Our thoughts and prayers are with Don Hall, inspiration behind the GLEANER's Healthy Choices page. Don's wife, Phyllis, died while hiking near Lake Tahoe, Calif., during the weekend of Oct. 2.

Vitamin B-12 Important for Brain Health

Recent headlines declared "Going veggie could be bad for the brain." Researchers learned individuals with low (but still normal) levels of vitamin B-12 were six times more likely to show significant brain volume loss compared to those with the highest B-12 levels. Vegetarians, especially vegans, were the ones with the lowest B-12 levels. Vegetarians must have a reliable B-12 source—at least 2.4 micrograms of B-12 daily. See the chart to learn what foods can help meet this recommendation.

Simple Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Lowering high cholesterol levels is made simpler with healthy food choices: Eat beans, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables; replace butter and margarine with canola or olive oil; limit red meat (fish is heart-healthy); start your day with oatmeal; and top foods with herbs and vegetables rather than gravies and sauces. Read more at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/solfiber.htm.

What's Your Waist Girth?

Fat that accumulates around the waist is the most dangerous, and specifically increases a person's risk of developing diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease and certain cancers. Measure your waist at the level of your navel while you are relaxed. (Don't suck it in.) For best health, men should measure less than 37 inches around their middle, and women should stay below 33 inches. Read about ways to maintain a healthy weight at: http://healthyweight.nhlbi.nih.gov.