Exercise can be tailored to the individual
In 2005, 63 percent of American adults were overweight or obese, compared to 58 percent in 2001. 
What's behind the statistics? We're eating too much, of course, but we are also exercising less, a lot less. More than 60 percent of American adults don't exercise regularly; 25 percent do nothing at all.
That's too bad, because in addition to physical health benefits, studies from Duke University show that regular exercise may be as effective as anti-depressant medication in reducing the symptoms of depression. That's even more true for older people.
Aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, or biking for 30 minutes on most days was associated with significant improvements in mood.
Increasing physical activity may be especially beneficial for people who have medical conditions such as heart disease or arthritis.
The doctors say it's never too late to start exercising. Programs can be tailored to the individual.
At Duke, they say patients can ask their doctors not only to write prescriptions for medications, but also for physical activity. 
Positive thinking prevents a cold?
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University say a positive outlook can short-circuit the virus responsible for the common cold. They squirted the cold virus into the noses of happy people and grumpy ones. Those with sunny dispositions were much less likely to get sick. |
Ease into spring with these allergy fighters
 Whether you call it rose fever, hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, it's a big problem for the 50 million sufferers in America.
Many allergy symptoms can be controlled with drugs such as antihistamines. (Lately they have also been called 'histamine blockers' in commercials.) Your doctor can recommend over-the-counter or prescription medication that's right for you.
You may be prescribed a newer drug which controls the lungs' response to allergens and prevents airway swelling. Called antileukotrienes, they have been shown to effectively prevent both allergy attacks and asthma attacks.
Prevention
If you know what you're allergic to, try to avoid contact with the allergens. Check the mold and pollen forecast and limit outside activities on high-level days or wear a paper mask. Researchers at the Woodcock Institute of Medical Research in Australia say an inexpensive pollen filter that fits over the nose and mouth can dramatically reduce allergen exposure.
The super antioxidant in green tea could also ease symptoms. It blocks the biochemical process involved in producing an allergic response, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Green tea may be useful against a wide range of sneeze-starting allergens including pollen, pet dander, and dust.
Drinking two or three cups a day of green tea helps to bolster the body's defenses, according to Lester Mitscher, of the University of Kansas. Mitscher is the author of The Green Tea Book: China's Fountain of Youth (Avery).
Fresh tea made with loose leaves has more antioxidants than tea bags. Water with chlorine can lower antioxidant levels. For best-quality tea, use distilled water.
Six ways to lose more
Based on scientific studies, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) offers these new guidelines for weight loss. NAS suggests adults get 45 to 64 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, 20 to 35 percent from fat, and 10 to 35 percent from protein. In addition: 
1. Set modest goals. The goals should be specific and measurable. Drink two sodas a day instead of three, eat a salad every day with dinner, for example. Focus on nutritious foods you will add to your diet rather than what you will cut out.
2. Monitor your progress. Recording eating and exercise can make your weight-loss program a success.
3. Enjoy your exercise. Do something you like. Join a class, such as yoga, tai chi, or dancing. Walk with a friend.
4. Know you can do it. Cheer yourself on as your exercise. The more positive your self-talk, the easier it will be to make progress.
5. Ask for help. Ask family and friends not to leave fattening treats around. Get an exercise buddy.
6. Visualize small successes. See yourself working out for an hour or refusing a fatty treat.
Do your heart a favor: Laugh!
At last, doctors have a prescription that you'll like, and the price is right. It's a big laugh, and it's free. 
Laughter can be strong medicine say researchers at Stanford University. Even the physical act is good for you. It increases blood flow and contracts abdominal muscles.
The most significant evidence of laughter's power comes from a study of heart attack patients. Half watched comedy shows for 30 minutes every day, the other half didn't. After a year, the laughers had one-fifth the number of repeat heart attacks that the control group had.
Doctors at the University of California, Irvine, say watching a humorous video decreases levels of two key stress hormones that can cause irregular heart rhythms. Heart disease patients are often given beta-blocking drugs that specifically block these hormones. The doctors say laughter does the same thing and is a lot more fun.
In other studies, laughter has been shown to help children and adults handle painful medical procedures.
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