4 Supplements for Your Heart

A healthy heart is vital to overall wellness and vitality. In addition to following an anti-inflammatory diet and getting regular, moderate exercise, consider adding these four supplements for heart health to your daily routine:

Fish oil. Several studies have linked omega-3 fatty acids from fish with a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as lowered triglyceride levels and reduced blood pressure.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This is a powerful antioxidant that promotes the efficient utilization of energy at the cellular level and is especially beneficial to for the heart muscle. It is a particularly important supplement for those who take cholesterol-lowering statin medications, which can inhibit the body's ability to synthesize CoQ10.

Ideal Weight: Something to Die For?

Here's new and somewhat shocking evidence of how big an issue weight remains for some women. A survey at 20 colleges in Britain revealed that women students would be willing to reduce their lifespan by a year in order to achieve and maintain their ideal body weight. Even worse: 10 percent of these women said that they would give up two to five years of life in order to be thin, and three percent were willing to give up 10 years or more. Most of the women were young - under 25 - but some were as old as 65. Of the 320 women who participated in the survey, 78 percent were within or under a healthy weight range but four out of five still said they wanted to weigh less. Five percent reported having had some type of cosmetic surgery and 39 percent said they would have a cosmetic procedure if they could afford it. The survey also showed that 25 percent of the women would give up more than $8,000 of their annual salary, a promotion at work, spending time with their families and even their health to meet their ideal of slimness. The survey was sponsored by England's Succeed Foundation and led by Professor Philippa Diedrichs of the University of the West of England. The foundation's mission is to raise awareness of eating disorders and support people affected by eating disorders.

4 Unhealthy Beverages

Whether you are watching your weight or just want to eat healthier, taking a look at what you drink is key. Empty calories can lurk in all types of beverages - especially these:

Coffee drinks with full-fat dairy, artificial flavorings, and extras such as chocolate sprinkles. These can pack as many calories as a meal. A better option is a plain coffee with soy milk or, better yet, antioxidant-rich green tea.

Sugary cocktails. Whether it’s a margarita or a pina colada, these drinks pack a double dose of calories due to alcohol and sugar - some can top 800 calories in one drink. Better options are a glass of red wine (60-100 calories) or a light beer (about 100 calories).

If You're Pregnant, Eat Chocolate

It could lower your risk of preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure that can threaten the lives of both mother and child. Researchers at Yale asked nearly 1,700 women about their eating habits during pregnancy, including how much chocolate they ate. Those that ate the most chocolate turned out to have the lowest rates of preeclampsia. Eating more than five servings of chocolate a week reduced the risk of preeclampsia by up to 40 percent or more. The researchers credited the chocolate by-product theobromine, (which was seen in the cord blood of more than 1,300 of the women) for the effect. In fact, the higher a woman's theobromine levels, the lower her risk of preeclampsia. In addition, flavonoids - antioxidants in chocolate previously associated with cardiovascular benefits - may have played a role, the investigators said. For the study, they didn't distinguish between the types of chocolate the mothers-to-be consumed, but noted that dark chocolate provides the most theobromine. The researchers cautioned women not to go overboard with chocolate - too much can lead to excess weight gain and all the health problems associated with obesity.

4 Steps to Naturally Whiter Teeth

If you are a cola, coffee, tea or red-wine drinker, you may experience discolored teeth. Actually, any food or drink capable of staining clothes or carpets - including fruit juices, blueberries, soy sauce and curry - can also stain teeth - While the best way to get rid of persistent stains is with professional teeth cleaning, you can help prevent stains - new or recurring - with the following:

Rinse your mouth with plain water after you drink or eat staining foods and beverages.

Brush your teeth twice a day with a whitening toothpaste; many natural-ingredient-based toothpaste lines such as Tom's of Maine now have whitening varieties.

4 Tips for Nutrition and Cognitive Health

To help preserve mental function and protect against age-related cognitive decline consider implementing these healthy lifestyle, nutrition and supplement choices:

Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. It helps prevent inappropriate inflammation and counters the damage from oxidative stress, which may be linked to Alzheimer's disease. Focus on antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, foods rich in vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, and the spices turmeric and ginger. My Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid has more information and specific recommendations.

Eat berries. Blueberries in particular may improve motor skills and help reverse age-related short-term memory loss, and may also protect the brain from stroke damage.

4 Tips for a Gluten-Free Diet

An estimated two million Americans have celiac disease, an inherited, autoimmune disorder that tends to run in families. Symptoms are caused by eating foods that contain gluten, and, like many autoimmune conditions, the disease itself can be triggered by physical and emotional stress.

If you are one of the one in 133 Americans with celiac disease, you should be following a gluten-free diet - for life. Even a small amount of gluten can cause problems and result in damage to the small intestine. The good news is that following a gluten-free diet can greatly improve and may even completely resolve symptoms, heal existing intestinal damage, and prevent further problems. Use the following as a guide to a gluten-free diet:

4 Tonic Herbs for Healthy Aging

Feeling rundown, stressed out, and always catching whatever cold is going around? You may want to consider taking a daily tonic. Also known as adaptogens, these nontoxic, plant-based substances help to bolster your body's natural defenses and increase its ability to cope with daily stress. When taken long term, tonics may help boost energy levels, strengthen immunity, and increase resistance to disease. Some popular tonics include:

Ashwagandha. This traditional herb (Withania somnifera) from India is much used in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is valued as a general tonic and adaptogen.

Eleuthro. Formerly called Siberian ginseng, eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is a distant relative of true ginseng. It can be useful for alleviating exhaustion, fatigue from heavy workloads, and lack of energy. Look for products that are standardized for eleutheroside content.

Prenatal and Pregnancy

Prenatal vitamins are one of the most important vitamins that you take through out your pregnancy. Ideally, you should start taking prenatal vitamins when you are trying to conceive a baby. By taking prenatal while you are trying to conceive, you are preparing your body for the challenging task that lies ahead. Some experts believe that taking prenatal before you are pregnant might actually reduce your risk of a miscarriage after you become pregnant.

Taking prenatal before pregnancy is not always possible for some people, but taking them during pregnancy is essential. Prenatal vitamins contain one of the most important nutrients that a new mother needs and that are folic acid or folate. By taking in extra folic acid, you lower your chances of your baby being born with an incomplete spinal column which is known as spina bifida. In order for your baby to be protected, it is imperative that folic acid is taken in the first four weeks of fetal development.