Shape Magazine
Make Over Your Health
17. Add beans to your diet. When eaten regularly, any type of bean can dramatically lower your risk of breast cancer. So put a handful of garbanzo beans into your salad, toss some pinto beans in with your rice, make a pot of minestrone (mix kidney beans in with broccoli, kale or your favorite cruciferous vegetable) -- all contain beneficial compounds that protect against cancer.
18. Assess what's in your medicine cabinet. A recent nationwide survey of more than 2,000 people found that nearly half have unknowingly taken a medication past its expiration date. Make a point to check dates before you take anything; it's easy to lose track. Better yet, when you buy a drug, highlight or circle the expiration date right on the package, so it's instantly visible each time you reach for a pill.
20. Get a massage on your insurance company. Not only are health-insurance providers recognizing the benefits of alternative remedies such as massages, acupuncture, nutritional supplements and yoga, but more of them are actually offering discounts for them. To see what perks your plan might give, go to Navigating Health Benefits on planforyourhealth.com, which also includes tips for understanding and making the most of your medical coverage.
21. Use a straw. "My patients who drink water through straws find it easier to get the recommended 8 cups a day," says Jill Fleming, M.S., R.D., author of Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates: Simple Lifestyle Choices for Permanent Weight Loss (Inspiration Presentation Press, 2005). Sipping with a straw helps you suck down water faster, encouraging you to drink more. Another stay-hydrated hint: Drop a flavor-enhancing slice of lemon or lime into your glass.
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