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Reports on research and developments pertaining to the prevention of disease. Importance of calcium and fiber in preventing heart disease; Exercise for the prevention for diabetes; Role of vegetables in preventing prostate cancer.

Presents information on the use of saw palmetto, as an herbal remedy for treating benign prostatic hypertrophy (PBH). Researches in Europe and Italy showing the healing effects of the herb; Mechanism of action; Advice on the use of the herb.

Focuses on the herb Ginkgo biloba whose leaves are extracted to pharmaceutical standards of potency and purity in Europe. Use of the extract for cerebral insufficiency; Improvement of blood circulation in other parts of the body besides the brain; Other therapeutical possibilities of ginkgo; Precautions on the use of ginkgo.

Notes that walking has largely vanished as a normal part of life and points out the dividends of walking. National Walking Week, May 1-7, 1995; Walking groups; The Walking for Wellness program of the National Black Women's Health Project; The Walk Reebok program of the Boston Athletic Club.

Comments on the percentage of Americans considered overweight according to the 1994 Prevention Index and considers the effect of giant muffins and other monster-foods. Example of an Outback Steakhouse dinner containing 2,060 calories and 143 grams of fat; National Center for Health Statics; Survey showing the daily caloric increase in American diets compared with ten years ago; Calorie and fat content of regular vs. monster-foods.

Editorial. Discusses alternative approaches to arthritis. Importance of having a really good doctor; The right attitude; Using common sense; Occupational therapists; New research pairing two vitamins (B12 and folate) for patients with osteoarthritis of the hands; Link between fish and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

This article responds to a reader's question about losing weight. The author suggests a goal of 5 to 6 pounds through monitored calories, aerobic exercise, and weight lifting that will firm and shape muscles. The author offers further suggestions such as keeping a food diary, replacing carbohydrates with protein, picking up the pace several times while exercising, replacing a meal with a protein bar or shake, and getting plenty of rest at night. INSET: Do you have aquestion for the weight coach.

The article answers a question about how to avoid gaining body weight while on vacation. How can I avoid gaining weight on vacation without depriving myself? One or two big meals at the local hot spots, and you will soon eat back all the calories you worked off while touring. But you can keep the weight off. Going to an all-you-can-eat buffet is a guaranteed diet buster. Studies show that the more frequently you eat out, the more likely you are to gain weight, because restaurants load you up with hidden calories. Consider a walking or cycling tour.

Provides information on an exercise program offered to women at the Curves gymnasium. Reason for the rise in women-only facilities; Limitations of the program.

Try to force yourself into a yoga posture to look like the instructor or a picture in a book, and you may end up in worse shape than if you had run a marathon. "Yoga is meant to be a nurturing form of exercise, not a rigid imitation of poses," says Richard Faulds, author of the upcoming Kripalu Yoga: A Complete Guide to Practice On and Off the Mat (Bantam, 2004). It's very possible to stretch and strengthen your body without having to touch your nose to your knees or your feet to your head. Here's how to help ensure that you leave yoga class serene, not sorry! Look for gentle styles such as Kripalu, Viniyoga, or Integral Yoga. Bikram, Ashtanga, and Power Yoga are generally too vigorous for beginners and inflexible people. Find an experienced, certified yoga instructor who asks about your physical limitations and will modify pace or alternative poses to meet your needs. Ten minutes of easy movements will increase circulation, lubricate joints, and ready your body to stretch. Poses should progress from simple to more difficult. Don't lock your knees in standing postures, despite what a teacher may say. If you feel any strain during sitting or kneeling postures, place a cushion or folded blanket under your bottom. Always keep your neck in alignment with the rest of your spine when arching backward. Don't let it flop back or down.

People go from being indoors and sedentary to suddenly pulling weeds and playing sports. The result: pulled muscles and strained joints. The biggest cause of spring sports injuries is the start-where-I-left-off syndrome, says Dr. Nicholas DiNubile, an orthopedic surgeon. Here's how to reduce your risk of injury. Take five to 10 minutes to loosen up and get your blood flowing to the muscles you'll be using before you start to play. Lifting weights twice a week can keep your muscles and connective tissues strong and help prevent injury. When raking, don't twist your body to pull the leaves toward you; use your legs to shift your weight forward and back. Push the vacuum in front of you, walking forward several steps, then pulling back several. Avoid prolonged deep squatting; it stresses vital knee cartilage.

'Lots of people skip working out when their mood is not ideal because they do not have the mental energy to switch gears,' says mental health and exercise expert Jack Raglin, of Indiana University. Doctor Raglin recommends various ways to keep a person exercising no matter what their state of mind. Studies have shown that even mild exercise can lift a person's mood. View it as mental recreation, not exercise. Do something that involves the mind and keeps the brain from focusing on what has created the bad mood. Play racquetball, or take an aerobics class . Being around people is a quick and easy way to beat boredom. Something repetitive is most effective at reducing feelings of stress and increasing calmness.

Profiles five women who have abided by the weight loss plan of lifting weights, eating fiber, walking, and drinking smoothies. Success of weight loss with weight lifting; Effectiveness of strength training; Finding that weight training builds muscle and burns calories.

Back in 2000, 'Prevention' reported on popular high-protein diets, saying that a diet higher in fat (the healthy kind such as monounsaturated fats) and protein--if these foods replaced refined carbs such as white bread and cookies--might actually be healthier for some people. But at the time, we were not convinced of the merits of the Atkins diet in particular, because of its high level of saturated fats and severe limits on certain types of vegetables, fruit, and dairy products. What changed our minds are the many success stories that we've heard. That's why the National Institutes of Health is beginning a 5-year study of this diet. In the meantime, we do know that being obese contributes to many serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and some cancers.

Recommends various home-version elliptical machines, including the Precor EFX 5.17.

Describes a way to exercise while preparing food. Concept of 'oven-exercise-eat,' developed by nutrition expert Zonya Foco; Low-fat recipes and exercise plans.

Gives advice on how to adhere to an exercise program, including performing cool-down exercises following a workout.

Focuses on exercises which can help to strengthen hips, including a side-lying leg lift. INSET: Wound Too Tight?.

Reports that people can exercise longer and burn more fat if they are in their target heart rate zone, and suggests types of heart rate monitors.

Reports that skipping during a walk or run can improve the workout, and presents tips on how to skip safely and prevent injury.

Describes how cross-training can help train many muscles, as opposed to only doing one form of exercise, with advice on how to differ the exercise routine.

Presents information about exercise and how to work out more effectively to obtain results, including starting an exercise program and purchasing home excercise equipment.

Offers stories of mothers and daughters who help each other lead a healthier and more active life.

Offers tips on how baby boomers can avoid sports injuries. INSET: Stay in the Game: Sports-Specific Strategies.

Recommends choosing exercise activities and sports that have elements in common with activities and games enjoyed as a child.

Discusses how being unfit puts people at risk for various medical conditions and offers advice on how to check one's fitness level.

Suggests snowshoeing as an excellent form of exercise. How to do it; Reasons to try it; Equipment needed; Where to go. INSET: The Scoop on Snowshoeing.

Focuses on hiking and the importance of planning its distance and timing. How to estimate the length of a hike.

Discusses how to monitor oneself when walking outdoors to ensure that a person is getting the same workout as they would on a treadmill. Count the number of steps taken in one minute; Keep the beat; Clock it with a pedometer and a sports watch.

Focuses on two sports bras, Champion Jog-bra style 161 and Speedo by Warner's style 1900. How they are designed like regular bras, with underwire, padded straps, cups and back hooks; How they provided support and comfort.

Explains why specially designed compression shorts may reduce fatigue and improve performance while exercising. Study by Penn State University's center for sports medicine; Comments from William Kraemer, PhD, the leader of the study; The material to look for when choosing tight-fitting shorts.

Presents a food planner to visualize your eating habits. Date; Time; Food; Fat content; Personal choice. INSETS: Quick check on daily totals.;Quick-check work sheet..

Recommends ways to spice up food. Flavored sauce for broiled fish; Whole-grain options; Spicing up vegetables; The best ways to reviving frozen vegetables. INSET: February market report..

Offers advice on eating habits and weight control. The importance of avoiding feelings of deprivation in adopting permanent eating changes; Redesigning your plate. INSETS: Design tip.;`Rice' to the occasion..

Offers tidbits on the amount of calories burned per hour doing some classic seasonal activities. Building a snowman; Mashing potatoes; Shoveling snow; Holiday shopping; Other details.

Answers questions about physical fitness problems for women. Prevention of flab in upper arms; Risks of in-line skating.

Provides answers to four questions on fitness. Taking care of arthritic knees on a walking route; Lacing walking shoes properly; Exercising a healthy arm to provide some strength to the injured arm; The key to muscle growth being weight training and resistance exercising.

Editorial. Asserts that if a person ate foods with health as their primary concern, weight loss would automatically follow. Foods like lettuces, vegetables, fruits and fish as high in nutrients but also low in fat and calories; Importance of concentrating on choosing foods according to health reasons rather than weight-loss reasons; The importance of exercise.

Presents a question and answer segment focusing on children lifting weights. Types of exercises.

Presents information from health tips to readers. Calorie-burning benefits from pushing a stroller; Details on varicose veins and exercise; Possibility of being allergic to exercise; Best time to start weight training.

Presents information on the approach of doctors giving prescription recipes to help persons lose weight. Recipe for bone-building and menopause; Cocoa bread pudding; Recipe for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol; Vegetarian paella.

Gives advice on the proper use of the treadmill when doing exercises. Technique for mounting and dismounting the treadmill; Method for increasing treadmill speed; Correct positions of feet, hands and body.

Criticizes insurance companies and Medicare for their failure to pay for nutrition counseling until it may too late to prevent a crisis. Why nutrition must become part of mainstream medicine; Why most insurance companies reject the idea; The proposal that doctors recommend patients to a registered dietitian (RD) at the first sign of diet-related symptoms.

Informs on studies of a salt mined in Iceland that--when used at the table and in food manufacturing--can lower blood pressure. How the salt differs from table salt; Comment on test results by Dutch researcher Diederick Grobbee, M.D., Ph.D.; Report in `British Medical Journal,' August 13, 1994. INSET: More reasons for controlling salt.

Evaluates the effectivity and safety of diet pills including Redux and fen-phen. Result of the study conducted involving diet pills; Specification on the content of Redux and fen-phen; Risks in using Redux and fen-phen. INSET: Are they right for you..

The article discusses various cardio exercises that help in reducing fat from the body and in achieving fitness. The exercises mentioned include long, slow distance (LSD), tempo and high intensity interval training (HIIT). It is given that LSD should be done from 45 to 60 minutes and it helps in reducing 158 to 240 calories in four minutes, tempo should be done from 20 to 30 minutes and it reduces 130 calories in 6.5 minutes and HIIT needs to be carried from 10 to 20 minutes.

The article previews several interactive video games including "The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workouts," "Just Dance 2," and "Kinect Adventure."

This article contains a reader's question about weight gain and an answer by Director Michele Stanten, a certified fitness instructor and author of the book "Firm Up in 3 Weeks." Stanten talks about the weight gain associated perimenopause. Suggested ways to improve workout time include exercising at least 4 hours per week, weightlifting, and not eating refined carbohydrates.