch Your Carbs
Trying to reduce belly fat? Pay attention to your carbohydrate intake and avoid artificial sweeteners. Sugary snacks and other refined carbs spike blood sugar and cause pounds to settle in your midsection. Choose whole grains, beans, and vegetables instead.

Use Calendula Products
To ease acne, forgo benzoyl peroxide for lotion or soap made from calendula flowers, which may have antiseptic effects.

Cayenne Pepper
To warm up cold feet, sprinkle a bit of cayenne pepper into your socks. This folk remedy may help warm your toes by increasing circulation and improving blood flow.

Use Licorice
Treat canker sores, painful spots on the inside of the mouth, with deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which appears to soothe mucous membranes. Buy in powder form and mix with a little water to make a paste; apply it to the sore as needed.

Call a Friend
Keeping your social networks alive and well may help benefit your ticker over the long term. Social support has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, and people who do have heart attacks fare better if they are socially connected.

Health Tips for March 3

Go Natural
Avoid products that can damage or dry out your fingernails, such as formaldehyde-containing polishes and acetone-filled removers.

Eat Japanese Food
In addition to following good dental hygiene, you can help prevent cavities by adding more shiitake mushrooms and wasabi to your diet. Both foods contain compounds that help fight the bacteria that cause plaque and cavities.

Consider Black Cohosh
Evidence is mixed, but several studies have found that women who take the herb black cohosh during menopause may experience fewer and milder hot flashes. Talk to your doctor about whether it's right for you; if so, choose a well-studied brand such as Remifemin.

Hydrate
To treat an acute migraine, drink a full glass of water -- dehydration can trigger headaches. Even if you need to take a medication for the pain, try wrapping your head with an Ace bandage so that it covers your eyes, then lie down and breathe deeply. This often helps the pain pass more quickly.

Try Acupressure
Calm a queasy stomach with this quick acupressure trick: Use your index and middle fingers to press down on the groove between the tendons that run from the base of your palm to your wrist. Wristbands that apply pressure to this spot are available at drugstores and online.

Health Tips for March 2

Try Triphala
Avoid constipation and stay regular with Triphala, an Ayurvedic blend of three fruits that is believed to help tone the gastrointestinal tract. Look for capsules of Triphala and follow package directions.

Make Small Talk
Engaging in casual conversation with others may help keep you as sharp as doing a word puzzle, according to some studies. Just 10 minutes of daily chatter appears to improve mental function and preserve memory.

Befriend a Bottle
For heel and arch pain, try stretching your foot by rolling it over a rolling pin or a bottle.

Arm Yourself with Arnica
Homeopathic creams, gels, and ointments that contain arnica, a flower similar to the daisy, have long been used to relieve swelling and bruising. Rub into the affected area, but stop using if you develop skin irritation.

Go for GLA
If you've ruled out other causes of hair loss, such as stress, overuse of hair-care products, and certain medications and diseases such as hypothyroidism, consider supplementing with evening primrose oil. It's a good source of gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid that's needed for hair growth and is hard to get from your diet. Experts recommend taking 500 milligrams twice a day; expect to wait eight weeks to see results.

Health Tips for March 1

Try Tea Tree Oil
For athlete's foot, reach for tea tree oil, an extract of the leaves of an Australian tree. It appears to have antiseptic properties and may work as well as or better than over-the-counter antifungal products. Apply a light coating of the oil to affected areas two to three times a day; continue for a week or two after symptoms disappear.

Take Tulsi
Research suggests that this Ayurvedic herb, also called holy basil, may help manage levels of the stress hormone cortisol, helping to boost your mood. Look for teas and supplements in health-food stores and follow package directions.

Eat Avocados
For dry skin, incorporate more avocados into your diet. They're rich in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E, both of which promote healthy skin. Try them on salads and sandwiches, and even in smoothies.

Keep Echinacea Close
If you feel a cold coming on, consider reaching for this age-old remedy. A 2007 meta-analysis showed that the herb can reduce cold symptoms. Aim for three grams daily in tincture or capsule form, starting at the first sign of symptoms.

Invest in a Neti Pot
Plagued with sinus problems? Rinse your nasal passages twice a day to flush out pollen and other irritants. Put saline solution (a 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup warm water) in a plastic squirt bottle or a nasal irrigator, a spouted container that allows you to pour water directly into your nose. The solution should fill your nasal cavity and spill out the other nostril. Gently blow your nose afterward.