Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 2-24-17

Health
What Causes Sinus Problems?
Sinus pain and pressure happens when the tissue in your nose and sinuses gets swollen and inflamed. That keeps the sinuses from draining properly. A change in tempera- ture, allergies, smoking, the common cold -- pretty much anything that causes swelling in your sinuses or keeps your cilia from sweeping away mucus -- can cause problems.
Breathe Moist Air
Keep a humidifier on in your bedroom or other rooms where you spend a lot of time. Dry air can irritate your sinuses, but keeping air moist can help re- duce congestion. Inhaling steam two to four times a day may help, too. Sit in the bath- room with the door closed and the shower running. Make sure the water is hot.
Enforce a No-Smoking Zone
Fumes from harsh cleaning products, paints, hair spray, perfumes -- and most of all, cig- arette smoking -- can irritate your sinuses. Don't let friends or family smoke in your home. Look for "green" cleaning prod- ucts in unscented varieties.
They're less likely to contain the harsh chemicals that can kick-start a sinus problem.
Drink More Water
Sip more H2O or juice. It'll help thin out mucus and en- courage drainage. Hot tea is an- other good option. Don't overdo caffeine or alcohol. Both can make you dehydrated. Al- cohol can worsen sinus swelling. Aim for eight or more 8-ounce glasses of water or other healthy drinks each day.
Try Nasal Irrigation
It's also called nasal wash, and it can help keep your si- nuses clean and clear. You use a mild, sterile saline solution to flush out the mucus and aller- gens causing your congestion. Lean over the sink, squirt the solution into one nostril, and let it drain through your nasal cavity and out the other nostril. Keep your mouth open and don't breathe through your nose.
Avoid Your Triggers
Nasal allergies can lead to sinus problems like pain and pressure. So, steer clear of com- mon triggers such as pet dan- der, dust mites, and pollen. Get your allergies treated, too.
Watermelon Mojito: 100 Calories
A whole day of eating right can go down in the swirl of cocktail -- with crazy-high calories and weakened willpower. So we've put a few drinks on
a diet, starting with the Cuban mojito. Instead of using sugar, use a wooden pestle or a big spoon to gently crush cubes of watermelon with fresh mint leaves. Add rum and sparkling water for a sweet mo- jito with half the usual calories.
Simple Margarita: 170 Calories
Skip the syrupy mixes in crazy colors and you'll trim hundreds of calories from this Mexican cocktail. Measure out the basics: one shot of tequila, lime juice to taste, and a
splash of triple sec. Shake with ice and serve. Staying within the limits of moderate drinking -- one for women and up to two drinks per day for men -- is an- other way to watch your calories and your waistline.
Shochu Cosmo: 70 Calories
Make a super-slim cosmopol- itan by replacing the vodka with shochu, a Japanese spirit with a smooth flavor. A 2-ounce serv- ing has only about 35 calories. Add splashes of diet cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and or- ange juice, and then toss in a
martini shaker. This cosmo shakes out at half the calories of a traditional cosmopolitan.
Slim Berry Daiquiri: 145 Calories
Simple, unadorned berries can help slim down a strawberry daiquiri. Start with 1 cup of no-sugar- added berries, either fresh or frozen. You get intense berry flavor for just 50 calo-
ries, compared with 255 calories in berries frozen with syrup. Add rum, ice, and sweeten the deal with 1 teaspoon of stevia, a sugar substitute. Blend into a slim and delicious frozen concoction.
Skinny Piña Colada: 229 Calories
Rum that's infused with a coconut flavor can cut about 300 calories from a piña colada. What's out? The sugary, coconut milk mix. Measure one shot of coconut rum. Then add fresh strawberries, a splash of agave syrup, and blend with ice. You get a tall, 12-ounce tropical cocktail for about the same calories as in a handful of pretzel twists.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B