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HELPING CHILDREN SHED POUNDS -- Alabama pediatricians say families can work together to help overweight children shed unhealthy pounds. "Childhood obesity has increased dramatically in this country during the last two decades," says Dr. Frank Franklin of the University of Alabama, Birmingham. "It is a real issue and a real challenge for parents to help themselves and their children lose weight and keep it off." He advises parents to: eat the way you want your children to eat (the mirror rule); be consistent and persistent in following the prescribed diet; encourage and help healthy eating; do not inflict blame, shame or guilt; enjoy family and food; and, eat socially and slowly.

FENNEL -- This Greek herb has been used since ancient times for digestive problems. It combats gas and bloating in the stomach and intestines and sooths an aching stomach. Fennel has also been used by nursing mothers to increase milk flow.

COMMON REASONS FOR SNORING -- Snoring may be your nocturnal clue to the following unhealthful - but treatable - conditions and causes: 1. Stress. The higher your stress level, the greater your likelihood of snoring. 2. Diet. A healthy diet will promote healthy sleep. Junk food and eating on the run contribute to snoring problems. 3. Alcohol. If you indulge in spirits, refrain from having a nightcap. Alcohol consumed within two hours before sleep will increase snoring. 4. Sleeping pills. Sleeping pills suppress the central nervous system and increase your likelihood of snoring. 5. Smoking. Smoking irritates and enlarges mucous membranes in the throat and reduces overall oxygen intake.

CARBON MONOXIDE -- Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is both colorless and odorless. It is the number one cause of accidental poisoning in the United States. When inhaled, carbon monoxide reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen. The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is increased during winter months when windows are closed and heaters are on. Some ways to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning are by having chimneys, vents, flues, heating systems, and gas appliances checked regularly for leaks or blockages. Also, never run your car or other gasoline engines in a closed garage. Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector, which is a relatively inexpensive device available at most hardware stores.

BROILED OR BAKED FISH REDUCE STROKE RISK -- The consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish is associated with a lower risk of stroke in the elderly, a Boston study finds. Eating one serving of fried fish or fish sandwich per week, however, increased the risk of a stroke by 10 percent, according to study leader Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of the Harvard School of Public Health. The study, published in the "Archives of Internal Medicine," found a 14 percent lower stroke risk with a consumption of broiled or baked fish one to three times per month, while eating broiled or baked fish one to four times per week reduced stroke risk by 28 percent.

ADULT ACNE NEEDS TREATMENT -- Doctors say rosacea, commonly called "adult acne," should be treated to reduce serious psychological and social problems. The skin disorder, which causes the face to puff bright red, affects an estimated 14 million Americans, often leading to low self-esteem, embarrassment and frustration. The symptoms vary, making the condition difficult to diagnose, while onlookers may think it contagious or a result of heavy drinking or poor hygiene. Alcohol can exacerbate the symptoms, but does not cause the condition. Patients often fail to comply with treatment because most of the medications smell like sulfur, or rotten eggs. Upsher-Smith Laboratories, scientists say they have come up with pleasant-smelling, alcohol-free Clenia (sodium sulfacetamide 10 percent and sulfur 5 percent) Foaming Wash and Emollient Cream. In a National Rosacea Society survey, 70 percent of sufferers said effective treatment improved their emotional well-being.

A PET CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE -- Having a pet in the house can be a valuable addition to therapy and recovery. Studies have shown time and time again that a pet raises health levels and increases life expectancy. In a recent study of 8,000 people, all of the subjects over age 40 who had pets had lower blood pressure than those without pets. The men in the study between 30 and 60 years old also had lower cholesterol if they had pets. Pet therapy can be especially helpful for children with disabilities and the elderly. Many nursing homes are including pet rooms as part of their layout. This allows the residents to visit with the animals for as long as they like during the day, but it keeps the animals from those who are allergic. Autistic and other developmentally handicapped children show many improvements when they are allowed to interact with animals, plus it may make it easier for adults and children to approach them and start a conversation.

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WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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** Q & A #1:
Is it important to pay attention to even a small increase in blood pressure?

Yes, especially as you age. There are numerous reasons to watch your blood pressure, such as the additional workload elevated blood pressure places on the eyes, heart, and blood vessels throughout the whole body. "Hypertension Journal" reported some interesting results of a study headed by Dr. Gary Ford at the University of Newcastle in the UK. The study included 200 men and women. Those with moderately high blood pressure, averaging 164/89, did worse on tests of memory and reaction time than those with lower blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If it starts to creep up, do something about it.

** Q & A #2:
I have heard that tea can provide health benefits, can you tell me more?

Yes, most teas generally contain phytonutrients, especially antioxidants. They need to be consumed as soon as possible after brewed for best utilization of their ingredients. Loose teas are best, then tea bags, followed by instant tea and finally bottled. Steeping teas for 3 to 5 minutes releases the highest level of antioxidants. Black tea is known for its content of natural fluoride, which can help maintain healthy teeth. Do not be concerned about adding a little milk. At reasonable levels, it has not been shown to interfere with the tea ingredients. Green, black, and red teas all contain some caffeine, about half of that contained in regular coffee and as much as one-fourth that of stronger, gourmet coffees. Many delicious teas are made from herbs and have been used for centuries for their health-supporting benefits.

** Q & A #3:
How much time do I really need to devote to exercise?

Some exercise is better than none. If you, like most people, try to spend "too much time" exercising, you will probably not continue, thus losing all the benefits. Today more and more experts are realizing that consistency is more important than intensity. The old "make it burn" mentality is out the window. Both resistance exercise, such as weight training and aerobic exercise, are important. Resistance exercise is important for maintaining healthy body composition, strength, healthy insulin levels and bone density. Aerobic exercise is important for promoting cardiovascular health as improving circulation to all organs of your body. The University of Florida completed a study that demonstrated people who spent 20 minutes doing just one set of weightlifting repetitions were nearly as fit - relative to endurance, strength and body composition - as those who spent 1 hour (triple the time) completing three sets. Those individuals that spent more time performing the three sets were only 2% stronger at the end of the study. In general, fitness experts agree that you can accomplish a significant amount of good with 20 minutes of aerobic exercise, too. It is usually recommended that you exercise five or six days a week. In a nutshell, by the time you get ready, exercise and wind down, less than an hour can cover the entire exercise regimen.

** Q & A #4:
Which form of vitamin E is the best for supplementation?

The National Academy of Sciences has raised the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin E to 22 IU. The review panel also noticed the importance of getting the right type of vitamin E. Studies comparing natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) with the synthetic form (dl-alpha tocopherol) show that the natural form can be as much as two times as effective than the synthetic. One way to remember which is which is to think of the "d" as "delivers" and "dl" as "delivers less." The upper limit for daily intake of vitamin E, set by the National Academy of Sciences, is 1,000 mg. In the past, and still in most cases today, vitamin E amounts have been expressed in IU. (international units) but it is becoming more and more popular to express vitamin E content in mg (milligrams). Generally speaking you can multiply the mg amount by 1.5 to get the IU amount. So then 1,000 mg of natural vitamin E would provide 1,500 IU of activity. To obtain the IU amount of synthetic vitamin E, you multiply the mg amount by 1.1. Thus 1,000 mg of the synthetic form would provide 1,100 IU of activity.

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THE HERBAL CORNER