That's Fit

To sip or not to sip? When you're talking tea, the consensus among health experts seems to be: sip up! Tea is nutritious, delicious and virtually calorie-free. Over at Mark's Daily Apple, they're talking tea. Here are 10 reasons to start brewing:

• Tea is full of antioxidants.
• It also has anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, among others.
• It can lower the body's absorption of carbohydrates.
• It can protect you against ovarian cancer.
• If you have it sans milk, it counts as a glass of water against your eight glasses a day.
• It can curb hunger and help satisfy cravings.
• it's lower in caffeine than coffee
• To get the most positive impact from tea, drink two to three cups a day. If you can't? One cup should be fine.
• Loose, fresh tea offers more benefits than bags of tea.
• Worried about staining your teeth? Drink white or green tea instead of traditional black tea.

What do you love about tea?

We know that it's important to eat right and exercise to care for our bodies. We buy special products and take care of our skin. Brushing and flossing take care of our teeth. But what about our eyes? It's just as important to guard our eye health -- Revolution Health gives us six simple tips for healthy vision:

• Good nutrition. Inflammation is the root cause of many eye disorders, so opt for anti-inflammatory foods when possible. Avoid red meat, choose fish and other products that are rich in omega-3s, and choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (avoid saturated fats as much as possible). Also eat lots of green, leafy veggies -- they're high in lutein which is important for eye health.
  
• Protect your eyes from the sun. Wear sunglasses that have 100% UV protection. It can also be helpful to wear a wide-brimmed hat when at the beach or other sunny spots.
  
• Exercise. Moderate exercise has been proven to reduce intraocular pressure, a causative factor for glaucoma.
  
• Don't smoke. Smoking doesn't just damage the lungs -- it also damages blood vessels which, in turn, can deprive the eyes of much-needed oxygen.
• Minimize eye strain. Position your computer monitor properly (not too close and a bit below eye level) and use a glare guard.
  
• Have regular eye exams. Even if your vision isn't impaired, it's important to visit an eye doctor regularly. (Many people go annually, but you can ask your doctor what intervals he/she recommends.)

Girls, we've all been there. 'The time of the month' is not only a nuisance, it's a pain -- literally. Hands up: how many of you have missed work or school because of severe cramps? Now, I can't see your hands, but I'm willing to bet most of you raised them--myself included. Popping a pain killer is always an option after your period has hit, but is there any way to prevent cramps?

WebMD says yes, and they've even put together this video on how to nip menstrual cramps in the bud. There are a few things you can do:

• A few days before your period starts, take a mild over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug like Advil, aspirin or ibuprofen
  
• If you're not trying for a family, consider taking oral contraceptives. They'll help make your period lighter and less painful.
  
• Applying heat to the area will help -- use a heating pad or hot water bottle.
• As always, eating well and exercising lots will go a long way to help prevent pain.
  

Want more tips? Watch the video, and be sure to let us know if you have any 'secret weapons' against the pain of periods.

If you've been searching for some healthy and delicious fruits, why not try some bing cherries?

Research shows that this particular variety of cherry is rich in polyphenols, plant compounds known to reduce inflammation. A study, published previously in the Journal of Nutrition, revealed that levels of inflammation dropped by 18 to 25 percent in patients after twenty-eight, bing-binge eating days. Even more interesting is the fact that within four weeks of the date they stopped eating the cherries, their levels began to increase again.

Don't like cherries? Not a problem. Plums, grapes, and dark colored berries also contain the same anti-inflammatory compound. Enjoy!!

Cinnamon is one of those spices that can liven up many dishes, and while tasty things often aren't good for you, this is one exception -- cinnamon is exceedingly healthy. It has a number of benefits, according to The Healthy Snacks Blog, including these top five:

1. Cinnamon has antifungal, antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. This means it can help fight yeast infections, lice and ulcers.

2. Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce your chances of strokes and heart disease.

3. Cinnamon can help lower bad cholesterol and it can help manage blood sugar levels and diabetes.

4. Cinnamon is an excellent source of manganese, dietary fiber, iron and calcium.

5. Smelling Cinnamon can improve your memory.

So enjoy cinnamon, but make sure you do it in moderation -- it can be toxic in large doses. And please note that large, doughy cinnamon buns are not an ideal source of cinnamon -- but they're a great source of fat and calories.

How do you use cinnamon in your diet?

In university, I worked as an office assistant for a Chiropractic clinic. Perks of the job included free adjustments, an offer I never took up. I sometimes wonder if that was foolish of me but at the time I had no back aches or pains so I really didn't see a point. Now, almost a decade later, I still haven't seen a chiropractor, but I've been considering it.

Not so fast, according to researchers from Australia -- You'll recover from your back pain quicker with exercise and mild pain killers. In an extensive study, it was shown patients who received spinal manipulation or strong anti-inflammatory drugs didn't feel any better than those who took over-the-counter pain killers. These findings raised a few eyebrows because both anti-inflammatory drugs and spinal manipulation are controversial.

Still, I don't think this study properly addressed the long-term effects of treatments -- rather, it was more concerned with who felt better fastest. What do you think? Do you see your chiropractor regularly?

17-year-old Arielle Newman died in April from what is now being described as an over-dose of anti-inflammatory muscle cream. As a cross country track runner for Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, NY, her body absorbed high levels of the active ingredient commonly found in anti-inflammatory sports products such as Bengay and Icy Hot: methyl salicylate. Ms. Newman was reportedly using the cream frequently along with up to two other products containing the ingredient.

Methyl salicylate poisoning is extremely rare and doctors aren't sure if it was due to overuse or simply that her body absorbed an abnormal amount of the chemical. The makers of Bengay, Johnson & Johnson, have expressed their condolences to the family and are reminding consumers about "the importance of reading the label on this and all over-the-counter medicines to ensure safe and proper use."