"Hmmm...did you know?"

Love Those Limonoids

There's a new reason to love your morning glass of orange juice. Orange juice and other sources of citrus are high in limonoids, phytochemicals that studies suggest inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells. While research confirming the benefits of limonoids continues, go ahead and drink up; orange juice also is high in heart-healthy potassium, folate, and vitamin C.

Herb of the Hour

A popular herb may help make cooking red meat safer. Cooking meats may create carcinogenic compounds, especially if the meat is cooked at a high heat. However, a recent study reveals rosemary may minimize those compounds. In the study, adding a bit of rosemary extract to hamburger patty mixtures before cooking helped reduce the formation of the harmful substances.

Plant It on Your Plate

Plant-based foods may help you rein in high cholesterol. Although a diet that is low in fat and saturated fat may help lower both total and LDL cholesterol, a new study suggests you could do more. Eating a variety of veggies, whole grains, and legumes appears to make the usual low-fat, cholesterol-control diet even more effective.

Sweet on Antioxidants

Reach for a certain sweet dried fruit for some extra antioxidants. Dried figs are high in polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. Eating just 5 or 6 dried figs per day helps you meet your daily fiber and fruit requirements while satisfying your sweet tooth naturally.

A Little Bite Before Bed

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.

Forget 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.

moi spoke out loud on 7/11/2005 11:02:00 AM

[0] told me everything loud and clear