Boost Your Brainpower

Aerobic exercise feeds your brain cells with oxygen and nutrients. That may be why physical activity can encourage creativity and speed your thinking. Exercise can also tighten up your reaction time and help you process information faster.

With your brain working at full capacity, you've got a better chance of solving problems clearly and making well-reasoned decisions. fascinating new research finds that physical activity may ward off Alzheimer's, one of the most dreaded senior diseases. Exercise increases brain chemicals that help the growth of new brain nerve cells.

Popcorn for Migraine

There is no easier way to get magnesium than to munch on a bag of popcorn. This movie-time snack is a good source of the mineral thought to reduce migraines. An estimated 28 million people in the United States suffer from migraines, and they might be able to prevent them by making sure they get enough of this important mineral.

Beware of bananas and peanuts

Bananas, peanuts, and almonds may trigger exercise-induced asthma (EIA), so be careful about eating them before physical activity if you have asthma or asthma symptoms. These foods along with shrimp, celery, and egg whites are the most common causes of food-related EIA. They can kick off an attack that will leave you gasping and wheezing if you eat them even two hours before exercising.

Fruit Eaters

Studies show that families who keep fruits and vegetables "in sight" eat more of them. So put a bowl of colorful fruit on your table, and keep cut-up carrots and other veggies in a clear container in your refrigerator.

Serve up Sweet Potatoes

More iodine won't do you any good without plenty of Vitamin A to go with it. Vitamin A helps your thyroid absorb iodine properly. Getting enough is easy. It's abundant in orange vegetables like sweet potatoes. In fact, a single, mid-sized sweet potato gives you 1,096 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin A, more than the 900 mcg a day the government recommends for men over 50, or the 700 mcg suggested for older women. Sweet potatoes are heart-friendly, too, with no saturated fat or cholesterol, but lots of vitamin C.