(NAPS)—Here's food for thought: Walnuts are unique among nuts as an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based essential omega-3 fatty acid. Naturally sodium- and cholesterol-free, 1 ounce of walnuts — approximately a handful — contains 2.5 grams of ALA, plus protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The Romans called walnuts Juglans regia, or "Jupiter's royal acorn," and other ancient civilizations honored walnuts for their health properties.

A good value, convenient and versatile as a snack or ingredient, walnuts can add great taste and texture to many recipes. For example, try this one that's easy to make and keeps for several days. You can toss pesto with noodles or use it as a sandwich spread or as a dip for fresh veggies.

Mollie Katzen's Walnut Pesto

(Makes 4 servings)

3packed cups fresh basil leaves

3large cloves garlic

1/3 cup lightly toasted walnuts

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: additional extra virgin olive oil (for storage)

1.Place the basil leaves and garlic in a food processor or blender and mix well. Add the walnuts and continue to blend until the nuts are finely ground.

2.Keep the machine running as you drizzle in the olive oil. When you have a smooth paste, transfer to a bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3.If you are not going to use the pesto right away, place in a container that has a tight-fitting lid. Smooth out the top surface of the pesto and pour on enough olive oil to cover it completely. This creates an airproof seal that helps preserve it well. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator.

(NAPS)—They're back—and they're making even going to the movies a feat of bravery.

No, we're not talking "Alien8." We're talking bedbugs—those nasty, bloodsucking ectoparasites (external parasites) that have returned to the U.S. with a vengeance after decades of being seemingly eradicated.

In New York City, the problem is so acute—more than 10 percent of residents reported having had them in their homes—that even the Metropolitan Opera House was recently hit. And similar sightings and/or bitings wherever throngs of people congregate—including schools, department stores, public transportation and movie theaters—have inspired near panic in cities across the nation.

With the Centers for Disease Control now warning that "bedbugs are experts in hiding," read on for ways to fight back:

•Think Minimalist. Let's make it immediately clear that once these bloodsuckers come out of hiding, they can travel on clothing, crawl into pocketbooks, and lurk in the nooks of furniture. So your watchword when going out in public—really, hibernating won't do—should be "minimalist." Meaning, no unnecessary bags or jackets. And if you do suspect you've brought some "hitchhikers" home with you, Richard J. Pollack, an entomologist and research associate at the Harvard School of Public Health, suggests "laundering clothes on high heat or dry-cleaning them."

•Encase It. If they didn't like beds so much, they'd be called microwavebugs. . .or refrigeratorbugs. It may feel and/or look funny to some, but cover your mattress and boxspring with an encasement made of such non-bedbug-friendly material as vinyl or polyester fiber.

•Spray 'Em. Even assuming you're not allergic to bedbug bites (which is a whole different story), they can leave you so itchy and swollen that even friends might fear coming near you. (Among psychiatrists, this is known as Bedbug Stigma.) One clinically proven solution, meant for at-home use or traveling: Stop Bugging Me!(TM) Aim this new, nontoxic, naturally derived spray at any bedbug-prone area—including luggage, mattresses, sofas, bedding, carpets and walls—and studies have shown it to be a bedbug-killing machine (100% of the bugs tested dropped dead within 15 minutes). What's more, the environmentally friendly product (www.StopBuggingMe.comm) also prevents against bedbugs for up to two weeks, has a pleasant botanical scent, and is safe to use around children and pets.

•Travel Smart. Experts blame bedbugs' resurgence on two things: increased travel (including from Third World countries where the problem is even worse than here); and the 1972 ban on the use of the poisonous chemical DDT (environmentalists, then as now, love all non-human living things). We've already cited a pesticide-free alternative to the latter (see above), but immediately upon entering a hotel room travelers should drop their luggage in the bathroom and then do a top-to-bottom check of the bed. Mainly, you're looking for what the travel site travelandleisure.com calls "spotty dark stains." And don't hesitate to request a different room if something doesn't seem right.

•Go Tech. If you've got an iPhone, there's now an app that lets you both report and peruse data about bedbug sightings anywhere in the country. That's if you're not busy downloading those newly available Beatles songs.

•No Scavenging. You know those people you sometimes see on the street going through piles of discarded furniture they can cart home? Even if something looks 10 times better than what you already own, now is definitely not the time to be one of them.

•Know Your Rights. There's a move on to copy a new New York State law requiring landlords to disclose to prospective tenants any history of bedbug infestations in apartment buildings and individual units within the past year.

Check to see if there's anything like it where you live.

One last word from the CDC, to deal with as you may: "Bedbugs, like head lice, feed on the blood of humans, but are not believed to transmit disease."

(NAPS)—A new website offers cooks of every skill level an easier way to plan meals and find recipes they will love. Drawing on a database of more than 500,000 recipes, the site, called Yummly, uses unique search algorithms to better understand food, users and their tastes, and makes it possible for people to find delicious meals based on their nutritional and dietary preferences.

That's good news for busy home chefs and those with food allergies and special diets to cook for or picky eaters to please; whether planning a midweek meal or a festive holiday feast, it can be difficult to find recipes that will please the whole table. Yummly is user friendly and is convenient to use on any computer or touch-pad device.

Find Recipe Ideas Based on Your Tastes

The site's search function makes it possible for users to find recipes that suit their unique tastes based on a variety of factors such as • Ingredient likes and dislikes • Type of cuisine • Food allergy restrictions • Dietary restrictions • Nutritional preferences • Price per serving • Taste • Preparation time • Meal course • Recipe source • Specific holidays.

Publish and Share Recipe Favorites

Yummly now offers users the chance to save and publish their own recipes, whether it's to keep in their private digital recipe box or share with the website community. The site, which is fully integrated with Facebook, also offers a variety of ways for people to save, share and e-mail recipes with friends and family.

Plan Weekly Meals or Dinner Party Menus

Users can now sort and save recipes into specified folders that will help in the planning and organization of dinner parties, special events or weekly meals. Users can also share their menu ideas with friends, family or the website community.

Recipe Suggestions and Video Tutorials

Registered users can now receive recipe recommendations delivered right to their e-mail in-boxes. The site dispatches a weekly e-mail of seasonal recipe selections tailored to meet the food likes, dislikes and dietary specifications set in each user's profile. For those who are still learning, the site also offers a series of short and helpful instructional videos that demonstrate the basic cooking and food preparation techniques called for in most recipes. To learn more, visit www.yummly.comm.

(NAPS)—In an effort to balance their budgets and maintain beautiful skin during the colder months, many women are skipping the department store counter and instead visiting the baby aisle for their beauty products. As part of a growing trend, women are enhancing their beauty regimen with products that are developed for babies' gentle skin, yet are sophisticated enough for adults.

According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by JOHNSON'S Brand, nearly 40 percent of adults said they regularly use baby products on themselves, and almost 80 percent of adults say they would feel comfortable using baby products for purposes other than those pertaining to babies.

To help temperature-related skin and hair problems, celebrity makeup expert Tia Dantzler suggests these tips:

• Don't forget to hydrate. Stay hydrated by drinking water and using moisturizing body care products to protect your skin from the harsh winds and drying effects of indoor heating. Tia prefers an oil-based moisturizer for ultimate hydration. She recommends Johnson's Baby Oil Gel after a shower, while skin is still wet, to lock in up to 10 times more moisture. "As a makeup artist, this is a great product to have in my kit at all times, especially when working a photo shoot. I apply it to my clients before the red carpet, to achieve a high shine to their bodies, which looks great on camera."

• Don't shampoo too often. Shampooing hair daily can strip essential oils and add to the dryness already caused by winter conditions. Try shampooing every other day; if you need to shampoo every day, try a gentle baby shampoo formula designed for babies' sensitive eyes and fine hair, or use baby powder as a dry shampoo.

• Do deodorize. As women pile on the winter layers to avoid the bitterness of low temperatures, they often find themselves in a sweat before they can get to where they are going. Tia always carries Johnson's Baby Powder to keep her feeling fresh all day long. "My favorite scent is the new Magnolia Petals. It smells better than regular deodorant and is a great base layer for my perfume."

• Do exfoliate. Exfoliating will remove dead cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture. Aim to do this at least twice a week.

With so many versatile uses, baby products can provide simple solutions to cold weather beauty needs.

For more information on these products, visit www.johnsonsbaby.com.

Dear Savvy Senior

I would like to find some easy and healthy meal service options for my elderly parents who have a hard time getting around. My mom just had her hip replaced which is keeping her from cooking, and dad is a disaster in the kitchen. What can you tell us?

Hungry and Helpless

Dear Hungry,

Depending on where your parents live, there are various meal service options for homebound seniors who can't, or don't cook anymore. Here are several to check into.

Community Meal Programs

A good starting point is to find out if there's a home delivery meal program in your parent's area. Meals on Wheels is the largest program that most people are familiar with, but many communities offer senior meal delivery programs sponsored by other organizations that go by different names. Be sure you check into all possibilities. The Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get the number or visit www.eldercare.gov) near your parents can tell you what's available, or you can do a search at mealcall.org.

Most home delivered meal programs across the U.S. deliver hot meals, daily or several times a week, usually around the lunch hour, to seniors over age 60 who have problems preparing meals for themselves, as well as those with disabilities. Weekend meals, usually frozen, may also be available, along with special diets (diabetic, low-sodium, kosher, etc.). Most of these programs typically charge a small fee (usually between $2 and $6) or request a donation, while some may be free to low-income seniors.

In addition to home delivered meals, you should also look into congregate meal programs. Many communities offer free or low-cost hot meals in a group setting that are often located in senior centers, schools, churches and housing projects for older adults. Some facilities even offer transportation to the sites.

Personal Chef

Another popular option for non-cooking seniors with a bigger budget is to hire a personal chef from time to time. A personal chef can provide your parents with a do-it-all service that will help plan their meals according to their tastes and needs, do the grocery shopping and prepare them several weeks worth (or more) of tasty meals in their home, which they can freeze and eat when they please. Or, they can prepare it in their own kitchen and deliver it. Chef's fees range between $200 and $300 plus groceries. To find a personal chef visit the American Personal & Private Chef Association website at personalchef.com (or call 800-644-8389) where you can do a search by state.

If that seems too pricy, a less expensive way to go is to hire an occasional homemaker or home-helper who will grocery shop and cook. This type of service typically costs around $10 to $15 per hour. The area aging agency, local churches, friends, newspaper ads or even craigslist.org are all good sources to help you find someone, or check the yellow pages under "Home Care Services."

Meals-On-Line

Another convenient option is to purchase your parents prepared frozen meals on-line, and have them delivered to their house. While there are lots of companies that sell frozen meals, Magic Kitchen (magickitchen.com, 877-516-2442) is a top option that caters to the dietary needs of seniors. They offer a wide variety of delicious and nutritious meals, with prices ranging between $8 and $12 per meal. Schwan's (schwans.com, 888-724-9267), DineWise (dinewise.com, 800-749-1170) and FamilyChief (family chef.com, 888-612-9264) also offer tasty home meal delivery services as well.

Or, a cheaper alternative is to go to your local grocery store and pick up some Health Choice (healthychoice.com), Kashi (kashi.com) or Lean Cuisine (leancuisine.com) dinners or low-sodium canned soups.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book.

(NAPS)—Making small changes in the way you eat can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.

As more Americans reach an unhealthy weight, the need for change becomes more important. Over the last two decades, obesity rates have doubled in adults and tripled in children and adolescents, with higher rates of obesity leading to a rise in such disabling diseases as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Having a reliable resource can help you take charge of your own health.

Whole Foods Market's Health Starts Here program provides a commonsense approach to eating that can be modified for every lifestyle. It's not a diet, but a sustainable approach to wellness based on four core principles:

1. Whole Food

• Choose foods that are whole, fresh, natural and organic. Avoid refined, highly processed foods, artificial ingredients and hydrogenated fats. For example, choose whole grains and whole wheat pastas rather than refined varieties—like brown rice instead of white rice.

2. Plant Strong

• Reconfigure your plate: Eat mostly fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Choose a colorful variety no matter what diet you follow.

• If your diet contains animal products, reduce your consumption by using meats, dairy and eggs as small sides or subingredients, not the main item on your plate. Simply put, up your fruits and veggies.

3. Nutrient Dense

• Build your meals around foods that have a higher proportion of micronutrients compared to their total caloric content to make every bite count. For example, when selecting greens, choose darker greens over iceberg lettuce, which has fewer nutrients.

4. Healthy Fats

• Get your healthy fats directly from whole food plant sources such as avocados, nuts and seeds.

Even small changes, such as eating a big salad with a healthy light dressing or a favorite vinegar for one meal each day, can make a difference in improving health.

Through in-store materials, online resources, cooking demos, recipes and Health Starts Here ready-made dishes, Whole Foods Market can be a trusted resource and partner for healthy eating education.

For more information, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

(NAPS)—From better skin to better brain function, there could be more benefits to a daily vitamin than you might expect.

That's the news from experts who say that fish oil, for instance, may fight free radicals linked to premature aging and possibly cut LDL, or "bad" cholesterol.

The Good Fat

Omega-3 fatty acids are brain-boosting, cholesterol-clearing monounsaturated good fats. They can help joints, skin, vision, brain and heart. Anti-inflammatory, they're found naturally in walnuts, salmon, tuna, olive oil, avocados and in fish oil supplements.

Fighting Cold and Flu

Vitamin C may help reduce the length of a cold or flu. The vitamin is also necessary to form cartilage and collagen in bones, along with muscle and blood vessels.

Get Energized

B vitamins—and especially B12—have been called "energy vitamins." They also support the immune and nervous systems and other important body functions.

The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D helps bones, the brain and the immune system and might play a role in reducing the risk of diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

Visit www.vitaminshoppe.comm for more about supplements.

Podiatrist Dr. Vincent Crump of Jacksonville consults on foot issues today, Dec. 8, at the Madison Senior Center, located at 1161 SW Harvey Greene Drive, just off State Road 14. There are no appointments necessary.

Dr. Crump will be advising Madison residents about foot and ankle care from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This monthly service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis and can billed to private pay, Medicaid, Medicare, etc.

Many senior citizens have trouble cutting their toenails properly, or they may have issues such as painful ingrown toenails, fungus, bunions, calluses and other problems they need to resolve.

Experienced in the prevention, detection and treatment of foot problems, Crump works with seniors to help them become more informed on how to maintain healthy feet and ankles.

The Madison Senior Center provides many services and programs geared to senior needs. Call (850) 973-4241 for more information.

In order to have rich, lustrous and healthy hair, one should have a good supplement of, Vitamin B3, B, B6, B5, sulfur and zinc. Vitamin B deficiency results in hair loss.

Vitamin A promotes health in scalp. It is found in meat, cabbage, apricots, eggs, carrots, cheese, peaches, spinach and milk

Vitamin E is helpful in blood circulation in scalp. It is found in wheat germ oil, green leafy vegetables, nuts, dried beans, raw seeds, vegetable oils and soybeans.

Vitamin C provides a lot of nutrition for hair. Foods consisting of vitamin c are pineapple, leafy green vegetables, green peppers, kiwi, citrus fruits, potatoes and cantaloupe.

Lisa Delaney is one of the rare souls who know what it's like to be an "after." This journalist, author, and mom of one shed 70 pounds—and six dress sizes—and has kept it off for 20 years. She answers your questions here each week.

Holiday Survival Guide

I am trying so hard to lose weight and get healthy, and the holidays make it tough to stay on my plan. Every year I blow it—I start backsliding at Halloween, gain steam at Thanksgiving, until I'm pretty much completely off track by New Year's. I've already begun my seasonal slide. How do I stop it?—Donna

DEAR DONNA: Boy, do I know what you mean! My birthday always falls around Thanksgiving, so I have cake and ice cream to contend with, too.

OK, so how do we deal with the temptation to overindulge and the time-squeeze that makes any sort of exercise (except, maybe, wrapping gifts?) nearly impossible? Here's my take.

Make it your goal to just maintain. Be realistic: Readjust your goals so that you're not actively aiming to lose weight this season. The holidays are a time for family celebrations, and you want to be able to enjoy yourself (within reason). Plus, if you try to completely deny yourself all the homemade treats you love, chances are you'll crack and end up eating more than you would if you had a more reasonable goal.

Hold on to your fitness habit. It is important to stay active for all kinds of reasons—keeping a handle on holiday stress, for instance. So you can't make it to your usual fitness class, or you don't have time to do your whole 30-minute walking route. Remember: Something is better than nothing. Even if it's a 10-minute stroll. Look for any opportunity to move.

Stick to your favorites. Every year since I was a kid, I've made the same six or seven holiday cookies. Of them, I have a couple favorites: my chocolate fudge and the cut-out butter cookies with icing and sprinkles. So each year, I allow myself to eat only those. Why waste my calories on something that's less than what I want?

Limit yourself to just one. I allow myself just one treat per day during the holidays. I'm big on sweets, so I usually "spend" my quota on a cookie, slice of pie, etc. But this could also apply to savory dishes.

Survey the party scene. If you're faced with a buffet table of appetizers and dishes, walk the line once without taking anything to see what's available. Pick out a few things that look best to you (maybe even a specific number you determine ahead of time), and then go back through the line, helping yourself to a reasonable quantity.

Eat sensible meals. If I know I'm going out to dinner or to an evening function that involves food and drink, I make sure I have an uber-healthy and filling breakfast (oatmeal made with skim milk, for instance) and lunch (half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat with an apple and small yogurt). You could even have a small snack in the afternoon, another serving of fruit, perhaps, or a small quantity of nuts. That will give you a bit of nutritional insurance heading into a party situation, as well as ensure you're not completely starving.

Here's wishing you a healthy, happy holiday season!

Lisa Delaney is editor of Spry magazine and author of Secrets of a Former Fat Girl. Send your questions to lisa@spryliving.com/newslettergn up for Lisa's bi-weekly email newsletter, The Big Weigh-In, at spryliving.com/newsletter.