Hyvin
A Natural Health and Wellness Blog

The Sept/Oct 2006 issue of Positive Thinking magazine cites Neurosurgeon Arthur Winter, M.D., coauthor of Smart Food in listing vitamin E, the B vitamins and iron as nutrients that can improve your memory. The Memory Upgrade article states: “The vitamins energize, and iron helps carry oxygen to the brain.” It also mentions omega-3 fatty acids as being helpful for memory function, and the studies demonstrating increased mental alertness from the herb ginkgo biloba.

So, if you’re concerned about memory function, some basic supplements can help. Now you just have to remember to take them :-).

In a large European project involving half a million people in 10 countries, the impact of exercise, diet and other habits on health and longevity has been examined. The Reuters Health report on some of the study findings relays that it only takes a little to live longer. Any increase in physical activity is beneficial and consuming just one additional serving of healthy food a day can make a difference.

“If you cumulatively take a lot of these behaviors such as increasing fruit and vegetable intake, increasing physical activity very modestly and stopping smoking cumulatively they are associated with something like a 12-year difference in terms of chronological age and life expectancy,” said [ Dr Kay-Tee ] Khaw [of the University of Cambridge.]

What a significant endorsement for the natural health and wellness lifestyle!

The July 2006 edition of Health magazine touted the health benefits of a zippy little fruit…the blueberry. What’s in blueberries that make them a health food? Antioxidants - those phytonutrients known to fight off free radical cell damage that is at the root of many health challenges (including cancer, arthritis, macular degeneration and many more). According to the Health article, “Wild blueberries rank Number One in antioxidants for fruit, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with a score of more than 13,000 for total antioxidant capacity per. Cultivated blueberries are the second highest, with about 9,000 (for comparison, Gala apples score around 3,900).”

I like blueberries, but as with many food sources of nutrients, I wonder if it’s possible to consume enough to really have a health impact on my body. Would you like to have a convenient, easy way to regularly get the equivalent of 31 servings of blueberries (along with hundreds of other fruits and veggies)? It’s a whole new level of antioxidant protection!

Fall is in the air and that means football, right?

I was so glad to see that the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has issued guidelines for keeping those on the field safe and healthy.

Yes, those on the football field… but NOT the football players: the marching band members!

I’m tickled to see the physical demands of marching band recognized. The NATA recommends a variety of tactics to keep band members healthy, from light colored clothing to a healthy diet to hydration before and after routines. My family has loved this awesome hydration drink that has no artificial colors or preservatives, and much less sugar than the commercial brands.

Check out all the tips for “band-aid” here.

Allergy sufferers know the common triggers: ragweed, grass, and pollens, right? Well, add fruits and veggies to the list!

Yep, you read that right. Believe it or not, proteins found in parts of some fruits and veggies like bananas, cucumbers, melon and zucchini are similar to pollen proteins that are targeted by allergy antibodies. This can cause symptoms such as itchy mouth and throat with mild swelling when these foods are eaten fresh, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) (that’s quite a mouthful, pun intended :-)).

The HealthDay report of this statement by the AAAAI states that the kinds of fruits and veggies on the trigger list vary in relation to the type of pollen allergy.

What a drag that must be. My vote is to strengthen the immune system as much as possible to avoid the allergic response in the first place! It really is possible.