Health Extra!
Wellness news from the world over

Mom was right: Eat your breakfast!

You may want to rethink your morning routine and take time for that bowl of cereal. A recent study by the American Heart Association proves that people who eat breakfast regularly have a 35 percent to 50 percent lower risk of being obese or diabetic later in life. Breakfast also plays an important role in reducing your chances of cardiovascular disease and in improving your energy metabolism. The bottom line: Filling your stomach in the early hours helps you control your hunger, making you less likely to overeat later. As for what's best to feast on, researchers say whole-grain cereals (make sure whole grain or bran is listed first in the ingredient list on the box) or cereals that contain at least 2 grams of fiber per serving.

Memory woes

Have you misplaced your car keys—again? Memory loss is more pronounced in women than in men. Blame it on estrogen. This powerful hormone affects every organ of the body, including the brain. Because women have five times more estrogen than men, they experience dramatic swings in hormones at key points in their lives. In fact, many women complain of decreased memory and brain function after pregnancy and during menopause, key points at which their hormone balance changes. While many studies are being done on remedying memory loss with estrogen therapy, there are no concrete findings. Talk to your doctor about what might work best for you.

Like mother, like child

The old saying "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" can be applied to dietary preferences. A recent study of 70 children and their mothers found that mothers influence their youngsters' food choices as early as age 2 by not introducing them to foods they personally dislike. Moreover, foods introduced after age 4 were more apt to be disliked than liked. Among the overwhelming favorites preferred by moms and kids: cheese and pizza.

Take care of your teeth

You do all the right things—eat healthy, exercise, drink in moderation and don't smoke—but are you taking care of your teeth? If not, you may be at risk for stroke and heart disease. What's the correlation? According to a recent report by the American Heart Association, bacterial infections—even in your mouth—can play a part in contributing to ischemic stroke, the most common type. In the study, men who had fewer than 25 teeth had a 57 percent higher stroke risk than those with 25 or more teeth. Periodontal disease is also a factor.

A new-age solution

You've probably heard it before but thought it was too "out there." However, if you want to reduce stress and increase your energy level, experts say meditation works wonders. And you only have to do it 10 to 20 minutes a day to see results. Once you start, you may find it improves the quality of your sleep, heightens concentration and helps overall wellness. Check out your local bookstore's self-help section for more information.

Spice up your life

Imagine adding a spice to your food that could prevent you from getting seriously ill. Researchers are working on a natural antibody "seasoning" that can help prevent the most common food-borne germs, including E. coli and salmonella. Derived from freeze-dried egg yolk, the substance can be sprinkled or sprayed onto meats, fruits and vegetables and will not change taste. The spice does not kill the germs, but rather prevents them from infecting your body, buying you time before you are able to seek medical attention. While further tests are needed before this item becomes available, scientists at the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, where this study is taking place, are hopeful it will reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses.

Snooze news

Do you ever dream of taking a nap—at the office? New research suggests that sleep deprivation affects more than our ability to stay awake on the job. It can lead to overeating, memory loss, lack of concentration and the inability to deal with stress. Most people need at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night. A few ideas to get you the zzz's you need:

Go to bed 15 minutes earlier each night until you find yourself adequately rested during the day.

Take a nap: Even "power napping" for a few minutes can temporarily boost your mental and physical functioning.

Write to-do lists before you go to bed to reduce anxiety-ridden dreams.

Sleep at the same time for the same number of hours each night.

Don't force yourself to fall asleep. Read, watch TV or write a letter until you become tired.