Does Fish Oil Really Help Your Brain?

YES!

It does.  Keep taking fish oil.  And eating healthy fish.  Of course, it has heart benefits.  And can help your vision.  And relieve joint inflammation.

But, it also really, really helps your brain. 

That's great news, especially in light of recent reports of fish oil's minimal benefits for your heart.

It's important to note that there are many, many studies that tout fish oil's benefits for the heart.  And a diet rich in healthy fats and lean protein has been shown to be good for your heart and your overall health.  Also, just b/c you take supplements doesn't mean you can engage in otherwise unhealthy eating.

And ... don't forget to exercise.  Blood flow to your brain is critical -- and improved with regular exercise.  Exercise can also relieve the stiffness that causes joint pain.  Plus, over time, regular exercise boosts energy levels -- helping you feel less tired.

So, keep eating healthy fish.  And taking your fish oil supplement.  And of course, exercising.

Can What You Eat Make Your Allergies Worse?

yes, yes it can.  Apples, bananas, watermelon.  If you eat them in the fall, they can exacerbate your pollen allergies.  Ugh.  Here's why.

How to fight the flu

The remedies include old favorites like chicken soup and yes, even HOT peppers!

Read more.

Do you need pills to fall asleep?

Well, stop taking them!  That's right, there are other, natural, safe ways to help you get the sleep you need.

Here's the story.

And here's the deal:  I read.  Almost every night, I read.  Sometimes, if I'm really tired, I get through one page of a book.  Then, I sleep.  But it works... I don't toss and turn and try to find the right place...by the time I've read until I feel tired, my body AND mind are ready for sleep.

I haven't (yet) had a problem with waking up in the middle of the night -- but, if I did, I think I'd try more reading to lull me back to sleep.

Reading is a way to reduce stress and help you focus.  Getting relaxed is a key to good sleep, and reading helps there, too.

Bee Pollen for Allergy Relief?

Can bee pollen help relieve your allergy symptoms?

WebMD says...not so fast. 

But, I'm trying it.

It is supposed to help improve circulation and alleviate allergy symptoms.  It does have protein and does contain vitamins.

I've been taking it for about a month now with no noticeable side effects.  And, some circulatory benefits, it appears. 

Stay tuned as to whether it helps with my allergy symptoms.

I take 1 tsp. per day every evening before bed.

Does eating honey help you fight allergies?

I suffer from seasonal allergies and have since I was a child.  This year, with the mild winter, I've been suffering for longer than normal.  I'm congested, sneezy, itchy eyes.  Typical allergy stuff.  And, I can't get relief.  Antihistimines work ok, but make me tired.  Claritin and Zyrtec do virtually nothing.  Benadryl is my best bet, but still I face congestion that is very unpleasant.

So, recently a friend suggested I try honey.  LOCAL honey, she said.  LOCAL honey from local bees means you will take in some of the allergens causing your problems.  And eventually, build up immunity.  That's the theory, anyway. 

So, I decided to check it out.  Does local honey help with allergies?

The reviews are mixed, but leaning toward YES.

Here's a 2009 article on the efficacy of local honey to fight allergies.

Here's a short, not-so-sweet, WebMD post on the topic.

And here's what I'm doing.  I'm taking honey every morning to see if I can get relief.  I mean, it's sweet, kinda yummy, and it MIGHT help.  Since I'm suffering pretty badly anyway, I'll try the honey.  The good news, YOU will get the results as I report them. 

When it is time for medicine...

... to treat your allergies, here are some tips.

How I'm Keeping My Hair!

I know I've mentioned before that I struggle (or have) with hair loss. 

Actually, about 10 years ago now, the woman who cuts my hair noted that it was thinning somewhat, and of course receding -- which I had also noticed.

She said I probably didn't want to get into Rogaine but that I should do something or I'd be bald before I was 40.

She recommended Nioxin.  It's a shampoo system designed to promote healthy hair and scalp.  Nioxin does NOT claim to help regrow hair.

But, there have been signs of new growth.  And my hair is healthy and relatively thick.  Sure, I've experienced some hair loss.  But not too much.  And, I'm nearing 40 and NOT bald. 

So, if you want to keep your hair and keep it healthy, you should get Nioxin.

Pain Management

via good food.

That's what they're telling us about over at RealAge.

Can drinking Coffee help you keep your hair?

YES...yes it can. Because it slows DHT.

So, next time you grab a cup of coffee, grab two.

The antioxidants are great for you...the caffeine boosts brain activity...and now, you know it can help slow down hair loss...

Anyone up for a trip to Starbucks?

I took a b12 this morning...

and I'm wondering if it's making my hair grow as I type? I sure hope so!

Want to fight allergies with Vitamins?

Try Folate!

But, take care...too much in supplement form can actually make your allergy symptoms worse.

So, try folate-rich foods such as folate-fortified cereal, asparagus, and broccoli.

And if you MUST take a supplement, take no more than 400 mcg.

more detail right here!

How to fight hair loss with vitamins...

By taking plenty of Fish Oil (I take 3 a day), b12, (I take mine 3 times a week) and biotin (I take 2-3 per day) ... Getting plenty of these supplements can help keep your hair healthy and strong...and that's a great way to fight hair loss...

for more, you can go here.

Drug-free ways to cope with allergies...

Find them... here.

Fight Pain with Whole Grains

Also, salmon and spices...and yes, even strawberries.

And don't forget the olive oil...in fact, if you cook the salmon with some olive oil and spice it up plus add strawberries for a dessert, you'd be in great shape.

What you eat CAN and does impact your pain level.

Blueberries for your BRAIN!

yep. Blueberries.

Eat 'em.

For the flavanoid antioxidants. For the great taste. For your brain.

That's what the research keeps on telling us.

Should You Be Drinking Coconut Milk?

Maybe.

The information out there is inconclusive.

Sure, it tastes great.

But, it lacks the protein of cow's milk...and it adds almost double the saturated fat.

So, despite some claims about how awesome coconut milk is for you, be careful. Sure, enjoy it...and it's nutritious taste - especially if you are into an animal-free diet. But, be wary -- the claims about its health benefits just might be exaggerated.

How Can you get more energy?

With the vitamins found in Tea ...and with magnesium.

TEA is amazing...green or black (or even white) tea has properties that help boost metabolism, fight aging, and increase energy levels.

Magnesium is also important and you can find it in some nuts...

So, have some tea and sesame seeds or almonds...and power-up.

here's more!

Is the Cinnamon Challenge Really Dangerous?

Sort of... maybe...

Here's a report about it.

Of course, it burns...and it hurts your lungs...and you might, in a rare case, suffocate.

But mainly, it's the dry, burning sensation, the coughing...and the vomiting.

On the other hand, since cinnamon is getting some newfound attention, it's worth noting that consuming cinnamon can help boost metabolism -- which can help you lose weight. So, take a different kind of cinnamon challenge.

Find 5 new foods you enjoy with cinnamon ... and put it on! It'll jack up your metabolic rate and help kickstart some weight loss.

Vitamins for Spring?

Yes, you should take vitamins for spring. Vitamins to help you fight allergies -- like extra Vitamin C to help fight infection that could be caused by allergy-induced congestion.

And of course, butter burr... not sure what that is, but supposedly, it helps fight allergies.

Eat these foods to improve vision...

...oranges, kale, apricots, and whole grains.

The full details are here.

More on L-Arginine...

...or, how to naturally improve your sex life...

We've reported before on L-Arginine and its blood flow boosting effects...

another article we read just this weekend confirms...taking l-arginine -- which helps the body produce nitric oxide, and thus relaxes the blood vessels -- improves blood flow-- and strong blood flow is key to strong erections

The article cautioned against taking more than 2800 mg a day... which, if taken over the course of the day, should be enough... perhaps 1 dose in the morning, one at lunch, and one before bed...

also, you can eat walnuts or almonds to get naturally occurring l-arginine.

Guys, Want to Improve your Sex life?

Of course you do!

That's why you should eat CELERY!

I'm quite serious.

There have been scientific studies about what causes arousal in women. One thing is a certain chemical found in men's sweat.

What is the one food that helps your body produce this chemical: CELERY!

Scent is a very powerful motivator... and if your natural scent causes a woman to be aroused, you're ahead of the game... so, EAT CELERY!

Can Tea Help your Erections?

Well, according to the Lipton Tea box, drinking tea regularly can help aid in healthy vascular function.

That means if your drink tea and that statement is true, you'll have smoother, better blood flow.

It's because of the antioxidants.

But, it should be noted that tea also has significantly less caffeine than soda. So, you're getting stuff that's healthy for your veins... and you're not constricting them with excess caffeine.

We all know that good, strong blood flow is critical to healthy erections... so, drink some tea...

Why do you need to sleep?

Because you need Leptin -- a hormone that controls your appetite.

So, get less sleep, feel more hungry! Which means over-eating, which means FAT.

How much sleep do you need to stay healthy? 7-8 hours.

There's really no shortcut -- 7-8 hours of sleep at night helps release the chemicals your body needs to work just right. Including releasing the hormone leptin that helps control appetite. Start sleeping less and your body will start feeling out of whack... and not just tired.

Favorite new vitamins of 2012?

Anyone have any new favorites?

Anything that helps with weight loss or keeping your spirits bright in the more dismal weather?

Why do Whole Grains Make You Feel Better?

1) They have magnesium... magnesium helps your body fight pain... so, yes, eat up!

2) Fiber is filling -- it makes you feel full and that makes you eat less... but, it also makes you feel good -- who wants to feel hungry?

3) That full feeling you get from whole grains also means you are likely to eat less...and therefore, WEIGH less... a big benefit when it comes to fighting joint pain!

What Vitamins are you taking in 2012?

What vitamins will you add to your regimen in 2012?

Anything new, exciting, different?

What vitamins are you currently using...and why?

A new year is a great time to think about the vitamins you are taking and why you use them... do they work? Are they causing any harm?

It's also a great time to think about vitamins you may be missing in your diet and supplement plan...vitamins that could improve your quality of life.

So, take some time this first week of 2012 and think about your vitamins.