What is the difference between the shot and the nasal mist?

The nasal mist vaccine contains a weakened version of the live flu virus. The mist is only for people who have a strong immune system and are healthy. Getting the nasal mist vaccine could make you more susceptible to certain side effects. Only healthy people between the ages of 2-49 years old should get the spray. The spray should not be taken by pregnant women and it may not be covered by your health insurance.
    
Who should get the vaccine? 

• Children between 6 months and 5 years old

• Children who are born prematurely

• People who have chronic heart and lung disorders

• People who have chronic diseases

• Women who will be pregnant during the peak months of the flu season

• Heath care workers

• Public Safety workers

• Anyone over the age of 50 years old

Who should NOT get the vaccine?

• Anyone who is allergic to eggs. The viruses for the flu shots are grown inside of chicken eggs, so make sure your doctor knows if you or your child is allergic to eggs.

• Infants under 6 months

• If you have had a severe reaction to the flu shot before

• Anyone with a fever at the time

• Anyone who has Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Always check with your doctor first

What are the possible side effects?

• Swelling, redness, and soreness at the sight of injection. If this occurs, apply pressure with a warm cloth on the area to ease discomfort.

• Headaches

• Low-grade fever

• Muscle aches

Where can I get the flu shot?

• Heath Clinics

• Doctors’ Offices

• Also sometimes your local pharmacies, supermarkets, and community buildings may be giving the shot. Keep an eye out around your community for those opportunities.

These tips are brought to you by Angie's List. Illness rates typically rise during the winter season, and the last thing people want to worry about is choosing the wrong.doctor. Find reviews on the best doctors in your area at Angie’s List. Check the List!

1.  If you take the train/subway, bypass the escalators.  Walking up/down those steps twice a day — you'll feel it in your thighs and calves.

2. Bike to the store.  You know when your honey says, "I need you to run to the store, I forgot something."  Forget the car.  Hop on your bike and make your way to the convenience store.  You'll burn calories and save gas.

3. At work, bypass the elevators.  Even if you just start with one floor and pick up the elevator on the next, this is an easy way to add some steps.

4. At work, keep a comfortable pair of walking shoes on hand.  Cut your lunch short, or take a "coffee break" by going on a brisk walk.

5. Get a pedometer.  When you know how much you move in a day (or how little) you'll be surprised at how motivated you'll become to increase that total.

Here are 5 easy tips to help that picky eater change his or her ways.

Sit down and eat with your kids. I know this one sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be amazed how infrequently this happens in a lot of families, especially these days when both parents are working full time. By sitting down together as a family, they see you eating (hopefully) a healthy, balanced meal. This is especially important for younger kids because they mimic what adults do. And if all they see is you eating on the run, or a bag a chips on Sunday in front of the game, then that’s what they’re going to want.

Put healthy food in plain sight. Hide the chips, cookies and twinkies in the high cupboards. Or better yet, don’t buy them at all. Then, when the kids come home, or on the weekends, make sure apples or bananas are on the table near where they hang out. Cut up some carrots and celery and a small bowl of peanut butter. I have a niece who loves to eat frozen peas because they crunch in her mouth. The point is, when kids get hungry, they eat what’s at hand so make sure it’s healthy.

When you do your household shopping, let the kids have input on meal planning. First, this is a great way to teach them what is a healthy, balanced meal. Secondly, we all know that kids want to be heard. If they helped plan the menu, they are more likely want to eat it.

Let kids help prepare the food. This one ties into number 3 by getting kids more involved in the meal planning. Ask them what they want, then show them how to make it. Let them do things like measure and mix ingredients, and when they get older, peel and cut stuff. Not only will this encourage them to eat better, these are life skills that they probably won’t receive in school. This one is tougher during the week, but why not make it a family tradition on the weekend.

Eat breakfast for dinner. Just for the fun of it have waffle and eggs, or pancake and sausage links for dinner. Throw in some fruit and milk, and you have a balanced meal that’s exciting because “you’re breaking the rules.”

The Problem
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web page on chronic disease states, "The United States cannot effectively address escalating health care costs without addressing the problem of chronic diseases."(1) Chronic disease is a problem that has reached alarming proportions in our country. According to the CDC, chronic diseases account for 70 percent of all deaths in the U.S.— 1.7 million each year.(2) These diseases also cause major limitations in daily living for almost one out of 10 Americans or about 25 million people.(3)

While chronic disease impacts millions of individual Americans, it also lays a heavy financial burden on our nation as a whole. The medical care costs of people with chronic diseases account for more than 75 percent of the nation's $1.4 trillion medical care costs.(4) With its dominant role in our nation's medical care costs, chronic disease contributes greatly to the alarming rise in health care costs.

Guide Book to Better Health
A Healthy You! - America's Guide to Healthy Living is aimed at addressing the effects of poor health in our country. The book is available in English and Spanish and includes an extensive listing of specific resources in each state where people can access useful programs and agencies in their area. The content of the book is also available online at www.lillyforbetterhealth.com. In addition, Lilly will distribute the book at health fairs and other events around the country.

"For the past 130 years, it has been Lilly's mission to provide 'Answers that Matter'," said Jack Bailey, a vice president at Lilly. "Whether these answers are in the form of drugs that treat some of the world's most urgent medical needs, disease management programs that improve patient care, or the general health care information found in our book, our goal is to help people live better lives," Bailey said.

Prevention and Access
Helping people improve their health not only impacts their lives, it also has the potential to reverse the current trend of rising health care costs. "We believe that prevention and management of chronic diseases are viable options to manage rising health care costs while maintaining the access Americans have to vital medications and treatments," said Bailey.

The CDC echoes the theme of prevention, indicating that although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. According to the CDC, "much of the illness, disability, and death associated with chronic disease is avoidable through known prevention measures. Key measures include practicing a healthy lifestyle (e.g., regular physical activity, healthy eating and avoiding tobacco use) and the use of early detection practices (e.g., screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, diabetes and its complications, and depression)."(5)

Inside Lilly's free 148-page health resource book, readers will find information on each one of these key measures and more. Chapters include: Exercise and Nutrition; Children's Health; Women's Health; Men's Health; Older Adults; Mental Health; Diabetes; Living Heart Healthy; Cancer Screening; Substance Abuse/Tobacco Cessation; Veterans Health; and Patient Assistance Programs.

"If you've ever tried to learn about a health care issue, you have probably found an endless stream of information and resources. While this is encouraging, it can also be overwhelming," said Bailey. "That's exactly why we created this free book: to make it simple for Americans to find the answers they need to lead healthy lives."

About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

1 - Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm, accessed January 2008
2 - Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/nccdphp, accessed January 2008
3 - Ibid
4 - Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/NCCdphp/overview.htm, accessed January 2008
5 - Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov/aging/, accessed January 2008

My favorite tip? Limit "Screen Time." It's a goal I sometimes struggle with -- especially when the new season of Grey's Anatomy starts up. However, limiting screen time is a tried and true solution to the excuse "I don't have time to exercise."

"Turn off the TV," says Grandma Bev. "Many families turn on the TV as soon as they get up in the morning and don't turn it off until everyone goes to bed. Why live your lives through TV characters?"

When you limit your screen time, Bev believes you have more time to get moving. "You don't necessarily have to play sports or work out, but take a walk, rake leaves, play with the dog, or just stay inside and clean house," says Grey. "Put on some music and dance, have a pillow fight. The main thing is to keep over weight kids and adults moving instead of being couch potatoes."

Bev Grey is founder and president of Grandma's Healthy Kids Club, a website that offers age-appropriate weight loss programs and other items for children and adults. Visit www.grandmashealthykidsclub.com.

Read the original article for detailed explanations of why each of these foods make the list. The photos are great and it's an interesting read — who knew that strawberries receive a dose of up to 500 pounds of pesticides per acre? But if you're short on time here's the "Must Know Info."

Top 12 Foods to Buy Organic:
Meat, Dairy, Peaches, Coffee, Apples, Sweet Bell Peppers, Celery, Strawberries, Lettuces, Grapes, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Can't find organic?
Safe Fruit Alternatives: watermelon, bananas, tangerines, oranges, blueberries, kiwi, raspberries, and pineapples.
Safe Veggie Alternatives: Cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, eggplant, and earthy mushrooms, green peas, broccoli, and asparagus.

Want more? Don't miss this article over at The Daily Green about the Top Ten Foods you DON'T need to buy organic.

The Myths:
1. Drink 8 Glasses Each Day
2. Drinking Lots of Water Helps Clear Out Toxins
3. Lots of Water Equals Healthier Skin
4. Drinking Extra Water Leads to Weight Loss
5. It's Easy to Get Dehydrated During a Workout

(read the entire article at www.npr.org.)
In light of the new information, it's important to remember that drinking water is still a good tool for dieters.
• A glass of water before a meal will help you feel fuller faster. It's especially helpful in combination with dense, high-fiber foods.
• When you want a little snack, start with water. You may just find you were actually thirsty!
• Don't stress out about getting enough water! Your healthy journey should be a fun adventure. Do your best to drink plenty of fluids and don't get too bogged down with the details.
• Add flavor! No-calorie, low-calorie packets are available in a variety of flavors and even single serve packets. Keep a few in your purse or pocket and you'll always be ready to drink up.

1. Park far away and shop, shop, shop. Take an hour to go window-shopping. It's fun and doesn't have to cost a thing. Start by parking in one of the furthest spots you can find. Then, once you reach your destination try on 5-10 outfits. It's motivating to see the changes to your body as clothes start to fit differently and it's a simple way to add extra movement to your Saturday afternoon.

2. Stop Munching and Start Marching. Have a favorite show? Instead of getting a snack during the commercial, get up and get moving! March in place, do a little dance, toss in a few jumping jacks. It's usually less than 5 minutes at a time, and for popular shows you'll get in several mini-work out sessions.

3. Don't be Afraid to Reach for the Stairs. We've all heard the advice: choose the stairs over the elevator. Well, I work on the first floor. So each morning I would walk up to the second floor and come back down before going in to work. It only took a little minute, but it made a difference in my thinking and the next time I came across an opportunity to take the stairs three or four flights didn't seem so daunting.

These fitness tips are simple to implement, and may seem too small to make a difference. But, the truth is everyone has to start somewhere. I always treated exercise as a dirty word, and these are the steps that helped me to change my mindset -- to realize that I am capable of moving more. What types of small changes have made a difference to you? Share your tips by leaving a comment below.

Lycopene, the ingredient that makes tomatoes red, is a powerful antioxidant that may be valuable in preventing and slowing the growth of certain types of cancers such as prostate, breast, and digestive-tract. A study from the British Journal of Nutrition (December, 2002) even showed that Lycopene can provide valuable protection against sunburn.

Tomatoes ripened on the vine are higher in lycopene than those that ripen after they are picked. If you can’t grow your own, then try to buy your fruit from a farmer’s market as locally-grown food is more likely to be harvested at the peak of freshness.

I’m a big fan of raw tomatos — with a hint of balsamic vinegar and olive oil or topped with a little feta cheese, or even eaten like an apple!

However, when eating for optimal health, it’s important to note that Lycopene is best absorbed by the body when tomatoes are cooked. Tomato paste and sauces, diced tomatoes thrown in soup or chili — in fact there’s never been a better reason to pile high the bruschetta and serve up a spicy Bloody Mary.

For a triple treat try this simple recipe.

Trifecta Bruschetta

• 1.5 oz Italian multi-grain or whole wheat bread (2-4 slices)
• 2 sun dried tomatoes (try to get them NOT packed in oil)
• 1/4 C diced tomatos
• 2 T thick tomato pasta sauce
• 2-4 basil leaves

1. Toast bread until almost crisp
2. Thinly slice sun-dried tomatoes and mix with diced tomatos and sauce.
3. Spoon tomato mixture over toast slices and return to oven. Broil for just a little minute -- until warm and bubbly.
4. Place one basil leaf on each piece of toast and serve immediately.

*Approximately 140 calories.

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Want a simple way to increase your daily nutrition? Juice Plus provides 17 whole grains, fruits and vegetables in a convenient capsule form. Click here to learn more.