When it comes to eating smart, you’ve probably heard a lot about variety, balance, and moderation. Great, but just what does a healthful meal look like? How much of what foods belong in a meal? Visualize a healthful meal by dividing your plate into four quarters. (To avoid overeating, picture an 8-inch, not a 10-inch
Do any of these describe you? (Check which ones.) □ Limited milk intake or sun exposure? □ Vegetarian? □ Eating problem, or a digestive or a liver problem? □ On a very restrictive weight-loss diet? □ Unable (or unwilling) to eat in a healthful way? □ (if you’re female) Heavy menstrual flow, able to become
At least you may not feel any older! You can’t stop time, but eating smart and moving more may slow the biomarkers, or physical changes, of aging and help you feel younger longer. These biomarkers include: Your muscle mass and strength. Adults lose about 7 to 8 pounds of muscle a decade. Your body’s fat.
Get more from your workout than a workout! If you plan to walk, bike, run, swim, or some other active sport, why not do so for a worthy cause? With spring around the corner, you’ll see promotions for bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons, and dance-a-thons; many are fund-raisers to support worthy causes. Join in! Do it with friends
Your kitchen is stocked with vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables. Now, how do you get those nutrients to your dinner table? Store and prepare fruits and vegetables with care. Improper food storage and prep can leave some nutrients behind. To keep more vitamins in, improve one or more of your culinary skills today. Go under cover.
If you read health headlines, you know that obesity is today’s top health epidemic. Why the alarm? Among other reasons, obesity has been cited as a major cause of death and disease, increasing the risks for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers. The risks are higher if excess body fat is
Though they aren’t sweet, avocados are actually fruit, and they have unheralded health benefits. Avocados provide heart-healthy folate; vitamins E, C, and B6 potassium; and soluble fiber. Their fat is mostly monounsaturated, the kind that’s heart-healthy. And avocados have phytonutrient benefits: cholesterol-lowering plant sterols; glutathione, which works as an antioxidant potentially for cancer protection; and
Wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day? Why not make a meal to match? From broccoli and green beans to spinach and green peppers, count all the ways you can fill your plate with greens! Properly prepared, green veggies add color appeal to your meals. Cooked just until tender-crisp, they add flavor appeal. Besides that, dark-green
Does physical activity take priority in your life? Or do busy schedules interfere? Consider this: Nearly everyone can fit walking into a lifestyle. And it pays off! Warm up, then stretch first. Walk briskly; the faster you walk, the greater the benefits. Pump your arms. Wear good walking shoes. Bring your water bottle. Enjoy! Now
If you “take out to eat in,” your doggie bag or take-out meal poses a potential food safety risk. As the weather heats up, the risk soars higher. To avoid the guessing game of doggie bag safety, follow this advice: Chill promptly. For take-out food and restaurant leftovers, that means within two hours. If the