Fiber - plant material that your body is not able to completely digest - is an important part of a healthy diet. Fiber helps lower blood cholesterol and sugar levels, may help prevent hemerrhoids, and can even aid in weight loss. The National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine recommends that men eat between 30-40 grams of fiber per day and women eat 20-25 grams per day. Many everyday fresh fruits, vegetables, and beans are high in fiber and make it easy to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Read more.

Hot weather isn’t just uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous. Excessive heat - when the temperature is at least 10 degrees hotter than average for that region - causes more deaths than any other type of weather. The Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana offers tips to prepare for and stay safe during excessive heat: discuss the importance of heat safety with your family, know who in your neighborhood is at risk (the elderly, young, sick, and overweight), stay well-hydrated, wear light clothing and avoid extreme temperature changes. Read more.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals recently added new features to www.healthfinderla.gov, a comprehensive online resource that allows users to compare cost and quality of services offered by hospitals, nursing homes, and public and private health care plans. The site now includes information to compare dialysis facilities and home health care options and a physician locator that helps you find physicians, specialists, and other health care providers in your local area. Visit the site.

Recent studies of school based health centers (SBHCs) show that school-based clinics positively impact different aspects of student health and life. SBHCs provide access to primary and preventative care for uninsured and under-insured students. A Michigan State University study surrounding SBHCs found that students attending schools with a clinic were more physically active, ate healthier, and were more satisfied with their health than students withoug access to a SBHC. Here in Louisiana, research on SBHCs shows that access to a SBHC helps make students less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, unsafe sexual activity, violence, and smoking. Click here to read more about the Michigan findings and click here to read more about the impact of SHBCs in Louisiana.

If fear of aggravating heartburn is your biggest barrier to regular exercise, good news: several studies have found that the right type of exercise can reduce reflux instead of provoking it. These exercises are those that are less agitating to the body, such as riding a stationary bike instead of intense running, and that avoid being in a prone position on your back or belly. Other helpful actions are always avoiding eating for two hours before exercise, cutting sugary sports drinks out of your diet, and eating more fiber. Read more.

A new 5 year study of 370,000 Europeans has shown that meat eaters are more likely to gain weight than non-meat eaters, even when they consume the same number of calories per day. After controlling for other factors that could affect weight gain, such as smoking habits and physical activity, the study found that eating an extra 250 grams of meater per day would result in gaining an extra 4.4 pounds over 5 years on average. Read more.

Baby Matters LLC has recalled Nap Nanny infant recliners purchased between January 2009 and July 2010 due to potential suffocation and falling hazards. Because infants can hang over the edge of the Nap Nanny even when properly strapped into the harness, the product is safely used only on the floor and should never be placed on a table (or other elevated area) or inside a crib or playpen. Two versions of the Nap Nanny have been produced: the first generation lacks Velcro hooks to secure the fabric cover to the foam base. These hooks here added to the second generation recliner. Consumers with a first generation Nap Nanny are advised to immediately stop using the product and to contact Baby Matters. All Nap Nanny users are advised to visit www.napnanny.com to watch video demonstrations on proper use. Click here for more information and images to help determine which generation of Nap Nanny you own.

In June 2009, Louisiana passed a law allowing children to carry their own asthma medication at school and administer it to themselves in the event of an asthma attack. A year later, the Louisiana Association of Student Councils wants to keep spreading this information across the state to make sure parents and children are aware of the law. The law gives an asthmatic child the ability to carry his/her own inhaler and use it when needed instead of leaving it with a nurse, saving precious minutes between the onset of attack and treatment. However, parents must provide written authorization for their child to carry an inhaler and certification is also needed from a pediatrician. Read more.

One of the best things all patients can do to improve their own healthcare is to ask their doctors lots of questions. This is especially true when starting a new medication. The Mayo Clinic advises everyone to make sure they understand key information about their prescription and offers a list of questions to be prepared to ask your doctor when taking a new medication. Read more.

In some areas of the US, as many as 1 in 110 children exhibit symptoms of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASDs are developmental disabilities that impact children’s social, communication, and behavioral development at all stages of life. Although ASDs usually can be detected before age 3, diagnoses are not made on average until age 4 1/2 because parents don’t know the early signs. To help parents become more aware of ASD signs and symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a website to educate parents about ASDs, including information on developmental milestones that children are expected to achieve and information to help parents act early if they suspect their child may be delayed in reaching them. Read more.