Don’t wait until you’re in a nursing home to eat prunes. Eat up now-a chemical in dried plums may keep your arteries clear. Scientists and nutritionist found that mice that consumed prune powder had less plaque in their arteries than mice on a prune-free diet. The mechanism isn’t yet identified but certain flavonoids in the fruit may help prevent the inflammation that can damage blood vessels. More studies will determine if the fruit has the same effect in humans.

If you need more motivation to improve your diet, just think of junior and his sister: Eating regular meals with your kids may make them healthier teenagers. When researchers tracked the eating habits of a group of 12-year-olds, they found that children who ate with their families 5 days a week were more likely to take in greater amounts of calcium, fiber, and potassium in their late teens. If parents set a precedent of serving healthy foods at family meals while their kids are young, the children are more likely to adopt good eating habits as they grow up.

On frantic schedules keep you and your children apart at dinner time? Move family meals to the morning, and make breakfast the new dinner.

Even a slightly elevated heart rate may increase your risk of diabetes. In a 20-year study, people with resting heart rates above 80 beats per minute (born) were almost five times more likely to develop the disease. Resting heart rates in this range may interfere with your body’s use of insulin. If your resting heart rate is over 80 bpm, lower it with 3 days of interval training a week.

The usual treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP mask, which increases air pressure to keep your airway open. But Brazilian researchers found that simple throat exercises may also help treat sleep apnea. People who performed the exercises for half an hour a day reduced the severity of their condition by 39 percent in 3 months. The workout strengthens your upper airway, so it won’t collapse during sleep. If you have moderate sleep apnea, talk to your doctor about trying the exercises.