Coffee Lovers, Monitor Your Blood Pressure

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Coffee Lovers, Monitor Your Blood Pressure

For most of us, coffee is part of our morning ritual. We embrace it, we love it and we truly enjoy it as part of waking up and even drink it throughout the day. We've seen many studies look at the health benefits of coffee but now a new study analyzed the link between coffee intake, high blood pressure and prediabetes and found that patients with mild high blood pressure along with a heavy consumption of coffee had an increased risk of severe high blood pressure and prediabetes. 

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Mediterranean Way of Eating May Prevent Kidney Disease

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Mediterranean Way of Eating May Prevent Kidney Disease

Individually, most of the elements of the Mediterranean diet are heart-healthy.  The diet as a whole has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality, the incidence of cancer mortality and may reduce the incidence of neurologic diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s. For this reason, the Mediterranean diet is championed by most, if not all major scientific institutions, not only as a diet, but a lifestyle change to prevent major life-shortening chronic diseases. But now new findings suggest it may benefit long-term kidney health. Researchers found that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, fish, legumes, healthy fats like olive oil which lowered patients' risk of chronic kidney disease. 

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Why You Should Eat More Olive Oil and Nuts

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Why You Should Eat More Olive Oil and Nuts

The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been cited over and over again.  Hailing from the traditional dietary patterns of residents along the Mediterranean coast, the main staples of the diet include nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fruits, vegetables, unrefined cereals, lots of legumes, just as much fish, some cheese and yogurt and occasional consumption of wine. The cornerstone of this diet is its limit in the consumption of red meat to only a few times a month. Scientists have recently found that those who follow a Mediterranean Diet without any calorie restrictions and chock full of delicious olive oil and nuts. Why? Read on. 

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DASH Diet Named Best Diet Overall

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DASH Diet Named Best Diet Overall

U.S. News & World Report has once again named the DASH Diet the 'Best Diet Overall.' DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This type of eating is mainly used for improving high blood pressure through an emphasis on portion size, eating a variety of foods and getting the right amount of nutrients. The food emphasized in this type of diet are whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, fish, poultry, nuts and legumes. It does allow for small amounts of red meat and sweeter items. 

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Foods That Can Trigger Migraines

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Foods That Can Trigger Migraines

There are many things that can trigger a migraine to those who are prone to them. Triggers can include foods, drinks, certain physical activities and exercise, sleep deprivation, stress, odors, bright lights, hormones and even medications can bring one on. Here are 5 surprising triggers you probably wouldn't have thought of. It's important to keep in mind migraine triggers can vary from person to person. Risk factors for migraines can be rooted in genetics. More studies are underway and needed to understand the genetic undertones in the development of migraines. If you're immediate family members suffer, you're most likely at risk. 

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7 ways to fit eating healthy into your busy lifestyle

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7 ways to fit eating healthy into your busy lifestyle

Do you ever feel too rushed or busy to be able to actually sit down to eat, let alone eat a healthy meal?  Does it seem like there’s just not enough hours in the day to plan ahead or take the time to take care of your health through proper food choices?  Is your schedule so full due to work obligations, going to school, raising a family or maybe all three that eating healthy gets pushed down the list of things to do?  If you’ve answered “yes” to any of those questions, it’s time to take some time to rethink why and how eating healthy can and should be a part of your busy lifestyle.

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10 Foods That Will Help You Live Longer

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10 Foods That Will Help You Live Longer

.    Dark chocolate

a.    Dark chocolate is packed with flavonoids and antioxidants, both of which can reduce inflammation and help prevent blood clots.

b.    Research shows that inflammation is associated with aging and age-related diseases, so anti-inflammatory foods may be a key to a longer life.

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10 Zinc-Rich Foods

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10 Zinc-Rich Foods

Did you know that a healthy amount of zinc in your diet has been linked to an improved immune system and faster wound healing? Some studies have linked proper zinc intake to reduced severity and duration of the common cold, improved thyroid function, more effective blood clotting, and even decreased effects of age-related macular degeneration. A June 2015 study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that zinc may also play an important role in regulating heartbeat — a potential advancement in the fight against arrhythmia-related heart failure.

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Put the pinch on salt to reduce hypertension

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Put the pinch on salt to reduce hypertension

Reducing your salt or sodium intake is an important step in reducing hypertension or high blood pressure.  When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked?   Do you ask and do you know what your blood pressure is?  These are questions everyone should have answers to.  It is often referred to as “the silent killer” as it often has no warning signs or symptoms.  That’s why it’s important to have it checked regularly and why it is always checked at any visit to a doctor’s office.

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It’s football season! Time to tailgate – and eat healthy

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It’s football season! Time to tailgate – and eat healthy

Score a touchdown this fall by serving up great-tasting healthy food at your next tailgate.  Typically foods associated with tailgating are loaded with fat, sugar and calories.  By the time you’ve eaten your way through hamburgers, brats, buffalo wings, chips and dip, cookies, and other desserts all washed down with high calorie alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, it’s not uncommon to have already consumed more than 1,200 calories before you’ve even entered the stadium.  And that’s not counting the calories you add on from foods and beverages sold at the stadium.  

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The #1 Secret to Lose Belly Fat

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The #1 Secret to Lose Belly Fat

Did you know belly fat is the worst fat we can have on our bodies? Belly fat is something both men and women find creeps up onto their bodies. Visceral fat is a type of belly fat that lives deep in the body and wraps itself around the organs, causing long-term risk for chronic diseases. A new study has linked obesity and sodium intake so closely that cutting down on salt might be the best way to shed that belly fat. Think of it this way, for every extra gram of salt eat in a day (just a 1/5 of a teaspoon) or about the amount found in tiny salt packets, the risk of obesity increases by 25% according to the research from the Queen Mary University in London. Researchers speculate that sodium alters our metabolism, changing the way we absorb fat. 

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7 Foods to Fight Off Cold & Cough

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7 Foods to Fight Off Cold & Cough

We all get the occassional cold and cough especially when you work in a school or office where others around you are sick. The question is, what are the things you can do to fight it off? It starts with food. A weakened immune system is what protects you from a whole host of infections like cold and cough, skin infections and respiratory ailments. There are 7 immune-strengthening foods that you should eat an abundance of during peak cough and cold times throughout the year. Here you go. 

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No Meat = Healthy Heart: Confused Yet?

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No Meat = Healthy Heart: Confused Yet?

We just spoke about a recent study yesterday that showed eating small amounts of meat as a protein-rich food could make for a stronger heart. But now another study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vegetarians had a 32% lower risk of heart disease compared to their meat-eating counterparts. Heart disease is a tricky thing to generalize when it comes to prevention. The rise of genomic sequencing and the genetic testing capabilities that have come out of that are increasing the knowledge around individual risk factors and preventative qualities. 

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7 ways to lose belly fat without exercise

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7 ways to lose belly fat without exercise

If exercise is not your thing and yet you have excess belly fat that doesn’t want to budge, is it possible to lose your muffin top without resorting to breaking a sweat?  It’s possible but only with a lot of dedication and diligence by adopting a healthy eating pattern along with other habits.  It’s always best to combine exercise with a healthy diet to get the best results but for those who won’t or can’t exercise, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

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Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol

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Good Cholesterol vs. Bad Cholesterol

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in the body’s cells. Our bodies make cholesterol in order to make other substances like vitamin D or hormones. It also makes substances to help us digest food. Cholesterol is also found in the food we eat. Foods that we eat that contain cholesterol include poultry, meat, and dairy products. When we eat foods like this that are high in saturated and trans-fats, our livers produce even more cholesterol. When our bodies produce too much cholesterol, plaque develops in the walls of the arteries. This can lead to serious health conditions such as blood clots, stroke, or heart attack.

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Eat Meat For a Healthy Heart?

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Eat Meat For a Healthy Heart?

When we think of heart healthy food, we don't necessarily think of steak, but now researchers say it could help when consumed in moderation. New findings released in the journal, Nutrition showed that eating meat can actually give your heart a boost, similar to the impact of quitting smoking, limiting your sodium intake or more physical activity. Scientists analyzed data of nearly 2,000 women in the U.K.'s largest adult twin registry. They analyzed how much protein a person ate as well as dietary intake of seven amino acids which are the building blocks of protein are known to have heart-healthy properties. 

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Looking for natural ways to reduce cholesterol? 8 food sources that can help

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Looking for natural ways to reduce cholesterol? 8 food sources that can help

Most of us would rather treat high cholesterol naturally if at all possible.  But depending on your cholesterol level, many physicians will prescribe medication such as a statin. Statins can be effective in lowering cholesterol but may also cause adverse side effects for some individuals.  First, always listen to your physician and never quit taking your medication without consulting them but do ask questions to thoroughly understand all the options that can be helpful in lowering your cholesterol.

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5 Diet Changes to Make this Week

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5 Diet Changes to Make this Week

What you eat matters more than anything, but how you eat and when also matter. Usually when we talk about our diet, we start to squirm in our seats, but if we never commit to making small changes, living an unhealthy lifestyle will always be a reality. Believe it or not, counting calories is not the secret, neither is starving yourself. Here are 5 diet changes you can make tomorrow.

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7 Easy Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas

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7 Easy Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is the both the most important meal of the day and one of the hardest to prepare with our busy mornings. But these 7 breakfast ideas can be prepared in a jiffy or even parts of it the night before. Breakfast gives you the energy you need for the day and starts up your metabolism, a.k.a. your fat-burning engine. Consider these 7 ideas tomorrow morning. 

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How Sugar Affects Your Hormones

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How Sugar Affects Your Hormones

We have some work to do when it comes to ending the seemingly never-ending cycle of sugar cravings as well as nutrient deficiency. The average American consumes approximately one third of a pound of sugar each day, translating into nearly 130 pounds of sugar per person every year. As a nation sugar usage exceeds 9 million tons a year. But what are the results of us consuming all this sugar? Well, believe it or not, sugar also affects our hormones and a woman's menstrual period. Here's why.

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