HEALTH IN HAND

Good for the environment but not so good for your inner ecology--Did  you know those hot air hand dryers spread 27 times more bacteria than paper towels? Rx? Shake your wet hands twelve times then use just one folded towel and you're good, recommend preventative health experts. Then get those germ-free hands on some naturally sweetened  cherry juice instead of soda. Tart cherries are rich in inflammation fighting antioxidants, great for treating RA and a natural source of stress-reducing melatonin.  20 ounces of soda a day, on the other hand, can shorten your life by almost 5 years, say anti-aging nutritionists.

NUTRITIONAL MATH

Is your good diet wanting? It is if you're tossing back a few pharmaceuticals with your morning joe and Downward  Facing Dog. .So what’s the take-away about putting back? At a minimum, you need at a respectable multivitamin --preferably one formulated for your sex and age that carries the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) crest.  Plus some additional ascorbic acid (vitamin C),  preferably in the optimally absorbed Ester-C form which will help keep your immune system humming along. One or two grams daily taken in spaced doses couldn’t hurt (and if you don’t need it, it’s water soluble and will simply be voided). A bone-support supplement that contains calcium, vitamin D, and perhaps helper- bone health trace minerals such as boron, silica and vitamin are good add-ons for women.   Wash it all down with a cup of green tea and you’re good to flow! Go to www.invitehealth/drug-induced-nutrient-depletion.html for more details. 

Your Feet, Your Face, Your Gut

Get off your high horse and out of those high heels, ladies. High heels cause 200% more stress to your knees than sneakers. Ballet flats are no better.  And you are three times less stable in flip flops than in low heels. Further up the body, you can  reduce the appearance of wrinkles by using a bedside humidifier that provides 70% relative humidity. And a fruity way to protect your GI tract? Couple that wine or beer with a few vitaminwberries, say new studies from the University of Bar C Barcelona.

PS: Check Your pH Levels!

1. A key measure of your overall health is your acid-alkaline balance, expressed as a number on the pH scale: 1 is most acid and 14 is most alkaline. You can check your numbers (excellent is between 6.6 and 6.8) with a litmus paper test kit available from medical supply companies or some  pharmacies. Best way to alkalinize your body? Drink less (acid) coffee, eat  more (alkaline) green vegetables. Even better,  switch that brewed coffee for freshly made juices.

Leafy Green Bones

Got greens? You don't need milk for calcium. 50% of the skeleton-boosting calcium in green leafy vegetables is absorbed  (even higher  for Brussels Sprouts) by your body -which is twice that of milk with no fat or cholesterol, says the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).  Best bone-building greens? Collards. Next best--turnip, dandelion and mustard greens followed by kale. For a calcium add-on --dish up those steamed greens with stir-fried tofu and toasted sesame seeds.

In the Black with Green Tea

Unlike caffeinated teas, herbal teas support the adrenals rather than depleting them, promote blood purification and stimulate the body's natural defenses to fight infection.  If your health is in the red for any reason, pour a cup of green tea. Daily doses of green tea help to prevent cancer, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, fight gum disease and spur weight loss. Green tea also enhances the  body's ability to assimilate vitamin C.  Brew it gently and  serve  without  milk or sugar to preserve its nuanced  flavors. Read more about the miracles of tea in my book SUPER IMMUNITY FOODS!

Lemon Love

If you're smart, you'll put the squeeze on a lemon! It's more than just a flavor enhancer.  The juice of half a lemon in warm water taken morning,noon and night helps release toxins, and eases the aches of the flu. You can substitute fresh lemon juice to set your curls or applied directly, lemon juice will help shrink corns. Out of aloe? A slice of lemon rubbed on a fresh burn will prevent blistering. For a fast and healthy "Lemon Nuts" snack,. saute whole unsalted raw almonds in melted butter or coconut oil, splash with lemon juice, stir until juice is absorbed, and sprinkle with a little fresh grated lemon peel and a pinch of sea salt. Munch a bunch!