Just last week, President Obama announced Dr. Regina Benjamin as his choice to be the next surgeon general of the U.S.   He referred to her as a "relentless promoter of prevention and wellness programs" after witnessing first hand the great number of lives cut short by diseases that could have otherwise been deterred.

Benjamin said that diabetes, hypertension, HIV and lung cancer from smoking were among the reasons her immediate family was not there, at the announcement. 

As CNN continues to examine many of the issues facing African-Americans with "Black in America 2," (Watch July 22 & 23 at 8 p.m. ET) a major topic that comes up is health. I wanted to answer the question: What steps can be taken immediately to stop these devastating diseases and their complications later in life? 

I turned to Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, chief of cardiology and a professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine, in Atlanta, Georgia.  She stressed that the measures you take to delay or stop one condition overlap with the prevention of others.  Diabetes and high blood pressure are major threats to the African-American population, she said.  Obesity – a risk factor for so many chronic conditions – continues to be a chief concern in the black community, according to a new report by the CDC.  

But there are some immediate steps people of any race can take to keep from becoming a statistic. 

1.) Knowledge is half the battle. Awareness of your family history enables you to take steps to avoid, delay the onset of, or slow down a condition.  Ofili suggests being very diligent about keeping a record of what runs in the family. 

2.) Jump into action.  The other half of the equation is taking action.  Many people may find themselves overwhelmed with all of the available information.  Sort through what is relevant to you and your family's health history - set aside the rest. 

3.)  Walking works. Aim for a simple 30-minute walk three times a week, then graduate to five times a week.  Walking consistently will help you maintain your weight and keep your blood pressure in check. You don't have to jog or run to reap the health benefits. 

4.)  Keep stress in check.   Stress hormones cause the heart to beat faster and blood pressure to go up - something most of us have experienced.  Using food as a coping mechanism against stress also contributes to obesity and hypertension.  Ofili says each person needs to decide which stress-buster works best for them, whether it's yoga, walks or finding time to reflect each day.

Finally, Ofili encourages everyone to be their own advocate in health, but not to hesitate drawing in other resources.  Engage your physician - or another expert in nutrition, physical fitness or wellness – as a partner.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays

If you live close to work, biking to the office may be a great way to incorporate exercise into your day. I know a former self-professed couch potato who now rides 20 miles round trip to work. He walks into the office full of energy and ready to go. And, he's lost 30 lbs. But biking poses safety challenges for beginners, as well as more experienced riders. We spoke to Dr. Ian Greenwald, an emergency room physician at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, about the benefits of biking, and the best ways to ensure you have a safe commute.

1) Seeing is believing. According to Dr. Greenwald, one of the biggest problems for bikers is – no surprise - drivers. To put it simply, drivers often don't see people on bicycles. Cyclists don't register. So what can you do about it? Make yourself as visible as possible: Get a light for your bike, another for your helmet and wear a reflective vest. I've even seen a guy with what looks like a small kite trailing behind him as he cycles. The key is to jar drivers into comprehending that they are sharing the road with more than just motorized vehicles.

2) Don't be a speed demon. It may be fun to go fast on a bike, but speed is not your friend when riding through traffic. It fact, it can be downright dangerous, especially when going through an intersection. Stopping at a moment's notice can mean the difference between staying on your bike or landing on pavement. Going slowly also enables you to make eye contact with drivers as you approach and then enter an intersection. The smartest way to bike is to always be on the defensive.

3) Planning is everything. It may take you a little longer to get to work, but traveling on the least congested roads is the best way to get to the office safely. This may mean cutting through neighborhoods and perhaps climbing a few more hills, but it's worth it in the end.

Biking offers tremendous health benefits to those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to get out and ride. It's good for the heart and easy on the joints. The aerobic workout helps us feel refreshed and ready to focus on the problems at hand, and makes sleeping easier when we call it a day.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays

A 3-year-old with a kitchen knife may seem like a nightmare scenario, but the other morning I had the pleasure of watching a group of 3- to 5-year-olds as they measured, carved and giggled their way through their first cooking lesson. Why teach little children to cook? We asked this of personal chef Carlin Breinig. She's found that children who help out in the kitchen appear to grow up to be healthier eaters. She offers parents tips on how to make kitchen time with your little chef safe as well as fun.

1) Keep it simple. Chef Breinig suggests making meals that are somewhat familiar to your child. If your preschooler likes chicken fingers, for instance, make your own, but bake them instead of frying them.

2) Reading, writing and 'rithmatic. Even though preschools generally can't read, this doesn't mean they can't follow verbal directions from the recipe. You can introduce them to different measuring devices - like measuring spoons and cups - and slip in a mini math lesson.

3) Don't be a cut up. It's tricky, but you can teach a child how to safely wield a knife. For example: if you have boneless chicken breasts to cut, have a right-handed child curl up her left hand almost like a claw (so that the fingers and thumb are tucked away) then place this hand on the chicken. Next have her take the knife handle in her right hand and with her hand under yours, guide the knife to cut the chicken. Never leave a child with a knife unattended.

4) Hand washing. This is a great opportunity to talk to a child about hand washing and cross contamination of cooking surfaces and utensils. If you're preparing meat and vegetables, you can explain the importance of keeping the raw meat away from the veggies, and that hands, knives and cutting surfaces must be washed after touching meat.

And as an added bonus, Chef Breinig has found that kids who learn to cook are less likely to be picky eaters. Their exposure to a variety of foods, spices and ingredients not only gives them more knowledge about food, but helps them develop a sense of mastery and pride as they create their meals. They might not like everything, but they seem to be more willing to try dishes if they’ve had a hand in creating them. Lots of praise by their adult cooking partner is also a key ingredient.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays

Michael Jackson's death has brought a great deal of attention to drug interactions. All drugs aren't the same, and if you take medicines that are not compatible you may end up with serious and possibly life-threatening side effects. For example, mixing sleeping pills with allergy medicine can impair your ability to drive. Taking sleeping pills with too much chocolate can reduce the pills’ sedative effect.

In fact, a study last year found that over 2 million people over age 57 were taking potentially dangerous combinations of drugs.  So here are some things you can do to avoid the possible hazards of drug interactions:

1) Be organized

Keep a record of everything you're taking, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or even dietary supplements such as herbs and daily vitamins. It helps to write down the number of pills you take and how often you take them, too. Take this list with youwhen you go to the doctor or get a prescription filled. The FDA has a nifty tool called "My Medicine Record" that might help. (A simple notepad might work just as well!)

If you are going to transfer your medication to something other than the container or packaging that it comes in, make sure you have a proper labeling system to avoid confusion.

Also, try to use just one pharmacy for all your medications instead of getting different prescriptions filled at more than one location. That way you can partner with your pharmacist to spot potentially harmful interactions.

2) Read up  

Look for things such as active ingredients, uses, and warnings on drug labels. And, since drug information is constantly changing, be sure to keep yourself updated on the latest changes. If you have any concerns about whether something you see on the news means you might need to alter what drugs you're taking, call your doctor first before you consider changing things up.

3) Ask questions

Your doctor might not always ask you about the other drugs you might be taking. So whenever your doctor tells you to take a new drug, ask him or her the following questions:
- Do I need to be concerned about side effects from any of the other medications I'm taking?
- Do I need to change my diet in any way?
- Does it need to be taken with food or between meals?
- Can I drink alcohol if I'm taking this drug?
- What if I accidentally forget to take a dose?
Your doctor is there to help make decisions about what medications are going to work best for you, but the more active and involved you are as a patient, the more likely you are to get the best results.

This Fourth of July weekend, make sure fireworks are the only thing that goes boom - not your diet. Here are some easy ways to keep your diet on track while not sacrificing taste:

Skip the wings. Just six ounces of BBQ chicken wings have nearly 500 calories and 20 milligrams of fat. If you think that’s bad, the amount of sodium in the wings is over 3/4 of your recommended daily amount, according to CBS News. Instead, go for a four ounce grilled skinless chicken breast that has only 120 calories and just 1.5 grams of fat, without BBQ sauce.

Give the cold shoulder to ice cream. While a serving of light ice cream averages around 120 calories, a serving of blueberry-lemon sorbet is just 77 calories, according to our partner Health.com. What’s even better is it’s packed with antioxidants and low in sugar.

All-beef hot dogs are all-right. One plain hot dog is a nutritionist’s nightmare with over 240 calories, 14.5 grams of fat, and 44 milligrams of cholesterol - and that’s not even including the bun or condiments. Go for a 100 percent all-beef hot dog from Hebrew National that has 90 fewer calories and has nearly half the amount of cholesterol.

Like the light beer. One can of original Budweiser beer has 145 calories or 870 calories in a six-pack. Go for Bud Light, which has 110 calories and nearly 7 grams of carbohydrates. For even less calories, try a Coors Light with 102 calories or a Miller Light that checks in with 96 calories.

About 4 million baby floats manufactured by Aqua Leisure Industries are getting recalled because of a drowning hazard. This, right before the July 4th holiday weekend.

The problem here is that the leg straps in the seat of the float can tear. This can cause kids to unexpectedly fall into the water - an obvious drowning risk. There have been 31 reports of float seats tearing, causing children to fall into or under the water. No injuries have been reported, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The floats come in a range of styles and colors. Some examples include the Baby & Me Combo, the Deluxe Toddler Racer, the Sunshade Buggy and the Quacker Float. for specific model numbers, go to the CPSC’s website at CPSC.gov.

They were sold at retailers nationwide, including Target, Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, Dollar General, Kmart, Walgreens, Ace Hardware and Bed, Bath & Beyond from December 2002 through June 2009.

Look for the names and model numbers that should be on the back of the float.

If you have one of these floats at home, stop using them. Call Aqua-Leisure for a full refund at (866) 807-3998. Or, go to their website at aqualeisure.com.

Like fireworks, grilling seems to be synonomous with the fourth of July. But you need to plan ahead in order to make your sizzling event a success. Georgia State University nutritionist Chris Rosenbloom shares these tips to keep your celebration tasty AND healthy.

1) Soak it in. Marinating meat not only adds flavor, it offers a layer of protection from chemicals found in smoke. These chemicals contain cancer-causing compounds. According to the American Dietetic Association, "heterocyclic amines are a group of compounds formed when building blocks of proteins and creatine found in meat are subjected to high heat. " Marinate the meat in the refrigerator to avoid bacteria growth.

2) Avoid cross-contamination. Once your brush has touched raw meat, do not dip it back into a bottle of barbecue sauce or use it again on cooked meat. Just one dip of a brush tainted with raw meat can contaminate an entire bottle or transfer bacteria to the already-cooked goods. Rosenbloom suggests putting a small amount of sauce in a side dish and only using that while you grill. Also, be sure to use separate plates for raw and cooked meat when heading to the grill and back.

3) Numbers don't lie. Color and taste are not indicators of doneness; rather, temperature is. One in four hamburgers appears brown before it’s done, so use a meat thermometer to be assured that you are cooking to the proper temperature – that way, you won’t undercook or overcook.

For more information on using food thermometers, visit the Food Safety Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

4) Pack it up. The two-hour rule applies, but if the weather is warmer than 90º F, it turns into the one-hour rule, whether food is cooked or uncooked. Get it in the fridge or in an ice-packed cooler within one to two hours.

5) Celebrate the season. The American Dietetic Association recommends grilled fruits and veggies to round out a meal. Try garden-fresh offerings like summer squash, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, pineapple and peaches. Or stack cubes of steak and vegetables on a skewer, kebob-style.

Finally, Rosenbloom stresses that grilled vegetables don't pose a health threat, because it is the protein and fat in the meat that combine with the smoke to create the cancer-causing compounds. Vegetables don't do that.

For more on outdoor dining, check out these tips offered by the American Dietetic Association.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays

Summer is finally here! Longer days and school vacation mean sports camps, beach trips, baseball games, swimming lessons and all the other outdoor stuff we wait for all year. While it’s a great time for families to be outside together and soak up some sunshine (don't forget sunscreen!), sports-related injuries are a threat. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that every year, over 3.5 million kids under 15 suffer some type of sports-related injury. Adults are at risk, too.

So here are some tips to keep you and your family safe this summer:

Everyone is different: Children and teenagers do not all develop at the same pace, which explains why the other 12-year-olds at your son's lacrosse camp might look older than he does. That might sound obvious but it is important to remember. Why? Because one child's bones and ligaments may be stronger than another child's of the same age because of differing rates of development. So it’s important to know your own child's strengths and limits to prevent any pulled or strained muscles. If possible, try to pick a summer team or activity where everyone has the same skill level.

Keep it fun: Playing sports and being outside are meant to be fun but when children are pushed beyond their limit, injuries can happen. Competition can be a good thing but no one wants to run around when it hurts to. Parents, you can help your children succeed on and off the playing field by focusing on their development, not on how many games are being won or lost. Encourage your child to take breaks when needed.

Rest and stretch: Everyone can benefit from resting overworked muscles and stretching before and after a rigorous workout. The more tired your body, the more likely you are to get hurt. Doctors call it an "overuse injury" and it is one of the most common sports-related injuries out there. Make sure you give your body a break every few days. If you are going to work out or play sports, be sure to warm up your muscles so they’re not as rigid and prone to injury.

Bottom line: Listen to your body to stay healthy and make the most of your summer!

Be sure to tune in to Dr. Sanjay Gupta every weekend on HOUSE CALL. You'll find the answers to your medical questions Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on CNN.

I woke up the other night with a burning pain in my hip. I didn't think too much about it but when the pain continued to wake me up each night for a week, I decided it was time to see my doctor. One of the things she wanted to check out was bursitis, an inflammation of the bursa. A bursa is a little fluid-filled sac around pressure points (like joints) that secrete a lubricant so that joints move properly. In other words, because of the bursa we get less friction or rubbing between a bone and other moving body parts such as muscles, tendons and even skin. We have about 160 throughout our body. When we overdo it with exercise or accidentally bang an elbow or knee we can develop bursitis. The Mayo Clinic offers some tips to help you deal with this condition should it ever happen to you.

1) Everything in moderation. Whether playing a sport or on the job, if you overuse a joint through repetitive movements you can develop bursitis. Doctors often see patients who have played too much tennis or pitched too many innings of baseball. But workers often complain of pain as well. People who lay carpet all day or kneel for long periods of time in the garden can cause trauma to the joints and end up with bursitis. What can you do? If excessive exercise is the culprit, stop the type of workout that causes you discomfort or try a different sport. If you have to continue your work activity such as kneeling to install carpet or tile, then modify your task by using knee pads or a cushion.

2) What does the doctor say? Your physician or health care provider may recommend basic home remedies as the first line of defense against bursitis. This involves icing the area at least twice a day, elevating the joint if possible and taking anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce the swelling. If you are still in pain after a week or two, it may be time for additional treatment such as a steroid injection.

3) Don't be a weakling. Your doctor may also recommend stretching and strengthening exercises to keep your bursitis from recurring. Strong muscles help protect your joints, but wait until your bursitis pain has subsided before getting started.

Health Minute airs daily on HLN from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays

This story has caught a lot of people's attention: the Food and Drug Administration wants people to stop using three different Zicam products. They are Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size. The reason is that these over-the-counter homeopathic remedies might come with a pretty significant side effect called anosmia, or the loss of smell, and in some cases, the loss of taste, for long periods of time, sometimes even permanently. The products are all intra-nasal, meaning they are put directly in to a person's nose. Lots of people swear by them but when you are dealing with cold or allergy smptoms, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.

Here are some tips:

Power of Zinc? Zinc is a popular homeopathic medicine and it is one of the chief components of Zicam. But how it actually affects the common cold is up for debate. While many people believe it weakens the severity of symptoms, solid data does not support that claim. If you are someone who believes zinc helps you deal with having a cold, consider eating a diet rich in foods including oysters, beans, nuts, poultry, crab and lobster, all of which are packed with zinc. If you want to take supplements, stick to proper doses of oral or lozenge forms. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the supplements you are taking in case they interfere with other medications. And if you experience any pain or loss of function, stop immediately.

Prevention is key Prevention is the first step to good health. Since a cold cannot be cured, the best way to manage its symptoms is to avoid having a cold in the first place. Regular sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet will keep your immune system strong. Aim for eating several different-colored foods to make sure your plate is full of a variety of nutrients. Make sure you wash your hands frequently, before you eat and after you leave a public area like a mall or a gym. And finally, quit smoking. Doctors say it all the time because it's true: Quitting smoking really is the best way to improve your health!

Be sure to tune in to Dr. Sanjay Gupta every weekend on HOUSE CALL. You'll find the answers to your medical questions Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET on CNN.