12 Foods That Can Boost Your Immune System

We all know that to keep our bodies healthy and our immune systems in top shape, it's smart to eat lots of fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water and keep the junk food to a minimum. But as summer draws to a close and cold and flu season looms, did you know that there are certain foods you can add to your diet that will provide an extra boost of immunity?

1. Almonds

A handful of almonds can help you bounce back from stress, as they are chock full of Vitamin E as well as niacin, riboflavin and B vitamins.

2. Grapefruit

This fruit has lots of flavonoids, which help increase immune system activation. Grapefruits also have a good amount of Vitamin C as well.

3. Garlic

Garlic contains antioxidants which help kill bacteria that can invade the immune system.

4. Spinach

Spinach is packed with cell-repairing nutrients like folate, as well as antioxidants, fiber and Vitamin C.  Raw spinach is best.

5. Tea

Both green and black tea are loaded with free radical-destroying antioxidants.

6. Broccoli

This veggie contains nutrients that help protect your body from damage as well as lots of vitamins.

7. Low-fat yogurt

The live and active cultures in yogurt are believed to stimulate the immune system.

8. Elderberry

This fruit is thought to help people recover more quickly from the flu.  It is also rich in inflammation-fighting antioxidants.

9. Wheat Germ

Wheat germ contains protein, fiber and good fats as well as other nutrients and antioxidants.

10. Watermelon

Watermelon contains glutathione which strengthens the immune system and helps to fight infection.

11. Button mushrooms

B vitamins, selenium and antioxidants make this vegetable a real super food.  Mushrooms have also been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral effects.

12. Acai berry

This much talked-about fruit is full of antioxidants and is most commonly found in dried or smoothie form.

Bottom line? Incorporate some of these healthy choices into your menu to keep those sick days at bay this fall and winter.

Men’s Health: What is Angina?

Angina is discomfort in the chest that occurs when there is not enough blood oxygen flowing to an area of the heart muscle. In the majority of cases, the lack of blood supply occurs when the coronary arteries have become narrowed due to arteriosclerosis.

Symptoms of angina include tightening, pressure, aching, squeezing or heaviness across the chest and behind the breastbone. The pain often spreads to the back, jaw, arms or neck. Weakness, heartburn, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath, cramping and indigestion can also occur along with it.

Angina usually occurs after a heavy meal or during exertion or emotional stress. During these times, the heart muscle needs more blood oxygen than the coronary arteries can give. Angina typically lasts 1-15 minutes and can be relieved by rest or by taking a nitroglycerin tablet, which helps lower blood pressure and relax the blood vessels.

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of angina, and it is important to establish the diagnosis of angina because people with angina are at risk of having a heart attack.

Angina can be diagnosed by administering an electrocardiogram (EKG) or an exercise stress test.

If for some reason a patient cannot undergo an exercise stress test, medications can be injected intravenously in order to simulate the stress on the heart that is brought on by exercise.

In some cases, stress echocardiography may be done, which is more accurate than an exercise stress test for detecting coronary artery disease.

Cardiac catheterization is another option, which is a technique that allows x-rays to be taken of the coronary arteries.

Other treatment options for angina include medications such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, as well as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Photo credit: online-medical-advice.com

Back to School: What Parents Need to Know About Lice

What are lice?

Head lice are insects that feed on the blood of humans and cling to the neck and scalp. Lice are tiny (about the size of a sesame seed) and aren't always easy to see. Lice eggs (known as nits) are even harder to spot and are found near the scalp.

Who gets lice?

Young children attending elementary school, day care or preschool are most susceptible. At this age, kids play together closely and tend to share hats, brushes and hair clips.

How do they spread?

Lice spread when there is head-to-head contact allowing them to crawl into one person's hair from another's. Lice can also survive for a short time on items such as a hairbrush, but cannot fly or jump from one person to another.

How to spot them?

Lice and nits are visible to the naked eye and can be brown, dark gray or white. They are usually found behind the ears or at the back of the neck. Nits are found on the hairs near the scalp and look like round specks. Parents are often told that combing through hair when it is wet is the best way to spot them.

What symptoms do they cause?

Most of the time, lice do not cause discomfort. The most common symptom is itching that may begin weeks or months after the infestation begins.

How are they treated?

If you think your child has lice, call your doctor so that they can confirm it. Also let your child's day care or school know so that they can check the other children. Other members of the household should also be checked.

Safe lice treatments can be found over the counter, and their instructions should be followed carefully. Sometimes a second treatment is needed a week to two weeks later.  If two treatments do not get rid of the lice, be sure to see your doctor for something stronger.

It is also a good idea to wash clothing that has been worn in the past 48 hours as well as bedding in hot water.

How to prevent lice?

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to prevent head lice. The best defense is to examine your child's scalp and hair on a regular basis to catch an infestation early. Prompt treatment will help prevent the bugs from spreading to others.

Photo credit: WebMD

5 Common Allergy Triggers

Allergies are an immune system response where the body’s defenses react to a substance in the environment. Countless things can trigger an allergic reaction, which can range from mild to life-threatening. Here are 5 of the most common triggers for allergies.

1. Pollen: Grass, tree and weed pollen can trigger allergies or hay fever. Pollen causes such symptoms as itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and congestion--which can be prevented by staying inside when pollen counts are high, running the air conditioning and keeping the windows closed.  Treatments for these allergies include prescription drugs, allergy shots and over-the-counter products.

2. Animal dander: Proteins in an animal's saliva and skin can cause allergic reactions. If you find that your pet is causing allergies, wash them regularly, avoid carpets if possible and keep them out of your bedroom. Allergy shots can also be helpful.

3. Dust mites: Dust mites live in house dust and feed on the dead skin cells of humans and pets. You can prevent dust mite allergies by keeping mattresses and pillows covered and washing sheets in hot water every week.

4. Molds: Molds produce allergens and sometimes even toxic substances. Touching or inhaling mold can cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to it. Mold needs moisture to grow, so be sure to keep moist areas in the home well ventilated.

5. Food: Foods that commonly cause allergens include nuts, wheat, shellfish and milk. A reaction usually occurs right after eating the allergy-causing food, and symptoms include vomiting, hives, breathing problems, swelling and diarrhea. The best way to avoid these symptoms is to of course avoid offending foods completely--but if exposed and the reaction is life-threatening, an epinephrine injection may be needed.

If you discover you have allergies that begin to interfere with your everyday life, see a medical professional.  In most cases, allergies can become very manageable with the proper treatment and care.

Bedbugs Are Back!

Yes, it's true.  Post World War II, bedbugs were for the most part eradicated with DDT--a pesticide that has since been banned because of its toxic effects on the environment. However, they seem to be in the news more and more lately, perhaps due to increased frequency in international travel, immigration and insecticide resistance.

Bedbugs are flat, oval and reddish-brown and tend to hide in mattresses, box springs, headboards and bed frames.  They can also be found in the seams of upholstered furniture, under peeling paint or wallpaper or near baseboards under carpeting.

Bedbugs are more commonly found in crowded places that have a high turnover of people, such as dorms, hotels, shelters and apartment complexes.

In terms of bedbug bites, they are sometimes hard to distinguish from other bug bites.  In general, they tend to be itchy and red, often with a darker spot in the middle, arranged in a line or cluster and located on the arms, hands, face and neck.  Bites from bedbugs do not usually require medical treatment, but if you experience an allergic reaction or develop an infection, you will want to visit your doctor.

If you suspect bedbugs, be sure to inspect your home at night, when they are active.  Some of the signs you can look for include empty exoskeletons (they shed their skin as they grow into adults), bloody smears on your sheets (where engorged bugs have been crushed accidentally) and dark specks along mattress seams (bedbug excrement).

You can treat your home yourself to a point, by washing sheets and other infested items in hot water, but professional treatment is usually recommended.

To prevent bedbugs, be sure to inspect any secondhand items you bring into your home (especially furniture), check your mattress when you sleep in a hotel and eliminate any bat or bird habitats neighboring your home that may serve as a refuge for bedbugs.

Photo credit: Mayo Clinic