We are having a food fight. Which is healthier—romaine lettuce or the red leaf variety? Any lettuce other than iceberg which has the nutritional equivalent of Saran Wrap is very healthy. Both romaine and red leaf have hearty supplies of beta-carotene which keeps your eyes sharp. But romaine triumphs because it’s packed with eight times as much vitamin C and almost four times as much foliate, which can help ward of birth defects. Now be careful with that dressing. Keep that lettuce pretty naked. It’s a good thing. You could be allergic to something blooming in your home. What is it? If you have hay fever symptoms, the culprit could be the mold blooming inside your home. Mold grows in everyone’s home, usually in damp areas like the bathroom, kitchen or basement. Inhaling the spores can cause allergic reactions. You can reduce mold by controlling the moisture in your home, throwing away old books and newspapers, removing bathroom carpeting and cleaning frequently. Do you think that drugs that have been on the market for years are as effective and safe as he new ones? Older and more established medications can be a wise choice for several reasons. First, they have a well-established track record, so you are unlikely to get a nasty “Vioxx-style” surprise when you open the morning paper. Older drugs often cost much less because they’re available in generic form. And, older medications have even been shown to outperform new drugs in head to head comparisons. Don’t assume that newer automatically means better. Do you want to connect with your kids? What’s the best way to talk to them? Here’s a simple way to connect with your kids—ask them fewer questions. Now that sounds counterintuitive. But as hyper-involved parents, we wear our kids out with questions, beginning with the dreaded classic- “how was school?” Experts say that younger children don’t have the language skills to tell you how they feel. If they can’t answer, they may think they’ve failed somehow. Consider sharing your day rather than just interrogating them about theirs. You know, like a conversation. Now with teenagers, you should ask a gazillion questions-all of which are “where are you going? And who’s going to be there?” Do you think herbal supplements have any side effects? After all, they don’t even require a prescription? Herbal supplements don’t require a prescription because they don’t claim to treat specific medical conditions. Notice packages tend to make vague promises such as LOSE WEIGHT! PROSTATE HEALTH! MORE ENERGY! Not only can these fancy herbs have serious side effects, but they also can interact badly with prescription drugs. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions before trying anything. Don’t let a clever label outsmart you.