Well briefs: Attacking the dreaded spider veins

Are your legs beginning to resemble a series of spider webs? Don't fret! Here's a seven-day plan that will help minimize their appearance. Say goodbye to those sprawling, threadlike spider veins with these top fighters, fixes and facts.• Wear sunscreen. Too much sun exposure can cause spider veins.

• Exercise regularly to improve your leg strength, circulation and vein strength. Focus on exercises that work your legs, such as walking or running.

• Lose weight. Excess weight puts too much pressure on your legs.

• Add strength-training exercises to your workout to help keep legs toned, strong and agile. Strong leg muscles actually massage the veins in your legs -- an action that prevents spider veins, as well as varicose veins.

• Don't stand for prolonged periods. If you have to stand for long stretches, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes.

• Have no fear of support hose. Today's versions are chic and stylish. Many experts believe that keeping the legs compressed helps prevent spider veins.

• Try spider-vein supplement therapy. A cocktail of grapeseed extract or horse chestnut oil might improve the appearance of leg veins by increasing circulation.

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Check the safety of supplements before taking themTrouble in the dietary supplement manufacturing industry may leave consumers wondering which products are safe and which actually deliver what is listed on the "supplement facts" label. There's no way to know for sure without sending the supplements to a lab, but consumers can take some steps to minimize their risk:

Check to see if the brand has been involved in a recall or has gotten a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These can be found by searching the FDA website, fda.gov. However, because many brands do not do their own manufacturing, it may be difficult to figure out which companies to check.

ConsumerLab.com, an independent group that tests dietary supplements, has a wealth of information on its website. Some information is free, but detailed results of its testing of brand-name supplements are accessible only to members. Membership is available for less than $3 a month.

Several groups certify dietary supplement firms in good manufacturing practices, including the Natural Products Association, one of the industry's largest trade groups. To find out what is involved with its certification program and which firms have met the group's criteria, which include the FDA's standards, visit the group's website at npainfo.org.