by
Brenda Kearns
Reduce Wrinkles with Seafood
According to
researchers at Michigan State University, the key to keeping your skin
healthy is to eat six ounces of fish three times weekly. It’ll actually
cut wrinkling and sagging by 30 percent. “Fish is packed with protein,
minerals and omega-3 fats -- nutrients that nourish the collagen and
muscles that keep skin smooth,” says dermatologist Nicholas Perricone,
M.D. “My favorite is salmon, because it’s also rich in astaxanthin -- an
antioxidant that reduces fine lines and wrinkling.”
Fight Fatigue with Green Tea
“I keep a pot of green tea on my desk and sip it all day long,” says
Vincent Giampapa, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New Jersey. “It keeps me
energized and focused, yet it doesn’t give me jitters the way a pot of
coffee would!” Green tea has compounds that help your brain use blood
sugar for fuel and stimulate the production of energizing hormones
called endorphins, say researchers at the University of California,
Davis.
Heal Injuries with Music
A review of
14 studies found that patients who listened to one hour of soothing
music daily recovered from injuries more quickly. They also required 25
percent fewer painkillers. The reason: Music lowers your production of
damaging stress hormones, plus it relaxes arteries, improving the flow
of nutrient-rich blood to injured tissues. “Music touches, and heals,
almost every cell in the body,” says Mitchell L. Gaynor, M.D., director
of Gaynor Integrative Oncology in New York. “It’s my first pick when I’m
feeling under the weather.”
Kill Viruses with Honey
Unpasteurized
honey is packed with natural antibiotics and healing enzymes, and
nibbling it when you’re ill can cut three days off your sickness, say
University of Illinois researchers. It also kills the bugs that cause
sinus infections and other cold complications,” says Mark Moyad, M.D.,
director of preventive medicine at the University of Michigan Medical
Center. “I take two teaspoons daily when I’m sick, and it soothes my
sore throat, reduces coughing and speeds my recovery -- something
over-the-counter cold meds never did.”
Snap out of It with Dark Chocolate
This
mouth-watering snack is rich in flavonoids -- compounds that relax and
open the arteries that send oxygen-rich blood to the brain, increasing
memory, concentration and focus for two hours straight. The catch? “At
least 80 percent of today’s chocolate is loaded with sugar and has few
healing flavonoids,” says Joseph C. Maroon, M.D., a Pittsburgh
neurosurgeon. “So, I stock up on bars that are 70 percent dark
chocolate, and enjoy one or two ounces daily.”
Boost Moods with Vitamin D
Vitamin D shortfalls plague 80 percent of women, since your skin can’t
produce this nutrient without regular blasts of strong, direct light,
say Boston University doctors. And D shortfalls dampen your brain’s
ability to produce mood-boosting serotonin, leading to the sadness and
even depression. The good news: Taking 2,000 IUs of vitamin D daily can
correct a shortfall in as little as two months. “Within one week of
starting vitamin D, I felt upbeat, energetic and 10 years younger -- I’m
still amazed at how much better I feel!” says Robin Miller, M.D.,
director of Triune Integrative Medicine in Medford, Oregon.
Erase Anxiety with Belly Breathing
Even doctors feel overwhelmed when life throws them too many curves. “I
use belly breathing to quell stress and anxiety -- it’s phenomenal,”
says Anne Kulze, M.D., spokesperson for the Prevent Cancer Foundation in
Alexandria, Virginia.
To do: Inhale slowly and deeply through
your nose for a count of seven, allowing your belly to relax and expand
as you do. Hold for a count of four, then slowly exhale through your
mouth for another count of seven. Repeat until you feel zen. According
to Canadian researchers, belly breathing tamps down stress hormone
production, cutting anxiety by 63 percent in one minute.
Improve Memory with Turmeric
Starting
to feel a bit forgetful? Adding turmeric to your diet could sharpen
your memory 30 percent or more, suggests a study in the Journal of Neurochemistry.
“Turmeric’s active ingredient -- curcumin -- is one of the most
powerful brain-nourishing antioxidants ever discovered,” says Dr. Kulze.
“I add 1/4 teaspoon to my meals four times weekly -- it’s delicious in
tuna, rice and chicken dishes.”
Strengthen Immunity with Veggies
”I’m often in contact with sick people, so I eat lots of colorful
veggies to prevent illness,” says Dr. Kulze. “Carrots, peppers, sweet
potatoes, kale...colorful vegetables are the true superstars for
boosting immunity.” The more colorful the better -- because it’s what’s
in the plant’s pigment that keep the lining of your respiratory tract
healthy so viruses can't get a toehold and increase your production of
disease-fighting immune cells. Eating two cups daily will cut your risk
of illness in half, say UCLA researchers.
Strengthen Your Heart with Walnuts
Enjoy 1/3 cup walnuts daily and
you’ll cut your risk of a heart attack in half and add almost three
healthy years to your life, say UCLA researchers. Turns out these
crunchy treats are one of the richest natural sources of artery-healing
monounsaturated fats. “I’ve been snacking on them for years,” says
pediatrician Jim Sears, M.D., co-author of The Baby Book. “People think they won’t like the flavor, but whenever I set out a bowl, they quickly disappear!”
Lose Weight with a Hula Hoop
“When
I first tried hula hooping I felt incredibly clumsy -- but within eight
weeks, the roll around my middle and the fat pads on my hips had
completely disappeared!” says Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of The Wisdom of Menopause.
“Now I hula hoop while watching TV to keep my weight steady during the
winter -- the time of year when I find it easy to overeat and tough to
exercise.” To do: Aim for 10 minutes, twice daily.
Prevent Blood Sugar Fluxes with Cinnamon
According to USDA researchers, adding 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to your
daily diet could improve your blood sugar control by 29 percent or more
-- it slows carb absorption in your small intestines. “For years, I
struggled with wild blood sugar swings -- and the cravings were so bad I
had to keep fudge icing in the cupboard for emergencies,” says
urogynecologist Larrian Gillespie, M.D., author of The Menopause Diet.
“But within 72 hours of adding cinnamon to my diet, my cravings started
to fade — and by day 10, my hunger pangs, eating jags and bloating were
a thing of the past!”
Nix Aches and Pains with Naps
At least 67 percent of women will struggle with headaches, backaches,
sore joints or other pain problems this year alone. Yet Cornell studies
suggest getting a little more sleep could cut your discomfort in half
within one month. “Sleep boosts your production of growth hormones,
which reduce inflammation and speed healing of damaged tissues,”
explains Jacob Teitelbaum M.D., medical director of Texas’ Fibromyalgia
and Fatigue Centers. “I aim for eight hours of sleep nightly to prevent
pain, and if I’m shortchanged during the week, I catch up by napping on
the weekend.”
Shut down Cravings with Fruit Appetizers
“When my
kids and I have a yen for treats, we don’t deny ourselves -- but we
always start by eating a piece of fruit,” says Dr. Sears. “Funny things
is, that fruit appetizer almost always shuts down the cravings!” The
health payoff: Fruit’s healing antioxidants not only protect against
heart disease and cancer, they also slow brain aging, plus keep your
skin looking up to six years younger, say Cornell researchers.
M.D. Advice on how to Get Great Advice from Your M.D.
Sure, she’s busy. But you can get much chattier, more helpful recommendations if you:
1. Walk in with a List. Writing down your concerns beforehand will keep both of you on track, so you don’t leave without a plan of action.
2. Ask how She’d Treat this Problem Herself. Her family’s favorite remedy could become yours, too.
3. Ask how She’d Explain It to Her Grandmother. Everything in medicine can be explained in plain English. If your doctor uses medical gobbledygook, ask for the “Grandma Friendly” version!
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