May 2015

With the warm weather here, it’s especially important to drink plenty of fluids and keep yourself hydrated. The human body is made up of about 70 percent water; water is needed for many bodily functions, including digestion, regulating body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. The kidneys also require water to remove waste products from the body. [...]

There’s nothing quite like a juicy burger or steak sizzling on the grill. But beef, along with other types of red meat (pork, lamb, veal), has gotten a bad rap over the past few decades. Red meat is blamed for raising blood cholesterol and increasing the risk of heart disease. It’s also been blamed for causing cancer. On the other hand, beef contains important nutrients, like protein and iron, that are necessary for good health. Is beef healthy…or not? [...]

One of the best things about summer is all of the wonderful fruit that’s available. Berries, like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, are sweet, juicy and, best of all, good for you! Make berries a delicious part of your healthful summer meals and snacks. [...]

May is a month of celebrations. In addition to proms and graduations, we observe Mother’s Day and Memorial Day – the unofficial start of summer! But did you know that May is also National Egg Month? Eggs are versatile, delicious and easy to prepare. They are also one of the healthiest foods available. Are you still concerned about eating eggs? Well, here are eight reasons why eggs can and should be part of a healthy eating plan. [...]

Are you confused by the glycemic index, carb counting or carb exchanges? Studies have shown that losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help you lower your risk of chronic disease such as diabetes. But too many people try to lose this weight too quickly, using fad weight loss programs and other unhealthy approaches. A recent study in Diabetes Care shows that regardless of actual weight loss, just learning to make healthy eating and exercise a part of your daily life is enough to lower your risk. [...]

Many Americans make health goals based on the public health messages they hear or read in the news. Maybe you also set health goals, especially around the start of the New Year. Two popular goals are to move more and cook more healthy meals at home. A recent Ohio State University study found that when American adults try to meet these two health goals on the same day, one of them sometimes ends up slipping through the cracks. How? Researchers found that adults who spend ten extra minutes preparing a meal at home aren’t likely to also spend spend ten extra minutes exercising. In other words, one goal pushes the other aside. [...]

There are many different plans you can use to lose weight, but the basic idea behind weight loss is that you need to burn more calories each day than you eat. How do you do this? Public health officials have told us for many years to “eat less and move more.” Getting more exercise helps you burn calories, and eating less means you are taking in fewer calories. Together, these can lead to weight loss. However, according to the results of a recent study, the “eat less, move more” idea might not always lead to success. [...]