How would you feel about a cancer-fighting drug being put into junk food?  Ottawa wants to know.  Health Canada is inviting public comments until February 21st on a proposal to have small amounts of the enzyme ``asparaginase'' put into foods like potato chips and french fries.  Its scientists have finished a detailed safety assessment on the enzyme and haven't found any health or safety concerns.  At issue is the chemical acrylamide, which is a cooking byproduct in the production of fried foods, and has been linked to cancer in animals.  Research suggests the enzyme reduces acrylamide production.
 

A good night's sleep isn't just about hitting the ground running in the morning. If you get the seven to nine hours experts advise, you can expect these added benefits:

Fewer sniffles

People who get less than 7 hours per night are three times likelier to catch colds, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association study. Reason: Sleep boosts immunity; too little impairs it.

Stay healthy by avoiding the top 10 sleep thieves.

A trimmer waistline

People who logged seven to nine hours a night had an average BMI of 24.8—almost 2 points lower than the average BMI of those who slept less, University of Washington researchers found. Too-little sleep may throw off hormones that regulate appetite.

Lower risk of heart disease and diabetes

Lack of sleep is associated with higher levels of stress hormones that may raise blood pressure and affect glucose metabolism. A new study found that the risk for high blood pressure among insomniacs who slept less than five hours per night was 500 times greater than those who logged more than six hours. And insomniacs who slept less than five hours were three times likelier to have diabetes, compared with those without insomnia who slept more than six hours.

4 ways to sleep more deeply

Want to hit the hay earlier?

Gradually advance your bedtime by 15 minutes a night.
Dim the lights in your home about an hour before bed, and start a routine that tells your body it's time to snooze (put on pajamas, brush teeth, wash face).
Avoid the TV and computer.
Meditate or do light stretching. People who relax in the evening fall asleep about 30 minutes sooner than those who don't and get an extra hour of sleep.

Step 1
Learn to Cook. The more you eat healthy home made meals the better.

Step 2
Eat back to basic foods - if you can't pronounce something on a label you probably shouldn't be eating it.

Step 3
Aim for 5 servings of fruits and 5 servings of vegetables each day.

Step 4
Walk at least 30 minutes everyday. It can't be a saunter, you have to walk briskly. Can't get up to brisk? Start off slowly and work your way up to brisk. Check with your doctor before starting any new exercise regime.

Step 5
Practice some type of stress reduction. Meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, deep breathing or going for a walk all are great choices.

Step 6
Socialize. People who have active social lives are in fact happier than their peers who don't socialize. Find a happy medium between work, family life and socializing is key.

Step 7
Practice an act of kindness everyday. It can be as little as offering your seat on the bus to as large as volunteering at an old age home or shelter.

Step 8
Practice gratitude. When we dwell on the things we're grateful for we become more positive people.

Step 9
Eat a small piece of dark chocolate every day. Research suggests that it may help reduce your chances of developing heart disease. We need a tiny treat every day. Emphasis on tiny.

Step 10
Get 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Your brain and body need to reboot every night. Getting enough shut eye will help your body fight stress and keep your immune system working on optimum.