US cancer death rate drop tied to education levels

US cancer death rate drop tied to education levels
Declines in death rates from the four leading types of cancer in the US since the early 1990s have been driven largely by progress among college-educated men and women, researchers said. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, was the latest to illustrate how a person's health can be closely tied to socioeconomic factors such as education and income level. Researchers at the American Cancer Society and Emory University in Atlanta calculated death rates for lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer by level of education among US blacks and whites ages 25 to 64 for 1993 through 2001.
Obesity levels in China rising fast:
Obesity levels in China are rising fast, with more than a quarter of the adult population overweight or obese, as people add more and more meat and dairy products to their diet, causing serious health problems, a new study says. Of all the developing countries, only in Mexico is the rate of increase in obesity among adults faster than in China, the study, published in Health Affairs, says. Chinese people now derive a far larger proportion of energy from fat and animal-based foods, such as meat and eggs, compared with in the past, the study found.
Common wildlife is alien to UK kids:
UK children's knowledge of wildlife comes a poor second to their ability to identify science fiction creatures such as Star Wars characters, says a survey. The National Trust poll said that while only 50% knew what an oak leaf looked like, nine out of 10 were able to identify Jedi grand master Yoda. Only 29% of children were able to recognise a magpie, while 50% could not differentiate between a bee and a wasp. As part of its campaign, the NT plans to tour England's major cities in a specially adapted red bus, complete with an outdoor garden on the top deck.
'Green Wall' to check spread of Sahara:
Preparations for an African 'wall of trees' to slow down the southwards spread of the Sahara desert are getting underway. North African nations have been promoting the idea of a green belt since 2005. The project has been scaled down to reinforce and then expand on existing efforts, and will not be a continent-wide wall of trees, despite the name of the project. According to a report in Environmental News Network, the 'Great Green Wall' will involve several stretches of trees from Mauritania in the west to Djibouti in the east, to protect the semi-arid savannah region of the Sahel, and its agricultural land, from desertification.

BARING HER SOLE: A model presents shoes to promote 'Soulexpress', a shoe fair in Duesseldorf on Wednesday. About 100 young designers will present their latest shoe designs in the western German city

FASTER THAN A BLINK
Researchers at the University of Utah have found that certain songbirds can contract their vocal muscles 100 times faster than humans can blink an eye — placing the birds with a handful of animals that have evolved superfast muscles. They found that two types of songbirds produce tunes with superfast muscles, similar to those used by rattlesnakes, several fish and the ringdove. "We discovered that the European starling and the zebrafinch control their songs with the fastest-contracting muscle type yet described," said Coen Elemans, who conducted the study.

Jewellery can be a reason for backache

London: Those shiny earrings, neck chains and even fillings might be giving you the 'bling' edge over the others, but in the bargain you're putting your back at stake, that's what a leading chiropractor says.
    Simon King from New Zealand said earrings, neck chains, watches and even fillings and gold crowns could trigger debilitating muscle ache. His theory is "irritation from metal causes muscle inhibition which means muscles are weaker than is normal."
    Muscle weakness causes pain and injury resulting in back and neck pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, repetitive strain injury and slipped discs, he says.
    "Nobody wants to remove dental work or jewellery unnecessarily, but if an injury or health problem is going to cost you your job or sporting career or cause you years of pain and suffering, it may be worth having a crown or a filling replaced or going," the Mirror quoted him as saying.
    Explaining the science behind the theory he's been researching for the past eight years, Simon says wearing metal jewellery causes the nervous system to move body parts away as it's uncomfortable to the skin that surrounds them.
    The muscles used in that movement then place strain on other larger muscles as they try to maintain a distance. "One of the great advantages of this theory is that the treatments are all natural, completely safe and can be reversed at any time," he said. ANI

BLING AT A PRICE

Eating less a surefire way to longer life

LESS IS BETTER

Calorie Restriction Found To Cut Risk Of Many Diseases Such As Cancer, Heart Disease And Stroke

In the quest for the Fountain of Youth, researchers say that there is one antiaging trick that has been found to work — eating less. The formula for extending human lifespan by up to five years has now been accepted by leading researchers.
    Eating less could add years to your life, several experts now say. And done in moderation, it could at least help you live a more healthy life, reports LiveScience.
    While little short of a nip-and-tuck will make you look younger, calorie restriction, as it is called, is as close to a real Fountain of Youth as any known technique comes. Even scientists who are cautious about anti-aging hype say it works, both by cutting risks for some diseases and by allowing all body cells, somehow, to hang in there longer.
    "There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss, who last week announced a new study that brings fresh understanding to how it works. "And you may live to be substantially older."
    Here's a rough rule of thumb that many experts generally agree on now: Eat 15% less starting at age 25 and you might add 4.5 years to your life, says Eric Ravussin, who studies human health and performance at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.
    One important caveat: Ravussin's estimate is based mostly on studies of other animals and only preliminary research in humans. But the work by Weiss and others is unlocking the mysteries of aging and suggesting the animal studies apply to humans. "There is absolutely no reason to think it won't work," Live-Science quoted Ravussin as saying.
    Perhaps even more promising, though in early stages of research, are drugs designed on the basis of what's been learned from calorie-restriction studies. Those drugs would target human cells to deliver the same benefits, turning off bad things and turning on good things to extend cell life in general, or offer new therapies and cures to vexing diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.
    If you can hang in there until these promising new drug therapies are developed, you may live in a world where lifespan increases by 10 to 15 years, researchers say. Don't plan on living to be 200, Ravussin said, "but I think we're going to gain quite a few years."
    Scientists aren't sure exactly why calorie restriction slows aging. But they're on the verge of a firm understanding. In a nutshell, it is thought to lower metabolic rate and cause the body to generate fewer damaging "free radicals". One hypothesis is that it decreases a thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), which then slows metabolism and tissue aging.
    Evidence that calorie restriction boosts lifespans in rodents is solid. Christiaan Leeuwenburgh of the University of Florida's Institute on Aging showed in 2006 that eating just 8% less and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage in rats.
    Various studies have shown that cutting calories by 20 to 40% significantly both extends life and, with a little exercise, leaves old animals in better shape.
    Eating fewer calories also reduces agerelated chronic diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and stroke in rodents. That's important because it suggests ways to not just make us live longer, but to allow us to age more gracefully, healthwise. AGENCIES

Calorie Restriction Found To Cut Risk Of Many Diseases Such As Cancer, Heart Disease And Stroke

    In the quest for the Fountain of Youth, researchers say that there is one antiaging trick that has been found to work — eating less. The formula for extending human lifespan by up to five years has now been accepted by leading researchers.
    Eating less could add years to your life, several experts now say. And done in moderation, it could at least help you live a more healthy life, reports LiveScience.
    While little short of a nip-and-tuck will make you look younger, calorie restriction, as it is called, is as close to a real Fountain of Youth as any known technique comes. Even scientists who are cautious about anti-aging hype say it works, both by cutting risks for some diseases and by allowing all body cells, somehow, to hang in there longer.
    "There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss, who last week announced a new study that brings fresh understanding to how it works. "And you may live to be substantially older."
    Here's a rough rule of thumb that many experts generally agree on now: Eat 15% less starting at age 25 and you might add 4.5 years to your life, says Eric Ravussin, who studies human health and performance at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana.
    One important caveat: Ravussin's estimate is based mostly on studies of other animals and only preliminary research in humans. But the work by Weiss and others is unlocking the mysteries of aging and suggesting the animal studies apply to humans. "There is absolutely no reason to think it won't work," Live-Science quoted Ravussin as saying.
    Perhaps even more promising, though in early stages of research, are drugs designed on the basis of what's been learned from calorie-restriction studies. Those drugs would target human cells to deliver the same benefits, turning off bad things and turning on good things to extend cell life in general, or offer new therapies and cures to vexing diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.
    If you can hang in there until these promising new drug therapies are developed, you may live in a world where lifespan increases by 10 to 15 years, researchers say. Don't plan on living to be 200, Ravussin said, "but I think we're going to gain quite a few years."
    Scientists aren't sure exactly why calorie restriction slows aging. But they're on the verge of a firm understanding. In a nutshell, it is thought to lower metabolic rate and cause the body to generate fewer damaging "free radicals". One hypothesis is that it decreases a thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), which then slows metabolism and tissue aging.
    Evidence that calorie restriction boosts lifespans in rodents is solid. Christiaan Leeuwenburgh of the University of Florida's Institute on Aging showed in 2006 that eating just 8% less and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage in rats.
    Various studies have shown that cutting calories by 20 to 40% significantly both extends life and, with a little exercise, leaves old animals in better shape.
    Eating fewer calories also reduces agerelated chronic diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and stroke in rodents. That's important because it suggests ways to not just make us live longer, but to allow us to age more gracefully, healthwise. AGENCIES

Does Your Blood Type Reveal Your Personality?

Blood type and Rh How many people have it? O + 40 % O - 7 % A + 34 % A - 6 % B + 8 % B - 1 % AB + 3 % AB - 1 %   Does Your Blood Type Reveal Your Personality?   According to a Japanese institute that does research on blood types, there are certain personality traits that seem to match up with certain blood types. How do you rate?   TYPE O You want to be a leader, and when you see something you want, you keep striving until you achieve your goal. You are a trend-setter, loyal, passionate, and self-confident. Your weaknesses include vanity and jealously and a tendency to be too competitive. TYPE A You like harmony, peace and organization. You work well with others, and are sensitive, patient and affectionate. Among your weaknesses are stubbornness and an inability to relax. TYPE B You're a rugged individualist, who's straightforward and likes to do things your own way.  Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far and become a weakness. TYPE AB Cool and controlled, you're generally well liked and always put people at ease. You're a natural entertainer who's tactful and fair. But you're standoffish, blunt, and have difficulty making decisions. MOST IMPORTANT INFO NOW: ANIKANDAN, You Can Receive If Your Type Is O- O+ B- B+ A- A+ AB- AB+ AB+ YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES AB- YES YES YES YES A+ YES YES YES YES A- YES YES B+ YES YES YES YES B- YES YES O+ YES YES O- YES   KNOW ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HAVING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES   REGARDS, MANIKANDAN, Fruit Benefit Benefit Benefit Benefit Benefit     apples Protects your heart prevents constipation Blocks diarrhea Improves lung capacity Cushions joints   apricots Combats cancer Controls blood pressure Saves your eyesight Shields against Alzheimer's Slows aging process   artichokes Aids digestion Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver disease   avocados Battles diabetes Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin   bananas Protects your heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhea   beans Prevents constipation Helps hemorrhoids Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Stabilizes blood sugar   beets Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Strengthens bones Protects your heart Aids weight loss   blueberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Boosts memory Prevents constipation   broccoli Strengthens bones Saves eyesight Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure   cabbage Combats cancer Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Helps hemorrhoids   cantaloupe Saves eyesight Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Supports immune system

The Value and Types of Yemeni Honey

HONEY is a tasty pleasant-smelling sticky syrup with many advantages. It has a tonic quality to the human body and cures diseases. The religion of Islam has given special interest in honey and its advantages for curing many kinds of diseases. Prophet Mohammed said: "Seek cure from honey and Qur'an". So, honey was made next to the Qur'an in curing diseases.

There is even one Chapter in the Qur'an named "Al-Nahl" meaning bees. Moreover, in another Hadith, Prophet Mohammed said: "He who has a spoonful of (honey) in the morning, three times a month, shall catch have no serious disease".
Eating honey three times a month could safeguard you against so many diseases and strengthen your immunity system. It is said that the Pophet was used to have honey diluted with water the first thing in the morning.

Types of Honey There are two major types of honey:
a) Flowers' honey: Which is dependent on flower nectar sucked by bees , and this is divided into two main categories:
1- Mono-flower honey: produced the nectar of one type of flowers
2- Multi-flower honey: produced from the nectar of more than one type of flowers.

b) Stone honey: This honey is produced by undomesticated bees that live among stones. It has a great taste and a Pleasant smell. Some people believe that light-colored honey is the best whereas many others believe that the dark-colored honey is of better quality because it contains more mineral salts like iron, magnesium and copper. As in regard to its odor, some types of honey bear good smell while other types, which are extracted from certain trees, have unpleasant odor.

Component elements of Honey Honey is:-
Composed of sugar, water, vitamins, mineral salts along with some proteins, enzymes, yeasts and other substances- 18% water, 40% fructose, 34% glucose, 4% sucrose and maltose and many other types of sugar.

Sugar is thus the main ingredient of honey, constituting about 75% to 80% of it. Therefore honey tastes sweeter than sugar and nevertheless it is good for treating diabetes and good for liver. In addition, honey is used to cure peptic and intestines ulcer, digestion problems, eyes diseases, sinusitis, flu and the inflammation of the urinary canal.

Yemen possesses many of the best kinds of honey. The most famous ones are:
Al-Dawa'ani that is found in Dawa'an, Hadramout,
Al-Jardani in Shabwa,
Al-Jawahi in Awash,
Dhamar and there are also some good kinds of honey found in Al-Kibbayta, Al-Dimna, and Maweyah in Taiz.

"Al-Dawa'ani" or "Sidr" is the most expensive kind of honey in Yemen and the best in quality. Honey has become one of the most precious gifts that are presented to Sheiks, ministers or well known social personalities. Therefore, many people prefer buying Yemeni honey to low-quality foreign honey which is usually mixed with water.

The Yemen Times has interviewed Mr. Abdullah Hassan Ahmed Al-Shara'abi, Technical Manager of the Apiculture Development Project, who has told us about the types of Yemeni honey, their properties, where are they found and which are the best one's: "Apiculture is one of the very ancient jobs in the history of Yemen. The history of honey goes back to the 10th century B.C. Then, Yemen was known as the nation of perfume and honey and honey trade was ranked 4th in importance to the country's economy.

Al-Elb "Al-Sededi" honey is the best quality honey, because of its preferable qualities to consumers. Therefore, apiarists compete to satisfy consumers inside and outside the country by producing better quality honey. As for the different kinds of Yemeni honey, our country has many different kinds that vary as the available farms in each district vary.
Some of the finest kinds of honey is

Al-Elb "Al-Sededi" - Ziziphus spina chisti),
Al- Silm (A cacia ehrenbergiana),
Al-Asak (A cacia asak),
Al-Sal (Eiaphorbia),
Al-Dobbah (A cacia menthfera),
Al-Sommor (A cacia mellifera),
Al-Mara'aee and
Al-Tonb (cordia abbess).

Al-Elb, the finest type of Yemeni honey, has many local names according the district for example Dawa'ani, Bogiah, Osabi, Dimna and many others. Other types are found in different area of the country:

Dimna (Taiz, Hadramout, Shabwa, Tihama, Osab, Ibb and Abyan),
Al-Silm (Al-Zaydiah, Tihama and Shabwa),
Al-Asak (Taiz, Ibb, Hajja, Al-Mahweet, Sana'a and Lahj),
Al-Sumur (Hadramout, Shabwa, Tihama and Abyan),
Al-Dobbah (Taiz, Tihama, Al-Mahweet, Hajja and Lahj) and
Al-Mara'aee which is found in summer in all the districts.

The Yemeni honey has special properties in comparison with other Arab and foreign kinds. It has different taste, odor, color and density. For example, Al-Elb honey has a golden coloured, with an aroma and flavour like that of the Elb flower and a thickness property unique to this kind of honey. Each kind of honey has its different season.
For instance,

Al-Elb is available in - (August, September, October and November),
Al-Silm in - (January and February),
Al-Dobbah - (January and February),
Al-Asak - (May and July),
Al-Sal - (January and February),
Al-Sommor - (January, February and March) and
Al-Mara'aee - (July, August and September).

The Yemeni environment is fit for these kinds of honey to be stored and kept for long periods of time, sometimes reaches 2 years if the honey was appropriately separated and stored.

Khasiat Madu Lebah Yaman

A) MENGEMBALIKAN KEKUATAN TUBUH.

1. Memulih. menyegar dan menambah tenaga tubuh badan.
2. Memulihkan sel-sel urat besar.
3. Menjaga dan mengimbangi kekuatan badan.
4. Merangsang tenaga batin.

B) MEMBERSIH DAN MENAMBAH DARAH.

1. Memulihkan kembali bekuan darah dan membetulkan pengaliran darah.
2. Membersihkan lapisan darah dan darah menjadi bersih.
3. Mengimbangi kandungan lemak dan membuat janlung aktif.
4. Menghilangkan rasa kebas-kebas dan mengurangkan tekanan darah tinggi.

c) BAYI/KANAK-KANAK.

1. Membantu pertumbuhan janin dan bayi dari segi fizikal dan mental.
2. Menyembuh dengan segera cirit-birit.
3. Mengelak daripada cacing perosak dalam perut.
4. Mengeluarkan lendir dalam badan bayi dan menguatkan minda kanak-kanak.

D) REMAJA

1.Membantu menyempurnakan kesihatan berkekalan, luar dan dalam.
2.Sumber tenaga yang banyak bagi remaja yang sentiasa aktif (Mental, Fizikal dan Rohani)

E) WANITA

1.Menambah kejelitaan rupa paras yang asli dan tubuh badan yang menarik.
2. Mempunyai kulit yang halus, bersih dan berseri-seri.

F) LELAKI

1.Tampan dengan kekuatan asli dan kelihatan lebih muda.
2. Menguatkan tenaga batin.

G) PENGIDAP KENCING MANIS (DIABETIS)

Menstabilkan kandungan gula dalam darah. (Gantikan gula kepada madu lebah)

H) UNTUK SEMUA

1. Mengelak dari kegemukan yang tidak terkawal.
2.Memudahkan proses penghadapan dan lawas buang air.
3.Memulihkan penyakit berpanjangan.
4. Menguatkan jantung, buah pinggang dan badan.
5. Menyembuhkan penyakit dalam perut.
6.Mempercepatkan luka atau kesan pembedahan sembuh.
7. Memulihkan batuk dan lelah.
8.Menghindarkan badan letih dan lesu.
9. Kurangkan kesakitan bila datang haid.
10.Baik untuk perempuan bersalin.
11.Membantu/menerangkan pemandangan.
12.Baik untuk mereka yang berpenyakit 'Insomnia' (sukar tidur malam).InsyaAllah setelah mengambil madu sebagai amalan, tidur anda amat nyenyak sekali.

I) IBU MENGANDUNG

1. Menambahkan tenaga untuk ketahanan diri semasa mengandung dan semasa menghadapi saat kelahiran cahaya mata.
2. Mencegah dari berbagai penyakit seperti kencing manis, darah tinggi,kencing kotor, batuk selsema, lelah dan lain-lain.

J) ANAK DALAM KANDUNGAN

1. Mencegah dari pelbagai penyakit kerana kandungan antibiotik dalam madu dapat membunuh kuman-kuman.
2. Kandungan zat galian dalam madu boleh membantu membina dan menguatkan janin.
3. Kulit yang bersih dan sihat dengan terdapatnya vitamin C yang 'penuh kuasa' dalam madu asli.
4. Membantu secara khusus pertumbuhan fizikal dan mental janin.
5. Penyakit Hepatitis B yang biasa menyerang bayi dapat dihindar dengan amalan madu oleh para ibu yang mengandung.

K) BAGI BAYI YANG BARU LAHIR

1. Meneruskan pemberian madu asli pada bayi yang baru lahir dapat mengeluarkan secara positif lendir yang mungkin terminum semasabayi itu dilahirkan yang merupakan punca lelah jika tidak habis dikeluarkan.
2. Membersihkan perut bayi dari najis 'gagak' yang menyelaputi dinding perut. Proses penghadaman dapat berjalan dengan sempurna menghindar dari sakit perut.
3. Bayi membesar dengan sempurna dan sihat.
4. Mengelak dari kembung perut bayi.

L) BAGI IBU SELEPAS MELAHIRKAN ANAK

1. Amalkan madu bersama jamu dan telur untuk membina darah sertamempercepatkan proses penyembuhan luka dalam perut atau rahim.
2. Membantu proses penghadaman dan lawas buang air.

CARA MENGGUNAKANNYA

1. Tukar atau kurangkan penggunaan gula kepada madu dalam penyediaan minuman harian.

2. Campurkan sedikit madu ke dalam air suam sebagai minuman.

3. Campurkan madu di dalam segala persediaan membuat kuih/masakan. Keharuman madu akan menawan selera anda.

4. Jika batuk atau lelah, minum satu atau dua sudu madu. Jangan dicampur dengan ais. (Berhati-hati jangan tersedak)

5. Untuk memulihkan tenaga, campurkan telur ayam kampung dengan sedikit madu. Dikacau kemudian diminum.
6. Campurkan sedikit madu ke dalam minuman kanak-kanak, kanak-kanak akan lena dengan nyenyak.

7. Minumlah sesudu besar madu bersama segelas air suam setiap pagi untuk kesegaran sepanjang hari.

8. Penyakit mata, Titiskan sedikit madu pada mata. (Campurkan dengan sedikit air)

9. Sapu pada kesan gigitan atau sengatan serangga berbisa.

"MIRACLE ANTIBIOTIK , "SAPULAH MADU YAMAN ASLI
JIKA ANDA...

a) Kemalangan ke atas luka; memberhentikan darah dengan segera dan luka terlindung dari kuman.
b) Kelecuran akibat api, air panas, ekzos motor, minyak panas dan lain-lain.
c) Kudis, kurap dan lain-lain penyakit KULIT.
d) Sakit mata - Titiskan madu lebah dalam mata.

MENAMBAHKAN KELAZATAN MAKANAN

a) Makan bersama roti / biskut.
b) Bahan membuat kuih / kek.
c) Goreng atau panggang ayam.

Perhatian:

. Jangan disimpan dalam peti sejuk.
. Elakkan dari memakan madu bersama tembikai.
. Elakkan dari terkena pancaran cahaya matahari.
. Jauhkan dari litar elektrik.
. Kurangkan pendedahan kepada unsur logam dan haba.
. Jangan gunakan madu untuk rawatan penyakit 'kronik' tanpa nasihat pakar.

The Importance of Walking

The Importance of Walking

I LIKE THIS ONE ESPECIALLY THE FIRST SENTENCE...

Walking can add minutes to your life.  This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month. 
       


My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. 
Now she's 97 years old and we don't know where the hell she is. 
   

The only reason I would take up exercising is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. 

I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. 
Haven 't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there. 

I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. 
 

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people e who annoy me. 

I have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them. 


The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier. 
   

If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. 
  


............And last but not  least, 



You could run this over to your friends but why not just e-mail it to them!...

Mini Moves that boost immunity

Mini moves that boost immunity, slow aging and fight disease

 What if you could cut your risk of heart disease, get fitter, and slow aging €  '· not to mention protect your smile €  '· in less time than it takes to watch a couple of commercials? Better health does take time, but not as much as you may think. Yes, you should exercise 30 minutes a day and sleep 7 to 8 hours a night. But top experts in nutrition, cardiovascular health, and cancer prevention know the supersimple, amazingly fast steps you can take to dramatically improve your well-being. So take a minute or so... and boost your health in almost no time flat.

Fight Cancer - Eat the peel

The bulk of an apple's benefit lies in its skin. In a recent lab experiment, more than a dozen chemicals in the peels of Red Delicious apples inhibited the growth of breast, liver, and colon cancer cells.

Investigator Rui Hai Liu, MD, PhD, an associate professor of food science at Cornell University, suspects that the peels of other apple varieties are also extra potent. Buy organic if you're concerned about exposure to pesticides.

Take the right supplements

Getting enough vitamin D and calcium brings a remarkable reduction in cancer risk, found a recent 4-year study at Creighton University:

Women who took the combo reduced their overall risk by up to 77%. "Vitamin D enhances your body's immune response €  '· which is the first line of defense against cancer," says lead researcher Joan Lappe, PhD, RN, a professor of nursing and medicine. Your skin makes D when it's exposed to sunlight, but researchers say the best way to guarantee you get enough is with a pill.

The 1,100 IU used in the Creighton study will do the trick (and is safe).

Slow Aging - Sniff some lavender or rosemary

The scent of lavender can bring you a restful night's sleep €  '· but the plant can do you a world of good in daylight, too. In a recent study, volunteers sniffed the essential oils of lavender or rosemary for 5 minutes. Result:

Levels of the stress hormone cortisol in saliva dropped as much as 24%. That's good, because the hormone increases blood pressure and suppresses the immune system. What's more, people who smelled low concentrations of lavender or high concentrations of rosemary were better at getting rid of free radicals, the pesky molecules believed to speed aging and disease.

Cut Cholesterol - Sprinkle pistachios on your salad

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University recently gave volunteers a pleasant task: Eat 1 1/2 ounces (about a handful) of pistachios every day. At the end of 4 weeks, those who munched the nuts reduced their total cholesterol by an average of 6.7% and their LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 11.6%. That reduction has a major payoff: Cutting your total cholesterol by about 7% reduces your heart disease risk by 14%. Pistachios are one of the best sources of plant sterols, compounds we know reduce absorption of cholesterol, says researcher Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, who led the study. Just remember, 1 ounce contains about 160 calories. So pour a little less dressing on your salad as you add some pistachios, or go easy on butter or oil on your veggies when you sprinkle them on top.

Replace sugar with buckwheat honey

This sweet substance has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times; when it's applied to a wound, honey is a natural antibacterial salve. Now researchers say that its benefits may be much more than skin deep. Test-tube studies show that honey slows the oxidation of LDL cholesterol €  '· it's when LDL is oxidized that it can be laid down as plaque in blood vessels. The variety of honey best at slowing oxidation: buckwheat.

Cool Hot Flashes - Breathe deeply

Slow, deep abdominal breathing can reduce the frequency of hot flashes by about half, according to three recent studies. Estrogen withdrawal is partly to blame for hot flashes, but researchers believe that stress also plays a role by firing up the sympathetic nervous system €  '· the part of your wiring responsible for the fight-or-flight response. The fix: Breathe deeply to enlist the parasympathetic nervous system, which activates your body's relaxation response. That will slow heart rate, relax muscles, and lower blood pressure. Sit in a comfortable chair and allow your breath to deepen. Inhale through your nose; exhale through your mouth. Close your eyes to cut out distraction.

Let your belly be soft €  '· you want it to rise and fall with each breath.

Keep Your Vision Sharp - Eat an egg

No offense meant to carrots, but research shows eggs are an even better source of the eye-friendly antioxidants known as carotenoids. Lutein and zeaxanthin are the crucial carotenoids for vision €  '· the only ones that benefit the retina's fragile macula, which is responsible for central vision. Eggs don't contain as much lutein and zeaxanthin as dark green, leafy veggies, but your body is better able to absorb the antioxidants in eggs, says nutritional biochemist Elizabeth Johnson, PhD, at Tufts University. Worried about cholesterol? Don't be: Eating an egg a day increases blood levels of lutein (by 26%) and zeaxanthin (by 38%) without raising cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

Reduce Dangerous Inflammation - Pour a bowl of whole grain cereal

Whole grains are about much more than "regularity" €  '· they can save your life. The Iowa Women's Health Study, which has followed nearly 42,000 postmenopausal women for 15 years, reports that women who ate 11 or more servings of whole grains each week were about a third less likely to die of an inflammatory disorder than those who consumed the least. (What is an inflammatory disorder? Any condition marked by chronic inflammation €  '· including diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.) Good choices: oatmeal, brown rice, dark bread, whole grain breakfast cereal, bulgur, and (hurray!) popcorn. "Whole grains contain the biologically active parts of the plant," says study leader David R. Jacobs Jr., PhD, a professor of epidemiology and community health at the University of Minnesota. "What keeps the plant alive keeps the eater alive."

Build Muscle Strength - Stretch your legs

If you have tight leg muscles, you'll not only improve flexibility by stretching but also build strength, says a new study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. For 6 weeks, 30 adults with tight hamstrings did a series of stretches 5 days a week. Investigators measured their flexibility and thigh-muscle strength at the start and end of the study. All that stretching loosened up tight muscles and increased their range of motion, but the hamstrings and the quads (the muscles at the back and front of the thighs) also became significantly stronger.

Boost Antioxidants - Add avocado to your salad

Vegetables have an unexpected downside: Many of them are virtually fat free, and you need fat in the meal to absorb cancer-fighting carotenoids.

In recent Ohio State University research, volunteers were given a salad with and without a sliced avocado. Blood tests showed that those who ate the avocado got 5 times as much lutein, 7 times as much alpha-carotene, and a whopping 15 times as much beta-carotene as those who ate the salad without it.

Snack on dried figs

Dried fruits are known to be rich in antioxidants €  '· but some of the less popular types are the most nutritious. Figs and dried plums (aka prunes) had the best overall nutrient scores, shows recent research at the University of Scranton. A handful of dried figs (about 1 €  ½ ounces) increased "antioxidant capacity" €  '· the ability to neutralize free radicals €  '· by 9%. That's more than double the increase seen after a cup of green tea.

Eat a fruit salad

Antioxidants love company: A mixture of oranges, apples, grapes, and blueberries provides five times the antioxidant power you get from eating the same fruits solo, says recent research by Liu, at Cornell. Ingredients to toss into fruit salad, ranked in order of phenolic content (a type of plant chemical that cuts the risk of chronic disease): cranberries, apples, red grapes, strawberries, pineapples, bananas, peaches, oranges, and pears.

Protect Your Stomach From Bugs - Turn down your fridge

If the setting is over 40€  °F, your food is sitting in the danger zone - the temperature at which bacteria begin to multiply. Each year in the United States, more than 75 million people get sick from contaminated food and 5,000 die. So use an appliance thermometer to be sure the temp is low enough.

Prevent Headaches - Keep your head up

"Posture is one of the least understood and appreciated factors in head pain," says Roger Cady, MD, vice president of the National Headache Foundation. One of the leading posture pitfalls: forward head posture (FHP). When your neck juts forward, you have to tilt your head up to see, Cady explains, and that can compress the nerves and muscles at the base of the skull. A common cause of FHP: slumping in front of a computer. Physical therapist Colleen Baker, who practices at the Headache Care Center in Springfield, MO, offers these tricks to help you get your head on straight:

Imagine a cord attached to the top of your head, pulling toward the ceiling. Periodically check to make sure your ear is in line with your shoulder. Set your computer to remind you every half hour to repeat the first two tips.

Stay Mentally Sharp - Have 2 cups of green tea daily

Studies have shown that green tea helps keep cholesterol in check and may lower cancer risk. Now researchers say the drink may also work to maintain cognitive function. A Japanese study of 1,000 people over age 70 found that those who drank 2 cups of green tea daily did better on a variety of tests of mental abilities (including memory) €  '· and the more green tea they drank, the better they performed. It's possible that something else is responsible for the mental clarity, such as the socializing the Japanese tend to do over a cup. But the results might partially explain why rates of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, are lower in Japan (where green tea is commonly consumed) than in the United States.