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Home Humidifiers

Using a tabletop humidifier can help soothe nasal and respiratory passages when you of a family member have the flu or a sore throat. Portable units can also provide relief for adults and children with asthma and dry skin or dry eyes.

But don't let the remedy to one problem result in another. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these tips to keep your portable humidifier free of harmful mold, fungi and bacteria.

* Change the water in your room humidifier daily. Empty the tank, dry inside surfaces, and refill with clean water,

* Use distilled or demineralized water. Tap water contains minerals that may promote germ-friendly film and scale build-up.

* Clean the humidifier often. Unplug the humidifier before cleaning and follow manufacturer's instructions.

* Maintain the relative humidity in your home between 30 and 50 percent if possible. You can measure humidity with an instrument called a hygrometer, available at your local hardware store.

Foot Care For Life

Daily inspection of the feet is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle, especially for diabetics. When inspecting the feet, look for the following:

* Color changes. Pale or light-blue toes may indicate poor circulation. Black skin is a sign of dead tissue; redness with streaks often signal infection. Red spots are caused by friction or pressure and may also turn into blisters, corns or calluses.

* Swelling, tenderness, and an increase in foot size may be symptoms of decreased blood flow.

* Temperature changes. Warm areas may result from an infection. Cool or cold areas indicate circulation problems.

* Sensation changes. Early indications of problems or damage to nerves in the feet include numbness, tingling, burning or lack of feeling.

* Cracks, sores, and ulcers. Abnormal pressure is the most common cause of ulceration of the diabetic foot.

* Ingrown toenails. Too-tight shoes (that squeeze the toes) can contribute to deeper penetration of the skin by the nail, which results in swelling, redness and pain.

Stretching For Flexibility

Sitting for hours every day, day after day, can shorten the flexor muscles across the front of the hips and contribute to lower back pain by causing the pelvis to tilt forward. A daily exercise regimen can help stretch hip flexor muscles such as the iliopsoas, and increase one's ability to fully straighten the hip joints.

Fitness expert Kay Mikesky recommends the following exercises to work the hip flexors:

Hip flexor stretch:

* Bend your knees and place both hands on your left knee.

* Extend your right leg behind you as far as possible, resting on your toes.--As an alternative, extend the right leg behind you, onto a bed.

* Keep your left knee directly above your left heel.

* Lower the front of your pelvis toward the ground (don't expect it to move very far downward) and hold for 15 seconds.

* Stand and repeat stretch on your left side.

Full-body stretch (on floor or bed):

1. Lie on your stomach on the floor or bed with legs straight and arms extended to your sides.

2. Concentrate on extending (straightening) your hip joints as much as possible.

3. Hold for 15 seconds.

4. Relax, then repeat stretch. Increase repetitions as able.

Eat Out, Eat Right

Italian restaurants rate high on Americans' hit parade of ethnic favorites; along with Mexican and Chinese, they're one of the big three. In her book Eat Out, Eat Right! published by Surrey Books, dietician Hope Warshaw offers the following advice for selecting healthy Italian menu options.

Soy Many Choices

Soy is an inexpensive way to add protein to your diet, and it may help reduce calories, saturated fat and cholesterol when substituted for meat. Consuming soy foods as part of a healthful diet seems to pose no health risk. Mayo Clinic experts offer these ways to include soy in your diet:

Soy milk: use it with cereal or in a smoothie. Check that it's fortified with calcium and B vitamins.

Soy flour: Substitute this product for up to 20 percent of the total flour in baked goods.

Roasted soy nuts: These taste similar to peanuts and are available in a variety of flavors.

Soy burger: It looks and tastes similar to ground beef.

At right is a great-tasting smoothie using Silk Vanilla Soymilk.

Smoothie Colada

Serves 2

8 ounces Vanilla Silk Soymilk
6 ounces pineapple juice
2 tablespoons coconut cream
1/2 cup frozen pineapple, diced
6 ice cubes

Dice pineapple and freeze overnight. Combine ingredients in blender and cover. Blend until smooth. Pour into two glasses, Garnish with any fruit.

www.silkissoy.com

Green flag words:

Lightly sauteed

Tomato-based sauces--marinara, Bolognese, cacciatore

Tomato sauce and meatballs

White or red calm sauce

Light red sauce

Piccata

Red flag words:

Alfredo

Carbonara

Saltimbocca

Parmigiana

Lasagna

Cannelloni

# posted by Medical Information : 3:07 AM