Healthnotes Newswire (July 19, 2007)—The thought of cod liver oil may not make you smile—but taking it might, as a new study suggests that it can prevent depression.

Healthnotes Newswire (August 2, 2007)—Sugar-sweetened beverages like nondiet sodas and fruit-flavored drinks can lead to excess weight gain in children, especially when kids drink them between meals.

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1. What is the truth about carbs?

We love carbs, and we’re so sad they’ve gotten such a bad rap! Here’s the deal: There are good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs are fruits, whole grains, brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams. They are gifts from the heavens and should be eaten daily. They give us energy and help us feel full and satisfied. Bad carbs are refined sugar, white flour, white rice, and other stripped grains (like white pasta) and should be avoided. They release quickly into our bodies making us feel tired, cranky, low-energy, and hungry.

Healthnotes Newswire (April 12, 2007)—Mothers and teachers have been saying it for years, and now science backs them up: kids who drink lots of sugary soft drinks have more trouble with hyperactivity and other mental health difficulties than other kids.

Soft drinks are a significant source of simple sugars. As much as 100 grams (about 7 tablespoons) of sugar is likely to be found in a typical liter of soda. Refined sugar has received attention as one of the major culprits in the childhood obesity epidemic, the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay.

1. Live well

It's true that you are what you eat, but your health is also a reflection of what you do. That's why making healthy lifestyle choices can drastically affect your ability to keep illness at bay. So consider the following to optimize your immune-system strength:

• Exercise regularly
• Limit alcohol, caffeine, and sugar
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Drink lots of bottled water
• Dont miss meals

2. Take your vitamins

Even if you never eat junk food or miss meals, your body will still need a bit of help getting all the nutrients it needs to stay strong. That is where supplements come in. A good multivitamin is a must. In addition, boosting your intake of the nutrients below can help prevent deficiencies that make you a target for infections:

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Beta-carotene

3. Chill out

Excessive stress essentially cripples the immune system, making the body less able to fend off everything from bacteria and viruses to serious diseases. Finding ways to relax is essential for your good health. Give the following a try:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Warm baths with soothing oils, such as lavender
• Walking
• Reading Whatever you choose, look for activities or nonactivities that give you a real break from everyday work and home obligations.

4. Catch some Zs

Skimping on sleep can cut your immune defenses in half, so be sure to snooze a full eight hours a night. If you cant get a full nights sleep because of time constraints, try to squeeze in a 15- to 30-minute nap during the day. Although not as beneficial as nighttime rest, a nap can help stave off illness. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying that way, try some remedies for insomnia.

5. Build good bacteria

Making sure the good bacteria in your body outnumber the bad is one way to help fend off infection. Healthy probiotic bacteria stimulate the intestines immune system and slow the growth of infectious organisms in the digestive system. Good sources of healthy bacteria are yogurt and other foods containing live cultures, and supplements containing 10 billion colony-forming units a day of acidophilus or bifidobacteria.

6. Try taming tonics

Miraculously, tonics both energize your system when its low and protect it when its over-stimulated. That is the beauty of adaptogens, also known as tonics. Essentially, adaptogens help keep the immune system in balance and help spare vital tissues from stress-induced damage. Examples include:

• Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus)
• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
• Reishi mushroom

Linda Knittel, MA, is a nutritional counselor and health writer. When feeling under the weather, she drinks an extra gallon of water and gets an extra hour of sleep.

“The obesity epidemic in children today is linked, I think, to not only what kids are eating, but how they’re eating. It’s not simply a matter of calories in plus calories out equals the weight you have. The kind of calorie really matters.

“Touching on things like the glycemic index (understanding how our blood sugar is affected) is very important for families to understand in helping their children who have problems with obesity – knowing what to eat, how to eat, and how often to eat. “For many kids with obesity, they’re not actually eating too much. They’re just eating the wrong things in the wrong combinations at the wrong times.

Healthnotes Newswire (March 15, 2007)—A new study shows that a naturally occurring sugar called D-ribose could help improve well-being in people with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, two perplexing and difficult-to-treat conditions.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia share many characteristics and often go hand-in-hand. According to the Arthritis Foundation 50 to 70% of people with fibromyalgia also fit the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, and vice versa. Both conditions are more likely to occur in women than in men.

Nearly every morning my kids ask if they can have cookies for breakfast.  And every morning I tell them "No way, breakfast is no time for cookies!"  "Why???!", they ask.  "Too much sugar -- it's bad for you and can make you sick," I respond.  "How do you know?" asks my now 6 year old girl who now questions everything.

Good question.  I showed her (and myself!) the sugar labels on the cookies we often eat for treats and then the cereal boxes from the cereals they most often eat for breakfast.  Guess what?   Compared to a lot of the cereals, cookies weren't that bad.