It seems everywhere you turn, the word “healthy” is used on food labels from granola bars to lunch meats and yogurt to pudding. “Healthy” is used so much the meaning has been lost. Nearly twenty years ago, low-fat was the craze, and foods low in fat were considered healthy. But now we know that some types of fat are actually good for us. So the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is changing the way healthy is defined in the food industry. [...]
Checking blood sugar is now so quick, easy, and relatively painless — and the information you can obtain is so valuable — that you would think everybody would be monitoring regularly. But this is far from true. If you don’t check your blood glucose as often as you should, you aren’t the [...]
One of the healthiest spices around is turmeric. If this golden spice isn’t in your cupboard yet, make sure to add it to your shopping list. Not only does turmeric lend color and flavor to curries, stews and rice dishes, it provides a number of health benefits that you won’t want to miss! [...]
Summertime is here, and icy cold beer, frosty cocktails and chilled wine are very tempting refreshers. But should you drink alcohol if you have diabetes? And if it’s okay, how much and what type is best? Read on to learn how to safely include adult beverages in a healthy lifestyle. First [...]
Our recommended daily intake of salt is one teaspoon, or less than 2300 milligrams (mg) of sodium. This comes from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. But most people eat much more than 2300 mg. In fact, the average intake is more than 3400 mg per day. Too much sodium raises the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. [...]
In addition to healthy eating and exercise, getting enough fluids is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most Americans get their recommended amount of daily fluids, but about two-thirds of that does not come from plain water. How much fluid should [...]
Vitamin D has become very popular. Reports in the media claim that vitamin D can help with many conditions, such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and asthma. Yet studies have yet to prove these claims. The reality, however, is that many people don’t get enough vitamin D and might be deficient. [...]
Potassium is an important nutrient that most Americans don’t get enough of on a daily basis. In fact, because most people don’t get enough potassium, it is considered a “nutrient of public health concern.” So learn more about this important nutrient and how you can make sure you get enough [...]
If you’re always feeling hungry, you’re not alone. And there are a lot of reasons why. To understand these reasons, it’s important to learn what hunger is and how it’s different from appetite. What is hunger? Hunger is the actual physical need for food. It’s usually accompanied by [...]
People with diabetes learn that carbohydrate, the nutrient that provides energy for the body, has a big impact on blood sugar levels. Eating too much carb can lead to high blood sugars, while not eating enough carb can lead to low blood sugars (if you take insulin or certain types of diabetes [...]
With a pharmacy seemingly located on every street corner, you have many options for where to get your prescriptions filled. While it may be convenient to get needed prescriptions at the nearest pharmacy, it’s safer to consistently use the same one for your health care needs. When you use the same [...]
If you have type 2 diabetes, you might be able to reverse your condition by eating a very low-calorie diet. And if you keep your weight down, you might be able to keep your diabetes from coming back. This is the result of a study recently published in Diabetes Care. Dr. Roy Taylor, who worked on [...]
Did you know that people who have diabetes are twice as likely to get heart disease as people without diabetes? If you have diabetes, there are a lot of steps that you can take to lower your risk. One is to include a variety of healthy foods in your eating plan. And in honor of February’s observances of National Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, why not try some of these red foods? [...]
Late-night eating might be the norm if you’re a night owl, but it’s important to know that nighttime noshing could be affecting your health. At one time or another, most of us have eaten late or, at least, later than usual. However, falling into the habit of sitting down to a heavy meal or even drinking too much coffee or alcohol late at night can lead to a host of problems. Read on to learn about these health consequences and some tips for managing those midnight munchies. [...]
Including fish and seafood in your meal scan lead to a host of health benefits. Fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel, contains healthy omega-3 fats, which can lower blood pressure and heart rate, keep the heart beating in a steady rhythm, lower triglycerides (blood fats), and decrease inflammation. Besides containing healthy fat, fish is rich in protein, contains vitamin D, and is low in harmful saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least twice a week. [...]
