Experts used to believe that sugar-free products with zero-calorie?sweeteners could make you want to eat more. The?thinking behind this was that zero-calorie sweeteners raise the?blood glucose levels and affect the hormone levels that lead your?body to crave carbs. A recent study, however, has found that?zero-calorie sweetened drinks have no more affect than water?on hormones. What Are Sugar-Free Sweeteners? Sugar-free sweeteners are zero-calorie sugar substitutes made from a variety of different substances, such as herbs or sugars that have been modified by scientists so they are still sweet but don’t have any calories. Common types of sugar-free sweeteners include: Sucralose?brand name: Splenda Nutrasweet?brand name: Equal Saccharin?brand name: Sweet ‘N Low Stevia?brand name: Truvia Recent studies have found sugar-free sweeteners to be safe for us to eat. Also, replacing sugar with sugar-free sweetener in their meal plans was found to help people lose weight and control their diabetes. For full article click here . . .?]]>
HOW MUCH SHOULD I DRINK (AND EAT)? Our bodies are all different, and the amount of water we need may be different too, depending on where we live, our age and health, how active we are and other factors. There is no one amount of water that is perfect for everyone. What is the same is that about 60% of our body weight is water (74% in newborns). This means the body is made up of more water than anything else and plays a major role in keeping our body working as it should. The water we lose each day in our breath, sweat, urine and bowel movements must be replaced in the body to prevent dehydration. How much? The Institute of Medicine suggests that women need 9 cups of liquids/day and men about 13 cups/day. For full article click here . . .?]]>
If you have diabetes, you probably know that you are at an increased risk for problems with your eyes, feet, skin?and nervous system. Did you know that diabetes can also cause problems in your mouth? Take Care Of Your Teeth Poor blood glucose control lets bacteria grow easily in your mouth. Having lots of bacteria in your mouth lead to?plaque buildup on your teeth. When this happens, your gums begin to pull away from your teeth, and pockets form between your teeth and gums. These pockets can become filled with germs and small bits of food. The gums then become inflamed and may bleed when you eat or brush your teeth. This condition is called “gingivitis”. For full article click here . . .?]]>
You may have heard how exercise is good for your health in many ways, including helping you to lose weight and to keep your heart strong. But, did you ever think that working out could make you desire healthier foods? A recent study of the brain scans of healthy men found out that those who exercised were more likely to desire low-fat foods after a workout than fatty foods. Therefore, if you add more exercise to your daily routine it could help you to not only burn off more calories, but to eat less of them too! WHAT COUNTS AS EXERCISE? Exercise is any activity that gets your heart beating faster than it does when you are resting—and hopefully it makes you sweat a little too! For full article click here . . .?]]>
If you have been told you have high?cholesterol, you most likely want to take?action. If you are already on medications?to control diabetes, you may be looking?for natural options to avoid additional?medications. The good news is that?cholesterol, for many individuals, can be?managed through diet and lifestyle changes. ?Although this approach takes some work,?in three to six months, you may be thrilled?with the changes in your cholesterol levels. Eat Your?Veggies One of the top ways?to help reduce your?cholesterol levels is?by losing weight if?you are above an?ideal body weight.?Losing just as little?as 5-10% of your?total body weight can?result in improved?total cholesterol,?lower LDL cholesterol?levels, and elevated?HDL cholesterol.?To help with this,?focus on filling your?plate at each meal?at least halfway?with vegetables.?Since vegetables are?loaded with fiber and?contain few calories,?filling your plate with?these allows you to?take in less calories?while feeling full?and satisfied. And?they have another?health bonus as well. Vegetables are rich in?soluble fiber, a fiber?that helps to bind to?cholesterol and flush?it from your body. So?not only will eating?more vegetables help?to shed pounds, but?it will help to further?reduce cholesterol as?well. When preparing?vegetables, choose?steamed options?over sautéed or?fried varieties to?prevent taking in?additional calories. For full article click here . . .?]]>
Who knew that this scrumptious, easy-to-find and multipurpose fruit was also a powerhouse of good health? Well, probably the Aztecs. It is believed that they began to grow this “fruit of kings” as early as 291 B.C. Much is known about the health benefits of avocados. They are a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), the heart-healthy fat that lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol and increases the good kind (HDL). They increase insulin sensitivity, improve cardiac rhythms (heartbeats), lower blood pressure, help prevent migraines and stroke. Avocados contain no cholesterol, sodium or trans fats but are loaded with 20 different phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals like vitamins B6, C, E and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, and lutein. Now, thanks to research from Loma Linda University in California that was published in the November 2013 issue of Nutrition Journal, we can add appetite suppressant (reducing appetite) and diabetes management aid to avocado’s long list of virtues. For full article click here . . .?]]>