Health

Cut back on red and processed meat to help keep your colon healthy. Eating 160 grams or more of red or processed meat per day -- the equivalent of about 5 and a half ounces -- was associated with a significant increase in a person's risk of colorectal cancer in a recent study. Try poultry, fish, dry beans, egg whites, tofu, or nuts for an alternative to red meat that is still rich in protein.

If you work at a desk job, you may need to work harder to ward off extra weight. Sitting for more than 6 hours per day can significantly increase a person's risk of becoming overweight or obese, a study of 1,500 men revealed recently. Fight back against a sedentary desk job by taking frequent walking breaks, exercising at lunchtime, and walking or biking to work whenever safely possible.

Eating the right kind of carbohydrates may help you lose weight. Although diets that restrict carbohydrates promote weight loss in the short term, there may be a better recipe for long-term health. A new study suggests eating plenty of high-fiber, low-calorie whole grains helps prevent overeating and long-term weight gain.

Research suggests a little less meat on the plate could mean less bulk on your frame. In a study, people who consumed few or no animal products were less likely to be overweight or obese than self-identified meat eaters. Make fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes your diet staples. For a protein fix, opt for low- or non-fat dairy, skinless chicken, nuts, or fish to control saturated fat intake.

If you have trouble drifting off, the right bedtime snack may help promote a more restful night's sleep. In a study, a tryptophan-enriched snack before bed helped study participants sleep better and promoted morning alertness. Foods that provide a dose of tryptophan include bananas, dairy, nuts, eggs, soybeans, tuna, and chicken. Keep the serving size small and have your snack about an hour before bed.

Don't let stress hormones hamper your brain activity. High levels of stress hormones muddle memory in people of all ages by impairing brain areas involved in cognitive processing, a recent study concludes. Keep your memory sharp by fighting stress with regular exercise, social interactions with supportive people, and deep-breathing exercises.

Getting stuck in an exercise rut could put body and mind at risk. Repetitive exercise routines may cause overuse injuries, and new research shows they may hurt your mental health, too. According to a study, people 65 or older who engage in four or more different kinds of physical activities each week are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who participate in one or no activities.

Seek out a handful of almonds for a serving of a potential Parkinson's fighter. A diet packed with vitamin E may help protect against Parkinson's disease, recent research concludes, and almonds are a good source. Parkinson's is a chronic neurological condition that hampers motor function. Other good food sources of antioxidant vitamin E include hazelnuts, wheat-germ oil, sweet potatoes, and peanut butter.

Black or green, tea is brimming with heart-healthy benefits. Compounds in green and black teas have a healthful impact on several markers of heart disease risk, but debate continues as to which kind of tea is healthiest. Recent research suggests it may be a dead heat. In a study, green and black tea appeared equally protective against fatty arterial plaque buildup.

A little soy goes a long way when it comes to blood pressure control. Adding 40 grams of soy protein to daily diets -- the equivalent of a couple servings of soy milk and a couple ounces of soy flour -- may help lower blood pressure in people who have mild hypertension or prehypertension, a recent study suggests. Edamame, soy burgers, and soy-based cold cuts are other great ways to get your daily soy.

A bit of dark chocolate may do more than just tickle your taste buds. Eating about 3 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate helped relax people's blood vessels in a recent study, which could help protect cardiovascular health. So go ahead and indulge, but don't overdo it; dark chocolate is still high in calories and fat.




	- red meat + protein	Cut back on red and processed meat to help keep your colon healthy. Eating 160 grams or more of red or processed meat per day -- the equivalent of about 5 and a half ounces -- was associated with a significant increase in a person's risk of colorectal cancer in a recent study. Try poultry, fish, dry beans, egg whites, tofu, or nuts for an alternative to red meat that is still rich in protein.
	+ exercise - obesity	If you work at a desk job, you may need to work harder to ward off extra weight. Sitting for more than 6 hours per day can significantly increase a person's risk of becoming overweight or obese, a study of 1,500 men revealed recently. Fight back against a sedentary desk job by taking frequent walking breaks, exercising at lunchtime, and walking or biking to work whenever safely possible.
	+ carbs + fiber	Eating the right kind of carbohydrates may help you lose weight. Although diets that restrict carbohydrates promote weight loss in the short term, there may be a better recipe for long-term health. A new study suggests eating plenty of high-fiber, low-calorie whole grains helps prevent overeating and long-term weight gain.
	+ protein - meat	Research suggests a little less meat on the plate could mean less bulk on your frame. In a study, people who consumed few or no animal products were less likely to be overweight or obese than self-identified meat eaters. Make fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes your diet staples. For a protein fix, opt for low- or non-fat dairy, skinless chicken, nuts, or fish to control saturated fat intake.
	+ dairy - restlessness	If you have trouble drifting off, the right bedtime snack may help promote a more restful night's sleep. In a study, a tryptophan-enriched snack before bed helped study participants sleep better and promoted morning alertness. Foods that provide a dose of tryptophan include bananas, dairy, nuts, eggs, soybeans, tuna, and chicken. Keep the serving size small and have your snack about an hour before bed.
	+ exercise - stress	Don't let stress hormones hamper your brain activity. High levels of stress hormones muddle memory in people of all ages by impairing brain areas involved in cognitive processing, a recent study concludes. Keep your memory sharp by fighting stress with regular exercise, social interactions with supportive people, and deep-breathing exercises.
	+ exercies - Alzheimers	Getting stuck in an exercise rut could put body and mind at risk. Repetitive exercise routines may cause overuse injuries, and new research shows they may hurt your mental health, too. According to a study, people 65 or older who engage in four or more different kinds of physical activities each week are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who participate in one or no activities.
	+ vitamin E - Parkinsons	Seek out a handful of almonds for a serving of a potential Parkinson's fighter. A diet packed with vitamin E may help protect against Parkinson's disease, recent research concludes, and almonds are a good source. Parkinson's is a chronic neurological condition that hampers motor function. Other good food sources of antioxidant vitamin E include hazelnuts, wheat-germ oil, sweet potatoes, and peanut butter.
	+ tea - heat disease	Black or green, tea is brimming with heart-healthy benefits. Compounds in green and black teas have a healthful impact on several markers of heart disease risk, but debate continues as to which kind of tea is healthiest. Recent research suggests it may be a dead heat. In a study, green and black tea appeared equally protective against fatty arterial plaque buildup.
	+ soy - high blood pressure	A little soy goes a long way when it comes to blood pressure control. Adding 40 grams of soy protein to daily diets -- the equivalent of a couple servings of soy milk and a couple ounces of soy flour -- may help lower blood pressure in people who have mild hypertension or prehypertension, a recent study suggests. Edamame, soy burgers, and soy-based cold cuts are other great ways to get your daily soy.
	+ dark chocolate + cardiovascular health	A bit of dark chocolate may do more than just tickle your taste buds. Eating about 3 1/2 ounces of dark chocolate helped relax people's blood vessels in a recent study, which could help protect cardiovascular health. So go ahead and indulge, but don't overdo it; dark chocolate is still high in calories and fat.