Americans may be eating more vegetables today, but a significant percent of those veggies are French fries—more than 25 pounds per person yearly! Potatoes do offer plenty of health benefits: vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Fry that same potato and calories double, vitamin C drops by half, and fat gets added. Challenge one: A serving
Have you played tag lately? Shot a few hoops? Jumped rope? Child’s play makes great physical activity for grown-ups, too. Even more important, it’s great family time and your chance to show that active living is healthful living at every age. Actually, child’s play teaches plenty! As kids climb, twist, jump, and run, their bodies
Shopping for a wedding or Mother’s Day gift? Kitchen tools that help prepare healthful meals quickly and easily might be the perfect solution. Shop for a “health-smart” cooking utensil today. Blender or food processor for blending fruit and yogurt smoothies Coffee grinder for grinding nuts, seeds, grains, dry herbs, and spices Fat-separating pitcher for pouring
Underweight? If so, you’re probably tired of hearing people say how lucky you are. Being too thin can be risky to your health. You need the fat layer just under your skin to help protect you from cold and cushion your body from injury. That fat layer is a source of stored energy if you
Bright red color, sweet, succulent flavor—do field-fresh strawberries conjure up wonderful sensations of spring? Strawberries are among nature’s best source of vitamin C, a vitamin that promotes immunity, lessens cold symptoms, and helps your body use iron. This antioxidant vitamin may offer heart-healthy and cancer-protective benefits, too. Strawberries also deliver potassium, magnesium, and some folate.
Ever tasted a pansy blossom, a rose petal, or a lily bud? Each adds a colorful garnish and distinctive flavor. Eat flowers? Perhaps you already enjoy capers (lower buds), saffron (blossom stigma), herb blossoms, and artichokes or broccoli (immature lowers). This May Day, why not plant a bouquet of culinary lowers to enjoy this season?
You’ve heard this fitness advice: try to it 60 minutes of moderate physical activity into your day. Fine, but what’s moderate? Moderate activity isn’t a leisurely stroll. From a numbers’ standpoint, it adds up to the energy you burn by walking 2 miles in 30 minutes. That’s about 150 calories, or about 1,000 calories weekly.
If you live to age 55 or longer, you’ll likely develop high blood pressure (hypertension). Even if your blood pressure ranges from 120/80 to 139/89 (prehypertension) you need to be cautious. Because the symptoms are silent, many people don’t even know they have it. Why be concerned? Untreated, hypertension can lead to a heart attack
Unless you’re vegetarian, you probably eat beef and give little thought to its many health benefits. Because May is Beef Month, here’s a beef brief. Beef keeps good nutrition company. For less than 200 calories, a 3-ounce lean beef serving offers plenty of nutrition. Consider the Daily Values: protein (50%), zinc (39%), vitamin B„ (37%)
Ole! Celebrate Mexican independence day with Mexican food or its Tex-Mex cousin, two of America’s most popular ethnic cuisines. Mexican menus deliver nutrition benefits from some common ingredients. Meat and poultry portions are sensible in size—providing enough, but not excessive, protein. Beans not only supply protein; they’re iron- and fiber-rich, too. Tomato salsas are loaded