HealthyLife Articles

Category: Uncategorized

Top Ten Recommendations For Cancer Prevention

MEDICAL NEWS

1. Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.

2. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.

3. Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods.

4. Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.

5. Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.

6. If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day.

7. Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium).

8. Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer.

9. It is best for mothers to breastfeed only for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods.

10. After treatment, cancer survivors should follow these recommendations for cancer prevention.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Wine Confusion: Healthy Or Not?

MEDICAL NEWS

Wine has been making the headlines in recent months as a “healthy” choice. Some studies suggest the compounds and antioxidants in wine can reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, and more.

This can be confusing if you’ve been told that alcohol isn’t good for you. Should you drink wine to get healthier, or skip it?

There is no perfect answer for everyone. It’s important to note that these studies are promising, but they’re not enough to say that wine is a healthy choice. Many of these studies were done in labs, on mice, or were done with supplements instead of real wine. And for some, the possible benefits of wine wouldn’t be worth the risk. Wine is also high in calories and sugar. This can add to obesity and affect blood sugar, especially in diabetics. In addition, wine and alcohol can interact with certain medicines.

Many people can enjoy alcohol in small amounts without problems. But if you have a history of alcoholism or your doctor has told you not to drink, you should not drink wine or any alcoholic beverage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that drinking too much alcohol, even wine, can harm your health. So if you decide to drink, be sure you do it in moderation.

So what is “moderation”? According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderation is up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men-and only by adults of legal drinking age.

The bottom line:

If you already have a drink once in a while, switching to red wine may be healthier than other choices such as beer or spirits. But the health benefits of red wine are not fully understood. So, experts do not recommend it as a daily drink for everyone.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Benefits Of Volunteering

WELL-BEING

Gallup surveys in 130 countries show people with higher personal well-being are more likely to say they give time, money, or help to others in their communities.

In general, volunteers reported higher levels of happiness, life-satisfaction, self-esteem, and a sense of control over life. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose, as well as social and physical activities. Also, studies have shown a strong link between volunteering and health benefits. Two hours a week, about 100 hours a year, is the number that is associated with these benefits:

* Less chronic pain

* Lower rates of heart disease

* Lower rates of depression, especially for volunteers age 60 and older

* Lower mortality rates

One study of alcoholics going through the Alcoholics Anonymous program, found that those who helped others were nearly twice as likely to stay dry a year later. Their levels of depression were lower, too.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Find Unclaimed Money

WELL-BEING

Uncle Sam may actually owe you money. How? If the government owes you money, and you do not collect it, it becomes unclaimed money. This can happen because of bank or credit union closures, investment funds, pensions, tax refunds, or savings bonds, among others.

But before you assume that there has to be unclaimed money out there for you, beware, says USA.gov, a government information website.

There are people out there who will contact you, claim to be the government, saying they will send you unclaimed money for a fee. This is a scam. Legitimate government agencies will not contact you about unclaimed money or assets.

Right now, there is no single government site for finding unclaimed money by name, social security number, or state. You need to visit each site separately and perform a search.

After searching, if you are owed funds, there will be instructions and steps to follow to collect your money.

For more information on unclaimed money, or other government resources, visitUSA.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
“I Know Where You Are”

WELL-BEING

The new you may not be you at all. Hackers and cyber criminals steal millions of records and identities, according to the consumer advocacy nonprofit Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Stay safer online by following these practices:

*Assume you’ve already been compromised.Whether it’s your baby monitor, your Smart TV, the webcam on your laptop, or apps you installed on your smartphone or tablet, your antivirus is not enough protection. It’s time to take their privacy policies, and the permissions you grant them, much more seriously.

*Change your passwords.All of them. Now. And do it as frequently as you can tolerate. Also, if you don’t want to change it often, then use any unique characters you can think of, such as a dollar sign ($) or exclamation mark (!), or replace an “oh” with a “zero” (0). This goes a long way in preventing attacks against your password.

*Turn off wireless and geolocation services.Protect your smartphones and tablets by turning off WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC and GPS, except when you need them. That way, if you are at a local coffee shop or in a shopping mall, no one can spy on you using nearby (proximity) hacking attacks, and they can’t track where you were and where you are going on your GPS.

*Assume most of your apps are creepware.This is malware that spies on you and your online behavior. Do you really need them? Delete all of the apps you aren’t using too often.

Source: Gary S. Miliefsky is CEO of SnoopWall and the inventor of SnoopWall spyware-blocking technology. He is a founding member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Living Simply

WELL-BEING

Simple living is not really that simple-but results from a recent study at University of the Sciences indicate that reducing the clutter and narrowing your possessions, activities, and thoughts can play a key role in boosting your mental and physical health.

“People generally look to simplify their lives for a number of reasons-most commonly after they get fed up with the stress and chaos of their daily lives,” said Dr. Heidi Freeman, assistant professor of exercise science and wellness management.

Try this:

*Decide what is unnecessary.Identify what is most important to you (spending time with family, career?) and eliminate everything else (cable TV, extracurricular activities, for example).

*Start with small changes.Set aside one screen-free day each week, learn a few new recipes, or take a DIY class. Once you’ve mastered one change, then you can take on something more challenging.

*Get moving.Rather than using your vehicle to get to places, consider walking, bicycling, or using public transportation.

*Learn to say no.Schedules are often jam-packed with activities, chores, appointments, responsibilities, and urgent tasks. In order to simplify your lifestyle, you must be able to turn things down to eliminate some of this schedule clutter.

*Spend less.The less you buy, the less you spend. For instance, ditch eating out and start preparing more meals at home-this can also increase the amount of quality time spent with your loved ones.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Quit Bugging Me

WELL-BEING

As you enjoy the great outdoors, you may not see a bear, but you might encounter biting and stinging critters such as ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects.

Bring along your own make-at-home first aid kit that includes assorted bandages and basic medicines such as a 1 percent hydrocortisone anti-itch cream, suggests Dr. Janyce Sanford, an ER doctor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Use insect repellant with DEET. Include tweezers to remove ticks (the best way is to pull straight up in an easy motion). And if anyone is sensitive to bee or wasp stings, carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) when camping or hiking.

Find out who in your party knows CPR before you might need it. Carry emergency supplies of food and light, and make sure you practice common sense.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Stop The Spending Cycle

WELL-BEING

Going overboard on one shopping trip, especially around the holidays, does not mean you have a shopping addiction. It’s normal to overdo it once in a while. And, everyone buys things that aren’t truly needed at times.

But, if you think you or a loved one might have a shopping addiction, there is help. Often times, a shopping addiction is the result of another health issue like depression. Talk with your doctor about your feelings and symptoms. Antidepressants or other medications may be helpful.

Or, you may wish to talk with a counselor about things that are bothering you. Sometimes, emotional burdens or troubles can make you look for happiness in things like shopping. If you are able to deal with those problems, you may not feel the need to shop as much.

There are also support groups for people with a variety of addictions. Debtors Anonymous can help people who have gone into debt from too much spending.

Don’t be afraid to seek help. The sooner you can address the problem, the sooner you can get your life back on track.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Unexpected Ways To Be Happy (And Healthy)

WELL-BEING

*It’s easy being green.Make vegetables a central part of your diet. Dark green foods provide essential vitamins and nutrients to your body that protect you from many of life’s worst diseases. The FDA recommends 3 to 5 servings a day for pristine health. This is not as hard to accomplish as it sounds. Examples of one serving include 2 broccoli spears, 3 tablespoons of green beans, or 3 sticks of celery.

*Brush your teeth.Brushing and flossing your teeth not only prevents tooth decay but gum disease, which has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. Healthy gums are one more way to keep that heart pumping strong.

*Hear ye, hear ye!Pick up your local newspaper once in a while. There is more information out there than you can imagine. Sift through the bounty of news because when it comes to your health and health care, no one is more responsible than you are. Take time to understand what’s going on in the world.

*Be a small fry.Order smaller portions. Even the small fries at fast food drive-throughs.

*Give yourself a break.Not only are vacations an important part of maintaining your sanity, but there are many other positives about getting away. Studies have shown that employees come back to work post-vacation more creative and more productive.

*Scrub a dub dub.The easiest way to avoid infectious diseases-a common cold, the flu-is by washing your hands often.

*Then lend a hand.A study at Vanderbilt University found that volunteer work was good for both mental and physical health. People of all ages who volunteered were happier and had better physical health and less depression. Think about something you like to do in your spare time and find a match atwww.volunteermatch.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
4 “S”S For Smooth Skin

WELL-BEING

Winter is hard on your skin. Dry indoor air, frequent washing and cold outside air can make skin itchy and painful. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and an important barrier. Protect it!

1. Stay safe with germs: Don’t skip handwashing because your hands are dry. You could end up sick or may spread germs to others. Instead, keep hand cream in your purse, pocket or desk. Apply the cream after you wash your hands.

2. Short showers: A long, hot shower strips skin of its protective oils. Keep showers and baths short and not too hot.

3. Slather moisturizer: After bathing, apply a rich cream or ointment before skin is fully dry. Petroleum jelly is a low-cost and effective choice.

4. Skip harsh soaps: Many products contain drying detergents. These can leave skin feeling irritated and dry. Look for products that don’t contain alcohol or fragrances.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026