Tips for fighting off winter allergies

Allergies don't hibernate in the winter. As the cold weather forces people to spend more time inside, indoor allergens such as dust mites and pet dander can become problematic.

Dr. James Temprano, a St. Louis University allergist, offered these tips:

•Encase pillows, mattresses and box springs with zippered allergen-proof covers.

•Wash bedding once a week in hot water and dry on high heat.

•Keep pets out of bedrooms and other commonly used rooms.

•Use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

•Wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth when dusting or vacuuming.

"If you've done a lot of those things and you're still having symptoms, then it's time to see your doctor," Temprano said.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Order a better pizza With plenty of big football games on TV now, pizza is likely to be on many a dinner menu. Here are ways to make this old favorite more healthful:

Go for thin crust. It has fewer calories and carbohydrates. Some businesses and brands also offer whole-wheat crusts.

Choose the right meat. Try grilled chicken, shrimp or turkey. If those don't appeal, go with Canadian bacon or ham.

Go heavy on sauce. Tomato sauce is a rich source of antioxidants and is likely to include nutritious herbs and chopped garlic.

Go light on cheese. Many of the calories and fat in pizza come from cheese.

Blot off the oil. Patting a slice of pizza with a clean napkin will soak up excess fat.

Skip the sides. Just one cheese breadstick, for example, might pack 200 calories and 10 grams of fat.

Eat something healthy first. Snack on fresh fruit, vegetables or nuts before the pizza arrives.

Fat could help bones Girls suffering through the insecurities of puberty are often likely to yearn for the rail-thin bodies of supermodels. But, as new research shows, puberty is a crucial time for a woman to love those curves. Scientists found that fat mass helps build bone mass, particularly in girls. Some of that bone accrual is likely a response to the stress caused by the weight her skeleton is carrying; the study's authors also suggest a possible relationship with estrogen levels. Whatever the underlying causes are, given the post-menopausal specter of osteoporosis, it's important to encourage a healthy body image. Not only is skin-and-bones an unflattering look, it's bad for your bones in the long run.