We hear so much about the health benefits of antioxidants. And many of us actively try to squeeze as many of the cancer-fighting, cell-supportive nutrients into our diets as possible.

Fruits and vegetables are the out-and-out champs when it comes to antioxidant content, but what happens when we cook them? Does microwaving zap the advantages? Does boiling burst the benefit bubble or boost it? And are there particular fruits and veg that make the pan-to-plate journey with their antioxidant power intact? [Read more →]

To mark National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, we are featuring a guest post by Elena, a woman whose husband is in dire need of a liver transplant. Please read her story and click on the related links to learn more about the gift of donation.

My husband Constantin has a rare liver disorder called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). There are no known treatments for the disease except for liver transplantation.

He is currently on a waiting list for a deceased donor organ. However, his liver is very weak already and with the shortage of organs available and the expected wait time, his chances of survival before receiving such an organ are dim.

In addition to encouraging people to register at BeADonor.ca, I am sharing Constantin’s story in hope to find him a living donor willing to give a gift of life.

Unfortunately, I am not suitable to be a donor so I am really left with no choice but to ask others to donate a piece of their liver to give my husband a second life as soon as possible. His blood compatibility is type A and O blood.

Visit my blog and Facebook page for more info on live donation. Please spread the word at the very least to the people you know: Share this, Tweet it, tell others by word of mouth - anything. Even if you spread the word to just ONE person, that person can be the one who saves Constantin.

Thank you!

Elena

Related Links

Elena’s blog

Elena and Constantin’s Facebook page

BeADonor.ca

Ah, home, safe home! Prepare your home and yourself for better health and safety. Clear up hidden risks and know how to respond in the case of a medical problem.

> 6 spots around your home where skin risks lurks

> How to respond to 14 minor but common emergencies

> 5 household allergy triggers

> Eww! What to do if spring cleaning turns up this danger

> Ick! Despite their name, bedbugs don’t just hide in beds!

If you work at computers, do your eyes begin to feel dry and tired toward the end of the day? Could bleary eyes be blamed on staring into a computer screen all day? And can computer use damage my eyes in the long run?

via Medbroadcast: The truth is, there is no good evidence that staring at a computer will cause permanent eye damage. However, computers can cause many uncomfortable eye-related symptoms such as eyestrain, dry eyes, headache, fatigue, difficulty focusing, blurred vision, and shoulder and neck pain.

Eye strain could be part of the problem. So could contact lens wear.  Keep reading for 6 eye-friendly strategies for working on computers.

You might also like to read …

> The surprisingly germy workspace tool you’re probably touching right now
> 12 spots to adjust for a more ergonomic workspace
> Check your posture in these 6 everyday situations

Most of us know calcium as the bone-building mineral. But do you know what can happen to bones that go without calcium? And did you know that it performs other important functions in the body?

If you’re between the ages of 19 and 50, you should be getting 1,000 milligrams of calcium each and everyday. So, you might want to bone up with calcium 101:

Know: Calcium quick facts
Watch: What happens when bones lack calcium
Ask: Do you get enough calcium?
Adapt: Calcium for lactose intolerance

Ever tried acupuncture? It’s a low-risk alternative therapy that has been an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. And yet “Western medicine” has been slow to accept acupuncture due to lack of evidence of its therapeutic benefits.

An acupuncturist inserts hair-thin metallic needles (see at the right) into the body at strategic “trigger points” along networks of energy called meridians. There are 14 to 20 meridians that connect approximately 2,000 acupuncture points.

Research has been done to explore how acupuncture actually affects the body and creates positive benefits.

In one study, menopausal women who underwent 10 sessions with a trained, experienced acupuncturist experienced fewer hot flashes and mood swings than women who had “sham” acupuncture.

After their acupuncture sessions, researchers measured the women’s hormone levels. Those who had the authentic acupuncture sessions had increased levels of estradiol, a hormone that usually nosedives as women enter menopause.

If you’re interested in giving acupuncture a try, read this first - it explains the basics of qi and offers words of warning.

Related: Symptoms of menopause, An intro to acupuncture, Menopause and anxiety