(HealthDay News) — For people with diabetes, maintaining a healthy diet can be vital to a treatment plan. Reading food labels can help diabetics make the best choices, the Mayo Clinic says. When reading food labels, the clinic suggests: Choose healthy fats, such as olive, canola or peanut oil. Avoid trans and saturated fats. Pick food with 3 grams or more of fiber. Pay attention to serving sizes. Consider your daily calorie goals.
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Stretches to Strengthen Your Core
Ever had a bad spasm from bending down to pick up your child or tie your shoes? Keeping your core muscles — the workhorses that stabilize your spine — flexible with a stretching routine can help prevent this common occurrence and protect your back in general. The Pelvic Tilt targets your lower back and your abdominals. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet about hip-width apart. Flatten and then press your lower back into the floor. You’ll feel your hips tilt forward. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and repeat five times. The Side Stretch helps your back and sides become more limber. In a standing position, extend your right arm above your head. Put your left hand on your hip. Slowly bend to the left without twisting or jerking. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and repeat five times. Then repeat the sequence on the other side. The Back Arch stretches hips and shoulders as well as your back. Stand up straight, legs shoulder width apart. Support your lower back with both hands and bend backwards. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and repeat five times. As a reminder, never bounce when stretching. This can cause muscles to tighten and lead to injury. Ease into every stretch with a slow, steady movement. Stop if any stretch feels uncomfortable. You should feel slight… read on >
Strengthening Family Ties Through Online Gaming
Video games provide unlimited entertainment, and interactive ones can even help you burn off calories. But you may not know that playing games — either in person or through shared online networks — can unite family members from many generations in meaningful ways. Researchers at Concordia University in Montreal found that playing social network games, through Facebook for instance, offers family members a fun, common topic of conversation, and creates shared experiences, even though there’s often no direct communication. That’s just one of dozens of studies that have explored the benefits of family gaming. One study done at the University of California, Davis, found that the more often family members play video games together, the greater their feelings of family satisfaction and closeness. What’s more, because those with poor inter-family communication benefited more than those who already had good communication, video gaming can be a bridge to better relationships. Family gaming can easily extend beyond those living in a single household. With more grandparents and other older relatives now using social media to get news about relatives, playing word games and other family-friendly choices can keep the generations better connected because these activities transcend age barriers. Playing can also help connect you to faraway relatives you may not have the chance to get to know in traditional ways. The Concordia researchers also found that people… read on >
Health Tip: Diet Myths and Facts
(HealthDay News) — Navigating weight loss information can be daunting. Many popular beliefs are only partly true, MedlinePlus says. MedlinePlus debunked a few common myths: MYTH: “No-fat” or “low-fat” foods help you lose weight. FACT: Many no-fat and low-fat foods have added sugar and salt, and more calories. MYTH: Fasting will help you lose weight quickly. FACT: Fasting is not usually healthy. People who fast tend to lose more muscle than fat. MYTH: Slow weight loss is the only proven weight loss method. FACT: There are many options out there. Be careful and avoid fad diets that are unsafe and promise unrealistic results. Talk to a dietician to see what is best for you and your goals.
How to Spice Up Your Spring Salad
You already know that iceberg lettuce is low on taste and nutrients, but even the best greens can use a punch of flavor to keep your taste buds interested. Here are two ways to enjoy spring greens. Peppery arugula is full of flavor and super low in calories, and it makes a great base for a zesty salad. One of the first greens to appear each spring, arugula pairs well with berries, making this strawberry dressing the perfect complement to its spiciness. Arugula With Strawberry Pepper Dressing 1/2 cup strawberries 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1/2 teaspoon each salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 cups arugula 4 artichoke hearts, sliced thin 4 small shallots, sliced thin Place the strawberries, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt and black pepper in a blender. Process until smooth. Divide the arugula among four plates and top with equal amounts of sliced artichoke hearts and shallots. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings For more salad variety, step up to mesclun, a mix of baby greens like romaine, kale, beet greens and spinach — all bursting with vitamins and minerals. This blueberry balsamic dressing imparts a sweet flavor and an antioxidant boost while fresh goat cheese adds protein and richness. Mesclun Salad With Honey Blueberry Dressing 1/4 cup fresh or frozen… read on >
Can High-Potency Pot Make You Crazy?
The jittery, delusional potheads of the old movie “Reefer Madness” have prompted eye rolls and chuckles over the years, but a new study argues that the cult classic might contain a kernel of truth. Smoking pot every day could increase your risk of a psychotic break with reality, particularly if you have access to high-potency strains of marijuana, European researchers report. As many as 1 in 5 newly diagnosed cases of psychosis might be linked to daily cannabis use, according to data gathered from 11 hospitals across Europe. People who used pot on a daily basis were three times more likely to have a first-time diagnosis of psychosis, and five times more likely if they used high-potency marijuana every day, researchers said. The new study “raises real concerns about the dangers posed by high-potency marijuana,” said Emily Feinstein, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Center on Addiction. “Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the availability of high-concentration THC products, for both medical and recreational use,” said Feinstein, who wasn’t involved with the study. “While there may still be questions about the nature of the link between daily use of high-potency marijuana and psychotic disorder, this study suggests that we should be monitoring this issue very closely and taking steps to protect the public’s health.” But NORML Deputy Director… read on >
FDA Approves First Drug for Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a common and often devastating condition for new mothers, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the first drug to help combat it. The drug, Zulesso (brexanolone), is delivered via intravenous infusion. “Postpartum depression is a serious condition that, when severe, can be life-threatening,” noted the FDA’s Dr. Tiffany Farchione. “Women may experience thoughts about harming themselves or harming their child.” The condition “can also interfere with the maternal-infant bond,” added Farchione, who is acting director of the Division of Psychiatry Products in the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The FDA decision “marks the first time a drug has been specifically approved to treat postpartum depression, providing an important new treatment option,” she said in an agency statement. Psychiatrist Dr. Martha Wald agreed that women battling postpartum depression have long needed new options. “There is tremendous stigma around postpartum depression for women,” said Wald, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at Duke University, in Winston-Salem, N.C. “Many women experience great shame and feel inadequate as mothers if they struggle with depression at a time that is supposed to be joyous.” “Because of this stigma, many women choose to not seek help and endure great suffering in silence,” she said. “Postpartum depression affects 15 to 20 percent of the general population, and at least half of this group goes untreated.… read on >
The Benefits of a Home Rowing Machine
Rowing is often called the best aerobic exercise because it offers a total body workout and is low-impact. Rowing involves performing a continuous motion with focused coordination between the arms and the legs. If you’ve never rowed a boat or paddled a canoe before, it may take some time to get the hang of it, but the fitness benefits are worth time spent on the learning curve. Home machines come very close to simulating this fun yet strenuous activity, but try different models before you buy. Don’t be swayed by price alone: The resistance mechanism on cheaper models often relies on pistons and may not give you the smoothest motion. Check out rowing machines that rely on air, water or magnetic resistance to find the one that feels most natural to you. While you should feel comfortable on the seat, working with the oars will tell you how well a machine suits you. You should be able to move your arms through a full range of motion. The resistance should feel smooth, not jerky, and you should be able to easily adjust the tension level to suit your ability. Don’t rush through a test run. In fact, you may want to return to the store for a second visit before you invest in a machine. After you’ve made the purchase and have your rower set… read on >
Drinks to Help You Kick Your Soda Habit
Are you a sugary soda junkie? If you’re ready to kick the habit, know that the answer isn’t diet sodas. Following up on research that calls the safety of these artificially sweetened drinks into question is a February study published in the journal Stroke that found for women after menopause, drinking more than one diet soda a day was associated with an increased risk for stroke or heart disease. For tasty thirst quenchers, try these easy and better-for-you swaps. Water is great, but if you’re a soda drinker, you want the fizz. So don’t take the bubbles away, but do start with sodium-free sparkling water or seltzer. It hydrates like plain tap water but has the same mouth feel as soda. With this one simple swap, you’ll save hundreds of calories weekly as you trim your sugar cravings and your waistline. Used to the sweet taste of fruity sodas? Rotate among four flavor additions to your sparkling water that give a hint of sweetness along with refreshing aroma: Lemon twist, lime twist, four or five crushed raspberries (fresh or frozen) and vanilla extract. Adding a teaspoon of extract to your seltzer creates a taste similar to old-fashioned cream soda. Are you more of a cola connoisseur? Sugary sodas might give you a lift at first, but then leave you crashing a few hours later. Instead,… read on >
Health Tip: Treating Acne Scars
(HealthDay News) — Treating acne scars starts by consulting a dermatologist. To get the most out of the consultation, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests answering these questions before seeing a doctor: Why do I want to treat my scars? How do I want to look? What can I afford to spend? How much downtime can I afford?