Fiber, long known for aiding elimination, has come forward as a sort of tour de force of good health. The latest studies credit fiber with a host of good things for our body. Now we know it can help prevent certain types of cancer such as colon and stomach cancer. Due to fiber's help in speeding digested food through the body, there's less chance of harmful toxins hanging around in the body. The latest discovery, surprisingly, is that people who eat more fiber are less likely to become overweight. It satisfies the appetite because of its capacity to make you "feel full." So instead of stocking up on those empty calories in processed foods and chips, snack instead on fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains and oats and low fat nuts and seeds. Make fiber a main part of your meals. But if you are unaccustomed to eating lots of fiber, start with small portions and gradually add fiber to your daily diet. Dietitians recommend 20 grams of fiber per day but the average American consumes only an average of 10.

Question of the Week

Question: Is there a solution to reduce pre-mature wrinkles?

Answer:  As with so many new innovations heralding the 21st century, skincare has made major advances. We now know that sun is damaging to the skin. Beach lovers and sun worshipers of yore paid the price later in life with pre-mature wrinkles and leathery skin. Smoking is another culprit as is overindulgence in alcohol. Tanning lamps are equally damaging to the skin. 

The old adage, once the damage is done, there's no cure," is no longer true. Thanks to multi-million dollar research and medical technology, there is a solution to pre-mature wrinkles. In fact, there are several options to reduce facial wrinkles and achieve a younger looking skin. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) are products derived from fruits. The combination of the sugar or fructose with citric acid has been found to reduce fine lines and give a more youthful glow to the skin. The FDA controls the percentage of AHA in skincare products. Dermatologists and other skincare professionals may use a higher percentage of AHA while commercial products you buy in the drugstore or cosmetic stores contain a much lower percentage of AHA. Obviously, the treatments in the doctor's office are more effective and get faster results since the treatment is more concentrated. But commercial creams containing AHA are also effective is used regularly. 

Other methods of reducing wrinkles consist of Lazar surgery, a treatment that is similar to getting bad sunburn. A qualified and highly skilled M.D. under careful supervision must administer it. It leaves the face red and peeling and may take several weeks to heal. There are possible side effects such as discoloration or change in pigmentation of certain areas of the face and neck. This method achieves a more dramatic reduction in wrinkles than does AHA.

Collagen injections can also reduce fine lines and wrinkles by plumping up the indentations in the skin and giving a smoother appearance. This treatment, done in a doctor's office, is only temporary, however. It lasts for several weeks to a few months or more, depending upon the age and condition of the skin.

The most dramatic cure for facial wrinkles is the face-lift, a surgical procedure that actually lifts the skin, removes the excess loose skin and tightens the facial muscles. This is the most involved and most expensive method of reducing facial wrinkles. It lasts anywhere from five to ten years, depending again upon the age and condition of the skin.

Check our Health & Fitness Home Page for more health tips on exercise and weight loss and just plain healthy living. And let us know how you're doing. Good luck.

The HFT Staff

NOTE: If you would like to see your question featured here, please submit to: questions@health-fitness-tips.com

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