Do you know your fasting blood sugar level? With the rise in diabetes, health experts advise you to pay attention. Why? Because pre-diabetes usually develops to diabetes. Even during this early stage, long-term cardiovascular damage may occur without notice. Usually symptom-free, pre-diabetes is blood sugar level that’s higher than normal (110 to 125 mg/dL), but
Going it alone is hard for most of us, no matter what life’s challenges! According to research studies, a “support team” is key to helping many people reach and maintain their health goals. If you need to manage diabetes, a food allergy, high blood pressure, or some other health problem, support often makes a strict
Know the “tight” feeling that often goes with stress? Or the uncomfortable stiffness that comes from sitting in one place too long? Then stretch! Exercise physiologists say stretching: Promotes relaxation Improves blood flow Helps your body feel more flexible, which reduces muscle injury Keeps your muscles from tightening up after exercise For benefits without injury
Vegetables are a nutritional gold mine! So you may buy them. But by week’s end is your “garden-fresh” produce wilted in the fridge? Is it perhaps because you’re not sure how to prepare them, you don’t have the time, or simply that veggies are not in your meal routine? Here are a few ideas for
Another flavor adventure? If you’ve eaten at a Middle Eastern restaurant, you may recognize these flavors: carbohydrate-rich rice, bulgur, or couscous in stuffing’s, salads, side dishes; calcium-rich yogurt in soups and drinks; goat’s-milk cheese on salads; fresh and dried fruits, fiber-rich legumes, and nuts as common ingredients; mint, coriander, and cinnamon to season it all.
The flu season is at your doorstep. How can you protect yourself? The best defense is a year-round offense: Eat smart, stay active, get enough rest, reduce stress. Which nutrients enhance immunity? Several may play key roles: beta carotene in deep-yellow fruits and veggies and dark-green leafy greens; vitamin B in whole grains, legumes, chicken
Corn, peanuts, peppers, pineapples, potatoes, tomatoes, wild rice— where would world cuisine be today without the nutrient-rich native foods that first nourished Native Americans? To commemorate Native American Heritage Month, buy quinoa (keen-WAH), a grain like food that sustained the Incas five thousand years ago. It’s noted for its high protein content, as well as
Got a great kitchen, but don’t use all its features? Cooking classes may be for you! If you’re new to the kitchen, consider a class in culinary basics, or perhaps knife skills. Already a “foodie”? Learn ethnic or regional cuisine. And if you need to manage a health issue, check your local hospital for community
Cast your ballot at the polls yet? Which of the following will you elect to drop into your supermarket cart? Vote true or false as part of your personal campaign for smart eating. □ Sugar-free cookies are calorie-free. □ Baked chips have a lot fewer calories than regular chips. □ A frozen vegetarian entrée is