SMART BITE Canned pumpkin has more fiber and carotenoids than fresh cooked. Blend one tablespoon with one-half cup of lowfat milk, half a banana, and a dash of cinnamon
for a yummy pumpkin smoothie.
-Prevention
WALK AWAY FROM DIABETES Fifty percent—That’s how much you can cut diabetes and heart
disease risk with exercise—even if you don’t start until you’re 55.
All it takes is 30 to 45 minutes of walking, three days a week.
-Prevention
YOUTHFUL LEARNING Stay young at heart and happier by always striving to learn new things and improve yourself, as all youthful people do. Read newspapers and books or learn a new language, sport or computer program.
-Quick & Simple
FRESHEN UP YOUR CAR It might be time to change your attitude about those cardboard air fresheners hanging from some cars’ rearview mirrors. “Tacky as they may be, there could be hidden benefits,” says Bryan Raudenbush, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University. He authored a study that found that drivers who sniffed cinnamon or peppermint scents reported significantly less frustration and fatigue, and more alertness than drivers who inhaled just plain air. It seems that those smells are stimulating, and tend to keep you focused on the task at hand and away from annoying distractions.
-Health
FLU FIGHTER Physically or mentally challenging yourself for 45 minutes can produce more antibodies that may make your flu vaccine work better, a study in “Brain, Behavior and Immunity” suggests. Instead of dreading the shot, distract yourself beforehand by jogging or playing chess.
-Self
THE BULLY BOX The more TV 4-year-old children watch, the more likely they are to become bullies later on in school. It doesn’t matter if it’s an educational show: Researchers say the lack of social interaction may lead to aggressive behavior.
