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Food Labels - 8 Ways They Could be Better
Are you a label reader? I know that I am, and -- until you get savvy at it -- food labels can be a bit confusing. U.S. News and World Report has a list of 8 fixes nutritionists would like to see on food labels: - Realistic serving sizes. Serving sizes are often misleading. For example, have you ever treated yourself to a Pop-Tart? They're wrapped in packages with two pastries, yet a serving size is only one.
- Clearer guidelines on the daily value. Are the percentages based on the most you should get of a nutrient or the least? For example, saturated fat is a ceiling -- the daily value represents the most you should get. With vitamins and minerals, on the other hand, the daily value is a floor -- or the minimum amount you should get.
Kate Gamber's Going to Run a Marathon - For a Mouse!
That's Fit Club, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness
That's Fit Club is our feature devoted to you, the reader! We have all learned so much on our paths to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! That's Fit Club members are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect; some are not. But all have health on the mind.
Besides showing you off, we want to reward you for all of your hard work! Everlast and Everlast Woman are giving gorgeous workout T-shirts to each featured member! To join, please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!
Name: Kate Gamber
Age: 19
Occupation: College Student
How often do you exercise? Five to six days a week.
What type of exercise do you do? Long distance running, lifting, cardio, LAX.
What gets you to work out, even when you're feeling lazy? I know that I'll thank myself later!
Pomegranates on the loose
The world of nutrition has its trends just like anything else, and pomegranates certainly had their day (or couple of years) in the sun. Pomegranates have been linked to health benefits for erectile dysfunction, cancer risk reduction, lung health, and other issues. And they certainly are good for you... not to mention tasty. (Though pomegranate juice can negatively interact with certain medications (such as some blood pressure meds), so check with your doctor.)
But when a food item becomes trendy, there is a bit of a halo effect; anything that has that item listed on the package automatically seems healthier and better for you. Health by association, if you will.
Decoding Rx Instructions
Healthy Aging, Healthy Habits, Healthy Home, Vitamins and Supplements, Womens Health, HealthWatch, Healthy Kids, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements, Men's Health
I have a total love/hate relationship with medicine. Although I value science and medicine, quite often I can't stand the affects they have on me. I simply can't stand to be drowsy, foggy or affected in any way. Prescriptions are great if they fix what's wrong with you, but all of the side effects are for the birds. I suppose if we all took each drug correctly, we may have less. So, I was particularly intrigued when Women's Health posted a study regarding drug labels.
According to a survey in the Annals of Internal Medicine, almost half of the participants misunderstood drug warning labels, and most ignored the directions altogether. This gallery provides some of the most common instructions you'll find on those little stickers slapped on each bottle and what they really mean.
Your Turn: Do you read at the gym?
And I don't know if I trust the idea that you can't work out hard and read at the same time. Myself, I can read an article while running on the treadmill, and I know I'm working hard because I'm sweating buckets. Granted, it's not an in-depth, serious article on poverty or famine; It will probably be something on Angelina's speculative baby bump or Lindsay's latest loverboy. But I can read, and I do because it keeps me going and keeps me from checking my watch every 10 seconds.
I'm curious ...
Tips on making a long-haul flight bearable
Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
The last really long flight I endured took a lot out of me. I get nervous on airplanes so I'm happy just to land safely and in one piece, but I have to admit that it would be nice to arrive not feeling totally bagged. There are a few lucky people who get to spend their time lounging in luxury in first or business class, and for them, these voyages probably aren't so bad.
But for the rest of us squished back in coach, 10-plus hours in the air can be tough to take. And with new 15-, 16, and 17-hour flights becoming more common, it's more important than ever to find ways to get through it. If you've got a long plane ride ahead, here are a few tips that might make things more bearable:
- Try to get some sleep. It helps pass the time and even a few hours will help you arrive feeling rested.
- Walk around the cabin and find a spot to do some simple stretches. Light exercise will keep you from getting stir-crazy, and will also help prevent the deep-vein thrombosis that can be caused by sitting for hours.
- Pick a good seat. It is worth paying extra or checking in early to make sure you get the additional legroom provided in an emergency exit row, or the added freedom of an aisle seat. Sitting in the middle is not an option.
- Read a good book. You've got a lot of time to kill, so use it wisely and enjoy a novel you haven't had the chance to get into.
- Wear comfortable clothing. If your feel swell and you get a bit bloated, tight clothes and shoes will only make you feel worse.
- Drink lots of water. It's easy to get dehydrated when eating airplane food and breathing recirculated air. If you stay hydrated by drinking lots of water, you'll feel better overall throughout the flight.
Want a few more ideas? Take a look here for more suggestions that will help you stay happy and feeling good on your next long-haul flight.
Let your computer check your pulse!
So if today is becoming a world of both computers and health problems, why not combine the two? Yanko Design has a new concept for a computer mouse that reads the user's heartbeat and other vitals while they work. It tracks the information on the computer itself and can, if it needs to, then send that information to family, caregivers, or even to the hospital at regular intervals for monitoring.Although I'm sure no doctor would recommend bypassing regular vital checks by a professional for this little mouse gadget, it would be a nice way to stay on top of things and possibly even keep tabs on your stress levels while working. I think my productivity might take a hit, though, since I'd probably get all distracted checking the reading all the time and running little experiments!
























