Health And Medical Tips

To help preserve mental function and protect against age-related cognitive decline including dementia and Alzheimer's disease, make these simple, healthy lifestyle choices part of your daily routine:

Get 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Regular physical exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can help slow memory loss and improve mental function.

Develop healthy habits in all aspects of life. Not smoking, drinking only in moderation, staying socially involved, managing stress, getting adequate rest, and cultivating a positive attitude and outlook - have all been associated with a lowered risk of Alzheimer's.

Maintaining the right mix of lifestyle habits and eating a healthy diet are the best ways to achieve optimal fitness. Help minimize heart disease and promote a strong cardiovascular system by adding these anti-inflammatory foods to your diet:

Nuts. Especially almonds, walnuts and cashews, nuts contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Eat a moderate portion every day.

Whole soy protein. If you substitute whole soy protein, such as edamame or tofu, for animal protein each day, you can lower levels of homocysteine, a toxic amino acid linked to increased risk of heart disease.

Fresh garlic. This medicinal herb has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. Use one or two raw or lightly cooked cloves a day.

If you have experienced hemorrhoids, you aren't alone - according to the National Institutes of Health, about 50 percent of the United States population above the age of 50 has had hemorrhoids. The good news is you can help prevent hemorrhoids with some simple steps:

Increase your intake of fiber. It helps relieve constipation and consequent straining at stool. Start by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, or take psyllium seed husks, in any of the forms available in drugstores and health-food stores. Another healthy option is freshly ground flaxseed.

Avoid dietary irritants including strong spices such as red pepper and mustard, and drinks such as coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and alcohol, all of which can inflame the lower GI tract.

Pop quiz: What do apples, pears, cucumbers and cauliflower have in common? Answer: The edible parts of all of them are white. And these fruits and vegetables have now been identified as foods that may dramatically lower the risk of stroke. This news comes from a decade long Dutch study that involved more than 20,000 adults age 20 to 65, none of whom had cardiovascular disease when they enrolled. Over the 10 years, 233 of the study participants suffered strokes. Researchers have since compared the diets the participants reported eating to see which fruits and vegetables, if any, were associated with a lower risk of stroke. Based on information contained in the questionnaires all participants filled out, those who ate the most "white" fruits and vegetables were 52 percent less likely to have had strokes than those who didn't eat as much of these foods. The amount that seemed to make a difference was 171 grams, the equivalent of one medium to large apple daily. The most commonly eaten white foods were apples, pears and applesauce. The study was published online September 15 in Stroke.