Daily Health Tips: Trusted Medical Information, Health Tips and Advices

1. Kale Cooked kale, spinach, collards, and turnip greens (along with broccoli and eggs) are crammed full of lutein and zeaxanthin -- two powerful antioxidants that may help protect against retinal damage and the onset of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.   2. Oranges Vitamin C-rich fruits and veggies -- like oranges, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, and red bell peppers -- help support blood vessels in the eye and may reduce the risk of cataracts. 3. Peanuts Peanuts are a good source of vitamin E, a nutrient known for protecting eyes from free-radical damage. Vitamin E may also hinder the progression of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Almonds, sunflower seeds, and hazelnuts are other good sources of vitamin E. 4. Kidney Beans Your eyes do love a cup of red kidney beans straight out of the can. Why? Because they are a good source of zinc, a mineral that is vital to eye health. It helps get vitamin A from the liver to th

Study found omega-3 fatty acids linked to lower risk of age-related macular degeneration. MONDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- Women who consume fish regularly -- and the abundance of omega-3 fatty acids found in that meal choice -- have a lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), new research suggests. This latest evidence of a protective link between fish oil and eye health mirrors past research that has found the same benefit. In this study, Harvard researchers performed a dietary analysis on more than 38,000 women. "Our observational data needs to be confirmed in randomized trials," cautioned study author William G. Christen, an associate professor with the division of preventive medicine in the department of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. "But already the message seems to be simple and strong," Christen added. "Fish oil, that is the omega-3 fat

Why zinc is good for you, how much you need, and where to get it Benefits of Zinc Zinc is an essential mineral that helps wounds heal and keeps your immune system strong. But does zinc help prevent colds? Recommended Amount: How Much You Need To prevent zinc deficiency, the current government guidelines recommend 11 milligrams (mg) of zinc per day for men and 8 mg for women. For optimal health and disease prevention, RealAge recommends adults get 12 mg of zinc per day, preferably through food. Too much zinc can interfere with your body's ability to absorb other vitamins and minerals, so if you take a daily zinc supplement or multivitamin, opt for one with no more than 15 mg of zinc. Good Sources of Zinc Oysters, raw (3 medium) 16–25 mg Lamb chop (3 ounces) 6 mg Ground beef, 85% lean (3 ounces) 5.3 mg Ricotta cheese, part-skim milk (1 cup) 3.3 mg Turkey, no skin (3 ounces) 2.6 mg Kidney beans, canned (1/2 cup) 2 mg Yogurt, plain, low fat (8 o

What works -- and what doesn't -- when it comes to revving up your immune system Once you notice trees dropping their leaves, days getting shorter, nights getting darker, and the air feeling a little crisper, you can be sure of two things: Drugstore aisles will be crammed with cold and flu preventions, from echinacea to zinc. And "coffee talk" with friends, family, and coworkers will inevitably turn to how to prevent a cold or the flu – or even ways to steer clear of the latest virus. Seems like everyone has his or her own method for preventing colds and flu, from simple rules like never leaving the house with wet hair, to more deliberate methods such as: Taking a special combo of vitamins and minerals Sipping an effervescent vitamin drink Getting a daily dose of an herbal remedy Loading up on garlic You know that taking steps to protect your immune system is wise. In fact, doing so can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger. But on the flip side, ta

Sounds like a miracle -- fatty potato chips made with a fat substitute that doesn't go directly to your hips. But a new study suggests fat substitutes could have an unforeseen downside: They might make the numbers on your bathroom scale climb higher, not lower. Mind-Bending Meal In a laboratory experiment involving animals on high-fat diets, researchers noticed that the group given potato chips made with a fat substitute actually gained the most weight and developed the most fatty tissue over a 28-day period. The reason? Scientists think that when something fatty is tasted, it triggers the brain to prepare the body for a large amount of calories. When the body doesn't get those calories, the systems that regulate food intake become confused, which can result in overeating and weight gain. The study used an animal model and more research is needed to see whether the same result occurs in people, but the scientists note that there are some similarities between hu

You slather on sunscreen, limit sun time, and keep an eye on those moles. But here's one more thing you could do to prevent skin cancer: pop a calcium and vitamin D supplement. In a large 7-year study of women who'd previously had skin cancer, those who took a calcium and vitamin D supplement every day experienced 57 percent fewer melanomas compared with the women who didn't take the supplement. How D Controls Cells More research is needed to confirm the results of this early study. And researchers are not yet sure whether a calcium and vitamin D supplement could play a role in helping prevent melanoma in people who've never had the disease. But plenty of other research has shown that vitamin D -- which helps control how quickly cells replicate -- has the potential to keep the growth of many different types of cancer cells in check, including colon, breast, and prostate cancer cells. And if you've had another form of skin cancer, you're at high

Okay, it's no news flash that blueberries are nutritious. But here's something you probably didn't know: They may help keep your arteries from clogging. In an animal study, researchers discovered that blueberries could have the power to cut LDL cholesterol levels almost in half. Blueberry Boost In the study, scientists noted that the blueberry health benefits persisted even when the test subjects were fed a high-fat diet. At the end of the 3-week study period, the blueberry-supplemented diet had reduced LDL (the bad stuff) cholesterol by as much as 44 percent. And total cholesterol had dipped 27 percent. Pretty impressive numbers. More study is needed to see whether the same benefits would hold true in humans, but researchers are optimistic.    How Sweet It Is Researchers think that blueberries may help keep blood fats down because of their liver-supportive nature. The liver is the organ that helps the body get rid of excessive levels of cholesterol . A

1. Ask for a Thyroid Collar When X-Rayed Thyroid disease affects as many as 59 million Americans, and many experts believe that the number of people affected is only going to rise further in the 21st century. The thyroid is the master gland of metabolism and energy, and problems with the gland affect everything from weight, to mental health, to fertility, heart disease risk, and many other important aspects of our day-to-day health. Are there ways to reduce your risk of developing a thyroid condition? Definitely! Here are 10 suggestions that can help you reduce your risk. Ask for a Thyroid Collar When X-Rayed When you get dental x-rays, or x-rays of the head, neck, or collarbone area, does the x-ray technician use a lead collar on your thyroid? Most likely, your answer is no. And that means, your thyroid is being needlessly exposed to radiation. The thyroid is particularly sensitive to radiation, and excessive radiation exposure is a known risk factor for various thyr

Next time you feel a little foggy or forgetful, brew yourself a refreshing glass of iced green tea. A recent study provides convincing evidence that the brew may help boost memory performance and attention in older adults who have mild cognitive impairment. A Cognition-Boosting Brew The study involved older adults who were given green tea supplement extract to take twice daily, along with an extra amino acid that's found in green tea -- L-theanine. And compared with a control group given a placebo, the tea takers exhibited sizeable improvements on tests that measured their memory and attention skills. It's not quite clear how green tea enhanced their cognitive functions, but the researchers suspect that it might have something to do with the extra L-theanine. Something about this compound may help produce a jump in theta-wave activity in regions of the brain responsible for memory and attention.    Memory in a Cup? And although the study participants took a

Pimples are a serious adolescence problem. They appear on the cheeks, forehead and the nose. Six out of ten teenagers suffer from this problem. It is very common among teenagers and people in their twenties. Why do Pimples and Acne flare up in Youth? Acne is not caused by germs. The male sex hormones cause acne. As soon as one crosses childhood and enters the threshold of adolescence, different parts of our body start developing. The oil glands underneath the skin become over-active and ooze grease. This often blocks the pores and pimples sprout. What to do in case of pimples? Use sulfur soap to keep oil glands clean. Clean the day's make-up at night before going to bed. Steam your face once in a week to keep the pores open. A Fuller's earth (Multani mitti) pack is an effective means of controlling pimples. Take a spoonful of honey mixed with rose water daily. Apply cucumber juice mixed with rose water. What to Avoid? Do not neglect pimples. Be ale