Fingernails: 5 Signs That Point to Bigger Health Problems

Changes in the fingernails can indicate everything from heart disease to thyroid problems and malnutrition. Here are some nail conditions that might require medical attention.

When Nail Separates from Nail Bed

What it looks like: Fingernails become loose and can separate from the nail bed.

• Possible causes:
• Injury or infection
• Thyroid disease
• Drug reactions
• Psoriasis
• Reactions to nail hardeners

Your Nails Look Yellow

What it looks like: Yellow discoloration in the fingernails. Nails thicken and new growth slows. Nails may lack a cuticle and may detach from the nail bed.

Possible causes:

• Respiratory conditions, such as chronic bronchitis
• Swelling of the hands (lymphedema)

Spoon Nails

What it looks like: Soft nails that look scooped out. In spoon nails (koilonychia), the depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid.

Possible causes:

• Iron deficiency
• Anemia

Nail Clubbing

What it looks like: The tips of the fingers become enlarged and the nails curve around the fingertips.

Possible causes:

• Low oxygen levels in the blood, which could point to heart disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Liver disease

Opaque Nails

What it looks like: Nails look mostly opaque but have a dark band at the tips (a condition known as Terry's Nails)

Possible causes:

• Malnutrition
• Congestive heart failure
• Diabetes
• Liver disease

If your senior parent has one of these nail problems, and it doesn't go away, make an appointment with your doctor to get it diagnosed.

This Information compiled from Mayo Clinic

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4 Best Foods For Your Brain

If most days start with a search for your keys, or you wander from room to room trying to remember why you're in that room, you might be interested in this news: Research suggests that certain foods can help stave off age-related memory loss, dementia, and even Alzheimer's disease.

A recent study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementiafound that a new diet—aptly named the MIND Diet—may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's by 53%. Before you balk at the idea of having to hew to yet another eating plan, the research suggests you don't have to follow every detail of the MIND Diet to benefit. Even study participants who only "moderately" adhered to the diet lowered their risk of Alzheimer's by 35%.

So, what's for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on this brain-boosting plan? It's a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets (MIND stands for Mediterrranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), both of which have received rave reviews for their heart-healthy benefits and call for lots of vegetables, fruits, healthy fats (such as nuts and olive oil) and lean proteins (such as fish and chicken).

"Typically, what's good for the heart is good for the brain," says Michelle M. Mielke, PhD, associate professor in the department of health sciences research at the Mayo Clinic whose research focuses on Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. After all, your brain needs about 20% of the blood your heart pumps in order to get enough oxygen and fuel—which means if your heart isn't in tip-top shape, your brain cells may have trouble getting what they need to function optimally.

To fuel your body and brain, load up on the following key players in the MIND diet:

Fatty fish

Seafood offers at least two nutrients that help keep your mind sharp: Omega-3 fats and vitamin D. Tufts University research found that people who ate fish like salmon, tuna, and halibut three times a week reduced their risk of Alzheimer's disease by nearly 40%. "Omega-3 fatty acids contain DHA and EPA, which are highly concentrated in the brain and are crucial for optimal brain function," says Joy Dubost, PhD, RD, a dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Fatty fish are also a great source of vitamin D, says Dubost, and numerous studies indicate D can help protect the brain. "Just one 4-ounce piece of cooked salmon contains 600 IU of vitamin D," she says, "which is pretty high for a food source of D."

Green leafy vegetables

Loaded with vitamin K, greens such as spinach, kale, and collards have been shown to slow cognitive decline. According to a new study from Rush University Medical Center, people who ate 1 to 2 servings of leafy greens each day had the cognitive ability of a person 11 years younger than those who consumed none.

Olive oil

Chalk up one more reason why this oil is a smart choice: It's an excellent source of polyphenols—powerful antioxidants that have can help prevent and even reverse age- and disease-related memory problems. Research published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that extra virgin olive oil improves learning and memory, and other studies have shown that swapping saturated fats for mono- and polyunsaturated fats (like the kind found in olive oil) is associated with a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Blueberries

This super berry contains an antioxidant—anthocyanin—that may be particularly healthy for your brain. Recent research from Tufts University found that anthocyanins can cross the blood-brain barrier, protecting brain cells from oxidation and boosting communication between brain neurons. A Harvard Nurses' Health Study of 16,000 women over the age of 70 found that women who consumed 2 or more half-cup servings of blueberries or strawberries per week remained mentally sharper than those who didn't eat the berries. Tufts animal studies have found that blueberries help improve short-term memory, navigational skills, balance and coordination.

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Worst Nightmare - Getting Diarrhea On A Run

It's a nightmare scenario for runners: A spirited jaunt on your favorite back country trail turns into a sprint for the nearest tree when nature suddenly calls—and not the friendly kind of call.

Although you may fight valiantly, you're ultimately forced to drop trou and drop a deuce.

Hopefully this has never happened to you. But in the unfortunate event that you suddenly feel the urge, remember this advice to keep your run from going down the crapper.

Why do you get diarrhea on a run?

The physical motion of running manhandles your intestines (and whatever's in them) for a prolonged period of time, says Men's Health nutrition advisor Mike Roussell, PhD. If you've ever made the mistake of eating or drinking too much water before you run, you know the sickening feeling of your stomach contents sloshing around. When you run, your body also draws blood away from your intestines and into your aching muscles, causing a disruption in normal digestion, Roussell says. That's when, as they say, shit happens.

What should you do?

If you're on a training run and you feel the urge, just walk; the jostling motion of running can make it tough to hold back the goods.

To help prevent diarrhea, avoid fiber-rich foods such as beans, nuts, and raisins for several hours before you run.

While fiber can give you plenty of energy and help you lose weight, some fiber-rich foods may also make your stomach and lower GI tract feel heavier if you consume them too close to an exercise session. It takes about 2 hours for fiber to leave your stomach and enter your intestine, so you'll want to give yourself enough time between eating it and setting out on your run.

Worst Case Scenario: 

Find a nice, peaceful spot in the woods to do your business, and look for a large, dry leaf.

You know the rest

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Burn 350 Calories With These Easy Moves

When life's as busy as it is, simple is good. Easy, quick, and still super effective: even better. So when we came across a recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research that found alternating between two basic Kettle Bell (KB) exercises was powerful enough to count as your cardio and strength training in one, we were pumped to try it. Especially when we heard it could burn between 300 to 350 calories in only 30 minutes.

According to the study authors, this new research provides the first evidence that a continuous KB protocol can produce the same metabolic cost of moderate intensity treadmill walking (4 MPH) with a 4% grade, and potentially have a positive effect on the improvement of aerobic fitness. What's more, it'll slim and tone your entire body, including your core, and help you build and maintain strong, lean muscle mass.

"As people age, loss of muscle mass increases, leading to problems with balance, falls, and weakness," says study co-author Robert Kraemer. "This form of exercise would be particularly helpful in this regard." It's also great for when the weather isn't cooperating and you're stuck inside or short on time.

So what do you have to do? In the study, participants performed 3 continuous 10-minute sets of 10 kettlebell swings followed by 10 sumo deadlifts, with a 3-minute rest between each set. You'll definitely break a sweat, but with only 2 moves to think about you can zone out, pump your music, or work out in front of another episode of House Hunters.

Grab a 'bell and get to it. Start with a weight of 10 pounds or less until you've mastered your form (if you're totally new to KBs, consider taking a class or a training session with a pro to nail the basics) and slowly work your way up to 20 or 25 pounds. As the workout progresses—and you lose steam—pick up a lighter weight to avoid compromising your form.

2-Handed Swing move

Grab a kettlebell and stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes turned out about 45 degrees. Place kettlebell on the floor between feet. Squat down and grab handle with an overhand grip. Push heels firmly into the floor and stand up, keeping arms extended. Swing it and burn those calories!

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