JUICING… Is it Healthy?

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As you know, I enjoy juicing.  Typically, I will juice once per day and sometimes I’ll go a few days without juicing and I normally try to include more veggies than fruit.  Anyway, I came across this article on the pros and cons of juicing and thought that you might find it valuable.

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Juicing: How Healthy Is It?

What to know before adding fresh juice to your diet.
By Anna Nguyen
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Juicing is popular. But before you give it a whirl, you might want to know what it may — and may not — do for your health.

What are the nutritional benefits and drawbacks? Can you juice for weight loss? What about food safety and claims about cleansing your system? Here’s what you need to know.

Pros and Cons…….CONTINUE READING BY CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: WEB MD

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There’s some interesting facts in this article.  One thing that I always think about is the amount of fruit that I juice.  I know that fruits contain natural sugar but those calories can add up.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

Lower Calorie FOODS- Better for Business….

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Do fast food restaurants offer enough healthy choices?  A recent study shows that their low calorie- healthier choices outperformed the higher calorie foods.  Are we beginning to see a change towards healthier living?

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Healthy Menu Items Better for Business, Study Finds

Sales of low calorie items increasing despite declines in overall sales

By   February 7, 2013

In the midst of an obesity epidemic, low calorie items are fueling the growth of America’s biggest and baddest restaurant chains.

Lower calorie foods and beverages, and the major restaurant chains that sell more of them, outperformed less healthy alternatives in the U.S. over the past five years, according to a report released Thursday by the Hudson Institute.

The study, called “Lower-Calorie Foods: It’s Just Good Business,”……. CONTINUE READING BY CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: US News

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I haven’t eaten at a fast food restaurant in years…. perhaps I should stop by one soon and check out the latest healthier menus available.  I’m sure that I could find something nutritious to eat.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

 

Alcohol More POTENT with DIET Drinks…..

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Do you mix your alcoholic beverages with diet drinks?  Recent studies show that an alcoholic beverage is more potent when mixing with diet drinks instead of the more sugary substance.  Sounds crazy but you may want to check out this article.

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Diet Drinks As Mixers May Make for More Potent Cocktails

Preliminary study suggests sugary sodas help delay intoxication

 February 5, 2013

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDay News) — Calorie counters, beware: Drinking diet “mixers” with alcohol intensifies the effects of the booze, according to the findings of breathalyzer tests.

Preliminary research on the use of different mixers, such as juice, soda or diet soda, suggests that diet soda might increase breath alcohol content more than higher calorie sugary beverages. Continue Reading by CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: US News Health

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It turns out that if you want to increase the effects of alcohol you may want to mix with diet drinks and if your want to lessen the effects then mix with the more sugary substance. Those extra calories may help you out.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

No JUNK Food in School Vending Machines….

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Do your kids eat too many candy bars from the schools vending machines?  You might want to take a look at this next article.  Looks like there is a proposal out to limit the amount of junk food and replace candy bars with a more healthier choice.

Granola Bars Replace Candy as U.S. Limits School Snacks

By Stephanie Armour - Feb 1, 2013 10:36 AM PT

Candy bars in school vending machines will be replaced by granola and dried fruit under a U.S. plan that sets nutrition requirements for snacks, sodas and other food sold outside of regular meals.

Schools will have to limit unhealthy fare sold separately from federal school meals, according to a proposal released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U.S. says snacks ……. Continue Reading by CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: Bloomberg

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Perhaps introducing kids with healthier choices will decrease obesity and other related diseases.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

 

Super Bowl Sunday-Are Healthy Snacks Possible?

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Sunday is the big game day but can you get through Super Bowl with healthy snacks?Before sitting down and munching out you may want to take a look at some healthy snack alternatives that actually are quite tasty.

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Super Bowl Party Food: What Nutritionists Serve To Keep Calories In Check

Posted: 01/30/2013 8:56 am EST  |  Updated: 01/31/2013 11:18 am EST

Whether your team won or lost the Super Bowl last year, one thing’s for certain: You overate.

The Super Bowl is an eating extravaganza for most Americans: While watching the big game, we consume an average of 1,200 calories from snacking alone, making Super Bowl Sunday the second-largest food consumption day …..CONTINUE READING BY CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: Huffington Post

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Did you take a look at this before you prepared your snacks for SUPER BOWL?  There are all kinds of healthy and tasty  treats that you can serve.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

Vegetarian: Heart Healthy-is it the TREND?

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The other day I posted a piece about Mediterranean eating. The study was heart healthy vs brain health. The article suggested that brain health could decrease.  Here’s a UK study promoting heart healthy lifestyle via a vegetarian life style.  I’m really leaning towards the heart healthy aspect.

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WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY 2013 UK

Vegetarian diet reduces heart disease risk by up to a third

In the biggest ever study of its kind in the UK, researchers from Oxford University have found a vegetarian diet dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease. Will it change the way we eat?

Fancy a burger tonight? A new report might make you think again about your dinner. Researchers…….Continue to Reading by CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: Channel 4 News

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I eat primarily vegetarian, however, I do include some fish and poultry and on a very rare occasion I’ll have a very small amount of meat.  I feel good and I think that I’m pretty heart healthy.  Because I eat healthy, I have energy and don’t feel sluggish.  As I always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

Eat At the Right Time- Increase Weight Loss…..

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Is it difficult for you to lose weight or keep that weight off? A recent study suggests that losing weight is directly related to when you consume your largest meal.  I try not to eat dinner late but sometimes you just can’t help it.  

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For Weight Loss Success, Think About When, Not Just What, You Eat

By Jan. 29, 2013

Timing is everything for losing weight .

In the latest collaborative study, researchers at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Tufts University and the University of Murcia in Spain, found that the time of day you eat large meals may help to  predict how many pounds you drop.

In a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, the scientists monitored 420 overweight…..CONTINUE READING BY CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: TIME Health and Family

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Can you relate to this?  Do you feel that timing of the main meal influences weight loss effectiveness?  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook. 

 

Hearing Loss- Why it Should be Treated….

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Rachel here.  Certainly we all know someone that has experienced hearing loss.  Apparently, if  left untreated, developing cognitive problems (chance of dementia etc) can increase.  This article definitely caught my interest.

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Listen up: Dementia linked to hearing loss

Janice Lloyd, USA TODAY8:07p.m. EST January 21, 2013

Millions of hearing-impaired older adults are more likely to suffer early memory and thinking problems than adults without hearing loss, a study out Monday finds.

Cognitive problems developed 30% to 40% faster when hearing declined to 25 decibels — mild hearing loss, according to the research online in theJAMA Internal Medicine. “That’s when you begin…… READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: USA TODAY

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Turns out that this effects not only the older population but also the younger generation.  Pretty interesting study and it sounds like a topic that shouldn’t be taken to lightly.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

Mediterranean DIET- Brain or Heart Food…

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Rachel here.  My diet is largely Mediterranean, a lot of fruits and vegetables, nuts, olive oil amongst other things.  Although this is heart healthy it hasn’t been proven as brain food.  Interesting study.

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Mediterranean diet may not protect the aging brain

By Andrew M. Seaman | Reuters – Thu, Jan 24, 2013

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Despite hopes that a Mediterranean-style diet would be as good for the head as it is for the heart, a new study among French men and women found little benefit to aging brains.

The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked at the participants’ dietary patterns in middle age… CONTINUE READING BY CLICKING HERE.

SOURCE: Yahoo News

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There are benefits to a Mediterranean diet but whether it feeds the brain with the proper nutrition to aid in brain health has not be determined.  Since this diet provides some health benefits- I’m going to stick with it.  As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.

 

Is Aspirin the Miracle Drug?

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Rachel here.  Sometimes I take aspirin when I can’t fall asleep.  I’ve always known that a low dosage helps prevent heart attacks and strokes but this recent article has me a bit concerned about the relationship between aspirin and eye health.

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Aspirin Linked to Blinding Eye Disease

By 
WebMD Health News

Jan. 22, 2013 — Regular aspirin users are more likely to develop the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration compared to people who rarely or never take the drug, a new study shows.

Aspirin is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Millions of people with heart disease take a daily low dose of aspirin in hopes of preventing heart attacks and stroke. CLICK HERE to CONTINUE READING…..

SOURCE: WEB MD

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My understanding from this study is that if you regularly take aspirin, you should get regular yearly checkups with your eye specialist.  Makes sense to me- As always, I look forward to your comments  so please let me know your thoughts and share today’s post on Facebook.