Snacking Smart
Plan Your Snacks Snacks can fit into a healthy eating plan and provide an energy boost between meals if they’re planned right. Choosing nutritious foods can help reduce sources of empty calories and added sugar. Snacks for people who are less active should be 200 calories or less. Make snacking a smart habit by: • […]
Read moreMisleading Claims on Packaged Food
Common Claims and What They Actually Mean Consumers are more health-conscious than ever, so some food manufacturers use misleading tricks to convince people to buy highly processed and unhealthy products. Health claims on packaged food are designed to catch your attention and convince you that the product is healthy. Here are some of the most […]
Read moreBe Sodium-Smart
Make Informed Decisions Despite what many people think, most dietary sodium (over 70%) comes from eating packaged and prepared foods — not from the salt shaker. Even though sodium may already be in many packaged foods when you purchase them, you can lower your daily sodium intake by using the Nutrition Facts label. Know the […]
Read moreHealthy Fall Activities
Make the Most of the Seasonal Weather Looking for fun outdoor activities to fill your spare time this fall? Here are three ideas that you can’t do any other time of the year! Not not only will they get you out into the crisp autumn air, but they will also keep your body in motion! […]
Read moreSetting Achievable Goals
Achievable Goals = Realistic Goals When setting goals, beware of asking too much of yourself right away. This can be unsustainable, and in some cases, extremely unhealthy. Check out a few examples of unrealistic goals below, and make sure that these are not on your list. Unrealistic Goals • Weight loss of 10 pounds or […]
Read moreFood Processing and Nutrient Loss
Freezing, Drying, Cooking, and Reheating Nearly every food preparation process reduces the amount of nutrients in food. In particular, processes that expose foods to high levels of heat, light, and/or oxygen cause the greatest nutrient loss. Nutrients can also be “washed out” of foods by fluids that are introduced during a cooking process. For example, […]
Read moreMeat-Grilling Tips
Reducing the Amount of HCAs and PAHs Outdoor grilling is a popular cooking method, primarily because of the wonderful taste it imparts on meats. It can also be a healthy alternative to other cooking methods, because some of the meat’s saturated fat content is reduced by the grilling process. However, grilling also presents a health […]
Read moreNutrition for Cancer Prevention
8 Recommendations for Your Daily Routine According to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, between 30 and 50% of all cancers are preventable by making healthy lifestyle choices, avoiding occupational carcinogens and environmental pollution, and treating some types of long-term infections. By incorporating these eight recommendations into your daily […]
Read moreHypertension
Understanding a Silent Threat Chronically high blood pressure — hypertension — can cause damage to your blood vessels and internal organs including your heart. Currently affecting 1 in 3 adults in the United States, hypertension has been called a silent threat because the condition itself has no symptoms. However, the effect on your body can […]
Read moreTop 5 Foods for Eye Health
Whole Foods with Synergistic Healing Effects Do your eyes have all the nutrients they need to help prevent cataracts, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and other sight woes? Read on to learn about the top foods for eye health. But don’t count on popping a pill to get these nutrients — your best sources of vitamins and […]
Read moreFunctional Foods
What Is a Functional Food, Exactly? Magazine articles and news reports tout the benefits of eating “functional foods,” which they claim can do everything from reducing cholesterol to preventing conditions such as heart disease or cancer. At the grocery store, you’ll find plenty of breakfast cereals, yogurts and nut butters with similar health benefits proclaimed […]
Read moreAnti-Inflammatory Foods
The Link Between Inflammation and Chronic Diseases Inflammation is a sign that the immune system is fighting infection. The infection may be related to germs, wounds, allergens, toxins or other causes. Typically, we think of signs of inflammation as redness, swelling, and pain. But, sometimes inflammation can happen within our bodies. Someone with bronchitis has […]
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