They're the modern version of the old-fashioned medical house call - the first study is being reported in The Archives of Internal Medicine on "e-visits," which allow you to confer with your doctor online, while he or she has full access to your medical record.  You answer a series of detailed questions about your condition, and your doctor replies through an online portal within an hour or two.  He or she can prescribe medication electronically or recommend an in-person visit - and it all happens right at your home office desk.  Researchers have tracked four primary care practices that offer e-visits, and they've found that there are pros and cons:  after examining data from e-visits for two conditions - sinusitis and UTIs - they found that patients were no more likely to need follow-up care than those who saw doctors in person.  Researchers also, though, found that doctors may be more likely to prescribe an antibiotic without ordering a culture.  This is a concern because over-prescribing of antibiotics across the country has led, it's thought, to an increase in drug-resistant germs. There's one thing that seems clear, though - e-visits, if they become the norm, will decrease consumer health spending. For a typical UTI visit, Medicare reimbursement for an e-visit is $40  - and it's $69 for an office visit. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119163337.htm

So imagine this scenario - you have a co-worker - (and I'll just state this clearly here - I DO NOT!) - who, for lack of a more polite way to describe it, doesn't smell so good.  You want to help, but you're afraid of hurting his or her feelings.  What's the best way to offer a little assistance?  If one American/Belgian company is successful enough, the answer may lie in the candy dish on your desk.  An American nutrition and health company has gotten together with a Belgian confectioner to create "DEO," a candy... that combats body odor.  The research that led to the idea comes out of Japan, where scientists found that rose oil, when it's consumed, produces aromatics that are exuded through the skin - much like garlic and other pungent foods.  But in the case of the rose oil, thanks to a compound called geraniol, the resulting smell is... well, rose-y!  A serving size of 4 pieces is appropriate for a person up to 145 pounds, and the effect can last up to 6 hours.  Deo Perfume candy is already on the market Spain, Germany, China, Korea, and Armenia and should hit shelves here in the U.S. soon.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/12/edible-deodorant-perfume-candy-to-cure-body-odor/

There's a new weapon in the battle against Alzheimer's Disease and dementia - but it's an altogether familiar one - aspirin!  New research reported by the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation is indicating that not only can a dose-a-day help you prevent heart attacks, strokes, and some forms of cancer - it may, it turns out, also cut your risk of Alzheimer's by up to 55%.  Considering the latest numbers, which reveal that 25% of Americans over the age of 70 suffer from some form of cognitive impairment, this could be a historic breakthrough - and the low cost of a baby aspirin a day adds to the appeal.  It's not a cure-all for everyone, however - there are risks associated with a daily aspirin, including G.I. bleeding.  But there are some neurologists who've already started prescribing their patients a low dose to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.  Experts advise talking to your doctor about whether a daily aspirin may be a good idea for you - and make sure to include all the other preventative measures you've heard about, too, in your daily life if you're concerned about memory loss of any kind - a good diet, regular exercise, avoiding cigarette smoke, and staying socially active.

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/aspirin-may-reduce-cognitive-decline

We don't want to thwart your enthusiasm for Halloween and the annual trick-or-treating ritual tomorrow night, but a recent study done by State Farm reveals that kids have a greater chance of being fatally injured by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year. Researchers analyzed more than four million records from 1990–2010 for kids up to 18 years of age for October 31st. That analysis revealed:

• 115 child pedestrian fatalities occurred on Halloween over the 21 years of this analysis. That is more than double the average number of fatalities for other days.
• Over 60% of the accidents occurred in the 4-hour period from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Over 70% of the accidents occurred away from an intersection or crosswalk.
• Most of the fatalities occurred with children ages 12-15 (32% of all child fatalities), followed by children ages 5-8 (23%).

It only makes sense, in light of these numbers, then, to pass along some trick-or-treat safety tips like those published by USA today:

• First, talk to kids about safety no matter how old they are and no matter how many safety talks they've already had.
• Know your route - stick to streets that aren't terribly busy.
• Kids should be reminded to cross at crosswalks, carry flashlights, wear reflective, light colored costumes and clothing and avoid masks that limit vision; makeup is a better choice.
• Parents should accompany kids up to at least age 12.
• And here's an especially important one - remind your solo-going tweens and teens to put away their cellphones, stop texting and taking pictures, and keep their eyes on their path.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/28/halloween-kids-pedestrian-deaths/1652807/

Cold and flu season is just about upon us - and as you're making preparations to fight being a victim, here's a recipe to soothe sore throats and keep you warm all winter long.  Slice some fresh lemons into a clean jar - add some local honey - and let the mixture sit in the back of your fridge.  Eventually - and it may take a while - what happens is that the lemons and honey congeal together into a marmalade-like mixture; once that happens, add a dollop to a teacup or mug, pour boiling water over it, and you have a tea remedy full of vitamin C and disease-fighting antioxidants.  Honey's a natural preservative, too, so the stuff should last in your fridge for a good long time.  Just keep adding honey and lemons.  It's been a winter solution in Asian countries for hundreds of years, and you can buy jars of it in Asian markets pre-prepared - but using locally grown organic honey and lemons will boost the health value of your tea base.  If you find your concoction too runny, you can boil it together with a little pectin, and you can use the base with other flavors - I can't imagine adding some fresh ginger would make it any less soothing.

http://catherineboley.blogspot.com/2009/08/preparing-for-winter.html

As a parent, you've likely suspected it - noticed a difference in the number of temper tantrums your toddler has after a good night of uninterrupted sleep, or that your preteen's a little less surly on the weekend when he or she gets to sleep in a little... now the November issue of Pedaitrics is backing you up.  Turns out a little extra sleep can make a major difference in your child's behavior.  According to a new study out of McGill University in Montreal, as little as 27 extra minutes of sleep a night can have a pretty dramatic effect on your child's mood and behavior.  The study included a group of kids aged 7 to 11 with no previously noted sleep, medical, behavior, or academic problems. The kids' bedtimes were moved up or back an hour relative to their usual bedtimes for one week. Then their daytime behavior was observed closely and rated by their caregivers at the end of the week. Kids who got as little as 27.36 minutes more sleep per night yawned less, and were reportedly less hyperactive, cranky, impulsive, and showed improvement in their attention span.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, children aged 5 to 12 need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night.  So next time yours asks you for "just another half hour" - you have a scientific reason to stick to the bedtime you've set!

http://children.webmd.com/news/20121015/little-extra-sleep-pays-off-kids

If you suffer from allergies, you can't help but have noticed that it's been a particularly brutal fall thus far.  It's not your imagination - the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology announced recently that this year's allergy season will extend through October, rather than ending in September as it normally would have.  Higher-than-usual temperatures have allowed pollen-producing plants to live longer and to produce stronger pollen.  While you may turn to your pharmacist to help you battle the sniffles, remember that what you eat counts - and affects your symptoms.
 

To relieve your sinus woes, make sure to work plenty of cruciferous veggies - broccoli, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower into your diet.  They not only contain Vitamin C (an allergy relief agent) but also have been shown to have sinus-clearing properties. Onions and garlic, celery, pumpkin, and carrots all contain compounds that will help, too.
 

Some foods, though, can work against you by triggering allergy symptoms. Some of the proteins in these foods can be mistaken by your body for the same allergic proteins in ragweed - and this leads to a condition called "oral allergy syndrome."  The worst offenders -  apples, bananas, melons, cucumber, zucchini, chamomile tea, honey, and nuts.  There is some good news if those are staples in your diet, though - cooking these foods neutralizes the offending proteins.

http://www.organicgardening.com/living/9-fall-foods-fight-your-fall-allergies?page=0,0

We think of broken bones as injuries affecting the very young and the very old - but the time to think about caring for and strengthening our skeletons is in middle age.  Eight million American women and 2 million men age 50 and older have osteoporosis.  Prevention is the best way to ensure we aren't dealing with snapped bones as we age.  Experts advise paying close attention to our diets, making sure we get enough of the building blocks necessary for bone strength:
 

• Calcium.  You need 1,000 mg from ages 19 to 50; and 1,200 mg if you're over 50, per the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
• But you can't absorb it without enough Vitamin D.  Aim for 600 IU daily for people ages 1 to 70; 800 IU once you reach age 70.
• Protein - and maybe more than you'd initially been led to believe was enough.  For example, the RDA for a woman who weighs about 154 pounds is 56 g.  But according to a 2010 multiuniversity study published in Aging Health, research suggests that another 21 g a day can improve bone strength - so aim for up to 77 g a day.

How do you know you're at risk for low bone density?  If you have a family history, have ever been on steroids for more than 3 months at a stretch, are a woman who had an early or abrupt menopause, or you've regularly consumed too much caffeine - you may want to ask your doctor for a DXA scan, the gold standard in bone strength assessment.

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/prevent-osteoporosis-and-bone-fractures?page=3&cm_mmc=Community-_-1053690-_-09252012-_-5-Simple-Steps-for-Strong-Skeleton

There's a collaborative initiative underway right now, a joint effort between DoSomething.org and Be The Match, to encourage college students to host bone marrow drives on their campuses.  There's a reason they're targeting colleges - there's a great need for donors between the ages of 18 and 24.  The "Give A Spit About Cancer" campaign is designed to increase awareness and spread information about the ease of joining the national Bone Marrow Registry - it takes just a 10-second swab of the inside of your cheek.  Growing the registry saves lives - while patients facing a bone marrow transplant look first to siblings for matches, in many cases no match is found there, and families turn to the national registry, hoping for a match from a total stranger.  Donating bone marrow is a relatively safe procedure, too. It involves the removal of only a small proportion of the body’s marrow, has little if any effect on the donor, there are no long term effects, and the donor’s body replaces the lost marrow within a few weeks.  This particular college drive, the second annual effort, is aiming to sign up 15,000 new donors - 8 lives were saved last year as a direct result of this campaign.  So if you  know a college student, we'd love it if you'd  be kind enough to pass along the word.  And perhaps if, having heard about it, you'd be interested in becoming part of the registry yourself - no matter what age you are - please find out more at DoSomething.org/spit.

http://www.dosomething.org/campaigns/spit

http://marrow.org/Registry_Members/Donation/Donation_FAQs.aspx#hurt

There's a new study out that says that our kids are facing a culprit in the school cafeteria and on grocery store shelves that we'd thought preyed mainly on adults - it's sodium.  In a new report out in yesterday's journal Pediatrics, it's reported that children are eating - make that overeating - as much sodium as adults, and in cases where they're already overweight, even just a small amount, it's raising their risk for developing high blood pressure as an adult.  Experts recommend that most people eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt a day, the equivalent of 1 teaspoon.  But children and adults alike consume an average of about 3,400 milligrams daily.  The lead doctor in this study found that "for every 1,000 mg of extra sodium in the children's diets, there was a one-point rise increase in blood pressure... The potential health effects of the small blood pressure variations seen in the study are not clear. But [doctors are saying] they may spell trouble later on." Most of the salt we consume is already in the foods we eat, not what we add at the dinner table.  So what, then, are the main culprits for kids? Breads and rolls, cold cuts, pizza, fresh and processed poultry, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pasta dishes, meat dishes and of course, bagged snacks - these account for 44% of sodium consumed, according a report released by the CDC in February.  The solution - read your labels and get those salt numbers down - even for the kids!

http://www.healthnews.com/en/news/Salt-intake-tied-to-higher-blood-pressure-in-kids/2OiKOfg0D8E9r0repFo4cE/

If you're into holistic health care and you've ever considered acupuncture - you should know about a new study out involving pain relief.  It was done by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York  and several universities in England and Germany, is actually a review of many PREVIOUS studies that compared traditional acupuncture to standard pain care or, for control purposes, to what's known as sham acupuncture, which places needles in different places on the body.  The review was exhaustive - it took almost seven years to complete, covered more than 18,000 people and rigorously examined data from 29 different studies.  The conclusion: people treated with any kind of acupuncture ended up having less pain than those who didn't receive it. And the result was similar no matter what kind of pain was being treated, whether it was chronic back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, or headache.  While in many cases the level of relief was moderate - about 30% less pain than those treated with medication - for patients dealing with chronic pain, even small amounts of relief are welcome.  To quote the authors of the study: The results "provide the most robust evidence to date that acupuncture is a reasonable referral option." The new analysis was published online yesterday in Archives of Internal Medicine.

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20120910/acupuncture-pain-relief

http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1357513

When you're sick - call a doctor.  But sometimes an office visit doesn't seem warranted...  for some of life's niggling annoyances, you need look no further than your kitchen for a fix.  Call these remedies old wives' tales if you like - but there's a reason experienced wives and mothers pass along cures they've discovered - that's because they really work!  Here are 4 that are pretty easy to remember:

• Got a wart? Clean the area, and rub a piece of DUCT TAPE over it.  Change the tape every couple of days - and between fresh pieces of tape, remove dead skin from the area with a pumice stone.  Repeat the process till the wart's gone.
• Do you have a tendency toward carsickness?  Take along some quartered LEMONS on your next road trip, and suck on them when the nausea hits - that sick feeling is exacerbated by an overproduction of saliva brought on by motion sickness, and lemon juice helps to dry out your mouth.
• Do you have flareups of eczema?  Rub the area with OLIVE OIL - and if it's in an area of your body that will allow it, cover it with plastic wrap and keep it covered overnight.  The natural antioxidants in the oil reduce inflammation - and the oil itself provides moisture without irritation.
• And this one is my favorite - to cure a case of the hiccups, swallow a spoonful of SUGAR and wash it down with a glass of water.  My grandmother taught me that one when I was eight - and I've never had it fail!

For more home remedies that really work, click here:

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/weird-home-remedies-actually-work

It's a constant complaint from those of us who want to get fitter - but just can't seem to work regular exercise into and already jam-packed schedule - "I just can't find the time!"  Well, a new study out of the University of Copenhagen may require us to come up with another excuse.  They put one group of sedentary, overweight males on a 30-minute per day exercise regimen - just 30 MINUTES - and at the end of the test period the group had lost just as much weight and body fat as a similar control group who'd been required to exercise for an hour a day.  The results were a real eye opener, even to researchers - they concluded that most people see 30 minutes per day as a more achieveable goal than 60 - and the feeling that they didn't have to sacrifice much in turn triggers less of what they describe as "compensatory eating due to a negative energy balance."  Energy balance is the balance of calories consumed through eating and drinking compared to calories burned through physical activity.  Think about that - while the energy burned during exercise in the high exercise group was double that of the moderate exercise group, the result was roughly the same accumulated "energy balance" - so there's actually a bigger benefit to exercising LESS every day.  Researchers were so enthused by the results, they're planning to study the effect based on other forms of exercise.  So if time is an issue for you - now you have proof that smaller time expenditures still yield big results.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/249356.php

Not sure if you heard the story or not, but Rosie O'Donnell had a heart attack last week.  She said she experienced some strange symptoms that she googled, realized they were symptoms of an impending heart attack, and when she got to the cardiologist the next day, found out that her coronary artery was 99 percent blocked.  Rosie was smart to question a group of symptoms that at first glance had no connection to her heart - it likely saved her life.  Everyone knows to seek help if they experience sudden chest pain, or pain in their left arm - but for women especially, the signs can be far more vague.  According to Dr. Chauncey Crandall, a prominent cardiologist, there are 4 heart attack pre-symptoms that women, especially, report in the days - even up to a month - before an incident.  They are:

• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Pain in the jaw or the back
• Extreme fatigue

While it's especially important for women to take note of these symptoms - statistics reveal that more women than men die in the hospital after an attack, mainly because women's symptoms are more subtle -Dr. Crandall has an especially personal reason for wanting men to take note as well - despite his vast knowledge of heart disease, he himself suffered a nearly fatal incident at the age of 48 that was preceded by symptoms he never connected to his heart.  To read more about what Dr, Crandall has to say about recognizing and preventing heart disease, click here:

http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/headline_health/woman_ignore_heart_signs/2012/02/22/435407.html

Quick pop quiz - where's the one place in your body where you're guaranteed to find over 6 billion bacteria living RIGHT now?  It's your mouth.  We all know that poor oral care habits contribute to halitosis and gingivitis - but studies are showing, increasingly, that poor oral health can be an indicator that there are other things going on in the rest of your body, too.  For instance -

• An infection in the mouth can be a breeding ground for chemical reactions that interfere with sugar and fat metabolism by affecting insulin secretion.
• Tracking periodontal disease in postmenopausal women seems to show a correlation between mouth problems and her rate of osteoporosis.
• High rates of cavities and other periodontal problems are a good indication that we're under too much stress.
• The harmful bacteria in our mouths can  work its way into our bloodstreams through bleeding gums and other small scrapes, possibly inflaming the tissues that line our heart.
• They've even done studies that show that poor oral hygiene has connections to premature birth.

Seems clear, then, that taking care of your mouth is a good way to improve the state of the REST of your body.  In addition to brushing, flossing, and rinsing DAILY, experts recommend chewing a stick of sugar free gum after every meal to promote saliva production to rinse the harmful bacteria away, replacing your toothbrush every four months, and of course, keeping you date with your dentist to stave off any serious dental problems.

http://greatist.com/health/oral-overall-health/

It's one of those things you hope you'll never have to use, but'll stay locked in your memory in case you ever need it - knowledge of how to perform CPR.  The newest method improves long-term survival rates with good brain function by 50 percent, so it's important to stay on top of what's new.  Back in 2010 there was a huge change in the recommended technique for lay people - the mouth-to-mouth part of the process that we were all taught back in high school was dropped, and a simple chest compression technique became the new standard.  At the time, it was recommended that if you were called upon to perform CPR , you deliver the chest compressions while singing the song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees in your head to help you keep the proper beat.  It would seem now that it's time to change your tune. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas recently completed a 5-year study working with local fire departments to improve how they perform CPR.  One of the things they found is that the chest compressions were being delivered at a slightly faster than optimal rate. It's been proven that more or fewer compressions have a substantially lower chance of restoring a heartbeat.  So the process comes down to three simple steps – call 9-1-1; use both palms to press hard on the center of the chest, and repeatedly hum the “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” tune while maintaining the compressions; do not stop until first responders arrive.  Sounds a little silly - but The National Institutes of Health started the program "Saving Lives with Metrics," based on this simple concept of delivering compressions to a measured beat - and they've seen amazing results in the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/06/29/researcher-row-row-row-your-boat-saving-lives/

We were warned this spring that a reduction in the mouse population here on the Cape would result in a worse-than-usual tick season - and while lots of us have already dealt with an uninvited stowaway or two after doing yardwork or hanging out at the beach - with so much warm weather still ahead of us, it doesn't hurt to pass along some tick-check recommendations from the CDC.  First of all, check yourself as soon as you come in from outdoor activity - don't give the buggers a chance to burrow!  If you can shower within an hour or two after you come in, that's especially helpful.  If you've been in an area that you suspect might have harbored ticks, check yourself throroughly using a hand-held mirror from head to toe - paying special attention, on yourself and your kids, to ears, underarms, bellybuttons, hair, between the legs and behind the knees.  Throw your clothing into the dryer and tumble 'em on high for an hour - that should take care of any strays that are clinging.  And don't forget to check your pets daily.  If you find a tick - dont panic!  Use a pair of tried and true fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk - what you DON'T want is for the mouth-parts to break off and remain under your skin. If this happens, do your best to remove the mouth-parts with tweezers but if you can't - the CDC recommends that you leave it alone and let the skin heal.  After every removal or removal attempt - clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and warm water.  And those folklore remedies like "painting" the tick with nail polish or vaseline, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin aren't worth messing with, says the CDC. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible--not to encourage it to detach.  For more about tick bite prevention and treatment, visit the CDC's website:  http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/index.html

Are you ready for the next superfood craze?  Get ready to hear a lot - if you haven't already - about the wonders of BEETROOT JUICE.  The deep red, not-so yummy beverage got some widespread attention when a report came out last year in the University of Exeter's medical journal suggesting that drinking the juice before a ride enabled competitive cyclers to take seconds off the time it takes them to ride a particular distance - they basically had a measurably higher power output after a glass of beet root juice.  The juice is high in nitrate - that lowers blood pressure, and also reduces the amount of oxygen your muscles need during strenuous activity.  So if it works in that kind of a measurable way for elite athletes - what could it be doing for the rest of us?  A team from the University of Reading studied its effects on patients with hypertension, and sure enough, they found that those who drank the juice realized an almost immediate - within 24 hours - reduction in blood pressure.   Further research by Swedish scientists seems to show that the juice has an effect on breathing - drinking it allowed swimmers to hold their breath significantly longer in tests, which means the juice may have positive benefits for climbers, singers, woodwind instrument players - anyone tasked with needing to hold their breath for a long period of time.  Still more research has shown that it may benefit obese people and those suffering chronic pain by curbing inflammation - and it fights free radicals (chemical by-products known to damage DNA).  So there's got to be a caveat, right?  Are there any negatives to the stuff?  Well, there's the taste for one thing  - it's offends most who try it.  The fix?  If you decide to make it a regular part of your regime, you may want to mix it with some apple or  pineapple juice to make it a touch more palatable.  For more on this "miracle juice" - click below!

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/health/health-briefs-researchers-find-beetroot-juice-has-kick-644852/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/25/health-beetroot-juice-boosts-breathing_n_1545006.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2119141/How-glass-beetroot-juice-lower-blood-pressure.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110701101744.htm

We all spend more time outside in the summer, and that means we have occasion to wash our hands more.  Our moms always told us to get the water as hot as we could stand it to get our hands really, really clean - but who wants to turn up the heat when it's 83 degrees and 90% humidity?  Here's some good news for those of you who use a garden hose as these days as often as you use your bathroom sink - it turns out that Mom wasn't necessarily correct (well, about THAT, anyway).  It's true that hot water will kill bacteria - but in order for it to eradicate most of what we come in contact with, it would have to be way hotter than we'd be able to stand.  So what IS effective, say, after an afternoon playing in beach sand, or weeding the garden, or manning the grill, or hitting the links?  A study out of  Northwestern University revealed that participants who washed their hands with soap for just five seconds killed almost NONE of the bacteria on their hands.  In the meantime, people who scrubbed with soap for 30 seconds killed ALL of the bacteria they were looking to kill.   That old saw - you should wash for as long as it takes you to recite the ABC's - turns out to have been founded in scientific truth!  It's also recommended you scrub all the surfaces of your hands - in between your fingers, under your fingernails, all over the backs - don't miss the nooks and crannies.  Soap is key - but there was no measurable difference between using antibacterial soap and just the plain old kind in this study.  The upshot?  It's time and effort that get your hands clean.  So feel free to save on your water bill by not letting it run forever to warm up - and make life a little easier on your skin, too, by using cooler water - especially now, during the Dog Days of summer.

http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/questions/how-hot-does-water-need-to-be-when-you-wash-your-hands

Let's face it - when it comes to healthy eating, the typical American diet isn't exactly exemplary.  Our love for sugar and meat and things that come in crinkly bags has led us to an obesity epidemic - one that isn't necessarily present in other areas of the world.  It's clear we need to consider something other than the American norm if we're going to turn our collective health profile around, and when it comes to changing our habits, we can learn a lot from people who live in other parts of the globe.  So - from Men's Health - here are some internationally tested habits that we should adopt for better health:

From Spain - slow down the rate at which we eat, not only savoring every bite,  but focusing on our eating companions rather than solely on the food.  One Japanese study found that men who eat slowly gained less than half the weight gained by faster eaters over an eight year period.

Form Okinawa - eat  more sweet potatoes.  In addition to Vitamin A, they're a rich source of the antioxidant glutathione, which has been shown to boost your immune system and protect you against everything from dementia, to cancer, to heart attacks.

From Greece - work more small fish into your diet.  Mackerel and sardines contain all kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, and they're low in contaminants as well.

From India - sprinkle a little turmeric on your chicken and fish recipes!  Turmeric contains curcumin  - a compound that's loaded with anti-inflammatory and possible anti-carcinogenic properties.

For more international advice, read on - this article's older, but the information's timeless:

http://articles.cnn.com/2007-08-31/health/cl.worldly.advice_1_dietary-guidelines-vegetables-antonia-trichopoulou?_s=PM:HEALTH

Seems to make sense - if you want to live a long, healthy life, get some advice from people who have lived... long happy lives!   That's exactly what United Healthcare did - and while there are a lot of behaviors that these "100 at 100" cited as having been helpful in getting to that milestone birthday, 2 pieces of wisdom seemed to be consistently mentioned in this study on the "Secrets to Aging Success:"  get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, and balance your diet.

Seems pretty basic, right?  But thousands of baby boomers - when surveyed in a parallel study, admit that they do neither on a regular basis.  While 71% of centenarians say they get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, only 38% of the baby boomers were able to say they rested as much.  And while more than 80% of those who'd reached 100 swore by a balanced diet daily,  only 68% of the boomers would call their diet balanced.

Other factors certainly were clearly impactful in successful aging - staying in touch with a social circle and family members; prayer, reflection, and meditation; and exercise all play a part -  but sleep and diet seem to be the two areas in which there's the biggest discrepancy between what the centenarians practice and  what today's baby boomers are actually doing.

With over 10,000 Boomers hitting 65 every day - this valuable first-hand advice is certainly something to consider.

As a side note, though, there's one subject on which centenarians and baby boomers are in perfect agreement - the celebrity with whom they'd most like to have dinner... is Betty White.

http://blogs.smartmoney.com/encore/2012/06/20/want-to-live-to-100-sleep/

http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/news/rel2011/UHC-100at100-Results-Report.pdf

Insomia - it can be a nightmare for those who experience it on an ongoing basis.  Not only is it frustrating and exhausting, but it can also harm you on a broader level - your chance of developing everything from heart disease to colon cancer have been shown to be greater if you don't get enough sleep.  So if you're plagued by too much wakefulness - the folks at Prevention have compiled a list of things you can do to get some more zzz's:

• First - keep a sleep diary.  Studies have shown that setting a sleep schedule and sticking to it can help - so track your sleep habits in detail for a couple of weeks.  This can help you spot behavior patterns that you may want to change.
• Exercise regularly - but not within 4 hours of bedtime!  Working out raises your body temperature, and that's BAD for sleeping - but after 4 hours you begin to cool down internally, and that triggers an increase in melatonin - GOOD for inducing sleep!
• Staying cool, then, is better than being warm. Experts usually recommend setting your bedroom thermostat between 65° and 70°F--Taking a warm bath or shower before going to bed can help too - your body temp goes up, then the cooldown cues your body to feel sleepy.
• If you're going to have a snack before bed - the ideal would be cheese and crackers about an hour before you settle in.  The comination of carbs, calcium, and protein boost serotonin, and help calm you down.
• And finally - contrary to popular advice, if you do wake up in the middle of the night and you're not overly anxious, stay put - and do some deep breathing or visualization  until you feel sleepy again.

For the complete list of 20 ways to get better sleep - click here:

http://www.prevention.com/health/20-ways-sleep-better-every-night

It’s gardening season – as you tend the growth of the seeds you’ve put in the ground,  consider this - many food experts consider seeds to be SUPER FOODS, and say we need to eat more.  Add just a handful – even a couple of teaspoons full in some cases – to your daily regime, and you’ll be adding protein, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients essential to healthy living.  So which power seeds should you look for? 

• Start with pumpkin – they’re great for snacking, and chock full of magnesium, iron, and zinc. 
• Everyone loves sunflower seeds – and just half a cup helps protect you against sun damage and even ward off depression! 
• Chia seeds boost your fiber intake easily and without changing the flavor of your food – you can even use them in your baking in place of some of the oil or eggs. 
• Sesame seeds are more than just a garnish – they’re loaded with calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  You can enjoy them in their spreadable form, tahini, by eating more hummus.  
• Hemp seeds are LOADED with amino acids that not only help build muscle, but boost our natural immunities as well – they taste nutty, so add some tasty crunch to yogurt or oatmeal. 
• Finally, if you love pomegranate seeds, you’ll likely enjoy papaya seeds too… the Chinese have been using them for centuries as medicine, and they’re rich in two fatty acids thought to have cancer fighting properties. 

Sprinkle ‘em, spread ‘em, or crunch ‘em – add some super seeds to your diet!

http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/6-superfoods-that-arent-on-your-radar?page=0,0&cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-937600-_-06072012-_-SuperfoodsRadar-body

• If you take aspirin, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers on a daily or regular basis  - a new study just out shows that you may be less susceptible to developing skin cancer. 

• Researchers analyzed data from over 50 studies involving more than 200,00 people - and discovered those who took a daily aspirin for at least three years were less likely to develop skin cancer, including the most deadly, malignant melanoma, by about 15 per cent. The longer the individual used aspirin, and the higher the dose taken, the lower the incidence of the cancer.

• Doctors, while hopeful, are also being cautious – they’re stressing that more research is needed to confirm and further explain their findings. They also point out that there are some negative effects of regular aspirin usage - including an increased risk of bleeding, and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

• So the best ways to avoid skin cancer continue to be using your sunscreen and staying out of the sun.  But if you’re already on a regimen that includes aspirin for a heart condition or arthritis – it’s nice to know it may give you a little extra…  bufferin'...  (sorry - a little NSAID humor, there!) 

• Here's more about the study:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/05/29/common-painkillers-may-help-prevent-skin-cancer-study