Your Health

Armed against germs

It didn't take long for enterprising entrepreneurs to capitalize on the swine flu.

The Germy Wormy is like a handkerchief that kids wear on their arms. When kids sneeze or cough, they cover their mouths with the special sleeve.

It's similar to an inside-out diaper, with a thin plastic layer against the skin and a soft woven top layer to catch germs.

When a child has used it, simply throw it away.

The sleeve is available at germywormy.com at 10 for $4.50.

100 calorie cuts

Losing weight requires cutting down calorie intake throughout the day.

Prevention Magazine offers 100 ways to cut 100 calories. Add a few up every day and it could make quite a difference.

Here are a few good ones:

• Use a small glass for juice and small bowl for cereal.

• Flavor coffee with cinnamon and nutmeg instead of flavored syrup.

• Have a veggie omelette instead of cheese and meat.

• Use mustard instead of mayo on your sandwich.

• Use nonstick cooking spray instead of butter.

• Use tuna in water, not in oil.

• Keep meat portions to the size of a deck of cards.

• Eat grilled chicken, not fried.

• Drop soda in favor of flavored sparkling water.

• Enjoy a bowl of fruit instead of sweets.

Nuts to you

What's the latest wonder food? Nuts!

That's right, a recent study cited in Men's Journal found that eating nuts helped fight obesity and high blood pressure when added to a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.

Almonds have the most calcium of any nut, plus vitamin E and fat that's good for the heart, so they're good any time.

Macadamia nuts have good fat, fiber and protein, so they're good in the morning to help your breakfast stick to your ribs.

Pistachios are good for the eyes, and peanuts have protein and fat, so try them to fuel up before a workout.

A handful of nuts is enough to get the benefits without overeating.