Ten Minutes of Intermittent Movement for Every Hour of Sitting May Counteract Ill Health Effects of Prolonged Sitting

 

heart-disease-riskIn recent years, researchers have formed a strong consensus with regards to the health effects of sitting. In short, the more time you spend sitting, the shorter and less healthy your life will tend to be.

In fact, there are now over 10,000 studies showing that chronic sitting—at work, commuting, and watching TV at night—significantly impacts your cardiovascular and metabolic function…

10 May 2015

What Is Watermelon Good For?

 

watermelon-nutrition-factsWatermelons have reputed roots in Africa, with the first recorded harvest in Egypt somewhere around 5,000 years ago. From there, they were sprouted throughout Asia and Europe. Colonists brought seeds with them to the New World, where around four billion pounds of watermelons are now produced every year. It’s easily the best-loved fruit in America.

A member of the Cucurbitaceae family with – you guessed it – cucumber, as well as squash and pumpkin,…

09 May 2015

What Happens Inside Your Stomach When You Eat Instant Noodles?

 

Instant noodles are a popular go-to lunch or dinner for those who are strapped for time (or cash), like college students. While you probably don’t consider them a health food, you may think they’re not that bad, or, at least, not as bad as eating a burger and fries or a fast-food burrito.

In a first-of-its-kind experiment, however, Dr. Braden Kuo of Massachusetts General Hospital may make you reconsider your love of instant noodles…

09 May 2015

Spirulina: A Luxury Health Food and a Possible Panacea for Malnutrition

 

spirulinaSpirulina, a type of blue-green algae, is an incredible superfood that provides a concentrated source of protein, vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients. As one of the oldest life forms on Earth, the use of spirulina as a food source dates all the way back to 9th century Chad, and it is believed spirulina was used by the Aztecs in 16th-century Mexico.

Spirulina, a type of one-celled organism, got its name from the Latin word for “helix” or “spiral” because of its spring-like physical characteristic…

09 May 2015

Long-Distance Running: One of the Worst Forms of Exercise There Is

 

cardio-may-damage-heartA recent study looked at the heart function of 40 elite long-term endurance athletes after four endurance races of varying lengths.

By measuring cardiac enzymes and taking ultrasounds, the researchers were able to measure the acute effects of extreme exercise on the heart…

09 May 2015

3 Simple Steps to Perk Up Your Posture

 

yoga-postureIt’s easy to forget about your posture when you’re engrossed in work at your computer or sitting behind the wheel in your vehicle. Yet, slowly but surely, if you don’t take steps to strengthen and lengthen your spine, your shoulders will begin to hunch forward into a more rounded position, and you’ll find it difficult to stand as tall as you once did…

09 May 2015

What Is Tamarind Good For?

 

tamarind-nutrition-factsDeliciously tangy and one of the most highly prized natural foods in South Asia, the tamarind – the melodic name of which comes from the Persian “tamar-I-hind,” meaning “date of India” – is gaining recognition and appreciation throughout the world. Said to be native to Africa,

this exotic fruit grows on exceptionally tall trees of the fabaceae family, such as peas, beans, and other legumes, mostly in the warmer, dryer areas of Asia, Mexico, and India.

08 May 2015

Full Fat Dairy May Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes and Other Health Problems

 

dietary-adviceMost mainstream dietary advice recommends low-fat or non-fat dairy. But a growing number of experts argue that it’s far healthier to eat and drink whole dairy products, with all the fat left in.

Dairy foods contain roughly 50 to 60 percent saturated fat, and conventional thinking is that saturated fat is bad for your heart. This idea has been thoroughly refuted as false. It’s a mistaken interpretation of the science. In a 2010 analysis,1 scientists said:..

08 May 2015

Is Goat Cheese Good for You?

 

goat-cheeseHigh-quality cheese made from the raw milk of pastured animals is an excellent source of several important nutrients. Each cheese is unique in its nutritional attributes, however, with some being superior to others.

One to consider, especially if you’re sensitive to lactose from cow’s milk, is goat cheese. Because goat cheese contains less lactose than cheese made from cow’s milk, it is typically well tolerated by those with lactose intolerance…

08 May 2015

The Very Real Risks of Consuming Too Much Protein

 

With the popularity of “high-protein” diets, you might be tempted to believe you simply can’t overeat protein. But the truth is that consuming excessive protein can actually be quite detrimental to your health.

Eating more protein than your body needs can interfere with your health and fitness goals in a number of ways, including weight gain, extra body fat, stress on your kidneys,1 dehydration, and leaching of important bone minerals…

08 May 2015