(MONEY Magazine) – A new reason to eat spinach

Popeye was right. The latest reason to eat spinach is its trove of folic acid, a B vitamin that reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. How it works: Folic acid appears to reduce levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that has been associated with heart and vascular disease. The recommended daily intake of folic acid is 400 micrograms. The American Heart Association suggests making folate-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables (spinach, anyone?), orange juice, beans and nuts part of your daily diet. Supplements cost as little as $2 for 100 400mcg pills, making them a cheap and easy way to protect yourself. Women of childbearing age should take folic acid supplements to help prevent birth defects, says the March of Dimes.

Bad medicine

Now that the Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to take over-the-counter medicines containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA)--formerly an active ingredient in Dimetapp, Triaminic and other cold treatments--what's a sniffler to do? Dr. David Sherris of the Mayo Clinic suggests these alternatives: pseudoephedrine, a decongestant; dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant; guaifenesin, an expectorant. The herb echinacea, if taken at the onset of a cold, can help minimize the symptoms and shorten its duration, says registered dietician Pat Kendall, an associate professor of food science at Colorado State University. Zinc lozenges can produce similar benefits, but they are less reliable than echinacea, Kendall adds.

Lasik basics

Eyeglass and contact-lens wearers longing to be free are increasingly opting for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (lasik) surgery, which corrects vision by changing the shape of the cornea. Is lasik surgery for you? Before you decide, check out the new FDA site at www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik. Everything you want to know about lasik surgery is there in a clear, comprehensive format, making it a great source of objective information. About 1.9 million lasik procedures will be performed in 2001, estimates Market Scope, an ophthalmology market research firm in Manchester, Mo. At $499 to $2,750 per eye--not usually covered by medical insurance--this is a significant undertaking both medically and financially.

Managing diabetes online

Each year, about 800,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the U.S. Tracking the disease carefully by monitoring diet and blood chemistry can make the difference between maintaining a normal life and enduring such complications as kidney failure, blindness and even death. Dr. Robert F. Monoson of Colorado Springs, himself a diabetic, has developed a confidential online service to help doctors and patients work together, which should save time and money for both patients and health-care providers. For about $20 a month plus a doctor's prescription, patients can log on to www.diabetesmanager.com and record blood sugar, food intake and insulin dosage; they can also discuss their concerns with nurse-specialists 24/7. Doctors receive regular reports and are contacted in case of emergency. DiabetesManager is signing contracts with HMOs and diabetes clinics nationwide--check with your medical provider.