Food and Drink

What you eat and drink can have a very real effect on your health and happiness. The good news, though, is that you don’t have to give up all of the things you live. There are some rather simple ways you can increase your health and happiness, just by what you eat and drink:

1. Drink more coffee: While you don’t want to become too heavily involved with coffee, drinking a little more of it can boost your mood and help keep diabetes at bay. Men can even stave off prostate cancer. Of course, this is if you drink it in moderation.
2. Try green tea: Life coffee, green tea can help boost your mood. And, on top of that, there are health benefits associated with green tea, including lowering cholesterol, fighting heart disease and cancer, preventing stroke, and helping limit the effects of dementia.
3. Drink beer: No, don’t run out there and get drunk! But it is interesting to note that those who engage in moderate alcohol consumption actually exercise more that those who don’t. Some booze, like red wine, provides anti-oxidants. And, if imbibers actually exercise, on average, more 7.2 minutes more per week than non-drinkers, they are getting those benefits, too. Just realize that getting totally hammered is likely to overset the good.
4. Chew gum: Relieve stress by chewing gum. You can also see dental benefits when you chew sugar-free gum. (The military is considering using gum to replace toothbrushes.) There are even studies that show that gum can help with memory function.
5. Drink soda: Instead of drinking your regular fizzy drinks, have an occasional soda — spiked with vitamins. Plus, the sugar in soda can give you a little boost of energy and mood while at the same time delaying Alzheimer’s, thanks to the body’s “glucose memory system.” Just remember to drink in moderation. Always in moderation.
6. Eat more veggies: It isn’t as bad as it sounds. You can boost your health just by swapping out one meat entree a week with a vegetarian entree. There are a number of places online where you can find tasty vegetarian entrees. You don’t have to give up meat altogether to live healthier.
7. Eat more salt: Just a pinch more — since too much salt can increase hypertension. But if you want to help stave off an energy drop, a few olives or pretzel sticks can be a good way to get a little extra boost. And maybe satisfy a craving.
8. Have some dark chocolate: While you can’t go too crazy with this one, you can improve your heart health with a small amount of dark chocolate, lowering your blood pressure. Not to mention the pleasure derived from eating it can enhance your mood and contribute to your feelings of well-being.

Physical Activity

We know that we need to burn more calories than we take in, and that physical activity is a vital part of this. But do you really have to get up and move so much? The answer is know. Here are a few ways to burn a few extra calories, and feel a little better.

9. Get busy in the bedroom: Those who have sexual intercourse at least twice a week live longer. They also feel better, since sex can be a stress reliever. And, of course, sex burns calories. Unfortunately for the single, masturbation doesn’t offer all the same benefits.
10. Sleep separately: After you are done with your intimate relations, retire to separate beds. Couples that sleep in the same bed get less sleep, and sleep that is of poorer quality. Get a good night’s sleep — in your own bed — and feel happier, more energetic, and help reduce health problems.
11. Think about working out: Apparently, you don’t even have to actually workout. Men were able to increase their muscle mass just by visualizing themselves participating in lifting weights. And, as we know, muscle mass burns calories better than fat.
12. Feel better about your fat: While you don’t want to be obese, a study found that those who are slightly overweight live longer than those who are underweight. So there’s no need to stress out trying to be skinny.
13. Exercise your thumbs: You can use video games as a way to relieve stress, and find an outlet — not to mention escape reality. Some video games are more active than others (Wii), but even more conventional video games can help by increasing breathing and heart rate.
14. Fidget: Move around a little bit in your seat, drumming your fingers, stretching and tapping your toe. You can lose weight just by doing a little fidgeting throughout the day.
15. Sit around: Taking the time to be lazy on occasion can help you relax, reduce anxiety and regenerate yourself. You can enhance the health benefits of sitting around if you meditate.
16. Mow the lawn: So it’s not exactly “cheating”. Obviously using a mower that you push will increase your exercise. However, your riding mower can provide you benefits as well: The chemicals released from grass that is fresh cut relieves stress and can boost your mood.

Personal Habits and Hobbies

What you do in your free time, and you take care of yourself, can have an impact on your overall wellness. Here are some personal habits and hobbies that can help you feel better and boost your health.

17. Play an instrument: You can boost your mood and sense of well-being by learning a musical instrument. Indeed, singing, dancing and art can also help fight depression.
18. Turn up your music: You don’t have to be creative to enjoy the health benefits of music. Loud music stimulates pleasure centers in the brain, via the sacculus. So you’ll feel happier if you listen to it loud at least some of the time. (You don’t want to damage your hearing.)
19. Swear: Letting loose a few bad words can actually act as pain relief when you hurt yourself.
20. Fun in the sun: The sun’s rays are essential if you want your body to enjoy the proper amount of Vitamin D, which can help stave off dementia, reduce the chance of heart disease and cancer, and even help prevent osteoporosis. Sunlight can also help increase your positive mood and reduce the chances of depression.
21. Pornography: For men, porn can help spike testosterone levels, leading to quicker recovery time and lean muscle. Plus, some studies show that it might actually have a benefit for society.
22. Skip the shower: The bacteria that accumulate in showerheads when they aren’t in use can cause disease. On top of this, there are actually some good types of bacteria available in dirt that can help with your mood and immune system.
23. Go GOP: For some reason, Republicans are less likely to be in poor health than Democrats. One reason might the fact that smoking rates are higher in Dems. So, liberals may be smarter, but it doesn’t mean they are healthier — or happier.
24. Play some poker: The social interaction that comes with poker, online and offline, can be beneficial to mood. Plus, the probabilities involved stimulate brain activity.
25. Connect through social media: While nothing can quite compare with having face to face friends, you can still reap mental health and emotional benefits from the interaction that comes through social media like Twitter and Facebook.

The following list contains information that ranges from tracking maps to national and international news sources to resource centers and more. Each link within each category is listed in alphabetical order to show that we do not favor one set of tracking tools over another. If you are concerned about H1N1 at a local level, visit the Centers for Disease Control, which has a page that includes a list of all state sites that focus on H1N1 news and information.

Tracking Maps

1. 2009 Swine Flu H1N1 Outbreak and Migration Map: This map highlights reported cases (both confirmed and unconfirmed) and the routes those cases traveled between home and vacation / business where they apparently contracted the strain.
2. Explore flu trends around the world: Google discovered a close relationship between how many people search for flu-related topics and how many people actually have flu symptoms. Google Flu Trends uses this aggregated Google search data to estimate flu activity up to two weeks faster than traditional systems.
3. FluTracker: Dr. Henry Niman, a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, used technology provided by Rhiza Labs and Google to create this map. The map is compiled using data from official sources, news reports and user-contributions and updated multiple times per day.
4. Global Swine Flu: This map, similar to the Heat Map mentioned below, creates hot spots represented by raster tiles on Virtual Earth and rendered through a Flash interface. This map also includes pins indicating flu outbreaks.
5. Google Maps’ H1N1 Swine Flu: This was the original Google Maps H1N1 flu tracker, which now has been moved to the FluTracker site noted above. The last update was 2 May 2009.
6. H1N1 Swine Flu Heat Map: UMapper built out a version of H1N1 data, which overlays raster tiles on Virtual Earth and renders it through a Flash interface. This map gets updated a few times per day.
7. Health Map: HealthMap brings together disparate data sources to achieve a unified and comprehensive view of the current global state of infectious diseases and their effect on human and animal health. To check just for influenza-related news, check only the box that says “influenza” under “Diseases, last 30 days.” You also can follow this map through Twitter or download an app for your iPhone.
8. New England Journal of Medicine Influenza A (H1N1 = “Swine Flu”) Reports: Official data is obtained from CDC and WHO daily Influenza A (H1N1) updates. Informal data sources are a subset of reports from the HealthMap database. The case numbers shown are cumulative counts. As of mid-July, reports are no longer available from official channels, however.

National and International News Updates

9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: This news information is especially pertinent for people who travel, as the CDC relays information on major outbreaks across the world and determines whether or not an area is safe for U.S. citizen travel. This information also is available as an RSS feed.
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2009 H1N1 Flu Situation Update: The CDC also offers specific information on the H1N1, with advice, news, maps and more that can help you apprise your situation.
11. Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy Novel H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu): CIDRAP is created by the Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota, and offers breaking news on H1N1.
12. CNN H1N1: Follow news, worldwide concerns, test your knowledge and learn about H1N1 activity in the U.S.
13. Create Google News Alerts: If you don’t have a Google account, create one, and if you have an account, you can go to the Google News pages and create alerts about “H1N1″ and/or “Swine Flu” to arrive in your email box or RSS reader. You can choose between H1N1 news or Swine Flu news.
14. Flu.gov: This is your one-stop access to U.S. Government H1N1, avian and pandemic flu information. This site targets consumers, professionals, caregivers and more. They also have information on a state-by-state basis.
15. World Health Organization: The WHO presents updates on the most recent news items regarding disease outbreaks on this page. Use their RSS feed if you prefer.

Resource Centers

16. Business Continuity: Gartner Blog Network offers a special section on how H1N1 may affect businesses and organizations, including topics such as pandemic planning.
17. H5N1: This blog carries information about all pandemic influenza, and their link resources cover H1N1, avian flu and more.
18. MedScape Today’s H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu) Alert Center: Stay up-to-date on the latest vaccine information, news about H1N1 and insights from experts on this flu.
19. The Lancet’s H1N2 Flu Resource Centre: The Lancet’s H1N1 Resource Centre is the result of a collaborative effort by the editors of over 40 Elsevier-published journals and eleven learned societies who have agreed to make freely available any relevant content on this site. Register for site updates.
20. WebMD’s Swine Flu Guide: Look to this site for breaking news, medical facts and practical advice on H1N1

Information from Other Countries

21. European Center for Disease Prevention and Control: The European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) was established in 2005 to strengthen Europe’s defenses against infectious diseases. This link leads to their H1N1 portion of the site.
22. Health Protection Agency: Look to the UK to provide information about “Swine Influenza.” This site has advice for the public, healthcare professionals and the media.
23. Influenza A (H1N1 Swine Flu): New Zealand offers this site that displays signs and symptoms, how to care for yourself and others, and a preparedness kit. They also supply news and updates for their country.
24. Resources and Links: Offered by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, this site offers news, answers to questions, guidelines for officials and more.
25. Swine Flu in Canada – Information Sources: This site provides insight into Canada’s outlook on H1N1, with news, flu tracking maps and even U.S. information.

The following list is divided into categories by price range, from free to over $20. The links, which lead to Blackberry App World, are listed in alphabetical order within each category. The ratings were gathered from Blackberry App World as well as from other resources such as TopTenReviews, BBGeeks, MobiHealthNews and more.

Free Blackberry Apps

1. Brio Calorie Tracker: This app is designed to help you maintain a record of daily caloric intake for a healthier life. You can use desktop synchronization to back up and restore your calorie history and records. Brio Calorie Tracker is one of the most popular free Blackberry fitness and health apps.
2. Calorie County by Fat Secret: Use this app for a quick pick on calorie and full nutrition information, to plan and keep track of your diet, a way to record calories you burn, and to journal your progress. Sync and access these records with an online account so you can gain access anywhere, any time.
3. Calorie Count Nutrition Search: What if you’re not eating enough protein or carbohydrates to meet your fitness goals? You can count calories and find nutritional information on this app, which brings About.com’s popular food and dient resource, Caloriecount.com, within instant reach.
4. FluRadar: This is not a game – you can keep track on up-to-date H1N1 flu information as you learn about new outbreaks in your area. This app shows distances to H1N1 events displayed in both miles and km, shows flue cases in a list or on a map and summarized current information concerning H1N1 events with a link to the original source when available.
5. GoodFoodNearYou: Find the best food options at twenty restaurants near you, no matter your location. Using a Zip Code, you can search over 36,000 restaurant menu items from over 250,000 U.S. restaurant locations.
6. My Personal Health Record: Named after the non-profit organization of the same name, this app is a free and confidential service that allows users to keep health information organized, accurate and in one place. Members to this organization also can print a free emergency wallet care online.
7. Total Fitness for Blackberry 1: This app includes a database of 5,000 food items containing nutritional information. You also can keep a daily log of your workouts from a database filled with over 60 weight-training exercises. Track your body weight, body fat, blood pressure, pulse and body measurements, too.
8. vClinic Mobile Health: This app automatically manages your calorie intake, weight and nutrients. You also can keep track of calories burned, and this app will warn you if you’ve broken your daily calories limit.

Blackberry Apps Under $10

9. Cholesterol Cutter: Learn how to control your cholesterol with exercise, diet and treatment plans and establish a log of your recordings for better treatment options. Additionally, you can keep a record of all medications with dosage information – a helpful record for your doctor. $2.99
10. Diet Fitness Diary: Track your daily caloric intake, use the burn-meter to record calories burned and use daily tips and image gallery to learn how to live a healthier life. You can customize your wellness program and track your health history as well. $7.99
11. FoodGauge: This is a food rating system that help you to make healthier eating choices by analyzing the types of food that you eat. When you enter the nutrition label information into the calculator, this tool will provide you with the food’s numerical score. FoodGauge is one of the most popular health and fitness Blackberry apps. $2.99
12. Health Browser: A simple yet effective app that allows users to browse diseases, conditions, emergencies, drugs, tips, drug overdoses, drug conflict and images. $7.99
13. Hypertension: Use this app to learn more about blood pressure, including lifestyle changes, a diet plan, information about medications and diet supplements and more. Use calculators for BMI, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease risk and stroke risk. $9.99
14. My Fitness Friends: This app provides a comprehensive exercise databse that shows you 36 different exercises that you can do from anywhere and doesn’t require special equipment. $3.99
15. KeepFit: This app is filled with facts and tips that you can use to learn more about natural foods and how they can affect your health. Use an alphabetical index of 45 items and learn about fruit juices and healing foods. Sponsored by Nature Cure with Natural Foods. $4.99
16. Mobile Rush-Hour Recipes On-Line Edition: Holly Clegg’s highly-popular recipes can come to the rescue of any busy person with her easy options for dinner. Meals include “trim&Terrific” options with instructions, shopping lists, photos and nutritional information. Expect banner advertisements appropriate to the content. $4.99
17. Runner and Fitness Cog: This is a handy app for runners and athletes that includes eleven utilities for various fitness calculations. All tools support U.S. standard English and metric measurements. Calculate pace, time or distance and you even can track the usage (mileage) of your shoes. $2.99
18. Total Fitness: This Blackberry app allows you to manage daily nutrition, exercise and health in one of the most advanced and complete fitness software programs available. Track your daily food intake, try the workout routines and track health data such as body weight, blood pressure and more. $4.99

Blackberry Apps Between $10 and $20

19. Diet Science: This app provides a deeper understanding about the food you eat. Many calculators, nutritional pyramids and diets included, so you can learn more about how to develop a balanced and healthy diet for your lifestyle. $10.99
20. FitDeck Mobile: A popular app that helps users get fit and stay fit. The exercises contained within this app require no weights or equipment as are designed for people of any fitness level. The exercises include simple descriptive images and instructions and users can shuffle exercises to create variety. $14.99
21. Glycemic Index Meal Planner: Do you need a meal planner that calculates overall Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL)? This app can help build healthy diets for diabetics, for weight loss, for sports performance and more. $13.99
22. Health Diet Manager: This health and diet manager comes with an extensive food database that includes menus from fast-food restaurants, too. Users can take advantage of a manager that tracks point balances (for diet programs such as WeightWatchers) and a means to track health-related data such as pulse rate, glucose and insulin levels, hours of sleep and much more. $19.99

Blackberry Apps Over $20

23. 5 Minute Clinical Consult for Mobile and Web: Receive fast and to-the-point guidance on diagnoses and treatments for over 700 medical conditions seen in everyday practice. Although geared toward medical practice, this app is available to anyone who wants information about diagnoses, treatment, medications, follow-up and patient teaching tools. $79.99
24. Ascendo Fitness Diet and Exercise Assistant: Set objectives, track nutrition, exercise and strength training, measure your progress with graphs and calculate several fitness ratios using personal information in U.S. or metric measurements. This app includes a Windows desktop companion, which includes a comprehensive list of 7,293 nutrition items based upon the USDA Standard Reference Database. $29.99
25. Taber’s Medical Dictionary for Mobile and Web: Medical students, clinicians and citizens can gain access to over 60,000 entries, 1,000 illustration and 30,000 integrated audio pronunciations with this health-science dictionary. When you download this app, you can receive one year of access to Tabers.com. $49.99

The following blogs are current, and they’re divided into various categories to help your search. Each blog is listed alphabetically within these categories to show readers that we do not favor one blog’s perspective over another.

Consumer Healthcare

1. DoctorPundit: This is a healthcare and science policy blog, a compilation of one physician’s thoughts on these topics and is intended for health care industry professionals and the general public.
2. Dr. Buttery’s Public Health Blog: This blog covers topics that range from access to prevention and from health education to policy and research.
3. Health Policy Blog: The Mayo Clinic Health Policy Symposium blog provides a venue for discussion of crucial health reform issues that were tackled at the 2008 Mayo Clinic National Symposium on Health Care.
4. Health Wonk Review: This blog is a biweekly compendium of the best health policy blogs on the Internet. This compendium provides readers with a way to sample the “best of the best.”
5. John Goodman’s Health Policy Blog: John Goodman’s perspective on health care policy and news.
6. The Health Care Blog: Wall Street Journal calls this blog a “must read,” and Industry Insider stated, “Learn more in ten minutes than you could reading your local paper for a week.”
7. WSJ Health Blog: The Wall Street Journal provides news and analysis on health and the business of health, including how health care policies affect both topics.

Health Care, Marketing and Communications

8. Health Care Vox: Know More Media sponsors this blog, which focuses on healthcare communications and marketing news and information.
9. Health Policy and Communications Blog: This blog is intended to foster discussion and analysisabout how health policy and communications issues affect clinical and economic outcomes.
10. Schwitzer health news blog: Gary Schwitzer, from the University of Minnesota School of Journalism & Mass Communication and publisher of HealthNewsReview.org writes this blog.

Health Care Economics

11. Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review: Bob Laszewski’s review of the latest developments in federal health policy and marketplace activities in the health care financing business.
12. Healthcare Economist: Jason is a Ph.D. economist with research interests in healthcare policy issues, healthcare policy economics, the health insurance market and Medicare.
13. Health Populi: Jane is a health economist and management consultant who has worked with health care stake holders for over two decades. She focuses on the forecasting, business planning and more.
14. The International Medical Market Place: This blog reflects its title, as it is an up-to-date report on international medical market information.

Health Care Reform

15. Guaranteed Healthcare Blog: This blog is focused on the single-payer model for guaranteed public health care.
16. Health Beat: This project by The Century Foundation features Maggie Mahar’s expertise and outlook on health care reform.
17. Health Care Renewal: This blog addresses the threats to health care’s “core values, especially those stemming from concentration and abuse of power.”
18. New Health Dialogue Blog: The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute, and they sponsor this blog on health care policy reform and other current health care issues.
19. PNHP Blog: This blog, produced by the Physicians for a National Health Program, focuses on single-payer resources and health care reform.
20. Retired Doc’s Thoughts: A retired doctor focuses on health care reform issues.
21. The Alan Katz Health Care Reform Blog: Alan has long been a strong advocate for agents and the role they play in America’s health care coverage system.
22. The Walker Report: Jon Walker writes about politics and policy, with a recent focus on health care reform. His blog entries also can be seen at Health Care for All.

International Policy

23. Center for Global Development Blogs: CGD’s blogs provide frequent updates, analysis, and informed commentary on specific health policy issues.
24. Global Health Report: Health journalist Christine Gorman searches internationally for what works, what doesn’t and what needs to happen next in global health.
25. Global Voices: Over 200 bloggers from around the world bring translations and citizen media reports to this venue. This link leads to the health section of this blog.
26. Health Affairs Blog: Read perspectives on national and international health affairs from the staff of The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere as well as from contributing voices.
27. Stayin’ Alive: Discussion of public health and health care policy, from a public health perspective. Topics include economics, politics and sociology of health and illness in the U.S. and the world.
28. World Health Care Blog: This site was launched as a companion blog to the World Health Care Congress conference series and is sponsored by World Congress.

Health Care and the Workplace

29. HR Benefits Alert: Entries on this blog focus on special reports and articles that bring Human Resources issues to light, including employee health and welfare.
30. OSHA Underground: A mostly anonymous group of bloggers, who are concerned with workplace safety and health, contribute to this blog about OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
31. Terry Neese’s Blog: This blog focuses on health policies for labor, women and more.
32. The Sentinel Effect: Richard Eskow, CEO of Health Knowledge Systems in Los Angeles, focuses on health care services and workers’ compensation industries.
33. Wellforce: A Certified Occupational Health Nurse, wellness practitioner and health coach writes about health behaviors, prevention practices, consumer empowerment and health policy.
34. Wellness Corporate Insights: The owners of Wellness Corporate Solutions, a leading Maryland-based employee wellness company, offer this blog to help benefits brokers, HR managers and others in the wellness industry keep current.
35. Workers’ Comp Insider: Lynch Ryan’s weblog about workers’ compensation, risk management, business insurance, workplace health & safety, occupational medicine, injured workers, insurance webtools & technology and related topics.

Healthcare Ethics

36. Bioethics Discussion Blog: Dr. Bernstein posts a new ethics topic about once or twice per week so you can discuss the topic with others.
37. Global Bioethics Blog: Stuart Rennie at Chapel Hill is a research assistant professor in bioethics, an ethics consultant for projects in DR Congo and Madagascar and is a grant project manager who focuses on bioethics and research ethic issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
38. Health Care Organizational Ethics: This blog, written by Jim Sabin, is centered on discussion and debate about health care organizational ethics and the health system in general.
39. Medical Ethics Blog: Stuart Laidlaw has covered faith and ethics since early 2006 at the Toronto Daily Star, and he continues to sort out ethics as they apply to medical ethics on this blog.
40. Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Dr. Howard Brody provides insight, updates and commentary on the topics he wrote about in his book by the same name as the Web site.
41. Vaccine Ethics: Vaccine news and commentary from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics.

Health and The Law

42. FDA Law Blog: This blog is maintained by Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C., the the largest dedicated food and drug law firm in the country.
43. Health Care Law Blog: Bob Coffield is intent on helping businesses and health care providers weave through a variety of state and federal health care regulations and assisting them in business transactions.
44. HealthBlawg: David Harlow is a health care lawyer and consultant who focuses on legal, policy and business issues that face the health care community.
45. HealthLawProf Blog: S. Elizabeth Malloy from the University of Cincinnati College of Law talks about health care reform and much more.
46. Journal of Health Law and Policy: Stay up-to-date on health law and policy through this blog produced by the Saint Louis University School of Law.

Government Policy Watchdogs

47. EnviroWonk: If you believe your environment has something to do with your health, follow this blog to learn more about current and changing environmental policies.
48. Eye on FDA: Mark Senak, an attorney with experience in public health, provides his opinion on issues emanating from the Food and Drug Administration.
49. Not in my Food: The Consumers Union believes that all citizens have a right to know what is contained in the food we eat, and keeps a tight watch on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
50. OMB Watch: This blog focuses on promoting open government accountability and citizen participation with health, safety and environmental issues.

General Health and Medical Career Blogs

You can get the latest news in the health and medical industry, as well as learn helpful information about a variety of professions in health and medical careers.

1. Health Careers Blog from About.com provides information about careers in health and medical fields. Includes news about prominent players in medical careers.
2. Health Care Employment Opportunities This blogs offers information about careers in health care, as well as posts about health and wellness.
3. Cal’s Career Center Health Team is a blog from University of California Berkeley that is aimed at helping pre-med and pre-health students figure out what they need to do to land jobs in medical careers.
4. Premier Health Careers Blog offers information about the medical and health professions. Also includes information on hot jobs, so that you know which medical careers are in high demand.
5. Explore Health Careers helps potential medical workers learn more about the environment, and see what is needed in today’s health care industry.
6. Health Careers Center at the University of Minnesota is very helpful in terms of sharing information about medical careers, public health and different fields related to medicine and health care.
7. Health 2.0 Blog offers information on the latest practices and health technology for medical careerists and students.

Nursing Blogs

Nursing is one of the medical careers in highest demand right now. There are a number blogs devoted to the nursing profession, offering a number of insights and stories about working in this demanding profession.

8. Emergiblog takes a look at nursing today, and the issues that faces nurses — and their patients.
9. Codeblog looks at life as an Intensive Care nurse. Interesting insights into the nursing profession.
10. The Nursing Site Blog is written by Kathy Quan, who has been an RN for more than 30 years and shares her experiences.
11. Head Nurse provides information on different situations that arise in a number of medical careers.
12. Call Bells Make Me Nervous looks at the adventures of a new nurse, and her look at medical careers and nursing today.
13. Impacted Nurse follows the exploits of an experienced male nurse.
14. Nursing Degree Guide is a good place to go to find information about getting a nursing degree and working in a medical career.
15. PixelRN blogs about the ups and downs of a nursing career.

Physician Blogs

Many physicians have blogs. You can read about what it’s like to be a doctor, and some anecdotes from a variety of medical fields.

16. A Change to Cut is a Chance to Cure looks at life and medicine from the perspective of a general surgeon.
17. RangelMD.com provides a look at the medical and health care industry, including regulations, career information and other issues.
18. DB’s Medical Rants offers insight into medical and health care issues, from a doctor’s point of view.
19. NHS Blog Doctor provides a look at health and health care, as well as explores the career of a doctor.
20. DoctorMental writes about his career as a physician, and adds thoughts on other issues facing the health care industry.
21. KevinMD.com provides information about medical trends, the industry and what it’s like to be a doctor.

Dentist Blogs

Learn what it is like to be a dentist, and learn how to look for dental jobs.

22. Dentist Job Blog provides a look at different jobs available for dentists, and where the hot markets for dentists are.
23. Pediatric Dentistry offers helpful information on what it’s like to be a pediatric dentist, and provides insight on different uses for dentistry.
24. Take Care Of Your Teeth provides information on dental hygiene and a look at practices in the dental medical field.
25. Dental Blogs is meant for those interested in the dental field. It provides a look at oral health, and some of the issues facing dentistry.
26. The Digital Dentist looks at how tecnology can enhance dental practices. This blog is aimed at helping career dentists accomplish more.
27. Brookside Dental’s Blog focuses on cosmetic dentistry. Information about careers and issues in a dental practice.

Medical Technician Blogs

Don’t want to become a doctor or a nurse, but still want to work in the medical field? Medical technician can be a great career.

28. The Student Radiographer follows a student technician and provides insights into the career.
29. Tomography Blog provides information about working as a medical technician as well as hosting a place where medical technicians can connect.
30. Cool MRI Stuff offers interesting information on health care, working as a medical technician and tips on living in general.
31. X-Ray Technician Blog looks at the ins and outs of being an x-ray technician, and includes information on jobs available to technicians.
32. Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic MRI focuses on different techniques that can help you improve your work as an MRI technician.
33. RadGirl Radiology Blog is written by a student embarking on a career as a technician. Interesting information on career outlooks as well.

Medical Transcription, Coding and Billing Blogs

You don’t have to actually be working on patients in order to have a medical career. You can provide support through medical transcription, coding and billing.

34. Medical Transcription Blog at the MT Herald offers a look at the job of being a transcriptionist and provides helpful hints for making a career of it.
35. Medical Transcription: What’s in it for you? focuses on tips and hints for becoming a successful medical transcriptionist.
36. Medical Transcription Blog provides information on becoming a transcriptionist, job outlook and earnings information.
37. Medical Billing Blog offers helpful information for those who want to be involved in medical billing, with a special emphasis on those with their own businesses.
38. Medical Coding and Billing looks at how you can find jobs as a coder or biller.
39. Medical Coding Blog focuses on how you can make medical coding a good career.
40. Medical Coding Journal offers information on compliance and billing, helping professionals with their careers.

The following twenty-five bookmark-worthy links are categorized, and each link is listed in alphabetical order within each category. This method assures our readers that we do not favor one resource over another.

Nutrition

You are what you eat, and others are making it easier to find those healthy food choices. Use the ‘cheat sheets’ below to learn quickly about how to eat healthier.

1. Food for Thought: Nothing like a cheat sheet for a cheat sheet – this list provides reviews on some books that might change your health through changing your eating habits.
2. Learn about Local Harvests: CSAs, or Community Supported Agriculture, is making a comeback. Learn about your local resources at Local Harvest.
3. Nutritional Scoring System: Developed by a recognized team of nutrition and medical experts from leading health organizations and universities, the NuVal System is a food scoring system that helps consumers see – at a glance – the nutritional value of the food they buy.
4. Stake Out Your Territory: You may live in an area filled with bad choices. Breaking bad eating habits will be harder in the areas covered in this Forbes article.
5. Ten Worst Foods You Can Eat: Here’s an easy list of items to avoid at all costs if you want to get or stay healthy.
6. The Five Most Unhealthful Fast Food “Value Menu” Items [PDF]: If you’re operating on a slim budget, which value menu items from fast food restaurants should you avoid at all costs? This report, from the Cancer Project, will tell you.
7. Unhealthy Chinese-Food Choices: Do you believe that eating Oriental food is healthier? You may be in for a surprise.

News

If you want a real cheat sheet, then you’ll use press release information that newspapers and other news media use. The following can put you ahead of the game and provide you with news you may have missed.

8. EPA Newsroom: Learn more about environmental news in your area through this site.
9. Eurekalert: This site is a goldmine for cheat-sheet fanatics. They cover every possible health category, bringing press releases straight to your computer on topics such as medicine and health and agriculture, or the food you eat.
10. FDA Press Releases: The FDA, or Food and Drug Administration, issues warning, recalls and more.
11. Harvard School of Public Health: Use these news items to learn more about international health issues – topics that may not be covered locally.
12. HHS Newsroom: The press releases issued here concern news generated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
13. National Institutes of Health: This Web page lists news and events offered by the nation’s medical research agency. Most of the news here focuses on catastrophic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and AIDS.

Medicines

At some point in your life you may need to take medications. Are they safe? What do they do? Are there generic equivalents available? These cheat sheets answer all those questions and more.

14. AAAAI Allergy and Asthma Drug Guide: If you suffer from allergies, learn quickly about brand names, active ingredients, doses and which types of allergy they are used for at this site.
15. Consumer Tips: The California Department of Consumer Affairs offers a list of items to do when you need to take prescription drugs. Very easy.
16. Generic Equivalent Listing: Some brand name medications are available under multiple names. This list may not include all of the brand names that are available for a specific drug, but it’s a good start.
17. Drugs.com Pill Identifier: This site goes one step beyond the RXList site listed below, as it covers non-generic drugs as well as generic medications.
18. RXList: If you’re having trouble identifying generic pills, you can use this site to gain control.
19. Tips from Pharmacists: Read through this list once, and you’ll learn almost everything you need to know about prescriptions. But, keep it on hand to follow the links to learn more.

Sports and Exercise

Exercise is for people who have willpower, right? Not necessarily. If you can walk in your sleep, then you’re exercising. It’s really that easy. The following cheat sheets will make it easier.

20. Back Exercises for Beginners [PDF]: Trouble with the back? Use this cheat sheet, one that includes photos, to go through a simple routine quickly and easily.
21. Diet and Exercise Tips: Want an easy list that will add to your healthy lifestyle? This one covers it all.
22. Facts About U.S. Government’s Exercise Tips: Talk about easy – this article does all the thinking for you and provides you with a free printable exercise log sheet.
23. Food and Exercise Tips to Lose Weight: Use the information here to learn more about calories and how to burn them.
24. Sports Injury Prevention and Treatment: Here’s a quick rundown on how to prevent injury and how to treat an injury once it happens.
25. Weight Loss Diet and Exercise Cheat Sheet: Want to be reminded how many calories you need to lose to lose a pound of fat? Or, do you need to be reminded about what you need to do today to lose that pound? This is your cheat sheet.

Interaction is what makes social media a bit different than Web 2.0. While Web 2.0 provides the tools for interaction between a user and a Web site, it may not provide the interaction required for a true “social” experience between the user and other users or site participants. For instance, teens and some adults who have disabilities and diseases such as cancer already use social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.com to connect with peers.

Social media is not “top down” information with little to no interaction. While government groups struggle to impart information such as the latest news about tainted peanut butter products through blogs, Twitter and other Web 2.0 tools, others know that this isn’t enough. When you impart information, you also must respond. It is the era of the consumer, and the consumer is in control.

While some government groups still struggle with social interaction, many grassroots groups and visionaries ‘get it.’ The following 25 sites — among many dozens of other consumer-oriented social media sites — provide venues for patients, advocates, medical personnel, and others to interact on a level playing field. These tools allow news to flow freely, collaboration to become second-nature and support to become as pandemic as the diseases that threaten today’s populations.

The following sites are listed alphabetically under each category. This methodology shows that we do not favor one site over another.

News and Information

Instead of top-down news and information, these sites provide information based upon user-generated input. You can read the latest news about any medical condition or offer and receive support and advice at these sites.

1. Healthranker: Health Ranker was founded by Israel Lagares and the main contributor to this health news site is Dr. Kalvin Chinyere. Both men are dedicated to making Healthranker the number one social media health news site. Its success depends upon you, however, as users are encourages to submit health news and articles from medical information publishers to health care bloggers to main stream media news sites.
2. OrganizedWisdom: This site launched in 2006, and has become a keystone social media site for health information. Organized Wisdom provides hand-crafted search result pages called WisdomCards for the most popular health search terms and phrases. Users can become guides and make money while helping others find information on this site and to create WisdomCards. OrganizedWisdom was named to PC Magazines “Top Web sites of 2008″ for bringing innovation to online health care.
3. PeoplesMD: PeoplesMD is the first niche social bookmarking site exclusively for the health and wellness category. Share your online health research and help others when you bookmark your favorite articles, blogs and Web sites and store them here in “Stacks.” These bookmarks are turned into visual collections for your own use and to help others find information.
4. Trusera: Seattle startup Trusera built a strong community while in testing mode in 2008, and founder Keith Schorsch says his site is more focused on practical advice than the competition. Schorsch, a former Amazon executive, says he was spurred to start the company after his struggle with Lyme disease. At Trusera, you can pose questions to people who’ve been there and get practical answers and insights from others just like you.

Fitness Tools

Plenty of sites offer tools for fitness, but the true test of a social media fitness site is interaction among users and experts. The following sites can provide this support, along with the tools you need to meet your fitness goals.

5. FitLink: Keep a workout journal, map running or cycling routes, plan activities, research exercises, calculate your body mass index, and read fitness articles. But, you don’t need to do it alone. You also can find activity partners, training groups, personal trainers, health clubs, fitness centers and even local events based upon your goals and interests.
6. GIMME20: Gimme20.com is an online fitness tool that provides users with community, workout routines, and the ability to track workouts and share workout routines with others in the community. You can report fitness results from the gym with their mobile phones, too.
7. GymClik: This site is new, but looks promising. Join for free and get in on the ground floor to develop or join groups in tune with your goals. Additionally, you can add your favorite recipes, find a local trainer, share videos and images and more.
8. Gyminee: You’ll discover detailed workout tracking, a way to monitor your diet, the ability to meet others with similar goals, online accountability and motivation through friends, groups and communities at Gyminee. This interaction may be what you need to reach your goals.
9. introPLAY: Join as a player and find other athletes who train together as part of the introPLAY community. This site may seem intimidating, but it’s for both casual and committed athletes who want tools to track sports activities, health information and more from a truly interactive community.
10. iStats: After you complete a workout such as a run, gym, soccer game or training simply enter the details of the workout (reps, weight, time etc.). Select from Imperial or Metric. Create your own exercise if you can’t find it. Review your workouts and invite friends to create exercise teams so you can work out together, share tips and compare results.
11. Limeade: This tool allows you to assess 28 dimensions of your life scientifically correlated with well-being, recommends personalized goals, and helps you achieve those goals with step-by-step tracking, programs and support from experts and friends.
12. PeerTrainer: This site will help you become accountable for yourself, supported by others in small online groups and teams. Take advantage of their Calorie Wiki, health, fitness and diet content and more. Join supportive communities and groups and share your wisdom as well.
13. Traineo: Get in on the ground floor with a site that is geared to make fitness simple. Use their tools to log your activity and diet and take advantage of community-building to snag some support for your goals. Choose among groups that challenge obstacles such as diabetes or that are built upon family support. If nothing seems to fit you, you can create your own group.

Patient Activism, Peer Care

The following sites provide users with real-time social interaction. You can receive home care, find a peer group for support, become an activist in national health care reform and more. These sites truly are social, providing ‘meeting places’ for patients, medical professionals and visionaries.

14. American Well: This is the nation’s first online house call program. This site provides a truly interactive setting, where patients find doctors who will treat you from a distance. American Well is committed to supporting health plans in meeting consumer and employer demand for affordable, efficient, and immediate access to quality care.
15. Daily Strength: Patients and caregivers dealing with hundreds of issues, including asthma, celiac disease and depression, can join a support community, start a wellness journal, share advice and recommend doctors, link to news stories and Web sites with disease information. You can send other members a virtual hug while you’re there.
16. Group Loop: Group Loop bills itself as a safe place for teens with cancer and their parents to build online community for support, education and hope while dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Teens can talk with other teens, parents with parents so teens can learn how to cope with daily life and this disease.
17. Health 2.0: This wiki is set up to serve “the community of visionaries, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, policy makers, and professionals who are working on fundamentally redefining the healthcare industry along the lines of ‘Web 2.0.’” Don’t let the labels turn you off — this site is open for discussion. Take the challenge.
18. Mamaherb: At Mamaherb, people from all over the world can share their knowledge about herbs and other natural substances they’ve experienced as helpful, or even been tipped off about by their family members, friends, or even by their grandma. Join community to learn more about how you can use herbs safely.
19. MDJunction: This site supports an active center for online support groups, a place where patients meet every day to discuss feelings, ask questions and share hopes with others.
20. Patients Like Me: This site believes that when patients share real-world data, collaboration on a global scale becomes possible. New treatments become possible. Most importantly, change becomes possible. A truly interactive site, it appears that patients embrace the open sharing of personal health data because they believe that information can change the course of their diseases.
21. Real Mental Health: This was the first social networking site that focused on mental health treatment and wellness. Join online communities filled with individuals, families, loved ones and friends who want to interact and support each other through difficult and happy times. Obtain knowledge about symptoms and treatments, too, in topics such as addictions, ADHD, Alzheimer’s and more.
22. Real Self: Sometimes it takes a little nip and tuck to feel better. At Real Self, you will find comprehensive information about everything from Botox to Lasik to Zoom teeth whitening. Founded by Tom Seery in 2006, this site provides experts, many who are leading authorities in aesthetics, cosmetic surgery and dermatology, to participate on RealSelf.com without a commercial relationship or exchange of fees. Ask a question, get an answer. Easy.
23. RightHealth: Join active forums, get the latest mash-ups of medical news and watch the latest health videos. This site is fairly straightforward, easy to use and dedicated to giving every topic its own homepage.
24. Twit2Fit: If you want results and activism, choose Twitter to get going. Jason Falls experimented with Twitter to see how far he’d get in support for a fitness program, and his test blossomed into this Web site. “Twit2Fit members support and encourage those hoping to better themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
25. Vitals: Vitals represents a place where doctors are examined. Unlike other listings for medical professionals, this one allows users to chime in. You can check up on your doctor, find a new doctor and rate doctors that you know and have visited in the past. Your opinions could, literally, save a life.

When you look for products contained in the list below of the 50 proven superfoods, be sure to research their properties carefully, especially if you currently take medications. And, as with anything, moderation is key. Organic choices, also, are best in most cases, which does affect your wallet’s bottom line. Check this Consumer Reports list to learn when buying organic pays (and doesn’t) as a general guideline. Tips are included in the list below to help you stay as organic as possible.

This list cannot contain all the known ‘superfoods,’ but it’s a good start. The list is alphabetical for your convenience, and the links take you to some of the least expensive online products available for that given ‘superfood.’

1. Açaí: The açaí “berry” is sold in the form of tablets, juice, smoothies, instant drink powders, and whole fruit. Try: AçaíRoots.com.
2. Apples: Apples are a good source of the mineral boron, touted for boosting alertness, and they are natural diuretics. This is probably one of the easiest superfoods to find, and any variety will do — as long as it’s organic. Try: OrganicA to learn more.
3. Alfalfa sprouts: Sprouts are a concentrated source of the living enzymes and “life force” that is lost when foods are cooked. You can easily grow your own, best for avoiding contamination from other sources. Try: WheatgrassKits.com.
4. Aloe Vera: Aloe vera contains seventy-five healing compounds including natural steroids, antibiotic agents, amino acids, minerals and enzymes. Most often available in juice form. Try: Aloe Vera.
5. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae: AFA is a blue-green algae touted as a protein and chlorophyll source. Try: Bluegreenfoods.
6. Avocado: Avocados have the same thing going for them that olive oil does: healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (good fat). Try: OrganicAvos.com.



7. Bananas: This superfood is heart-friendly, as one medium banana is an excellent source of vitamin B6 and a good source of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. But, they’re a top food for heavy chemicals if not organic. Try: Dole Fresh Fruit Company, as they say they grow organic (look for the organic sticker at your local market).
8. Beans: Beans and lentils are sources of high protein, vitamins and complex carbs. They are low in fat, calories and sodium. Try: Vitacost.
9. Bee Pollen: Bee pollen is considered one of nature’s most completely nourishing foods. It contains nearly all nutrients required by humans. About half of its protein is in the form of free amino acids that are ready to be sued directly by the body. Try: eVitamins for granules or tabs.
10. Beet: Beets are high in fiber and antioxidants compounds such as cartonoids and betacyanin, a powerful cancer protective agent found to inhibit cell mutations. Try Diamond Organics.
11. Bilberry: This fruit is famous for its ability to improve nighttime vision, and it’s full of antioxidants. Try: HerbsMD (bilberry is not inexpensive…).
12. Black Chicken: Also known as Siklie or Taihe chicken, this superfood has been used in Chinese medicine for well over 1,000 years. The chicken is born with black bones, meat and skin and is a bantam or miniature chicken filled with carnosine, an antioxidant. Try: Exotic Meats.
13. Blackcurrants: Once an illegal berry in the U.S., this berry has higher levels of antioxidants and total vitamins and minerals than virtually any other fruit, including blueberries and pomegranate. Try: The Currant Company to find a store near you.
14. Blueberries: Some nutritionists believe that if you make only one change to your diet, it should be to add blueberries. The contain the same amount of antioxidants in one serving as five servings of any other fruits and vegetables. Try: LocalHarvest if you can’t find local organic blueberries.
15. Blue Green Algae: Blue-green algae supplements come in the form of capsules, pills, and powders and it contains small amounts of protein, vitamins (including C, E, and folate), beta carotene, and some minerals.Try: eVitamins for more information and products.
16. Broccoli: If you eat just one green veggie, make it broccoli. This is one of the most powerful weapons in your dietary arsenal against cancer. Try: Your local grocery store. Conventional broccoli faces fewer pest threats, which means less spraying. But, you’ll need to use soap to remove the oil-based pesticides. Try: Veggie Wash.



17. Cabbage: Reduce your cancer risk and cleanse your blood with cabbage. Like broccoli, you can purchase this superfood at your local grocer. Another cleaner to wash the cabbage? Try: Make your own.
18. Cacao, Raw chocolate: There are over 300 chemically identifiable compounds in cacao beans, including blissful tryptophan! Try: Raw Cacao .
19. Chili peppers: Capsaicin is what you’re after here as well as vitamin C. Reduce heart attack risk, treat inflammation from arthritis. Try: TasteofNature, where you can buy them crushed and sprinkle them on other foods.
20. Chlorella: This superfood has been touted is the cure-all for nerve tissue damage and more. What is known is that it contains all the nutrients you need as it is a whole food. Try: Herbs Wholesale.
21. Coffee Berry: One gram of coffee berry provides the same amount of free radical protection as over two kilograms of organic grapes. Capsules, drink powders and skin creams are available for purchase. Try: Dealighted.com for coffee fruit drinks.
22. Cranberries: Choose no-sugar or low-sugar or organic versions of this superfood to prevent urinary tract infections, prevent tooth plaque and help to prevent stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer. Try: Cranberry Hill Farm to make your own juice.
23. Eggplant: The Black Magic variety, usually found in U.S markets, was found to have three times the amount of antioxidant phenolics as compared to the other varieties. Shop for this superfood between August and October to get the best deals. Try: Local grocer or farmer’s market or grown your own.
24. Flax seed: Flax seeds are a rich source of the omega-3 fat, alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which is a precursor to the form of omega-3 found in fish oils, which is eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA. Try: Nuts Onlinefor the seed.
25. Garlic: The allicin in raw, crushed garlic has been shown to kill 23 types of bacteria, including salmonella and staphylococcus. Garlic is filled with vitamins and antioxidants. Try: The Garlic Shoppe for a variety of options.
26. Kale: Kale is loaded with substances that can help protect one from cancer, cataracts, emphysema, and rheumatoid arthritis. This is one of those foods that should be bought organic. Try: Local grocer or farmers’ market or grown your own.



27. Kimchi: Kimchi has long been touted as health superfood that can cut cancer risk, lower cholesterol, improve skin, aid digestion and fight infection. Try: Rejuvenate Foods.
28. Maca: Maca root has been used traditionally for centuries in South America to enhance fertility in humans and animals. Maca has also been referred to as Peruvian ginseng, although it is actually not in the same family as ginseng. Try: iHealthTree .
29. Noni Fruit: Noni juice is sold under many different brand names, but it is usually always mixed with other fruit juices to make the taste acceptable. Noni juice contains 17 of the 20 known amino acids. Or, buy capsules. Try: AllNutrifor the latter.
30. Oats: Oats deliver protein, potassium, magnesium and other minerals, and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. Their cholesterol-lowering powers are well known, and oats are the king of fiber. Try: Homegrown Harvest.
31. Oranges: This superfood supplies 116 percent of your daily needs for vitamin C and helps to fortify your frontline against heart disease, stroke and cancer. Try: Cherry Moon Farms Organic Orangesthrough QVC.
32. Papaya: The papaya is considered to be one of the healthiest fruits to eat and to some the most nutritious fruit of all. Since it loses nutrient strength as it ripens, papaya is best if purchased mostly ripe and eaten by the next day. Or, you can buy it in powder form and add it to dishes. Try: Live Superfoods.
33. Probiotics: Probiotic superfood helps re-colonize the intestinal flora and helps restore proper intestinal balance. This superfood is expensive, but we found the lowest price (today). Try: In-Liven Probiotic .
34. Pumpkin: Pumpkins carry carotenoids, which have the ability to ward off the risk of various types of cancer and heart disease, along with, cataracts and macular degeneration. Try: Pumpkin Puree or Pumpkin Pie Mix from Tropical Traditions.
35. Quinoa: This superfood is considered a complete protein, and it has about twice the protein of regular cereal grains, fewer carbohydrates, and even a dose of healthy fats. Try: Nutricity.
36. Raspberries: Raspberries ranked 10th in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) per serving out of over 100 common foods (fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, etc.) tested. Try: Organic Direct .
37. Rose hips: Vitamin C and bio-flavonoids, as in Rose Hips, could be used with good results for almost every named or unnamed disease or condition. Try: DealTime for capsules.
38. Salmon, wild: Get the wild salmon, not farm-raised, for one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and vitamin D. To save money, buy the softgel caps. Try: iHerb.com .



39. Seaweed: Also known as kelp, this superfood has detox properties, is an all-around tonic and is touted as great for digestive health. You can buy it in packs, dried. Try: Any grocer or Asian market or Organic Direct for a variety of products.
40. Soy: In the fall of 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed makers of soy products to claim that eating the protein as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol. Try: Nuts Online for raw soy beans.
41. Spinach: Spinach is low in calories, yet extremely high in vitamins, minerals and other phytonutrients. Try to buy organic whenever possible, and frozen is better than canned for shelf life. Try: Organic Direct or your local grocer.
42. Spirulina: Spirulina is one species of single celled plants also known as blue-green algae. At 60 to 70% protein, it is higher in protein than any other natural food. Two grams daily is known to reduce allergy symptoms. Try: Herbs Wholesale.
43. Sweet Potato: Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, vitamins A, C, B6, potassium and manganese. They can also help stabilize blood sugar, which means they’re a good choice for diabetics. Try: Bruce Foods .
44. Green or Black Tea: The only difference between the two is that green tea contains ECGC, an antioxidant. Both teas reduce cholesterol and ECGC can inhibit cancer cell growth. Try: Buy Tea Leaves for a bag that is mixed green and black — that’s the way to save.
45. Tomatoes: Some studies show the tomato may help decrease the risk of prostate cancer, as well as breast, lung and stomach cancers. Try: Cal Valls Certified Organic Tomato Puree from Cooking.com or purchase locally.
46. Turkey: Turkey offers a rich array of nutrients, particularly niacin, selenium, vitamins B6 and B12, and zinc. These nutrients are heart-healthy and are also valuable in helping to lower the risk for cancer. Try: Local Harvest , but you probably cold find something locally. The skinless breast is the least fattening part of the turkey.
47. Walnuts: Walnuts are rich in fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Nuts in general are also high in plant sterols and omega 3 fatty acids, more than any other nut. Try: Nuts Online .



48. Watercress: Bursting in vitamin C, calcium, iron and folic acid, it;s great for flushing out nasty toxins after a hangover. Use your local grocer or farmer’s market, as this is a seasonal superfood. Oor, try an extract. Try: Herbal Extracts Plus.
49. Yacon Root: Being a prebiotic, Yacon root is a colon health food product, able to aid digestion and colon function and is recommended to those with diabetes. Try the syrup for a sweetener. Try: Raw Guru .
50. Yogurt: Low in fat, vitamin-rich, relieves some stomach ailments, fights infection, may be useful in preventing cancer. Find this superfood anywhere, like your local grocer (look for dairy-free yogurt for the best health product). Try: Turtle Mountain to find a store near you.

To that end we offer 77 easy and painless tips to help you focus. And, each tip also will help invite tranquility and relaxation into your life. The tips below are categorized by topic and times of day to help you pick and choose the tips that work for you. We don’t value one tip over another, as not all techniques work for all people. But, if you’re searching for peace of mind, you might try them all.

Throughout the Day

No matter if you work in an office or at home, the following tips can help you make it through a stressful day.

1. Be Positively Selfish: Take time for yourself. If you aren’t good to yourself, you’re not going to be good for anyone else. Take a walk in the woods, soak in a tub; but, do it alone. Even if you don’t have kids, you can learn from this article about how to ‘gift’ yourself during stressful times.
2. Environment Matters: You don’t eat in the bathroom, and you don’t sleep in the garbage bin. But, if you take a look around, you may find that you’re simulating those negative environments in your office or bedroom. Spend time cleaning the clutter, as a pleasant environment contributes to a pleasant state of mind.
3. Productivity is Key: Although you may feel as though you can’t lift your pinky finger, thanks to apathy or depression, systematic productivity can help you feel good about yourself. Do one thing at a time and enjoy it; or, at least enjoy getting it done. Learn more from this free book about how to prevent stress through positive productivity.
4. Self-Massage: Learn how to relieve headaches, tired eyes, sore muscles and more through these short videos. Each video tackles a specific problem, and they’re all rated highly. This means you don’t need to stress out about paying a massage therapist; although a professional massage on occasion will help you feel righteous about yourself.
5. Learn How to Breath: Breath focus is a common feature of several techniques that evoke the relaxation response, a technique first developed in the 1970s at Harvard Medical School by cardiologist Dr. Herbert Benson. Learning how to breath is one method involved in that technique, and a major factor in avoiding stress and fear.
6. Don’t Worry: Whether you’re spiritual or religious or none of the above, your ability to believe that everything will turn out ok is key to peace of mind. The saying, “Things happen for a reason,” may help you see the bright side in dark situations. Or, you can learn how to stop worrying unnecessarily through some techniques developed by Dale Carnegie in 1948.
7. Consider the Source: Relying on other people’s opinions is good for certain decisions. But, consider the source: if that person is placing a burden on you with guilt, wrong information or other negative motives, then you can detach from that source for some inner peace. Use the tips at this link to learn more about how to discern ‘good’ information from ‘bad’ sources.
8. Break the Monotony: Women and children are constantly warned to change their patterns if they walk every day to the same location. The reason behind this advice is safety, but it also helps bring vitality to life and a sense of control and peace. Change up your lifestyle (especially if you’re single) to see if you achieve the same feelings…turn off the TV and exercise, invite friends over for a game of cards or even think about a new career.
9. Get More Exercise: Stress may affect your heart, but stress from exercise strengthens your heart. You may hate to exercise, but you can find ways to move without calling it “exercise.” Walk around the mall and window-shop, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Do some housework or create a garden. Exercise can elevate your mood, help concentration and focus and help you sleep better at night.
10. Control the Noise: If you live near an airport, try to move. If your roommate watches car races all day long, buy some headphones for your roommate (and try to remember that car racing is seasonal). The point is to learn how to control the noise in your environment for your peace of mind. Noise pollution can take a toll on your health and happiness. See “Music Tips” below for more information.

Music Tips

Music can prove relaxing or stressful, depending upon your situation. The following tips may help you decide when, where and what you want to hear to help you focus and remain calm.

11. Learn About Music: Music can manage pain, improve mood and mobility, reduce the need for pain relievers and sedatives, relieve anxiety, lower blood pressure, ease depression and enhance concentration and creativity. Yes, really. Give it a shot.
12. Get a Beat Going: Research has shown that music with a strong beat can help provide sharper concentration and more alert thinking. Plus, rhythmic music may change brain function and treat a range of neurological conditions, including attention-deficit disorder and depression. Use music with a beat when you’re feeling down and need to focus.
13. Slow it Down: If you want to relax, the last thing you need is ‘dance fever’ music. Instead, choose something soothing. If soothing music can help overcome anxiety, stress and maybe even depression in pregnant women, it may work for you, too.
14. Control Your Environment: Why listen to news when you’re preparing a meal? You want love in that food, not stress. Whether upbeat or soothing, music can alter your environment, and never forget that you can control of the music choice and volume.
15. Music Therapy: Music can be used to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs for individuals of any age. If you want to learn more about how music affects you and your environment, visit the American Music Therapy Web site.

Eating Tips

You are what you eat…so if you eat junk food on the run, expect a lousy day. Sugar, salt and fatty foods are a great way to avoid the ability to focus and the peace of tranquility. The following tips will help you manage your intake for optimum health and well-being.

16. Eating Causes Stress: Even if you’re digging into your favorite food groups, eating causes what is known as “oxidative stress.” But, antioxidants can fight that situation, and healthy compounds found in fruits and vegetables will do the trick.
17. Manage Stress with Food: While eating food is stressful, certain foods are more harmful than others. Some foods can help you manage stress, some can help elevate your mood and others can calm and relax you. Try food, instead of drugs, to help manage your day. But, try to avoid overeating, as this activity can lead to obesity, which can lead to poor sleep and even more stress and depression.
18. Eat Your Good Cholesterol: And, help to eliminate the “bad” LDL cholesterol with certain foods such as oatmeal, olive oil, certain nuts and more.
19. Eat Fresh: You can avoid budget stress, achieve a calm mind and sleep better if you eat meals that are fresh, rather than salty and fatty foods and “junk food.” Overeating — and eating the wrong foods — are major factors that work against focus and tranquility. Use a meal planner like this one to help lower your stress about cooking, too.
20. Eat Regular and Right: No matter if you eat 100 calories per hour, three full meals with fruit snacks in between, or just three meals…a regular diet will help you sleep better and also will help you maintain energy and brain power throughout the day.

At Work

There is mounting evidence that work can age you, thanks to the stress involved in deadlines, negative environments and little room for mistakes. But, if you can apply some of the following tips, perhaps you’ll begin to feel younger and more tranquil:

21. Work in Fresh Air: If you can, try to work or study in fresh air. Open a window if possible or make sure ventilation is working well. Fresh air helps to keep your mind clear and focused and revitalizes your body.
22. Introduce Plants to the Indoors: If you can’t introduce fresh air, Plants help to absorb pollutants and they raise the level of fresh oxygen in the air, too. Plus, plants add visual appeal, and taking care of them often adds to one of life’s joys.
23. Take Sun Breaks: Take breaks to stand outside on sunny days. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is known to occur in individuals who don’t get sufficient amounts of sunlight. Melatonin, which is a sleep-related hormone, is secreted in increased levels in the dark. Good for sleep, but not for work.
24. Eliminate Tobacco Smoke: If you still smoke, do it outside. Don’t bring pollutants into your work or home environment, even if you continue to ingest them internally. This habit also helps to eliminate second-hand smoke, a problem that can cause cancer and other health problems for others.
25. Find Birds of a Feather: Those birds tend to flock together…if you want to get work done, hang around with the workers. If you want to relax, avoid the gossips, nay-sayers and whiners. If you work solo, try to stay in touch with positive people through social networks such as FaceBook, Twitter, etc. You can turn social networks off and on during the day, just like the phone.
26. Create a Focus: Even if you’re not interested in what you’re doing, try to fake it. Dr. Anne Reith, author of several gooks on student success, suggest pretending that you are a reporter who must write an article on a lecture. This type of concentration works during that board meeting as well.
27. Exercise Before or During Work: University of Bristol researchers found that employees who enjoyed a workout before going to work — or exercised during lunchbreaks — were better equipped to handle whatever the day threw at them. Try these “workexercise” tricks to get started and build from there.
28. Be in the Moment: In other words, avoid multi-tasking. While conducting two or more tasks at one time might seem productive, in reality you avoid focusing on a single task to completion. Multi-tasking the antithesis to tranquility.
29. Let Go: Of control, that is. You are not the Master of the Universe, even if you’re the boss. Learn to separate yourself from your tasks and learn how to delegate. Others will be happy for the responsibility and you will be less stressed and more focused on your priorities.

After Work

30. Develop Supportive Friendships: You may not want to develop these friendships among co-workers, vendors or other people who affect your work. Instead, look to family, friends outside of work and others who maintain similar interests and a desire to relax in a healthy way.
31. Help Others: One way to forget your own problems is to help others. One person even discovered that it helped his business when he helped his competitors. If you can’t go that far, at least help your neighbor, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or travel while helping to build homes. This is a great way to focus on gratitude.
32. Avoid the Bar: If you have a habit of visiting the local bar after work, try something different. Take a walk, head home and have a glass of wine with dinner instead. You may sleep better, and you can avoid all the bar drama and Karaoke as well.
33. Take a Class: Expand your horizons and develop more self-confidence through adult-learning classes. Instead of using these classes to advance your career, branch out into something different. Learn (or re-learn) how to cook healthy meals, take a yoga class or learn how to dance. You’ll focus on your new learning, which is a great way to put the workday behind you.
34. Make New Resolutions: You don’t need to wait for the New Year to make new resolutions. Create goals, and take baby steps each day after work to reach them. With each small step toward your goal, you may feel a sense of renewed focus and accomplishment.

In the Evening

Sometimes the best way to avoid stress in the future is to take care of things now. This includes the following items:

35. Plan Your Wardrobe: Plan ahead for what you’ll wear to work the next day or even for the entire week. If you need to do laundry or iron a piece of clothing or clean your shoes, this is the time to do it. Although you aren’t a kid in school anymore, laying you’ll be happy you took care of yourself when morning comes around (this article also shows you how to clean out that closet).
36. Prepare for Work: If you need to prepare for a meeting the next day or for other activities, make sure you have everything you need now. That way, you can wake up peacefully, knowing that you are in control of your destiny. If, as in this article, you must prepare for work in a home office, take heed and learn how to separate your office from your personal life.
37. Identify Stressors: Begin to identify the things that stress you out during the workday. Make a list, and begin to weed out those stressors. For those triggers you can’t eliminate, begin to find ways to make them less stressful.
38. Simplify Your Plans: While you’re taking care of the things you need for the next day, you can begin to see some items on your list(s) that you can eliminate. Take care of priorities, then see what you can eliminate…maybe you’ll have some time for that relaxing walk in the sun during lunch, rather than yet another meeting.
39. Identify the Source: As you begin to simplify your plans for the following day, touch base with how you feel about these eliminations. Maybe the stress is coming from inside you, and not from outside? If you can identify the source of your stress, this revelation could help you to obtain some peace.
40. Plan for the Unexpected: What if you lose your job tomorrow? Don’t be stressed; be prepared! Develop a “Plan B” during this time each day that will help you face the unexpected. Update your resume, learn new skills, and create goals that are achievable over a period of time. If you’re prepared for the unexpected, you’ll feel more confident and at peace.

Before Bed

There are many things you can do to invite tranquility into your life so you can sleep well. Here are a few of those ideas:

41. Pamper Yourself: Some folks think that manicures and pedicures are a waste of money, but one session with a professional can make a person feel like new. You can do this at home, too. Take care of your body and you’ll feel good about yourself. Plus, you can rest easier when you know you look your best (this includes men).
42. Home Spa Experience: If you have a hot tub, you already know how even a short soak can bring relaxation into your life. But, you can set up a spa in your bathroom, too. This link will take you to an article that will help with your home spa experience.
43. Practice Meditation: Meditation is not easy, especially if your head is spinning with things you MUST do. But, begin slowly and you may discover that meditation is a great practice, and it could help bring tranquility into your life.
44. Learn Visualization: Based upon guided imagery, you can learn how to imagine your future, one filled with a focus on success and tranquility. Can you have both? If you can visualize it, perhaps you can! At the very least, visualization is a great way to focus and to relax.
45. Light Exercise: If you’re feeling “antsy” before bed, try yoga to calm your body and soul. While some people can engage in vigorous exercise before bedtime, rigorous exercise is detrimental to sleep for others. You’ll need to discover what works for you.
46. Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation: When you tense and relax all the muscle groups in your body, you can relieve tension and achieve relaxation in minutes. You can try this in bed, too, to speed sleep your way.
47. Make Love, Not War: If you have a partner, you may know that sex provides a great way to relieve stress and tension. While you may not feel like making love when stressed, this actually is the best time to take a break and spend time with your partner. It sure beats arguing before bedtime!
48. Limit Fluid Intake: While fluids, such as water, are necessary for top-notch body functions, try to reduce the amount of fluids you drink before you sleep. This reduction can help you sleep through the night, rather waking in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.
49. Try Trytophan Instead of Pills: Tryptophan, an amino acid found in foods such as turkey, chicken, fish, pheasant, partridge, cottage cheese, bananas, eggs, nuts, wheat germ, avocados, milk, cheese and the legumes, can make you sleepy. Tryptophan helps the body produce the B-vitamin niacin, which, in turn, helps the body produce serotonin, a remarkable chemical that acts as a calming agent in the brain and plays a key role in sleep.
50. Fall Asleep to Music: You may not like any songs on this person’s list, but it’s a starting point. No matter whether you like soft rock, classical or country music, you can create a playlist that will help you focus more on the music and less on the tornado in your head. Falling asleep to music may help you wake up in a different mood.

During the Night

If you’re not getting a good night’s sleep, then you aren’t achieving a path to tranquility or the ability to concentrate during the day. There are few tips listed here, because if you practice many of the other tips in the other categories, you may find yourself sleeping better anyway!

51. High Quality Sleep: How long do you sleep? Sleep deprivation can cause fatigue, reduce brain function and reaction times, and alters mood, among other negative side effects. Plus, lack of sleep can inhibit your desire to exercise or to do other things that will reduce stress and help you to relax. Try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep per night.
52. Use Earplugs if Necessary: Does your partner snore? Is the neighbor having a late-night party? While many earplugs may prove uncomfortable, try moldable earplugs that you can shape and fit to your ear. You will achieve a great night’s sleep, but make sure that alarm clock is set to “high” so you wake up!
53. Help for sleep: Consistently poor sleep now is associated with overeating and obesity. But, exercise and a balanced diet will help you tackle several problems at once. Plus, attention to your environment and what you eat and drink are huge factors that you can control.
54. Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders often are caused by a number of factors, including heavy meals, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Other problems for a healthy sleep include stress, depression, late vigorous exercise and emotional or mental problems. Try to eliminate as many causes for irregular sleep as possible.
55. Get Help: If you have eliminated all possible problems for sleep disorders and you still can’t sleep, then seek help. Continued sleep disorders can lead to physical disorders and emotional problems. An article like the one linked here can give you information you might need to tackle various sleep problems, one problem at a time.

In the Morning

If you’re stressed or depressed, the best time to get yourself in the mood for the day is in the morning. While you may not want to get out of bed, perhaps some of the following tips can help revitalize you and relieve some of your stress.

56. Wake up to Music: While some people might want to hear soothing music in the morning, try something with a beat, instead. The beat could help move your heart and breathing to go in sync with the music’s beat. But, if the music makes you jittery, slow it down.
57. Deep Breathing: Deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. At the same time, deep breathing can help you focus and feel re-energized. Before you leave the bed, do some deep breathing exercises to get your blood moving in a positive way.
58. Morning Massage: You don’t need to leave your bed to practice some stimulating massage. Big stretches, head massages and “scalp tapping” can stimulate your body and soul. Try the routine suggested in this article at the UK Guardian.
59. Stretch: As you age, you begin to lose some muscle tone and range of movement. Simple stretching can help you retain your range of motion. But, be careful: stretching also can cause injuries, so start slowly. A side benefit is that stretching gets your blood moving, helping you to focus.
60. Eat Breakfast: Yes, this is the most important meal of your day. You are “breaking a fast” that you endured during sleeping, and what you ingest now can make or break your morning. If studies show that children who eat breakfast perform better in school, it doesn’t take much thought to realize that adults could feel and perform better at work.
61. Take a Walk or Exercise: Like stretching, walking can contribute to brain ‘fitness’, but it also helps to strengthen your heart and can delay or prevent major diseases or illnesses. Exercise, also, can help you feel on top of the world, especially if you exercise in the morning. You get a kick-start, a new focus on your day, and this practice also helps you to sleep at night.
62. Start with Green Tea, Not Coffee: A cup of green tea can fill you with antioxidants and is a healthy lifestyle choice to start your day. If you feel the need for caffeine, you can find it in some green teas to help wean yourself away from the brew.

Drive Time

Ever feel that road rage coming on while driving to and from work? Here are a few solutions that can help you focus and retain a tranquil morning.

63. Manage Your Time: Plan to arrive early, so if traffic is slow you won’t be late. Often, road rage occurs when we’re angry about the inability to control a situation. If you plan for enough time to travel, you can retain your equilibrium.
64. Breathe Through the Tension: Did you learn how to breathe correctly to relieve tension? Use your knowledge now to make it to the next stoplight.
65. Listen to Audio Books or Music: Use this down time to listen to music or to catch up on your audio “reading.” Soothing music, upbeat dance tunes or funny audio books can help break any tension you might feel. And, you might just sing along to release some anger. Just be sure to concentrate on traffic when you’re moving again.
66. Take Public Transportation: If you take the bus or train, you might find time to catch up on your reading. Leave the driving to someone else and arrive unhassled and fresh to and from work.
67. Ride Share: While ride-sharing helps cut gas costs, it also can keep you in line. You might curse at another driver when alone, but you might hold your tongue with someone in the car. You can relieve that tension later on the treadmill. Use local tools like the one linked here for Cal Poly students to find a person to ride with you.
68. Try Automotive Aromatherapy: New studies have shown that the smell of cinnamon or peppermint might take the edge off road rage during your next traffic jam. Peppermint and cinnamon odors boost motivation, performance, and alertness while cutting fatigue and stimulating the brain.
69. Be Productive: If down time is what gets under your skin, turn that traffic jam into a production session. Make sure a tape recorder is with you at all times, so you can take notes or dictate letters.

Maintain Healthy Choices

Even if you can’t afford health insurance, think about spending a few dollars here and there on health maintenance. Silent killers, such as cholesterol and high blood pressure are especially important to monitor. If you are in good health and you know it, it’s easier to focus and maintain a relaxing lifestyle.

70. Learn About Blood Pressure: A stressful life can lead to higher blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. Your systolic blood pressure should be below 140 and your diastolic blood pressure below 90. Certain individuals need to achieve even tighter control of their blood pressure.
71. Get a Blood Pressure Monitor: You can check your own blood pressure daily or even twice a day. Additionally, owning a cuff means that you can check your blood pressure after exercising. This tool is a huge help for you and your doctor as you can help that doctor stay on top of any changes in your health plan.
72. Check Cholesterol Levels: The only way to know if you have a healthy cholesterol level is to get it checked. If you have not had your levels checked in the past year or two, get them checked now. The ideal level for your LDL (“bad” cholesterol) is less than 100. Keeping your HDL (“good” cholesterol) levels up is also important. Know your lipid levels and talk to your physician about the best plan of action to keep your cholesterol levels ideal.
73. Keep a Journal: When you document your progress in a journal, you can begin to see your progress in all your goals. This is a tool that help you reach for more changes that will help you avoid stress and meet tranquility head on.

Understand Stress Myths

Finally, it’s good to understand that some stress is good. Stress can force positive and healthy changes, and — since relaxation and focus is the opposite of stress — you can use stress as a measurement to determine your progress toward a better life. The following myths may help you understand whether a renewed focus and tranquility are possibilities for you…since stress is, after all, unavoidable.

74. Stress is the Same for Everyone: No, it’s not. Some younger folks or healthier people or those who have a higher tolerance for risk may handle stress better than others. Some people thrive on stress, while others need more serenity in their lives. Only you can determine where you stand on stress boundaries.
75. You Can Avoid Stress: Stress is everywhere so you cannot avoid some stress, but you can do something about the level of stress you experience. Each day brings new surprises, and not all those surprises are great for your peace of mind. However, if you’re prepared to meet these challenges head on with a healthy body, a great support group and preparation, you may experience a new focus and serenity.
76. You Know When You’re Stressed: Not necessarily. Some people have been under so much stress for so long that it feels like a way of life. Minor stress symptoms, such as headaches and heartburn, cannot be ignored, however. Before long, you may experience major symptoms such as heart failure or stroke. At that point, it may be too late to turn your life around. Don’t let your stress, even minor, gain the upper hand over your health, focus and tranquility.
77. All Relaxation Techniques Work: Every person responds to different techniques in different ways, just as every person reacts to stress differently. Some people may need to use a punching bag before he or she can relax. Others may just need five minutes of a beautiful sunset to turn a day around. You won’t know what works for you until you try it, however. So, get started with this list to find what works for you.