I've heard through ads that Cheerios helps reduce cholesterol. Are there any other foods that may help reduce cholesterol counts?

- Cindy

Dear Cindy,

There are foods that can help reduce your cholesterol counts! Here’s a roadmap on how to work these smart foods into your diet:

These days, there's something fishy about fish—and we're not talking about the smell!

The deluge of information about mercury contamination (affects the brain and nervous system) has us concerned. We know it's a wonderful source of protein, good fats, vitamins and minerals—so what’s the catch?

American Dietetic Association spokesperson Susan Moores, MS, RD reels us in:

Large, predatory fish tend to be at risk for greatest contamination—like shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, tuna (albacore has 3x the level of methylmercury as canned light tuna). Eating these fish once weekly is "safe" for most adults. Pregnant women (or those trying or nursing) should avoid them.

Have we got just the thing for you! In case you haven’t heard us talk about this already, Weleda Skin Food is hands down (pun intended) our favorite hand cream out there! First, it’s from Weleda—a brand we love and trust because their products are free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colorants and raw materials derived from mineral oils. Second, it’s intensely hydrating (made of pure Lanolin) and doesn’t irritate our skin.

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Thou shalt not drink bottled water. (An eco-mmandment we hear often.)

Thou shalt not deny the convenience of portable drinking water either! (We hear this one in our head.)

But with 38 billion plastic water bottles in landfills each year, it's a habit in need of kicking.

First, know your local water. Every year by July 1, your water supplier should make available an annual water quality report.

Don't like what you read? Give your water a rinse with a commercial system (Brita-type pitchers, faucet mounted filters). Most rely on carbon to filter out impurities (unwanted tastes, smells and chemicals)—it's also extremely cost effective.

Dear Vital Juice Daily,

I love eggs, but how many can I safely eat in a week without raising my cholesterol??

-In Eggony

Dear In Eggony,

We got eggxactly what you need from Heather Bauer, RD, founder of Nu-train.

Editor's note: Looking for a travel experience a bit more exotic (and meaningful) than the traditional trip to the beach or lakeside resort? Our friends at email tip service Vital Juice Daily have some suggestions today.

If you’re jealous of Angelina Jolie’s exotic globetrotting to save the world, you might consider a volunteer vacation (Brad Pitt not included) … help yourself while helping others! What could be better than that (besides Brad Pitt)?

1. Make it count

With Global Volunteers, you can teach conversational English in Italy; paint, build, and repair buildings in Costa Rica; care for at-risk children in Romania; revitalize communities in small American towns; and much more. Global Volunteers’ goal is to “wage peace by facilitating mutual international understanding,” and that sounds pretty good to us!

2. "Swank"y travel

Last summer, Hilary Swank volunteered at an orphanage in North India with United Planet, an organization that creates international volunteer programs. They offer trips lasting from 1-52 weeks in 50 countries worldwide. Check out their new initiative to help battered women and their children at a shelter in Guatemala.

Dear Vital Juice Daily,

I would love it if you would do some research on hemp - as a fiber, protein and omega source. Can you tell me more?

- Marcia R.

Dear Marcia,

We did a little digging and here's what we found about hemp:

Considering we spend 1/3 of our lives asleep, what we put near our bodies (while snoozing) can be as important as what we put in them. Opting for natural and eco-friendly products can help the earth, eliminate toxins and give you a better night's sleep—which goes to show you don’t have to be conscious to be health-conscious.

1. Non-haz Mats

A healthy bed starts from the ground up. Mattresses are often made with synthetic rubbers and fillers that pollute the environment inside your room and out, so look for a model with natural fibers. Our picks? Green Fusion Design Center's Green Sleep collection uses natural rubber for a safer, durable alternative. Or try Magniflex's new soy-based, organic foam GeoEthic mattress, which is available by phone at 888-642-4800.