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 >

People who’ve already had a heart attack or stroke can cut their odds for another one in half if they regularly take cholesterol-lowering statins. Yet new research found that only about 6 percent of patients take these drugs as prescribed by their doctor. “Very few patients were optimally compliant. We found that the less compliant you were, the worse you did,” said the study’s lead author, Heidi May, an epidemiologist from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah. Why are so many people skipping this potentially lifesaving medication? May said the study wasn’t designed to tease out exactly why people didn’t take their medicine as they should. But she said it’s possible that patients may not understand how helpful statins can be. Not only do they lower cholesterol, they also help reduce inflammation in the body, she said. May said she doesn’t think it’s a lack of education, at least not initially. “Our institution does educate when people are discharged, but patients are given a lot of information. This study emphasizes the need for continued education to take medications as prescribed,” she said. Researchers also don’t think cost is an issue, because the medicines are now generic and relatively cheap — about $10 for a 90-day supply. But concern about side effects may be an issue for some. If that’s one of your concerns,…  read on >

Every home chef will find that cooking healthfully is easier with a well-made set of knives. When shopping, let quality, not quantity, be your guide. You can master most any cutting task with just three knives. The workhorse is the chef’s knife, about eight to 10 inches long. It’s the all-purpose knife you’ll use every day for chopping, slicing and dicing. Next is a serrated knife, eight to 10 inches long. It’s handy for slicing bread and roasts, and cutting hard foods like squash and root vegetables. Third is a paring knife, about three to four inches long. Use it for peeling, coring and slicing small foods like citrus, Brussels sprouts and nuts. When shopping, look for a heavy, strong handle and an extended metal “tang” — this is the section of steel that goes all the way through to the end of the handle. When it comes to size, don’t be wowed by the big, shiny models. Think about comfort. How does the handle feel in your hand? Is it too big or are you concerned about cutting yourself? Shop in a brick-and-mortar store so you can hold the floor models. A knife should feel comfortable in your hand. Take note of the weight and size. Smaller 6-inch long models can be better for beginner cooks. At home, safeguard your knives with a few…  read on >

Cooking healthy at home is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. And your budget doesn’t have to take a hit when you stock up on this list of good-for-you foods. When it comes to produce, it’s often easier to save money when buying in season, but many vegetable staples are affordable year-round. Stock these superfoods in your fridge’s vegetable crispers. They form the flavor base for many recipes. Vegetable Basics Bell and hot peppers Cabbage Carrots Celery Garlic Mushrooms Onions Add to the list with a variety of greens such as baby kale, baby spinach, watercress and prewashed mixed salad greens. Whether used as the fixings for a full meal or a filling side dish, greens add vital nutrients to your diet. For lean protein, affordable choices include chicken, ground turkey, tilapia and frozen shrimp, which is usually much less expensive than fresh. Lean beef stew cubes are another economical healthy protein good for soups and chili. So are legumes — beans, lentils and split peas. Canned beans might seem inexpensive, but bags of dried beans that you soak and then cook are far more affordable. You can also find more varieties when you buy them dry, if not at your supermarket then at online stores. For whole grains, choose short grain brown rice, brown rice noodles and…  read on >