health news
THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO STAY WELL
by GINA ROBERTS-GRAY
cut your cancer risk
Getting enough vitamin E from almonds, sunflower
seeds, mustard greens, spinach, peppers, and cooking
oils m ay reduce the risk o f bladder cancer b y about
35%, says a new study published in the medical
journal
C ancer Causes Control.
W om en should
get 15 m g per day o f vitamin E; % cup o f almonds
contains about 9 m g o f vitamin E.
FRESH
STRAWBERRIES
HAVE IT ALL
"They’re an excellent source of
vitamin C, folate, and dietary fiber,
which all play key roles in heart
health," says Jackie Newgent, a
registered dietitian and author
of the
Big Green Cookbook:
Hundreds of Planet-Pleasing Recipes
and Tips for a Luscious Low-Carbon
Lifestyle
(Wiley).
One cup of strawberries has
50 calories; a dollop of low-fat non-
dairy whipped topping adds only 10
more. If you go the extra mile and
pick a pint or two yourself at a
farm, you’ll burn a few calories, too.
You already know that strawberries
are a great way to wake up a bowl
of cereal, a cup of yogurt, or a
morning smoothie. But try them
with savory foods, too. For a
surprising pop, toss strawberries
into summer salads with balsamic
vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil.
SCRATCH THE ITCH
Pesky plants are one of the perils of the season, but they don’t have to ruin your
summer. Brushing up against poison ivy (or its cousins, oak and sumac) can provoke an
exasperating, itchy rash on the skin. While there’s no cure, you can ease the symptoms.
Over-the-counter lotions from Aveeno, Benadryl, and Zanfel wash away the poisonous oil
or soothe the itch with hydrocortisone or antihistamines, but the home remedies below
can also help. “Less is more when it comes to treating poison ivy,” says Susan Stuart,
M.D, a La Jolla dermatologist and faculty member at the University of California San
Diego. “Avoid soaps, scrubs, and abrasive cloths,” she says, which
could spread the rash.
The rash
usually dries up and fades away in a
week or so.
OATMEAL
Make a small bowl
of unflavored
oatmeal and let
cool to room
temperature.
Apply the paste to
the rash and let
dry. Rinse off with
tepid water.
BAKING SODA
Mix 3 teaspoons of
baking soda with 1
teaspoon of water
to form a thick
paste. Lightly
apply the paste to
the rash, and let it
dry. Rinse off with
tepid water.
ICE CUBES
Lightly rub an ice
cube across the
afflicted areas to
cool the tissue and
reduce the
inflammation.
EPSOM SALT
Make a paste to
use as a topical
remedy or take a
hot soak with salts
added to the bath.
Magnesium sulfate
helps reduce
swelling and draws
moisture out of
the rash.
o
o
230
JUNE 2010
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