Lose Belly Fat Today

I'm just gonna shoot straight out of the gate: there's no easy or magic method for getting rid of belly bulge. Especially as we get older we have to work pretty hard to keep excess fat off the mid-section. And, that hard work is in the form of diet and exercise. But, there are a couple of little "magic" tricks that make toning the tummy a little bit easier.

1.  Eat Breakfast:  No, that doesn't mean a latte like I to used to think it did.  Breakfast, literally means a break from fasting.  It ignites your metabolism that has been on rest mode from sleeping.  So, your inner machine will realize it's time to get going and start burning calories for muscle, brain and organ fuel right away if you eat.

Let the Vitamin D Shine

Nov. 1 -- Soon, the sun will be merely a rumor for long stretches during waking hours, and darkness will dominate our senses and moods.

As if that weren't depressing enough, here's another grim thought: You most likely will become significantly deficient in vitamin D.

Vitamin D, the so-called "sunshine vitamin," can be absorbed either through the skin via ultraviolet-B rays -- by far the most efficient, plentiful source -- or through pills or fortified foods.

Once thought only beneficial for preventing rickets and other bone-growth issues in children, vitamin D has been shown to help prevent heart disease, various forms of cancer, kidney disease, diabetes and a host of autoimmune conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to arthritis. And, yes, studies have shown it helps people suffering from seasonal affective disorder.

Jewelry Causing Skin Rashes

The back of your wristwatch may contain nickel, especially if it’s vintage. This metal, once widely used in making watches, earring, rings, and bracelets, is one of the most common causes of skin rashes. About one in every ten people wearing such jewelry eventually gets an allergic reaction.

There is an impressive array of other substances and material that can cause rashes in sensitive people. In fact, almost any substance coming into contact with the skin may cause reactions in some people.

A study by dermatologists in ten major medical centers has come up with a list of the most common causes of skin rashes. These include, besides nickel, potassium dichromate, commonly found in tanning leather and watchbands; antiseptics containing thimerosal or merthiolate; and the ingredient p-phenylenediamine, used in some hair dyes.

Is Weight-Loss Surgery for You?

Surgery to reduce or bypass the stomach has risks, but so does extreme obesity.

Obesity among American women is leveling off, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a periodic assessment of American diet and health. Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga.) which conducts the survey, found that the percentage of obese women did not increase between 1999 and 2004. This marks the first such slowdown in more than 25 years.

Only time will tell if this is a watershed moment in the obesity epidemic. In the meantime, America has a lot of weight to lose. More than 60 percent of women are overweight and 33 percent are obese, so putting on the brakes is not enough. Besides, NHANES data also showed that more women than ever have entered a weight category called severe or extreme obesity, once called morbid obesity because of its health effects.

Is Alzheimer's Type 3 Diabetes?

A study published recently by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that insulin drugs used to keep diabetes under control may also shield nerve cells from harmful neuro-toxic proteins called called amyloid beta-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs).

This has created hope that bolstering insulin signaling can protect neurons from harm, and thereby help slow the onset of dementia in diabetic persons as they age. Indeed, disturbances in glucose metabolism have been reported in so-called “Alzheimer’s Disease” (AD) for decades, with the theory being that the brains of diabetics either lack sufficient glucose to function properly, or that excess sugar in the bloodstream of a diabetic does vascular damage that affects blood flow to neurons and increases the formation of neuro-proteins. A study in the American Psychological Association’s January issue of Neuropsychology confirmed that even people who keep diabetes in check are more likely than those without the condition to experience mental decline over time. Another study in the January issue of Diabetes involving thousands of Swedish twins reported that developing diabetes before age 65 corresponds to a 125% increased risk for Alzheimer’s.

Ice Therapy Works

Ice, it turns out, is not only useful for soothing a toothache but also beneficial as a painkiller for, among other things, sore muscles and neuralgia. An ice pack wrapped on an arthritic knee, for example, relieves pain for patients who haven’t been helped by heat or drugs. And, amazingly, when the ice pack is applied for twenty minute periods three times a day, both knees may become more flexible.  

Ice is also an appropriate way to treat a bruise. Apply cold compresses five or six times in twenty-four hours. This will constrict the blood vessels, keep the swelling down, and speed healing. After that, heat should be applied, also five or six times a day, until the bruise is gone. This increases the blood flow in the undamaged area near the bruise and removes all the blood that’s gotten into the skin.

How To Swallow Pills

Even if you’re sure to drink at least six ounces of water when you take a pill, you can still be missing out on optimal relief – unless you stand up. Army investigators have found that lying down immediately after swallowing tends to trap medication in the esophagus for five minutes or longer, delaying its reaching the stomach and being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Many drugs – including antibiotics, iron tablets, quinidine, and vitamin C – can irritate the esophagus, causing burning pain and difficulty in swallowing completely. So, always wash down a pill with liquid – water, juice, or whatever the doctor advises – and if you’re not confined to bed, stand up for a couple of minutes to enable it to get down to work.

Flu Season Jitters: Would You Wear a Surgical Mask in Public?

Is it just me, or are more people sporting surgical masks at malls, grocery stores and other public places these days? Last week I saw several people at Whole Foods masked up--and it wasn't an early start at Halloween either. It made me wonder (especially in light of new research, which I'll tell you about after the jump)--how many of us would actually go out in public with a surgical mask on?

I'm the first to admit that I'm a little germ-phobic (which isn't really a word, I know). I wash my hands more than most people do--probably not such a bad thing--keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my car, and have a thing about door knobs in public places (if I can avoid touching them with my skin, I will at all costs!).

Extreme Eating: Funny or Just Plain Wrong?

At some point or another, you've probably caught an extreme-eating contest on TV--you know, people competing to see who can stuff their faces with the most hot dogs/hamburgers/you name it. Now the Food Network is getting into the game, with a new show called "Eat the Clock" set to begin filming soon.

As it turns out, competitive eating is a pretty big deal. In fact, it even has an official association: the "International Federation of Competitive Eating." And women get into it too. Juliet Lee, who weighs just 105 pounds, is considered one of the world's greatest competitive eaters. She put down 13.23 pounds of jellied cranberry sauce at a competition in 2007. (Yeah, I'm guessing that she probably doesn't do cranberry sauce anymore at Thanksgiving.)

Ever Wondered How Long You'll Live? Take This Quiz and Find Out

Not to get morbid or anything, but how long do you think you'll live? If you've ever been curious about how the choices you're making now might affect your longevity, read on for a fascinating view into the crystal ball. According to one interesting health quiz, I'm going to live to be...

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92! And that's great, just as long as my husband lives to be 93.

Want to find out how you're healthy, or not so healthy, choices correlate to your lifespan? You might be surprised. Take this kind-of-fascinating Lifespan Calculator quiz (it's quick--just 13 questions) and tell me what your number is!

(P.S. As you can imagine, smoking cigarettes can reduce your lifespan (duh), but what about these "healthy" tobacco-less cigarettes?)

Early Heart Disease Detection Studied

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has launched a 10-year multicenter study to find new ways of detecting heart disease early, before it produces symptoms.

"The earlier the risk of heart disease can be detected, the sooner steps can be taken to prevent its development," said NHLBI director Dr. Claude Lenfant. "Most of this prevention effort has focused on the standard risk factors for heart disease. This study may give us new and better indicators of heart disease risk."

The study could also yield more specific predictors of heart disease; it will try to determine which factors best predict heart disease in men and women, and in each of the ethnic groups.

Don't Stress Those Joints

Suffering from knee pain? A free pain relief kit may help. Learn More Now!

The alarm rings. You tell yourself, "Five more minutes ... " when suddenly, you realize you've used that same excuse five times already.

You're late! You leap out of bed like a cat with its tail on fire and ouch, you hear an odd snap somewhere between your head and shoulder.

The sudden jerky movement would have triggered a neck sprain that you'd have to live with for the next two days, unable to turn your head right or left and forced to stare straight ahead like some strange being in an invisible neck cast.

This story may be familiar or funny to you. But it happens to many daily and, for those suffering with joint ailments like arthritis, it's no laughing matter. A stiff neck, like most other joint complaints, is usually due to an accumulation of stress in our joints. We may be working at the computer too long and then we retire to bed exhausted. Upon waking up or any sudden movement, our joints may act up.

Don't Bother With These Deadbeat Get-Fit Plans

So you need to lose a few pounds. Experts say to choose a diet and fitness plan like you choose your dates--be picky. Before you start sweating to the oldies or anything else (no offense, Richard Simmons!), be sure your new routine really works. Here are a few to avoid:

In a new report from ABC News, health experts say to avoid some common diet and fitness flops. Some highlights:

Correspondence Gym Courses: Yes, there are mail-away programs to help you get fit. But, better to head to the gym than leave your fitness goals in the hands of the UPS man.

"Cavemen" and "Color" Diets: A diet that tells you to eat lots of meat and load up on calories or just focus on food of a certain color--bad, bad, bad.