Everyone knows juice is a healthy alternative to sugary beverages like soda. However, not all juices pack that nutritional value. There are a lot of juices just as bad as soda. Here’s a list of juices to stay away from and juices to get your hands on.
- Juice cocktail, juice-flavored drinks, juice drinks – These faux juices are pack loads of sugar and have almost no nutrients. They are simply water and sugar, so stay away from these drinks.
- 100% Juice – While 100% fruit juice is full of vitamins and antioxidants, it is also high in sugar and calories. It is a double-edged sword, so just drink 100% juice in moderation.
- Vegetable Juice – Vegetable juice is the best juice you can have. It has all the benefits of vitamins and antioxidants without the high amounts of sugar and calories.
Juice is a great alternative to sugary drinks, but eating actual fruits and vegetables provides fiber and curbs the appetite. So be sure not eat your daily servings of fruits and vegetables too with your juice.
A new report states many common cancers are easily preventable through a healthy diet, physical fitness, and lowering alcohol intake.
Roughly 7.6 million people die from cancer and 12.7 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide. The Union for International Cancer Control says about a third of cancer cases could be cured through early detection and treatment. That means 340,000 cases in the U.S. could be prevented.
Physical activity is recommended for people of all ages to prevent cancer and other non-communicable diseases. A good amount of physical activity would be 150 minutes per week. People should also quit smoking, avoid excessive sunlight, and cancer-causing infections to reduce cancer risk. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends the following steps to significantly cut cancer risk.
- Cut down on calorie-dense food like processed foods high in added sugar, low in fiber, or high in fat
- Avoid sugary drinks
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Limit consumption of red meats like beef and pork
- Avoid processed meats
- Cut back on salty foods
- Be physically active 30 minutes a day
Filed under: flu
Everyone knows when you have the flu you should stay at home to rest. However, a new study shows 66% of Americans still go about their daily activities even after flu symptoms set in.
Why do people go to work or school if they’re sick? There are a few reasons. One being complete denial and the other is a case of mistaken identity. Many times, people just mistake their flu for the common cold. To make sure you don’t make the same error, here is a list of common flu symptoms.
- Fever
- Aches
- Chills
- Tiredness
- Sudden onset of symptoms
The flu usually stops being contagious after the fever is gone for a day. So be sure to take care of yourself and prevent the spread of the flu.
Flu season is back already with 11 states already reporting flu cases. However, only 4 states are reporting high levels of activity. However, further evidence shows several U.S. cities are already infected.
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi are the top four states with the highest flu activity. Then Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia are the other states with flu activity. As you can see, the flu season is gaining speed. Sometimes, the flu season has several peaks before it ends during the spring.
The flu epidemic in the U.S. is caused by many different types of flu like H3N2. Most flu cases are caused by the type A flu bug, but one in four cases is caused by type B. Luckily, most of the viruses that cause the flu are included in this year’s three-in-one seasonal flu vaccine.
With that in mind, be sure to visit your nearest healthcare provider for your seasonal flu shot before it’s too late!
Filed under: diet tips
There are a lot of self-proclaimed diet foods out there, but many them are traps. Despite some healthy ingredients or nutrients, many of these diet staples cause more harm than good.
1. Caesar Salad – Salads are the traditional diet foods, but this particular salad can wreak your diet plans. A small bowl can have 300 to 400 calories and 30 grams of fat thanks to dressing. So next time, just use a tablespoon of dressing and 2 tablespoons of cheese.
2. Smoothies – Fruit and milk are good for the body that must mean a smoothie should be just as healthy. The problem is most smoothie shops don’t use fresh fruit, they use fruit concentrates instead. These concentrates and sweeteners can add up to 350 calories. Be sure to ask for real fruit, low-fat milk, and protein powder to get the most out your smoothie.
3. Energy Bars – Careful when you go for that energy bar during your workout because it’s simple a jacked-up candy bar. It has more calories and a bigger price tag than a regular candy bar. A better choice is a 200 calories bar with 5 grams of fiber and protein.
4. Enhanced Water – Enhanced water often has sugar added to it. This increases calories from zero to 125. A simple solution is just to drink regular water.
During these frigid winters, many of us turn to our favorite winter foods. While these foods may warm us up, it wreaks havoc on our weight. So be sure to avoid these temptations during the winter season.
- Macaroni and cheese – Probably everyone’s favorite comfort food, but also very high in calories and fat. For example, Stouffer’s mac and cheese has 529 calories, 25.7 grams of fat, and 10.6 grams of saturated fat. Then top that with meats and sausage, it’s a nightmare for your diet. Instead, just make mac and cheese with low-fat milk and cheese and add vegetables to make it a delicious and nutritious treat.
- Cream-based soups, bisques, and chowders – Warm soups are a great way to warm up. But if they are full of cream, they are loaded with calories. Soups tend to be high in sodium and if you add crumbled crackers or cheese, the sodium content skyrockets. To give you an idea how bad these soups can be, Chili’s New England clam chowder has 940 calories, 65 grams of fat, and 34 grams of saturated fat. So steer clear of cream-based soups and go for broth-based soups instead.
- Cream- and cheese-based casseroles – A casserole may start out healthy with broccoli, green beans, or potatoes, but then come the other layers. On top of the healthy stuff, there are layers after layers of cream and cheese. These layers quadruple the calories in a casserole. A simple solution is to add more roasted vegetables and fat-free sour cream.
The holidays are fast approaching with Christmas only a few days away. While it is a time for merriment and celebration, it also brings an onset of extra stress.
Many people blame the cold weather, long lines at the mall, and the general rush of the holidays, but there is much personal root of holiday stress. Ronald Nathan, a clinical professor at Albany Clinical College, says people put too much pressure on themselves during the holidays trying to create the perfect Christmas.
Stress is a cause of many diseases and ailments. When the body is stressed, it pumps out cortisol. This hormone suppresses a protective enzyme called telomerase. Telomerase protects cells from replicating too fast.
Many ailments can result from stress, such as:
- Heart disease
- Skin conditions
- Digestive problems
- Immune disorders
- Anxiety, depression, or insomnia
What health experts suggest is to relax and try to minimize the holiday work. Simply enjoy the festivities and enjoy the season.
With winter in full swing, the temperature has plummeted well below freezing. This is dangerous as the risk of hypothermia increases in the winter.
Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature, frequently caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. During exposure to frigid temperature, heat is lost through your skin and exhaling from your lungs. The heart and lung produce most of the body heat in your body, but as the body temperature drops the heart and liver begin to shut down to preserve heat and protect the brain.
Low body temperatures can slow brain activity, breathing, and heart rate. This leads to confusion and fatigue, hampering a person to think clearly. Other symptoms of hypothermia include:
- Shivering
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Drowsiness or exhaustion
- Slow, weak pulse
- Loss of coordination
Always seek immediate medical help as hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition. However, if it will take time to help to arrive, there are some treatments to try.
- Remove any wet clothes
- Seek a dry, warm, and/or away from wind place
- Perform CPR
Remember, to always call help from professional first before trying anything.
Researchers have found walking a little over three-fourths of a mile a day may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
In normal adults, walking 6 miles a week was associated to a 50% decreased risk of Alzheimer’s over 13 years in a new study. Even people with who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have seen a slowed brain degeneration and memory loss when they walked a similar amount. Though, any kind of exercise equivalent to walking 6 miles a week will probably help the brain in the same way says Robert Zimmerman, MD.
The study examined the brain volume as a means to determine brain health. When brain cells die, the brain volume drops. So people who walked around 72 city blocks, or 6 miles per week, had a less decrease in brain volume compared to those who were sedentary. However, walking more than 72 blocks did not offer any additional benefits.
Walking is a great way to keep healthy and keep the mind sharp. Be sure to walk about 6 miles a week if you think you are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
As winter approaches, cold sores return for another season of agony. The blisters can leave your lips feeling itchy and painful, but don’t blame the cold. The real culprit of cold sores is viruses.
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. The virus damages the skin as it reproduces itself, lasting about a week. Between outbreaks, the virus hides itself within the nerve cells which mean it can never be fully cured.
There are many remedies for cold sores. Certain treatments help shorten the duration of an outbreak and others relieve the symptoms. WebMD compiled a list of tips to try to minimize cold sores this season.
- Hot or Cold Compress – Hot or cold compress are good ways to relieve the pain and burning.
- Antiviral Creams –If applied when cold sores if appear, the duration of cold sores is reduced.
- Prescription Cold Sore Medication – Oral antiviral prescriptions can also greatly reduce the amount of healing time of cold sores.
While cold sores can never be completely cured, you can learn to cope with it. If frequent cold sores become a problem, be sure to contact your nearest healthcare provider.
