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IMPORTANCE OF RADON TESTING -- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging Americans to test their homes for radon, a radioactive, invisible, odorless gas linked to lung disease. Researchers say that January is a good month for such testing because families spend more time indoors during the winter months. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The EPA estimates some 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year are related to the gas. Radon comes from the decay of naturally occurring uranium in the earth's soil and can accumulate indoors to dangerous levels. The EPA recommends houses with radon levels of 4 picocuries or more be fixed to prevent further accumulation of the gas. For information about a discounted radon home test kit, contact your state radon office, visit http://www.epa.gov/radon, or call 1-800-SOS-RADON.

PORTABLE AND SPACE HEATERS DANGER -- Keep space heaters at least three feet (one meter) away from anything combustible, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets, and people. Never leave space heaters operating when you are not in the room or when you go to bed. Do not leave children or pets unattended with space heaters and be sure everyone knows that drying clothing over space heaters is a major fire hazard.

TIPS FOR PROTECTING ANKLES -- Icy roads make for injured feet and ankles, which should be treated with ice, rest, and a visit to the doctor, doctors say. "When the thermometer dives below freezing, the office fills up with patients who have injured their ankles and do not know if they have suffered sprains or fractures," said Kris DiNucci, spokesman for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Applying ice and elevating the leg help reduce pain and swelling around the joint, he advises. The old adage that if you can walk on it, it is not broken does not always hold true, and an evaluation by a podiatric food and ankle surgeon is recommended to set the sprains apart from the fractures, he says. Injury-preventing tips include: keep areas around outside doorways well lit so ice patches are visible, wear shoes or boots with traction soles, check for slippery spots before getting out of the car, avoid high-heeled shoes, and stretch and warm up before participating in sports.

CRANBERRIES CAN FIGHT TOOTH DECAY -- Get ready to pamper your taste buds and protect your teeth against decay at the same time as a new research has revealed that cranberries are an important weapon in fighting tooth decay. The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has said that cranberries can prevent a host of oral health problems, including gum disease and tooth decay. Following up on a research carried out by the University of Rochester in New York, the BDHF discovered that cranberry juice stopped harmful bacteria sticking to the teeth. Cranberry juice also ensures that plaque never gets a chance to form. "Cranberry juice is naturally very acidic. Every time you drink something acidic the enamel on your teeth is softened temporarily. If given time to recover, then your saliva will neutralize this acidity in your mouth and restore it to its natural balance," says Dr. Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. However, the researchers have cautioned that the intake of cranberries should be limited to only the meal times as its excess can have some harmful effects. "However, if this attack happens too often the mouth does not have the chance to repair itself and tiny particles of enamel can be brushed away. This is called erosion. Erosion can cause pain and sensitivity in the teeth, and once the enamel has worn away can also leave your teeth open to decay too - so try to keep cranberry juice to mealtimes only," Dr. Carter added.

ONIONS AS CANCER-FIGHTERS -- Cornell University scientists say flavorful onions, such as New York Bold or Western Yellow, and shallots can stop the growth of liver and colon cancer cells. "No one knows yet how many daily servings of onions you would have to eat to maximize protection against cancer, but our study suggests that people who are more health-conscious might want to go with the stronger onions rather than the mild ones," says study leader Dr. Rui Hai Liu. Researchers have known onions may help fight cancer, but the new preliminary study, reported in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," goes a step beyond, comparing cancer-fighting abilities among 10 commonly consumed varieties and shallots, which resemble onions but, in fact, are a separate species. The types with the strongest flavor had the highest antioxidant activity, an indication they may be better able to destroy charged molecules called free radicals, an excess of which is thought to increase the risk of disease, particularly cancer, the researcher says.

COOL YOUR TEMPER -- Are you a hot head? A less hostile outlook may help keep your heart rhythms steady. Studies in men revealed that men who are generally hostile or often openly angry may have as much as a 30% greater risk of developing irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke. Instead, try to keep calm and under control even if something makes you irate. Taking a walk, counting to 20, practicing some deep breathing, and doing so stretching can all help to relieve the tension you may want to let out. Instead of yelling or getting worked up, recognize that something is making you angry and do what you can to either eliminate it or avoid it. If you can keep your temper under control, you could be saving your heart hundreds of unnecessary beats.

REDUCE STROKE RISK -- To reduce your risk of stroke, keep green and yellow in mind. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is important for good health. However, green and yellow veggies may be particularly good for reducing stroke risk. Daily intake of green and yellow vegetables was associated with a 26% reduction in the risk of death from stroke, compared to eating the veggies once or fewer times per week.

HOUSEHOLD DUST CONTAINS PBDEs -- Common household dust may be an important source of a potentially dangerous class of chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, U.S. researchers say. The team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Environmental Protection Agency surveyed 17 U.S. homes and found high concentrations of PBDEs in household dust, ranging from 700 to 30,100 nanograms per gram. Researchers analyzed both dust from floors and clothes dryer lint for 22 variants of commercial PBDEs and found them in every sample. PBDEs - used in consumer products as flame retardants - can accumulate in human blood, fat tissue and breast milk.

DVT INFO -- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that can form in the legs or pelvis when a person is confined to a constricted space for a long period. Besides being painful, DVT can turn fatal if fragments of the clot dislodge and travel to the lungs where they can trigger a pulmonary embolism. Airline passengers who find themselves sitting for hours during a long flight are particularly susceptible to developing DVT. By some estimates, as many as 100,000 airline passengers may die from complications associated with DVT every year. One of the most important things to be aware of with DVT is that it can strike healthy people who have no previous cardiovascular problems. In fact, people who exercise regularly are at somewhat greater risk of DVT complications because they tend to have low resting pulse, which may help prompt DVT during long periods of inactivity. Others who may be at greater risk of DVT include: 1. Those who have previously experienced DVT; 2. Those with a family history of DVT; 3. Anyone who has experienced trauma to the legs; 4. Those who have recently had surgery on the legs, feet, or in the abdominal or pelvic areas; 5. Those who may suffer from diabetes, heart or liver disease, or certain cancers, such as colon, ovarian, stomach, liver, pancreatic, or lymphatic cancers; 6. Obese people; 7. Those over the age of 40.

FIT FOR LIFE -- A study of 9,925 women by a Texas research group concludes that even though excess weight can shorten longevity, physical fitness may have a more significant effect. Using treadmill tests to determine the fitness levels of the subjects (with an average age of 43 years), the researchers tracked them for 11 years. They then compared the fitness levels of those who had died during that time period. They found that the women in the lowest of the three fitness groups died (of any cause) twice as often as those in either of the other two groups. The women judged to be "moderately fit" had been able to walk two miles in less than 40 minutes, three times a week.

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WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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Q & A #1:
How can I get my child to try different fruits and vegetables?

The most important way to get your child to eat and try more fruits and vegetables is to be a role model and let them see you eat your fruits and vegetables every day. Include them in the shopping and let them pick out new fruits and vegetables to try. Also, have a large supply of fruits and vegetables at home - whether they are fresh, frozen, canned, or in juice form - so if they available for snacking. Cut fruits and vegetables into different shapes and sizes and even dip them in low-fat fruit and vegetable dips. Have your child keep track of all the different fruits and vegetables that they try!

Q & A #2:
Is it okay for my child to occasionally skip breakfast?

Have you heard the phrase that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day?" Well it is true! Children learn better if they eat breakfast every day. It fuels their bodies with important nutrients and keeps them from getting morning tummy aches. And if they eat breakfast, it helps to control the urge to snack or eat a big lunch. Some quick, easy ideas for a yummy breakfast are cereal with milk and fruit, peanut butter on whole wheat toast, bagel with cheese, oatmeal with fruit, and pita bread and yogurt.

Q & A #3:
I have problems digesting dairy products. Are there other calcium-rich foods that I could try to make sure that I get all the calcium that I need?

As you probably know, calcium is important for strong bones and teeth and in helping your muscles work right. If you do not get enough calcium, you will lose it from your bones and they will become weak and break easily. Most adults need 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium each day. Try these calcium-rich foods to make sure you get all the calcium that you need everyday: broccoli, kale, turnip greens, almonds, sardines, calcium-fortified orange juice, calcium-fortified cereals, lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk, yogurt (can be easier to digest in small amounts).

Q & A #4:
What is gelatin?

The word gelatin comes to us from the French word geatine meaning "edible jelly" and gelato meaning "to freeze." In Italian, it is gelatina. An odorless, colorless, tasteless thickening agent is the nutritious glutinous protein material obtained from animal tissues by boiling. Most comes from beef bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and pigskin. However, there exists a variety of substances that are non-animal derived and possess the same properties as gelatine such as: cellulose (amid), agar-agar (derived from seaweed), biobin, guar gum, xanthan, carob fruit, and others.

Q & A #5:
Can popcorn be considered a "healthy snack?"

Popcorn - high in fiber and low in calories - can be good for your health if you keep it free of oil, butter, and cheese, nutritionists say. Noting the average American eats some 59 quarts of popcorn each year, the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource offers some kernels of wisdom on keeping popcorn a healthy snack. These include: consider air-popped popcorn, the healthiest kind, with 93 calories and no fat in a 3-cup serving; when preparing popcorn, use a monounsaturated fat, such as canola oil, olive oil or safflower, corn or sunflower oils; check labels carefully for fat, calorie, and sodium, which vary considerably for microwave or pre-popped popcorn; look for the light varieties with no more than 2 grams of total fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 200 milligrams of salt in a 3-cup serving; be careful around movie theater popcorn, which tends to be high in saturated fats and calories; and, avoid super-sized portions.

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