Your health: Fuel for cold war

Fuel for cold war

Still trying to outrun that cold or flu? Some nutrient-rich foods can help you fight off infections. Vitamin C-packed orange juice is no surprise, but did you know that oatmeal, fish, chicken, turkey and bananas can fuel the organs that generate white blood cells to help you fight infections? And tomatoes, apples and cranberries contain flavonoids, which can help strengthen your immune system.

Speaking of cold…

Germs don't die when it gets cold out; they just hibernate. Frigid temps can slow some down, but they rev back up when temperatures get warmer.

Chew over this

Don't bite off more than you can chew is as true as ever, warn dental experts.

Taking huge bites of super-sized sandwiches could be bad for your jaw and teeth, says the Academy of General Dentistry.

At special risk are people with temporomandibular joint disorder, which can restrict opening one's mouth. “People with TMD need to avoid opening their mouths too wide,” says Dr. Barbara A. Rich, AGD spokeswoman. “Taking large bites of food can aggravate their condition.”

Rich also cautions against biting into hard candies and nuts or chewing ice or popcorn kernels, which can chip teeth. Even apples can cause problems. “If you need to open your mouth more than feels comfortable to take a bite, then you should cut the item into smaller portions that are easy to chew,” Rich says.

Healthy earnings

More countries are paying people to be healthier. In Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia and Jamaica, parents are paid to bring their children in for vaccinations and well-child visits.

In Scotland, Britain's National Health Service backs programs that offer cash for groceries for individuals who quit smoking. In Tanzania, the World Bank is sponsoring a program in which young men and women will be paid $45 for every negative test for a sexually transmitted disease.